MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS: Mom

Showing posts with label Mom. Show all posts

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Limburg — The Emotional Part

My second brother Piet, came to pick me up for going to the spot where Mom & Dad first met when they both were in servitude.

Also the spot where my eldest brother Martin suggested to disperse Mom & Dad's ashes.

Of course in 2020 when five of my six siblings came together on Holy Saturday, for dispersing the ashes, I was not present.

See post below about that: Dad is One Year in Heaven Now...

My brother Piet and me...

Arriving at this historical spot with huge oak 't Struukske.

Oh how I indulged in all the wild flowers and wild grasses!

Even the long absent Adderwortel, Persicaria bistorta L., that we used to call 'toothbrush or tandenborstel' in Dutch as children.

Common poppy or Papaver rhoeas with bee inside...

Korenbloem or Kornflower in English — Centaurea cyanus that we used to weave into flower wreaths, when children.

Brother Piet's hand and one common poppy is visible here and lots of Margrieten in English Marguerite or Oxe–eye daisies Leucanthemum vulgare.

Brother and sister at this historic spot...

Now approaching the almost sacred area...

In 1915 the cross had been placed out of devotion and in the hope of being spared from natural disasters... see more info in my previous post below.

Close to my left foot, the ashes of Mom & Dad got dispersed of.

Now overgrown by nettles...

An emotional but very special visit!

Brother Piet searched for his long–time friend Ton Hoeijmakers who with his wife Fien have run Landgoed de Gortmeule.

Here I talk with Sandra Cuijpers-Rijs, half of the new manager couple of the campsite.

Ton and Fien continue living on the homestead from 1600 but are only limited involved.

Piet wanted to take me to the Lollebeek, a project where he was involved with, shortly before his retirement...

A beautiful nature area, near the Castenray fens.

The Lollebeek

Me standing near the Lollebeek... captured by Piet Van den Munckhof

Piet later sent me this picture from October 24, 1965 when we together were for the last time at the Lollebeek in 'De Pes'...

Piet on the left, Mom, youngest sister Gerd, Me, youngest brother Jan and younger sister Diny with Dachshund Wally.

Jan still has bad memories of a horse we had to pass on this narrow walking path...

Well, I was 14.5 then...

Next we went together to Restaurant De Turfhoeve, a restaurant that was very close to where Mom was born.

To the left bottom part you see STRUIKEN... that's where she got born.

Fond memories with Mom & Dad, as we often took them there for dinner or for eating a yummy pancake.

Piet and I opted for an apple pancake.

The present owners have only a very limited listing of pancakes, compared to the days when we went with Mom & Dad... Nostalgia!

It was a very special but emotional day.

Took me days upon arriving home for digesting it all.

Never could be in The Netherlands for my Parents' cremation service but this kind of rounded it off for me.

And we did go for seeing Dad one final time; proved to be very well chosen as Dad died only two weeks after our departure back to the USA.

We both said our farewell and did a LOT of talking; felt good.

For Mom it was different, I saw her last about one year before and I knew then, that I never would see her again...

Souls never die and one day we will meet again!

Angels we know by name.

To be continued...

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Flying on Delta Premium Select–Savannah to Amsterdam

FINALLY, after years of COVID nonsense, I would be flying across the Atlantic Ocean for bringing home some special items from Mom & Dad's Estate.

Things that could NOT be sent by mail or any other means as their sentimental value was too high.

So, on the evening before husband Pieter's 93rd Birthday, I logged in to his Delta account for checking how many miles he had left.

Pieter had indicated that with all the nonsense going on at present he did NOT want to fly; way too much stress for his heart condition.

How RIGHT HE WAS!

This was Thursday evening, where I had the option for 148,000 miles to fly with Premium Select (only 2 seats available!) to Amsterdam, from Savannah, Georgia via Detroit, Michigan.

Did not want to complete this option before checking with Pieter (who was by now sleeping...)

Next day I tried again to complete my trip on line but could not do so...

My long legal name, always causes problems.

So, I had to call.

After 1 hour 47 minutes (mainly for being on hold...) I finally managed to book this special Premium Select flight!

Now I had to pay with 152,000 miles, but I GOT it and was oh so happy, and so was Pieter for making very good use of his miles!

This very flight would have cost me US $ 2,406.97 + Tax in the end...

LOVED this: ADJUSTABLE FOOTREST.

Arrive refreshed... especially for a night flight — I loved this idea!

BUT on my departure day at 2:03 AM while we were sound asleep... This email arrived.

My Flight got cancelled but rebooked.

Now I had to fly via Paris on Air France and then on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam...

Our private driver, who used our own car, arrived by 10:00 AM to drive us to the Savannah Airport in two hours time.

At the special check–in counter for Sky Priority® I showed my paperwork and the agent was so helpful and courteous but he did NOT manage to print my boarding passes for whatever reason.

So he called a higher ranking Delta person, who had to call him back.

A total of 2 hours I stood there, Pieter and our private driver waiting patiently.

But nothing could be done.

Went home with this... a new booking for next day!

Due to INTERRUPTED TRAVEL...

My new schedule for the SHORT solo trip to Limburg, The Netherlands...

Sure enough, we again went to Savannah, with our private driver.

I joked, that now Mike our driver, didn't even need the GPS as we all remembered the Interstate exits... 😏

Arriving in Savannah, the very same agent at the Sky Priority® counter recognized me from afar and waved.

In no time he'd checked me in and I was off to Atlanta and on to Amsterdam.

Hugging and kissing my Pieter goodbye for a brief time!

When I tried to call Pieter from Savannah, my iPhone 13Pro read: no server!

True, as I had requested to switch my service to The Netherlands and that went already into effect.

But in Atlanta I still managed to do a video WhatsApp call with Pieter at home, just before boarding with the use of the Airport WiFi.

I was in the air soon...

The adjustable footrest however did NOT FUNCTION, neither for my neighbor, a young German.

But I managed to fly to Amsterdam!

Oh, also my Low Sodium/No Salt added meal went 'missing'...

And NO Tumi Amenity Kit either.

On my way and yes, I did wear my down jacket during the flight!

Felt great.

Stay tuned for more...

Friday, May 27, 2022

This section got last done when Mom was in her final days

It is already over 7 years ago, since Mom's final days.

Our very last FaceTime with Mom,

thanks to my youngest brother Jan's efforts to take his iPhone to Mom at the hospital.

Pieter was outside, working with Wood Protector, when I walked out from our veranda door with the iPad, so Mom could see and hear both of us...

See link below post with photos of this very Wood Trail.

This time, Pieter did raise the trail a bit more and also used side edges with 2 by 2 wood so it stays cleaner after rain.

It got freshly stained with Wood Protector.

This is at the beginning, under the Rose Arbor, taken on May 19!

On May 8, Pieter started out on this Mega Task...

Using wood protector before the 2 by 2 is being added on the side edges.

Taking up the old boards, getting the rusted screws all out and then putting it together again...

You see some of the damaged, rotten wood and that only since January 2015...

There are bird houses on that huge oak tree, at the end.

This is close to our Gazebo as you see part of it.

On May 14, action... sand for filling up under the Wood Trail and the cart with tools...

Back breaking job for Pieter and on his knees...

He constantly gets scratches on his legs as he uses blood thinners; scary!

Here is the bottleneck; this HUGE laurel oak tree Quercus hemisphaerica has grown so much that its 'toes' are everywhere, and they elevated the wood trail.

The 2 by 2 edges have been treated and are ready to come on.

Bit by bit it will come together; once more and hope for again some 7 years or more!

I have no idea if the bird house is in use...

Maybe our birds are used to Pieter being around.

While Pieter took his nap, on May 19, I took these photos...

You see those thick 'toes' from the oak tree?

Now look at the top of that 2 x 6 inch...

So, this is what Pieter did...

Some tree pedicure and getting a piece out of one of its thick 'toes' for getting the 2 x 6 inch.

Wounded tree toes do not grow, so that will remain like that.

Shown more in detail here.

Nobody else would do such tedious work for you; so the 93-year old husband is doing it himself instead!

Figuring out a way how to, and then into action.

That 'toe' pedicure got done with the electric chain saw...

Long exterior wood screws are being used, that are also coated for rust protection...

Drilling in those screws...

Six days later on May 25, and after lots of rainy weather...

Pieter is already working behind the bottle–neck of the huge oak tree!

Our Gardenias Jasminoides Miami Supreme, were lovely but due to heavy rain the turn brown fast...

Yep, the corner has been tackled!

The 2 x 2 edges will hold the wood trail also better together as before, without any support.

But it's still a long way to go, all the way to the greenhouse...

One day, that too will be finished!

We have had lots of rain but one surprise this morning:

Pink Rain lilies or Zephyranthes grandiflora and one of about 70 species in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis family).

There is a hole in one of its petals...

Another bud to the left, soon to open up...

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Pieter Built our Greenhouse

Never actually showed you how our greenhouse came about...

Of course, husband Pieter built it himself and I helped.

First the foundation got built.

Pieter had built the roof part together and I helped him lifting it on top of the aluminum frame!

Just the two of us... 😉 on Wednesday, November 17, 1993

Good team work!

Thursday, November 18; proud greenhouse builder! Putting the aluminum Alcoa parts together.

This was a gift from Krijn Leendertse, Voskamp.

We had to move to Pennsylvania at that time so now it finally got build!

Monday, November 22nd, Pieter was in a happy mood, doing something that he'd done before, as a young man.

Immediately after the war, Pieter worked for a few months in greenhouse construction, glazing in his area.

Pieter's Dad, after WWII bought two greenhouses in the West of The Netherlands (Westland area) due to urban expansion they had to clear. Pieter and his brother Toon did break them down and carried them to the road. Lots of water ways where no truck could go! Pieter and Toon had to cross a narrow bridge.

They had stuffed wood wool in their jacket, to support their shoulder! Also for carrying the iron rods and ledges.