Wearing Mom's Wedding Dress to Church

 One of the treasures I did bring home from Limburg was Mom's wedding dress!

October 15, I wore it to Mass after I had it dry cleaned at Presstine Cleaners in Atlanta.

The dress was made out of a nice rayon georgette and I wear my black patent Escada sandals.

The dress originally came with train.

Mom's bridal bouquet looks like she was holding white stock or Matthiola Incana—also very fragrant!

In Dutch white stock is witte violieren...

Dad with a hat in his hand and gloves...

The day of the beginning of a Blissful Relationship—blessed by Dad's maternal Uncle—Heeroom.

Mom and Dad more up close.

Mom sure had lovely hair here and wearing her golden cross on a short necklace.

Those were the days of hats and Mom has worn many hats, especially when going to Church.

Her dress with train got later altered to a shorter version.

Can't recall if she wore it to certain events...

Dad had no camera of his own in the early years!

Photo taken after Mass by a friend.

Pieter wearing his silk Burberry suit that I also did bring back from Limburg...

The side seams of the top were let out by my sister, some 3 inches (7.5 cm). The dress is too wide for me now. 

At home one more WeFie in bright daylight...

Pieter wearing his Escada silk elephant tie.

This photo is from March 8, 1968 when I wore the dress with boots in Horst, Limburg...

Funny, I was 17, and above I am 71... just reversed numbers.

But I'm the only of 3 daughters that still can wear Mom's small sized dress!

Guess Mom was smiling down from heaven to see her wedding dress go to Church once more...

The History of the Bridal Gown

Not in white

It used to be unthinkable to buy a dress for one day. That only happened at court. 

Well into the twentieth century many brides married in black.

Even Pieter's late wife Thea did...

In front of the Church—also with hat and gloves in hand...

Don't understand where she left her gorgeous bridal bouquet.

Pieter with the bridal bouquet, full of orchids...

In 1983, when it was the rage to wear such black jackets—Pieter's 19 year old adopted daughter Liz, begged for the jacket of his wedding suit and Pieter gave in...

A handsome groom that stayed with Thea for 27 years—living like brother and sister...

BUT thanks to that, he wrote the mushroom bible and helped thousands to make a better living!

Everything has a reason in life and we both are grateful that God made us meet 53 years ago and we are happily married for a long time.

Related link:

{The Little Black Dress & My MOM} | previous post by me with Mom in her bridal gown

Both of us LOVE Elephants | previous post by me with Pieter's Escada elephant tie

FAMILY Treasures from Chef of Smulhuis in Brunssum/The Netherlands | previous post with Pieter's Mom also wearing a black bridal gown

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post with Mom & Dad on their wedding day photos with Heeroom

Arthur Ravenel Bridge and Angel Oak Tree

 When staying in a lovely hotel and enjoying day after day exciting trips, time is FLYING...

Our departure day did arrive...

Just had to capture this Arthur Ravenel Bridge.

 So I crossed the Cooper River by car onto Mount Pleasant and turned right for standing behind Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston.

The height of the two pylons is 175 meters and the total length of the bridge is 4 kilometers. 

It is the 3rd longest such span for a cable–stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

The design is done with the frequent natural disasters in mind; the bridge can withstand gusts of wind in excess of 480 km/h and earthquakes rated 7.4 on the Richter Scale.

Taken while driving over the actual bridge...

There are 8 lanes, four in each direction and also lanes for pedestrians and cyclists.

What a marvel; it got opened in 2005.

In about half an hour, we arrived at St. John's Island at the ANGEL OAK TREE

It is HUGE and you can read more about it here: Angel Oak® | Charleston, SC – Official Website ←click link.

Circumference is 25.5 feet or 7.77 meter. 

It is the largest Live Oak Tree east of the Mississippi estimated to be 300 to 400 years old.

It is named after the owners Justus Angel and his wife, Martha Waight Tucker Angel whose family owned the land in the 1800s and 1900s.

Charleston County purchased the land in 1991.

Houmas House the Sugar Palace in Darrow, Louisiana | ←click previous post by me with huge Quercus Virginiana or Live Oak Trees

Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana | ←click previous post by me with huge Live Oak Trees

Same photo but now cropped...

Me in front of this giant wearing my Escada stretch pants and boots; seen here: →click {Happy with my Escada Stretch Pants}

It was quite dark from this giant!

Now Pieter stands in front of one of the branches that are laying down.

Do you see to the left those two wooden poles, to support these huge branches?

It is really hard to capture its enormous size...

Pieter wore his Zegna summer jeans.

There were lots of people when we were there.

Again, perfect blue sky.

Now the 3.5 hour drive home for picking up our tax papers at the CPA and for making it in time for early choir practice for Holy Thursday...

Below is the short Relive video from drive over bridge and to Angel Oak Tree; enjoy!

Got to cross the Cooper River and the Ansley River...

Leather Shorts and Roses

 Slowly it is getting real spring and once more we say goodbye to boots and leather shorts and vest...

Always a great set for wearing on colder days.

My leather boots from Italy with my old lace tights with back seam (see previous post below, with pictures of back).

Together with my very soft leather shorts from Escada and leather vest over a wool sweater.

Pieter the photographer told me to stand to the right but with the oak and wrought iron bench it is a bit wild...

Did capture the photographer as well.

In his cotton twill Burberry shirt that we found in Spain while on vacation.

That pairs well with his Gianni Versace jeans.

My Escada wool stretch skirt with the silk roses blouse and woolen roses cardigan.

To the left you also see that husband Pieter has cleared the underbrush in the adjacent woodgarden, now you can look through easily.

Here the repaired wooden bridge over the creek is visible to the left.

Related links:

{My Italian Boots & Escada Leather Vest and Shorts} | previous post showing you the back seam of my lace tights...

{ROSES} | previous post showing you the back of my Escada Roses Cardigan...

Yummy 5-Course Italian Dinner at Ristorante da Maria in Dublin, Georgia

 We sure are glad that friend and Lady Chef Maria Runggaldier got FINALLY back home from Italy after having been stranded there for almost 1.5 year...

So, we once more enjoyed her excellent cooking at Ristorante da Maria.

Arriving at the elegant Ristorante da Maria...

Pieter wearing his navy Burberry blazer and I wear my Escada silk blouse and wool vest with red roses.

And still in my soft leather boots, gift from Italy.

It would have been Mom & Dad's 73rd Wedding Anniversary on February 26.

Appetizer:

Zuppa di granchio al pomodoro

Tasty Tomato Crab Soup, English peas, pearl onions and celery leaves

Such a YUMMY and spicy soup...

First dish:

Involtini di pasta con cariofini

Oven baked home made Pasta Rolls stuffed with baby artichoke cream, topped with Parmesan cheese and butter flakes, served on a zucchini veloutée

Fish–Entrée:

Cuore di merluzzo alla mediterranea

Pan seared Cod Fillet, served in a Mediterranean sauce with fresh tomatoes, oregano, shallots, olives and capers

Sorbet:

Sorbetto ai lamponi

Raspberry/Lemon Sorbet

Pieter also did wear his Brioni shirt (Last Call Neiman Marcus score...) for which he also needs to wear his cuff links.

Heinz always knows how to serve an espresso coffee for Pieter, with his dessert...

For both of us, it is very much like being back in Italy.

Maria is an authentic Italian Lady Chef and the only one in our region.

She has an excellent staff as well, they learned so much from her over some 18 years!

At least, her sous chef and staff managed to continue with serving delicious meals on Friday and Saturday nights, while Maria was stuck in Italy.

Dessert:

Crema catalana allo zenzero con frutti di bosco

Ginger flavored "Crema Catalana"

It was indeed a yummy 5-course Italian Dinner...

Related links:

Lovely Birthday Dinner at Ristorante da Maria | wearing my same Escada outfit...

{ROSES} | showing you the back of my Escada wool rose cardigan...

Hauling Home Vinyl Picket Fence Segment

 Well, instead of paying around US $ 80.00 for having this segment delivered,

I borrowed the pickup truck from a dear friend to drive the 50 miles to the Lowe's store on November 8.

Just had the ropes untied and unloading it...

Untying it...

Stepping with one long leg into the pickup truck's bed... did not know how to lower the tailgate.

It worked!

Wearing my Escada wool sweater on Escada jeans and my booties from London.

On November 5, Pieter had started to put the bird baths back, the bird feeders up etc.

You also see that barely any grass was growing anymore, due to the shade of that huge oak tree. 

We sure hope to see grass grow there once again!

The chain to the left of Pieter, in front of the green lantern post, is from our hummingbird feeder, hanging in front of the bay window.

It all had to be removed before the tree got cut down branch by branch.

One of the tiles (seen on the left) also needed to be replaced for placing the bird bath on.

Pieter is wearing his Pennstate University sweatshirt.

You can see that the left tire is flat on Pieter's hand wagon.

Birds did not come back right away, they all got confused but it is as busy now as it was before!

You can see that the picket fence to the right of Pieter got slightly bended...

Here a branch must have hit it...

On November 8, in the afternoon, it got already replaced by Pieter.

The old one got cut up and with a 2 x 4" wood inside, Pieter managed to repurpose it for the bridge closest to the road.

Guess that trunk needs to be cut even, it looks like they put the huge chain saw in it, on the left...

They will be back within weeks for cutting down a 'leaning' giant along the creek and close to the road.

Always something to do on a vast estate!

Related links:

Big Trees Down and others Trimmed  Continued | previous post of the taking down of huge oak tree

Our Bridges a Constant Battle with Mother Nature | previous post showing last photo with repurposed vinyl picket fence

The Silver Bond Pin was awarded to Mrs. Vedder-Peer

Husband Pieter's Mom was the first secretary of the local association and she received a federal award.

This was on Thursday, November 20 in 1986.

Mr. Hermkens of the Federal Board, pinning on the federal silver award for Mrs. Vedder, the first secretary of the local association.

Mrs. Vedder's personal copy that she mailed to the USA...

April 1987... quite a while later!

Queen Juliana with Prince Bernhard on the cover of

LIFE'S

WINDOW

Department Horst 'Lambertus-Norbertus'

On Thursday November 20 of 1986, the 25th anniversary of this department got celebrated.

The festivity started with a eucharistic celebration, with the theme of supporting each other. 

During the party meeting, Mr. Hermkens did pin on the gold and silver awards.

On Saturday November 22, a reception took place that enjoyed a lot of interest from all groups and associations of the population of Horst. The mayor then opened the exhibition 'Elderly and their hobbies'.

Festive celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Catholic Association for the Elderly.

This was in the local newspaper and Pieter's Mom mailed it to us, inside her not yet dried up handwritten airmail letter... hence the ink marks.

Did you notice that my 91-year old Mother-in-law was wearing a hair net?

Popular at that time, especially during windy weather, instead of having to use hairspray.

Eco friendly but that is all gone now...

This was exactly three years + 1 day before her death on November 21, 1989 when we were living and working in Italy.

A timely honor...!

Saying our goodbye to Pieter's Mom...

Too bad, she closed her eyes and we had these developed back in the USA, no way of going back and doing it over!

Pieter having said farewell to his Mom on November 7, before departing back to Georgia/USA...

This was our 9th trip back to The Netherlands on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

We went to Regensburg before, for attending the German Mushroom Conference.

Me, after our goodbye. Standing in front of this newly built Elderly Home.

Wearing my favorite boots, also gifted one time by our Italian mushroom friends.

Pieter standing near the entrance/exit with a new gift, his 'The Bridge' fine Italian leather bag.

Our Italian mushroom friends gifted Pieter a nice blue Burberry shirt and this leather bag on November 3, for some advice during our barely three days being in Italy before flying back to Düsseldorf, Germany.

~

We had also driven in our Fiat Uno rental car, all the way to Regensburg in Germany for the German Mushroom Conference and from there by car to Bordeaux in France, see links below.

There was very little time for being with family but we tried our best.

21 September 2014 SLUITING BERKELE HEEM←click link

It is so sad that the entire building is GONE and new apartments have been built on this spot.

Government policies have changed and elderly have to stay at home, or being cared for by their children; called 'informal care'...

Unie Katholieke Bond van Ouderen - Catholic Union of the Elderly existed from 1958-2006

Sector: Charity and social work

Times have changed!

Related links:

Lecture by Pieter and Stay at UNESCO site Regensburg during German Mushroom Conference | previous post by me

From Regensburg, Germany to Bordeaux in France and Marl Cave Mushroom Growing | previous post by me