Our Historic Christmas in Italy - END of Romania's Communist Dictator

As most of you know, we lived and worked about one year in Italy.

That also included one Christmas...

Watching TV on Christmas day, in Italian and also in Romanian, which I understand for about 60% since it is one of the Roman languages.

 old Romanian: 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'

Meaning: 'NOTHING WITHOUT GOD'

On December 22, 1989 the Romanian Revolution had started.
On December 25, 1989 the communist dictator from Romania got executed together with his wife...
Execution of Romanian Dictator Ceausescu and his wife Elena on Christmas day 1989 click on link.

Quite shocking to see this unfold on TV on Christmas Day! 
Read more about Romania by clicking this link.
Still former Communists dominated the country till 1996...
The place where both got executed is now a national museum and you can see photos here.
We've never been to Romania yet...

We didn't study politics, but traveling and working almost all over the globe, we have seen too much of the negative impact on the population as a result of communism and socialism. 
Almost all over the globe and including our then neighboring countries close to Italy, like Slovenia where our First Lady Melania is born.
In my work in Italy, I've trained several women from Slovenia who fled before the breakup of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 

We both lived in the Province of Treviso, near Venice, Italy.
Our cars did arrive per container from the USA, in the harbor of Trieste, which is right on the border with Slovenia.
We had to go there, to pick them up and driving both cars home.
Our First Lady Melania Trump is born in Novo Mesto, not far from Trieste.
Melania did grow up in Sevnica, which is only 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Trieste!

San Lorenzo in Raka, Slovenia where First Lady Melania got baptized

Melania Trump was baptized Catholic, confirms Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé click on link.
In an interview by Larry King in 2005 Melania is saying that she left Slovenia 15 years ago, so that means she left in 1990. We left Italy in January of 1990,
Click here and go to minute 12:37 where she starts saying this.
Husband Pieter and I can only admire our First Lady Melania Trump, for having come from such a difficult, communist environment and yet, having made it to Milan, Italy and later to Paris, France before coming to New York, USA while being a super model.
Now she is our classy and elegant First Lady!

On Thursday, August 3 of 1995, we had a Slovenian and Romanian Wrestling Team practice in our town of Dublin, Georgia/USA for the Olympics that were held in Atlanta.

Our local Chamber of Commerce called me to ask if I knew Slovenian or Romanian. No I said but I sure can understand Romanian and if I speak slowly Italian, we can communicate. That's what we did over supper and those men had an entire wish list for their girlfriends that I could translate into English and also point them to the right store for obtaining... They were very happy and we felt good as well.

Both of us also have visited another communist country, Hungary and we have seen with our own eyes the impoverished people's suffering.

We only pray that more and more people in this world, still under communist rule, will get to experience their FREEDOM.
God forbid that our own USA is going the Socialist route...
We both have come a long way for escaping its vicinity and at times it looks like we're heading right into it!

Related links:

{Romanian box with Royal Blazon: Nothing Without God} | previous post by me

LEARN from Husband Pieter's Successful Rooting of Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc

When we did add the latest patio, we had to cut down an older Hibiscus tree. Yes, it was more than a shrub after all those years.

You can see how thick its stem was from link below this post, about our Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc & Our Life in Italy.

This is the double blooming Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc.
We're so happy for having now more of this one!
Let me show you how husband Pieter managed to do this...

Starting out with a cheap plastic container from Walmart - drilling drainage holes in it.

A bag of Quikrete Play Sand from Home Depot...

On August 5 of last year, Pieter did mix in just a bit of potting soul and here are the six starters he cut off.

Covered up with white plastic bag for humidity, creating a kind of greenhouse for high humidity and waiting.

On September 3, they got transferred to individual pots. The smallest one still got a 'greenhouse' treatment but using a cut off plastic bottle for a cover. Important is that light can penetrate.

Very healthy looking growth already of this Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc on September 3!

This Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc is smaller but looking also very happy and healthy!

This is on August 12 of 2018.

It will take years for them to have some shape and for growing into a nice shrub and eventually a little tree!

It took us about six years to grow a Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc before, the only one surviving from several and we gifted it to a dear friend who's Mom used to have one. Just a sentimental memory of her dear Mom and we were thrilled to hand that to her.
We will wait another 5 years for having our 2 young ones blooming and being pretty again!
Below is a good video about taking cuttings and growing your own shrubs:

Thanks for your visit!

Related links:
One More Patio Added | previous post by me
{Our Hibiscus syriacus Jeanne D'Arc & Our Life in Italy} | previous post by me

{Dahlia with Hibiscus and Clerodendrum Ugandese}

We all LOVE to have some fresh cut flowers from our own garden...

Even if it means only a few of them!

On our kitchen table... on June 12.

To the left you see a beautiful Dahlia, to the right a Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' that came straight from Our Life in Italy!
In the center, top and bottom is our special Clerodendrum Ugandese or Blue Butterfly Bush.

Husband Pieter also captured them with his camera...
Yes, that Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' has a very special story which you can read from link below blog, about our life in Italy.
We are thrilled that we still have it after all those years!

And again and you can see the sunshine that twinkles in the tiny vase.
The Clerodendrum Ugandese came from +Logee's Greenhouses in Connecticut

The Clerodendrum Ugandese or Blue Butterfly Bush flower a bit more in detail...

Together they just made a beautiful and very sweet vase!

Do you love to bring in some home grown flowers?

Our climate is very harsh so we never yield a lot...

Thanks for your visit!

Related links:

{Clerodendrum Ugandense - Blue Butterfly Bush} | previous post by me
{Clerodendrum Ugandense - Blue Butterfly Bush, Blue Glorybower} | previous post by me
{Our Hibiscus syriacus 'Blushing Bride' from Quero, Belluno in Italy} | previous post by me

{Christmas in Magical Ortisei, Italy}

Of course, having lived and worked in Italy in the Venice area for about one year, around Christmas, I do MISS Italy! 

Virtual friend Loredana Stasi, the artist from the blog: Il filo del cuore Ricami The thread of the heart... Embroideries, did grant me permission to use some of her photos, to show you Christmas in Magical Ortisei, Italy.

La magia dell'Alpe di Siusi or The Magic of the Dolomites is the title of her original post!

Just click the pink hyperlink above...

The area of South Tyrol, northern Italy has such charm!

The Val Gardena, a mountain chain within the Dolomites is part of the Alps.

Look at such a DREAM!

 Family Spa Grand Hotel - Family Hotel Cavallino Bianco in English, just click it.

Cavallino Bianco family spa Grand Hotel on FB

Loredana went skying with her husband and son...

My comment for Lory on her post.
Yes, we always drove through this region of the Dolomites when going from Cornuda, Italy home via Innsbruck, Austria to The Netherlands to visit my Parents...

South Tyrol, is also the area for the famous hand carved wood, like this gorgeous outdoor nativity!
Thanks Lory for granting me permission to use your beautiful photos.
Below you find two posts, about this very talented artist Lory, she inherited her incredible skills from her dear Grandma Nonna Elisa!

Related links:

Mercatino della Creatività... | post showing Lory's fabulous Christmas embroidery work!

Un Ricordo Dolcissimo...Nonna Elisa! | Lory with her artist Grandmother Elisa, on her 100th Birthday. That remarkable lady designed embroidery kits when she was young, she dreamed about them and created them... A must read story and no wonder Lory is so talented herself!

{Our Silver Muffineer Custom Made After Antique Model}

Being an International Consultant did Open Up the World to us. So no wonder that after finding in a favorite magazine a beautiful Antique Silver Muffineer, we actually could have ours Custom Made after that model!
WOW... Would you not take the opportunity?

This is IT! Don't you think it is lovely?

This was the page from the magazine with the Antique Muffineer...

Custom made for us in Kotagede, Indonesia!

Below this post you find a link about the making of silver in Kotagede.

Now, eat your heart out! Sprinkle some generous powdered sugar on your waffles, add some maple syrup and whipped cream from the tiny French ramekins.

All china is Pillivuyt France and all can be used in the oven as well!

Rose silverware is from Germany. Silber-und-Rosen-Shop might have some similar pieces...

Crystal wine glass is from Our Life in Italy. Don't know the pattern name... Wish I could find out!

Vintage linen tablecloth with roses...

Raspberries are so yummy and so are blueberries and strawberries...

A  better view of the silver muffineer and the crystal glass.

Don't know if it is from Italy but we bought it there when we were living and working in Italy.

To wet your appetite... Grade A Maple syrup to the left and whipped cream.

And YES, I do LOVE roses...!

So how did you like our Silver Muffineer and its use?

You like to have some waffles now; please have a seat in our gazebo at this table...

If only we could eat there again but WINTER is not YET OVER!

Thanks for visiting.

Related link:
{Antique French 19th Century 950/1000 Silver & Crystal Muffineer, Sugar Shaker, Caster Sifter} | previous post by me
{1862 Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon'} | my 2nd Most Popular All Time Post
{Antique 19th Century Silver Toast Rack Replica, Made in Kotagede, Indonesia}| previous post by me
{Have YOU Ever Seen the Making of Silver in Kotagede, Indonesia?} | previous post by me

{Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware} | previous blog post with mention of author Johanna Gehrlein
The tarnished future of Kotagede silver | The Jakarta Post, December 11, 2009
THE SILVER SOCIETY about the making of silver

{2011 Pink Moscato delle Venezie - ONLY 5 percent of Alcohol}

Having worked and lived in the Venice, Italy area, of course we are very fond of anything from that region. For my health, controlling my blood sugar level, alcohol is of course not a good thing. In 2007 I got diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2 and since than I have avoided most sugars. It is a joy for being able to toast around New Year with something in your glass. Already during our flights on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, back and forth to work in Indonesia, I came to appreciate Moscato d'Asti wine with its 5.5 percent of alcohol. That was a great bonus when being upgraded into business class. I would skip wine with the meal but enjoyed it after. So this 2011 Pink Moscato delle Venezie with only 5 percent of alcohol is another find. 

Using my Japanese tray; gift from my host family in Osaki City, from my visit to Japan in July of 2007 as a chaperon.

This Pink Moscato has a fine “frizzante” effervescence as you can see in our French Baccarat crystal glasses.

At the top you just barely can read: Delle Venezie - 2011 Mochetto Delle Venezie Moscato Rosa

We found ours at Cost Plus World Market 

Cheers to 2014 and to good health!

{Our Hallway}

Let me show you the next finished project, inside our home. Husband Pieter, did also change the wooden baseboard in our hallway into a tiled one. These white tiles for the bathrooms, kitchen, veranda and hallway came back with us from Italy in a 40-foot container with all our belongings. Life in Italy was over as we did not build our home in Italy but went back to Georgia/USA. Okay, welcome into our hallway!

From the front door you face the dining room to the left and straight ahead is the living room.

The white ceramic chandelier from Italy you can find below this post in a previous post's link.

Those white tiles are from Italy, we bought them at the time we worked and lived there. 

When we did not construct the house in Italy, we did bring everything back to Georgia/USA.

Here you see husband Pieter's work; a tile baseboard after he removed the wooden one.

This is nice glossy and a lot easier for cleaning and it looks better with the tiles in this room.

Turning now back towards the front door, past the dining room door.

You cannot see my French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains here, due to the glare.

But in the link below this post you can view them. By the way, that is my 3rd most viewed post!

Our French oak coat rack with chest.

Looking all the way to the end of the hallway, where our master bedroom is. 

First door is to the staircase, next door is a closet where we keep our winter coats and boots.

Next is the office (you recently saw a post about it) and last door is the guest bedroom (you also got to see that).

Stepping halfway down the hallway you can see the office door to the right and guest bedroom next with the master bedroom straight ahead.

These beautiful Ipomoeas in blue (Pieter's favorite color - which he CAN distinguish very well) are done by my sister Diny Van den Munckhof, in 2004.

The brass plate with peacock was a gift to Pieter when he was still principal at the practical training college in The Netherlands.

Sister Diny's artwork...

Frame is by Irok gallery, our favorite as they do museum quality framing.

Looking back to the closet where we keep our coats and boots and the door to the staircase.

Looking to the right you see a row of  10 hand painted wild mushroom plates by A. Zen Nove, ITALY.

That was a gift from our company in Italy. They had each year a different one painted by this artist in a limited numbered edition of 100. See link below post for more details.

Three Royal Tichelaar Makkum pieces in polychrome.

Made by the The Netherland's oldest company and framed in French oak.

Royal Tichelaar Makkum wall plate in polychrome.

This photo is taken from the door opening of the master bedroom.

To the right you see our bi-fold closet which I did show in a previous post: My closet looks like a neat store - see below post.

the next door is a closet where we keep albums and the vacuum cleaner and such.

A bit more recessed is the door to the guest bathroom, that you recently saw in a post.

Turning towards the master bedroom door.

These hand embroidered wild mushrooms in cross stitch, I made long time ago and they hung in the office of Principal Pieter at his practical training college for mushroom growing.

Looking up to the ceiling where a foldout staircase leads to the attic.

THAT will be another project...

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Related link:
{Our White Ceramic Chandeliers from Italy} | previous post by me
{My French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains} | previous post by me
{MY CLOSET LOOKS LIKE A NEAT STORE} | previous post by me
Irok gallery | link to museum quality framing
{10 Hand Painted Wild Mushroom Plates by A. Zen Nove, ITALY} | previous post by me

{Our Apartment in Cornuda, TV, Italy}

Just to give you an idea where we lived in Italy, while working there one year.  We left for Italy, from Pennsylvania, using the Italian Consulate in Philadelphia for all our paperwork. All our belongings went again into a 40-foot container across the ocean, back to Europe. Little did we know that in the harbor of Genua there was a strike so we had to make do 8 weeks without our belongings. Only what we carried in our 4 suitcases was all we had. We lived in an apartment at the top. We had bought a lot for building a house later...

That's the apartment building; part of it... Right above the coffee shop sign: BAR BELVEDERE you see two balconies. Those were ours at the time. One was from the kitchen and one from the living room.

Underneath the BAR sign was the entrance and via an elevator we went up.

To the right you could enter the very narrow parking garage. We just barely could fit our Ford Escort.

Dad's Ford Fiesta that we had to borrow to drive to Italy from The Netherlands, fit a lot better!

That's where we lived. Close to Venice in the Veneto Region.

Cornuda in the Province of Treviso, in Italy.

I did use Google maps because each time when we flew over this region, the weather was not clear enough and our cameras not good enough...

That's the map of Italy and you can see the snow in the Alps above.

Driving to the south to Sicily was as far as driving north to The Netherlands.

Italy is a very long, stretched out country!

The yellow marked places are Cornuda, below, where we lived. Pederobba where we worked and where the office was with two big mushroom farms and packaging. Quero, where yet another mushroom farm was, an older one.

That was in the mountains, on the foothills of the Dolomites and along the river Piave. 

I've never had a more romantic drive, very scenic, to my work as in the spring of 1989 when I drove to Quero.

By the way, Pieter was in the hospital of Valdobiadene, that's where artist Mirella SOTGIU made that beautiful chalk drawing from me. See link to that post below.

Here you could reach the back of the apartment and the parking garages, very limited in number though! To the left you still see the two balconies that were ours.

Stepping back from the apartments. You see there is parking adjacent to the building and that's what we had to use mostly. There was a dirt road going up the hill to an old farmstead with horse stables. We have walked up there several times. It is mountainous.

Here you get a little bit of an idea about the hilly part.

This is from another angle, from a side street. The two left balconies at the top was where we lived.

Below the apartment were shops.

Here I've marked the bottom of our balconies 'yellow'... that gives again a view up.

Shops below and also showing the parking places.

This is just around the corner and I only wanted to show the shop Rosetto where before was a gift shop for luxury items. There I sold lots of my imports in consignment. The lady was saddened when I left...

Zooming in on the streetlevel I used the Google map from this link. Interesting how we still can visit places where we lived by using Google! At the time we worked and lived in Italy we have made very few photos. Studying in the beginning each day a lesson Dutch-Italian and working 6-days a week did not leave much space for other things. But we enjoyed living there for almost one year. Not so much the fact that building there had to be following the rules for the earthquake region. That meant we had to put as much 'money' in the ground as above by constructing with big concrete pillars in the ground, a thick concrete foundation and all walls had to be very thick concrete as well. We went back to Georgia, USA where we have no earthquakes... But we miss the shopping as Italy is the best country for design, for jewelry, for leather goods like shoes and hand bags and also for lingerie... The food part we can find here in Dublin, Georgia as well and we are lucky with our Italian friend and Lady Chef Maria from Ristorante da Maria.

Related link:
{HELP ME FIND ITALIAN ARTIST M. SOTGIU mother of Luigi Tramarollo} | previous post by me with photos from the River Piave
{YES, I did find the Italian artist who did my chalk drawing!} | previous post by me