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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html
Showing posts with label Singing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singing. Show all posts

Monday, May 22, 2023

Patriotic Service // Dublin FMC | May 21, 2023

     Of course this year I could not lend my soprano voice for this performance but proudly share it here.
My Pieter managed to go and he sure enjoyed it—even more so after all we've been through and still are going.

Sorry, when I finally wanted to view this myself, as I was able to, it had been changed to private by one brilliant person because of issues with the cross and flames—and that 21 days AFTER performance!

Sunday, May 21, 2023


Well, it seems back but with very weak sound...

ENJOY

Pieter J.C. Vedder is seen under fern, below flag...

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Dad's Unique Royal Dutch Singers' Association Certificate for 80 Years Singing

 Yes, exactly on the day of his death, Dad would have been a singer for 81 years!
Dad joined the Church Choir at the age of 17 and soon he became a member of the Horster Mannenkoor (Men's choir) as a First Tenor.
In 1988 Dad (left) got honored as one of the Golden Quintet members...
1998 Dad (right) got honored as one of a quartet for 60 years singing.
On his lapel, Dad now proudly displayed his Royal Dutch Singers' Association pin in honor of his 60 years as a singer.
In 2008, Dad got serenaded by the Horster Mannenkoor and received his Royal Dutch Singers' Association Certificate for 70 years singing.
Photo courtesy of one of my siblings in The Netherlands
In 2013, Dad obtained another Royal Dutch Singers' Association Certificate for 75 years being a singer...
Again they got serenaded by the other members of the Horster Mannenkoor (photo courtesy of one of my siblings in The Netherlands).
Mom is beaming and she received a bouquet of flowers.
Mom is wearing my Majorica pearls that we gifted her in December of 1983.
On Friday, June 29 of 2018, Dad received his Nationally UNIQUE Royal Dutch Singers' Association Certificate for 80 years being a singer...
This time without Mom, as she passed away on January 27, 2015
Dad beaming himself, when he got recognized and awarded the above Certificate and an engraved Pewter Plate.
This engraved pewter plate came home with me from my final trip to Limburg...
Very hard to capture it, so I took it outside.
PIET VAN DEN MUNCKHOF
80 JAAR LID (80 YEARS MEMBER)
HORSTER MANNENKOOR
JULI 2018 (JULY 2018)
~
COPPERSMITHING
P. VAN DER BEELE
HORST, LIMBURG/THE NETHERLANDS
ETAIN — TIN — ZINN — PEWTER (French — Dutch — German — English)
97% by KIS KIN 
Made in Belgium
Now it resides in our home in Georgia, with the 2nd born child of 8 and the ONLY one singing...
My Paternal Grandma sang first soprano, Dad first tenor, Mom first soprano for over 25 years with the elderly choir.
My Mother–in–law (my paternal Grandma's best friend) sang also in a choir as alto.

Fond memories...

Related links:
Limburg — The Emotional Part | previous post by me about my FINAL TRIP HOME 
From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me about Dad's performance ONE MONTH before his death...
Thank You Lord — Horster Mannenkoor | previous post by me about Dad singing
Soon Ah Will Be Done With The Troubles Of The World | previous post by me about Dad singing
Dad Sang Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod | previous post by me about Dad singing
Thinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia | previous post by me about Dad singing
Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary | previous post by me about Dad singing
{W.A. Mozart Composed this Heavenly Mass in C, K 167 at Age 17} | previous post by me about Dad happily anticipating Mass sung by Horster Mannenkoor
Auf der Heide blühn die letzten Rosen | Youtube video where Dad sings when he was half a year widower...
{My Daddy - Papa} | previous post by me and mention about Dad singing a solo at the Church of our friends here in Dublin...

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Heart and Kidney Update after Hyperkalemia

 The week before Christmas was the worst one for me...
Suddenly got so weak and sick—vomiting even after three sips of water!
SO, I learned to lay low and REST and pray.
Because I still wanted to make it to Florida—where I'd booked us already in October—those 7 free nights for points.
And YES, I did make it to drive to Florida on December 26, and I only needed REST, vitamin D from swimming, walking and biking.
Eating healthy and finding my way out of this.
Well, my nephrologist had SHOCKED me on December 19, when he delivered the news that from 28% kidney function in June, now it only was 25%... and I had a heart murmur!
~
While I was sick, I called my nephrologist's office twice but no person on the line!
A nurse on a recording and she never bothered to call me back.
But I started analyzing things on my own and learned a LOT.
This by the way is me on the scale before breakfast, on my B'day and in my B'day suit—haha!
49.7 kg or 109.5 lb.
Just wanted to SEE if it was true what I felt...
Yep, only 66 cm or 26 inches.
Aha—that's WHY my 28 inch low rise jeans from Australia (Last Call by Neiman Marcus) FELL OFF MY HIPS!
Pieter solved it, by adding 3 more holes in his former belt that I used...
Guess the week before Christmas I suffered from Hyperkalemia and for that I've drastically changed my diet.
I knew that I had to limit my potassium intake but since my kidney function went down—it is even more serious to strictly adhere to that!
Hyperkalemia from any cause may produce nausea and vomiting... as published by healthfully.com
Guess that was also why it was affecting my heart, causing palpitations when running up and down the stairs and very much I felt it in Colorado at the high altitude pedestrian bridge...
Pieter said, he's having that problem already very long and that's why he alters his pace and needs frequent rests.
Weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness all have been felt.
Sure, as being advised by the Mayo Clinic—I knew already those 3 points:
Avoid products with added salt.
Choose lower potassium foods.
Limit the amount of protein you eat.
The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that as potassium increases, people are likely to notice muscle aches and cramps, fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, nausea...
Mayo Clinic about Kidney Disease Symptoms.
Loss of appetite I've never had and I sure hope not any decreased mental sharpness...! 
All the REST—YES except swelling of feet and ankles.
Such lists are helpful in knowing what to avoid!
No more coffee...!
CHOCOLATES! Good grief... and even salt substitutes!
Sure milk I have not taken for quite a while, only Trader Joe's soy milk as that has the LOWEST percentage of sugar—another thing to watch being diabetes type 2.
With fruits I'm fine—still a lot left to enjoy!

But I'm feeling a LOT BETTER since I've altered my diet.
Not for losing weight but purely to SURVIVE just a little longer...

Maybe this will be helpful for others as well.
My singing with the choir goes better—as I have more breath!
AND on February 1st my housekeeper started and that is super as now I find more time for doing the laundry, the shopping, the cooking + biking!

There is hope and with lots of prayers we have made it this far and even together in a blissful relationship.
May God grant us some more time together—so grateful for everything we lived through and for the fond memories and many friends all over the world!

Related link:
{Cashmere Words of Wisdom & Update} | previous post shortly after Mom died from Chronic Kidney Disease—she had almost 7 years of dialysis...

Monday, January 30, 2023

MOST PRECIOUS GIFT OF LOVE for both of us—MOM'S REQUIEM on VIDEO One Hour Later

 Not being able to be present at the funeral of Mom due to Pieter having had another heart attack and I myself having still therapy for my left hand—felt devastating.
But my BEST Friend Ellie went to the funeral with her daughter Elvira (our Goddaughter) and Elvira's husband had asked his boss permission for using the professional video camera—so he could capture Mom's Solemn Gregorian Requiem Mass


No words can describe what this meant to both of us for being able to watch it on my Mac just over an hour later...
Below this video on YouTube you find clickable links with explanation in English and way below also in Dutch.
Dad did select the special Kyrie Eleison deliberately as Mom sang it as a 1st soprano with the elderly choir for more than 25 years and for some 18 years with Dad together in the same choir.
~
Both of us were in The Netherlands on October 11, 1997 and went to Mass where Mom & Dad for the FIRST time ever—sang together in the elderly choir. Quite a historical fact.

Related links:
My Angel Sister who Died TWICE | previous post by me about the denial by my sister to give Dad an equally solemn Gregorian Requiem Mass... Just now I can finally post Mom's Requiem Mass and for the rest we can only PRAY for those that denied this to my Dad
Thinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia | previous post by me where Mom & Dad sing: I Pray To the Power of Love and what the choir also sang at Mom's Requiem Mass at clickable link 46:55
{February 21, 2014 Tornado in our Subdivision} | previous post by me—Tornado while we went to Mom & Dad's Wedding Anniversary...

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Thank You Lord — Horster Mannenkoor

 Just like to share another song that my Dad loved to sing with his Horster Mannenkoor in Horst, Limburg/The Netherlands.
He has been a great 1st tenor—Dad's voice is easily heard!
In begin 1990s Dad gave us a cassette tape with some of the songs they sang.
Did digitalize a few of those songs—wish I had the original but this already made my singing heart happy...
Enjoy:
Dad is seen 2nd from left, bottom row and my Uncle Jan is on the left.
Horster Mannenkoor during their Mass for 100 years Horster Men's Choir November 9, 1894–1994 at the St. Lambertus Church in Horst, Limburg / The Netherlands
THANK YOU LORD:
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free
Thank you Lord, Thank you Lord

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free 
Thank you Lord, my Lord

Related links:
Soon Ah Will Be Done With The Troubles Of The World | previous post by me about Dad singing with Horster Mannenkoor
Dad Sang Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod | previous post by me about Dad singing solo
Thinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia | Dad also sang Thank You Lord with Pieter at the organ

Friday, October 14, 2022

Soon Ah Will Be Done With The Troubles Of The World

 A DREAM for present times...
Dad used to sing this with the Horster Mannenkoor!
A younger Dad in 1974—ready to go and SING with his Horster Mannenkoor in Horst, Limburg/The Netherlands.
He has been a great 1st tenor.
In begin 1990s Dad gave us a cassette tape with some of the songs they sang.
Did digitalize a few of those songs—wish I had the original but this already made my singing heart happy...
Enjoy:
When viewed on YouTube you can also read the lyrics below...

Related links:
Dad Sang Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod | previous post by me about Dad singing solo
Thinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia | Dad also sang Thank You Lord with Pieter at the organ

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Roast Beef Canapés

 For our Christmas Party with the Chancel Choir I prepared these: 
The finished ROSES of Roast Beef Canapés...
Did not have any marygold flowers for garnishing as in the magazines photo below.
Roast Beef Canapés - Victoria Magazine September 2021 recipe in comment click on link to my Pinterest board ROSES as FOOD
On a sheet of parchment I put the baguette slices and brushed them with olive oil.
Into the oven for 15 minutes on 370℉
While they cooled down, I made the rosettes.
From the thin sliced ¼ pound of roast beef I started cutting each slice in half.
That was NOT mentioned in the recipe however but I figured this out by looking at the roast beef 'roses'.
Next each half needs to be folded over and then rolled into a roast beef rosette...
With a small butter knife I spread the mayonaise mixture on each crostino.
Fanning out three pieces of arugula on mixture, before placing the roast beef rosettes.
Using the Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay tray...
It was fun creating these edible roses!
One of our Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay vases... with a placemat from Le Jacquard Français.

Wishing you Peace during this time of the year!

Related link:
{Wishing YOU a Happy 4th Advent 2013!} | previous post by me with info Mason's Mandalay at Christie's

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Nothing is more Heavenly than Händel's Messiah

 Once more I enjoyed singing in Händel's Messiah, did so with Pieter together in 1995 in a community concert.
Georg Friedrich Händel was German by birth but lived and performed in England.
There is no better language than music and especially this masterpiece, for touching ones soul...
First United Methodist Church Christmas Concert 2021 ←click link to YouTube video from TV35 WDIG!
Our organist Zachary Golden is visible in the mirror, next to our director M. Dwain Little...
Second from left, I'm visible... our soprano corner.
Händel Messiah
Chancel Choir and Orchestra
Tenor Collin LaHood who traveled from Macon to join us.
Matthew Kersey also traveled quite a distance for teaming up with us to sing his solo pieces.
Matthew Kersey ended up singing the parts of Elizabeth Colemann as she was unable to be with us...
Matthew is an excellent choral educator who studied at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
Soprano Cindy Claxton did an excellent job singing her solos.
Soprano Kathy Jones, as usual did an excellent job!
Our Orchestra:
Erica Cliett, Oboe
Jeremy Messenger, Trumpet
Mark Lee, Trumpet
Richard Horne, Timpani
Zachary Golden, Organ
Ben Cork, Violin
Julia Sellman, Violin
Amanda Zhang, Violin
Brant Harlacher, Cello
Our Director M. Dwain Little put a lot of time and effort into this and it was worth it!
Pieter said, he would not have wanted to MISS these two performances.
It makes one happy and most people appreciated it.
Such a joy to perform for others, to enjoy Händel's Masterpiece.
The final part of Hallelujah was well received and turned into a sing along for some.
~
Merry Christmas to ALL!

Related link:
LOVED singing in Händel's Messiah | previous post by me from 2018

Monday, December 6, 2021

Dad Sang Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod

 One of the many digitalized treasures I've come upon, is this almost complete Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod, sung by my Dad on October 9, 1994.
Husband Pieter joined Dad and the neighborhood choir AMC, as they sang during a Mass by request of then Roman Catholic Pastor Thijssen, the brother of Dad's neighbor, for videotaping segments.
This was at the Onze Lieve Vrouw Geboorte (Our Lady's Birth) Roman Catholic Church that had been restored after the damage from WWII.
A building by architect Pierre Cuypers 1827-1921.
In 1236 there was already a small Romanesque style Church.
In 1460 a new Gothic style Church got built on this site.
In 1869, during the demolition of the old Church, a Roman tri-god stone was discovered, dedicated to Minerva, Hercules and Juno. 
The stone served as a pedestal for a Jupiter column and is considered one of the most beautiful in the Province of Limburg.


This was inside the beautiful Roman Catholic Church alongside the River Meuse...


Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboortekerk (Kessel) click link

Dad's Avé Maria is quite appropriate with the upcoming Feast of Immaculate Conception on December 8!

Avé Maria (Bach/Gounod). In 1853, French composer Charles Gounod improvised on Johann Sebastian Bach's piano music from 1722

Ave Maria gratia plena
Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus
Sancta Maria, Sancta Maria
Maria, ora pro nobis, nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora, in hora mortis nostrae
Amen
Amen

Hail Mary, full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus
Holy Mary, Holy Mary pray for us
Us sinners, now and in the hour of our death
Amen...
If we do not live, speak and think in the language of enchantment, including naming angels and recognizing spirits... then the soul will go out of our lives and communities, and we will wonder why nothing seems to hold together and nothing seems to have value anymore. ~Thomas Moore

Especially at present times we need this!
Wishing you and your family a meaningful Advent Season

*Dad started singing in the Church choir at the age of 17, and later joined the Horster Mannenkoor (the big choir). Dad received two royal awards for being 70 years and 80 years a singer; unique for The Netherlands.
Dad only joined Mom's elderly choir Levensvreugd on October 9, 1997 at the age of 76... as he never felt being an elderly... 😉

Related link:
{Mary The Most Powerful Woman in the World} | previous post by me
{Vintage Religious Paper Lace from France and Immaculate Conception} | previous post by me
From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me
AMC koor op zondag 9 Oktober 1994, H. Mis in Kessel, Limburg | longer video

Monday, November 22, 2021

Thinking about Mom and Dad on Saint Cecilia

 Saint Cecilia is the Patron Saint of Musicians


Above video from Easter Saturday, April 6, 1996 is a nice musical medley with Mom & Dad and Pieter first playing the keyboard and later playing the organ.
Keep in mind, this is just IMPROMPTU...
The video can best be viewed on YouTube, so you can read the text below, where I've better explained with clickable points.

Songs being partly sung are: Thank You Lord (Dad) with Pieter playing the organ.
Dad with Mom and our friend singing 'Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe', a German song 'I pray to the power of love' by Russian composter Dmitri Bortniansky (1751 - 1825) and text by Gerhard Tersteegen (1697 - 1825).
Next is Guten Abend, Gute nacht (Good evening, good night – Brahms lullaby (1868).
German – Strophe 1:  
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
mit Rosen bedacht,
mit Näglein besteckt,
schlupf unter die Deck':
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.

Strophe 2:
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
von Englein bewacht,
die zeigen im Traum
dir Christkindleins Baum.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
schau im Traum 's Paradies.

English – Stanza 1:
Good evening, and good night,
With roses adorned,
With carnations covered,
Slip under the covers.
Early tomorrow, so God willing,
you will wake once again.

Stanza 2:
Good evening, and good night.
By angels watched,
Who show you in your dream
the Christ-child's tree.
Sleep now peacefully and sweetly,
see the paradise in your dream.                            
                     
Pieter also gets summoned by our friend to play How Great Thou Art (which Dad never had heard...).
Video is ending on Easter Sunday at home and it shows that Pieter could not refrain from pulling some weeds!!! 

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Dad Sang Solo on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary

 On Saturday, February 26, 1949 Mom & Dad got married by Dad's Maternal Uncle; Heeroom

Back then, they were not allowed to get married during Lent. Ash Wednesday was on March 2nd; Easter on April 17.

Mom & Dad after Church back at her Parents' place where they celebrated.
Posing against a straw mat here. Still remember the many uses of those mats, back in the 1950s.
Mom's black georgette dress in a size 6, or 36 European.
She was very slim back then and also taller.
Got this photo via FB from my First Cousin Maria Van Hoek-Gielen (her Mom was my Mom's sister).
Professional photos made earlier at a studio
Photo from Heeroom, on his second departure to Timor, Indonesia on April 21, 1949, less than two months after he blessed Mom & Dad's matrimony.
He was one of my most favorite people and I've written him several letters over the years.
On the day of our arrival, our final visit to Dad in The Netherlands, we talked a lot about Heeroom.
With quite some research, I've found lots of information about him.
He died because of acute kidney problems, while at a conference in Manilla, Philippines and got buried there. Will write more about Heeroom later!
Dad was taking his nap, but he jumped up to show us the photos from Heeroom's solemn requiem Mass and burial. 
Dad greatly admired Heeroom, he was very proud of him and talked fondly about him.
Sad, that my siblings did not give Dad his appropriate requiem Mass, just as Dad organized for Mom, where his fellow choir members could have sung... 
Dad, who got his Royal Certificates for being a Choir Member for exactly 81 years to the date of his death. He got a Certificate for 70 and 80 years; unique in The Netherlands!
Half a Century later...
Ready for Church... Mother and 2nd born daughter (me).
Wearing my Escada suit that I found at the Chattanooga, Tennessee Escada Outlet.
St. Lambertus, the Catholic Church in Horst, The Netherlands
Above in this photo you view some 14th and 15th Century art work, rescued from the bombed Church.
Taken on Mom & Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass.
As per Mom & Dad's request—I was the lay reader for their solemn 50th Anniversary Mass.
The Horster Mannenkoor sang, visible to the right.
That was the section where in my schooldays, the children were seated!
Walking back to the pew, to join Pieter and my siblings.
Dad's First Cousin made a video during Mass, brother Martin Van den Munckhof made the photos.
Sadly, their 55th, 60th and 65th Wedding Anniversary has not been celebrated with a Mass.
My sister Diny talked Mom & Dad out of that... only to rectify her own actions we think.
~
Husband Pieter did make a video during reception in the restaurant.
We first had coffee with pie, then dinner and afterwards the reception started.
Coffee and pie is being served during reception as well as alcoholic beverages and others.
This was the A.M.C. choir from the neighborhood. Dad's big choir had already given a serenade before these came to sing.
Toon Smits of the A.M.C. choir (Afhang – Middelijk) gently announces that they want to sing 'Wetscherni Swon', 'Evening Bells' as a closing for them at the reception of Mom & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary.
Dad says, I happen to have that song in 'my pocket'... and he takes a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and sings his 'favorite solo'...
Evening bells (dong, dong)
Evening bells (dong, dong)
How many thoughts (dong, dong)
They arouse! (dong, dong)
O youthful days (dong, dong)
Where I was born and bred (dong, dong)
Where I first loved (dong, dong)
Where Father's house stands (dong, dong)
And now how I, (dong, dong)
On forever parting (dong, dong)
Have heard the bells (dong, dong)
For my last time (dong, dong).
~
Those Russians knew something about melancholic sounding songs... This is a very old one from 1828.
Dad sang several Slavic songs, they all were his favorites!

Related posts:
My Angel Sister who Died TWICE 
Classic Escada Skirt Suit with Silk Gucci Scarf
{There You Go Again... Update}

AMC op 50 jarig huwelijk Papa & Moeke Van den Munckhof—video by Pieter J.C. Vedder | longer video

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