{Fleur de Lys Filet Crochet designed by Mariette's Back to Basics}

Finally I get to show you some of my Filet Lace Crocheted curtains that I've designed.

Designed on October 2, 1999 and Pieter advised me to alternate the Fleur de Lys instead of working in rows. Great tip and so I drew it out.

This is a very special Fleur de Lys in loving memory of a dear friend Donna Rae Canady.
Handmade filet lace by Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder

The very curtain is hanging at the side entrance door of the antebellum home of Donna Rae's son.

Kelly with his charming wife Janice is running this romantic place, called: Page House Bed and Breakfast. 

On Sunday, September 5th my dear friend of 45 years (!) Ellie with husband Mathieu joined me for Brunch here. 

They arrived the very day that my love Pieter had his heart attack. But we had something to be grateful for that Sunday, as Pieter came out of his open heart surgery fine. So after Mass we went here together for an elegant brunch. 

 Here, Ellie & Mathieu stand in front of the main entrance at Page House Bed and Breakfast.

This photo I took from the side entrance, where my Fleur de Lys curtain is hanging.

This is taken from the inside where you can see the beautiful Tiffany style stained glass windows with the Fleur de Lys. 

That's why I designed them this way.

Photo taken by my husband Pieter; who had a dinner meeting at The Page House on August 30. 

How much has happened since then... 

This is again taken on Monday evening, by Pieter.

You might want to read this blog by Katie from Le Beau Paon Victorian, about Historic homes as she describes so well the architrave and such!

Photos above are both taken on Sunday morning at brunch time.  Bottom photo with flash; very hard to capture, whether day or night...

Hand Crocheted lace curtain I made with French DMC Cébélia Crochet Thread, mercerized crochet cotton.

{HOME SWEET HOME}

Sweet it is; especially for having your true love HOME again. 

Now already for the 4th day home, after the discharge from the Heart Institute, following  his open heart surgery on September 3.

He's in extreme good condition and healing well. Of course with the help of some opiates for suppressing the pain... 

After all he's been opened up by cutting through all of his ribs, and that has to heal. The incisions in his left leg where they took the vein grafts for his 4 bypasses, they must heal too. 

So glad that the temporarily pacemaker, inserted through his groin area, could be removed too on Saturday a week ago, for it proved to be of no need after surgery.

So grateful for living in such a great country where we have access to the best medical care. 

Especially on a day as today, 9/11 where we remember all those that were not so fortunate in 2001. 

We are feeling blessed for living in this nation, as new American citizens. Pieter just had turned 17, on April 23 and I myself will turn 17 on December 3rd... 

It's like getting a second chance at LIFE. 

Now for Pieter, it has even far more meaning. So glad we lived here and not in the Old World, in The Netherlands where access to medical help is far more restricted and you must deal with waiting lists... that might have you end up in heaven instead. 

Even our birds have very romantic dwellings of their own...

In the back you see our gazebo.
Click on photo to enlarge for better view.

View from our Veranda, see here: {French Floral Pillow Set and our Gazebo}, through the screen door with Victorian gingerbread from Vintage Woodworks. Click on the two hyperlinks for more views from our Veranda and also here: {Tuesday May 4, dinner with friends}
.

Let's hope there is a new Outlook on Life for Pieter; after his healing time...

Photo from Pieter taken before this ordeal, from our balcony...
May there be many more P.J.C. Vedder's Publications from my hand; not by him about mushrooms but about our Blissful Relationship!

{Heart from Station 88}

Today was a HAPPY day as I came home with husband Pieter from the Heart Institute and in the mail I received another heart from Astrid. Station 88...

On August 31, she did mail me one of the little gifts; besides the three winners.

That was before Pieter had his heart attack on September 2nd. 

His open heart surgery was on September 3, for his 4 bypasses and an angioplasty stent in his neck as well (a vascular stent).

Within 23 hours he already got removed from all tubes and went to a regular room... after 5 hours of surgery that was amazingly fast. They removed yesterday his drains and today they took the tube out where he had the angioplasty done. So I got him home with me. I've spent two nights with him in the hospital. 

Not easy when having a dear friend with her husband visiting at the time but she was a blessing too. Feels good for having someone home, someone who has been a loyal friend for 45 years.

Astrid topped it really off with her beautiful Rose card and her art work made from an old book's page in Old German, the language I have learned too at high school, besides the regular High German. 

Astrid had no idea we would be heaving all these heart issues... 

But it was the most touching little gift for the moment...

♥ Heartfelt THANKS Astrid!

♥ Herzlichen DANK Astrid!

Related link:

{BIG HEART ON THE MEND} | previous post by me