{Do YOU all know Our Nations Oldest City - St. Augustine, Florida?}

Have you ever read about St. Augustine, Florida? 
That is our nation's oldest city!
On September 8, 1565 Menéndez set foot ashore of Florida...
Since then, Pieter and I have visited St. Augustine numerous times!
Just want to show you here some precious photos from Old Tyme Photo, taken in October a decade ago.
On the left: Toon (Anthony) Vedder, myself and Pieter Vedder my husband.  The photographer made us look the part and no glasses were allowed.

It was so hilarious the way they fit you into these costumes. The men were wearing their shorts and sandals but these pants had NO backs; they're just half pieces that are strapped around the waist. 
I laughed my head off, as it was no sight from behind!
The owner did not let me take this humor in with my video camera...
But it is forever etched onto my retina.
The hats were for real though.

My skirt was another genius garment. It was just a wide piece of never-ending cloth with a waistband at the top; no seems! 
It would fit from a size 4 (34) to size 24 (64) and close with some velcro.
Toon Vedder invented that we all were the wealthy owners of the Magnolia Plantation.
I can tell you that looks can be very deceiving...

These photos are treasures now, as Toon did go to heaven in September of 2006

{World Animal Day started in 1931 in Florence, Italy}

October 4 is chosen as World Animal Day as it is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of  Animals.

Just like to introduce you to my previous beloved pets...

This is our canine Mauzie, my female Dachshund who actually came with me from The Netherlands to the USA!

Mauzie with Mira the Guinea pig in the doll beds that I had for my nieces.

A younger me with Mira and Mauzie.

Mauzie in the spring in The Netherlands. Photo taken by my brother Martin Van den Munckhof

My first kitten; Bartje - in  The Netherlands.

 Mauzie did travel with us to Paris in France, with my parents who joined us for a day. They always had to work during peak season in the greenhouses but I've helped them each summer during vacation with the harvest of gherkins, tomatoes or English cucumbers.

Here Mauzie enjoys herself in the Mediterranean Sea in the South of France. Mauzie actually won a prize for this photo; a dog breed encyclopedia... I had to be very fast to catch her as she swam back ashore, before she reached the sand.

Mauzie and Bartje with oldest nephew Eddy and oldest niece Monique.

 Monique loved Bartje to pieces!

Both, Mauzie and Bartje did sleep together in their oak pet bed with goose down duvet...

Pieter letting Mauzie help unpack something—which she loved!

She did live exactly two years with us in the USA and has traveled to numerous states with us.

Our very kind vet came to our home for putting her to sleep, she had cancer... age 12.5 but what a wonderful life she lived. MISS her.  

{205 Winfield Road Then and Now}

On August 27, I did blog about {Our home of almost 20 years}. 

Today I want to show you how we got started...

On February 15 of 1990, we had our contractor start with the preparation of our lot.

It is on a slope, bordered by a creek and rather swampy...

But, being Dutch by birth, we knew how to reclaim the land. 

So with heavy machinery they started moving certain trees. 

Then digging a pond which Pieter had planned, for using the dug up soil to fill in other areas.

Here I walk on the left, we had still our rental car from the Atlanta airport. 

We'd come back from living and working in Italy. 

Our containers had not yet arrived. 

They came in, a couple of days later with our cars and all our furniture etc. 

We would start working and living in Indonesia in March...

You can see the slope of the lot. To my right is the creek; naturally the lowest area. 

Strange for us, coming from the Old World, to start on land where NEVER any human being had lived nor cultivated this soil...

 We had to reclaim it ourselves!

Heavy equipment was put to use...

A little bit to the right of the center, you can see our pond being born... 

Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Now it is May, we did come back to the USA after each two month period of work.

This is the progress since they started clearing off in mid February. 

The pond is visible here and there is a ditch dug to connect it with the creek so it could fill up. 

Since then, there is an overflow, whenever we have a heavy rain the excess water goes into the creek via a drain pipe.

This is the pond in August of 1990 when we came again to the USA from Indonesia. 

Here is about the same spot at the end of March in 2007.

Notice how much that oak tree to the left has grown!

Needless to say how much of landscaping we've done in 20 years, quite a mega task.

But everything is possible; as long as you have a plan and the necessary will power to execute it!

Related links:

{Walk Our Wood Trail With Me + Helen Curtis Azalea} | Post by me with more views