{10 Hand Painted Wild Mushroom Plates by A. Zen Nove, ITALY}

In the year 1989 we both lived and worked in Italy, in the Veneto region.

Working then for Funghi del Montello in Pederobba we had received over the years special art work:
Handpainted wild mushroom plates done by artist A. Zen Nove in a limited edition of 100 plates annually. We got all ten and just as we joked about where to hang more of them; they quit producing them...

The special friendship with the Sartor family exists already for two generations. 

We have very fond memories of Italy!

Psalliota Pratensis

Pleurotus Ostreatus most of you will know as it is also grown commercially.

Armillaria Mellea

Amanita Caesarea

Boletus Edulis, Porcino

Cantharellus Cibarius

Coprinus Comatus—a delicious variety that we cultivated at the Dutch Practical Training Center for Mushroom Growing.

Russula Cyanoxantha

Morchella Deliciosa

Lactarius Deliciosus

Hand painted by A.  Zen Nove in a limited edition of 100 for each year.

{Do YOU love Pansies?}

Today it's time to introduce to you my adorable wooden jewelry trunk; beautiful composition with pansies. Done by artist friend Françoise Kiéné Aced from France. It is for sale at: Spectrenoir. There you also find more info about it.
Unique French Country Style gift!

Françoise Kiéné Aced put her initials on her artwork as usual.

Very unique French Country Style art!

{Miracle in Chile - the country where we both got married!}

This was such a GREAT MOMENT for having watched the life rescue of number 33; the GREAT LEADER of the Chilean miners.

By now, all the rescuers have also been hoisted back to surface...
President Sebastián Piñera, together with his wife Cécilia Morel, has shown the world to be a very warm and compassionate leader!
There were more viewers worldwide, than for the Olympics and they all got a great sense about family values by watching this unfold. A nation came together in prayer and in support!

For both of us, Chile is a very special country as we received our Matrimonial Blessings there.
In the south of Chile near Osorno.

With a Mapuche Indian couple as our witnesses...
 Padre Juan, a Capuchin Priest, blessed our rings and Pieter puts mine on here above.

And now you may kiss the bride...

Next day we did go from Mission of Cuinco near Osorno, to Puerto Montt. Padre Juan is pointing out the typical regional crafts of those Mapuche Indians.

From Puerto Montt (lower left corner) we drove to Puerto Varas and then we drove along Lago Llanquihue and Lago Todos Los Santos for some spectacular views of all the volcanoes. Just click on this image to enlarge.

For the viewer, behind us you can look into Argentina.
The great glaciated Mount Tronador peaks out to the left of Pieter...

Lake Todos los Santos, which is together with neighboring Lake Llanquihue - the second largest lake in Chile - the best known. Again Mount Tronador is visible.

The soil is old lava...

Here you see the Mount Osorno which is known world wide as a symbol of the local landscape, and is noted for its similar appearance to Mount Fuji.

Bye - bye Mount Osorno, bye Lago Llanquihue and Lago Todos los Santos, bye Chile...