About Me

My photo
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 Commercial 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

Saturday, July 2, 2011

{Parcel from Greece with Regal Gift}

Well, the first day of July was a special one. Parcels arrived with some replacements of our favorite plants and a special one from Greece... Will tell about the plants later! Let's go first to Greece, to the country so rich in culture and yet with so many problems right now. In a way, they're not unique as we are heading fast into the same direction. But I'm not going to write about our economy.
This was a happy parcel from a dear new friend, a kindred spirit, who was meant to cross my path.
Things do happen for a reason; no doubt! Following Catherine's blog Corner of Cat's Mind I got to meet Joan from God's Little People and I happened to be her 100th follower. Her reply to that was: 'I would love to send you a little something from my own creative creations as a celebration of my 100th follower'... So a parcel left Greece on June 16 but got kind of stranded in Athens because of a strike... Today, the post master did ring the doorbell and asked my signature for a parcel from Greece! First I was amazed at the beautiful, large stamps. Well, I did collect stamps as a little girl and whenever my Great-Uncle 'Heeroom' send us a letter from his mission in Kupang on the Island of Timor, Indonesia, I was studying those stamps in detail. That's how you learn a lot about a given country. Greece has never been on my list of countries visited, only my brother, the author, has been there several times with his family. But now I held a parcel in my hands from over there...
The parcel got roughed up along the way...
Beautiful handwriting... this always does reveal so much about a person.
So sorry that Joan did send it via Express but due to the strike it got here after 2 weeks...
Beautiful handwriting again caught my eye... lovely way of wrapping and a meaningful card with letter inside.
I took it out on the balcony for making these photos.
Joan is such a kind lady as she is rescuing felines and giving them love and veterinarian treatment... A person with a big heart! You have to visit her blog... A reward would be to follow this extraordinary person.
She certainly did create PEACE for those lucky felines that, through her, got to know for the first time in their life LOVE and shelter.
Joan too has studied fashion for three years and she did run for 13 years her own small design company, designing bags and accessories... So this one she created for me. Beautiful silk crêpe de chine and lined in a leopard print silk.
Look at the elegant golden lobster claw and the slide buckle with rhine stones!
Ha, did she know I had an Escada hair calf skirt with leopard and tiger print?
Or that our felines dress up for formal occasions in a leopard bow-tie? Telepathy it looks like!
Unbelievable...
Look again at that lobster claw and the slide buckle.
And realizing that this poor beauty has been smashed inside a parcel for two weeks...
Once more, it made me almost speechless for the way it matches my wardrobe.
Oh and this silk Escada blouse to the right in leopard print, and the big square Escada silk scarf that can be worn as a butterfly with the ends knotted and made into sleeves... How did she possibly know all this?!
Even with a golden magnetic snap closure, just like the haute couture bags are done.
Joan, I am without words and only can say THANK YOU  ever so much for such a treasure.
The material is regal and knowing it was designed and made by you makes it priceless!
Yes, Joan... my Mami is really without words! So she lets me finish the story. I'm one of those tiny felines, that you call 'God's Little People' and my name is Tiggy-Tiger. Mami said there was in the couture world a model who's name was Twiggy... So for a feline, Tiggy would work better. I am only a mere 6 pounds but I'm very smart and as hyper as they come... I can't even keep my bow-tie straight. Constantly moving and I gave Mami a hard time to capture me on camera.
Mami told me about your Noona and I am really worried about her. I pray that soon she will feel better and finally will know some love.
Oh, and Kimmie's fate made me really get down...
All I ever had was a tiny piece bitten out of my ear; that's nothing. My own fault because I went away to see other friends because my siblings did tease and nag me. Now I stay home more often, close to Mami. She was right but you know, I was young...
Would you PLEASE give Noona a paw for me?!
I soon want to hear from Mami that she's doing better.
All felines should have the life I have; I'm purrfectly happy you know!
By for now and thanks for making my Mami happy!!!

Friday, July 1, 2011

{Nature's Candy - Sweet Cherries}

On Wednesday we went to Atlanta to make our usual rounds at Costco; Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. At Costco we sure did stock up on fresh fruits of the season. Cherries of course and also yummy raspberries, apricots, nectarines and peaches. Especially those sweet cherries I love! Childhood nostalgia too. We had three cherry trees; early tart 'Meikersen' Early Richmond Cherry, 'Spekkersen' yellow Ranier cherries with a red blush and dark Hedelfinger cherries. Even after eating our lunch, there was always room for lots of fresh cherries! Just want to show you some of the sweet cherries we got at Costco.
Square baking dish is from Pillivuyt France. The silver pastry tongs with embossed rose are from Germany. A dear friend of mine, Johanna Gehrlein, did write a splendid book about the different patterns, called Rosen-Bestecke 
The tablecloth with the cherries is from Le Jacquard Français.
In our gazebo...
Here you see the Pillivuyt strawberry drainer with under plate, filled with juicy sweet cherries.
Pieter is capturing me on camera...
C'est si bon...

Thursday, June 30, 2011

{My 8th Blog Award - Sunshine from Japan}

From the talented Orchid in Japan I received this Sunshine Award on June the 24th. Just have a look at: Orchid's Daily Voice blog.  She is a lady I admire tremendously as she masters our English language so well. I say 'our' even though it is not my mother tongue either. The award goes together with revealing something about myself. Well, over time now I have revealed bits and pieces about little me. 
Probably you know by now that I love animals and also that both of us have always fought for the underdog. We found it always challenging to train the difficult-to-train by spending some extra time with them. It is so rewarding to see how they eventually do turn out after years of coaching and guiding. That makes ones heart swell for pride and joy. 
We went also numerous times to our Dublin Rotary Club's Leprosy Project in Indonesia, while working and living there. Providing the Club photos and video from what we encountered. Visiting the state hospital in Indonesia, with all the disfigured people. Such a biblical disease and still around in our time; claiming half a million new victims each year by leprosy infection. Sad fact that the Leprosy STIGMA is still alive and that people get ostracized...  And yet the world seems to turn away from it. Everyone is caught up in their social media toys and often one becomes more self-centered instead of reaching out. We feel enriched by having done so and we also are grateful for living the life we have, as we have seen so much misery... Living and or working in Indonesia, India, Chile, South Africa and Mexico has been a blessing in many ways!
Keeping up with that, I also want to pass this Sunshine Award on to five others by literally giving them some Sunshine in their difficult days. Are you joining me in visiting them and maybe giving them the gift of Following?
A big THANK YOU from my end for taking the time to do so.
Let's go...

  • Bea from Modern Country Lady who's needing some extra Sunshine for he days ahead as her 16-year old cat is having kidney failure.
  • Carolyn from Draffin Bears as she literally needs Sunshine for her winter days...
  • Johanna from Silber-Rosen needs some extra Sunshine.
  • Laura from Casita By The Lake who created Sunshine for her Down Syndrome niece...
  • Wendy from Once Upon a Rose Haven needs Sunshine as she just recently lost her Daddy...
Let's all be a little Sunshine for one another!

Related links:
{We saw FOUR Armadillos at Lunch Time!} | Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat, and are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas and Louisiana. - previous post by me 
{World Leprosy Day} | previous post by me


Copyright:

MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

213 Countries visited with 277 flags since:

free counters

Total Pageviews

Blog Archive

Google Analytics

Labels

4th of July (8) Accordion (8) Advent (24) ALL SAINTS DAY | ALL SOULS DAY (2) Aluminum Roofing (11) Amaretti cookies (15) American Airlines (4) American Mushroom Institute (2) Angels (123) Angels We Know By Name (12) Archiving (32) Arizona (19) Australia (25) Auto Immune Disease (12) Ava Grace's closet (10) Baccarat Crystal (65) Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate (8) Barlow Tyrie Capri Lounger (2) Bathing Suits (10) BB and L (4) Belgium (2) Benjamin Moore (14) Biking (34) Birthdays (39) Blissful Relationship (130) Blog Award (20) Blog Pageviews (15) Blogger I Admire (33) Blogger Tips (27) Bobèches (6) Bok Tower (3) Bridal Gowns (6) Britex Fabrics (12) Britex Notions (10) Bulgaria (3) Burberry (33) Burberry Tuxedo (6) Bypass Surgery (8) Cable Car (5) Camille Tharaud (9) Campbell Soup (42) Canada (31) Canada Rail Vacations (4) Candles (40) Carbon Footprint (10) Carillon (2) Cat Nurse (1) Cathedral/Basilica/Church (96) Ceramic Chandelier (6) Certified Podologist (2) Chanel (20) Chaperon (5) Cherubs (20) Childhood (19) Chile (7) China (15) Chocolate (33) Christie's (30) Christmas (63) Christofle (28) Christofle (Memoire) David Rosenberg (11) Chronic Kidney Disease (15) Citizen Journalism (10) CitizenM (2) Coffee Cup (5) Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass (8) Communism (15) Conference (35) Congress (29) Consulting (153) Costco (2) Countries visited (38) Courtesy (1) Croatia (1) Curaçao (14) D.S. Mullis (Author) (1) Dad (119) Damixa (7) Danish (6) Daughter (68) De Gaerde (1) Declaration of Independence (6) Delft Polychrome (1) Delftware houses (11) Delta Airlines (11) Denmark (2) Dessert (10) Diabetes (13) Diabetes type 2 (22) Diabetes type 2 Recipe (10) Dialysis (13) Dieng Plateau (2) Dining with Royalty (1) DMC (28) DNA (6) Doensen Sfeerhaarden (2) Domain Name (1) Door Décor (1) Doris Plaster (1) Down Duvets (6) Dupuytren's Contracture (3) Dutch American Heritage Day (5) Dutch King's Day (5) Dutch Queen's Day (4) Dweilen (3) Easter (27) Eco Friendly (31) Eco Storage (4) Edible flowers (11) Education (82) Edward Bok (6) Energy Star (10) England (17) Escada (143) Etiquette Training (5) Fairmont Hotels (16) Family (165) Family Memories (122) Filet Lace (12) Filet Lace Embroidered (4) First Lady Melania Trump (3) Fleur de Lys (11) France (6) FREEDOM (12) French (71) French Country Style (55) French Lavender Sachets (5) Friendship (279) From Pilgrim to President (2) Genocide (2) Georgia (36) Georgia State Flag (4) Germany (12) Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet (17) Gevaphone (4) Gift from Blogger Friend (36) Gillis Video (7) Giovanni Raspini Charms and Co (42) Giovanni Raspini Silver Desk Items (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Frames (11) Giovanni Raspini Silver Gifts (17) GIVEAWAY (23) Going Green (36) Graham H. Boonzaaier (5) Grand Canyon (4) Graze Picking (1) Hand Crocheted (106) Hand Embroidered (28) Hand Knitted (29) Hand made Lace (23) Happy New Year (10) Hawaii (5) Healthy Heart (21) Healthy heart recipe (27) Healthy Living (74) Heart Attack (19) Heeroom (13) Helicopter (2) Hermès (2) High Tea (8) Highlights of the Mississippi Cruise (8) Holocaust (1) Hong Kong (7) House Blessing (2) Hungary (16) Hurricane (4) Hyatt (121) I Will Follow Him (1) India (44) Indonesia (23) Interlock Metal Roofing (15) International Workshop & Seminar (2) Irok gallery (13) ISMS (34) Italy (58) Japan (7) Kashmir (9) Kichler Xenon Under Counter Lights (2) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (57) Kruisherenhotel (1) Lace (6) Lacquered Brass Window Decorations (14) Lampe Berger (11) Lampes Berger A Century of History by Gérald Vilcocq (10) Language (72) Last Call by Neiman Marcus (24) Lavender Sachet (4) Le Chameau (2) Le Jacquard Français (37) Leather Coat (4) Leather Garments Factory (12) Leather Shorts (2) Leather Skirt (3) Leather Vest (5) Leprosy Infection (5) Leprosy Project (10) Leprosy STIGMA (8) Limburg (51) Limoges (18) Limoges Table Lamp (7) Log Cabin (6) Logee's (12) Maharaja Amarinder Singh of Patiala (1) Mainstream Media (1) Margraten (6) Marl Caves (12) Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay (18) Maximum Baggage Weight (10) Meeting Blogger Friend (9) Mega Task (46) Memorial Day (8) Mexico (25) Miele (18) Millinery (13) Mom (135) Montblanc pens (1) Moral Compass (19) Mushroom Cultivation (72) Mushroom Editorial Review (24) Mushroom Quality Criteria (24) Mushroom Technology Transfer Seminar (10) Mushrooms Canada (4) Mushrooms in our Garden (21) My Boots (26) My French Connection (2) My Hats (18) My Publications (7) My Sewing Creation (55) Nativity Scene (6) New Netherland (3) New Orleans (11) New Orleans School of Cooking (2) New York City (28) Organ (15) Original Content (32) Ormolu (6) Our Balcony (17) Our Bathroom (8) Our Bird Feeders (10) Our Bird Houses (16) Our Bridges and Wood Trail (60) Our Canine (31) Our Dutch Clock (3) Our Felines (169) Our Fiberglass Window Boxes (34) Our Flower Bulbs (69) Our Flowering Shrubs (135) Our Flowering Trees (31) Our Flowering Vines (37) Our Flowers (63) Our Fragrant Flowers (175) Our Garden (60) Our Garden Critters (81) Our Gazebo (57) Our Greenhouse (22) Our Home (163) Our Life in Indonesia (76) Our Life in Italy (36) Our Magnolias (56) Our Palm Trees (20) Our Pet Squirrel (1) Our Pond (28) Our Pot Plants (52) Our Rose Arbor (5) Our Rose Suite (17) Our Roses (61) Our Shrubs (7) Our Trees (55) P.J.C. Vedder's Memoirs (278) P.J.C. Vedder's Publications (87) Patio (35) Pearls (28) People to People Citizen Ambassador Program (28) Plagiarism (6) Poem (1) Poinsettia (7) Poland (1) Pond's India (23) Pre-Diabetes (9) Prednisone (9) Princess Diana (10) Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold (32) Quotes (63) Religious Paper Lace (2) Relive (54) Replacements Ltd. (19) REPOUSSE Silver (10) Resilientista (31) Ristorante da Maria (35) Romania (5) Romantic Boxes with Pansies (2) Romantic Rose Boxes (7) Rose Jewelry (10) Rose silverware (65) Rose Stepping Stones (5) Roses (6) Rösle (7) Rotary International (6) Royal Mail (1) Saint Nicholas (13) Saint Valentine's Day (14) Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th (12) Santa Barbara Plantation (3) Santa Claus (12) Saving Energy (18) Scraped Content (9) Serbia (2) Servitude (1) Silver Knife Rests (19) Sinden Award (13) Singapore Airlines (1) Singing (38) Sinterklaas (10) Skiing (5) Socialism (8) South Africa (20) Spain (1) SPAWN MATE SYMPOSIUM (2) Spectrenoir (94) Storage and Organizing (6) Super Power Readers (4) Sweden (2) Switzerland (13) Table Setting (32) Taiwan (3) Tanner Krolle (4) Tavel (1) Tea (25) Tea Cup (15) Thailand (2) Thanksgiving (12) The Bridge (13) The Netherlands (22) Theodore Haviland France (2) Toile de Jouy (5) Tornado (3) Toyota RAV4 (14) Transparent Acrylic Bolts and Nuts (3) Travel (436) Travel by Rail (25) Tropical Thunderstorms (4) Uncle Bo Whaley (18) UNESCO World Heritage Site (22) United States Citizenship (12) United States Flag (14) Vases (101) Viking River Cruise (10) Vintage Lampe Berger (13) Vintage Woodworks (34) Vinyl Picket Fence (22) Water Control (20) Wedding (13) Wedding Anniversary (22) WeFie (14) WGXA.TV (3) Wolford (22) Wool Fedora Hat (8) World Bank (2) World Leprosy Day (4) World Polio Day (3) Writing (100) Yves Delorme (8) Yves Saint Laurent (3) Zegna (13)