{The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776}

In our home we have a framed print from Philips Melville, from the salute of 11 guns from the Dutch island of Eustatius in the Caribbean to the Andrew Doria that was flying the American Flag. Thus making the Dutch the first foreign nation to salute to the American Flag. This was in November of 1776. Read more: Andrew Doria, scroll towards the bottom. This was given to us on one of the official Dutch American Heritage Days, in Atlanta.  

Andrew Doria receives a salute from the Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, 16 November 1776, the first rendered to the United States Flag by a foreign power, as depicted in this painting by Philips Melville.

Dutch - American Heritage Day: 1991

By the President of the United States of America, George Bush

A Proclamation

On November 16, 1776, a small American warship, the ANDREW DORIA, sailed into the harbor of the tiny Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the West Indies. Only 4 months before, the United States had declared its independence from Great Britain. The American crew was delighted when the governor of the island, Johannes de Graaf, ordered that his fort's cannons be fired in a friendly salute. The first ever given by a foreign power to the flag of the United States, it was a risky and courageous act. Indeed, angered by Dutch trading and contraband with the rebellious colonies, the British seized the island a few years later. De Graaf's welcoming salute was also a sign of respect, and today it continues to symbolize the deep ties of friendship that exist between the United States and the Netherlands.

After more than 200 years, the bonds between the United States and the Netherlands remain strong. Our diplomatic ties, in fact, constitute one of the longest unbroken diplomatic relationships with any foreign country. Read more: The Hague US Embassy. Click on Friendship Day

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{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | Previous post by me

{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!!!

{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...