Wow, just now when reading about
Armadillos I know that I've risked something. First of all, these nine-banded Armadillos do have four genetically identical quadruplets being born in each litter.
AHA, that's why we spotted four! For quite a while we noticed the damage they did to our lawn, digging up the grass in search for grubs and other insects. They also make burrows in which you easily can step and trip. When I rushed outside with my camera to capture them, I had a hard time, as
they move so fast!
The North American Nine-banded Armadillo tends to jump straight in the air when startled, and consequently often collides with the undercarriage or fenders of passing vehicles. In this case, one of them scared me when I tried to lift it up with one hand, in order to get a better shot from its face. It jumped straight up under me, I kind of sat squatted down. No luck for a close-up shot while being held... Today I read about this 'jumping up' in the above link (click on Armadillos at the top):
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. See link below post for more about the Leprosy STIGMA and our Leprosy Project.
Next time I know better!
Funny ears they have and indeed, they are nine-banded. But look this one has an X to the left in its bands!
It was nearly impossible to capture them on camera. I do better with our cats...
Hind sight...
We spotted four with our eyes but when I hurried outside I only managed to get TWO before the camera lens...
Boy, were they in a hurry!
Worthwhile sharing this speech by my husband Pieter, given to the people of Laurens County, prior to the fireworks.
The 4th of July 1994
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The United States and Georgia State Flag on July 4th 2002
Those weeping ilex trees are no more... |
Thanks for the kind introduction; now you know almost all about the two of us. For the introduction of a speaker a typical question always is, what is exactly your title? In a certain booklet we found that there actually is no prouder title then to be an American citizen. Although the weather is not cooperating too well, today we have something really important to celebrate as you all know, we celebrate Uncle Sam's 218th Birthday; the birth of this great nation.
In the introduction you have heard that we are new Americans, although we came to this country already in '83. My wife's love affair with the U.S.A. started in April of '83; her very first visit to the New World. Some Campbell Soup people taught her at that time some history by visiting Rockford, MI, where president Ford grew up. They thought maybe she was homesick and thus they brought her to Holland in MI.
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| Holland Michigan on the shore of Lake Michigan |
She was not homesick but just absorbing all she could about this fascinating new world. One of the highlights was the visit to Chestnut Street in Philadelphia; to the Independence Hall; the home of the Liberty Bell, a shrine of patriotism for all Americans. There we learned more about Life with a capital L and also about Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
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| Pieter with our foster-daughter Anita, in 2004 in front of the Liberty Bell |
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| View from the Hershey hotel in Philadelphia where we stayed |
The next day we flew to Dublin, GA and there we fell deeper and deeper in love with the New World.
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From Camden, New Jersey we flew on the Learjet from Campbell Soup to Dublin, Georgia on Saturday, April 23 of 1983
Wearing my red Campbell jacket...
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So in August of '83 we came to live here. This was our pursuit of Happiness. Last year (1993) we got our American citizenship and since then we can say: we are Dutch by birth and American by choice and we are proud of both. There are a couple of reasons for that pride. Maybe you didn't know but the Dutch, of any nation, have the longest uninterrupted friendly relationship with the U.S.A. and for sure we like to keep it that way. It was on Nov. 16 in 1776 that the ford on the Dutch island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean returned the salute from the American warship Andrew Doria, as it entered the harbour. This was the first salute by a foreign power to the flag of the U.S.A. of America. As the history books say: this was a very courageous action by the Dutch and it enhanced the diplomatic credibility of the U.S.A. It also gave a strong boost to the moral of the revolutionary troops. So, today it is 218 years ago that the U.S.A. has been founded. In the Dutch tradition, Birthdays always are important events, often celebrated with an all day open house, birthday gifts etc. A good question, not only for us but for all immigrants could be: why did you come to the U.S.A? What did we expect to find here what we eventually didn't have in the country where we lived before? Although a lot of things have changed since then, the answer will be more or less identical to what brought the founding fathers to this part of the world over 200 years ago. The most important reason for them was the freedom and the space to live in the broadest sense. The freedom to believe in God in different ways; the freedom to have your own opinion, the opportunity to develop yourself up to the limits etc. On this Birthday we should never forget that the founding fathers and after them numerous immigrants have for sure not chosen the easiest way. They didn't find a paradise; they just found a place with almost unlimited opportunities but they had to be explored. Very important also is that their freedom was based on a strong moral and on personal responsibility. That, in combination with hard work, made this country into what it is today; in our opinion the best country to live in. We have a number of good reasons to make this statement. As you perhaps know, or picked up from the introduction, for our job we traveled, and still do, all over the world and lived in several countries We lived in Dublin from '83 through '88 and after that in Italy and Indonesia. We more and more discovered what a great country the U.S.A. is to live in; we got homesick and looked for every opportunity to return. With O'Henry contribute our share in what the founding fathers once started. They worked hard to develop this country, made it prosperous and a better place to live. They installed and maintained high moral values, based on a strong believe in God. They've shown the world that they could handle their freedom. Our forefathers didn't contribute frivolous gifts to this country. So, let's celebrate this Birthday of our nation not only with a spectacular firework but let's wrap up a big box for Uncle Sam, containing: A huge amount of humility, a lot of tolerance, respect for each other and patience, the most of integrity and compassion and a strong will to share freely with others.
Thank you Founding Fathers.
Happy Birthday Uncle Sam; we love this country. May God bless this nation and all of us.
Pieter J.C. Vedder
Also for today, Happy 235th Birthday United States of America!!!
Related link:
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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