{1993 Today, the American Flag was flown for both of us...}

We had no idea, that our Georgia Congressman, the Honorable J. Roy Rowland had a special U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol for both of us, on December 30 of 1993.

This on the occasion of our U.S. Citizenship. 

Presentation of the United States Flag with Certificate by Mr. James Vaden Hilburn at the Dublin Laurens County Chamber of Commerce. 

Here we pose with the special United States of America Flag, in front of the Dublin Laurens County Chamber of Commerce.

The Flag of the United States of America

Pieter got my 't'...

Meanwhile our Chamber of Commerce building got a nice coat of paint!

For reading the entire story, just click the link below...

Related link:
{December 30, 1993 U.S. flag flown over U.S. Capitol for both of us!} previous post by me

{2012 WINTER SALE: Humility - Tolerance - Patience - Integrity - Compassion}

Already last year I posted about After Christmas Sales: Humility - Tolerance - Patience - Integrity - Compassion. Again for this year the very same items are available in large quantities. For those that like to read the story about how I got to this post; below you find a link. During a stay for one of our North American Mushroom Conferences, we also went to a Moorish, Byzantine style Church with Venetian Gothic influence. That was in New Orleans, Louisiana... It was there where this short homily originated from:

I am flat broke from overspending at Christmas. But I need to go shopping again soon because I am completely out of self-respect. I've said a few things I wish I could take back, and I am not feeling very good about myself.

I also want to exchange a carton of self-righteousness for an equal amount of humility. I hear it is less expensive and it wears better. And while I'm at it, I'm going to check on tolerance and see if there is any available in my size.

♥

I must remember to try to match my patience with the little I have left. My neighbor is loaded with it, and it looks awfully good on her. I was told the same department has a repair shop for mending integrity. Mine has become frayed around the edges from too many short-cuts and too much compromising. If I don't get it refurbished soon, there won't be any left.

♥

I almost forgot the most important thing of all -- compassion. If I see some, no matter what the color, size or shape, I'm going to stock up heavily, regardless of the price. I have run out of it so many times and I always feel ashamed when it happens.

♥

I don't know why it has taken me so long to get around to shopping for these items. They don't cost nearly as much as some of the frivolous things I've bought on impulse and I'm sure to get a lot more satisfaction from them.

Yes, I am going shopping today and I can leave my credit cards and checkbook at home. The things I am looking for have no price tags.

~~0~~

Related link:

{After Christmas Sales: Humility - Tolerance - Patience - Integrity - Compassion} previous post by me

{Our 2012 Christmas Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria}

For both of us, it has more or less become a tradition to have our Christmas Eve dinner at Ristorante da Maria. Lady Chef Maria Runggaldier, from Bolzano, Italy is the best Chef in the region and she makes a delicious five course dinner from authentic Italian recipes. Everything fresh and made from scratch; you feel pampered when dining there. Heinz will pour you the best wines as he is very knowledgeable and it makes us feel like we are back 'home' in northern Italy where we used to work and live... Fond memories!

Yep, my eyes sparkle with glee... Happy  to be together!

Since we were going to midnight Mass at Church afterwards, we had a Church friend join us.

She made these photos with my iPhone.

Toasting with a hot cider, which felt great on a cold and rainy day...

Crispy bread to nibble on and this is the hot cider.

Appetizer:

Quiche agli asparagi e prosciutto

Asparagus – prosciutto Quiche, served with herbed olive oil crostini  

First dish:

Risotto con pere al chardonnay

Risotto with Bartlett pears, Chardonnay and cream, topped with basil

Fish-Entrée: 

Gratîn di capesante e gamberi su vellutata di zucchini ed olio d´oliva

Gratîn of Scallops and Shrimp over a zucchini/olive oil veloutée  

Sorbet:

Sorbetto alle pesche

Peach/Lemon Sorbet

I already drank from it, as I forgot to take a picture first...

Maria also makes the BEST Sorbets!

Dessert:

Sorpresa di natale

Christmas surprise

Such dessert I cannot let go... for once forgetting my no-sugar diet!

Church friend Barbara enjoyed it too.

Pieter's espresso cup is smiling at you...

A great dinner with a decaf coffee for me to round it off.

Lady Chef Maria always prepares three different Entrée choices.

♥

It was the perfect food for making us sing out loud at midnight Mass.

Of course, next day we did not have another five-course dinner!

Hope you also had great food for your special Christmas time with your loved ones.

Related link:
{Buon Natale - Our Christmas Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria} previous post by me
Ristorante da Maria link to the authentic Italian restaurant