{Happy 92th Birthday Papa!}

Happy 92th Birthday Papa and many more years in great health! Even though we cannot see each other when we call on our iPhone, it is still good to hear your and Mom's voices. We were in The Netherlands last in September of 2011, so that is quite a while ago. We don't even know how you look right now... My six other brothers and sisters in The Netherlands don't manage to send us some recent photos. Guess this is typical for the era of communication. It would be super if Mom for once could talk with us via Video call, while she is laying in her bed during the kidney dialysis at the hospital. But none of my relatives on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean ever came up with such an idea of using an iPad, laptop or tablet. So it is only in our hearts, in our prayers and via our voice calls on the iPhone that we are together. 

But very INTENSE. 

Papa in his beloved garden, in the heath, with granddog Siep from brother Martin Van den Munckhof who shot this photo several years ago.
Dad wearing his cap that we gifted him from the then Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC).

Martin does check on Mom & Dad daily and often takes his doggie girl Siep with him. 

Mom & Dad almost four years ago, during the afternoon cruise on the river Meuse in The Netherlands with the entire family. That was a great time for their 60th wedding anniversary.

When Dad turned 90, they again did celebrate all together in a restaurant but husband Pieter was still having his Cardio Rehab, three times weekly after his open heart surgery.
We could not join them in The Netherlands...
Mom & Dad did stay last with us here in the USA for 6 weeks when we gifted them the tickets for visiting us in October of 2005. For Mom's knee, she just received a knee replacement, we bought us an Infiniti FX35 so she could get in and out of the car easily. That was the last hospitality we could provide them. Dad came to the USA a total of 6 times and Mom 4 times. We have visited them 63 times in all, from the USA, Italy or from Indonesia.

Related links: {Papa is 90 today!} previous post by me {Papa is 91 today!} previous post by me {My Daddy - Papa} previous post by me

{2013 Fiat 500 versus Fiat 500 Topolino}

Last year, actually last week, we went to Atlanta, Georgia, for stocking up at our favorite stores: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and Costco. We also stopped at Lenox Square Mall to go to Neiman Marcus. Quite surprised to find a 2013 Fiat 500 parked in the mall as being the Best Gift You'll Ever Get... Or Give.

It instantly did bring back memories from Italy, from the time we worked and lived there in Il Veneto.

At that time when we had moved from Pennsylvania to Italy, there was a strike at the harbor of Genua so our containers did not arrive in time. But my Dad did lend us his Ford Fiesta to drive down to Italy. That's what we did for our trip of about 12 hours one way to Cornuda, TV in Italy, all the way from the south of The Netherlands.

Here is the 2013 Fiat 500 at Lenox Square Mall

From Fiat USA of Atlanta 

My husband Pieter standing in front of those cute Fiat 500 models at Lenox Square Mall... 

Wearing his wool Fedora hat and lambskin leather jacket from Pond's India's Leather Garment Factory. 

Just had to snap these pictures with my iPhone!

Hah, here is my Dad's Ford Fiesta parked at work (seen left in photo), beside one cute red Fiat 500 Topolino and there is another one in front... It was quite a change in car-size, coming from Pennsylvania, USA to Italy!

Actually the Fiat 500 is born on July 4, 1957. Just click that hyperlink for some videos of this cute Little Mouse as it translates to in English from the Italian Topolino.

Fond memories of Italy!

Are some of you driving a Fiat 500 at present? 

Or any cute little car for that matter?

{GIFT from Blogger I Admire}

What a surprise to receive such a special GIFT in the mail from Germany... From a Blogger I Admire: Claudia from NuNu's Garn-und Stofflabor (Yarn and Fabric Laboratory). Links to her sites you find below post. Let me proudly show off Claudia's artful sewing and embroidery... What is it? Can you already guess??

Look what Claudia created! Beautiful Rose Embroidery for the Rose Suite...

Embellished with her lovely signature tag.

Handmade with love... when translated into English

I bet you this talented worker bee also handmade this beautiful cord for wrapping it...

Lovely signature tag, showing her sewing machine on one side...

Look: Mariette's Rose Suite...

Do you have any idea?

On the reverse side it shows her signature LABEL... But WHAT is it?...

Tada; a lovely pillow case!

Fits perfect in tone of the chairs in our Rose Suite.

This sweet gift came complete with one of her signature hand made cards.

Thanks a million  Claudia, that will reside with pride in our Rose Suite indeed!

See Claudia's links below this post. She is such a multi talented lady, you have to check her out!

By the way, being German, Claudia is also fluent in English so there are no borders between you and her. 

Related links:
{Claudia a Blogger I Admire and her Gift for Baby Stef} previous post by me
DaWanda Nunus-Garn-und-Stofflabor Claudia's online shop
NuNu´s Garn-und Stofflabor Claudia's blog