MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

{R.I.P. Dear Mom}

Dear, loyal readers... this is not a happy tiding but I want to share with you that I have lived through 17 days of guiding my dear Mom in The Netherlands on her final journey home. Guiding her from Georgia USA...

Home to heaven and home to the place where 7 of her 8 children were born.

Being in an ambulance four times, and twice with my youngest brother at her side, she finally came home.

The last night in the hospital my dear youngest brother, together with my second brother sat at her side until 1:00 PM today, January 27, when she finally got to ride home...
I feel so blessed for having these two brothers that included me, on a distance of 8,436 km by doing FaceTime, so I could actually see my sweet and brave Mom. I could hear her and talk to her. Unforgettable experience and with that I can live till I die; feeling very fuzzy and warm.
When my youngest brother rode on the ambulance home with her, she died shortly upon arrival.

R.I.P. dear Mom!

On March 22, 1996 when Mom stayed for 4 weeks with me, her eldest daughter, and Pieter, her son–in–law, I had professionally made a complete series of photographs of my Mom.
Those photos I treasure forever, with her soft and happy smile!
~

Here with us in Georgia, she could relax, feel pampered and loved and as a result of that, look beautiful.

Our dear friends invited us for dinner and she was the hit of the evening.

Everyone found her looking much younger than on her previous visit in 1987.

Mom did stay a total of 4 times with us and last time she stayed 6 weeks and thanked me over and over for all we did for her. Words cannot express what you did for me she said.

With that and such soft, happy photos, I can age happily as this is living proof that I managed to give her something back, after so many years of TLC (Tender Loving Care).

She's now with my Angel Sister in Heaven and never will have pain again, or lie lonely on her bed during dialysis...
~
The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone. - Harriet Beecher Stowe

Those that attacked us for NOT showing up at Mom's funeral, due to Pieter's health issues, because of heart cramps, and me still going to rehab for my hand, we forgive their act of bitterness.

May they too find the Peace that is in our hearts!

Feeling humbled for the 2558 views of this post...

Related link:
{My Angel Sister & Mariette's Back to Basics Explained} | previous post by me
{ANGELS We Know By Name} | previous post by me
{My 6 Min Presentation The Truth About Leprosy for GPDLI, AtAmerica U.S. EMBASSY JAKARTA} | next day presentation after seeing Mom for the FINAL TIME...

Mom got called MOVIE STAR for once she was the CENTER of ATTENTION! | video where Mom got honored

{Mom Did Wear Many Hats} | later post by me

{Our Vinyl Picket Fence Extended}

When we did have heavy rains on Christmas Day, husband Pieter had a very close look at our extended Picket Fence from the previous year's Water Control job: {Our New Retainer Wall & Vinyl Picket Fence} ←click it.

He than decided it needed still TWO more extensions...

This is on December 30, 2014 after I'd ordered two more at the nearest Lowe's Home Improvement store and Pieter picked them up, together with some posts. He already had bought the concrete blocks and cement for the foundation.

As you can see, two of our cat-boys are helping him!

Perfect day for completing this project, even a bit sunny.

You can see our huge oak tree being trimmed up quite a lot.

That will give the Japanese magnolia to the left more light and space for growing.

Of course, our neighbors agreed with this extension!

The foundation is done, concrete blocks laid and now connecting the panels to the posts...

Our Spicy girl is acting as supervisor...

She planted herself on a strategic point where she can overlook the entire back yard.

Our white pansies are blooming so happily in the Fiberglass Window Boxes from Flower Framers of Cincinnati.

Our Wood Trail is visible here as it goes past the big oak tree.

December 30, 2014 at 5:29 PM I made this photo after it got all done!

Our neighbors for sure will enjoy the view of this Vinyl Picket Fence as well.

Talking about neighbors, we have 10 neighbors surrounding our property. Here to the left you can see in fact three homes, that gives you an idea about the distances.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

{Part III of Husband Pieter's Trip to India - Maharaja Amarinder Singh, Patiala Punjab}

When husband Pieter was traveling to the north of India, for the Dutch Government, following the Mission of H.R.H. Prince Claus in 1981, people wanted very much for him to meet with Maharaja Amarinder Singh from Patiala, Punjab.

One of the most impressive letters my husband Pieter ever received, were these from Maharaja Amarinder Singh...

Look at the Royal Blue with Gold in the Crest!
Sent from Motibagh Palace, Patiala in the State of Punjab, India

Soon after Pieter's English version of Modern Mushroom Growing got published, the Maharaja who was a mushroom grower himself at the time, read about it in the English Mushroom Journal.
So he very much would like to have a copy himself...

Scanning the letter with its Royal Blue & Gold embossed seal, proved not to be easy.
But, the in detail photos, made outside with the camera at least give you a fair idea about its beauty.

A precious, royal 'mushroom' editorial review...

Motibagh Palace...

One of Pieter's English books was sent to the Motibagh Palace in Patiala.
And now, Pieter was in India, himself and only 2-½ years after this royal correspondence.

Maharaja Amarinder Singh's Father, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, also happened to have great knowledge of agriculture and horticulture.
He also had been appointed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as Indian Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Unfortunatly he died at the Hague on June, 1974, at the age of 61...
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh the Father of Amarinder ←click it