Kitties that ADOPTED US

 In our previous home we had nice neighbors but suddenly they were moving away...

That happens in life!

BUT, their two kitties, brother and sister, stayed behind and came to us for food and shelter...

Pieter in our kitchen, holding up Saartje (left) and her brother Spooky...

Here I'm holding both, Spooky the boy to the left and Saartje his sister to the right.

Yes, Saartje is a Dutch kitty name!

We never knew their real names... or IF they had any.

Photos are from February 22, 1986...

Saartje was SO in love with her new Mommy!

Me too...

March 9, they both came to Pieter as he was working in the yard and followed him like they were doggies!

On May 9, 1986 husband Pieter dropped me off at the airport as I was flying to Amsterdam for a surprise Mother's Day visit and also for the First Communion of our best friends' son, on the 11th of May.

Pieter was working in the yard on May 15, and Saartje put a newborn kitten in front of him...

Where have you hidden them? 

Pieter asked her, and she led him to the peat-moss bale under the open, but roofed garden shed. 

On May 19, Pieter flew to Ohio, for Campbell Soup and on May 23 he flew back to Atlanta and, continued to Amsterdam, for joining me in Europe.

Both of us arrived back home on June 15, and a skinny Saartje greeted us. She and her 4 skinny kittens had lived on our patio and actually fed on bugs that got attracted by the light.

Poor critters, all left on their own - remember they were NOT ours but from the neighbors.

We started feeding them and soon they perked back up.

A week later, Kitty Mom Saartje with three of her babies on the patio, looking again healthy.

Happy tummies... Gave them brushies as well.

Feasting with Kitty Mom. 

Nicki is looking towards the camera, with his 'M' on the forehead.

This is where they slept on our patio... Our veranda to the left and the kitchen bay window to the right.

Pieter with Panther, Devil, Stripe and Nicki...

Pieter with an armload of kitties...

So much cuteness!

All on Sunday, June 22, 1986

August 23, in 5 days Nicki will go to his adoptive human parents...

August 28, my final cuddle time day with Nicki, after tennis lessons...

Next day I did bring him to his new Mom and it was exactly one year since Mauzie girl, our Dachshund went over the rainbow. 

Now again without a pet...

~

The neighbors did come back obviously to retrieve the two adult cats; we never saw Saartje and Spooky again

Packing up and delivering the DUTCH FLOWER BULBS sold during Summer

Yes, that too, I've tried!

Helping out a Dutch born friend with a large family, who dealt in Dutch Flower Bulbs.

So during the summer of 1985, I went by bike to the homes in the neighborhood. and tried to sell them Dutch Flower Bulbs.

Most people thought I was a Highschool student but I was NOT.

Inside our garage. Yes, our garage was tiled with the leftover tiles from the mushroom plant, that Pieter designed for Campbell Soup.

It was November 2, when we got to package the bulbs, according to the list, with amounts ordered, and starting to deliver them.

Quite a job!

Of course, husband Pieter helped me out as well!

My life never has been boring though!

Each time you learn from whatever you do.

In March of 1986, we too had some of those tulips show up in our garden...

Related link:

Husband Pieter's Design for the Campbell Mushroom Plants in Dublin, GA and Hillsboro, TX | previous post by me

Pieter Made Brick and Wooden Pole Edging | previous post by me

My 3rd Home with my French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains

On Saturday, October 26 of 1985, we got  our new front door hung by the carpenter and I'd already hand crocheted the French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains.

Before we had a solid, metal door and I did hate to open it, as I never knew who I was opening the door to...

So we changed it for this one, with small windows, so I could look out.

Pieter had done the tedious job of hammering in the tiny brass nails that I brought over from The Netherlands. Brass, on purpose, as that would never tarnish the fine filet crochet work.

Another Mega Task accomplished.

We also put a new window in the living room, one that allowed us to look outside instead of the previous higher window in a small size!

Yes, in our previous home we also had those solid oak window shutters, made by a craftsman from Virginia. They are excellent and eco friendly, in saving energy and you can close them for privacy, if needed. 

That's me, crocheting on some curtains for somebody...

(The wool Smyrna rug under the table, got hand done by me—knotted with a latch hook).

Comfy and lazy!

So, now I was happy! 

Finally having my roses back and LIGHT coming inside the hall way as well.

On December 24, after having taken the curtains off, Pieter managed to give the door its first coat of paint.

On the link below this post you can see more photos, also from a couple of years later, as well as from my previous two homes' Rose Filet Lace Curtains... Also you can clearly see the pattern.

Fond memories from archiving our photo albums.

Related link:

{My French DMC Rose Filet Lace Crocheted Curtains} } previous post by me for pattern