Husband Pieter wrote about me: POET–PITBULL–PRODUCTIVE

 

On July 12, 2000 the day before we had to travel all the way to Jakarta, Indonesia for our 3 weeks of consulting work, we were out of of power due to an enormous thunder storm + rain!

So doing my laundry got halted and while waiting on my machines and having something to do, I started typing the 17 letters to all our relatives and friends...

Got done by 2:30 AM and after reading them all, Pieter would put them back inside their envelope and put the stamp etc. on.

Good feeling always!

Yes, I sure am a PITBULL and will not easy let go of things till DONE!

Making the best out of such a power outage and getting it ALL done.

We only had come back home from two weddings in Europe, shortly before this work trip so things got kind of back–to–back but my Pieter and I always have been able to handle it.

Being 2 consecutive nights on the plane, we would collapse in our chairs!!!

Next day at the Atlanta Airport waiting for boarding on our 22nd trip to work in Indonesia...

Atlanta to Amsterdam and from there on another flight to Singapore and on to Jakarta, Indonesia.

Feeling good for having accomplished a lot before taking off!

So, this is how a PITBULL looks...

In Amsterdam, at Schiphol airport and of course using the coin booth for calling Mom & Dad

~

On August 6, we were home again.

That's how we accumulated our 1,500,000 miles in the air and more!

Trip # 50 to Amsterdam from Atlanta we made on June 23, for attending the wedding of Pieter's brother's adopted daughter... and also of our German 'son' on July 1st and back home on July 6.

So only 6 days in-between... That forced one for being VERY PRODUCTIVE!

By the way, on September 9, 1986 I still was a member of the POETRY CLUB...

The above 'whale' was my design for writer Uncle Bo Whaley

My Handwork on PERMANENT Display at Teaching Museum South in Fulton County near Atlanta, Georgia

 

Proudly showing my hand knitted silk lace shawl in a peacock pattern... see link below post.

Wool skirt is one of my own sewing creations to match my Chanel bag in taupe.

Shirt is an Outlet find from Escada...

This was the main piece of my handwork that got to be on a PERMANENT display at Teaching Museum South in Fulton County near Atlanta, Georgia. This is part of the Fulton County Schools in Hapeville, a two hour one-way drive for us.

On December 31, 1993 a person from the Georgia State University with a photographer came to our home for the interview and permission to use some of my hand made lace for the above purpose.

We did serve both a warm lunch meal as it is one-way 2 hours driving distance.

You find photo taken by photographer in link below: Today I Turned 17! in regard to my proud United States Citizenship

 It all started with and add in the Holland Times, the publication for all Dutch related people in and around Atlanta.

The above video shows the hand made knitted silk lace shawl being framed WRONG SIDE FACING OUT!

For such a meticulous knitted peacock lace pattern it makes a HUGE difference RIGHT SIDE versus WRONG SIDE...

Deborah A. Duchon, Research Associate for Applied Research in Anthropology at Georgia State University

So I contacted her... that's how the interview came to be and she left with several of my items that I let her take with her for a very small reimbursement as I felt kind of honored to be included in such a PERMANENT Display.

Yes, on Friday, May 27, 1994, I got up at 5:00 AM for being there for the hands-on workshop and demonstration of my crafts

Me at the Teaching Museum with part of my display

CROCHET (THE NETHERLANDS)

The artist studied horticulture with emphasis on mushrooms. 

Her husband's job brought them to Georgia – he is also a

mushroom expert. They both now work as international 

mushroom consultants. The artist learned crochet as a child

 and now uses it to occupy time on long business trips:

'There's not much to do at night in the Indonesian 

countryside,' she says. 'Luckily, I can always crochet.'

~

Sadly, two of my most sentimental hand crocheted lace handkerchiefs got stolen that morning... 

One was my bridal handkerchief. Such sentimental value can never be replaced... 

I could buy again the fine Swiss batiste and the French DMC tatting yarn, adding about 7 hours of patience to make another one.

See link below where I recreated a replica of it.

This got published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on June 9, 1994...

Deborah did send me this poor copy at the end of the year.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote a huge error:

Youngsters (yep, 150 rude kids that screamed the one insult after another... calling me a racist and on and on) also got to see embroidery of all kind crafted by Vedder, (NOT TRUE it was crocheted lace work and knitted lace!) who lives in 

Dublin, GA, and works as a mushroom 

consultant. She says she has been creating

 things with her hands since she was a child. 

Vedder said she learned to crochet 

as a child because school officials in Holland 

saw it as a way for children to build motor skills.

~ 

On July 16, 1994 upon return from our work in Indonesia, I had to contact Ms. Duchon again as from the other lady at the Teaching Museum South there was no reply in regard to my missing crocheted lace handkerchiefs. 

Also I remarked; Being a teacher myself, I have also to comment on the far too big groups you had that day (twice 75 kids for one hour!). No way that one can handle them. Not the least that they get proper attention to actually learn something!

All I ever got was the above poor copy, neither photos as promised earlier... Never heard about the missing pieces.

Due to the glare of those glass cases in the above video, Pieter wanted to return somewhat later for making professional photos with the right equipment. 

The entire display had vanished – their version of PERMANENT?

Indeed both of us did LEARN A LOT!

Related links:

{My Hand Knitted Silk Lace Shawl in Peacock Pattern} | previous post by me

{Today I turned 17!} | post showing also photo from interview for Teaching Museum

{My Lace Crocheted Handkerchief #1} | showing a replica of my original stolen bridal handkerchief + 5 more crocheted lace handkerchiefs

With Dad to Santa Cruz, Redwood State Parks, Pebble Beach, Monterey Sea Aquarium + Dinner at Shadowbrook Restaurant

On Monday, March 1 in 1993,  husband Pieter was in Chicago giving a Seminar for Campbell Soup and I would go for one day to their Pescadero Mushroom Farm in Santa Cruz.

Thus, I checked out with Dad, from our San Francisco hotel and started driving South via Highway 101 onto Highway 1 along the coast via the Scenic Half Moon Bay drive.

This is Highway 1, along the coast... Near Half Moon Bay you view the eroded cliff sides.

Pieter and I have also been there at times that the road was covered with eroded rocks and sand and traffic blocked.

As I had to work next day for the Campbell Soup plant in Pescadero, we first went there.

Then I did take Dad back up to the north for driving the scenic Skyline Boulevard, Route 35 to show Dad the natural wonders of this region.

There was no GPS back then, all I had was some magazine info with the most scenic routes...

BUT after a stop and guidance from a guy on a tractor, we ended up in the Big Basin Redwood State Park.

We managed to see the burned out Chimney Tree but could not find the Auto Tree, one of the oldest and where a car can drive through. 

Dad was in awe, and he had me run back to the car, for fetching the camera and capturing at least some images with him!

Dad was eager for consulting his book at home, back in The Netherlands, and checking out the pictures and information...

Now it was on to our final destination for the day, the Holiday Inn at Santa Cruz.

We both did walk briskly towards the Fisherman's Wharf, before dark – showing Dad the seals and where they would jump onto the wooden beams at the board walk for sleeping...

See my previous post about my First Trip to California, Santa Cruz – below this one.

~

Next day I started around 7:00 with my consulting job at the Campbell Soup's Pescadero mushroom farm and worked all day.

In return, the manager had one of his staff members, Carmen, tour with us the entire following day for sight seeing the coming day.

Carmen, started out by taking us to another Redwood area, the Pescadero Memorial Park.

Memorial Park (2nd Hike) click link for seeing this exact tree with info as Carmen missed part of it...

It obviously is a kind of cut off tree on the side that is not visible from the top in our photo.

Dad tried to capture me against another redwood or Sequoia sempervirens...

Next, Carmen took my Dad and me to Pebble Beach click for more info.

Dad and Carmen at Pebble Beach...

Sand–polished Gems, you can read more from the above mentioned link.

Giving you a view from Pebble Beach, over the Pacific Ocean

More of the Pacific Ocean with a rather strong surf and lots of shore birds

A better view from Pebble Beach and its many shore birds

Center photo you can see the silhouette of Pescadero's famous Pigeon Point Lighthouse in Pescadero between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz along the rugged San Mateo coast line...

It is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast!

See better photo in my previous post below: My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz

Dad in Monterey, after our very scenic drive down Highway 1; belonging to the most scenic of the world.

Carmen and me on the rocks in Monterey at the Wharf

Dad in Monterey at the Wharf

It sure was a perfect day, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Monterey Sea Aquarium where we found the Sea Otters the most funny! One was allowed to touch the smaller sea creatures; so educative and fun and Dad was very happy.

Near the Sea Aquarium with a happy Dad!

We got treated royally that March 3, with a dinner at the famous Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, where Dad got to ride the Cable Car; one of the most unique restaurants in the West.

Pieter dined here with the Campbell staff on January 27...

Next day, I drove back in our Dollar rental car, my blue Plymouth, to return it at the San Francisco Airport.

Crazy 'triple' photo but you clearly can see the yellow Tidy tips, California's spring wildflower!

Called the Ramada Inn with the courtesy phone, and with their shuttle we arrived for checking in for one night stay at the San Francisco Airport.

On Friday, March 5, we checked out from our hotel at 5:15 and with shuttle to the airport for our early flight from 6:40 to Minneapolis/St.Paul–the first leg of our journey back to the East, to Atlanta, Georgia.

We arrived home by 18:30 due to the 3 hours time difference!

Did sleep in on Saturday, March 6, for nursing my Bronchitis and Sciatica...

Pieter got home at 14:30 from his Campbell Soup Seminar in Chicago and he took Dad for singing practice by 16:00 together with the organist at the First Baptist Church. 

Dad's solos were the Negro Spirituals: Thank You Lord and Steal Away, which he also repeated on the 14th of March at yet another Church in town.

Both the organist and my Dad sounded perfect, and it got rounded off with a standing reception and refreshments in their social hall.

Dad flew back home on March 20, together with his Presidential gift from Uncle Bo Whaley; a specially handmade Irish shillelagh cane.

Skillfully crafted by our local Easter Seal workers. The day before, the Georgia Governor got presented with one by our local officials during the annual St. Patrick's Joint Civic Luncheon, organized by Pieter's Rotary Club.

Even President Carter received one in August of 1980...

~

So much for one week in California and three weeks in Georgia, all the way from The Netherlands...

Related links:

Dad with me in San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge Cruise | previous post

My First Trip to California, Santa Cruz | previous post by me with Shadowbrook Restaurant where Dad now dined with me...