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Here I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international mushroom consultants. MEMOIRS about husband Pieter Vedder, who was a SCIENTIFIC PIONEER in Commercial Mushroom Cultivation Education. His practical handbook is in 9 languages and is called the MUSHROOM BIBLE: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2020/08/modern-mushroom-growing-2020-harvesting.html

Friday, January 19, 2024

R.I.P. Sweet Speckie Girl

 0n January 8 of 2010, my Pieter drove all the way from Atlanta where we stayed at the Hyatt Place, to Waynesville in North Carolina... It was icy when we arrived and with snow on the ground.
Had to be very careful on my crutches...
January 26 of 2010 our new tuxedo kitty girl Speckie
Yes, this was our mountain tuxie! 
She rode home inside a carton box, on my knees, while Pieter did all the driving as I was on crutches and in pain, without any muscle power...
It took us nearly 5 hours to reach home and we both were too tired for introducing Speckie to the rest of the kitties. 
So I stayed with her in the Rose Suite downstairs.
Next day, on January 9 of 2010, I ended up in the hospital due to being almost totally paralyzed.
January 26  of 2010, showing her stunning whiskers and eyebrows...
Jan 26 of 2010, her white underbelly and booties while on her windowsill pillow in the kitchen.
June 28, 2010, Speckie outside after she got spayed...
She also wore short white gloves.
July 27 of 2010, Speckie and Dido on my lap at breakfast time... 
Both are Angels now!
Speckie dreaming on top of the retainer wall on June 26, 2012
Fall of 2012, our feisty Speckie girl found a bluish snake...
A cute bluish snake... Don't know what it is—any idea?
See more images here: {Our Speckie girl with Snake} ←click link
Speckie in her favorite spot, adjacent of our kitchen bay window on August 6, 2013
Speckie on the window sill in office being LAZY... on August 1, 2015
Mami why did you capture my MOUTH?
On August 4, 2017 Speckie confronted me in front of my iMac: Mami, you don't go away AGAIN?!
We just got back from our trip to Miami, visiting friends and our stay at the Hyatt House, Miami Airport.
A serious and hard working Speckie girl on April 8, 2020
Speckie inside basket pet carrier at vet Amanda's for her 3–annual Rabies shot on March 24, 2021
Speckie on June 27, 2021 in our fresh made bed.
Our kitties always help us with that!
Speckie talking to us on February 27, 2022
Talking Speckie Girl ←2 second video of our Tuxie girl...

Speckie is now again with her mentor Barty boy, who taught her everything when I was paralyzed and in the hospital. R.I.P. Sweet Barty Boy ←click link

Speckie died because of kidney problems... She rallied several times after getting some steroid shots to perk her up. Her breathing got worse and worse.
So today, after I went to Mass and picked up Pieter from Rotary lunch, we both went back with Speckie inside the basket pet carrier. 
We both agreed that she did not have to suffer more... she had not eaten for over a week.
Around 2:00 PM she became an Angel and I was petting her and talking to her and her Papi sat on a chair near her...
Never easy but this was the best after having had her for 14 years and some days.
We LOVED her and her siblings by adoption LOVED her, she was an easy kitty.

Speckie Forever | The Cat Blogosphere with beautiful memorial graphic made by Ann from Zoolatry
Speckie Girl OTRB | Blogville Power of the Paw
I'll Be Darned - I DID IT AGAIN | post from where Speckie's image for Speckie Forever came from
{Pipe under Brick Walkway & Trench for Water Control} | Speckie was such a hard worker too...
Once more mentioned on The Cat Blogosphere ←click link
Speckie on Our Rainbow Friends ←click link
Speckie shown top left on The Cat Blogosphere's sideline ←click link
Speckie mentioned here on Our Rainbow Friends – January 2024 ←click link

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

4,000,000 Pageviews on my Humble Blog

 It just so happened on December 23 that I was getting close to 4,000,000 Pageviews on my Humble Blog...
What an impressive figure of 3,999,999 around 21:00 o'clock!
Six minutes later it showed this 4,000,000
For whatever reason, my Pageviews for November and December were HIGH...
Not being tracked from my own browser!

For other bloggers that want to track their Pageviews—this Blogger Tip:
In Layout click on Add a Gadget
In Add a Gadget click on Blog's stats.
Mine is showing 'vague print' meaning it is already in use!


Thank You Visitors for Reading my Writing and Viewing here.

It also shows that original content is being appreciated!


Related links:
{999,999 Pageviews on my Humble Blog} | previous post by me on July 3, 2014
{2,000,002 Pageviews on my Humble Blog| previous post by me on January 5, 2017
{3,333,333 Pageviews on my Humble Blog} | previous post by me on August 26, 2021

Monday, December 11, 2023

POINSETTIA DAY on December 12

 Guess most people DO love Poinsettias for the Advent and Christmas season.
But do you know its history?

Poinsettia Day ←click link

The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charlotte, South Carolina. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia Pulcherrima.” (Submitted on March 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
If you click on the above link: Poinsettia Day, you can read: In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr. who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry.
These Poinsettias are photographed on the day I became an American Citizen.
On December 3, I forgot to celebrate my 30th birthday...

Joel Roberts Poinsett visited Guanajuato, México in 1822 and both of us were there in the end of March, 1999: Historic Town of Guanajuato, Mexico and Adjacent Mines ←click link

Cathedral Mexico City Zocala poinsettias ←click link for images to enjoy the RED SEA of POINSETTIAS during CHRISTMAS time. We both have visited that Cathedral and it is sad that it is sinking...

We even do have a Poinsettia tree in our garden; see previous blogpost about it below.
Photo from our Poinsettia with leather deer from India.
You can read that previous post below: History of the Poinsettia.
Did you know these facts about the Poinsettia?
Which is your favorite color?


Related links: 
{Today I turned 17!} previous post by me — Yep on December 3 I did turn 30!
{Our Pinckneya Pubens - Poinsettia Tree} previous post by me about our Poinsettia Tree in our garden.
{History of the Poinsettia} previous post by me
{Poinsettia as Tree in Indonesia} | previous post by me

Are poinsettias poisonous to cats and dogs? | poinsettias are one of the best pet–friendly houseplants

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MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

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