FOUND a Pieter treasure from November 2018

 When I made a sale on eBay and had to prepare the Giovanni Raspini 925 silver Angel charms for shipping, I reached inside the TOP drawer of my Raphael Angel box...

Had this box made by an Atlanta Holland Club member; Paul Van Witteveen from Gainesville, GA from Italian Florentine wrapping paper.

Three drawers and I kept those silver charms in the bottom drawer but for whatever reason I reached for the top drawer...

Open Raphael Angel box...

But what I found in the top drawer was an emotional treasure!

My beloved Pieter's handwriting...

Sealed...

Dear Mariet

35+ years together!!

What is it that brings 2 people so inseparable together?

I don't know the answer exactly; in my opinion, it is one of those mysterious, complicated, possibly supernatural influences. 

Whatever it may be; we have found each other; two people with different personalities, ideas (and age) but also with many similarities. Some traits sometimes clashed with each other, but the love between the two of us always turned out to be stronger. 

With this in mind, I've always loved you, and that hasn't diminished over the years. 

We lived together for over 13,000 days; in general, sunny days with the occasional rain shower to keep things fresh. 

I still love you very much girl. Both of us are not such overly 'sweeties', not exactly such soft romantic types; we are too level–headed and too rational for that. We may not say often enough that we can't miss each other, nor do we kiss enough, but when we say something like that, it comes not only from our lips but from our hearts. 

I hope to be able to live with you for many more days; Our life together was, and still is, the result of the 'something' that brought us together. There will come a time when we will have to say goodbye to each other, but even then this 'something' will continue to exist.

Beyond doubt!!!

November 2018

your Pieter

Had to sit down and tears rolled freely as this was such an unexpected treasure!

Related link:

My Pieter went to Heaven on April 30 | previous post by me

Sorry Antónia, accidentally deleted it.. but rewrote it.

Early July Huge Oak Tree Down

 On July 11, the doorbell rang...

It was one of the back door neighbors.

Well, our vast property of 2.167 acres or 0.88 hectare, borders five different neighbors and additional neighbors across the street.

It was a livid neighbor... he demanded to speak to my husband.

'I'm sorry, my husband went to heaven on April 30...' I said.

He calmed a bit down and continued to tell me that a huge oak tree had fallen down and had taken one of his big trees down and it fell on our fence...

Next day I took my iPhone and went to our wood garden to assess the situation.

That is captured in above video...

We had been having so much rain all spring and summer, that the tree guy could not start due to the soil being too muddy for the use of his Bobcat.

I'd searched for someone that also would clear the underbrush.

My Pieter did that himself on

And the center bridge had to be taken up as it got destroyed by severe weather on February 12, 2024.

Center bridge destroyed by flood water... this needs to be taken up.

Center bridge and wild underbrush...

View towards street and 1st bridge

Center bridge to the right and sadly our pussy willow also got whacked down...

More underbrush...

Underbrush

View of 3rd bridge and more underbrush...

3rd bridge

View from 3rd bridge

On September 3, when I went to Atlanta to see my nephrologist at Emory, Mitchell from One Moore Tree Service tackled the job as it finally had dried out enough...

My first time via Angi and this person deserved his 5 stars!

Mitchell very well took over my Pieter's care for the underbrush...

Related links:

My Pieter went to Heaven on April 30

Bridge and Underbrush Clearing | previous post with Pieter clearing underbrush in January of 2022...

Severe Weather with Bridge Destruction | previous post from February 12, 2024

The Book MELANIA

 Sure, I did read during the power outage caused by. Hurricane Helene. Using my Mighty Bright clip on LED Light, I finished two historical books in Dutch. One about Joan of Arc and the next about Love and Betrayel around Lucrecia Borgia.

It was fun as it brought me back to those Old World places I've been before.

#1 Best Seller

Ordered the book MELANIA and it arrived on Friday, October 11. A very elegant black cover with only her name on the center front and on its spine. Just as our First Lady Melania is—elegant and classy. On Sunday, I started reading in it.

On Monday, October 14, I finished it...

While living and working in Italy over 1989, I've worked with lots of Yugoslavian women. Those that fled the country before the war.

Living under a Communist regime was already tough enough.

So for that, I can understand MELANIA, as she dared to venture out on her own to Milan, Italy. Not easy for leaving your family and culture behind and to start in another language—but she DID.

Her Slovenian name: Melanija Knavs super model

From there she went to Paris and was quite successful as a supermodel.

Her next, brave move, was the flight to New York City for modeling in the United States.

For Melania, the former supermodel...

And the rest is history...

For me, having studied three years of Fashion and only been on the runway to model some self created outfits and finally showing my bridal gown, there is enough admiration for Melania.

On the runway in my bridal gown—my sewing creation. This was at the end of each year at Fashion School after I'd graduated already as they had no bride for that year. My youngest cousin was my brides maid.

Showing train of my bridal gown and damsel sleeves in April, 1973

It was touching how Melania described her arrival to the New World and also her courtship with Donald.

She is 24 years younger, so I could identify with that, as my Pieter was almost 22 years my senior.

It was so to the point how she wrote—about Donald, it was as if our souls had always known each other! 

Surely can identify with that...

Guess due to the age difference, the foundation of a blissful relationship is quite different and far more intensive. I've always lived to the fullest of every day and feeling grateful for that.

Her language use is incredible and knowing that she speaks several languages! 

She further described how she got warned that Muslim countries might not shake hands with women... She went to Saudi Arabia and I got warned before going to the world's biggest Muslim country of Indonesia—so I certainly could identify with that.

But Melania got welcomed in a very special way!

That is due to her poise and elegance.

Former Press Secretary Dana Perino said it best:

MELANIA

'She lights up the room, and I think she can light up the country.' —Dana Perino

Dana Perino was the 24th White House Press Secretary and is now an American political commentator and author.

Melania Wearing Her Escada Blazer at the White House, September 2017

Escada is also my favorite couture brand because of great fit and quality.

There is a lot of envy because of her exceptional beauty, her strong family ties (a cultural thing of her region!), her Faith, her intelligence, success as an individual and her natural grace and elegance.

The media never gave Melania the credit she deserves!

Well, I do—with my humble citizen journalism...

Lots of views...

Related links:

My Sewing Creation — My Bridal Gown with Damsel Sleeves | previous post by me

SECRETS of the Heart by D.S. Mullis | previous post by me

Our Historic Christmas in Italy - END of Romania's Communist Dictator | previous post by me also about Slovenia and Melania