{How Georgia Peanuts get Harvested}

The way we both bike, in the quiet and rural area, it is also quite interesting to observe the different crops growing along the road.

Now the cotton is being seeded and before that, there were Peanuts growing.

From their harvest on October 22, husband Pieter took some photos with his iPhone 4S, which I love to share with my readers.

You can click the pink hyperlink for more info...

The entire world knows peanuts; right?
This is the actual plant and the peanuts grow underground, hence the word groundnut being used in several countries.

But HOW they get harvested is another story...

Here in Georgia, the biggest peanut producing state in the USA, we produce some 2.4 billion pounds annually! 

That's a LOT of peanuts, and lots of that is for export of course.

Here they are harvesting the peanuts.

It is not actually a true nut but a member of the legume family!

That is LOTS of peanuts!

The farmer is leveling out the top...

Of course there is lots of spill on the corners where they turn the machine.

Wildlife will be feasting on them!

A close up...

 Have you ever seen peanut plants on the field or peanuts being harvested?

It is always interesting to be outdoors; so much to see and to learn from.

{Saint Patrick's Cathedral NYC}

When in New York City, you have to bend backwards quite a lot for capturing all the tall buildings. Such was the case for this magnificent Saint Patrick's Cathedral. For United States standards, this is quite an old, historic building. The cornerstone of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was laid in 1858 and her doors swept open in 1879. If you click on the above hyperlink, you can read more about its history.

We were so very lucky on August 28 of 2015 with the weather we had!

Sure, we would love to go back to this marvelous city on an equally beautiful day.

Have you visited New York City?

Thanks for your visits.

{Trump Tower 5th Ave NYC}

Back to our trip to New York City on August 28, 2015...

So many things have happened in-between that I never had time to work these photos in.

BUT, with the world-wide media coverage about Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump, guess it is about time that I show them!

I've taken this photo of the TRUMP TOWER, with my iPhone 6 Plus, from the bus... 

Wish they would have given us time to get inside!

We'll have to go back again and explore this fascinating city a bit more in depth.

Provided, Pieter's knee will get somewhat better so he can endure the walking.

This all-glass structure got completed in 1983, the year that we came to the USA. 

Inside there are luxury condominiums, offices, stores and restaurants and yes, having a cappuccino there for a break would have been great!

You can also find Trump Tower New York on Face Book, just click the pink hyperlink.

Has any of you had the privilege of dining or having a cup of coffee/tea inside one of the Trump Tower restaurants?

Related links:

DonaldTrump saved my family: Widow's daughter recalls how The Donald paid off hermom's $300,000 mortgage after her father committed suicide | Daily Mail UK about a Georgia widow in 1986 (yes, from my state!)

Watch at min. 0:55 where Oprah said: This sounds like political, Presidential talk to me... A 42-year young Donald J. Trump

{Time for Biking}

SO very happy that again we both find time to bike together on our new Schwinn Bikes!

Today we together took off, bikes on the bike rack of our Toyota RAV4, to a reasonable flat area where we could bike.
We do live in the Holly Hills subdivision, so that explains a lot!

This photo is from August 1, 2015 when I just got my new white Schwinn bike!

It took us almost one month and lots of mileage for getting it...

A horror story from K-Mart with once the wrong one sent and not willing/able to deliver to the local store but one hour driving distance away.

But finally it came!

Here, Pieter put it on our bike rack, behind our Toyota RAV4.

Yes, I opted for this white Schwinn Discover 700c Womens Bike with 21 speeds

It is in aluminum and weighs only 45.6 lbs or 20.7 kg

Spokes are steel...

I loved the color white!

It made me very happy!

The only negative aspect is that now we have the bike rack mounted on the back of our Toyota RAV4 and loading and unloading when we do shopping with this one (rarely!) is a bit tricky...

I literally have to hang over the seat (after the head support has been pulled off) and hand things to Pieter...

So here we go; both bikes on the bike rack!

This photo is from October 30, 2015 when we still could ride our bikes.

Pieter holding my Schwinn and his Schwinn (not aluminum and thus a bit heavier).

We park our Toyota RAV4 and cycle in a more flat and quiet area, hardly any traffic!

Left there were peanuts before and now cotton is being sown.

Pine trees on the other side... In the distance you can se our white Toyota RAV4 being parked.

We only paddled some 9 km or 5 mi and that is enough for an 87-year old heart patient! Even for me, building up my leg muscles again from too much sedentary life lately. We take twice a rest and drink water.

But it sure feels great for being surrounded by nature and for using your muscles!

Those pine trees will eventually get cut for the pulp wood industry.

Last week when Pieter wheeled by himself, he saw this snake on the road, being run over by a car...

When we got home around 5:00 PM it still was 32°C or 90°F

Related link:

{My Whtie Schwinn Bike} | My previous Schwinn Bike that I sold on Craigslist, also Pieter's as it did not have as many speeds and thus was too hard in our hilly region.

{Mom Did Wear Many Hats}

Indeed, during her lifetime, Mom did wear many hats.

She was above all a loving Mom, a devoted and submissive wife, a cook, a seamstress, a great housekeeper, and a very hard working partner working in the greenhouses and on the fields; harvesting vegetables and fruits.

The list could go on and on...

For readers from foreign countries who are maybe not familiar with the English saying of 'Wearing many hats', it means a person has different roles or tasks to perform.

Just because Mom made MANY sacrifices during her life time, being a Mom to a large family of 8, of which 7 survived, she NEVER could go on vacation.

So it was a joy for offering her four times this luxury for being able to fly off, across the Atlantic Ocean from The Netherlands to Georgia, USA.

Dad did come a total of six times and Pieter and I did pay for six of their ten roundtrip plane tickets. 

Mom & Dad have been escorted on March 20, 1996 by a dear friend of us who also was flying back from the Netherlands to Atlanta, Georgia!

The very first time, in April of 1987, they flew over together with both of us.

This photo was taken two days after she arrived in 1996.

Mom did not have to cook, clean, launder or do anything.

That is visible in her face; feeling very happy and pampered.

Mom was taken by the lady that gathered outfits for her, and who also did her hair and put lipstick on.

Meanwhile the clever photographer asked me to jot down some basic words in Dutch, for him to use - like 'chin up' - smile etc.

Mom LOVED it that he spoke her language and was so happy about the 'ease' of working with this clever guy. It is quite noticeable in these photos.

She even looks a bit mischievous in my opinion...

Both trips I took alone with Mom, just Mother & Daughter, for having those Glamour shots made and one week later, on April 4, to pick up the one photo that we selected on a computer screen, with several smal ones.
The above photos are taken from small sizes.
When we got home with our photos, Dad was very amazed and had to look at them, over and over...

In my leather bound journal I wrote on Tuesday, April 16 of 1996 that in the evening our friends arrived for coffee with dessert as a farewell to Mom & Dad.
The hit of the evening was my Mom with her Glamour shots!
They found she looked like a movie star and Uncle Bo found Mom now very worth while instead of another 'Mariet'...
Everyone found she also looked younger now than in 1987.
Dad got very quiet... he always had been used to being the center of attention, especially when he sang a solo as a first tenor.
It was great that Mom for once was the center of attention!

Next day we had one last breakfast together and drove to Atlanta to check in World Business class on our courtesy card with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
They were even that courteous for letting all four of us into the shared Lufthansa lounge.
Than came a very emotional goodbye, especially Mom was tearful.
The day before she mentioned that those photos were the most beautiful gift she'd ever received...
I did listen to her video tape where she did mention it at the end of that evening with our friends.
She was so very happy.
Fond memories around Mother's Day!

Yes, I too had one photo taken during that session with Mom...
 ~
Mom used to wear always a hat to Church when I was a girl, there still was a real millinery in my home town where I loved to peak inside the window.
Maybe that's where my fondness of hats originated from.
At least these pictures do remind me of my Mom when I was a girl.
Hope you enjoyed them too.
Wishing all those that still are fortunate to have their Mom around, a very Happy Mother's Day and also to those that are a Mom themselves.
For each of us it is a day filled with memories, that live inside our hearts forever.
I have been blessed with a sweet Mom and today when I watched the video, I've laughed a lot; so many fun things with lots of humor too.

Here this photo was taken by my Dad as I mostly video taped things.
Mom is waving goodbye, from the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a train in Tennessee from 1880.
So many farewells, for the 4 times that Mom came to the US and for the 64 times that we came to The Netherlands...

This is just 6 months after Mom & Dad went home and we went to Church in the morning, made this photo and then left for the airport on our 42nd trip to The Netherlands.
Me, looking happy for getting to see my Mom again!

Until it was that one final time...

They are not gone who live in the hearts of those they leave behind.

- Native American Saying

{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} showing Mom's writing in our guest book

Mom got called MOVIE STAR for once she was the CENTER of ATTENTION! | later post by me with video...

{Our Fragrant White Paeonia 'Ann Cousins' is Blooming}

Don't we all LOVE Peonies? We have tried over the years so many different varieties, mainly white ones but with the heat we have down south, it proves really hard. Last year no blooms at all...

But this year we got rewarded with a huge white and fragrant flower on our Paeonia 'Ann Cousins'

So I love to share it with you here!

Love this gem! 

Photo is made next morning as it was rather dark in the late afternoon for making any photos.

It is all white, no red specks or whatsoever.

White Flower Farms used to sell these but not any more.

The only place I found this 'Ann Cousins' is at Peony Paradise  ←just click the link.

Too bad Adelman Peony Gardens are located in Salem, OR... Would love to visit them!

Do you grow some peonies as well?

Related posts with peonies:

{6 Gorgeous 'Ann Cousins' Peonies in Baccarat Harcourt Pitcher}

{PEONIES: BRIDAL GOWN & LA TENDRESSE}

{Birthday Dinner at the BEST Restaurant for Healthy & Delicious Food}

Having both worked SO hard for weeks on end, this Dinner the day after husband Pieter's actual Birthday was just PERFECT! 

Me completing the 36 photo albums, before 1999, to make them all digital and Pieter doing garden chores and helping me out with domestic chores as well.
Mega Task done of archiving done!

My upper back was kind of nagging me but fortunately it did not graduate!

So here we are; looking a bit tired but being very happy for many reasons.

Just LOVE this suit, it is more than 35 years old but still perfect and since Pieter never ever gained weight - it FITS!
His Thai silk tie with clovers is just perfect with it.

Yes, aging we all turn gray and maybe bold, skin looks different but important is that our mind is still working and feeling young and positive.

Pieter does have problems with his right knee but the topical (expensive, out of pocket) ointment is soothing his pain. 

So here we are at Dublin Farm "Come Home To The Country" in Lady Chef Maria's Ristorante da Maria

Looking tired... but oh so happy with Mission Accomplished!

Wearing my Escada suit that I could not afford when we saw it at the boutique in Budapest, Hungary but I found it on eBay! 

Meanwhile I did catch up on my sleep and my blood pressure was looking just PERFECT.

First course of five... All made from scratch; using the best and the most healthy ingredients (not the cheapest either!) and therefore it is for our health conditions the BEST.

~

Appetizer:

Oven baked Strudel with Spring vegetables and mozzarella, topped with Parmesan, fresh herbs and olive oil, served over a crème fraîche

Menu is in Italian and in English since Lady Chef Maria is Italian

Also Maître d Heinz speaks fluent Italian - they function as a great couple!

It is hard work together for running this special B & B with restaurant...

First dish:

Pasta 'Mini Penne' tossed with 'Mammarosa' sauce, a tomato based sauce with cream and fresh herbs topped w/basil pesto and Parmesan

~

Note: the reason that I label Ristorante da Maria BEST Restaurant for Healthy & Delicious Food is mainly because she knows how to season with special fresh herbs, instead of over-using the salt! 

YES, that IS an all American SIN...

If I would eat at restaurant chains frequently, my kidneys would go down very fast!

So I'm very, very careful with my sodium intake and never had any problems eating here.

Fish-Entrée:

Pan roasted Steelhead Trout Fillet, served with a lemon/Vermouth/cream sauce

~ 

Both, Pieter being a heart patient himself and me with my 48% functioning kidneys, we ALWAYS select fish!

Chef Maria does not drown her Entrées in a sauce but it is drizzled with it and that makes the taste so pleasant - never overpowering, nor taking away from this quality fish.

Always with vegetables too and I personally love that slice of lemon which is real easy to cut away from its peel and enjoy with the fish.

Lady Chef Maria makes incredible DELICIOUS Sorbets!

This is a Pineapple/Lemon Sorbet

Sorry for having scooped out some before remembering to take a picture...

TADA... Maître d 'Heinz' (seen in the back of the picture) did bring the Birthday guy his special Dessert with candle...

Out of courtesy I did never zoom into other diners' table, only the one table to the left and right of us. One family was arriving late; they could not find the place... 

~

Crema di merano

Meraner Cream with vanilla and mixed berries

Pieter also enjoyed his usual espresso with that, to round off yet another heavenly meal!

Yes, I too did splurge on this delicious dessert; I always eat Lady Chef Maria's desserts! And also I drink one glass of wine along with my meal.

That does not cause any problems with my blood sugar levels.

European desserts use FAR less sugar anyway, instead we often use Vanilla, the real thing; not artificial vanilla.

~

May there be many, many more Birthdays to come; God willing.

Pieter's left eye is also causing him problems as the eye surgeon at the time when he had his retina detached, first wanted to complete his Tuesday cycling... thus waiting too long before doing surgery on Pieter. 

Result was that it was not very well after surgery, mixed up sight with half being far- and the other half of that eye being near sighted.

Hence the enlarged eye due to a very thick lens on that side...

Tomorrow morning he has another eye doctor's appointment but there really isn't much that can be done...

Thanks for your loyal visits and wishing you all a happy week and enjoy each day and all the little things!

{Husband Pieter's Selfie from the Mid Sixties}

Yay; I'm almost DONE scanning!!!

Only some remnants left and the feeling is GREAT.

So many treasures unearthed and relived!

Everyone should do this... archiving their family treasures.

Guess our digital era began with the Millennium year.

But before that, there were fun photos as well.

This Selfie (in a big mirror obviously) by my husband Pieter made me laugh!

Guess this photo has been made at the Open Lucht Museum in Arnhem, The Netherlands or Open Air Museum.

Happy that Pieter did quit his smoking when he turned 50!

This is one of the pipes, his Big Ben Pipo, that we still keep on our pipe rack.

Here, my Pieter is almost 22... A very handsome man, this was at one of his graduations.

Looking at him, he might as well have become a 'Dressman' (male model) with his always impeccable style.

I'm still very proud of him and very much in love as well.

Yes, yesterday my handsome husband turned 87!

Much to be grateful for and we hope and pray that God grants us many more years together.

At least, Pieter too is very happy with all the organized photos now to view as a slideshow on a big screen and reliving many fond moments.

Yes, due to his age also I was in a hurry doing and accomplishing this.

First I've done all his family photos and all of his thousands of slides.

In order to pass them on to his adopted daughter who's also related by blood to his ex, so there is lots of sentimental value in those early photos.

Pieter is the only surviving member of his family and now his Goddaughter and other niece do have that part of history preserved and explained by text.

That was a lot of work; hell it was a MEGA TASK!

LAST I've done our photos and it is amazing what we lived through with our job as International Consultants.

For sure I could no longer do that... not in the health condition I'm in right now, neither Pieter with his heart condition and knee problems. Both of us also do have occasional back problems.

Thanks for your patience and soon I will be catching up!

Happy Easter to my friends in Greece and all others I wish you a Happy Weekend.

Related link:

{Our 6 Vintage Tobacco Pipes and Cheroot Holder} | showing you Pieter's collection
{Royal Wedding invitation + PIETER's Birthday!} | showing a happy husband
 {Dutch King's Birthday Celebration in Atlanta, Georgia} | showing Pieter the day after his Birthday in 2015
{BIRTHDAY} | post from 2013 showing Pieter

{Healthy Vegan Pancakes Recipe}

For a healthy and very easy pancake recipe, this one will do the job!

Again I did substitute the whole wheat with whole wheat pastry flour from Whole Foods Market and it works just perfect.

Instead of berries I used the first time just fruits I had available... kiwi, cantaloupe melon and seedless grapes.

Dusted off with desiccated coconut (unsweetened!) that is available at Trader Joe's also, together with the coconut sugar.

Of course I also use the real Maple Syrup, grade A that we usually buy at Costco Wholesale 

This is how the batter looks like...

You can find the recipe under Vegan Fluffy Pancakes  by clicking it. 

Using my large 32 cm (12.5") cast aluminum Select Cuisine pan from Europe that we found at a Hanos.nl wholesale in The Netherlands, where I went with my best friend Ellie.

It came home with me in the suitcase!

Mine did not turn out that Fluffy though, so I omitted it in my title.

Yes, you can be very generous in using this healthy Coconut Oil, also from Costco.

Pieter and I both loved them very much and I like to make a larger batch. Easy for having something on hand when you have no time.

Just add fresh fruits and flaked coconut with maple syrup and you are eating!

Hope this helped some of you that look for healthy recipes for diabetes type 2 or other health reason!

Thanks for stopping by! Ⓜ