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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 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
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Thursday, December 15, 2022

German Marzipan Stollen over 500 years of Christmas Tradition

For years while living in the US we have been enjoying the authentic German Marzipan Stollen, an over 500 year old Christmas tradition. We bought our Oebel Marzipan Stollen this year at World Market in Atlanta. My surprise was big for also finding German Marzipan Stollen at our new, local T.J. MAXX store. We did buy them there often, while on the road as consultants in Connecticut. But it sure makes us feel more at HOME with local supply now. Do you know this delicious German Tradition also? If not, you ought to buy one now, even 'after Christmas sales' can give you this great experience.
Enjoy this Marzipan Stollen with tea or coffee and I guarantee, you will be hooked!
So plan to add this to your Christmas to do list.
It sure brings one in the mood—together with candles and bobèches in silver candleholders...
Not much else needed but some Christmas music!
Served on a Rosenthal Sanssouci Roses Ivory plate.
The silver crocheted doily has been hand made by a former Turkish neighbor in The Netherlands.
Incredible work, I would not be able to copy that!
The silver tray was handmade for us in Kotagede, near Yogyakarta in Indonesia.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

The Open Air Museum in Kommern, Germany

 For many years I do read a blog from Willy, a Dutch lady that lives in the Province where Pieter is born, in Gelderland/The Netherlands.

She is an excellent photographer and she visits the most interesting places.

Willy has been battling Leukemia and is back on track and we sure wish her a lot more time with her close travel companion and husband!

So I spotted on her blog: The open-air museum in Kommern - Het openluchtmuseum in Kommern and new it was the one we visited! Just click the link and yes, she has a translator on the side, a little down.


Both of us got invited to join our 3 German sons as they took a day off for showing us around at Kommern Freilicht Museum in the Eifel.
An act of gratitude as they were our guests here in Georgia and we were there for them if needed while traveling in the USA.
Family, not by blood...
We went on to Switzerland and Italy for visiting friends.
Doing so, I forgot my black Chanel boots, after a night with our friends in the Eifel, Germany and had to retrieve them on the way home...
Adventures!

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Lecture by Pieter and Stay at UNESCO site Regensburg during German Mushroom Conference

Our 9th trip to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, we rented a Fiat Uno for using within Europe.
On Thursday, October 23, 1986 we both drove in our rental car from The Netherlands to Regensburg in Germany.
Around 650 km at that time or 404 miles.
This is the famous St. Peter Cathedral in Gothic architecture.
We stayed at the Hotel Kaiserhof am Dom in Regensburg/Germany just click link.
Parking was a bit tricky on this medieval Plaza around the Cathedral!
After a walk together through the city center we went to sleep under the down duvet.
On Friday, October 24, Pieter did present his lecture and this is one of the very rare occasions that he got paid for doing so! He received D.M. 1,000.00.
In the afternoon I joined the ladies on a bus tour to Kehlheim...
We visited the beautiful Asamkirche des Klosters Weltenburg, or Asam Church of Weltenburg Abbey. Just click through on link above and select English...
The painting on the ceiling in 1745 by Franz Asam (son of Cosmas Damian Asam, late Baroque painter and architect) represents the Last Judgment.
Next we went by boat through the Danube Gorge Nature Reserve and it was spectacular with all its fall colors! Enjoy a spectacular English spoken video: Benediktinerabtei Weltenburt (Germany) Vacation Travel Video Guide by clicking through.
Danube Gorge Nature Reserve click through to read more.
Kelheim - Weltenburg with the Abbey bottom left and the Danube Gorge above in center left... Center top and right is Regensburg with St. Peter Cathedral and Stone Bridge.
Wish my Pieter could have been with me...
We enjoyed a good German dinner at Bischofshof Braustuben (click through), together with Ferdinand Dohme and his family from Oldendorf, Germany and Hans Tschierpe from Wetzikon, Switzerland.
On Saturday, October 25, while Pieter still had some business and an afternoon excursion to the Graf (Count) Ballestrem, Pilzkulturen GmbH & Co KG (Mushroom plant) in Trisching about 45 minutes to the north of Regensburg, I had another City Walk with the Ladies at 9:00.
Had to get a picture of this fun Daxl Schuh (Dachshund Shoe) store front.
My cute black & tan Mauzie girl was no longer with us, since August 29 of 1985... MISSED her so much and still miss her.
We visited the medieval City Hall from the 2nd half of the 16th Century - Click here: Places to see in (Regensburg - Germany) Altes Rathaus and enjoy.
My entire life I will never forget this GRUESOME ROOM:
 The original preserved Fragstatt (Questioning Place) from the Middle Ages inside the Old Town Hall.
'Die im original erhaltene Fragstatt aus dem Mittelalter im Alten Rathaus...'
We got to see lots of Patrician Homes, from the wealthy upperclass back then.
Also the home where German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ones lived.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Regensburg - Bavaria/Germany - GOETHE lived here on September 4, 1786, in the former Gasthaus zum weissen Lamm just click through.
The plaque that is seen in above photo...
We ended that Saturday with a Party Night for all the Conference Participants.
Those were two wonderful days, spent in such a fabulous historic city.
Gruß aus Regensburg/Donau
Greetings from Regensburg on the Danube
Top left clockwise:
Steinerne Brücke u. Dom = Stone Bridge and Cathedral
Dom St. Peter = St. Peter Cathedral
Bruckmandl = the legendary builder of the stone bridge looking at the Regensburg Cathedral
Im Donaustrudel = the Danube rapid with strong vortex formation below caused by the pillars of stone bridge!
Partie an der Donau = Game on the Danube
Alter Kornmarkt = Old Corn Market
 Top left: Dom St. Peter = St. Peter Cathedral
Radl (Rettich) Markt = Radish (daikon) Market
Neupfarrplatz und Gold Turm = A Square and former Jewish Quarter with Gold Towers for the affluent, the more important, the higher the tower.
Ostentor = Inspiring Gothic Gate
bottom are repeat places from the above explained...
Regensburg die alte Donaustadt
Regensburg the old Danube City

Hope you enjoyed this special city on the Danube as much as I did for those two short days!

Stay tuned for where our cute Fiat Uno rental car brought us next...

Related posts:
{Happy New Year - 2012} | previous post showing Pieter's antique book from Goethe
{Architecture is Frozen Music ~Goethe} | previous post
{Color Psychology and Blogger I Admire} | previous post about Goethe's writing

Friday, September 20, 2019

Taking Mom & Dad to Bremen Cathedral in Germany where Dad sang with his Choir

Campbell Soup kind of forced us to move to Pennsylvania, from Georgia/USA...
Packing up and preparing for the big move, I also did fly to Düsseldorf, Germany on American Airlines, for only $ 195.00 and 30,000 frequent flyer miles.
This to transport some of our plants and other valuable things on October 9, 1988.
So I boarded American Airlines' 767 Luxury Liner in Atlanta, after saying goodbye to my Pieter who himself had a later flight for Campbell Soup to Denver, Colorado...
I'd told Mom & Dad that I would be wearing my black leather jacket and black beret, so they would spot me from a distance at the German airport.
Mom & Dad had been stuck in heavy traffic, thus I stood for an hour outside but they soon found me on October 10, 1988.
Above photos got taken later in November of 1993 but still the same outfit and it's ME!
Still have all pieces but it's rather hot for wearing it now in Georgia...
On October 12, I took Mom & Dad along on my trip to Visbek, Germany.
Delivering the brass mushrooms for Pilzland where I'd done consulting before, and they wanted to purchase my own design Lacquered Brass Window Decorations with their business logo.
We ate our own lunch at the home of Jan Koopmans, the manager, and Pieter's former student.
Next I drove in about 1 hour, to Bremen and its City Center where Dad did perform with the Horster Mannenkoor in 1981 and Mom could not join at that time.
So now she got to walk in Dad's footsteps as well!
This is the famous Sankt Petri Dom, or St. Peter's Cathedral in Bremen (just click the link) where Dad sang with his choir.
Bremen Cathedral is a medieval building.
We enjoyed the Bremen City Hall (click link) also located at the Market Square.
Bremen's Marktplatz (Market Square) just click link.
Of course, we also did see the famous
Bremer Stadtmusikanten or in English Town Musicians of Bremen (click on link) from the well known fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Mom was delighted for finally, after 7 years, having been there herself and it made me of course very happy!
St. Petri Dom Bremen, Tower Topped Romanesque Cathedral from above, with Market Square and top left are the Bremer Stadtmusikanten (Town Musicians of Bremen) all very close together!
Upon returning home I continued with my stops:
Visiting my aunt Mia in Venlo, Dad's eldest sister to whom I have been very close, my Mother-in-law, Pieter's brother Thé and his wife and also my brother Martin and wife. Did not get to see sister Diny and brother Piet during this short 3-night visit!
Next day I flew back to the USA, after Dad did drop me off at the Düsseldorf/Germany airport.  Mom  could not join us, she had to sing with her choir.
Got delayed in Chicago by 3 hours and poor Pieter waited in vain for me in Atlanta. We got home by 2:30 AM and I called Mom to let her know that I'd arrived safely home.

Short and intens trip but with very fond memories!
Thanks for reading my stories and for your comment.

Related posts:
{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me
Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class | previous post by me with more links below post

Monday, September 16, 2019

Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class

Thanks to Aviodrome in The Netherlands, I did obtain a photo from KLM's Boeing 747-300 as it still was in use over 1987 when Mom & Dad made their FIRST Flight EVER; together with us!
On April 20, 1987 we left together with husband Pieter, who had circled the globe, from Atlanta via Seattle to Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei to Amsterdam for some business in Europe, following his People to People Citizen Ambassador Program; both for Campbell Soup.
During the three weeks that Pieter was in the Far East, I went to Europe.
So togethe we went back to Schiphol Airport in Pieter's rental car and relaxing in the Van Gogh Room (for Business class and Royal class only).
On March 24, while Pieter was in Beijing, China, I had gone to the bank for handing Mom & Dad 1,000 Dutch Guilders, approximately US $ 500.00 as part of the ticket price.
Sister-in-law Wilma, seen on the left, did take care of the tickets on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Photo taken by brother Jan Van den Munckhof.
Pieter would be back in Europe by April 10, on April 20 all four of us flew to Atlanta...
The next day while at home in Dublin, Georgia/USA, Mom & Dad were welcomed over the radio by 'Uncle' Bo Whaley during his talk show!
In previous posts you could read about some of our trips or just Mom & Dad with me, as Pieter had to work for Campbell Soup.
Above photo shows the final evening of Tuesday, May 12, that we sat together at table, with Pieter (who took this photo) before he had to travel to Dallas, Texas next day...
Our final Friday evening together at home... We just had gotten back from visiting some friends and Mom had received a nice hand painted cloth from India, to take back to The Netherlands.
With my KLM Courtesy Card, I got all three of us checked in at the Business Class counter and also access to the Business Class Lounge AND A BUSINESS CLASS SEAT!
Mom & Dad had seat 11A and 11B and I had 11D.
Business Class in the Boeing 747-300 was in the upper deck and also in the lower deck where the 3 of us were seated.
The only disadvantage was that I was in seat 11D, about 'half-a-row' behind their seats 11A+B, contrary to other seat rows in the center and on the right side in this Boeing.
But I happily accepted that, as it gave more leg room and seating space, complete with dinner served on china and so on.
It was a night flight so one ought to sleep as much as possible...
My brother Harry with his wife Elly did pick us up in Amsterdam and I had to do consulting work in Germany the next day...
Dad had insisted towards Pieter, that I'd use their car instead of renting me a car for the 2 weeks of work in the Bremen area, Germany.

On June 3, I did travel back home from Amsterdam, The Netherlands to Atlanta, USA with business friend Jan Thielen from Lottum, The Netherlands who gave me a ride to the airport.
In return for that ride, I could share the privilege of checking in at the business class counter and access to the business class 'Van Gogh' room with my KLM Courtesy Card. Just as we could with Mom & Dad in tow. You were allowed to bring a guest...

Those were the days of classy travel with lots of privileges!
So grateful for having been able to let Mom & Dad share in it.

Related links:
Mushroom Friends in Austria and their Mushroom God Statue | read about our insane schedule before taking Mom & Dad home with us...
St. Augustine, 1st Florida city with Mom & Dad in 1987 | previous post by me

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

From CitizenM Hotel on Delta Airlines from Amsterdam to Savannah, Georgia

And so we were returning home from our 66th trip to The Netherlands!
It was a LONG trip this time since we did not want to use the much cheaper, all included flight + cruise from Viking!
Having your Dad, living in The Netherlands and bypassing him would be criminal in my humble opinion.
So here we went, right after having had a very hectic week with our choir, daily rehearsals for choreography and then 2 x performing on Saturday, May 18, at the local theatre.
Here I am, after getting back from Mass, in-between 2 performances.
Did not wear this to Church though... My Go-Go boots belonged with the 60s A-line style of dresses.
Found me this at Neiman Marcus Last Call and JIT = Just In Time. Click the link to read about the A-line silhouette, which did bring back very fond memories of me going to Fashion Design School...
Haha, half a century ago that is, but see, such styles DO return!
Go-Go boots came straight form China as I did not want any heels.
If you click the link, it shows them being very high, but not so on my long legs...
This dress can be pulled on over the head so I decided to take it with me to Europe.
Viking was offering this as: RIVER CRUISE AND AIR SAVINGS... Indeed, they offered very cheap flights from Atlanta to Budapest!
But we did NOT want to bypass The Netherlands.
Sure the VIKING INCLUSIVE VALUE was super!
Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase...
If air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately.
We ran into lots of bottle necks but with some back and forth writing it worked out.
BUT... 'After many long discussions with my management team and our operations team, I'm able to have transfers on your sailing at no additional price. All you need to do is provide us with your flight information.' - That was great news and we proceeded with the bookings!
This is U.S. time but it was 9:15 when our flight from New York landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and I got a message from Verizon with welcome to The Netherlands you are connected... We had not even arrived yet at the terminal!
Still had to get off the plane, through customs and collecting our suitcases.
So I sent my youngest brother Jan a location snapshot...
And again after arriving at Dad's place shortly after noon, when I drove the approx. 2 hours south.
Happy for being able to surprise my 98 year old Dad with a visit!
And several visits that is, he was SO HAPPY, never have seen him 'show' it the way he did this time.
And so talkative... we stayed some 2.5 hours after we had landed in Amsterdam and I'd driven straight to Dad's place for a visit.
The above photo is from June 2, the Sunday before we would be flying to Budapest next day, to start our Viking cruise adventure together.
Dad always had drilled us while picking tomatoes or gherkins about what is the capital of Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary etc. He himself loved Geography and so did I.
Little did I know then, that I would get to see quite a number of those capitals...
But we both had never been to Eastern Europe outside of Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
I'd given Dad my booklet from Viking, so he could study it and read all about it.
He would know day by day where we were and what we would be visiting.
His question was IF we would come back...
Well, as we both wanted to surprise him on Father's Day for being once again at his place with my siblings, we did not openly tell him we'd be back.
WISH I had...
After returning from Bucharest when Pieter was so sick and I too was weak, we rested a few days and there comes the message that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital, serious heart problems.
So instead of visiting him at home, we ended up visiting him at the hospital.
He was SO Happy again and said: 'So yet you are here!'...
We did bring him the remainder of the dark German Lindt chocolate, that we brought back from Bad Münstereifel, where I took Mom and Dad and they always LOVED being there.
On Saturday, May 25 we visited Bad Münstereifel together with our German 'Son' and family.
They had given Pieter a wonderful belated 90th Birthday celebration at their home...
We'd left Dad four of these sticks in the week after that...
Remainder got saved for FATHER'S DAY
Like Dad, I too LOVE dark Chocolate and Lindt has the 70% Cacao... so good!
Even for diabetic type 2, a daily small piece is okay.
So this is what we left on Dad's bedside table at the hospital after saying our FINAL GOODBYE... EMOTIONAL as Dad and we knew we would NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN - ALIVE THAT IS...
Hope he got to enjoy his chocolate and remembered both of us with each bite!
Sad that we had to depart from there, to return my BB & L rental car and next walk the 300 m to the CitizenM Hotel at Schiphol Airport.
CitizenM is a Netherlands-based hotel chain... click above link.
CitizenM says: wise travellers carry a small bag a big heart and good sunglasses
~
Convenient for our early departure as we were next to the Departure Hall already.
You sleep in a HUGE bed and under a light and soft down duvet on down pillows...
Only wish you had the luxury of sleeping in or at least till a more decent hour than 5:30!
It is the most convenient way to spend the night and for my Pieter especially, not having to walk too far is a big PLUS.
CitizenM is located at Jan Plezierweg 2
Pieter was in awe as with our boarding passes in my Wallet on the iPhone, I could self check our suitcases!
They had to be placed on their side, with handle up and then holding the iPhone with boarding pass, in front of scanner. Label got printed and you tied it around the handle and you also received the above Claim Tag! With the weight... mentioned and directing you to Please go to Gate: E20
So there we went, off on our Delta flight to Detroit at 9:20 in the morning...
We did have quite a lay-over in Detroit so we solved that in a nice way.
Since we have the Platinum Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can buy a day pass for the Delta Sky Club at $ 29.00. One of its perks! So I got us both a pass and we could relax, Pieter even could nap in an armchair and they provide salads, soups and light snacks with drinks.
Also WiFi available so I could check my mail etc. for the day before traveling on.
At 22:00 I arrived safely home by car, from Savannah, Georgia... that would be 4:00 o'clock next morning for Dutch time! A long day from 5:30 till next day 4:00...
We went straight to bed, left the suitcases in the car till next morning when I woke up around 5:30 again.
Of course, Dad had been released that afternoon... Murphy's Law!
~
But on June 30, I received a WhatsApp message from brother Piet, that Dad had passed away, in his chair, in his garden on a Sunday...
A jogger had spotted him, sitting a bit lopsided in his chair.
So my ESP, or heightened intuition/empathic accuracy proved to have been once more right.
I'd heard it in Dad's voice soon after his 98th Birthday, somehow he'd lost his spark for life...
Also when he told me that after his bad cold, my sister Diny had cancelled his membership as an elderly choir member of Levensvreugd (Joy of Life)...
Dad has reached a unique 70th and last year even a more unique 80th Anniversary for being a Choir Singer.
He got two Royal Awards in The Netherlands for that!
Sure enough, when no longer being with his tiny circle of friends, his joy for life was kind of snuffed out, like a candle...
Especially dramatic changes for elderly, do have a huge impact on their overall well being.
On Wednesday, May 15 of 2019, Dad received this big nosegay of fresh flowers from an anonymous person through the soon to be Foundation of Bleumkes vaan Geluk (Flowers of Happiness) puts lonely elderly in the sunshine!
Dad proves in this excellent photo that he was pleasantly surprised!
He was scraping off the old paint for obviously wanting to repaint his window...
This was handed to him only 6 days before we arrived by surprise!
Maybe these happenings did inject him with some more life-elixer?
While we were in the Bad Münstereifel, Germany we received this page from best friend Ellie via WhatsApp. Dad rehearsing for his upcoming performance...
And yes, Dad did manage to perform one more time on May 30, on Ascension Day!
Just imagine, at age 98...
Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren of Horst aan de Maas
Notice that Dad is reading his typed text without reading glasses!
Photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren, also member Fotogroep Horst aan de Maas
Showing where they set up a sheltered podium for eventual rain.
It was adjacent to the St. Lambertuskerk (Church) in Horst aan de Maas
Dad sang a very old Horster Folk Song and in the context of 800 years Horst he performed several times, also in the studio.
Dad after his performance... photo courtesy of Hub Vermeeren.
On Dad's nose they'd removed a skin cancer and created a nasty scar... Here in the USA they do a far better job!
There is a video on YouTube: Horster volkslied Piet van den Munckhof, Jan Joosten en Bas Nellen just click it.
My comment is gone...
The other bitly link above: June 30, 2019 ←click link for English comment by me on FB.

At the end of May, at the opening of the 800 house on the Kerkstraat in Horst, Piet Van den Munckhof, togeether with Jan Joosten and Bas Nellen, sang the old Horster national anthem. A month later, on June 30, 2019, Piet passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 98.

Dad didn't die unexpectedly... We came extra for him on May 21, our 67t trip to say goodbye to him. You could hear it in his voice and also in what he said when we called him, So we had sensed and estimated that very well.
We were on Ascension Day at a 1st Communion party in Sevenum but regularly visited Dad and he enjoyed it and talked a lot!
After the absolute and very emotional goodbye in the hospital on Father's Day, we drove to Schiphol and after a short night back to the USA with a very satisfied feeling!

In the local Hallo Horst aan de Maas, the Horster Mannenkoor (Male Choir) published this very warm text:
On the weekend we heard that has died our honorary member
Piet Van den Munckhof
Piet has been a member of the Horster Male Choir to this day; He joined in July 1938 and was by far the oldest member of our association.
Although he has not been active in our choir for many years, we have been able to enjoy his singing qualities in May during the singing of the old Horster Folk Song. As an accomplished performer, he recited this song adjacent to the St. Lambertus Church.
 "Horst can boast on scholars, sparkle by their great talent ", he sang then.
Piet was as 1st tenor for years our mentor and we are grateful for his contribution and dedication.

Board and Members
Horster Male Choir

🎼

R.I.P. Dad!

Related link:

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