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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 Meeting Blogger Friend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meeting Blogger Friend. Show all posts

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Our Stay at Hyatt Place Downtown Knoxville and Meeting Blogger Friend

 After having that marvelous view of Chimney Tops in Tennessee we ended our day at the Hyatt Place Knoxville, Downtown.
We had booked us 3 free nights for points.
So that felt great!
No rush, just relaxing after that full day of driving 6.5 hours with lots of traffic lights on Highway 441 North.
I also made up my mind for NOT going back that same route of 493 km or 306 miles.
The final stretch was fine, on the Interstate and that went a lot faster!
Hyatt Place Knoxville, Downtown as we saw it when coming back from our walk to Market Square.
That was just across from the hotel and a nice stroll.
Here we just left to walk to the Market Square, only one street further—in front of our hotel.
We both were admiring the beautiful autumn colors!
Immediately I spotted this giant Schnauzer—identical to Jaeger, the dog from dear friends.
Later Mary Louise said it was HIM—even to the detail of his right floppy ear!
Pieter took another picture the next day where you also see the information about the artist.
Created by TRAVIS EMMEN in STEEL WIRE and for $ 36,500
A true metalwork artist and you can find this piece in his portfolio: travisemmen
Pieter near such a golden tree with already a carpet down on the ground.
Still at Market Square.
Now looking from across the road onto Historic Market Square.
We both enjoyed an early supper at the friendly Tupelo Honey at 1 Market Sq and selected their excellent 
Chicken Tortilla Soup
shredded chicken, black beans, jalapeños, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro and lime topped with tortilla strips.
That looked for both of us the healthiest in regard to our diet restrictions.
Pieter took this photo near the elevators at the Hyatt Place.
After he'd walked across to the Market Square for taking some more pictures...
With one day in–between without any driving, we now were ready to visit sweet blogger friend Carole from the blog Ramblingon ←click it. Just as we did on April 3, 2019 (see 2nd link below this post.
Also Katie Isabella ←click it.
Sweet Katie Isabella is seen in above photo in front of Pieter's feet and stretching out to my shoes.
Katie actually wrote about it: WHAT a JOY! ←click it.
It was almost seven weeks, since Carole lost her eldest son to a long and brave battle with cancer...
Just like in 2019, when we continued on to Ohio near Lake Erie for visiting another blog related friend Patricia and husband Roland, who'd lost their eldest daughter due to surgery complications.
You can read that in the link below, about walking through Knoxville. Needed a short break in–between the long journey of 3,198 km or 1,987 miles then.
Also this time it felt good to visit and I've gifted Carole one of my hand crocheted handkerchiefs for wiping away any tears.
It was a meaningful trip all together with fond memories!
Next day around 8:15 I drove back with my Pieter and we made a break in Atlanta for our usual shopping rounds at Costco, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market.
Home by 16:15 and meeting with our happy kitties that had been cared for by our cat–sitter.
Then off to choir practice—singing.


Related links:

Monday, February 21, 2022

Lunch with a Dear Writer Friend in Osprey, Florida

 The main reason for coming back to Sarasota was to meet with our widow friend Jo...
Here we are at The Point in Osprey, Florida.
Jo, with her late husband Dennis, whom we lost on December 20, 2016, used to come here by boat at little Sarasota Bay.
We have come back to Sarasota numerous times, such as here with Dennis still with us: {Made In Italy Pizzeria in Venice, Florida with Friends}
We have met through blogger friends... 
Picture taken by Dennis on June 29, 2016 at the lobby of the very Hyatt Regency where we were staying also this time...
Who could have known that less than 6 months later our dear friend Dennis would be gone.
One more reason for never postponing things; do it while your'e all still alive!
It is said that Jo is the spitting image of me...
We have so much in common, she used to design and sew her clothes and she's an excellent Lady Chef.
Jo's cookbook is exceptional: The Treasures of My Family Cooking Italian Cookbook available at Apple Books
Pastry recipes included in the book were served to the King and Queen of Naples.
But also available as a printed book in exceptional paper quality in color on 141 pages!
Just email Jo: The Treasures of My Family Cooking Italian Cookbook for obtaining this book for $ 39.95.
A TRUE Treasure!
An exotic friend from Chenectady, New York but she studied abroad in Naples...
Living in Sarasota, Florida and she often visited back with her relatives in Naples.
Who would NOT love to make an authentic Tira Mi Su?
It is all in her special book!
Beautiful photo from The Point, taken by Jo.
This was my version, from where we were seated.
The restaurant has three levels, with third floor bar for spectacular sunset views...
Husband Pieter opted for the Flat Top Grouper Tacos and I tried the Mini Lobster Rolls (2).
Pieter's Flat Top Grouper Tacos
My delicious Mini Lobster Rolls
It was heartwarming to read this on my MacBook later in the afternoon...
Jo wrote: Wonderful lunch with my best friends Mariette and Pieter. All the way from Georgia. ❤️❤️ priceless.
Pieter mentioned: That was so very special with perfect weather and what a VIEW! Thank you dear friend and Dennis was with us in thoughts...
Jo: Pieter thank you my dearest friend. May God bless you always.
Another of my longtime blogger friends Barbara replied:
Three of my favorite folks!
Jo: Barbara love you. Thank you. They are the greatest.
Another blogger friend Carole from Katie Isabella tuned in:
Oh you are friends with my dear friend Mariette!
Jo: Carole yes. Love her.
Carol: Jo me as well! And Pieter too.
Jo: Carole yes. ❤️❤️
I've added: Perfect weather and such a nice historical spot at The Point.
Jo: Mariette so happy we had great weather. Loved being with you.
Hope we get to do this again soon.
Love you.

It was such a wonderful get together and it feels as good for the soul as for the stomach to have such a lunch at a beautiful place!

Since Jo is a writer, we wanted to show her our book but we forgot...
So Pieter posed with it once we got back at the Hyatt Regency, to forward to Jo...
Then we both went for a lovely walk but will show that later 😏


Related link:
{Columbus Day and Saint Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida} | previous post where we explored the area where Jo and Dennis had their business...

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Walking Through Knoxville, Tennessee

While staying at the Hyatt Place in downtown Knoxville, we were conveniently close to several parks.
So we walked from the Hyatt to the nearby Market Square.
For husband Pieter, being a longtime Rotarian since May 11, 1976 and having been President of the Dutch club in Venray over the year 1978, this was a must photograph!
Rotary's Global Polio Eradication Campaign is near to our heart.
October 24, is again World Polio Day and we know a special Rotary Friend from Jakarta, his touching story can be read below blog...
Interesting Aluminum part in large scale!
Back side..
Nature was so lovely on April 4!
We walked past the Hilton Hotel, where Pieter stayed in 1986. To the right you can also see the Knoxville Sunsphere.
Close to the World's Fair Park also...
Closeup of the blooming Redbud right on its trunk; seen in the above photo on the left.
A very special Rachmaninoff Statue
Rachmaninoff: The Last Concert By Victor Bokarov, Sculptor
In honor of Sergei Rachmaninoff's last concert's performed in Alumni Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Tennessee
February 17, 1943
Donated by
Victor Bokarov of Russia to the City of Knoxville
Erected, July 2003
Smelling the perfume of Daphne odora!
We tried this shrub once in our garden but it is too hot for it to survive...
 Closeup of these beauties!
This is Knoxville's Federal Courthouse
Beautiful architecture!
Back to our Hyatt Place and now we ride the elevator to the Rooftop!
If you wish, you can enjoy here cocktails with a spectacular view!
Seen to the right is the Federal Courthouse.
Great view and you can even see the nearby mountains...
Yes, we were also conveniently close to the Interstate, where I did continue my journey next day for visiting sweet blog-related friends Patricia & Roland, in Ohio, near Lake Erie, who had suddenly lost their eldest daughter due to surgery complications.
That day I too walked in Pieter's Footsteps from 1986 when he studied at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
We did have a very warm visit with our sweet friends, they are Catholic just like we are and we left from our Hyatt Place in Canton, OH after 2 nights and drove to the Hyatt Place in Asheville, NC.
Again a visit to dear friends in East Tennessee and next after 2 nights I started the journey back to Georgia.
Yep, I'd done 1987 miles or (of is Dutch) 3198 km...


Related posts:
Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps | previous post
SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | previous post
{World Polio Day - Nobody's child everybody's man - Jakarta Post} | previous post
{October 24, 2012 is World Polio Day} | previous post

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Taking Husband Pieter back to Knoxville, TN in Mom & Dad's Footsteps

On April 4, of this year we both stayed in Knoxville, TN for two nights.
For a very special reason...
After having gone to Clingman's Dome, see previous post below, we visited with a dear blogger friend close to Knoxville and then checked in at the Hyatt Place downtown.
The blogger friend is: Katie Isabella she is very sweet in person!
Also: Ramblingon Katie Isabella's Mom
Yes, we met both of them!
It is always a joy for Meeting with any Blogger Friend that you know for many, many years and it also proves again and again that you have so much in common.
Here husband Pieter finally stands in a spot where he took daily lunch break walks...
Pieter had to do a course about Statistical Process Control at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for Campbell Soup.
So on Saturday, September 6, 1986 Pieter flew from Atlanta, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee after I'd dropped him off at the airport.
Here, Mom & Dad are walking the gardens around the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, on May  6, 1987.
As a matter of fact, just received this photo from my Dad on May 21, 2019, when I drove straight home from the airport after landing in Amsterdam.
Showed him some video on my MacBook and photos from our trip to Knoxville in April.
Dad jumped up and grabbed his photo book from their FIRST trip to the USA.
Never had seen those pictures myself and of course immediately asked Dad to take them with me for scanning them for archiving.
So happy with these memories!
Pieter took this photo from the University of Tennessee, from the Hill Street...
The University of Tennessee, Hill Entrance
Card from the University of Knoxville that Pieter sent to Mom & Dad in The Netherlands
From September 6 till the 12th, husband Pieter stayed at the Knoxville Hilton in 1986
On Friday, September 12 of 1986, I did pick up Pieter at the Atlanta airport by 6:35 PM and he proudly showed me this!
Pieter took this photo upon arrival in Knoxville with to the right the tower from a special Church...
This was a photo taken by husband Pieter, from the Observation Deck at the Sunsphere, showing the Church Street United Methodist Church of Knoxville, TN
Just click here for more info about Knoxville, TN - Church Street United Methodist Church and what a magnificent building that is!
A very poor quality photo but seen are Mom & Dad and I presume that I did park near that Church for strolling around the University as that is to the right...
Here I am standing in front of this beautiful Church Street United Methodist Church!
While Pieter was napping, I found it on the Internet, and now had the address for walking to it from our Hyatt Place in Downtown...
It was rather difficult to recognize from the bad photo I had of Mom & Dad.
Pieter took this photo from the median with pedestrian traffic lights as otherwise the entire building would not be in the picture.
Pedestrians could not cross this 6-lane road in 'one' trip...
Mom & Dad on May 6, 1987 at the World's Fair Park in Knoxville
The tower's window glass panels are layered in 24-karat gold dust...
It measures 266 ft or 81 m!
The 1982 World's Fair, formerly known as Knoxville International Energy Exposition in which The Netherlands also participated and China for the 1st time EVER. 
See short video: Remembering the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee where President Reagan opened it on May 1.
Also called 'Sunsphere'

Husband Pieter took this photo in 1986 when walking around during lunch break...
In the center you see the Hilton hotel
Oh, I do recall Pieter talking about Worlds Largest Rubik's Cube From 1982 Worlds Fair of which they had a HUGE one on display.
Designed by Hungarian Architecture Professor Erno Rubik and became one of the 1982 World's Fair's most well known icons.
This photo I took of Pieter on April 4, 2019...
The first time that Pieter ever came back here since 1986!
Yep, Public Parking Poplar St Lot and Pieter pointing to the World's Fair Park and it is visible to his right.
There are still overhead wires visible but a lot less than in 1987 when I took Mom & Dad's photo.
Horizon pollution...
The Tennessee Amphitheater shown here, which got constructed during the 1982 World's Fair
Dad gave me also this photo where we just arrived in North Carolina.
We visited Highlands and also nearby Dry Falls of which Dad himself had pictures.
We spent the night in Cherokee TN, at a Best Western
Next day we went to Gatlinburg, TN and on to Knoxville.
Quite a solo trip for me, as we had dropped off Pieter at the airport on Sunday, May 3, after we had spent the weekend in Atlanta at the Marriott Galleria.
1226 km for me solo or 14 hours driving...
Pieter was still working full time for Campbell Soup as Vice President Training & Development.
A total of 1,226 km and back till the airport in Atlanta to pick up Pieter, all on May 6, and from there, Pieter did drive home!
That was a full day... all the way from Knoxville.
We had all four been together to the Dutch Queen's Birthday Reception at the Dutch Consul's home on West Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta.
Dad sang the Dutch Wilhelmus on this side of the Atlantic!
So with 2 nights at the Marriott and some shopping, dropping Pieter off at the airport I'd gone back to Dublin for 1 night... Next day we left for North Carolina and the above Knoxville, TN visit.
When I'd come home in Dublin, I also altered a newly bought dress for Mom (while in Atlanta!) so she could wear it!

So happy for having received Dad's photos and being able to look back and for having shown Pieter once more...


Previous post:
SO Proud of my NONAGENARIAN | previous post by me
{Mom Lived 16 Days Short of Her 91st Birthday} | previous post by me with Mom & Dad's words in guest book

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