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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 Our Felines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Our Felines. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2024

Our Acapulco, Mexico Vacation I

 Yes, we have enjoyed some very special vacations in Acapulco, México.
A country where we both worked for over ten years as consultants.
View of Acapulco Bay from our room 2103 at the 21st floor
My flight ticket home on February 25, 2005. 
We arrived on February 15...
Hyatt Regency Acapulco was our home for those 10 days...
It read: WELCOME TO THE PEARL OF THE PACIFIC! 
Of course with our Hyatt card we had access to Regency Club.
Quite a luxury which we enjoyed world wide!
City view and you see bottom right they even had a Walmart Super Center
View of the 3 big pools and the beach with large tropical garden all around
View from the beach
View towards hotel, from beach area
We both loved the lush tropical garden setting...
Such a happy place to be together!
Well, on February 18, we both made a phone call to The Netherlands, using our American Express card. This due to the somber news of Wilhelmien, Pieter's middle brother Toon's love. She had pancreatic cancer and only three more weeks to live.
That was a rip off but to both of us those 7 minutes talking to her for US $ 49.89 was worth it!
It sure did lift her up 💕
On Sunday, February 20, we also prayed for her during Mass at noon, on the 23rd floor.
Our boss Tino and his wife Carmen drove four hours down from México City on the Maxi Pista for visiting us! They arrived on August 23.
We felt honored and enjoyed this dinner together at the Kookaburra restaurant across from our hotel on the Acapulco Bay. It is unique due to its spectacular bay views. See the tree beam to the right of me? A very unique open construction.
We all together went to the old town to see: ACAPULCO, MEXICO — THE CLIFF DIVERS OF LA QUEBRADA ←click for 1 minute video. 
Both of us had seen cliff divers before, in Hawaii
Our last night, we enjoyed this spectacular sunset...

Our arrival flights on February 15, were an adventure as I flew with Continental via Houston and Pieter with United via México City and with Aviasco to Acapulco. But they didn't fly, so he got there with AeroMexico a good hour later.

Going home was another adventure.
We both left for the airport in the taxi I'd bought my round trip ticket for upon arrival. We had hugged Tino and Carmen goodby and left at 10:30 AM for Pieter's earlier flight around noon.

We both only flew with hand luggage so checking in went swift. Pieter had to go to the domestic terminal and I to international so we hugged goodbye.
Pieter's flight got delayed one hour and I worried about his connection in Chicago... from México City and then to Atlanta.
Pieter left at 2:30 PM instead of at noon time—needless to say that he missed his connection with United to Chicago.
He arrived in México City and after pleading with AeroMexico, they gave him a ticket for 8:00 AM next day and non–stop to Atlanta. They also dropped him off at the Riazor Hotel in México City.
Pieter had requested Continental and United to page me but I never heard any message...

In Atlanta around midnight, there was no service at all. The information booth was un–staffed!
Did wait till 0:30 AM and used my spare key from our Mazda Millenia S and sat in the car by 0:50 AM on my way home. 
At home by 2:50 AM when checking the answering machine, sure enough I got a message from Pieter from the Riazor Hotel in México City with his number there and request to call him.
Sorry for having to wake him up—Georgia is one hour ahead of time but Pieter was glad we made contact. He was mad at the airlines for poor service and not contacting me.

Well, by 4:15 AM I was in bed and up again at  8:15 AM and after a light breakfast I was on my way to the airport after I'd gassed up.
Went to the AeroMexico counter after seeing that flight 306 had landed slightly early. They still had to go through customs.
So I had time to verify that Pieter actually had been ON that flight. Went to three people before I finally got my info—after pushing for it.
No, this is protected information for security reason...! Yes, I said but the plane is already on the ground, no longer in the air... So she did check and asked: Pieter?—yes, that's him!

It took Pieter 40 minutes till we could hug each other and were re–united again.
Pieter drove home and went straight to the Country Lane Pet Lodge to pick up our kitties Spooky and Barty boy. 

That was the closing of United Airlines for us after this adventure with the frequent flyer 'free ticket' for Pieter. Well, still $ 60 and he paid $ 375 for the small segment from México City to Acapulco. The gain was merely $ 200 compared to my ticket of $ 605 all in with Continental. 

Pieter vowed to never travel separately again!

Friday, February 23, 2024

What a SCARE Early Morning

 On January 16, at 5:45 AM we rudely got woken up...
Somebody was ringing our front–door bell with such aggression and banging on the door as well!
It scares you!
Pieter opened the door and I heard a woman's voice...
Quickly done my morning robe and did greet her and invited her inside, out of the cold.
She was in such panic!
Wearing plaid pajama pants and a red wool winter coat over it...
I let her take a seat on our oak chest below the coat rack and she then tried to call 911.
But her cellphone was DEAD so she asked me to call for her, which I did.
She also asked me to call a friend, which I did and she talked briefly to her.
Then the Sheriff arrived and assessed the situation. He went into our front lawn, where she'd driven her car, to get info off her license plate.
Later he called for the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and a backup Sheriff deputy.
That elderly lady was from our neighborhood but we never met her.
By 6:41 AM I took this short video with my iPhone as the backup Sheriff drove her car carefully out of our front yard—avoiding the mail box and not again getting inside the tiled ditch next to our brick walkway.
He got escorted by another sheriff as the woman's car had NO lights!
Pieter had placed two big tiles alongside his neatly dug out trench for water control.
You can see more here: {Pipe under Brick Walkway & Trench for Water Control} ←click link to see how our Felines supervised Pieter ten years ago...
She had broken one of the big tiles as she obviously, with one wheel drove through it...
One tile is completely gone (maybe scooped up by her car?) and the other broken...

We had early breakfast as it was impossible to go back to sleep!

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, November 28, 2023

R.I.P. Sweet Dido Boy

 Our sweet and vocal Bandido or Dido as we used to call him went to be with his favorite kitty fur sis Sacha, who got hit by a car on June 17, 2013
We had to let him go this morning as he barely was eating and so weak...
Dido with his Mamita, he was her favorite... That face!
February 5, 2008 Dido to the left—he was the talker!
Sacha his favorite kitty fur sis could stand on her hind legs.
Also taken on February 5, 2008—Dido with his tongue out... photo taken bij Dutch friend Mariëlle.
February 7, 2008 Dido with his velvety silken fur. But he even shows tiger stripes in the sunshine.
He had a white cross on his chest and some white hairs on his throat.
March 22, 2010 Dido napping on the down duvet with his Papi...
March 23, 2010 Dido looking like an Egyptian Sphinx...
August 16, 2010 on top of our car inside garage...
December 23, 2010 Sacha and her kitty brother Bandido on top of the duvet cuddling each other...
Sacha was the 3rd born and Dido the final one of five.
Before embracing each other—Dido did thoroughly WASH Sacha...
Guess he could have eaten her alive!
Cute and alert Dido on August 16, 2011
Overlooking the pond area...
May 27, 2012—what pet beds? 
Dido prefers a shallow box..
June 27, 2013 Dido with his cuddle bear...
October 14, 2007 when I tried on my wedding dress, holding Dido
April 3, 2015 holding Bandido
Wore those pants for Thanksgiving but of course did NOT fill them up like here.
My weight is still 44 kg or 97 pounds—like Dido struggling to survive...
February 13, 2016 Dido with his bouncy mouse...
March 28, 2016 Dido on the left with his kitty brother Spooky on bolstered kitty sill pet bed.


September 29, 2017 with Bandido boy
WISH those pants would fit like that again...
July 30, 2018. On Friday at vet's visit, Amanda discovered a Mammary gland tumor on Dido
BUT over the weekend the tumor opened up and I had to call her for help.
She said to put a gauze on and tie it around his shoulder and then cover with a onesie.
Did make one from a silk knit sweater's sleeve from Pieter...
Slept with him in the kitchen on the floor—on sleeping bags + duvets—that calmed him!
Surgery was on July 31st and this is August 2, 2018
April 3, 2021 Dido up close with his tongue out...
October 28, 2022 we started giving him more tiny meals per day and also goat milk but we did not manage to nurture him back to good health...
June 18, 2023 after my 2nd surgery Dido became my loving and loyal kitty nurse
July 4 on the sofa in the living room—Dido my constant companion—they sense when we're in pain!
July 16, Dido with his tongue out but next to me as a body guard...
August 1, with me in the veranda behind screen door—on the oak stool with soft blanket.
Dido had to be near me!
Always talking to his human parents...
November 27, around 22:00 Dido's final night and he opted for sleeping next to me underneath the down duvet...
November 28 at 0:43 under the down duvet and next to my cotton flannel pajama... So sweet!
Dido sure felt loved and secure and I've told him that he is going to meet his fur sis Sacha soon.
At 1:27 when I came back from the bathroom... he was still on his side feeling so safe and warm.
Dido on my lap at 8:58 this morning...
Dido had a final sunny morning... 
This is 10:23 and Amanda the vet could not make a house call today so Pieter did take him inside the wicker pet carrier and he held him while he got his shot.
Amanda thought it was cancer that did him in, he had one lump on the side of his chest and what grew inwards?
Two days short of 16 years + 8 months.
Born on March 30, 2007 at our home and died peacefully on November 28, 2023 around 11:00 AM
Pieter buried him near the other kitties and one of the Mexicans helped him with that, they just arrived to do the lawn.
Pieter had weighed him inside his Angel bag and he was 3.5 kg.

R.I.P. Sweet Dido Boy!

Related links:
A New Angel | Katie Isabella mentioning our Dido to the Cat Blogosphere—THANK YOU!!!
Bandido "Dido" Forever | The Cat Blogosphere with Memorial Graphic...
In Memory of Dido | Meezer's Mews and Terrieristical Woofs
Bandido aka Dido OTRB | Power Of The Paw blog 
Dido | mentioned by Our Rainbow Friends 
 Dido mentioned in center bottom on the sideline of The Cat Blogosphere ←click link
Bandido mentioned 2nd from bottom, right in Remembering our Friends, Loved and Lost during 2023 ←click link


R.I.P. Sweet Barty Boy | previous post by me and we had to let him go on October 28, 2020
{R.I.P. SACHA GIRL} | previous post by me

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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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