General Douglas MacArthur a.k.a Troy

Troy selected a five star American General for his History Fair project and was able to tell us a lot about him when we visited the school today.

 This is fairly close to how MacArthur dressed.  He was very fond of his corncob pipe and donned sunglasses - we didn't have the aviator style sunglasses - but he would have had a bunch of authentic medals, not the cheap copies that we got from a party store.  We couldn't get a general's cap in a khaki shade so I bought some fabric the same colour as the shirt and after using the hat as a template to cut pieces of the fabric, I handsewed the fabric on top of the black cap.  It was finicky and a lengthy process but worth the effort. 

I doubt Troy would ever make a stern general despite the picture above this one.  This is a much truer likeness of him.  He might frustrate us at times with his lackadaisical approach to life but we are so thankful for his perpetual cheerfulness, unwavering affection, and guileless spirit.  On the eve of becoming a teenager, despite physically having gone through the process of maturing already for some time now, we have yet to encounter Troy in a bad mood, one of the classic symptoms of a typical teenager.   Yes, I'm sure I was moody. 

Being the 'baby' of the family means he gets to come with us even if it doesn't suit him; to music concerts, helping to clean up someone's yard, visiting friends of his parents who have no children his age or even no children at all, etc.  He rarely complains and for that we are grateful. 

    

U.S Snoeks to the Canadian Snoeks

Last week being Troy's spring break, we took the opportunity to visit family further up in North America where we always get such a warm welcome.  We usually avoid the 401 - the highway that goes through Toronto - and Niagara, and take a different route up and around crossing into Canada at 1000 Islands.   This time however, we wanted to visit two of Ron's aunts who live in the Toronto region so it made sense to stay in Buffalo, NY with friends for a night and then stop off for visits on the way through to Uncle Hans's place.

Here are a few of Tante Leny's paintings and embroideries.  Her artistic talent is amazing. 

 We had lunch downstairs in the restaurant that is part of the complex that she lives in.  As you can see she is doing pretty well for her age although I'm sure her stoicism covers up a fair bit of ongoing pain and discomfort. 

Tante Mieke broke her hip when she fell on ice a few months ago and further exacerbated her injuries when she bravely tried to get herself up on a car door handle.  Thankfully she is doing very well although doesn't have permission to drive yet.  In spite of being reliant on others for help which must be frustrating at times, she is as always, cheerful and gracious. 

Here's the lovely afternoon tea she had ready for us when we arrived; silver sugar and milk set, tea cups that Jane Austen would have relished drinking from, plenty of tempting treats and a lovely spring arrangement to boot.

These aren't the best snaps of Uncle Hans, but I started off the vacation with good intentions and my photo sessions fizzled out to nothing.  On the last day I realized I had taken none of Uncle Hans and none of the cousins.  Another good excuse not to wait too long until we visit Canada again! 

Piano Recital

Saturday afternoon most of my piano pupils (bar my adult students) participated in performing two prepared pieces of music.  It was as if I was standing beside them whispering in their ear, reminding them of all the things I say during a typical lesson - forte here, pianissimo there, ritardando, watch the phrasing, a little more staccato, don't over use the pedal etc.  They did a wonderful job. 

As you can see by the photos, there is a cross section of ages and cultures.  Even though probably all of these children were born in the U.S their heritage is varied - Italian, Korean, Dominican Republic, Russian and, of course, the land of the long white cloud.   

Here's Troy looking more like he's playing in a casual bar than in a church.  That blue T-shirt peeking out from under his shirt is a much better choice than the highlighter green one he would have chosen.  One of my students asked me if Troy got saddled with extra long and difficult pieces because he is the piano teacher's son.   Hmmmm....  maybe I could be a little kinder next year to my own flesh and blood.

Easter Assortment

This has probably been our most diverse Easter to date.  On Friday we were invited to a very enjoyable Seder (Passover) Meal.  It follows a specific form where all the elements and history are explained, and four traditional questions are asked and answered.  This has been a tradition of the host family for about 10 years now.  What is special about this Jewish tradition is to commemorate it as Christians;  with thankfulness to the Lord for the completion of His work in redeeming His chosen people. 

 Bill and Lisa, ever the gracious host and hostess served an abundance of wonderful cuisine - with leftovers to take home - and we enjoyed getting to know some other folk during the evening.

On Saturday evening we went to an Easter service at Brookfield Anglican Church.  A friend who has been going through some challenges, and is attending there, asked if we would attend.   It is a very beautiful stone church with stained glass windows inside. 

On Sunday we went to our own church, Orthodox Presbyterian, and, between the services listened to St Matthew Passion.  Since Bach was a Lutheran I could say we were dabbling in quite a few different denominations this weekend. 

Easter is springtime here for us of course in the northern hemisphere.  The supermarkets are full of potted plants - tulips, hyacinths etc @3 for $10.  My favourite colours are always the pinks, whites, blues and purples but I particularly liked the shade of this tulip. 

Eliot came home very briefly over Easter.  He had planned to join us for the Seder Meal but he only managed to stay for the appetizer as he was unexpectedly called back for R.A duty (resident assitant).  He arrived home in a much more colourful vehicle than we remembered he owned.  Apparently a bevy of girls decorated his car.  Sigma Chi is the fraternity that Eliot is a part of.  I  was a little disappointed that there weren't more Latin words painted on the car than just the measly two that are visible on the door.   

This just about deserves a post all on its own.  I almost needed CPR following the whole episode.  Here you see Ron smiling while cleaning the toilet, not having been coerced to do the dirty deed and then admitting that he didn't mind doing it.  Furthermore, he did a great job.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter.  Remember:

Commit thy ways to Jesus, Thy burdens and thy cares,
He from them all releases, He all thy sorrows shares,
He gives the wind their courses, And bounds the ocean's shores,
He suffers not temptations, To rise beyond thy power.

From St Matthew Passion

Silver Celebration

With overwhelming thanks to the Lord, Ron and I, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, have been married 25 years today.   Today, looking back at 'the' original Valentine card that was the catalyst for our eventual union, many other cards I have kept over the years and a diary of our honeymoon we reminisced with fond nostalgia for the many experiences we have shared together. 

In 1987 we didn't have the benefit of digital photography.  However in daylight, the digital photos I took of our wedding photos came out fairly reasonable. 

                               Phew, I made it up the aisle.

      

Notice Eric's rapt attention to the exchange of the rings!

            A continuation of the nuptial kiss.

         

My lovely sisters Esther and Sandra outside our family home in Wainuiomata and Jenny.     

                              

                                   Flanked by parents and parents-in-law, a smiling quintet.

Our flower girl, adorable Jenny de Reus nee Snoek, our niece, only two years old at the time, who is now married with two children of her own.

One wonders what the dialogue is here.

It's so hard to get good staff around here. 

A shame about the red skin tone on the photo but one of the few close-ups we have of the wedding.

I dedicate this poem T S Eliot wrote for his wife to Ron although it may be a little earthy for some:

To whom I owe the leaping delight

That quickens my senses in our waking time

And the rhythm that governs the repose of our sleeping time

The breathing in unison

Of lovers whose bodies smell of each other

Who think the same thoughts without need of speech

And babble the same speech without need of meaning

No peevish winter wind shall chill

No sullen tropic sun shall wither

The roses in the rose garden which is ours and ours only.

Weather contrasts

A couple of weeks ago Ron was in Bangkok on business for a global sales conference.  Getting from his hotel to the conference even though it was relatively close was quite an ordeal since he had to make his way there on crutches in the sizzling heat and humidity.  So much for taking a shower beforehand!  The day he was due to fly back into New Jersey (where Troy and I picked him up from) was our second major snowfall of the season.  The trip itself was no picnic; 7 hrs to Japan and then 18 hrs to Newark airport in NJ.  En route apparently a little Asian flight attendant while trying to stuff baggage into the overhead bins had been 'jumping up and down' on Ron's ankle.  Well that's his story and he's going to stick to it. 

Meantime, back in CT, Troy and I are busy clearing the driveway of snow, and sweeping the 5 or 6 inches off the car in preparation for the long slow trip to airport, when to our delight, Zac from across the road comes over with their new snowblower and in about 5 minutes has taken care of everything. 

I've never coveted one of these machines until I saw how fast the job got done.  They apparently are subject to breaking down fairly often from what we have heard.  Mmmm... perhaps we will stick with the manual method for now but I daresay if this hadn't been such a mild winter thus far, I could be tempted..






Speaking of mild, and weather contrasts, we have been having spring like weather for the last couple of weeks.  I wouldn't be surprised if the daffodils start to pop their heads.  Today it was at least 12C.  We have been painting and staining some interior walls and trim that our neighbour has been working on.  I was able to open windows to let the fumes escape. 

I don't recall a single February that we have had no snow on the lawn.  I took this photo today in the late afternoon and it's what the yard has looked like for the last several weeks.  Ben and Franci Hoyt from Christchurch who are currently living in NYC, and who we have got together with a few times asked me last time if this was a typical winter.  Absolutely not, not, not.  We're enjoying it though. 

Unwelcome guest in the porch

I have a backlog of photos and after being chided many times by someone who will remain nameless, have decided to process the pics from my photo file to my blog.  This past summer when Ron was on a business trip (the unwanted guest knew) and Oma a.k.a Marijke/Mum/Mrs de Vries was with us, she shrieked when she encountered a black snake in our porch.  To her credit, she remained cool, calm and collected, and helped to sweep the snake out with our largest broom after we were unsuccessful in trying to shoo it out with another long handled tool.  I originally assumed that it was a garter snake, very common around here and pretty harmless.  However, when Ron matched my photo with one on the internet, he discovered that it was a black rat snake.  No wonder Tammy yelped when I sent her after it!