{Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher}

Also gratitude from birds, residing on our property...
Building their nests, raising their young ones and singing their happy songs!

Photo is from our wren bird house with the Carolina jasmine still blooming in April

 ~

Quote: Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Related link:
{Our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate from August 1997}  | previous post by me
{Our Wood Trail in 1994}  | previous post by me showing the very same wren house

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{My Escada & RED Valentino Score}

With my European size 34, or US size 4, I often do find incredible bargains at Outlets or on line. 

Let me show you what I wore on Easter Sunday...

Happy on Easter Sunday in my new outfit...
Lambsnappa skirt from Escada with also Escada low heeled pumps.
RED Valentino sweater and my Ferragamo bag that I received as a gift from my boss in Indonesia.

The canvas with leather Ferragamo bag goes very well with this outfit.

Skirt from behind with blind zipper, darts and walking slit.

Yes, both of us have always received precious gifts from people we did consulting for and I do treasure this Salvatore Ferragamo bag!

The skirt was brandnew, never worn with tags still on and spare button in bag as usual with Escada.

European size 34 or US size 4...

Found on eBay under items listed NWT (New With Tag). Nobody bid on it so I snatched this away for only $ 49.99!

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th took care of the perfect sweater!
On December 23, they offered the already 41% marked off RED Valentino sweater, for an extra 40% off!

That's how one can own a couture top from RED Valentino that was $ 495.00 for $ 173.99...
Saving $ 321.01

For the entire outfit a good score; considering the leather skirt was such a steal!
Got this sweater in a Medium as I do not like to wear it tight fitting.

On such a bright, sunny day it was rather hard to capture its true color...

Detail from the front pockets...
You also can see the gilded thread in this RED Valentino sweater.

Very happy with this new set!
Pantyhose are from the Wolford boutique at The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills in South Florida.

Our yellow Carolina jasmines blooming so pretty!

Yellow + Sunshine makes one HAPPY!
Those yellow heart earrings I have for decades already...
Did wear this outfit when I last visited Harry, my 3rd brother, in The Netherlands.

Harry, in return, has visited me here numerous times; 1535 views so far...

Our Barty boy loves rolling in the dry leaves and catkins and he wants to be near me all the time!

Hope you also enjoyed a sunny Easter Sunday!

{Ipomoea Quamoclit or Cypress Vine}

On the wooden rail, along the steps to our gazebo we have a lovely new vine climbing up!

It is the Ipomoea Quamoclit or Cypress Vine.

A very tiny flower but oh so pretty!

Here it climbs up the wooden railing.

The Hoya Carnosa is also on the steps and both are gourmet food for the hummingbirds, that feast on the pollen and nectar.

These tiny flowers are not easy to capture...

Photos are taken on August 26.

Tiny, slender buds open up...

The above photo was on September 10; taken by husband Pieter...

Seeds start forming for next year's showcase of feathery green with tiny red flowers.

Maybe you too do have this tiny vine?

Mariette on Google+

{Our Irish Blarney Castle Sweaters + Short Hair}

• Yep, yesterday I had a major haircut... much needed and I would like to hear what you think...
• Today we went to a special music program at our Christ Episcopal Church at noon. 
• Since it is an official event of the Saint Patrick's Festival most people did wear some green. 
• So out came our all cotton Irish Blarney Castle Sweaters that we bought during one of our consulting trips to Ireland.
• They just feel comfy to wear on a sunny, but windy day!

• That's me with short hair and our feline boy Bandido, on the steps of our gazebo...
• You can tell the pollen is starting to come, as seen by Dido's paw prints on my navy Escada jeans!
• That's the Blarney Castle, all cotton sweater from Ireland.
• Below I will show you a detail of it and also form the necklace and earrings.

• These Blarney Castle sweaters do have a shamrock knitted into the front!
• Quite appropriate for our City of Dublin, as it is the emblem here.
• Escada jeans in navy with old Salamander ballerina shoes with ankle strap.

• The yellow Carolina jasmine is budding out and will look pretty very soon.
• The sun is so harsh already that making photos is nearly impossible without shade marks.

• Yes, we both are dressed in partner look...
• Pieter is holding the chicken wire, on which our Carolina jasmine vine is climbing up as a support.

• Here it is with one Blarney Castle emblem up on the left sleeve and a larger one inside the neck.
• From Pieter I received once this cloisonné Hex sign that he got me in Pennsylvania in the early 80s.
• The Irish Shamrock Hex is a sign for good luck surrounded by smooth round lines for an easy life. The two distelfinks make for a double  portion of good fortune while the heart suggests love.
• The silver earrings with green Malachite stone, we bought while doing consulting work in México, during a weekend sight seeing with our boss/friend Agustin.
• Fond memories and they play an annual role in our Dublin St. Patrick's Festival...

Are you celebrating St. Patrick's Festival in your City?

  

Mariette on Google+

{Our Everblooming Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica}

In our wood garden we have an Everblooming Japanese Honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica by its botanical name. Today I made another photo of its blooms. I've used them mid winter for table decoration in our small Delft White Picture Frame Vases for use as individual Place Settings. Link of previous posts with pictures, you find below post...

My husband Pieter did take this photo last year... This shows you the fragrant blooms of the Japanese Honeysuckle | Lonicera japonica.

It grows next to the gate, close to the road side. It always is full with blooms and it must be heaven for hummingbirds, during the season when they stay here. 

This photo I took on January 21, to show you it really is an everbloomer.

You also can see some berries, so birds must be able to feast on them in winter.

A blue wisteria vine is competing with the Japanese honeysuckle in last year's photo. 

Did you notice that the blooms are pure white when just opened and turning more yellow afterwards.

Do any of you have honeysuckle vines?

Or some other vine blooming right now...

Related links:
{Delft White Picture Frame Vase} previous post by me
{6694 Filets & Rubans - 6 Antique French Christofle Louis XVI Knife Rests} | previous post by me
{Antique Christofle Napkin Ring and Timbale, Goblet in Box} previous post by me
Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica link with more info

Mariette on Google+

{Happy Yellow in Our Garden}

1. On March 13, I took some photos from happy yellow blossoms in our garden. 
2. Our Carolina Jasmine and the Forsythias were at their best for this year's season. 
3. Just love to share them with you. 
4. Last year was probably a lot better but we have to enjoy what we got!

• Adjacent to our gazebo, these yellow Carolina Jasmines are creeping up against a tree.

• Busy with bees when standing there a minute...

• Our Forsythias blooming at their best.

Related article:
{Yellow Blossoms from Our Garden want to be YOUR Sunshine Today!} | previous post by me

Mariette on Google+

{Walk Our Wood Trail With Me + Helen Curtis Azalea}

You might wonder how our Garden Tours from Book an Event with us, are being done... Just follow me and you will see. It is a wooden trail that goes through our back garden, also across the creek and several wooden trail parts in the wood garden as well. Pieter put a lot of work in laying those. Each year they get treated with wood preservatives. Let's start from the gazebo to the left and we'll be back for coffee/tea + cake later...

• The trail weaves around trees. Notice the many bird houses we have throughout our property?

• There is the the Azalea Helen Curtis coming in sight...

• It is 17:00 o'clock and the sunlight is perfect for catching this beauty. Helen Curtis is a pure white Rhododendron (common name Azalea) with double flowers and a hint of chartreuse.

• Birdhouse for a wren... with Carolina jasmine vine.

• The greenhouse is in sight...

• Our compost bin for all vegetable and fruit peels...

• There is the pond...

• All pot plants have just come out of the greenhouse and need to get back on their spots. Pieter can no longer do that himself, since his open heart surgery so we wait for our Mexican helper. It is too much to get them up hill alone.

• We walked past the pond and use one of the three bridges across the creek, into the wood garden.

• The trail goes on and there are several wooden parts as well.
• Okay, back to the gazebo for coffee/tea + cake!

Hope you enjoyed it and got a better idea now...

Mariette on Google+