{Fresh Young Coconut as Bonus from Hyatt Regency Sarasota, Florida}

When we were staying at the +Hyatt Regency Sarasota, Florida, I was wondering about those tall palm trees around the pool area.

For sure those are not coconut palm trees I said to husband Pieter...

Well, the answer came on the last morning as Pieter went to the car for putting luggage in.

With the help of tall ladders, they were actually cutting off YOUNG COCONUTS!

Yes, a special crew that does this regularly, so none of these coconuts fall on people's heads...

Pieter was offered some of these Young Coconuts and he actually did put 3 in the car.

Two for sharing with friend Natacha, in Miami and one for us.

While living in Indonesia, we had this young coconut meat very often.

Called 'Daging Kelapa Muda' in Indonesian.

Here in the USA it is not that often that we have a fresh young coconut, they look very attractive too.

It takes a good sharp knife for preparing the coconut for pouring the coconut water out and than scooping out the soft flesh.

Opening Young Coconuts (water and meat) video 

In some super markets I've seen the saran wrapped young coconuts as seen in this video.

So these palm trees at the pool are the Cocos nicifera

Thanks for your visit!

Related links:

What Are the Benefits of Young Coconut Meat? 

8 Benefits of Coconut Water You Didn't Know About

{Award Nights at Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, Florida} | previous post by me

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{Foster Daughter Anita on the Other Side of the World}

It has been FIFTEEN years now, since we last went to Indonesia for work... And also it has been SEVEN years, since Anita last did stay with us here in Georgia/USA and traveled with us to The Netherlands and to Germany...

Never easy for staying in touch as they are 12 hours ahead of us.

11 hours in summer time...

When Anita is already starting her day, we are still left in the dark...

Even Europe is still asleep!

To the left of the red word Anita you can see Jakarta, Indonesia's capital and she lives near Semarang

We always did fly in to Jakarta and on to Yogyakarta which is on the south coast of Java.

Semarang is on the north coast, as you can see here above...

That's where we are, in Georgia/USA and we're just tiny people on this big world and far apart but oh so close at heart!
Anita always has been a loyal and loving daughter; touching her Mama's heart when needed most.
When I lost my Mom, she was with me through it all in thoughts and supported me big time.
From my legal 'step-daughter Liz' not a single word...

May God bless Anita, manyfold and I leave all other things into His hands!

Thanks for your visit!

Related links:

{Anita Anggraeni our Foster Daughter} | previous post by me
{Our arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia} | previous post by me

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{When Frost Arrives, we MISS the Florida Bottle Palms!}

After having lived for THREE winters in the tropics, while working and living in Indonesia, we MISS the green and exotic look of it. Even more so the balmy warm feeling!

Frost is coming our way and that makes us long for the sight of Florida Bottle Palms; one of husband Pieter's favorites.

This is at the +Hyatt House Miami Airport our favorite home away from home.
Photos are taken on February 5, 2009 during one of our stays.
These are the ones that husband Pieter took, from his favorite Bottle Palm!

Indeed, their trunk looks very much like a BOTTLE!

Showing the Bottle trunk in more detail.

Pieter LOVED their unique Palm Fronds...

Well, it certainly would feel good for being there at the pool right now!

Yes, I know, we cannot complain about our Dublin, Georgia weather, compared to so many in the northern USA and Canada or Scandinavia where snow already covered their region.
But it is only after having LIVED in the tropics for 3 years...

Guess for most of us it is a favorite for being in the sunshine with green plants and palm trees around us... Well, as you can see, Miami does have all of that.

Stay warm and cozy wherever you are!

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{Pieter’s Tanner Krolle Attaché - Royal Gift purchased at Harrods by English Friend}

From his long-time English Friend, Peter Stanley-Evans, husband Pieter did receive a Royal Gift, purchased at +Harrods... On a given day when once again Pieter was visiting England, Peter Stanley- Evans and his wife arrived in their Land Rover, at the hotel my husband was staying at. They did tote a package, obvious from Harrods in London and it contained this Royal gift for him. An English bridle leather Tanner Krolle Attaché in Hazel came out... With his initials: P.J.C.V. added under the handle in gold gilding!

This is Pieter at his desk while being V.P. Training & Development for Campbell's Soup here in Dublin, Georgia. To the top left is his Hazel Tanner Krolle Attaché.

Pieter received this Royal gift for years of friendship, including with their son, and good business advice, for which he never requested any money...

ROYAL GIFT indeed:

Prince William and Prince Harry went to school with trunks made by Tanner Krolle...

Tanner Krolle is unquestionably one of the most little known, and most undervalued luxury brands on the market today...

Tanner Krolle continues to manufacture leather goods and accept commissions from style icons and royal househoulds worldwide. Notable customers include Jackie Onassis, Diana, Princess of Wales, Princes William and Harry, as well as Saudi Arabia's late King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

The Upperdeck Luxury Experience Tanner Krolle - Flawless 

Mr. Peter Stanley-Evans thought that my Pieter was worth such a Royal Gift!
Believe me, husband Pieter was very appreciative.

Sadly there is no photo of it up close, here again it is visible, standing open to the left on Pieter's desk.

Zoomed in...

Ben Silver in the U.S.A. is still selling this Tanner Krolle...  Attaché Case in Hazel 

Husband Pieter always loved its Hazel color bridle leather...

Mr. Peter Stanley Evans had it personalized for Pieter with his initials P.J.C.V. embossed in gold gilding...

Tanner Krolle still provides Gilding in Gold or Silver for Briefcases / 1912 Classic lid over body slim line attaché

As mentioned already earlier, we do NOT have any closeup photos of this Royal Tanner Krolle Attaché... In this 1985 photo you see it in our previous home, on a little corner counter in the kitchen to the right.

My dear Thai born friend and me and yes, this was around New Year with a wall full of Christmas & New Year cards!

BUT... tragedy struck!

This is on March 3, 1992 when we just arrived from our job in India; back to our villa in Indonesia...

From all the vandalized things (curtains cut up); all personal belongings robbed, goose down duvet with pillows and all bed linens... most shocking was to find Pieter's Royal Gift in this condition!

I'm looking at the remainder of crochet thread, books, slides and educational material they did NOT take.

Brutally cut open, the gold embossed initials under the handle were even scraped off with a knife.
After this incidence (it already was the 3rd robbery!), we soon did come home to the U.S.A. instead of working a few more episodes of 2 months, while living in Indonesia.

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{Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Tofu with Tri Color Quinoa}

For Healthy Living we love to shop at +Trader Joe's and that's how I found these Shaved Brussels Sprouts & Tofu with Tri Color Quinoa. 

Brussels Sprouts are a favorite vegetable for both of us.

My Dad used to grow them commercially and so did Pieter's Dad, thus we grew up with them.

But that they now are being offered 'SHAVED' that was new!

High Protein Super Firm Tofu for dicing up and ready to go.

Of course, having lived and worked in Indonesia, we are so used to a Tofu rich diet and we love it!

Either in soups or other dishes.

Researchers fight world hunger by mapping the soybean genome ←click.

Japanese food also uses lots of tofu and fermented tofu.

In Indonesia we call the fermented tofu, tempeh.

That too we can buy at Trader Joe's!

Wish my Parents could have seen this product; they would be amazed.

Using Olive Oil, I did first stir-fry some garlic, than the diced tofu and adding the shaved brussels sprouts.

You can use some oriental spices of your liking or add some sauce.

For a quick and healthy meal I did add tri-colored Quinoa from Trader Joe's and that was it!

Are you using any of these ingredients for your supper?

Related link:

Is Tofu Healthy? - Learn about Health Benefits and Heart Health
Quinoa nutrition facts - Learn about this superfood once revered by the Incas and now being touted by celebrity trainers.

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{Our Silver Muffineer Custom Made After Antique Model}

Being an International Consultant did Open Up the World to us. So no wonder that after finding in a favorite magazine a beautiful Antique Silver Muffineer, we actually could have ours Custom Made after that model!
WOW... Would you not take the opportunity?

This is IT! Don't you think it is lovely?

This was the page from the magazine with the Antique Muffineer...

Custom made for us in Kotagede, Indonesia!

Below this post you find a link about the making of silver in Kotagede.

Now, eat your heart out! Sprinkle some generous powdered sugar on your waffles, add some maple syrup and whipped cream from the tiny French ramekins.

All china is +Pillivuyt France and all can be used in the oven as well!

Rose silverware is from Germany. Silber-und-Rosen-Shop might have some similar pieces...

Crystal wine glass is from Italy. Don't know the pattern name... Wish I could find out!

Vintage linen tablecloth with roses...

Raspberries are so yummy and so are blueberries and strawberries...

A  better view of the silver muffineer and the crystal glass.

Don't know if it is from Italy but we bought it there when we were living and working in Italy.

To wet your appetite... Grade A Maple syrup to the left and whipped cream.

And YES, I do LOVE roses...!

So how did you like our Silver Muffineer and its use?

You like to have some waffles now; please have a seat in our gazebo at this table...

If only we could eat there again but WINTER is not YET OVER!

Thanks for visiting.

Related link:
{Antique French 19th Century 950/1000 Silver & Crystal Muffineer, Sugar Shaker, Caster Sifter} | previous post by me
{1862 Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon'} | my 2nd Most Popular All Time Post
{Antique 19th Century Silver Toast Rack Replica, Made in Kotagede, Indonesia}| previous post by me
{Have YOU Ever Seen the Making of Silver in Kotagede, Indonesia?} | previous post by me

{Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware} | previous blog post with mention of author Johanna Gehrlein
The tarnished future of Kotagede silver | The Jakarta Post, December 11, 2009
THE SILVER SOCIETY about the making of silver

Mariette on Google+

{Poinsettia as Tree in Indonesia}

THANK you all for the many Birthday wishes; here and on FB!



Most of my readers do know that we have worked and lived on the island of Java, Indonesia. In that tropical setting you find many exotic plants, shrubs and trees. Also you find there the Poinsettia Tree!

They really do become as tall as a tree and bloom year round of course. Our Poinsettia plant is only rewarding us with some blooms around Christmas. Many of you for sure have tried to keep such a plant alive but it is hard to do so... On January 18, ours looked still great and even today, it still is alive but has lost some leaves already because it is not happy in the dry conditions of winter inside our home.

Of course, those are the cultivated species and they look beautiful!

Did you know they were like trees in tropical areas?

Do you still have yours from Christmas...?

Related links:
{December 12th is Poinsettia Day} | previous post by me
{Today I turned 17!} previous post by me showing you white and red Poinsettia
{Our Pinckneya Pubens - Poinsettia Tree} previous post by me about our Poinsettia Tree in our garden.
{History of the Poinsettia} previous post by me
America's First Poinsettia: The Introduction at Bartram’s Garden  published on Poinsettia Day, 2011!
Joell Roberts Poinsett 1759 - 1851 Info
Joell Roberts Poinsett Info History

Mariette on Google+

{World Leprosy Day}

French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau, initiated World Leprosy Day in 1954. It is being observed around the world on the last Sunday of January, or the nearest Sunday. This year that results in Sunday, February 2 for 2014 as it is the nearest Sunday. On December 20, I did write a post about both of us visiting the very same Leprosy Hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia where Princess Diana visited in 1989. You find that link below this post for those that missed it.

This is me, back in 1997 in the Jakarta, Indonesia Leprosy hospital with a male patient.

Look at his disfigured hands... and skinny arms!

Indonesia belongs to the 3 billion people on this earth that have people that make less than US $ 2.00 per day. How would a leprosy patient who is also an outcast, make enough money to afford any surgery?

Immigration, World Poverty and Gumballs - Updated 2010 BEST video to show you this reality!

As if two affected hands would not be enough... look at his foot!

Showing you that due to this infection, the entire leg becomes swollen.

This man's feet are also affected... They are not able to wear shoes with such severely disfigured feet and thus they are even more prone to infection and open wounds.

November 20, 1999 I am holding here the hand of a poor man who lost already one hand and half of the other one... Seen is only his thumb and his palm; fingers are gone! Just imagine having to live like that!

People in the Western world complain about poverty but that is a far cry from those 3 billion, making LESS than US $ 2.00 a day. They cannot afford anything. 

Because Leprosy still has this Stigma about it, people that have the initial signs of this dreaded disease from biblical times, hide...

This young woman is lucky for having come to the hospital with her skin rash that is the beginning of Leprosy. Usually those untreated loose their nose and part of their face and turn blind as well.

above text is from +Leprastichting 

Sure, from the comments I received, there might be the need for providing some figures about annual new cases of leprosy world wide. In 1997 that was 600,000 annual and in 2010 less than 250,000 but keep in mind the millions that became disfigured because of leprosy!

The Dutch Leprastichting (Leprosy foundation) link also tells us about the human rights issues for ex leprosy and leprosy sufferers.

Did you know that the Leprosy foundation in The Netherlands receives money from De Nationale Postcode Loterij (The National Zipcode Lottery) and since 1996 they received 19.5 million Euro for the Leprastichting.

Wikipedia about Leprosy for above info, just scroll down.

Let us not turn away from those pour souls and educate others to tackle the harsh Leprosy Stigma and Ostracism!

Related links:
{Like Princess Diana, I also Tried to Tackle the Leprosy Stigma} | previous post by me
Why is it hard to eradicate leprosy? | article in The Economist November 11th, 2013
{My 6 Min Presentation The Truth About Leprosy for GPDLI, AtAmerica U.S. EMBASSY JAKARTA} | post by me with video + Pdf transcript link
{My 8th Blog Award - Sunshine from Japan} | previous post by me mentioning our fight for the underdog 
{We saw FOUR Armadillos at Lunch Time!} | Humans can acquire a leprosy infection from armadillos by handling them or consuming armadillo meat, and are a presumed vector and natural reservoir for the disease in Texas and Louisiana - previous post by me

Mariette on Google+