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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

Monday, February 8, 2016

{Madison Square Park and 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower in New York City}

In my previous post about the Steel Framed Flatiron Building in New York City, I wrote that I will take you just across the street to see what is there...
Beautiful Madison Square Park and also the tall 1909 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower!
Considering that those tall buildings are over a Century old, it is even more incredible.
This tall tower and building is located on Madison Ave and 24th Street.
The Flatiron Building is not visible but it is to the right of it...
Using the New York Public Library Digital Collection (see link below post) we can see the Flatiron Building (to the right of the center bare tree) and also the Madison Square Park with its Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower in the 1911 photo at the top. 
In the 2015 photo below, you can see the Flatiron all the way to the right but the tower is being partly blocked out by the sun...
Another Library of Congress photo below, shows the entire building.

Madison Square Park is on the corner of Fifth Ave and E 26th Street.
Here a beautiful Oakleaf Hydrangea or Hydrangea Quercifolia. These flowers do turn from white into pink as they age.

New York City is full of beautiful parks; the lungs of the city!


Related link:
Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink and than on Take me to 1911! and go 10 clicks to the south for finding the Flatiron image. Now click on cross the street to see image from above... via NYPL Digital Collections

Saturday, February 6, 2016

{Steel Framed Flatiron Building New York City}

On August 28 of 2015, we also did view the Flatiron Building with its Steel Frame, on Fifth Avenue and West 25th Street in New York City.


Here it is! Constructed in 1902.
When the traffic light was red, I dared to stand in the middle of the road, for taking this photo.
Love that type of architecture and for sure I'm not the only Blogger who does.
Marianne from Biebkriebels did mention it in her post about Buildings and she's also seen the real Flatiron in NYC.
Don't know if the triangular building from Amsterdam she is showing in her first photo is also made with a Steel Frame.
Janey from Thick and Thin (air) did mention the Flatiron in her post Architecture where she also shows a triangular building in Fort Worth, Texas only 5 years later in 1907.
In Sevilla, Spain we can admire another triangular building Edificio La Adriática o Filella which you can see by clicking on hyperlink. Click on the photo again for seeing it larger.



Just taking you back in time with the New York Public Library Digital Collection where you can see the entire Fifth Avenue and its buildings on photos from 1911 and 2015.
Too bad that the Flatiron is left out in the 1911 capture... Not visible in this photo.
But the building across the street you can clearly see.
Next time I will take you just across the street to see what is there!


Related link:
Street View, Then & Now: New York City's Fifth Avenue just click the hyperlink and than on Take me to 1911! and go 10 clicks to the south for finding the Flatiron image from above... via NYPL Digital Collections



Thursday, February 4, 2016

{WHY are our spring bulbs NOT blooming?}

Happy to be feeling a LOT better and after one week I had a complete night sleep without excruciating upper/mid back pain. What a relief!
While walking yesterday around our property we were discussing WHY in the world we don't see flowers on our Snow Drops; Crocus and Daffodils?!

Pieter thinks it is because of some interaction between the roots of trees...

Makes one sad as we had hundreds of bulbs that performed so well the first couple of years.
We miss seeing our vases filled up with fragrant daffodils.

Even though we do have the chocolate letters with our cup of chocolate...

Does any of you have this problem of only having daffodil foliage but NO blooms?
And NO, we have NEVER EVER cut the foliage off!

Happy February!

Hate to say that my back pain is back again after just one day of relief...

Planting & Care | Bulbs need phosphorous being mixed into the soil below where the bulbs will be located! Bonemeal or superphosphate...



Tuesday, February 2, 2016

{What Greater Gift than the Love of a Cat ~Charles Dickens}

Thank you all for your sweet comments!
Today, Sunday the 31st of January was a lovely sunny day and we did go for a walk.
Yes, my back is a little better, only around 4:00 AM, I wake up because it hurts but let's hope that it will soon quit on me.
In Horst, The Netherlands there was a Mass for Mom's 1st Anniversary in heaven.
Can't believe it is already a year now since she passed away on the 27th.
January 31, was actually the day she got cremated...

For today just another quote with a photo of Mama cat, Spicy who disappeared.
Guess she got kidnapped... It caused me to grieve for her as we only had her for 9 months!
We still have four of her babies living with us, one of the girls got hit by a car and died of internal injuries.

Our Spicy sitting so regal in a chair in our veranda.
She sure was a beauty with silky fur and oh so svelte!
~
Perfect quote for her:
'What greater gift than the love of a cat.' ~Charles Dickens

Wishing you all a good start into February!


Sunday, January 31, 2016

{Highly Fragrant 1939 Sweetness Daffodils}

Due to my severe back pain, I just recycle this 2012 post of January 28...
~
  • Yesterday we had two big nosegays of fragrant 1939 Sweetness Daffodils. One for a dear friend and one for us to fill a white ceramic vase. What a bliss for having those in January. That is extremely early. Do any of you have bulbs blooming right now? 

  • Fragrant Sweetness Daffodils; Sunshine and Tea...

  • Dark chocolate Pomegranate from Costco.
  • Amaretti cookie hearts from Mariette's Back to Basics

  • Teapot is a French Pillivuyt

  • The ceramic spoon to the right is an American Favorites Porcelain Spoon from Avon. It is the 1988 pattern with Daffodils.

  • The sterling bon bon or nut spoon is a H44 H J Howe with daffodils.

  • 1988 Avon Daffodils spoon

  • Matching cocktail napkin with daffodil embroidery.

Sorry that you cannot smell their fragrance...


Related links:
{DAFFODIL OF ROYAL ALBERT FRIENDSHIP SERIES} | Previous post by me


Friday, January 29, 2016

{Cheerfulness and Contentment are Great Beautifiers and are Famous Preservers of Good Looks ~Charles Dickens}

Since I'm having severe back pain (upper/center/left) there is no chance for doing much.
After the flu and a lingering bronchitis I worked really hard for having the house clean and laundry done and cooking a dinner for 12 for Pieter's Monday Night Club.
Guess that was too much; too soon.
As I already mentioned to Giga in a comment, I did serve a Polish Red Cabbage for which I got lots of compliments. A Lowell Red Cabbage Salad from World Market.
Their sugar content is 0 and also their sodium content is very reasonable with only 13%.
Together with pork loin strips and red skin potatoes pre-cooked and stir fried, it made for a good winter meal.
A healthy salad from Costco and I did make Tiramisù for dessert with Dutch Douwe Egberts coffee.

Also today the 27th is the 1st Anniversary of Mom being in Heaven...

It is a very dreary and rainy day.


'Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers, and are famous preservers of good looks.'
~Charles Dickens

Hope you all stay warm and well, wherever you are!


Wednesday, January 27, 2016

{Architecture is Frozen Music ~Goethe}

LOVE Goethe's quote: ARCHITECTURE IS FROZEN MUSIC...

HUSBAND PIETER against the beautiful Architecture of Willemstad, Curaçao during one of our vacations.

Like music, this lifts up our spirit and memories are often music for the soul!


Monday, January 25, 2016

{Antique French Léonard Bernardaud (1856-1923) Limoges Table Lamp}

A very rare and unique find from France... being only available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique Mariette's Back to Basics: Antique French Léonard Bernardaud (1856-1923) Limoges Table Lamp ←click hyperlink.
FREE SHIPPING WITHIN USA: spectrenoir just click it.
You will not even find one at CHRISTIE'S or 1stDibs.com...
This is a beautiful piece of antique, fine white porcelain Limoges table lamp with high glaze from the famous Léonard Bernardaud who lived from 1856-1923.
In EXCELLENT condition and it has been wired by my husband and handyman Pieter.
This in order to change it from French to American wiring.
An Energy Saving light bulb, for going green, has been placed in it, together with a brand new white fabric lamp shade with harp.
Undoubtedly you all know the modern day Bernardaud Lithophane lamps.
The porcelain pattern is called 'VINCENNES' and Replacements Ltd. <(click) does have this in the color purple in their china listing. 
Château de Vincennes is a beautiful Castle in Paris, France. 
Showing you the lovely details of this cobalt blue pattern. At my on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics (see link at top of post) you can also find the measurements of this beauty
A true French Country Style 19th Century TREASURE!
Such a romantic design...
It absolutely makes an elegant statement!
Detail of the Bernardaud Limoges Porcelain Marks 

See above Théodore Bernardaud porcelain B & Cie marks sale from Christie's <(click it) and check the value for comparison!

Bernardaud marks

History link


On page 96 in the Collectors Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain you will find all the info, history and marks of Bernardaud.
Also the book: Living With Limoges is a very helpful source.
Sold out...

Do you personally own some valuable antique Limoges porcelain?

Saturday, January 23, 2016

{Friend Celia M. ~ Living My High Heeled Life - Beauty Bag GIVEAWAY}

Long time friend and a blogger I admire, Celia M. is having a FABULOUS Beauty Bag GIVEAWAY! 
Her vision is to create a virtual world, where women can come together to support and inspire each other to live their Resilientista Life. Just enter FREE, by signing up tot the top/right for RESILIENTISTA's VIP by clicking on this link.
The Goodies: Mascara Volume - Yves Saint Laurent; Orchidée Impériale The Cream- Guerlain; Base Coat - deborah lippmann; the cream - Clé de Peau; tinted moisturizer - laura mercier; Gold Dust transformative mask - Oribe; fruit and flower acids mask - Chantecaille; Custom-repair serum - Clinique; perfume - Hermès
Great value!

See link below post about this incredible lady that survived a near fatal accident and recovered from brain injury. 
Such a feisty girl and she must have been brilliant before as she still leaves many of us behind; the way she is now. 
~
One to admire - no doubt!
Let's support her in her efforts for getting where she is now and doing so much for others that face(d) the very same...
All goodies arrive in this adorable beauty bag!
So don't wait: click an the above RESILIENTISTA link and enter.
~
GOOD LUCK!
Related link:
{"A Blogger I Admire" - Celia from High Heeled Life} | previous post mentioning her near fatal accident and healing from brain injury


Thursday, January 21, 2016

{'A loving heart is the truest wisdom' ~Charles Dickens}

Because we are having a very hectic week, this time only a Quote inside a photo from some budding Exochorda 'Pearlbush' macrantha The Bride flowers...

'A loving heart is the truest wisdom' ~Charles Dickens

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

{1950s Handmade Silk Roses Framed in Gilded Wood under Bubble Convex Glass}

Such a unique and very romantic, gilded wooden frame with dark pink roses that are handmade out of silk. 
They look so realistic atop the burgundy velvet. 
The bubble convex glass makes it into a very rare and special wall hanging. 
Quite large with 12.5 x 16.5 x 2"
Please visit my on line boutique for more information on this vintage French Country Style piece. Spectrenoir  click on link.
Just an enlarged corner of this beautiful piece which I got at a Dutch Estate Sale.
Due to the bubble convex (domed) glass it is extremely hard to capture on camera without any glare. 
 The photo below shows the flash that I used, but less glare...
This one shows more the true color of the silk roses and the burgundy velvet on which they are mounted.
The photo below, taken from the side, gives a lighter color of the velvet but that is just because of the
nap. 
Photo below pretty much shows the true colors of the silk roses.
Don't you love something timeless romantic?



Sunday, January 17, 2016

{Our Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant Blooms in January}

Just like the early blooms on our Japanese Magnolia, in mid winter, also our beautiful Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant showed its early blooms!
Today is a wet and rainy day so the blooms turned brown from rain damage...
Using some earlier photos for you.
Looking so lovely against a blue sky!
It is a huge blossom, see my fingers to compare its size.
Nearly impossible to have those blossoms pure white without any damage from heavy rain!
But it sure is a very welcome sign of new life during this time of the winter.

Hope you enjoy something blooming in your surroundings as well!

Friday, January 15, 2016

{3 French LINEN Embroidered HEARTS Amitié - Bonheur - Tendresse}

AMITIÉ - BONHEUR - TRENDRESSE or FRIENDSHIP - HAPPINESS - TENDERNESS
3 Perfect all linen French Country Style hearts in a large size with two-sided embroidered names, as written above in French.
These special Home Décor items are available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique Mariette's Back to Basics: Three Large French Country Style Linen Hearts.
They measure 17.5 x 19 cm or 7 x 7.5 inch without the loop!
Perfect Gift for Saint Valentine's Day!
To give these three virtues freely, is a gift in itself!
Even more so in the form of these meaningful heart pillows...
These hearts are to be hung from their linen twine.
Amitié - Friendship
Bonheur - Happiness
Tendresse - Tenderness


Copyright:

MARIETTE'S BACK TO BASICS © 2009. All rights reserved - Text and images may not be copied for distribution or sale.

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