{Silver Repousse Pastry Server with Cherubs}

This is such a lovely Silver Repousse Pastry Server with Cherubs. Would make a perfect bridal gift or as a very special, romantic gift.
Again this is only available at my on line Boutique and I will as always, do ship Worldwide.

Just click here: Silver Repousse Pastry Server with Cherubs in order to go to my online Boutique.

One can only admire the talented silver smith that once created this ornate piece in solid repousse silver...
Perfect match with the beautiful hand crocheted table topper by blogger friend Susan from Ava Grace's Closet's Mama.

Yes, I certainly love to use our roses whenever I photograph beautiful silver pieces. It is such pure romance.

Together with a healthy piece of dark chocolate, filled with dried apricots, nuts and seeds, that I made myself, it displays very well.

Here you can see the silver mark which is German.
First the 800 is visible, followed by a half moon and a crown.

 On Page 21 of Johanna Gehrlein's book: Rosen-Bestecke you can see those silver marks shown in the 1st and 2nd image, resembling a half moon and a crown.

Johanna's excellent book Rosen-Bestecke, about Rose Silver flatware has always been such a great reference!

Sold out...

Related links:

{Splendid book about Silver Rose Flatware} | previous post by me

{Antique German REPOUSSE Silver ANGELS Napkin, Letter or Card Holder} | previous post by me showing similar cherubs, angels or putti.

{Antique German REPOUSSE Silver Roses Napkin, Letter or Card Holder} | previous post by me 

{Ixora}

On our patio we also have the exotic tropical plant Ixora and it looked so lovely on July 4th. Due to plenty of late afternoon showers, like in the tropics, it was quite happy!

A bright yellow color with touches of pink...

Far more common is the red variety which you already may know.

But look; only six weeks later but after a dry spell...

Looking all perked up after a generous 'drink' from the green hose in the back...

Without water there will be NO LIFE!
It is still very hot and dry in Georgia/USA...

{Variegated Blue Flax Lily}

On our new patio we also do have two Variegated Blue Flax Lilies. Let me show you the one that has tiny  blue flowers. They were rather tricky to photograph but I got some photos to share with you...

As mentioned above, they are rather tiny!

This gives you more an idea of the entire pot plant and the tiny flowers...

Beautiful variegated leaves, that in itself is already striking enough.

But such a lovely bloomer too; almost continuously and in winter they ought to show blue berries as well.

So pretty how they open from closed buds into a lovely blue flower...

Really fragile looking...

Looking now towards the street.

Do any of you have this Variegated Flax Lily?

{Growing Pomegranates the Ancient Persian SuperFruit}

Since August 2012, we are trying to grow our own Pomegranates, the Ancient Persian Superfood...

Close to our gazebo we did plant this pomegranate and a bit farther away a 2nd one...

Yep, the price is still visible; US $ 18.00

On May 26, I did spot this very first bloom! Already browned from the rain...

Wow, we were hoping to see the setting of the FIRST ANTIOXIDANT SUPERFRUIT!

Its blossoms got rained off the shrub; no hope for any fruits this year!

History of Pomegranate - The pomegranate is one of the world's most ancient foods and originally came from Persia...

Pomegranate Juice Is a Powerhouse of Antioxidants

Beats even Red Wine and Green Tea

It is supposed to have positive effects on diabetes...

Persian origin and does melt away belly fat...

The Basis of grenadine. Do you recall that lemonade syrup? As a child we got it served over vanilla pudding and also as a summer lemonade.

Beneficial effect on our performance between the sheets are even attributed to this super food for super Valentine

The above is being translated from Dutch, using Bing.

Hoe gezond is de granaatappel (original Dutch text, you can click it)

What Does It Take for Pomegranate Trees to Produce Fruit? Pomegranate trees are self-fruitful, with both male and female flower parts on a single tree. Insects and hummingbirds help spread pollen from flower to flower, allowing fruit to form when conditions are right.

The above link did explain it very nicely but meanwhile for 2014, we will not see any fruits...

Maybe best bet is to buy some Anardana seeds or powder... See for more info below via links.

Do any of you have their own Ancient Persian Superfood?

Related link:

Super foods: pomegranate | The Telegraph UK
Spice Hunting: Anardana, Dried Pomegranate Seeds | soaking those seeds for a couple of hours they are a great spice to use in sauces or braising liquid. Try adding them to marmelade, together with orange peel and cinnamon...

What Is Anardana? | More information from wiseGEEK
Pomegranate | Cultural history and Culinary use

{Picket Fence & White Hibiscus}

One would never tell that only this past December husband Pieter redid our Vinyl Picket Fence by digging out a trench, pouring concrete and putting concrete blocks on top. He had to remove the Picket Fence entirely and even extend it with two more sections. Now there is no tell tale sign that we ever had a huge pine tree that got cut down and having so much digging done. The grass grew very well with almost a daily shower this entire summer. Only the last week or so has been without rain, except for Tuesday. So it looks quite lovely together with the White Hibiscus at the end.

We can't recall any summer as lush as this year's...

Photos taken by husband Pieter, except for the top one. One can tell that he too enjoys our new camera...
There is a lot of pollen for the hummingbirds and the bees to feast on.

Such a lovely green-white setting!

We love these great Gothic Picket Vinyl Fence Panels!
And we are blessed for having this part of the water control project completed before the spring.
With that much rain we have had, we were safe now.

With a view of our new tiled patio in the front of the house... Plants are very happy this summer!

The huge Southern Magnolia is so spread out.
Clouds are visible again on this mid June day; preparing for a late afternoon shower...

Related link:

{Our New Retainer Wall & Vinyl Picket Fence} | previous post by me
{65 Year Old Pine Tree Cut Down} | previous post by me

{Our Hibiscus syriacus 'Diana' - Rose-of-Sharon 'Diana'} | previous post by me

{Hoya Carnosa Nectar for Hummingbirds}

After a post about limiting sugar in our daily diet, another post about the yummy Nectar for our Hummingbirds from the Hoya Carnosa blossoms.
We do keep our Hoya Carnosa - Wax Plant, in the gazebo during spring, summer and autumn.
Easily accessible for our Hummingbirds to enjoy its yummy nectar!

Husband Pieter captured this great photo!
A hummingbird has to consume about twice its body weight every day!
Just imagine if we would have such a high metabolism...

Related link:
Our Hummingbirds on July 19, 2011 | On YouTube

Hummingbirds | Educational Resources link
{Our Fragrant Hoya Wax Plants in October} | previous post by me
{Our Fragrant Hoya Carnosa - Wax Plant} | Previous post by me

{Yogurt Secret for my Size and Weight}

 Just have to share with you this Yogurt Secret for my Size and Weight. Well, since 2007 when I got diagnosed as being Diabetes type 2, both of us have been reading labels religiously. That was quite an eye opener as it is SO MISLEADING at times. If one does not pay any attention or just believes that any fat-free yogurt is a good choice, sugars and calories can be stacking up on you!

This is our Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt of choice; from Trader Joe's.

We have to drive long distance in order to stock up on this one but it pays off.
We eat it with FRESH seasonal fruit, nothing else!

NOTE the Serving Size = 1 cup or 227g!

Total Fat 0%

Saturated Fat 0%

Cholesterol 0%

Sodium 3%

Potassium 8%

Total Cabohydrate 2%

Dietary Fiber 0%

Sugars 6g

Protein 44%

Publications that TRICK you! Cream of the crop

This comparison is using a Serving size of only 6 oz!

So let us convert that: 

Our Trader Joe's Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt is 32 oz or 908 g = 27.375 g per ounce! 

So a 6 oz serving size would yield 164.25g versus a serving size of 227g! 

Which is 38%  MORE; thus a lot higher sugar etc!

The sugar for e.g Fage is NOT 7g but 9.66g when adding those 38%!

It is even worse for the rest down the list... with the added 38%!
Stonyfield Farm Fat Free Chocolate Underground Yogurt adds up to a whopping 48.3g... which is EIGHT times that of our Trader Joe's Greek Yogurt Nonfat Plain.  

Fage does list those 9.66g as only 9g... Would love to have a loan from them if they do their calculation like that!

But as a consumer you have to really study the labels and compare the same serving sizes!

Watch out for publications and advertisements that only mention Fatsecret as they love to bypass the sugar issue...

6 Best Foods You're Not Eating
Another benefit of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt is the fact that the liquid whey has been strained out which makes it thicker and creamier.
A BIG bonus is that it contains TWICE THE PROTEIN of regular yogurts!

Related link:
{SUGAR is your #1 enemy!} | previous post by me

{White Bougainvillea}

When we were in Florida at the Bok Tower Gardens in May, we did buy us a White Bougainvillea at the gift shop.
A very neat way for keeping pot plants outdoors, to be picked up by customers and paid for inside the gift shop. 

Such beautiful blossoms...

This is the entire plant inside its new pot on our patio.

Its flowers hang kind of upside down...

The above two photos show even a little greenish flower because it is old and it was not that sunny.

But 13 days later in full sunshine with new blossoms, it looks like this!

This photo shows the same blossom.

The first photo (top) has been made one week after these last two photos and it shows an even whiter blossom.

Don't you love these white beauties?

Related link:
{Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida} | previous post by me

{1950s French Camille Tharaud Limoges Lampe Berger with Red Roses}

Some of you may not yet know that I actually do have an on line Boutique where I sell mainly French Vintage and Antique Gifts. Yes, I do ship WORLDWIDE!
So here is another treasure found in France for you. A lovely 1950s Camille Tharaud Limoges Lampe Berger with Red Roses! It is in a perfect ORIGINAL condition. No new catalytic but still its original one. Very hard to find any of these.

Lovely Limoges Lampe Berger, which is available at my on line Boutique Mariette's Back to Basics

Photo from previous day, right before a sudden thunderstorm... Two roses from our garden but next day one was too far gone already.

With such a beautiful hand painted Limoges Lampe Berger you can have Red Roses year-round!
Camille Tharaud 1878-1956 was the inventor of the high fired porcelain; up to 1400°C.
This rare high quality porcelain sells often at extreme high prices like here at 1stdibs (click it)

Shown here is the back side with Red Roses painted on.

Our only rose blooming was not a red one...

Without the decorative brass cap, this lamp is 16 cm high or 6.3 inch.

Here you can see all its details, a perfect gold band around the foot.

Lampe Berger being embossed on its original brass neck.

And what is quite rare; its original CATALYTIC!

Really in pristine Museum Quality as you can see...

The markings on the bottom: Camille Tharaud Limoges Lampe Berger and made in France...

Sold out...

You can see this very lamp in exact the same condition, same cap as well, in the book: Lampes Berger A Century of History by Gérald Vilcocq on page 204, 3rd from the right... Find link below to a previous post where I show this book.

Only in France I did find this very same Lampe Berger with Red Roses at Souvenirs-d'Autrefois just click this link.

However, theirs is shown with a different cap and a new catalytic...

Related links:

BERGERMANIA | a French website with antique and vintage Lampes Berger

{Lampes Berger 1898 - 1998 A Century of History} | previous post by me showing you the book

{My Private Lampes Berger Collection + Boutique Items} | previous post by me

Air Diagnostic | learn about Lampe Berger

{LIVE IN AIR YOU LOVE} | previous post by me showing you a video about how to use Lampe Berger