May your 4th Advent Week lead towards a REAL CHRISTMAS

Yes, the year is getting thinner and we all are preparing for Christmas 2022.

May this 4th Advent week lead us towards a REAL CHRISTMAS

Far away from the commercial holiday it has become...

 The green cotton Zweigart Aida tablecloth now with a Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse plate for the brass spiral candle holders.

May the Enchantment fill our hearts.

~

If we do not live, speak and think in the language of enchantment, including naming angels and recognizing spirits... then the soul will go out of our lives and communities, and we will wonder why nothing seems to hold together and nothing seems to have value anymore. ~Thomas Moore

 

In the back is a group of angels looking on, all from South Tyrol, Italy.

The one on the left is a ceramic one and was a gift from Italian friend Maria from Ristorante da Maria and the others are all wooden angels from Italy.

Now two sterling silver candle holders with fluted bobèches have joined the Royal Selangor pewter ones that we bought in Singapore.

Royal Selangor is established in 1885 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The silver crocheted doily has been hand made by a former Turkish neighbor in The Netherlands.

Incredible work, I would not be able to copy that!

The silver tray was handmade for us in Kotagede, near Yogyakarta in Indonesia.

Two Mason's Mandalay Chartreuse ←(click it) candle holders and two silver plated tall ones with tapers and bobèches.

Each of them also holds a Hugger Candle Snugger.

Candles are Dutch Gouda. Yes, Gouda is a city that produces fine cheeses and candles!

German Marzipan Stollen over 500 years of Christmas Tradition

For years while living in the US we have been enjoying the authentic German Marzipan Stollen, an over 500 year old Christmas tradition. We bought our Oebel Marzipan Stollen this year at World Market in Atlanta. My surprise was big for also finding German Marzipan Stollen at our new, local T.J. MAXX store. We did buy them there often, while on the road as consultants in Connecticut. But it sure makes us feel more at HOME with local supply now. Do you know this delicious German Tradition also? If not, you ought to buy one now, even 'after Christmas sales' can give you this great experience.

Enjoy this Marzipan Stollen with tea or coffee and I guarantee, you will be hooked!

So plan to add this to your Christmas to do list.

It sure brings one in the mood—together with candles and bobèches in silver candleholders...

Not much else needed but some Christmas music!

Served on a Rosenthal Sanssouci Roses Ivory plate.

The silver crocheted doily has been hand made by a former Turkish neighbor in The Netherlands.

Incredible work, I would not be able to copy that!

The silver tray was handmade for us in Kotagede, near Yogyakarta in Indonesia.

Our Wreath with Silver Christmas Balls and Angel

Out comes of course our favorite wreath with Silver Christmas Balls and Angel...

LOVE the Silver Angel especially!

Love this quote:

'If we do not live, speak and think in the language of enchantment, including naming angels and recognizing spirits... then the soul will go out of our lives and communities, and we will wonder why nothing seems to hold together and nothing seems to have value anymore. ~Thomas Moore'

This is where I got the idea... from the hardcover book of Argenterie Giovanni Raspini, Florence/Italy.

Those wooden shutters remind me of my childhood as we used to have them like that!

Used to sell those silver Christmas Balls but they're all gone—only these silver gifts remain→click link: Spectrenoir. 

Oh and certainly candles belong to Christmas!

Different wreath as the natural moss one did not last...

But these are our solid oak indoor shutters. 

Only ONE final Angel Cherub is hanging around in Spectrenoir ←click link.

A very sweet French door knob lavender sachet...

Yes, made in France that is!

Wishing you ALL a MEANINGFUL 3rd Advent Week

 As time is passing quite fast—may I wish you worldwide:

 a MEANINGFUL 3rd Advent Week!

This is a time for burning our fire place and for lighting candles—our huge pillar candle from our 25th Wedding anniversary is also visible.

To the left you see a typical Austrian or Italian Tyrol region nosegay made out of spices and tiny cones—called Gewürtzsträusschen.

I tied raffia around my gilded magnolia grandiflora leaves with some Nandina (heavenly bamboo) berries...

A perfumed pillar candle with some holly and real cranberries on the green Hardanger table topper.

My red Hardanger tablecloth with the beautiful table runner—done in Portuguese Guimarães white work. 

We bought this in Coimbra, Portugal during our 19–day trip by bus from Limburg/The Netherlands to Spain and Portugal in September, 1994.

On eBay I once got a hold of this Baccarat Crystal Vesuve / Vesuvius Caviar Server (2 pcs) because the inset was missing—it was a bargain...

Perfect for filling up with cranberries and floating candles!

Blue Ridge Honey Company in Blueridge Mountains, Northeast of Georgia

 When on Sunday, October 4, we drove to Bryson City, North Carolina for riding the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, we passed the Blue Ridge Honey Company - CLOSED of course.

But I'd made up my mind, for stopping by, on our way back home on October 6!

For me a surprise for finding the above Rose Beeswax candles...

They smell so good!

Husband Pieter got himself an 11 lbs (5.1 kg) Wildflower Honey.

100% Pure, Raw & Natural

Raw Honey Glycemic Index 30 click link for comparing to other sweeteners

Blue Ridge Honey Company click through via link

They also do ship!

Very friendly people too!

COOKING WITH HONEY...

We so enjoyed watching this kind of LIFE MUSEUM style store, also lots of large photos!

Pieter was all smile, seeing the bees enter their hive, through a smart opening in the outside wall, via a pipe they flew in. 

We could watch them from behind the glass.

Later when going to the car, after placing the heavy honey purchase (Pieter's!) into the trunk, we went to the side of the store and saw the bees coming home.

Pieter was singing in the car when I drove away, old songs from those happy times that he still had his BELOVED BEES...

Felt happy for having stopped here!

Related link:

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Nantahala Gorge Excursion | previous post by me

Husband Pieter and his Beloved Honey Bees | previous post by me

{Dark Days Before Christmas}

We are having some really DARK & RAINY days before Christmas, complete with THUNDER!

Not easy for making any photos...

Around 4:00 PM in the afternoon...

Lit all candles in our green wooden Christmas tree.

The idea for using a candle with empty escargot shells I got from a blogger friend.

You can see on my CANDLES Pinterest board

This Baccarat crystal caviar bowl is missing its top insert so it is perfect for filling it up with shells.

The Hardanger Christmas table topper is from Bad Münstereifel in Germany.

Holly berries are from our garden...

Thunder for now but on Christmas day the sun is peaking and it will be 82°F, like on Thursday.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!


My posts are not showing up on the Blog List for some reason... still an old one showing.

{French Comptoir de Famille Candle Wreath}

Inspired by the French Countryside, 

nostalgic home décor items by 
Comptoir de Famille.

Needless to say that I feel fortunate for being able to offer you these lovely French Country Style Candle Wreath at my on line boutique: French Comptoir de Famille Candle Wreath.  ←click it.

Adorned with Roses and Berries this is also perfect for a romantic  Christmas Day setting...

Works with the LED pillars as well, for a clean and safe candle setting.

♥ Pour Toi ♥

{Angel Candle Snuffer Gift}

My dear friend Mariëlle, from The Netherlands, did stay with us from May 2 till May 9. A brief vacation for her, but she had to be back at her Kandinsky College Malderburchtstraat for dealing with the exam week, before the summer vacation would start. 

Mariëlle also lost her dear Mom, on January 3, and I lost my Mom on January 27...

So it is obvious that both of us had Angels on our minds.

Mariëlle actually did create one for me!

A very unique Angel Candle Snuffer...
Angel's head and handle are made out of wood. The body, halo and extension to wooden handle are made out of Alpaca, or nickle silver, and spray coated with a heat resistant paint in matte silver.

LOVE the ergonomics of it, as it feels so perfect inside my hand.

Super cute Angel!

The hand crocheted table cloth is a gift from my Dutch friend Ellie...

Candle and Chrysler Imperial fragrant rose are in Baccarat crystal.

More up close... 

Candle is from Point A La Ligne France, the Rolls Royce of candles.

Don't you love Mariëlle's sweet Angel design?

Related link:

{Point A La Ligne the Rolls Royce of Candles} | previous post by me

{SHOPSTYLE - Decor Silver Ball Ornament}

Showing you our present wreath with Silver Ball Ornaments.

Angels, Cherubs and Candles are sheer magic don't you agree?

This was my inspiration from Italy...

Giovanni Raspini from the heart of Tuscany, creates these Heirloom Silver Balls, filled with red satin.

I've opted for this Silver Trio!

There is only ONE left of this beauty!

Click:→ Spectrenoir for going to my  online Boutique.

Got one out in the mail today, for a client in Germany.

Sold out...

The red satin is so perfect with the silver!

Lucky for having some natural light today, as the sun is out and shining bright!

This is the other, larger Decor Silver Ball Ornament in our wreath...

Cherub Angels!

Sold out...

Each Decor Silver Ball Ornament arrives in such a signature red box from Giovanni Raspini, Italy.

This Decor Silver Ball shows TOYS

From the trio being shown here, I have only the two on the left, inside our wreath.

From each of these three is only ONE still available... #1859

At ShopStyle  you could have bought some very plain ones.

When you select: Decor and put Silver Ball Ornament in the search box you can further select from the drop down menu: Seasonal Decor and Store. All is marked yellow.

Neiman Marcus did sell out completely!

Are you also having any special Silver Ball Ornament

{Merry Christmas 2014}

Finally it is again December 24, and Christmas Eve... Soon to be Christmas Day!

Wishing you all, the world over, a Merry Christmas 2014!

Always tricky for having pure white (without rain...) Camellias for Christmas, from our garden!

Shown here with my sewing creation of a Christmas placemat and napkin in a tiny white vase...

Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Joyeux Noël

Frohe Weihnachten

Buon Natale

Silver Gifts from Tuscany, Italy from Giovanni Raspini, via my on line Boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics...

Merry Christmas, with our fragrant Paperwhite flowers in a vase and Point A La Ligne candle...

Our hand carved wooden Nativity Scene and Cherubs - Angels from South Tyrol, Italy.

Handblown Glass Nativity Scene; a gift from a dear FRIEND!

Nativity Scene with fragrant Paperwhite flowers and Cherub Angels...

Christ Episcopal Church
Dublin, Georgia
1899
A Christmas ornament that we gifted Mom & Dad...

Merry Christmas!

Related links:
{Blogger I Admire | Christmas Angel & Sentiments} | previous post by me
Angels | Wood Carved Putto, Cherubs and Angels from Italy on my website Mariette's Back to Basics
Angels | More Angels on my website Mariette's Back to Basics