{Meaningful GIFT from The Fairmont Empress Victoria}

Certain days sometimes are full of surprises, such as the mailman delivering an unexpected package. This time it came from dear FRIEND Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista, author and speaker... Carefully unwrapping and finding a very Meaningful gift from the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada. What a joy! Both of us have stayed at two of the Fairmont hotels, the Fairmont Château Frontenac in Québec City on August 13 till 16 of 1998 and the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa from 18 till 20 August of 1998. 

Voilà... A beautiful cobalt blue with gold tin 'TEA at THE EMPRESS with 10 tea bags!

A lovely golden pouch holding this precious tea.

THE FAIRMONT EMPRESS Victoria...

From the Province of British Columbia, Canada where our daughter Liz is born!

THANKS a MILLION Celia for this precious gift and all the fond memories that it did evoke!

We used to live on 304 Fairmont Drive...

As said above, our daughter Liz is born in British Columbia, Canada...

Top seasonal quality tea from e.g. South India... where we have worked!

On our way to work we drove past those tea plantations.

TEA at THE EMPRESS

The South Indian component (Nilgiri mountains)... where we have worked!

So often we passed those tea plantations on our way to work high in the mountains when doing consulting in India for Pond's India for about a decade.

There is one more GIFT from another Canadian blogger FRIEND.

Susan from Ava Grace's Closet sent me this incredibly fine hand crocheted lace table topper; made by her Mama!

So here I did pair it with some fresh Gardenias from our garden on June 22, in our front porch since it was not light enough inside the home. I just finished my photo shoot before another tropical thunderstorm came up!

Using the 1930s teacup and saucer from my dear Mother in Law; blue transferware from Société Céramique Blue Boerenhoeve

Here it is: TEA at THE EMPRESS...

Hope you enjoyed this Meaningful gift of delicious tea!

THANKS again dear Celia and thanks dear Susan!

Related link:

{Our Hydrangea Trio and Tea in 1930s Blue Transfer Ware} | previous post by me

{Mother-in-law's 1930s Société Céramique Blue Boerenhoeve Transferware} | previous post by me

{Difference Between Coffee & Tea Cups} | previous post by me

{Our Gazebo with Chair Cushions}

On August 29, the day that it was exactly 30 years ago that we immigrated to the USA, from The Netherlands, we did have a mud-free gazebo with the washed concrete tile path and entrance being cleaned by husband Pieter. We felt confident that we will have no more tropical thunderstorms changing our outlook. So finally an entire lovely, sunny week with sunshine and lower humidity and also some wind. Perfect for drying out!

It was on July 8, that I wrote my post about {WHAT is THIS?} when I had rescued our gazebo's cushions.

Link you find below this post, for those that missed it...

Here they are! 

On July 12, they had their 15th birthday but we could not use them yet with all our flash flood warnings and reality.

We forgot to place the table back in the center of the gazebo... I saw this only after I uploaded my photos!

Guess we both were too excited of finally being able to use our gazebo!

Our gazebo got a new aluminum roof from Interlock Roofing as well.

We did place a new fan from Wayfair after the painters had finished their painting job here as well.

They did such a meticulous job with their two coatings of Benjamin Moore paint!

This Westinghouse Lighting 30" Wengue 3 Blade Ceiling Fan, has an incredible 18 degrees blade pitch!

It is in Chrome with Wengue Beech Blades.

Stepping back, towards the house...

The Vintage Woodworks ginger bread in the top part is adding such charm.

So does the Aluminum Slate roof in Aged Copper from Interlock Metal Roofing!

This is with the steps in the back, since we live on a slope. The house is now visible to the left.

There is a little patio at the landing of the steps...

Enjoying our tea together! 

With a rice cake and some unsalted mixed nuts... 

The container in the back is where we store those cushions and the top table cloth.

There is a round vinyl tablecloth with elastic underneath. Easy to wipe clean with moist wipes from Costco.

So finally you got to see the cushions in our gazebo!

Wearing my precious 925 silver rose ring (lost that in April of 2019...) and you see the vase with rain lilies with perfect rose bud in silver!

Related links:

{RAIN and MUD} | previous post by me

{New Power Wiring to Our Gazebo} | previous post by me where you also see the gazebo in wrong spot

{What is THIS?} | previous post by me where I did rescue our gazebo's chair cushions...

{AGRITURISMO & GERANIUMS - PELARGONIUM} | previous post by me, showing the geraniums in optima forma in their planter boxes in front of the gazebo

{French Floral Pillow Set and our Gazebo} | previous post by me showing the gazebo very well

{TEA = Superb Fat Fighter}

Already in a previous post I did write about a USEFUL TEA REGIME FOR A SLIMMER YOU. See link below. It is a fact that TEA does have lots of ANTIOXIDANTS that are very beneficial for our health. Drinking tea may help prevent chronic illnesses according to a USA Today article. 13 Reasons Tea is Good for You is another great article. Number 1. is about the antioxidants in green tea with an ability to burn fat as fuel. 

This is Dutch Mango Tea from Douwe Egberts Pickwick. 

I used my Japanese Kyusu teapot, a gift from my 2007 trip to Japan as a chaperone with 6 teenagers.

The round wooden tray  was another gift from my host family.

The table runner is also from Japan.

The silver rose spoon is one of my favorites and it would be a great addition to Silber-und-Rosen-Shop or for the book: Rosen-Bestecke by this specialty shop's owner Johanna, as the author.

In the back you see the book Tea with a Twist by Lisa Boalt Richardson who is also from Georgia.

The teacup is Japanese, husband Pieter did bring it home from an antique shop in London.

Dear friend Celia from Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista wrote some excellent posts about taking out time for an afternoon tea. Just check her Google+ page and scroll down to her delightful posts about it.

9 Reasons to Drink Green Tea Daily with number 1. stating it is a SUPERB FAT FIGHTER.

number 2. stating it TARGETS BELLY FAT!

10 Life-Sustaining Reasons to Drink Green Tea with slide number 4 showing that Green Tea helps to 

manage weight. 

Green Tea could be among the superfoods you want to include for our diet!

Slide number 6 shows that Green Tea Boosts Oral Health.

My dental hygienist noticed last week that my tartar build up was a lot less. 

That adds up to another bonus.

Do you have any experience with some of the above mentioned pluses of Tea and/or Green Tea?

Why Drink Tea Every Day Infographic

Related links:
{USEFUL TEA REGIME FOR A SLIMMER YOU} | previous post by me
{Our last Datura Angel's Trumpets and TEA with a Twist} | previous post by me
{Lisa Boalt Richardson another Georgia Tea Aficionado!} | previous post by me about my High Tea

{The Boston Tea Company}

When we went for 10 days on vacation to Curaçao in the Caribbean, we did take with us lots of healthy snacks to be eaten with some tea. Being with four adults, daughter Liz with husband Hans in the adjoining room and both of us, made it worthwhile for bringing some of our own tea. Hans very much loved the special Green Tea with Pomegranate we had and also the Black Tea with Pomegranate. Both from The Boston Tea Company...

We soon will have a special Care Package on its way to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with also some of Hans' favorite Green Tea.

These photos I made on June 12, with our gorgeous fragrant Gardenias...

We found these Bentley's Tea tins at Tuesday Morning.

The Green Tea with Pomegranate has a surprising taste!

Using tea cups from my Royal Albert Gardenia china and the white wooden tea chest.

Drinking tea makes for a very special moment and it is so healthy.

Do you drink Green Tea like this?

Or Black Tea with Pomegranate...

A better view of the white wooden tea chest.

Bentley's with its royal crown...

Pomegranate Tea

{Our Camellia Sinensis | Tea Plant}

At the moment our Camellia Sinensis | Tea Plant is blooming so pretty so I have to show you some pictures. When the sun is out in the morning those white flowers with their long orange colored stamens look so pretty. Camellias are evergreen shrubs so they have nice glossy green leaves all year. That's what we aimed for mainly when we designed our garden. Extending the 'green' season as much as we could. Making up for not living in the tropics anymore. Indeed, one gets spoiled easily and it is very hard to live through winter each year, even though our winters are very mild here in the southeast of the USA.

Lovely flower this Camellia Sinensis, or Tea  Plant!

Most of the black teas are being harvested from this very Tea Plant!

This is the entire shrub and it is on the fence with our neighbors. We can view it from our kitchen bay window area.

There are still buds to open later... It keeps on pouring out tea roses!

One more with beautiful orange stamens and some budding siblings nearby.

Do you have such a Tea Plant?

Related links:

{Our Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant and Japanese Magnolia} previous post by me
{Camellia Debutante & Chocolate} previous post by me
{Our Camellia Nuccio's Gem & Christmas Angel Gift} previous post by me

{USEFUL TIP: Peppermint Tea for Anti Bloating}

• When living in The Netherlands, our back neighbors were from Turkey and I learned quite a lot from their culture. 
• They passed on age old remedies for certain ailments. One of them was, serving hot tea from fresh Mentha Piperita leaves. 
• Sure I learned about this USEFULL TIP as Peppermint Tea for Anti Bloating. 
• Since than, I've been drinking this soothing Peppermint Tea for decades, adding also some healthy Green Tea as well. 
• We always keep mint growing in our garden. So how do I brew this useful tea? Let me show you...

• Freshly brewn inside our Mandalay Chartreuse by Mason's teapot.

• With my Gardena Garden Scissors I did snip off a handful of Mentha Piperita leaves from our garden.

• Rinsing them off in my Rösle Strainer...

• Together with a bag of green tea they go inside the teapot while the water is boiling.
• Pour the water over it and let it steep for a few minutes before pouring into your cups.

• I used Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea...

• Peppermint-Green-Tea with a healthy chocolate dessert, decorated with edible marzipan rosebuds...
• Why don't you sit with me?

• Closeup from the Peppermint-Green-Tea and my dessert...

• Please sit down and join me...!
• By  the way, this amazing chocolate dessert came out of the freezer and works great for freezing it!
• Below the post you find the recipe for this diabetes type 2 and heart healthy 0% cholesterol chocolate dessert.

• This is a very soothing and relaxing tea, you ought to try it for yourself!

• No, I did NOT add any sugar...
• So what do you think? Are you going to try this out as well...?

Below are some links for more info.

Related links:

Mandalay Chartreuse by Mason's  available at Replacements Ltd.

DOES HOT TEA HELP BLOATING & GAS AFTER MEALS? 

Gardena 359 All Purpose Stainless Steel Garden Scissors

{Our Liz & Telepathy + AMAZING Chocolate Recipe!} | previous post by me

Flat Belly Diet Foods - Meet the MUFAs! | previous post by me

Foods that Support the Skin | previous post by me

Natural Healing Chart for almost all Sickness | previous post by me with a wealth of information!

{9 'Harmless' Habits That Age You} | previous post by me with great tips

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

{SORRY YOUR TEA IS GETTING COLD, COME HURRY IN!}

Yes, sorry YOUR TEA is getting cold... It didn't work out as planned for my 8:00 PM launch. It shows up on my NetWorkedBlogs but not on the sidebar... Since I will be reposting several subjects from the time when I was very ill and became paralyzed. So here below it is.

Please do enter, using this link for {STIR UP ANGELIC TEA FOR TWO} 

{STIR UP ANGELIC TEA FOR TWO}

May I invite you for a TEA FOR TWO? Just thought you would like that... For the occasion I made some special handmade chocolates in the shape of an angel and a rose. Stirring up an angelic tea party!

Also I would like to show you this very special high end solid silver spoon by Giovanni Raspini, Italy. A very unique solid silver spoon with two angels, I want to share with you today. It would become a lovely heirloom piece for your family, if this spoon, with twin angels, is given in honor of a new born baby or any occasion involving LOVE. Like I said before, Giovanni Raspini makes High End Silver Gift items that are equal to the Tiffany & Co quality and style. I feel fortunate for being able to bring their unique boutique style items to the American, Canadian and world-wide public. See my Zen Cart powered Mariette's Back to Basics Boutique link, below this post.

From France I have this heavenly angelic tea doily. A vintage treasure done in filet lace needle embroidery on handmade netting.

Sold out...

The silver twin angels do have company... Filet lace doily with angels and roses and a beautiful French cross stitch embroidery on pure unbleached linen in tone-on-tone and framed by my most favorite home town Gallery +IROK galerie lijsten kunstuitleen FOTO ALBUM , in Horst aan de Maas, The Netherlands. They do a museum quality job and I will get back on that in a later blog, with more of their exceptional work. We're loyal customers for about three decades; even from the USA!

French Country

The Giovanni Raspini silver spoon is showcased together with my first wedding china from Germany, Mirabell White by Seltmann Weiden. 
Of course, even Replacements Ltd. does have some of its discontinued pieces!
The paper doilies are from Europe as you cannot find the 4" (10 cm) size pieces here... Everything is bigger in the USA.
Well, I must admit that we do live the Going GREEN way as those smaller pieces of China fit more items inside our dishwasher... great for the environment.

More angels on the solid silver napkin holder. 

You can also use it on a desk, for holding cards and letters! 

My passions are angels and roses and this is a nice way of showing that.

Sorry Sold out...

I TOLD you I love angels and roses and I even do EAT them alive... 

Are these hand made chocolates not divine? It is so much fun making them and even more fun to eat, as I use the 70% and higher special dark chocolate for making those. That is supposed to be good for your health as well! Will write more about that later... So much to do still! Subjects will be endless. But bit by bit you get to know what I'm doing...

French Country

Of course, I did search for the book with the beautiful TOI & MOI Angel embroidery. It is in French, but languages are no barrier for me, so I found it on the German Amazon and ordered it from there. 

As said before, this is the Museum Quality Gallery of Irok that does all our framing for three decades already. You can visit Ingrid's Irok Gallery blog below, she  also has a translator.

I like to make a mention here as to the fact that Irok also provides art work for the Hospice facility near our former home town. In that facility on July 22nd of 2010, Mrs. Dora Van den Bekerom passed away. She used to be the secretary of my husband Pieter, at the world's first and only Practical Training College about Mushroom Growing; the one he founded.

Therefore I like to name this blog in honor of her. She was a dear colleague to both of us, very loyal and she not once forgot a birthday. Since she went to heaven to re-unite with her husband who passed away of cancer in 1967 and is now living amongst angels; this will be quite appropriate for ending this blog...
Republished today.

Are you stirring up things with angels at your home?
Would love to know about it.

Related links:

+IROK galerie lijsten kunstuitleen FOTO ALBUM  IROK Gallery in HORST, The Netherlands

Mirabell White by Seltmann Weiden, Germany