{Romanian box with Royal Blazon: Nothing Without God}

This is a very unique, vintage box from Romania.

The blazon reads in old Romanian: 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'

Meaning: 'NOTHING WITHOUT GOD'

That was the blazon of the Royal house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Romania before  WWII.

In Latin 'NIHIL SINE DEO' and translated into Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEZEU'.

Pronounced in old Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'.

Have a look here for more info and click on all the other hyperlinks from there.

This very unique box is again available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Lined in burgundy velour this is a very special treasure.

Sorry Sold out...

In 1989 while living and working in Italy near Venice, I did watch often the Romanian channel on TV as I could understand that for about 60%, with my ability to speak fluent Italian at that time...

It was on Christmas day of 1989 that we witnessed the execution of the communist Romanian dictator  Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife Elena... This communist dictator ruled for almost 30 years. 

It was therefore a joy to help some wrestlers from Romania from the now free nation, when they were here in my town, for some Olympic training, in 1996. 

You all know that the 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta; my capital.

They all needed special gifts for their wives and girl friends and thus the local Chamber of Commerce called on me. 

They asked if I spoke any Romanian. 

No I said, but if they speak slowly and I speak slowly Italian we can converse. 

Indeed it worked and they got their list translated and stores mentioned for finding their loved ones' wishes...

A young lady from Romania did help me out with the translation of the old Romanian, which I was not sure of... Her name is Alexandra.

{Art Emotion from Giovanni Raspini, Italy}

This season is all about our loved ones and memories... 

Silver wins over time - nice Art Emotion by silver master Giovanni Raspini, Italy.

Art Emotion is invited into our homes to stay.

 You can find these heavenly scented sachets with angels in an earlier post: {Giovanni Raspini Sachet with Tassels and 925/000 Silver Angels S, from Italy}

 Also the scented sachets with corded rope and angels on my post: {Giovanni Raspini Sachet with 925/000 Silver Angels L, from Italy}

 Just the tassels with silver angels here on my post: {Giovanni Raspini Cord with Tassels and 925/000 Silver Angels S, from Italy}

 or corded rope with angels: {Giovanni Raspini Cord with 925/000 Silver Angels L, from Italy}

Sorry Sold out...

Available at: Spectrenoir 

Previous Boutique...

{Our last Datura Angel's Trumpets and TEA with a Twist}

Today we just had three beautiful almost white Angel's Trumpet flowers from the Datura.
Its botanical name is: Datura inoxia var. quinquecuspida. Common names: devil's trumpet, downy thornapple, toloache, angel's trumpet. Family: Solanaceae (nightshade Family).
Since it was a rather dark day, I took them out on the balcony for the photos.
Are those blooms not wonderful? Greenhouse blossoms for now...

We got these fragrant beauties from Logee's in Connecticut.

On Friday I did receive my two personalized Tea books from +Lisa Boalt Richardson as she just had gotten back from her Taiwan and Japan trip.
On the above hyperlink you can read her blog about Lisa knows tea.

Made myself a cup of Dutch Mango tea; one of my favorite blends from Douwe Egberts Pickwick.
It didn't quite go together with the Japanese earthenware Kyusu teapot for green tea...
That was a July 2007 gift, from my Japanese host family in Osaki, together with the lacquered round wooden tray.

This is the 360 ml special earthenware Japanese Kyusu teapot for green tea.
The table runner is also from Japan.
Stay tuned as I will write about more travels later...

The teacup is Japanese as well, Pieter did bring it home from an antique shop in London, while on a business trip. The silver rose spoon on its saucer is one of my favorites. Certainly Johanna from Silber-und-Rosen-Shop would love this one, as she wrote the book about Silver Rose Flatware: Rosen-Bestecke. That is another book that I cherish very much!

These books will be great to use with the ladies for my classes, just pouring over them...

Tea with a Twist

 Great Christmas Gifts!

If you are cold, tea will warm you

If you are too heated, it will cool you

If you are depressed, it will cheer you

If you are excited, it will calm you

Gladstone, 1865

Related links:

{Angel's Trumpet}| previous post by me
{Our Datura Angel's Trumpets} | previous post by me
BRUGMANSIAS and DATURAS | interesting info!