{Yes; I was at an Yves Saint Laurent Prêt-À-Porter Show in Jakarta!}

• After I'd been for the first time to the USA with Pieter in 1983, we also went to Jakarta, Indonesia where we stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 
• We were making a choice as to where we wanted to work and live... Our boss in Jakarta did the utmost in making it a pleasant stay for us, even though we were flying and driving to other cities to view all the work areas. So here we are, back in the capital city of Jakarta at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (see picture further down). When we checked in on this Thursday morning, also a group of catwalk models from Yves Saint Laurent arrived with us from the airport and checked in to their rooms. They came from Bangkok where they did a catwalk show... Now some rest for them, and again at 7:30 PM they would start a whirling Prêt-À-Porter catwalk show for Spring Summer 1983.

We went first to the Bogor botanical garden and came back to the hotel where we dressed for the evening. It was obvious, that our boss wanted to please me with this dinner and show, right up front near the catwalk! As I've studied fashion and design and obtained two diplomas for drawing and making dresses, costumes, jackets and coats, I certainly was more than thrilled to be seated right there.

• The three years that I studied fashion, this catwalk life looked very glamorous to us students... like a dream. But nothing is farther from the truth; it is hard work and that night after night on such a tour through Asia or to any other continent. We could see underneath the curtain, and there the shoes got kicked off and skirts, pants or dresses fell to the floor as they hastily changed into the next garment. And that for hours... My goodness, I felt for those girls. Here we were, sitting in posh chairs, only observing. Meanwhile feasting on a yummy four-course dinner.

• But it was one of those once-in-a-life-time events that will stay with me forever!
• Many thanks to our generous boss for whom we did work years later...
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• All of you probably know Yves Saint Laurent's perfume and cosmetics line. Several items I do use from this designer as you can see below:

• Some blush, lipstick, nail polish and Poudre Sur Mesure Semi-Loose Powder, which replaced their Silk Finish Powder (contained 2% of silk powder).

• It is not easy to photograph such glistening gold items; but they sure look elegant!
• Sadly Yves Saint Laurent died of brain cancer on June 1, 2008.
• Did I ever own a garment from YSL? No... only a wool paisley scarf and a pair of silk, low-heeled pumps that you can see in the photos below.

• Soft wool paisley pattern from YSL

• I'm holding my belly for laughter as my husband Pieter prepared the camera on its tripod for shutter delay. As is evident, it went off before he could merge next to me... Hilarious!

• So that's both of us now; it went perfectly well with the camera.
• My YSL silk pumps and Pieter in his silk shirt; kind of partner-look.

• And than there is coffee in the gazebo... Wearing my Pearls that got strung for me in Singapore.

'En dàn is er koffie!' or 'And then there is coffee!'

A well known Dutch slogan for their famous Douwe Egberts Coffee founded in 1753, which is now also available in the USA.

{Gardenia by Royal Albert and our Garden Gardenias}

This time I will take you to our pond area underneath the huge semi-evergreen oak tree, where Pieter put a pick nick table and bench. It is a perfect spot for a tea or for just a break from garden work. So peaceful and tranquil. Let's have a look... A nice spot to have your tea and cake after a Garden Tour.

A tea towel as table cloth with Royal Albert Gardenia china and some Baccarat crystal vases and candle holder which was available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

This is actually a vintage Baccarat Shalimar perfume bottle but it is perfect for holding a Gardenia as a vase.

These are the heavenly Aimee Yoshioka Gardenias, like I showed you last year in my post: {Heavenly Gardenia Jasminoides 'Aimee Yoshioka'}. 

Costco does sell these yummy Cashew Clusters with almonds and pumpkin seeds; good source of protein and fiber and gluten free. The Royal Albert China you also can see in my post: {May 22 Gardenia by Royal Albert and blooming Gardenias in Baccarat vase} 

Baccarat crystal candle holder, which is actually an egg cup holder...

Sorry ALL six are sold out...

The pond is a very nice spot for observing tiny turtles that swim by and waterlilies, fish, bull frogs.

Lots of mosses grow between the thick roots. Plenty of shade and the only negative of this huge oak tree is that where its shade covers the pond, no waterlilies grow.

Lots of pot plants across the pond, near the greenhouse.

Here you can view the greenhouse too.

Where those trees are there is the creek, the back of our property.

Royal Albert Gardenia cup & saucer with Bridal Rose from Alvin spoon.

{Our Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'}

• Today I like to show you our heavenly fragrant Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans' that we do have in front of our home and on the side where the bay window of our kitchen is. 
• By mid May they were in full bloom and we took several pictures of our different varieties, which I will post later. 
• Shown is the 'Radicans' and also the dwarf 'Radicans' Gardenia ←(click it). Come join me on this fragrant Garden Tour 

• This photo is from 1993 when we still had the regular Gardenia jasminoides Radicans in front of our veranda windows. Beautiful Fleur de Lys edging and scroll work from Vintage Woodworks, Texas.
• We had to remove them, as they were blocking the view! 
• The dwarf variety we did keep however. 
• Those planter boxes are the little ones we had before buying the fiberglass window boxes.

• The azaleas in the front are all replaced by dwarf Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'. The front porch shows also the same Fleur de Lys edging and ginger bread, balusters and posts from Vintage Woodworks, Texas.

• This photo I took on May 17 as they were in full bloom. The smell is heavenly! You can see now clearly {Our Fiberglass Window Boxes & Double Cascade Pink Petunias} ←(click it) that Pieter did get us, by growing cuttings from last year's crop.

• You see the blossoms fully opened and some buds for the coming days.

• Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans' in all its splendor!

Related link:
Flower Framers of Cincinnati | Source for Fiberglass Window Boxes