{Our Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine'}

Our Jasminum Nitidum 'Royal Jasmine' which we got from +Logee's Greenhouses (link you find below post) is another exotic and highly fragrant flower. We keep it in a large planter in the greenhouse during winter. But come spring and summer, it is outside and shows off its perfect blossoms. Have a look at this beauty!

Related link:

Logee's | search under fragrant flowers with several jasmine varieties being listed

{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?}

Often I wonder if I might have lost my strength when I had my LONG braid cut off at once... You certainly know the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, where she cut off his long hair, which made him loose his strength. After having worked and lived in Indonesia I wanted to have short hair and get rid of the 'weight' of that long braid. For hygiene reasons I did wear it like that, pulling all hair back and tied together. But the weight of such a long braid is not really that much as hair is very light. It was more the idea.

Here she is... in a shadow box framed on French graduating ombré silk velvet from Britex Fabrics in San Francisco. The framing was done by Irok Gallery as usual.

Thick braid...

Quite a length!

Peet Kleeven from Happy Hair chopped it off like that...

Off came my long hair and gone was my strength...?

Irok Gallery did a remarkable job with the shadow box!

I've made a blouse from the remaining French ombré silk as I had to buy it by the panel.

My Dad did snip off one of my hair locks when I was 3 months of age... My color did not change since than.

Do you have some baby locks saved? Or a braid?

Saving for that braid...

Getting there slowly. This is all in Indonesia. Wearing here a Kashmir dress that a friend did bring me from India.

Long Kashmir dress, hand embroidered in a royal blue.

Only during weekends I could let my hair down...

Hair reaching my hips...

This is it...

Minus braid... It sure felt light!

This is in Horst at my parents' in their sun-room.

So do you believe that I might have lost my strength too?

{'Ravy', My Toyota RAV4 is 14 today!}

Today is a very special day as my Toyota RAV4 2-door 'Ravy' has 'his' 14th birthday! It makes me feel good. Above all, this car was such a lovely thing to receive for my birthday then. It had to be special ordered in Japan because of wanting a shift stick with cruise control and a 'male part' for hooking up our little trailer. At the time that I got it, it was very popular in France and it took the USA by storm as well.
Automobile Magazine's 1997 Automobile of the Year is the Toyota RAV4 read: Automobile Magazine Announces Toyota RAV4 as Auto of the Year. You can read some of its history 1997 INFORMATION.
Some Magazine Reviews:

• New Car Test Drive: 1996 Toyota Rav4: The new king of the minis
• 1997 Toyota Rav4 - A trend setting Toy(ota)
• 1998 Toyota Rav4 - A small, spunky, head-turner   

Some Newspaper Reviews:

• USA Today: Toyota RAV4 is Consumer Reports' Best small SUV, March 18, 1997
• Detroit News: Toyota RAV4 though pricey, has broad appeal 1997
• Chicago Sun-Times: Toyota's new, hot-selling RAV4 small sport/utility vehicle is terribly cute, practical and more affordable than larger sport/utilities.
• New Standard: 'Cute utes' invade a growing sport utility market, Sept 1, 1996
• Autopage: Toyota RAV4 - Best in Class Mini - SUV 

But WHY did we keep it this long???

Because RAV4 continued in 2000 available as a 4-door model only.
So no longer as a cute 2-door... Read: - RAV4 HISTORY -.

Me and my 'Cute Ute'... I LOVE this car!

What does RAV4 stand for?

Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive



'Ravy' only twice got new tires and has been always very reliable.

Very good fuel economy!

Do you like my 'Ravy'?

Oh sure, 'Ravy' can carry things on the roof too, as well as behind in the little trailer we got for him.

In the center of the bumper you see the square opening, that's where the male part goes for the trailer.

Ravy served us well, he did haul many a load for us, for the construction of our Rose Suite and for hauling furniture from the Savannah harbor, Miele appliances from Atlanta...

Went all the way to Key West with our German 'son and daughter-in-law' and to Orlando with our other German 'son and daughter-in-law'. With us to Central Valley in New York. So he's been to many states, always being loyal.

Therefore we keep him! Besides; he is in excellent shape.

Related link:

{'Ravy', my Toyota RAV4 is 15 today!} | other post by me

Toyota RAV4 Automobile of the year 1997 in Automobile Magazine of January, 1997 Pdf