{Black Mission Figs in our Food Dehydrator}

With the downfall of the economy, we ought to preserve in a smarter way. When fruits and veggies are on sale, or if they are yielding in your garden. We have done so for several years, using our 9-Tray Large-Excalibur with 26 hour Timer. Look here: 9-tray Excalibur. Not only available for the USA but also International. I can only highly recommend this as it works great. Let me show you ours with the Black Mission figs. Pieter has cut them in half and than just filled up the racks and put the timer on. Easy job! I made some fig cakes in the kitchen meanwhile...

Due to the drought this year, our Black Mission figs were rather small, compared to previous years.

Very easy system and depending on how much you want to dehydrate, you get 9 drawers in total.

Some fresh Black Mission figs and already dehydrated ones.

This year did not yield enough for filling up my large Italian canning jar...

I've made some special fig cakes too; will show you that later.

Did transfer them to this round Italian jar from Firenze and it filled up!

Are you also preserving some of your fruits this way? Apples, pears or e.g. mangoes that are on sale?

In the afternoon we usually have our tea with some dried fruits and nuts as a healthy snack.

{Our Lagerstroemia Crapemyrtle in the Wood Garden}

• When walking from our wood garden, across the bridge towards the house, you see this view. Quite romantic when this pretty Lagerstroemia Crapemyrtle is blooming. 
• These photos I took after a walk around 7:30 PM on July 15, when we just had some heavy rain.
• Raindrops are still hanging onto the blossoms and seeds.

• Raindrops hanging onto the seeds...

• Lagerstroemia Crapemyrtle pretty in pink...

{Breakfast in Bed with 1940s English Art Deco Sterling Silver Toast Rack}

Who does not like breakfast in bed? So let's prepare a tray for lingering. Too bad that due to the extreme heat and drought we have no roses for filling a vase! First time ever, that we cannot enjoy cut flowers. But let's look what we can find.

How about this? A filled 1940s English Sheffield Art Deco Sterling Silver Toast Rack (available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics, a heart waffle with raspberries, butter, boiled egg...

In the Dutch version of Margaret Caselton's book about Stylish Settings (Sfeer aan Tafel) the above picture can be found on page 122.

Too bad I could not reproduce the flowers...

And, I also forgot the marmalade and the orange juice!

Does that happen to you as well?

My own hand crocheted tablecloth and place mat. Not the napkin, that's from Neiman Marcus.

China is French Gien in the Rose pattern. I'm still looking for some parts. Does anyone have some 'stray' pieces?

Ramekins are French Pillivuyt and the napkin ring is from Christofle.

So what is an English toast rack doing on this tray with all French items? Except for my flatware which is Dutch Gero Zilmeta Menuet 528. Here you can also see the heart waffle better.

You like this? Romantic enough for you?

This romantic antique lacquered tray was available at Spectrenoir.

Breakfast in Bed seems to be LOVED...

This is what I forgot... Orange juice in a rose frosted glass.

So would you forgive me for not having it on the tray, first time?

Here is the toast rack all by itself on the lacquered tray.

Do you also use a toast rack at home?

EV for Emile Viner (sounds French to me...) from Sheffield with the hallmark crown, lion and an X for the year 1940.

Yes, I've done my homework; look here.

On eBay they're selling its twin, oh no... it's the 'V' so that is from 1938.

Daniel Bexfield Antiques did sell this one above for £ 135.00. Just click the pink hyperlinks.

Sorry Sold out...