{Ceropegia ampliata - Bushman's Pipe - Horny Wonder}

From South Africa originated this very unusual plant: Ceropegia ampliata - Bushman's Pipe - Horny Wonder. We got it from Logee's in 2003 as a 2.5" potplant. They no longer have this in their collection however. We kept it inside our greenhouse for several years. This year, it was outside next to the Epiphyllum that I posted about on Thursday, October 27: Epiphyllum Bloom Missed Again. Doing my usual research I came across yet another name for this very unusual plant at Cartuz Greenhouses. They name the Ceropegia ampliata Bushman's Pipe, Horny Wonder, Condom Plant. Just click on the hyperlink to check it yourself.

This link > Ceropegia ampliata does not mention the Bushman's Pipe, nor the Horny Wonder or Condom Plant but gives in my opinion the best and most detailed information with great closeup photography. Now let's see what this is all about...

It is a long, leafless trailing plant...

Blooming now for over one month already!

At the top left, that one has wilted...

Closeup of two wilted ones...

Soon they will have to go inside the greenhouse again...

{Early 1900s French Camille Tharaud Limoges pâte-sur-pâte plaque}

A very rare gem is this early 1900s French Camille Tharaud Limoges pâte-sur-pâte enameled porcelain plaque with oval ormolu frame. It was available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics. It does have an easel to stand on and would make a beautiful display. Scroll down to see more photos and also some similar items that were sold at Christie's.

This enameled porcelain pâte-sur-pâte plaque from Camille Tharaud Limoges was very difficult to photograph...

The frame is in gilt metal, a technique called Ormolu.

Here it is on a blue batik tablecloth, outside on the balcony.

This one is also on the balcony...

Always some reflection in the shiny enameled porcelain.

This is taken inside on our French oak table in the dining room.

The green marks Limoges France

In gold C (Camille) Tharaud Limoges France

Also the easel is visible here. All in perfect condition.

Closeup of the French marks. It can also be hung from the loop.

This is a smal Limoges pâte-sur-pâte plaque that was sold by Christie's A SMALL LIMOGES PATE-SUR-PATE PLAQUE. It yielded $ 813 in December of 2008. For sure that made a perfect Christmas gift to someone!

Another Limoges pâte-sur-pâte rectangular plaque sold in 1998 at Christie's for $ 672, see Christie's A Limoges pâte-sur-pâte rectangular plaque

Another sold at Christie's in 2003 for $ 5,019 see: Christie's A LIMOGES PÂTE-SUR-PÂTE BLUE-GROUND RECTANGULAR PLAQUE 

This is a scan from page 137 of my book: ART DECO LIMOGES Camille Tharaud and other ceramists

Keith & Thomas Waterbrook-Clyde see here at Amazon.

Sorry sold out...

{"A Blogger I Admire" - Celia from High Heeled Life}

Just want you to meet the lively, vivacious young woman Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista who had an interesting career in the corporate world. She was active in sports like kick boxing, volleyball and weight work outs. A beautiful, slender girl with a petite size and a love for upscale designer clothes, high heels and elegant handbags.

That did all end abruptly though...

It was on Sunday, October 28 of 2006, that life for Celia M. changed forever. She was about to cross the street to the apartment of a friend for a birthday party... Other party members that also just arrived, found her in the middle of the street. A car had hit her and she was not responding, had numerous broken bones and serious internal injuries. Because she was unconscious and not breathing on her own, they could not do surgery or anything requiring general anesthetic...

Almost six weeks later she did wake up from her coma.

Her sister took this photo while she was still on the ventilator, not able to breath on her own.

Her right elbow was destroyed, multiple fractures still had to heal, such as part of the spine at her neck. She sustained brain injury and had been given 54 unites of blood... She had to learn again how to speak, eat and walk.

After about 3½ years of living at home, most in her pajamas (read here →)  My Dolce Jeans Shrunk? ... Saying Good-bye due to this being the easiest way with all her incisions for the steel bars and screws in her right forearm and the artificial right elbow. Her right arm was in a hand shake position for 1½ years before the destroyed elbow got replaced. She never was able to touch her face, her head or eat for 1½ years... Also her right ankle is held together with pins and screws; hence the title of 'High Heeled Life'.

Celia's artificial right elbow...

And yet, on March 1 of 2010, she started this blog, with trembling fingers on the keyboard of her laptop. Her Mr. G. would bring it to her in bed and wait till her tiny fingers would start... Just imagine the effort it takes for her! Read: Hand Bags and High Heels …. Learning to like flats and wristlets to understand some more about her condition. Her brother and sister fought for her right arm, as the hospital opted for amputation... 

Look at where she has arrived now with 779 followers of her lovely blog with inspiring posts. On May 24 of 2011, the Brain Injury Society of Toronto published Celia's story. Look here: Celia's Story. Celia is not a native English speaker, she came from the Old World too, like me. Considering all that, her mother tongue, her many injuries that do cause her pain, her artificial elbow and still this girl is reaching out like only few people ever manage to do so in a lifetime.

She and Mr. G. are also the human parents to two darling dogs; Stella and Dolce. Just click on the hyperlinks of their names to meet those cute furbabies. Please join me in my admiration of this very special blogger friend. If you have not done so yet, please do follow her and leave her a comment as she so deserves it! There is nothing more I can add to this remarkable lady's journey. A true role model to all of us, showing us clearly what is important in life and that we can continue with a lot less. Like I would love to always say: Back to the Basics...

Thanks Celia for your personal friendship; it means a lot to me!

Related posts by Celia:

1 Once Upon A Time... 

2 Sleeping Beauty... Once Upon A Time

3 Boarding The Boat... Once Upon A Time

4 The Princess wakes up... Once Upon A Time

5 Time Passes ~ Once Upon A Time

5 Years Later... What’s that a bend in the road?