{My 30 Years of FRIENDSHIP with Natacha}

My FRIENDSHIP with Natacha is one of over 30 years and we have always managed to visit each other, also after she moved away from Dublin, Georgia to Miami, Florida. Distance doesn't really matter!

Rain or Shine; when we went to Miami Florida we did visit each other!

From our Hyatt House Miami Airport it is only half an hour driving south to Natacha's home.

Here we are, happy together once more!

Wearing my very beautiful 925 silver pendant with Brown-Red Zirkon on a black silk necklace  with small Zirconia on the bale and around the Zirkon crystal. GIFT from Georgia in Greece from Armoniaart.blogspot.com

Life is ALL about FRIENDHIPS...

When we first traveled to Curaçao for our sun filled vacation; we met Natacha at Miami Airport!

That meant 'Sunshine', even before arriving at our Curaçao beach hotel...

Before moving from Pennsylvania to Italy, we managed to fly down from Philadelphia via Cincinnati to Miami to visit with Natacha and family again...

Happy times!

Happy FRIENDS!

You can read more below post via link about our EVERGLADES ADVENTURE

Natacha and family did drive up from Miami, the ten hour drive to Dublin when we were constructing our present home... We were working and living in Indonesia.

FRIENDSHIP MATURING...

Dinner in Miami after their second son graduated from University of Miami.

We did drive down the ten hours again for being together.

Coincidence that both of us did wear our HEARTS...

I wore my Escada cotton top.

FRIENDS through THICK & THIN...

This was a visit right after I got out of the hospital when I got paralyzed early 2010.

We stayed in Miami and visited our FRIENDS before driving down to Key West to stay at the Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa where we spent 5 FREE nights for our Hyatt Platinum Points.

Wearing my Escada matching outfit...

Our previous visit to Miami was in June of 2012 when we visited Friend Natacha and her family last...

We at that time said our final goodbye to their handsome eldest son Carlos, or Carlitos as we always called him.

He lost a brave battle with brain cancer.

So this visit was one of those moments that we shed some tears together...

Tears shed on a rainy day and after the Evening Social at the Hyatt House, we did stroll through the gardens... 

Ending an emotional day.

A rather gloomy ending of the day, walking in the damp gardens...

Wearing my special Gift from Georgia in Greece with my burgundy Escada top and gray Last Call Neiman Marcus Outlet jeans with Georgia Rebel Flag belt and Escda sandals.

My favorite back pack from TJ Maxx is so handy!

Guess what?

Next day we had SUNSHINE so we finally could swim and relax around the pool!

Like a sign from heaven!

Related links:
{Our EVERGLADES ADVENTURE with friend NATACHA} | previous post by me
{ LOOK - I won this IRIS GOLD Jewelry from Georgia in Greece} | previous post by me
{Our Citrus Aurantifolia - Key Lime} | previous post by me showing +Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa 

{Muscovy Duck in Miami, Florida}

Already in a previous post on October 24, I did mention about our recent vacation to Florida. We always book at the +Hyatt Place Orlando/ Universal, and at the Hyatt House in Miami which is like a complete home away from home. My 4 hour drive from Hyatt Place in Orlando, the one where they had drained the pool for the 2 days we were there, to the Hyatt House in Miami was not a pleasant one. I hit a severe tropical storm and it was very exhausting to stay on the Turnpike with such heavy rain... Arriving with a headache, I opted for a walk around our hotel. Look what we encountered...

This very heavy and strange looking water fowl... A Muscovy Duck as it turned out!

They are from South America, you can find more about them via link below post.

The Hyatt House Miami Airport is at the Blue Lagoon, a kind of lake that extends from behind the hotel.

Here Pieter is at the parking lot and behind him is a kind of canal that ends into the Blue Lagoon...

This is me sitting on the guard rail behind the hotel, overlooking the canal.

I was so exhausted from driving through this tropical rain.

A walk and fresh air, after the rain had stopped, did me some good!

This Muscovy duck was standing there and staring at me... guess it was begging.

They are huge!

Have you ever seen this type of duck with a head full of red warts?

Related links:
{Do YOU Like HIGH HEELED Platform Shoes?} | previous post by me about our Florida vacation where the pool was drained at the Hyatt Place...
Muscovy Duck | More information about this black and heavy duck from South America

{Antique French 19th Century 950/1000 Silver & Crystal Muffineer, Sugar Shaker, Caster Sifter}

French Antiques are often of a unique beauty. So is this 19th Century 950/1000 Silver & Crystal Muffineer, Sugar Shaker, Caster Sifter. Use it for sifting powdered sugar over your pancakes, waffles or other desserts. Also great for using as Cinnamon Shaker!

Voilà!

A very rare beauty and in PERFECT CONDITION!

Only ONE availabe for sale at my Zen Cart powered boutique on line Mariette's Back to Basics: Antique French 19th Century 950/1000 Silver & Crystal Muffineer.

This Muffineer is quite tall with its full 13 cm or 5.1 inch in height.
The rich antique patina on the solid pure silver I leave for the new owner to be removed.

PERFECT CONDITION; no dents, no chips or whatsoever!

A unique piece and it will look great on your Dessert, Brunch or Tea Buffet.
Again I have used it with our large Gardenia flowers and the beautiful hand crocheted lace table topper done by Susan from Ava Grace's Closet's Mama.
A most treasured Gift from Blogger Friend!

Showing you where the French Goddess Minerva head is being punched.

It is sideways...

Next photo you will see it better...

A perfect French Minerva is visible here.

French Minerva means it is 1st standard silver, showing the Goddess Minerva with a number 1 (which I have circled red) beside her forehead.
This number 1 denotes a silver content of 950/1000 or almost PURE silver and higher than the usual 925 sterling silver content!

Signature Antiquite - Les Poinçons (link to above screen shot)

Sorry Sold out...

My private collection of Silver Muffineer and Sugar Sifter Spoons with WAFFLE
see link below post

Muffineer used for this romantic dessert with Strawberry Rose Petal Cream...
Do you use powdered sugar often?

Related links:
{1862 Christofle Sugar Sifter Spoon 'Filet Violon'} | previous post by me showing Silver Muffineer
Christies Danish Silver Muffineer | Christie's Auction of Danish Silver Muffineer 1919-1927
English Heavy Silver Sugar Shaker or Castor | Example of Silver Muffineer
French cristal argent massif saupoudreuse | French 19th Century Crystal and Solid Silver Muffineer
Saupoudreuse en cristal taille et argent | French cut Crystal and Silver Muffineer