{Our Clematis Lanuginosa Candida}

Last year our beautiful large blooming Clematis Lanuginosa Candida was wilting away... When I made a photo of its blossoms I was shocked to see their shrunken size. So husband Pieter did dig up the plant as it was in the shade, near the big trees... NOT good.

Here a proud Pieter shows off his prized Clematis Lanuginosa Candida in 1996...
That one was a DREAM!

It grew against the front porch balusters from Vintage Woodworks...

Something to really admire...

The same abundance in 1997, but we lost that one.
Pieter however always maintained to keep a baby alive.
Last year that baby was not thriving...
Now look how happy it is this year!

It is back to its usual size of up to 9" across!

It now resides up against the balcony, on the driveway side.
We hope it will be as beautiful as its grandparents were in previous years!

Related link:

{Our 2013 Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida'} | previous post by me
{Our Clematis lanuginosa 'Candida'} | previous post by me

{Duvet Covers 16 Inch Wider Now}

This is how I did solve the problem with my too narrow Dutch Down Duvets and its Cinderella Duvet Covers...

At TJ Maxx we found a nice white all cotton queen sheet set. As I could use the fitted sheet for our bed, the flat sheet got used for adding 16 inch (or 40 cm) of width to the duvet covers. 

Here it is, added on already!

The hard part was the tedious opening up of the seam with the seam ripper.

Once that got done it was easy.

So a total of 32 inches of white cotton fabric for each duvet cover was added on.

To make it real easy, I even kept the flat sheet's folded hem and only added ties for closing at the bottom by stitching white bias tape together.

Had to mark those spots with my pink chalk (still visible here).

Simple and low cost. Learn from Mariette...

Related link:
{Dutch Twin Down Duvets Altered to American Size} | previous post by me with chart about size differences between Dutch & American Down Duvets...

{Umbrella Pole Recycled into Bird Feeder Post}

Our old Umbrella Pole from the balcony got Recycled into a Bird Feeder Post...

Here it is...

Closeup

The feeder is holding suet blocks on the side...

Even though the squirrels benefit most from all the bird seeds and suet!

As you can see here; completely empty and being plundered by the squirrels...

Whenever I take photos, our felines go with me...

Barty showing to the right of the feeder; Spooky on the platform below the steps and Tiggy-Tiger to the left in front of that planter near the gazebo.

Loved the light around 6:30 PM in which our gazebo is being shown here...

All those huge trees make our garden a bird's paradise!

Related link:
{Our Balcony} | previous post by me showing the umbrella pole on our balcony... till Christmas 1998!