Wishing you ALL a MEANINGFUL 3rd Advent Week

 As time is passing quite fast—may I wish you worldwide:

 a MEANINGFUL 3rd Advent Week!

This is a time for burning our fire place and for lighting candles—our huge pillar candle from our 25th Wedding anniversary is also visible.

To the left you see a typical Austrian or Italian Tyrol region nosegay made out of spices and tiny cones—called Gewürtzsträusschen.

I tied raffia around my gilded magnolia grandiflora leaves with some Nandina (heavenly bamboo) berries...

A perfumed pillar candle with some holly and real cranberries on the green Hardanger table topper.

My red Hardanger tablecloth with the beautiful table runner—done in Portuguese Guimarães white work. 

We bought this in Coimbra, Portugal during our 19–day trip by bus from Limburg/The Netherlands to Spain and Portugal in September, 1994.

On eBay I once got a hold of this Baccarat Crystal Vesuve / Vesuvius Caviar Server (2 pcs) because the inset was missing—it was a bargain...

Perfect for filling up with cranberries and floating candles!

When I go to Trader Joe's I buy their PERFECT Belgian Endive

Yes, each trip we make to Atlanta for stocking up on healthy food items, I do come home with Trader Joe's PERFECT Belgian Endive.

They sell them packages with 3—one Red and two White.

Perfect for a healthy salad for two!

Don't forget to take the BITTER core out with a pointed knife!

Next I slice them in half...

Slicing them up like this...

Usually I prepare the dressing from some Trader Joe's mayonaise, some Chia seeds and also add some white Modena vinegar from Trader Joe's.

Very simple and healthy!

Chia Seeds are great for 

Combat Diabetes

Get More Fibre

Stock Up On Omega–3

Stronger Teeth And Bones

Don't Forget Manganese

Plenty Of Phosphorus

Pack In The Protein

Fight Belly Fat

Get Full Faster

Improve Heart Health

Chia Seed Benefits: 10 Reasons To Add Chia To Your Diet (link from above 10)

So are you using CHIA already?

Related link:

Dad Grew Perfect WITLOF or Belgian Endive | previous post by me

Blink TV Australia used our Marl Cave Mushroom Growing Image in Guillaume's Paris Episode 9 | previous post by me also showing Belgian endive being grown

Mary The Most Powerful Woman in the World

In the December 2015 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, Mary was on the cover...

She is also well known in the Koran, named Maryam (Mary) and is the holiest woman mentioned.

She is a direct link between Christians and Muslims.

How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman ←just click for reading the full story.

Perfect for her Feast of Immaculate Conception on December 8

Mary has been Patroness of the United States of America since mid–19th century.

Already in 1584, one of the U.S.A.'s first Catholic Churches in Jacksonville, Florida—Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

Both of us have been fortunate for having been there a few times, see below post.

Wishing you also a Blessed Advent Season!

Related link:

Dad Sang Avé Maria from Bach-Gounod | previous post by me

{W.A. Mozart Composed this Heavenly Mass in C, K 167 at Age 17} | previous post by me about Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Jacksonville, FL