{My 6th Most Popular Post | Giovanni Raspini Silver Christmas Balls}

Thought it is interesting for posting here My 6th Most Popular Post | Giovanni Raspini Silver Christmas Balls. It is at least MY most favorite Christmas decoration and we treasure them.

To continue reading and viewing more pictures click: {Giovanni Raspini Silver Christmas Balls} and let's see if we get more visits than the present 1283 

Being viewed 2352 times...

Please do visit dear friend Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista with Family Christmas Lunch and My Birthday as today, the 19th, is her Birthday! 

Related link: 

{925 Sterling Silver Cherub Angel} My previous post

Mariette's Back to Basics My Zen Cart powered on line boutique for Giovanni Raspini, Italy Christmas balls

Mariette's Back to Basics My Zen Cart powered on line boutique for 925 Sterling Silver Cherub Angel

{Cotton Field in the Heart of Georgia/USA}

My guess is that most of you never ever have seen a real cotton field. Sunday when we came out of Church, they had started mechanical picking of cotton in our neighborhood. So we did hurry for getting some photos before it would be all gone. Proudly showing you here, a local Cotton Field in the Heart of Georgia/USA. A surprise below the first photos, our VERY FIRST view of a cotton field in November of 1983...

Wearing the Advent color, my Escada jacket, from the Premium Outlets, I am holding fresh cotton puff. See below my post the comment from 'seedscatterer' as she is very knowledgeable about cotton.

It looks very much like the cotton balls you buy. 

The reason they started harvesting this field on Sunday was because of rain on Monday...

JIT = Just In Time!

Fields here in Georgia are always big because work is done mechanically so it doesn't matter what length.

So this is the landscape, only half a mile from our home.

Showing my black Escada cotton jeans (ironically...) and wool jacket.

Pieter in his charcoal gray Ermenegildo Zegna suit from the Premium Outlets in Orlando, Florida.

He wears an Advent color shirt and tie...

Detail of how those cotton puffs are on the plant...

It is quite late for harvesting them on December 16, in our opinion but who are we to know anything about it?

This photo is taken from husband Pieter on Sunday, November 7, 1983... The VERY FIRST time we saw cotton ourselves; only 29 years ago!

This was quite an experience for holding it for the first time!

Only 29 years ago...

My hand showing one cotton boll that is not yet opened completely...

Hope you enjoyed this tour through rural Georgia for seeing what is growing on our fields.

Certainly this is not the fine, long staple, Egyptian Cotton that we use for our bed linens. 

American grown cotton is mainly short staple cotton.

But I must admit that I have no clue what this one will be used for... 

Thanks for your time!

{UNIQUE Giovanni Raspini, Italy | Cord with Tassels and 925 Silver Angels}

Are you looking for a very special gift; this unique Giovanni Raspini, Italy | Cord with Tassels and 925 Silver Angels is it. Only 2 more available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Beautifully boxed and a precious gift are these tassels on a corded rope with 925 silver angels.

Leave it to the silver masters of Italy...

Detail of these incredible tassels on a corded rope and Angels...

Sold out...

This box contains a corded rope, without the tassels, and 925 silver angels. Only 2 more available at Spectrenoir.

Again, artfully created by silver master Giovanni Raspini, Italy.

Related link:
{Giovanni Raspini Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels} | previous post by me

{Art Emotion from Giovanni Raspini, Italy} | previous post by me

{Wishing you a Happy 3rd Advent 2012!}

Where does the time go? The end of the year even vanishes faster than the rest of it... Do you experience the same? Anyhow, wishing you all a Happy 3rd Advent! Stay warm, cozy and safe with your loved ones. May the Angels protect you all.

Cozy with the fireplace (imitation logs with gas...) and the candles lit.

With the huge candle from our 25th wedding anniversary...

Complete with "Gewürzsträusschen" or nosegay made out of spices and tiny cones.

Typical for the Austrian and northern Italian region of Tyrol.

I tied my gilded magnolia leaves and nandina (heavenly bamboo) berries with some raffia...

Wishing you a Happy 3rd Advent!

Related links:

{First Week of Advent 2012} my previous post

{Second Week of Advent 2012} my previous post

{Giovanni Raspini Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels}

Are you still left on a rope and in search for a unique gift? What about this Heavenly Scented Sachet & Silver Angels from silver master Giovanni Raspini, Italy? Straight from the heart of Tuscany! That would no doubt make a unique and lovely gift! This item is available at Spectrenoir. Only two left...

Gorgeous 925 silver Angels are climbing the rope above the tassel.

The Sachet is such a heavenly scented one, it would freshen up any drawer or room... up to the lucky owner.

In 2009, before WHITE became the rage, this was shown in the Italian Bride magazine.

They come in a very pretty and sturdy gift box; making them a regal gift.

This one has no tassels and the 925 silver angels are a little bit bigger.

Also available at Spectrenoir and for this the same; only 2 left...

Related link:
{Art Emotion from Giovanni Raspini, Italy} previous post by me

{Conrad Moroder, Italy | Angels & Cherubs}

As you all know by now, I love ROSES and ANGELS. Or CHERUBS, PUTTI, whatever you name them! Here I like to show you some beautiful pieces from Italy, by Conrad Moroder ←click link. Neiman Marcus sold these in their catalog and I did copy that page, as I fell in love with them. You can click on Conrad Moroder's link above, for going to their website.

They reside in our living room year round—not only for Christmas...

These are large ones and quite pricey but gorgeous! 

Always realizing that they are HAND carved from wood in South Tyrol, Italy during their long winter months. 

Or in Austria or South Germany.

Having lived in Italy we know which area they are created, we drove through quite often.

They are also hand painted and actual 24 carat gold is being used on them as well!

Do you love them?

Christie's is showing here a South German Parcel-Gilt and Polychrome 18th century angel  ←(click link) of about the same size, that sold at triple Neiman Marcus' price.

A pair of German or Austrian carved and gilded 19th century cherubs...←click link.

A South German Carved Wood and Polychrome Cherub's head 19th century... ←click link.

A South German Giltwood and Polychrome Cherub Head Mask late 17th or early 18th century...←click link.

A Pair of Carved Wood Angels North European, 19th Century... ←click link.

A pair of German sculpted and painted wood cherubs' head, late 17th or 18th century... ←click link.

Carved and stained wood cherub, 20th century... ←click link.

A pair of Flemish carved limewood cherubs, late 17th or early 18th century... ←click link.

Hope you enjoyed this kind of museum tour through Christie's auctions.

You find such baroque style Angels | Cherubs | Putti, all over in Italy, Austria and South Germany in Churches and Cathedrals. For those of you that cannot travel I thought it is great for showing them here. Also on my Zen Cart powered on line boutique Mariette's Back to Basics, I do have some Antique Italian Angels, Cherubs, Putti... for quite a different price; see further links below.

Related links:

{6 Antique & Vintage Italian Angels, Cherubs Putti} previous post by me
{Our Living Room ANGELS - CHERUBS} previous post by me
{Our Living Room} previous post by me
{5 Angels - Putti from Italy & Germany} previous post by me
{Angels & Cross Stitch for Christmas}| previous post by me

{My Grandma's Rose in December}

It is already rare for having perfect roses in December, but this one is even more of a miracle rose. Having these special roses, grown from clippings that my Dad took from Grandma's garden after pruning her roses for the last time before she died, is like a miracle. Once more I asked my Dad to give me some clippings, so I could grow them in our garden as well. You can read about this incredible story in the post below: {3 Most Prized Roses; from my Paternal Grandmother}. Let me show how we harvested a last one on December 8...

This is the Queen Elizabeth Rose, a Floribunda.

We called it 'Oma Rose' for many years until Bea from Modern Country Lady found the true name. Read below the post: {Mistery Oma Rose Resolved!}.

This lovely pink rose business card case is hand painted by Ms. Rebecca from A Gathering Place. 

Link is below my post.

Hand crocheted table runner is done by a 78 year old Dutch lady and gifted to me by dear friend Ellie, from my hometown Horst in The Netherlands

Ellie and her husband arrived here in the USA, on the day my husband had his heart attack.

Previous blog post: {ROSE STEPPING STONES} was about that dreadful day... see below.

Hope you enjoyed my December 8, rose as well as Rebecca's painted rose and Mia's hand crocheted roses. 

As for me; I do love them ALL...

Do you have any rose or plant in memory of a loved one?

Related links:
{3 Most Prized Roses; from my Paternal Grandmother} my previous post
{ROSE STEPPING STONES} my previous post
{Sad that ONLY on June 10 we had some 'Oma Roses'...} my previous post
{Mistery Oma Rose Resolved!} my previous post
~HAND PAINTED PINK ROSE GIFT CARD CASES~ Cottage Chic Makeover blogpost from Rebecca who did the lovely rose business card case...

{December 12th is Poinsettia Day}

Poinsettia Day ←click link 

December 12th is Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charlotte, South Carolina. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia Pulcherrima.” (Submitted on March 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)

If you click on the above link: Poinsettia Day, you can read: In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr. who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry.

These Poinsettias are photographed on the day I became an American Citizen.

On December 3, I forgot to celebrate my 19th birthday...

We even do have a Poinsettia tree in our garden; see previous blogpost about it below.

Last year's photo from our Poinsettia with leather deer from India.

You can read that previous post below: History of the Poinsettia.

Did you know these facts about the Poinsettia?

Which is your favorite color?

Related links:
Joel Roberts Poinsett 1759 - 1851 Info
{Today I turned 17!} previous post by me
{Our Pinckneya Pubens - Poinsettia Tree} previous post by me about our Poinsettia Tree in our garden.
{History of the Poinsettia} previous post by me

{Our Roses in December}

On December 4, when we walked through our garden  we found still some roses blooming! Just have a look at them. That is such a joy for having them even in late fall! I placed these three in a Baccarat Crystal vase and put them on our Corian window sill in the kitchen. Have a look...

The light was perfect for capturing them...

Do you have anything blooming in your fall garden right now?

Not talking about the southern hemisphere though; you have late spring!

More sunlight...

Lovely lilac rose!

Related link:

{Our Lilac Orchid & Roses} my previous post

{Second Week of Advent 2012}

2nd Sunday of Advent went by too fast; so many things to do. Today was also for a big part phone call day with loved ones, after coming home from Church. We still have fond memories from last year when our daughter Liz was staying with us during 2nd Advent Week. That is always special to be with family. We have never had that for any Advent or Christmas in all 29 years...

Our oval Mandalay Chartreuse plate by Masons with two scented candles.

The green rose on the left is a French Point A La Ligne.

The green star emits a wonderful balsam of fir needles...

Just guessing that a lot of you didn't see my post from last year.

You can read here about: {2nd Advent & Great Family Time}

Today was as lovely as last year and tomorrow it will be 24°C. But than it is getting cooler.

This was in the afternoon...

Wishing you all a lovely Second Week of Advent for 2012!

Related link:

{Point A La Ligne the Rolls Royce of Candles} my previous post

Christie's Mandalay by Masons

{16th World Wide Candle Lighting}

Every year, since 1997, on the second Sunday in December The Compassionate Friends (TCF) hold a Worldwide Candle Lighting in memory for all children who have died too soon.

On this day, people around the world are encouraged to light a candle too so, That Their Light May Always Shine.

The Compassionate Friends

The healing began when a friend embraced me, leaving a tear on my cheek ~ author unknown