{Our Patio Tiles Are DONE!}

Yep, our glazed ceramic tiles in Sunset are all done! So here is the result at our bay window area.

Photo is from April 3, with beautiful weather and our dogwood tree in front of the gazebo blooming.

Also the ginger bread from Vintage Woodworks stands out here.

The tiles got laid just in time before the rain started...

Lovely light... Trees with their new leaves unfolding in all shapes of green.

Catkins from the tall oak are falling off.

Here you can see the slanted patio when you look at the bricks of the stair case.

This is as part of our water control, to lead all the gutter overflow and the water from the sky away from the house via the gutter at the patio's end.

Different angle and showing more of our Fiberglass Window Boxes with white petunias.

Sunny and the hummingbird feeder is filled up again.

Another mini patio on top of the concrete that Pieter poured himself, where once the gas tank resided.

The tank is now to the left and this looks a lot friendlier with all the potted tropical jasmines.

They seem to have survived that last winter freeze...

Now waiting for their blooms.

Rose Stepping Stones lead to these planters that husband Pieter has all painted over, as they had faded away. They too have rose reliefs all over!

Do you like the patio parts?

Related links:
{Our Patio Tiles & Freeze Warning} | previous post by me
{Water Control Project Finished} | previous post showing you the tile sample on the concrete
{Our Home with Aluminum Interlock Roofing and Benjamin Moore Golden Mist Exterior} | previous post by me
Flower Framers of Cincinnati | Source for Fiberglass Window Boxes

{Our Somei Yoshino Cherry in Bloom}

Love to show you our one surviving Somei Yoshino Cherry in Bloom. We also once had a Taiwan cherry or Prunus Campanulata, but we lost that one and another Somei Yoshino Cherry. Sad to see such lovely Flowering Trees die.

Lots of petals are already floating on the pond...

Through the blossoms you also see our Acer Negundo Kelly's Gold and our Japnese Red Maple trees with the newest bridge to the right...

We were so happy to see those blossoms as we did have icicles on this very tree in January! If you want to see some gorgeous photos from our Somei Yoshino Cherry in Bloom, please do click here: {Our Japanese Somei Yoshino Cherry in Bloom + Hummingbird Hawk Moth} 

Related link:

{RARE Icicles in Our Garden} | previous post by me showing the icicles on this Somei Yoshino Cherry

{Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K French Art Nouveau Rose Pendant}

From Paris came this lovely Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K French Art Nouveau Pendant.

I have added a 15" or 38 cm AMCO 14K Gold Filled chain to wear it with.

This is a very lovely antique French Rose Pendant by FIX in 18K
Here you clearly can read the word FIX on the bail and also AMCO 14K GF on the lock of the chain.

Available at Spectrenoir

The marking FIX or ORIA in antique jewelry is of very good rolled gold.

Sorry, sold out...

Above you can see an example of the many FIX medals and pendants that are being sold in France.
Here is the link to the French site where it is called Medaille Plaqué.

On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean precious Art Nouveau pieces from FIX can still be found as here above from Ruby Lane.

Too bad this Christie's auction of a French gold plated griffin brooch by Fix is without image...
You can click here for link.
It is always quite interesting to do the research on antique pieces like this!
Do you maybe own such an heirloom piece from FIX?

Related link:

Worthpoint Antique Gold Plated FIX 18K Art Nouveau | explaining about the double layer of gold, the outside being solid 18K



{Nika a Sweet Russian Blue from Moscow, Russia}

While we were in The Netherlands of course we also did visit with our dear Friends! One of those visits turned out to be a very lovely one and also because of their Sweet Russian Blue from Moscow (YES, she did travel by air some 2,000 km or 1,300 miles!) to her new FOREVER and PURRFECT home!

SWEET NIKA girl a Russian Blue from Moscow, Russia!

Of course I did feel like being back home with our own felines, as this girl LOVES people.

Our dear Russian born friend Olga, who studied linguistics at Moscow State Linguistic University, did bring this darling home to The Netherlands by plane.

How happy a cat–girl can be!

There for sure was NO language barrier; we got along PURRFECTLY well from the minute we eyed each other. 

Wish there would be more of such loving and caring people like Olga & Chris from Logement 'Aan de Maas' Bed & Breakfast Belfeld.

Nika looks like GOROGORO & NIKONIKO from blogger friend Tamago about: My happy life with two happy cats...

Remember, we too did bring a cat–girl back home on a plane with us all the way from Acapulco, Mexico to GeorgiaUSA. That also was a flight of some 2,500 km or 1,500 miles!

It is also because of people like blogger friend Elna, from Sweden: Elna-Sudden who keeps kittens at her home till they get adopted and she does create bracelets for funding these placements of kittens.


"Animals cannot speak, but can you and I not speak for them and represent them? Let us all feel their silent cry of agony and let us all help that cry to be heard in the world." ~ Rukmin Devi Arundale

On November 16, 2022 Nika left her human family...

Lisa, had Nika for three years before she traveled to The Netherlands and had to sit in quarantine in Düsseldorf, Germany for a month—due to incorrect paperwork.

Lisa is an artist and created this image of kind, affectionate Nika.

Related link:

{Telling YOU the Tale of our 4 Feline Girls}  | previous post about our cat rescue by plane over 2,500 km or 1,500 miles

{Daffodils in a Vase on a Dark Day...}

On March 5, it was very dark and dreary looking... Not a good day for taking photos but I had to, as our lovely Daffodils already started drying up in their Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay Vase... I did wait for a better opportunity but it did not happen this year and the daffodils are almost gone by now. So this is what I can show you here:

Using our Mason's Patent Ironstone Mandalay Chartreuse Vase.

Placemat is French Le Jacquard Français

Tiggy-Tiger is a sad cat-girl on this dreary and dark day... They love sunshine as much as I do!

Her sister (by adoption) Spicy, is outside next to the tree.

Daffodils in fact are paper-thin flowers and they do dry out rather easy when the air-conditioning is running for heating the home.

Our Heirloom Daffodils we all selected because of their fragrance...

At least our garden did yield some lovely fragrant daffodils this year!

Do you have any at your place and could you fill up a vase?

Related link:

MASON'S PATENT IRONSTONE 'MANDALAY' 20th CENTURY | Christie's

{Fragrant Paperwhite Narcissus flowers in early December} | previous post by me with MASON'S

{Our Garden's Winter Blooms for Christmas} | previous post by me with MASON'S

{Enjoy some Fig Cake with Tea Jelly!} | previous post by me with MASON'S 

{TIP New Purpose for Cigarette Holder} | previous post by me with MASON'S 

{Wishing YOU a Happy 4th Advent 2012!} | previous post by me with MASON'S

{Our Nativity & Angels from Italy} | previous post by me with MASON'S 

{USEFUL TIP: Peppermint Tea for Anti Bloating} | previous post by me with MASON'S
{Fragrant Double Narcissus Obdam} | previous post by me showing MASON'S

{Orange Michael Kors Bangle from Last Call Neiman Marcus}

So sorry for not being able to visit other blogs because of Internet problems. As soon as I get those resolved you will see me around! 

As mentioned several times before, it really pays off to shop at Last Call by Neiman Marcus, either at their stores or on line at Last Call. This really is like The Rich Life on a Budget as blogger friend Adrienne Shubin puts it. So please see my newest addition:

This is me on a very bright and sunny day, March 14.

Also showing off our happy white pansies inside our Fiberglass Window Boxes! For sourse see below post.

Wearing my Escada Outlet orange top and black jeans.

Moving inside our gazebo barely does escape the almost too bright light!

Wearing my silver and gold earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring from Tane, the Mexican equivalent of Tiffany & Co.

And here you see the Mexican Tane jewelry next to the new Michael Kors Orange Buckle Bangle...

Michael by Michael Kors Golden Buckle Bangle, Orange 

Signing up for email notification from Last Call pays off as they frequently run these sales for one day with 30% off or higher! 

Do you love shopping from outlets?

Related link:

Flower Framers of Cincinnati | Source for Fiberglass Window Boxes

{Our Bonfire Prunus Persica - Patio Peach}

On March 15, our Bonfire Prunus Persica - Patio Peach, started budding. Husband Pieter did take it out of the greenhouse, where it till than remained sheltered from the weather. Below you see a photo from March 22...

Are these Bonfire Prunus Persica blossoms not lovely?

This is how those buds looked on March 15, just outside of the sheltered greenhouse.

Eager to fully open up!

On March 19, near the greenhouse which is to the left not visible and the pond to the right.

March 21, fully open and looking more white than pink... This is in front of our Magnolia tree, to give the blossoms some contrast.

Only one day later on March 22, showing already more pink.

On March 24 we did put this pot in the front porch for more shelter against the frost... Look how our tiles are covered with pollen, that is the season for now. 

Closeup and there still remain some white ones, those that opened up latest. They look so beautiful.

Those long stamens; like eyelashes!

Just a lovely beginning of spring! Do you have any booming peaches?

{Our Patio Tiles & Freeze Warning}

Spring was unfolding so nicely but there is again a freeze warning; unexpectedly as this was not in the weather forecast earlier. Pieter had started to bring all the tropical potting plants out of the greenhouse. Our new Patio along the bay window and the front of the house is being tiled by now. Still needs grouting but soon it is done. Water Control Project about to be finished!

Before we went to The Netherlands we already had all the tiles for the new Patio and here Pieter did set them ready for the men to use.

Glazed Ceramic Tile in the color SUNSET

They are made in USA

We bought them at Home Depot

We are having a nippy wind and a Freeze Warning...

Tonight 29°F with Real Feel 18° or -2°C with Real Feel -8°C...

Let's keep our fingers crossed for the tender plants!

By 18:27 it was already very nippy with the strong winds from the NW with 35 Km p/h.

Hope people in the north will stay warm and safe.

We have had quite a struggle this year with the harsh weather.

Related posts:

{Water Control Project Finished} | previous post showing you the tile sample on the concrete

{Humble Beginnings - Our 1987 PC}

For sure all of us are living with a personal PC, Laptop, Notebook, Tablet, Smartphone or whatever...

When did we all start using this? For us the very first PC we had in 1987 at our office in the previous home in Dublin, Georgia. Humble beginnings...

This was before Internet was even available!
Can we imagine life without?

What a difference from now...!

In our previous home there was carpet all over when it was newly build.
That we can do without, now we only have tiles and solid oak plank floors.

Under the crocheted doily with roses is my humble word processor...
What a change we all have lived through!

Loved those wicker baskets in which my imported papier mâché from Kashmir, India got shipped.
Very nice way of wrapping things for export!
Here the solid oak indoor shutters have not even been stained yet...
Now we got them all painted white in our present home.
Those filet lace embroidered window decorations are hand made by me.
Do you have some PC dinosaur photos as well?

Related link:

{Our Smaller Office} | previous post showing our present office.

{Can't get into ANY Blog nor Comment!}

Is there anyone else having the same problem with Blogger? I cannot see my own blog nor any other blog... NOT visit anybody NOR comment! Would like to get feedback from other bloggers on this. Funny enough, I can get into 'the back door' for editing but that's it! Uploading photos works only on Google Chrome. 

Today, Thursday the 20th I had again the very same problem. When I did unplug the power of my modem and restart, also rebooting my PC, it worked again! Make sure to keep the URL of your Blog's design page handy because at all times that did work. So you still can edit, post, upload photos or publish comments that is.