{Wedding Elvira & Bob in 14th Century Castle}

As promised on January 15, in my post about Elvira my 1st and only Goddaughter here the promised post about the wedding of Elvira & Bob. That is part I of III, as the wedding lasted for two days... Today we take you to the Tiendschuur in Well. That is in Limburg, The Netherlands and it is a restored 14th-century medieval castle, which is in Well, The Netherlands. It also once used to be a Church. Tiendschuur in Well is only in Dutch but you can see the photos for getting an idea. Tithe Barn. That's what it was, to Pay Taxes, a Tenth Part! Okay, history explained, let's go to the WEDDING OF ELVIRA & BOB...

Elvira was a gorgeous looking bride and Bob a very handsome groom...

Today we get to view 'Het Huwelijk' The Marriage... 

There will be 2 more posts with the rest of their wedding.

A Lovely Couple in front of the home where Elvira grew up. 

Bob did officially arrive at the front door for the traditional 'aanbel moment'...

Elvira being escorted by a proud Dad...

The groom with his Mom...

From left to right: Elvira's sister-in-law (with me behind her); Pieter my husband; Elvira's maternal Grandma; Elvira's Mom (my dear Friend) Ellie; Elvira's Dad Mathieu.

On this side of the aisle Bob's Mom and his Dad with two sister-in-laws from Bob.

This gives also an overview of the Tiendschuur or Tithe Barn from Castle Well.

Exchange of rings...

Releasing of the white doves...

Making bubbles...

The Jaguar from Bob's boss...

Romantic setting at Castle Well...

Oh, the weather was perfect for both days; low 80s! This is Castle Well in the back of the driveway that  does cross the moat. To the right is the Tiendschuur.

Happy and dreamy Elvira & Bob on the lawn of Castle Well...

Tomorrow we will continue!

Hope you enjoyed it.

Photos courtesy of Ton Smolders Photography

{Our Golden Live Oak has LOTS of Acorns!}

Our Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold' has  Lots of Acorns! 

Live oak means EVERGREEN! Look at these photos. Anyone out there interested in some, for growing such a Golden Live Oak out of them, please contact me as we have several available. They are very rare and we did pay for this tree in January of 1996, $ 150.00 + $ 30.00 shipping & handling from Louisiana. This is the 1st year ever, that yielded so many... We do have already several young trees and don't need any more.

• Very special acorns and even in winter the leaves are GOLDEN!

• Look at its tip...

• Beautiful Acorn Cupule...

• Our harvest of 'Oak Nuts'... just gathered from underneath the tree.

• Of course we left several for the squirrels too!

• This is me in the spring, in front of our Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold'

• View from our balcony in the spring. Two tuxedo girls relaxing in the shade. Sasha girl to the left and Spicy her adopted sister.

Related links where this stunning Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold, can be seen:
Wow...I think this deserves a thread! Golden live oak! | GardenWeb discussion...
{Lush Green Garden} |previous post by me
{# 1111 - Our Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold' changing color} | previous post by me
{Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold' in Sunshine at its BEST} | previous post by me
{Our Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold' with Catkins} | Previous post by me
{Our Mrs. G. G. GERBING Azaleas} | previous post by me
{Our Patio Tiles in the Front} | previous post by me
{RARE Icicles in Our Garden} | previous post by me
{Energy Efficient GREEN Roofing Arrived} | previous post by me
{My Powder Blue Escada Jeans Suit} | previous post by me showing me in front of Grand View Gold
{Our Lovely Lilac Clematis 'Silver Moon'} | previous post by me showing young Grand View Gold

{Cloudy Day versus Sunny Day}| Previous post by me
{Blooms on our Windmill Palm - Trachycarpus fortunei} | previoius post by me 

{Our Different Oaks} | previous post by me

{My Silk Quilted Vest Creation and YOUR Opinion Requested...} | previous post by me showing golden oak

{Our Live Oak got a Haircut}| previous post by me

{Romantic French Rose Wall Hanging}

Very beautiful small composition in collage and painting technique; unique romantic French rose wall hanging with a classical frame. Signed creation of a pink rose on foliage with little golden brush strokes that are not visible in this photo. On my Spectrenoir on line you can find this little treasure. 

Unique French Country Style gifts!

French Basics...

Sorry Sold Out...

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Don't forget my Worldwide GIVEAWAY of Giovanni Raspini silver angel charm.
See details to the right of my blog, at the top!
GOOD LUCK ♥


Also I'd like to welcome all my new followers!

{Elvira my 1st and only Goddaughter}

Okay, back to the subject Goddaughter... here is my 1st and only Goddaughter, Elvira, of whom I am very fond and proud! She is the daughter of my almost life-long friend Ellie. We did pass our Ruby friendship-anniversary a couple of years ago. That is loyalty at its very best; through thick and thin and without borders!

Above you see little Elvira, biding us farewell with her Mom Ellie, prior to our departure for Georgia/USA... at my Dad's garden in The Netherlands.
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We did come to Elvira's First Communion on May 4th of 1989, all the way from Cornuda, province of Treviso in Italy. 
For one year we only lived 12 hours driving away... Instead of having to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

I'd made her a beautiful handkerchief with crocheted lace edging in pink.
Will show you my hand crocheted items in a later post...

Elvira meanwhile has developed into a charming and energetic Maître d' who is welcoming you at the romantic restaurant of René Brienen, Brienen aan de Maas, on the river Meuse in Middle Limburg, The Netherlands. Indeed, the word charming in the text of this former ferrymen's café, converted into a delicious up-to-date restaurant with lovely neo-retro dining rooms and terrace facing the river, is referring to Elvira! She also successfully finished her study of vinology at the wine academy, so she can help you out as a sommelier, for making decisions at table!

We were lucky to have her as our personal guide, with our American friends touring Maastricht the old capital of my birth Province Limburg, in The Netherlands, and birthplace of the EURO. Elvira, lived and worked there, so she knew its gastronomical highlights thoroughly.

Here we are for a break at the Kruisherenhotel in Maastricht. From left: Pieter; friends Johnny and Hannah; Ellie (Elvira's Mom); Elvira; Mathieu (her Dad) and me...

We were very lucky for having the perfect weather on October 10 of 2005. This picture is taken at one of the Vrijthof square's terraces. In his younger days, Pieter used to conduct courses there at Restaurant Grandcafé Momus about Mushroom Growing. Our Georgia lawyer friend Johnny, and his wife Hannah, did enjoy this day in Maastricht but I must admit that it barely scratches all of the Burgundian culture...

In 2009, early March, we were able to visit Elvira and Bob in their lovely apartment. They do (did) live in the center of Venray, Limburg in The Netherlands. Plans are in the making for building or buying a home and having their wedding* subsequently. That of course would be another reason for us to cross the Atlantic Ocean!
♥♥
*Editor's note: that very wedding took place on September 2 and 3 of 2011...
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A baby is due in August of 2012...
♥♥
And they did move into their new home; lots of milestones reached.

These two lovebirds were ready to move into their new nest. They live near the romantic river Meuse, that offers tranquil scenic boat trips, near the Interstate and near the beautiful forests of the river Meuse valley. In the Burgundian province of Limburg, things sound more French then elsewhere!

Both of us have been looking forward to the day that these two love-birds would have their big day and we certainly were part of it on September 2 + 3, of 2011! Will show photos soon...

Wishing you lots of love and the best of luck for accomplishing all of your dreams!

♥

Your far away, but nearby Godmother.

PS: Talking about The Netherlands; Limburg is by far the best piece of the cake!

{Goddaughter Myriam, whose 2nd child Lotte, is born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia}

Perfect weekend to let you in on some more of our family. Pieter has a Goddaughter, Myriam Vedder, daughter of his middle brother Toon. He married Edith, the sister of Pieter's first wife Thea.

During the years before Lizzy got adopted, see {Our Daughter Liz}, it was Myriam, who spent lots of time with Pieter, and Thea; like their own daughter. Naturally, he became very fond of her. After Lizzy, came to live with them, Myriam, was still included in trips and vacations.

On the left is Myriam, and next to her is her cousin (actually her second cousin by blood) Lizzy, and two more friends that went on vacation together with Pieter and Thea (who is seen in the back). Myriam's parents were the Godparents of Lizzy, so they got embraced with love, from both sides.

Here they are in Switzerland on a vacation in 1972; Myriam, Lizzy and Thea.

Of course time went by and Myriam, got married and started her own life. That took her with her husband to Saudi Arabia, with Royal Dutch Shell, right after their first daughter Sanne, was born in The Kingdom of The Netherlands. Their second daughter Lotte, is born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

When the Gulf War started they of course had to leave. During one of their visits to The Netherlands we happened to be there as well, so the above picture shows a happy Pieter with his two great-nieces as a pink bundle of joy! Sanne, on the left and Lotte, on the right. Sanne, with her curls had an almost angelic face! They both looked precious and still do!

Their work took them also to New Zealand, where they lived and worked. Meanwhile with three children, as Auke, had come along as well.

Auke, is Sanne, and Lotte's, baby brother and he's a handsome young man meanwhile.

Above is Sanne, at her Gandpa's garden under the wrought iron arbor that he'd welded for his roses... This photo is taken four years before Toon passed away. Myriam has transplanted this arbor, a labor of love by her Dad.

This is Lotte, surrounded by sunflowers!

This picture shows all of us, with our lawyer friend Johnny Warren (l) and his wife Hannah, who visited their daughter Michelle, in Brussels, Belgium at that time and did tour with us. We got to visit Toine's De Gaerde, that is very close to Belgium in the province of Brabant, The Netherlands. Pieter, is the 3rd from the left, Toine from De Gaerde, Myriam, and me. They actually do serve coffee, tea and other refreshments and it is a great place to shop for lots of unique gifts, aside from the plants and professional garden design by Toine.
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Three years ago Myriam, did surprise Pieter, for his birthday with a special visit, together with Toine. We started off with the Dutch Queen's birthday reception at Naylor Hall in Atlanta with the Dutch Honorary Consul.

Obviously very happy times and Myriam, did even bring for both of us an orange feather boa!

Here we are at Ristorante da Maria for the special birthday party with most of our friends; about 16.

But happy times do end...

Pieter took this photo from Sunday Brunch after the birthday dinner evening, at the Page House Bed & Breakfast. This is a home in the style of Gone with the Wind.

Toine and Myriam already having their last breakfast, special with popover pancakes and fresh fruits. Served in bowls from English Rose by Royal Doulton. Strawberry drainer is from Pillivuyt as well as the Sancerre underplates.

Serving Italian Prosecco in Baccarat crystal fluted champagne, with spicy Thai cashews from Trader Joe's.

One last supper with our Thai friend and her American husband. Since Myriam, and Toine, also love spicy food, I did make the special Thai Tom Yam Koeng soup. For the table setting I used the placemats with rose pattern from Le Jacquard Française with matching napkins. Had just the perfect roses to go with that; Royal Bonica. I used the Alvin Bridal Rose round silver soup spoons and for the Chicken Satay with Rice and Asparagus I used the Gero Zilmeta Menuet 528. Chargers are French Pillivuyt Sancerre and the soup bowls and dinner plates are the Rose pattern from Gien, again both available from Replacements Ltd.

Pieter with Goddaughter Myriam...

Crystal is Baccarat Piccadilly  from France.

Cheers!

{French Basics Tea Box with Coaster Tile + Dutch Forest Tea}

French Country Style wooden Tea Box composition also painted by Françoise, in Forest Fruits and a Tile with wooden hand painted edge, matching the box. I've filled the Tea Box with Dutch Forest Fruit Tea to match the special decor. See my Boutique page at Mariette's Back to Basics, for additional info. This will make a most welcome French Country Style hostess gift for a special friend.

Perfect gift for yourself or a dear friend...

Related articles

{7 More Romantic French Rose Boxes} (mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com)
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{Winter Blooming Fragrant Daffodils!}

What a surprise for having a little vase with winter blooming fragrant daffodils! This photo is from January 7 and they were already blooming in our garden for a full week, before we brought them inside. So again, love to share them with you, sans frangrance, as I cannot capture that on camera.

They are small but oh so pretty. Look how they shimmer in the sun light!

Proudly they show themselves on January 7! Unreal for the time of year...

Any winter bloomer is welcomed with open arms as it brightens one's day!

Here they are on December 30, still in our garden...

These daffodils start out as pure white beauties with a yellow corona (trumpet)...

{Blogger MICHIKO needs YOUR SUPPORT!}

This blog is a plea for help from bloggers around the world. Poor MICHIKO from Victoria, Australia has been involved in an accident on Decembe 15. She got badly injured, just read her son's post from yesterday for more here. Sadly, Michiko has accidentally deleted her older posts, including this meaningful one with ALL the sweet comments!  Please do follow her blog, as a gift to her, for showing we all care and leave a short note for encouragement. That will build her up more than you ever will imagine! Michiko is originally from Japan. So let us pass along some blog LOVE... ♥♥♥

Let us show her OUR SUPPORT!

Celia from the blog: Celia M. High Heeled Life & Resilientista will understand best what this lady is going through... as I've mentioned in my previous post here.

♥♥♥

Thanks for your help, I know that bloggers are the nicest bunch of people!

I only can reward ONE of you with a silver alphabet angel charm in my GIVEAWAY; see sidebar at the top...