{Strawberry Fields Forever}

On August 28, when we went on the sight seeing tour with OnBoard Tours in New York City, the very first stop was at Strawberry Fields in Central Park!

Beautiful black-and-white Mosaic was created by Italian craftsmen and given as a gift by the city of Naples.
Based on a Greco-Roman design, it bears the word of another of Lennon's songs: Imagine. 

It was a warm and sunny day as you can see from the shade.

Here husband Pieter walks to the left of the sign Strawberry Fields...

Both of us were so impressed with the sight, size and cleanliness of Central Park and would have loved to walk there and bike...

Very touching...

Yes John Lennon from The Beatles is being remembered in a beautiful area and his widow, Yoko Ono still lives across from Strawberry Fields in the Dakota apartment.

Our dear Dublin Friend Griffin Lovett turned 64 and instead of celebrating big at age 65; his kids organized a big party at age 64. 

Him being such a Beatle fan, this was perfect!

The Food Buffet was all done according to Beatle song titles...

Lots of work and very well chosen!

Strawberry Fields Forever!

Strawberry Fields Forever

'Strawberry Fields Forever' was originally intended to appear on the band's seminal Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, but was instead released the same year (1967) as a double-A side with Paul McCartney's 'Penny Lane'. Both songs are named after sites in Liverpool and are steeped in childhood and English nostalgia.

It was a lovely evening on Friday, October 24 and the ending of a perfectly sunny day with 29°C or 84°F
Here you see only a section of their back yard with pool and part of the back porch.
They live in a majestic Gone With the Wind style home where they easily can host a a large group of friends inside and outside.

It is pure bliss for living here in the South!
Also we treasure this long friendship of 32+ years...

Related links:

{Our Visit to September 11 Memorial in New York City} | previous post by me

{Friends' son, Ben Lovett, is Madrid International Film Festival Winner} | previous post by me

{Halloween Craze not Eco Friendly}

The POWER people of our World, only 1%, have turned the other 99% into Consumer Slaves. 

With all their propaganda via media commercials etc. they make people work harder and harder for things they don't need!

These Compliant Consumer Slaves are paying taxes to their governments, in the form of Sales Tax etc.

This is me, at Costco where they were/are pushing stacks of merchandise for Halloween...

Indeed, the West is being Controlled and Manipulated to BUY - BUY ever more!

The invention of so many seasonal things for which people are being brain washed to buy, is almost endless...

Halloween is one of them.

How much will end up in the landfill? Not very Eco Friendly!

Don't we think ahead anymore?

What kind of planet will be passed on to future generations... A scary thought!

This is the main reason, aside from the limited personal budget, that we never ever invest in anything like that mass produced 'STUFF'...

How about you?

Related link:
{My Old-Time Spun Glass Halloween Ornaments} | previous post by me showing our ONLY 5 ornaments for Halloween from durable materials

{Contemplating Cutting my Hair...}

As mentioned in my previous post, this summer I have been Contemplating Cutting my Hair.

For several reasons, being 'UNE FEMME D'UN CERTAIN ÂGE' and considering also the fact that my hair suffered a great deal five years ago from all the Prednisone I took after bing paralyzed...
So, I'm telling you that I'm not as brave as blogger friend Deborah from The Beautiful Matters who showed us her very brave step: Another hair update after she already embraced her SILVER HAIR.

On August 23... Still rather happy with my longer length.
Being almost at retirement age (YEP), it makes one think.
Growing OLD gracefully is not always easy.
I've been blessed for having kept my figure since age 15.
Fitting in a size 4, sometimes a 6, or 34 and 36 European, makes for lots of bargains!
This is one of them, a lovely silk Escada skirt in 3 layers with an Escada Elements top.
Outlet bargains that I treasure.
Shoes are old pumps from the 80s from  Switzerland.

Had those heels cut down as I 'HATE' very high heels...
Here you can see my SILVER HAIR!

Contemplating; YES!
Never opted for dying my hair, due to my dear husband being two decades older.
That would look very odd!
Just trying to keep it healthy and for that purpose, at times a generous cut is very positive.

Have you stood before such a decision at times?

Related links:
{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?} | previous post by me showing very long hair and my stacked bob...
{Prednisone - My Hair Loss & Mason Pearson Brushes} | previous post by me showing my full hair before Prednisone...

{Summer Bliss on our Balcony - Indian Summer}

On September 5, we snapped these photos on the balcony.

The lawn has seldom been this green; true Summer Bliss!

It makes one happy to see a lush garden!

Wearing my green Marc Cain top and green Escada stretch cotton skirt.
We do enjoy our Vintage Woodworks balustrades out of polyurethane. 

Looking at our felines, down on the driveway...

My shoes are also Escada.

Wearing my silver hair barrettes from Bali, Indonesia.

Fond memories!

Showing you my long(er) hair as I have it short now!

Will show you later...

Happy New Week!

{Black and Yellow Argiope Spider}

When the weather is nice warm and sunny we can admire these Black and Yellow Argiope Spiders in their web. Their latin name is Argiope Aurantia.

They are beautiful and it is sad to know that they live only about one year.

When the first hard frost comes they die...

Here she has a FAT prey!

Seldom to have them eye-level as she had her web in the planter boxes on our driveway's retainer wall.

Here she is mending her web...

And down again...

One last shot early morning with my iPhone 6 Plus.

Happy days with sunshine for humans and for our Garden Critters!

Enjoy your weekend.

{Golden Silk Spider - Charlotte's Cousin} | previous post by me

{Our Golden Silk Spider aka Giant Wood Spider} | previous post by me

Black and Yellow Argiope Spider | about Beneficial Spiders in the Landscape

{The Most Dangerous Mushroom: The Death Cap, Amanita phalloides}

In the fall, when we have had some rain, we often see lots of mushrooms show up in our garden and in nature.

One of those we had in our garden and husband Pieter did make some excellent photos of The Most Dangerous Mushroom: The Death Cap, Amanita phalloides

A beautiful photo of The Death Cap, Amanita phalloides... the alba species

The Most Dangerous Mushroom click on link to go to page with more info and above photo which can be found on Observations Matching 'Amanita phalloides' click and scroll down.

Photo is taken on the driveway...

My husband Pieter, a lifetime Mycologist, wants to warn my readers that ALWAYS when you find any mushroom with such a volva; don't eat it! 

Before, I had taken these photos from a little cluster of Marasmius sp. 

Also seen in the above photo with the Death Cap.

Those are tiny, tiny and I placed $ 0.01 next to it for comparison.

They are so frail looking and are not poisonous, however who would try to feed on them?

Related link:

{Marasmius} | previous post by me

{Porcelain Lampe Berger Barocco with Cherub Angels}

Yes, the season is changing very much and we all are looking forward to making our homes cozy and special for the dark evenings that arrive soon.

Here is a very special treasure for you, a retired Porcelain Lampe Berger Barocco with Cherub Angels! 

This is available for world wide shipping at my online Boutique Mariette's Back to Basics

It is such a lovely relief with Cherub Angels...

Closeup

Heavy cap is on top of this Lampe Berger.

This heavy Lampe Berger mount, is from the era since 1998 as seen in the book:
Lampes Berger A Century of History by Gérald Vilcocq
This is the ribbed relief on the back side.

Signed: Artoria Limoges pour Lampe Berger Paris

Sorry, this sold right away... no longer available!

Related link:
{Lampes Berger 1898 - 1998 A Century of History} | previous post by me showing my private collection

{Tea Rose Jardins de Bagatelle}

On September 10, we happened to have a perfect single (!) Tea Rose Jardins de Bagatelle!

Yes, we are already very pleased with having ONE-SINGLE rose at the time...

Here she is!

Displayed on a Rose Silver Tray on top of my Tea Box

A REAL Tea Rose and very beautiful!

Fragrant too...

Happy Weekend 

Related links:

{Heavenly Jardins de Bagatelle Rose} | previous post by me
{New Rose Arbor on High Heels} | previous post by me

{My French Ormolu Jewelry Box got new Bottom}

For several years I'd been looking for 5mm gold nails with claws, for replacing the bad looking old ones in the worn velvet of my French Ormolu Jewelry Box's Bottom...

So finally I found them in France and Claudia from NuNu's Garn-und Stofflabor did put the new bottom together for me.

You can click the above link for reading her post about this job.

This is my Antique French Ormolu Jewelry Box...
It was again a very sunny day and I loved to fill this tiny white vase with fragrant Ginger Lilies.

It does have a beveled glass top and four side panels.

Here is the new Bottom, made by Claudia...

She did replace this stained and worn velvet bottom...

That fabric could not be salvaged...

So we found the 5mm Gold nails with claws and Claudia used some Suedine, that she uses for her Bear making, creating the foot soles.

This is the end result.

My silver Angels feel very much at home for the time being, as long as they reside at: Mariette's Back to Basics my boutique on line.

Once they all get adopted, I can fill it with my own jewelry.

Photo taken with the lid opened for a better color.

Thank you Claudia!

Related link:
{My French Ormolu Jewelry Box & Silver Angels} | previous post by me
A Little Mercerie | French on line store for all kind of craft items

{Tea Cup Gift from Blogger Friend Susan & Ava Grace}

It seems unreal when thinking about our lovely June Brunch in Toronto with e.g. sweet blogger Friend Susan...
BUT already 4 months have passed!
Time for finally showing Susan from Ava Grace's Closet's lovely gift...

Look what an adorable Box with fabulous afternoon Tea Cup & Saucer by Indigo!

With a sweet note from Susan and Ava Grace, her cute little daughter.
Ava Grace could not join us however, she was sick...

My home baked Almond Amaretti cookies are great with tea on the balcony!
The weather did brighten up this afternoon.
Hope it will soon look better in South Carolina where people suffer from so much flooding.

Love the poppies with butterflies!

sincèrement
Tu es tout ce que j'aime...
You are all that I love...

Seriously
you give me butterflies
You sure DID sweet Susan and THANK YOU SO MUCH!
The Box is a Gift in itself; so pretty! Glad it did fit into our carry on for flying home with it.

One day, we will get to see your cute daughter Ava Grace - PROMISE!
Fond memories, every time I sip tea from this cup ❤

Related link:

{Brunch in Toronto with Blogger Friends I Admire} | previous post by me