{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

{Fragrant Orange Jasmine or Murraya Paniculata}

Since we are getting rain and more rain and rather cool weather because of Hurricane Joaquin, I better show you some of our blooming flowers.

Our Fragrant Orange Jasmine or Murraya Paniculata

It is one of those tropic delights that we purchased from Logee's Greenhouses in Connecticut.

Orange Jasmine (Murraya Paniculata)←click it to go to Logee's website.

Let's hope that by Wednesday the weather has warmed up and the sun will be back!

{Princess Diana's Elephant Tie just like Pieter's}

Sometimes it is funny what you might come across in this world!

So it is for this silk Escada Elephant Tie, that I got for husband Pieter.

Husband Pieter showing his silk Escada Elephant tie...

Princess Diana wearing it with her Escada Elephant suit.

Princess Diana's Escada tie set to fetch £3,000 ←click on link from Fashion Telegraph UK

Closeup of Pieter's Escada tie...

Princess Diana gift tie makes £3,800 in Essex auction ←click on link.

Even though I never wore a silk tie, I have to admit that Princess Diana looked stunning wearing one!

Princess Diana's Escada tie expected to fetch £3000  ←click on link

Princess Diana’s silk Escada tie set to smash £3,000 estimate as it goes under the hammer ←click link to Daily Mail UK

This is me in May 2000, in Maastricht, Netherlands, wearing my Escada jeans suit with gold embroidered Elephants...

Not wearing a silk tie but a silk scarf with Elephants!

That's me, in May of 2000 after the International Mushroom Science Congress and after a hair cut!

Both of us, LOVE elephants, those intelligent and gentle giants...

Via FB's: What Animal Will You Be Reincarnated As? Pieter would be an Elephant as shown above!

{Hibiscus Blue Chiffon on Patio}

Our Blue Hibiscus on the Patio has been performing very well this summer.

Such a lovely color this Blue Chiffon Hibiscus and it is in its pot, right next to the kitchen bay window, within view!

Depending on the light, their color does change somewhat.

Also the time of the day makes a difference.

Hummingbirds frequently visit for the nectar.

One could just sit here and  admire their beauty!

Wish we could keep such blossoms year round!

Related links:

{Hibiscus Blue Chiffon} | previous post by me

{Sautéed Kale with Balsamic Reduction}

When I read this recipe of Sautéed Kale with Balsamic Reduction (click it) by Kristianne, of My San Francisco Kitchen, I loved it right away!

So that made for a simple and quick Superfood meal with some brown rice and chicken nuggets.

Related links:
{Tuscan Red Quinoa Salad - Whole Foods Sarasota FL} | previous post by me, using ribbon kale.
{10 Best Foods for Diabetes and Blood Sugar} | previous post by me also mentioning leafy greens like kale

{Light Mauve Double Rose of Sharon Hibiscus in our Wood Garden}

In our Wood Garden, Pieter did plant several of the young Rose of Sharon Hibiscus plants that we'd ordered, as a hedge on the border with our neighbors.

But only ONE did show blossoms, this was a light mauve color.

Quite a beauty and some critter has been snacking on its leaves!

We look forward to next year as the others will show some blossoms as well.

{The Kiss of the Sun for Pardon}

While at the Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida, we did buy another sweet gift at the giftshop.
This also resides in our veranda...

 Such a lovely quote by Dorothy Frances Gurney 1858 - 1932

The kiss of the sun
for pardon,
The song of the birds
for mirth,
One is nearer God's 
heart in a garden
Than anywhere else 
on earth.

Related link:
{Edward Bok Quote} | previous post by me

{Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida} | previous post by me
{1903 Ladies Home Journal by Edward Bok - The Mother of America & Dutch American Heritage Day} | previous post by me with more information about Edward Bok