Merry Christmas

To all of my dear Readers:

and a 

very Happy New Year

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OFF-TOPIC: The Colours in October

October was not golden this year as it is normally supposed to be - it was ugly, rainy, dark, cold - simply yuck. But around the 20th the sky lit up and Mother Nature presented us all her skills in form of an Indian summer....

(all photos ©Petra Voegtle)

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It's Christmas Time...

To my dear Readers:

and a big Thank You for your patience!

With all my heart I wish you peace and love,

days full of happiness with your family and

furry and/or feathered angels!

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GUEST POST: Candles and their Meanings

This is the time for candles. When the days become dark outside the human longs for warmth and light. Here is an interesting guest post by Isabella Woods:   
   

Eternal Flame: Our Favourite Candles and their Meanings

Candles are no longer the sole domain of that dreadlocked hippy everyone thinks is a little weird. Far from it! In fact, with the likes of Victoria Beckham burning scented candles at her SS12 fashion show, candles are about as cool as things get at the moment. What’s more, now that the nights are drawing in and getting colder and the holiday season is well on its way, they’re a great way of making your home as warm, snug and cozy as possible.  Light up, lie back on your leather sectional sofa recliner – or even better – indulge in a relaxing bath, and feel yourself mellow as the scent envelopes you. Read on to discover the different meanings of candles and our favorite scented candles out there.

For many years, candles have been seen as a symbol of hope and love. They’re a welcoming sign at the end of a long journey, or a focal point in all manner of religious ceremonies. We have used them for years to help show us the way, to remember a special person or occasion, and to create a sense of calm. But the colors of candles also hold meanings, too. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular color candles and their meanings –

• Red – red candles can mean a sign of health, vitality, fertility and strength, but they’re most obviously connected to passion, love and desire. Red candles are perfect for romantic nights in.
• White – white is believed to be a cleansing color so light a white candle if you’re in need of calm. It is also linked to purity and innocence so you will often see white candles at events like christenings and weddings.
• Black – this color is so often associated with bad things, but in the case of candles that’s as far from the truth as you could get. Lighting a black candle is believed to help in getting rid of negative energies.
• Gold – this particular candle color is hugely popular over the festive season and it’s not surprising when you consider it symbolizes wealth and success as well as divinity.
• Silver – again, this shade is very popular in the holiday season, but unlike gold it isn’t about wealth. Even though it can be considered quite bling, silver is actually a neutral shade that’s good for using in meditation.
• Yellow – this color candle is perfect if you’re studying as the color can really help lift the mood and help you focus. The shade is also believed to reflect wisdom and intelligence. So when you’re cramming for exams, light a yellow candle and let’s hope it works!

Now that we’ve discovered the meanings of colors for candles, it’s time to pick our favorite scented ones. Most scented candles tend to come in neutral shades like whites and creams but occasionally you’ll find ones that are colored…

Jo Malone Candles

Probably the most famous name in the world of the scented candle, and with so many fragrances it’s no wonder why. Victoria Beckham’s a fan (she used them to scent her NYC fashion show), and so are we. The newest offering from Jo is called Wild Bluebell. It’s got notes of lily of the valley, jasmine and musk – very cottage garden and perfect for a pick-me-up on cold dreary days.

Dior

This ultra luxe designer label might normally be out of your price range, but – fingers crossed – you should be able to indulge in one of their scented candles. We like their Ambre Nuit candle which is the same scent as the fragrance from its La Collection Privee range. The deliciously deluxe scent of amber is perfect for creating a truly luxurious atmosphere. Ideal for romantic evenings in by a roaring log fire with the drapes drawn closed.

Caroline Herrera Candles

If you’re in need of some extreme ‘me’ time, then check out the lovely range of scented candles from Caroline Herrera. These candles are a great way of helping you to de-stress at the end of a long hard day as they’ve been all created to help aid a sense of serenity and calm.

Pecksniff’s

It may have an unusual name but Pecksniff’s is certainly not to (excuse the pun) be sniffed at! It’s one of the last independent British fragrance houses so if you’re hankering for something that errs on the side of tradition in that truly British way, you’ll love the candles here. Their fragrant home medium candle is available in four scents – alive, happy, calm and naughty.

There are plenty of ways to light up your life. We reckon candles are the perfect solution, especially at this time of year, and there's such a variety available that you're bound to find the fun, festive candles you're looking for.

Thank you Isabella for this lovely post!

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GUEST POST: 8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays

Holiday decoration is soon to come. Here is a guest post from Brianna Davis:

8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays

If getting an interior ready for the holidays, fresh greenery is a must.  But which plants are associated with the holidays and can be utilized for indoor decorating?  The below is a list of eight must have plants for the holidays, which include a few well known plants and even some only told of in stories.

1.   Poinsettias – These red and green flowers are a staple for the holidays.  They can be used in boxes, vases, as garlands, and many other uses.  They need lots of direct sunlight, water when the first half inch of soil dries, and liquid fertilizer. 

 Image source: http://www.cherrygal.com/

2.  Holly – There is a reason the Christmas carols say to deck the halls with this plant.  Hollies have distinctive, crisp, green leaves in addition to bright red berries for that Christmas color scheme.  They are often used in hedges and can withstand heavy pruning.

  image source:   www.tortenwelt-shop.com/

3.  Evergreen – These trees are commonly known as Christmas trees.  Spanning from a few inches to several dozen feet, these trees are the kind that decorated indoors with lights, tinsel, and much more.  However, those with a yard and a knack can plant their own.  In addition to evergreen trees, firs, pine trees, spruce, and others can also double as Christmas trees.

image source:  www.henryfields.ca

4.  Mistletoe – Known as the kissing plant, what holiday would be complete without one?  Usually joined together in a bunch and hung over a doorway, mistletoe is actually a semi-parasitic plant and grows on the branches of various host trees.  A little known fact is that in the first days of mistletoe kissing, a berry would be plucked for each kiss until they were all gone. 

image source:  metrolic.com

5.  Christmas Cactus – The plant earned its name for a reason.  Not a traditional cactus in the spiked sense, this plant almost looks like a fern with pink flowers growing on it.  Another plus of the Christmas cactus is its low maintenance. 

©Petra Voegtle

6.  Laurel – These shrubs are relatives of azaleas and are best known for their white flowers.  It is a broadleaf evergreen commonly found in New England.  They are also commonly found as accents in Christmas wreaths.

image source:  herberowe.wordpress.com

7.  Frankincense – One of the three gifts for Baby Jesus, many have heard of it, but few know what it is.  This herb is made from the Boswellia tree.  It is commonly burned during church masses and has a distinct smell.

image source:  incensedshop.com

8.  Myrrh – Like the above, this is also one of the gifts the three wisemen brought for Christmas.  It is from the Commiphora myrrha tree.  It is also used as incense burned during church ceremonies.  It is also used as an antiseptic in mouthwashes and toothpastes.

image source:  pointsoflight.com

Brianna Davis keeps up the site Bachelors of Arts Schools. Her site helps students find the right college to get a degree in the arts.

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Autumn on the Balcony

No place is too small to not grow something, to not have some living plant in pots on a small balcony or loggia, or even only on the windowsill. The internet can give you plenty of ideas how to start something like that, non-costly, non-labour-intensive.

This year I decided to do something about the missing colours at this time of the year. In the past I was always quite depressed when the plants had to come in to protect them from cold temperatures. The balcony then looked grey and abandoned. A sad view. Now we have end of October and my balcony is still full of colours thanks to one of the most wonderful flowers which show their true beauty especially at fall: Chrysanthemum.

You get them in nearly all colours you could imagine, you get them in all sizes, from large to tiny and you get them in various blossoms shapes - with very large blossoms which unfortunately do not survive frost but there are plenty enough, smaller blossoms which do. Even my Oleander is still blooming and adds his wonderful pink colour to the chorus:

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Merry Christmas and some Winter Impressions

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Peace to everybody

and a

May you all have wonderful holidays

in peace and harmony with

your family and/or friends

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And here are some winter impressions - if only winter would always look like that it would be more tolerable...

(all images ©Petra Voegtle)

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