The Miracle Of Dew drops On Roses....

On a recent cool autumn morning, the dew was exceptionally heavy, 

and the water droplets were floating in the air.  

Almost fog, but not quite.

Pure magic is the only way to describe the visual miracle of dewdrops.  

I captured a few on camera, and want to share their beauty with you...

 Preciously delicate dewdrops on cobwebs...

 Dewdrops on roses...

 Embracing each petal...

Leaf...

And bud!

A rainbow of precious dewdrops,

one of life's tiny miracles don't you think?

Blue & White LOVE + Meringue Kisses...

A new passion has evolved...

It all started with a vintage tea party sized tablecloth in crisp white linen.

On the linen someone had lovingly stitched tiny dark blue crosses in pretty designs.

There is nothing in my home that is dark blue and white,

because I've always thought of myself as an 'aqua blue kinda girl!'

But I stood and admired this table cloth, and thought: 

'OH YES - I think that I could love you!'.

And since that moment passed...

have acquired a few blue and white pieces of china.

Vintage of course!

To show you my new blue and white collectable treasures,
I made delicate wee meringues to complete the tea party.

When they had cooled I kissed them together with fresh vanilla flavoured cream.

Perfect with peach tea!

(Here's a little secret:  I have never ever made meringues before...

so the ones you see in the photographs are the second batch!

The first lesson was, to have the oven temperature on low as if it is too high, 
your meringues go brown in a blink of an eye!)

Delicious, sweet meringue kisses...

melt in your mouth delightfulness, 
looking like royalty with the blue and white table setting.

One must have flowers too...
And these miniature camellias in a tiny white jug brought a smile to the party.

Meringue Recipe

3 number 8 (large) egg whites.

1 cup fine caster sugar

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vanilla paste

add a drop of colouring of your choice if using.

Separate the egg whites.

Beat until soft peaks form.

Then add the cup of fine white caster sugar

Plus 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

and 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

add a drop of colouring of your choice if using.

Beat on high speed using an electric mixer until the sugar has dissolved.

It takes about three minutes.

Place teaspoonfuls on baking paper-lined trays.

The mixture can be piped with a star tip if preferred.

Bake for 1 and a half hours in an oven preheated to 100 degrees Celsius.

(212 Fahrenheit)

Leave the oven door ajar to cool.

When completely cool, join the meringues with fresh whipped cream.

Serve.

Yield is about 20 meringues when joined with the cream.

For a printable meringue kiss recipe, click HERE.

Crisp, sweet meringue kisses,

Peach tea,

camellias

and the beauty of vintage blue and white.

What a perfect treat for an Autumn afternoon!

Note: An ingredient conversion chart can be found HERE

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#meringues #dessert #baking #treat #delicious

A Little Shabby Mirror - Painted & Repurposed....

Take one little shabby mirror...

whose life purpose had been as wall décor in Mia Bella Passions' homestead.

Then it became a mirror for the ring-neck parrot in his aviary for a long while, and was eventually returned to the back porch to the original wall décor status for quite some time more.

Only then to be hidden away in a cupboard for many, many years!

But I have always been fond of this shabby little mirror...

I remember painting it blue...

Did I tell you I embraced the blue and yellow era with vengeance!

The house still has hints of it...eeeekkkk!

It never ceases to amaze me how personal taste in décor and styling evolves.

But this little shabby mirror has received a much-needed facelift.

First, remove the back and mirror parts, then clean in soapy water.

Once it's dry touch up with paint.

I simply used a brush to paint on the creamy white enamel paint colour, using the dry brush method.

A shabby chic, slightly rustic kind of look to the finish was what I was after, and it turned out fabulously!

New look - new life!

This little shabby mirror has been painted, 

and is now repurposed as a mirror tray on the coffee table.  

The scroll detail compliments the candle holder nicely.

 A simple and sweet DIY upcycled rustic décor piece!

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#upcycling #diydecorideas #mirrorupcycle