There's no better way to start a lifetime together than with a memorable honeymoon journey.
Earlier this week, my personal executive assistant, Shqipe Berisha and her husband, Zenel Lulanaj, returned from a glorious two-week stay in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is a port city on South Africa’s southwest coast, on a peninsula beneath the majestic Table Mountain. The city is famous for its harbor, for its natural setting in the Cape Floristic Region and for its spectacular landmarks and animals.
Here are some photos from the couple’s special trip - enjoy.
Shqipe sent me this photo on one of her first days in Cape Town – it’s on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. She is at the World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park. The guide had just put a few seeds on top of Shqipe’s head to lure the squirrel monkey to her.
Here is Zenel with a squirrel monkey. This monkey was actually more interested in Shqipe and quickly jumped on her after this photo was taken.
These are emus, Dromaius novaehollandiae – the second largest living bird by height, after the ostrich. This emu flared its feathers to look bigger, a natural defense when feeling uncomfortable or threatened.
Here are the newlyweds, Shqipe and Zenel.
This is called a secretary bird – one of Shqipe’s favorites at the sanctuary because of its graceful gait and colorful head. The secretary bird is a very large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Saharan region.
This horned owl was perched right above a doorway when Shqipe and Zenel entered its enclosure. It seems they interrupted its nap. The horned owl is in the genus Bubo, which is Latin for the Eurasian eagle-owl – such a beautiful creature.
Shqipe and Zenel also liked this gorgeous bird, a golden pheasant. The golden pheasant or Chinese pheasant is a game bird. It is native to forests in mountainous areas of western China. An adult male is 35 to 41 inches in length, with its tail accounting for two-thirds of the total length.
After leaving the sanctuary, they came across one of the many markets on the road. These markets are often filled with handmade items, such as spoons and bowls.
Shqipe and Zenel also visited an aquarium, where they saw lots of ocean life up close. Here, Shqipe is in an enclosed glass platform under a school of clown fish.
And here are Shqipe and Zenel in front of the ragged tooth shark tank. Ragged-tooth sharks, also known as grey nurse sharks in Australia and as sand tiger sharks in the USA, occur in temperate to tropical coastal waters of the Atlantic, Indian and western Pacific oceans. In South Africa they are common along the eastern and southern coasts, occurring as far west as False Bay.
Here they are at the Aquila Game Reserve, an 11-thousand acre private nature reserve nestled in the Karoo mountains.
While visiting the reserve, they saw these blue wildebeests. The wildebeests, also called gnus, are a genus of antelopes, scientific name Connochaetes. They belong to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates.
You may remember this animal from the pictures I shared during my African safari last year. It is an oryx – with its pale fur and contrasting dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long, almost straight, horns.
Giraffes like to roam where they can blend in with nature. It was almost hard to see this amazing animal from afar.
Here is a female rhino and its calf. Do you know… a group of rhinoceros is called a “crash”.
Here is Shqipe all suited up for her shark adventure.
Shqipe and Zenel joined a group managed by White Shark Ventures. The boat goes out into the Atlantic just off the coast of Kleinbaai, following strict blue flag regulations, meaning they don’t use any unethical tactics to lure the sharks for viewing.
On this day, they were lucky – two sharks surfaced. The waters were rough, but the group saw two 12-foot juvenile females.
Zenel was excited to go down into the shark cage – it was one of his favorite adventures on the trip.
At another market, the couple saw these tribal masks for sale – each has a different meaning. Some were meant to ward off evil, while others were made to invite good fortune for the one wearing it.
The couple climbed up Cape Point, a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula. From there, they saw the Cape of Good Hope, this rocky headland on the Atlantic coast.
Shqipe and Zenel also hiked up Table Mountain, which took about two hours to reach the summit. Here is Zenel taking some photos of the city of Cape Town in the distance.
Here is another view from the top of Table Mountain. Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking Cape Town and is a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors using the cableway or hiking to the top.
Here’s Shqipe taking a brief rest during the hike back down the mountain.
Next, they took a wine tasting tour through Stellenbosch, a university town in South Africa’s Western Cape province. It’s surrounded by the vineyards of the Cape Winelands and the mountainous nature reserves of Jonkershoek and Simonsberg.
Some of the vineyards had animals. Here are two zebras – one male and one female. Apparently, they haven’t had any offspring in several years, but everyone continues to hope they will have a baby soon.
They also tasted brandy distilled from wine grapes – they thought it was a bit strong.
One of their many dinners was at the Gold Restaurant in Cape Town, where they served a 14 course Cape Malay and African tasting menu.
And this is the Kierstanbosch National Botanical Garden, a 1300 acre garden operated by South Africa’s national biodiversity institute. SANBI. Shqipe loved these camphor trees.
This is a wild almond tree, Brabejum stellatifolium.
The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway was built in 2013 to celebrate the centenary of Kirstenbosch. It opened to the public in May of the following year. The Walkway is made of curved steel and timber bridge that winds and dips its way through and over the trees of the arboretum.
Inspired by a snake skeleton, and informally called ‘The Boomslang’ meaning tree snake, it is a low-maintenance, low-impact sculptural raised walkway.
And here they are on Penguin Beach – but where are the penguins? Unfortunately, they were on the other side of the island sleeping. It was a great trip for our newlyweds – congratulations, Shqipe and Zenel.
Whenever my schedule allows, I always enjoy attending antiques shows - especially when they benefit good causes.
Last week, I was invited to lecture at the Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show. Founded in 1962, this event is one of the longest running antiques shows in the country. This year, 60-exhibitors offered a vast selection of furnishings, decorative and fine art pieces for both the period and modern American home. And all proceeds from the 2018 Show go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Penn Medicine.
Here I am in front of the Rittenhouse Hotel where we stayed. https://www.rittenhousehotel.com/
That evening, we attended the preview party for the Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show. It was nice to see prominent signs for our lecture the next day.
I was joined by Kevin Sharkey and Susan Magrino.
This piece is called Golden Hours. It was made by Virgil Marti in 2013 using urethane, medium-density fiberboard and chrome plating. This piece was in a booth that was part of a loan exhibit. The Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show features a loan exhibit every year, a tradition since the Show’s founding in 1962. The curated, museum-quality exhibit changes with each Show and allows visitors a closer look at a specific genre of antiques.
This booth was presented by Bette & Melvyn Wolf, Inc. from Flint, Michigan. Bette and Melvyn began collecting American Pewter in the 1960s. They started selling pewter, American, British, and Continental in 1974, exhibiting at their first antiques show in 1975. They brought a beautiful selection with them to the show.
I love brass, and have an extensive collection of brass candlesticks. These caught my eye right away.
This is a Japanese silk embroidery of two tigers by Kyoto silk manufacturer Nishimura Sōzaemon. It is from the late Meiji period, also known as the Meiji era, a Japanese era which extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan during which Japanese society moved from being an isolated feudal society to its modern form.
Here is another Japanese silk embroidery piece of four kittens. It was exhibited by Janice Paull Antiques in Wilmington, Delaware.
James and Nancy Glazer from Bailey Island Maine set-up this booth showing museum-quality 18th and 19th century American furniture and folk art.
These pieces are from Marcy Burns American Indian Arts LLC. Marcy specializes in antique Native American Art, focusing primarily on vintage baskets, pottery, textiles, beadwork and jewelry. It is always so interesting to learn about antiques and art pieces from the expert exhibitors.
This bench was shown in the booth of Kelly Kinzle from New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Kelly is known for his inventory of tall case clocks, fire arms, Pennsylvania decorative arts and fire fighting memorabilia, but he is also interested in those objects that are outstanding in any genre and period. He has worked closely with institutions including the Smithsonian, Colonial Williamsburg and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
I spotted this peacock right away and had a couple photos taken of me standing next to it. It reminded me of my beautiful blue peacocks at home.
Here is another peacock sculpture with its tail of feathers extended.
Here’s a fun snapshot of Kevin enjoying a cocktail during the preview.
We all took photos of these interesting garden benches – we all loved their intricate design. These are cast-aluminum benches made around 1930. They feature acanthus leaf and griffin motifs.
These were also very interesting wall pieces – each with a different face. These belong to Greg K. Kramer & Co., from Robesonia, Pennsylvania. Greg focuses his passion for antiques on 18th and 19th century Americana.
Here is a full body copper eagle weathervane presented to John Gordon of Portland, Connecticut by President Woodrow Wilson about 1920. Its wing span is 52-inches and dates to 1910 to 1925. It was shown by Nathan Liverant and Son, LLC of Colchester, Connecticut. This reminded me of the giant falcon in my foyer.
Here is a yellow, blue and red applique Pineapple Rose quilt, American 1840 to 1855.
Here is a Boston, Massachusetts sampler piece by Zebiah Gore in 1791. It was exhibited by M. Finkel & Daughter.
M. Finkel & Daughter also presented this imported Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania sampler by Sarah Ann Graffin in 1839. This piece was priced at 26-thousand dollars.
The next day, we returned to the venue, which was The Navy Yard, formerly known as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. It was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries and is now a large industrial park that includes a commercial shipyard.
Here are some of the ships we passed on our way to the Antiques & Art Show. The United States Navy ended most of its activities here in the 1990s. In 2000, the city of Philadelphia took over and began to redevelop the land. The Navy still has a Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility and a few engineering activities at the site.
Kevin and I participated in a discussion about “Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering and Enjoying”. We talked about our love of flowers and what inspired many of the beautiful photos we featured in the publication.
I showed a selection of slides as part of our presentation. This is the cover of “Martha’s Flowers” – do you have your copy yet? It makes a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day, which is coming up very soon.
Afterwards, we conducted a book signing, where we both signed 100-books for guests who attended.
I always try to stop and talk to guests. It is a nice way for me to meet all sorts of people and to learn what consumers are looking for when it comes to lifestyle products, books, etc.
It was a very interesting and fun show. If you are in the Philadelphia area next year, try to attend. See their web site for more information. http://philadelphiaantiquesandartshow.com/
This new storefront features a variety of great categories, including many of my favorite products in food, home décor, books and my newest line of pets items. To see our Martha Stewart storefront page, just click on this highlighted link. This storefront provides a one-stop, easy-to-use shopping experience, with tips and solutions for incorporating organization, functionality and beauty into your home. And, we'll be adding products and information all the time, so be sure to keep visiting!
Enjoy these photos showing some of the offerings.
Now you can go to one place to find my books. Among the first ones we’re selling is my latest and 90th book, “Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and Enjoying” – it gives lots of expert advice and lessons on gardening and making the most of your blooms.
Kevin Sharkey worked on this book with me. He shares my passion for flowers and loves to create beautiful arrangements. He is a very talented floral designer and always makes such interesting and colorful displays. (Photo from “Martha’s Flowers”)
Here is a photo from the book of me in my garden. The book talks about my love for gardening and how I worked alongside my father, helping him to cultivate the soil and grow beautiful healthy flowers in the gardens behind my childhood home. (Photo from “Martha’s Flowers”)
The book gives lots of tips on designing and arranging – these are some lilacs that were picked and arranged by Kevin at Skylands. I love this color palette of purple and lavender mixed with the bold green foliage. (Photo from “Martha’s Flowers”)
Also available on our storefront at Amazon.com is “Martha Stewart’s Vegetables” – full of recipes and ideas for selecting, storing, preparing, and cooking all the delicious vegetables you love from the garden and from the market. There’s no need to keep searching the Internet for your favorite Martha Stewart titles – they’re now all in one place for easy shopping.
“A New Way to Bake: Classic Recipes Updated with Better-For-You Ingredients from the Modern Pantry” was released last year – do you have a copy? It is a must-have for every baker. It includes 130-recipes featuring bold new flavors that make some of your favorite, most indulgent treats more healthy.
Another popular book is “Martha Stewart’s Slow Cooker: 110 Recipes for Flavorful, Foolproof Dishes (Including Desserts!), Plus Test- Kitchen Tips and Strategies”. Mother’s Day is coming up – this is a great book for busy moms looking for easy ways to put great meals on the table.
“One Pot” is filled with more than 120 healthy and delicious recipes you can make using just one pot. It teaches how you can stew, steam, sauté, simmer, braise or roast your way to a fuss-free meal in minimal time with very little cleanup!
And here is one of my favorites – “Martha’s Entertaining, A Year of Celebrations”. Everyone wants secrets and shortcuts, tips and hints, easy instructions, fabulous recipes they can trust, and above all, new inspiration, so their own adventures in entertaining can be unique, more extraordinary, and more innovative. In this book, I offer my insights, ideas and advice for hosting the best gatherings.
Weddings season is here, and with 100-recipes and 125-stunning photographs, “Newlywed Kitchen: Recipes for Weeknight Dinners & Easy, Casual Gatherings” is the ideal engagement, wedding, or anytime gift for couples who cook. It offers hints and tips for setting up a kitchen, cooking with and for each other, and planning successful parties for every occasion.
Here is one of the photos from “Newlywed Kitchen” – warm chocolate pudding cakes topped with a dollop of vanilla ice cream – you’ll love the easy recipe.
“Newlywed Kitchen” also has individual chicken potpies filled with chicken, greens, onions, carrots, celery and potato under a buttery puffed pastry. This photo of the potpies is from the book – look how golden the puffed pastry tops are, and so easy to make.
Other recipes in “Newlywed Kitchen” include our breakfast grain bowls – a fun new take on traditional oatmeal. Use any cooked whole grain and top with sweet or savory ingredients such as bacon and egg, black rice with smoked salmon or banana, coconut and pecans.
Through our storefront, AmazonFresh customers in select cities can purchase a Martha & Marley Spoon meal kit that includes all the ingredients for a wonderful meal for two – it’s an exciting way to experience the convenience of meal kits seven-days a week, without the commitment of ordering several meals in advance.
All the ingredients are sourced to local quality purveyors and growers. Everything is fresh, and organized when it arrives – it’s that easy.
I am also excited about my collection of rugs on Amazon.com. In partnership with Safavieh, we provide a variety of rugs to fit your personal style. Our rugs offer a number of colors, textures and styles to go with any decor. Here is my faux bois pattern.
Each rug is an entirely unique creation that is unmatched in design and durability.
Lively patterns—drawn from the diverse art traditions of Belgium, Tibet, India, and beyond can be casual or formal, contemporary or traditional – just select a rug style that works with your room’s decor.
Here is Creme Brulee sitting with some of her new Martha Stewart Pets toys on Amazon.com. These assorted rope toys include a rope dumbbell, and a squeaker and crinkle toy.
Creme Brulee loves playing with them. Here she is in a “play bow” inviting Bete Noire to play too.
Here is Bete Noire testing out the toys. It is always a good idea to have several toys available, especially when you have more than one pet sharing your home – it can help prevent resource guarding.
Come on Bete Noire – come and get me. These toys are light enough to carry but strong enough for aggressive chewers.
Bete Noire seems more interested in the camera. Here she is with one of those irresistible “head-tilt” poses.
Some of the other toys include these fun rope animal figures. These toys are made from 100-percent natural heavy-duty cotton rope. In warm weather, you can dip them in water and freeze for teething or to cool down your pet.
And, here are my favorite slip leads now available on my storefront at Amazon.com. These braided rope slip leads come in gray, red and tan. These leads are made with durable, multi-filament braided nylon rope and genuine leather trim.
Creme Brulee and Bete Noire stopped just long enough for this snapshot to be taken. Please visit my new Martha Stewart storefront on Amazon.com. I will share more items from this new site throughout the day on my Twitter page @MarthaStewart, so stay tuned.
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