Monday, June 8, 2015

COMING BACK TO EARTH


Happy Queens's Birthday holiday, fellow Australians.

We have twice celebrated for Her Majesty -


Three weeks ago, we were at the lake for the Victoria Day long weekend, 
Canada's version of the same holiday.



Today we went to the movies,
and saw Woman In Gold, starring Helen Mirren.
This is a true story about a Jewish woman, Maria Altmann, who sought to reclaim her family's possessions, seized by the Nazis in Vienna during World War II.  The famous painting by Gustav Klimt, 'The Lady in Gold' is a portrait of her aunt, Adele Bloch.  
Great Movie! 
*****

Remember how Helen Mirren won an Oscar for The Queen?
We came home to the news that today she won the Tony Award on Broadway, for the same role: The Queen
Seems apt...


Loved this photo of little Princess Charlotte and big brother Prince George,
taken by Duchess Kate herself, no less.


I take a while to recover from a big trip...
still getting back into routine.
We took a lot of gifts and family heirlooms over to Canada, which left a lot of empty baggage space for coming home.
A few things found their way back to Australia -
like this little leather brooch, a trillium flower, the emblem of Ontario.


A couple of pretend decoy ducks, just to remember The Lake;



Grandmama gave me this moose cup,
 (because I am always looking for the wild-life);


Thrifted a nice denim jacket for $2.00;


and bought this pretty leather wallet at Stanley Park, Vancouver.
Designed by Lee Claremont, a Mohawk/Irish artist known for her use of colour.
A reminder of my lovely day out with Kristie of North of 49.

I bought a couple of special occasion pieces, which I will show in a future post.


The Garden of Neglect was just fine while we were away.
It obviously didn't notice any difference.
The little fairy flowers are still happily growing...


and the ferns enjoyed going outside and under a tree for a month.


The Geraldton Wax is now covered in blossom...


and judging by the dead heads, 
we have missed quite a show in the Rose Garden.


Winter arrived here while we were away.
Goody.
Have an excellent week everyone!



XXXX








28 comments:

  1. Dear Patricia - good, you are safely back home again. It takes time to recover from travelling and your journeys are usually very long ones.
    What a lot of little treasures you have returned with. I always enjoy seeing little reminders of places I have been to when back home again.
    I will be watching for the Woman in Gold - I saw a documentary about Maria Altmann and her persistent struggle to reclaim her family's paintings.

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    1. Dear Rosemary, I am sure you have many wonderful pieces about your place, reminders of your interesting journeys. It is my favourite way to make my house interesting. Woman in Gold was so interesting - I will be watching out for the documentary! One always wonders what liberties are taken when a true story becomes a film.

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  2. Sometimes it takes a while to settle after such a great time away, I love the leather wallet.

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    1. Yes Katharine, although the jet lag was slight, it does take time to settle into one's routine, and pick up the pieces of one's life. Glad you like the wallet, which I thought both attractive and unusual.

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  3. Nice to look through souvenirs and mementoes when you get back. I like to put them aside for a while and rediscover them a few weeks or months later, too! I am glad your garden was okay on your return, that is a bonus!!

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    1. Yes, I do like a few reminders of my travels, Jenny. It is nice to see them about the house - and even the garden. I am planning to put the large decoy duck in the swimming pool!

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  4. Seeing your souvenir brooch , reminded me of the lovely brooch i won from you Patricia, as your give away.. I am thinking of putting it on a chain.. i will wear it more.. Pleased you are back safe and sound, and that you had a wonderful time with your family up in Canada.
    It always takes time to settle down.. but great to be home.
    Your garden seems to have survived.
    wishing you a good happy week val xx

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    1. Ah, a red bird on a chain - a brilliant idea, Val. Yes, home safe and sound, and pleased to say it. I am a bit of a worrier when flying across the oceans, and you are right, home is always best. Have a happy week Val. xx

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  5. Your roses are very pretty. And I love that little colorful wallet!

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    1. Hi Linda Kay, our crisp winters days are the best times for roses and other flowers in the tropics, so I enjoy the middle of the year. Glad you like the wallet - it has a hint of the Native American in the design.

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  6. It sounds like you had a lovely time in Canada. I enjoyed seeing some of your souvenirs. I was so happy to see the photos of the royal babies this weekend; they remind me of when mine were little because I had the boy first, then the girl, though mine are three years apart. I have lots of photos of him holding her just like the royal babies. Your garden looks good and seems to have more than survived, which must be a relief. I'm glad you're home and settling back in. Take care and have a good week.

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    1. The royal babies are sweet, aren't they, Jennifer. I had a girl first then a boy, but also have some sweet photos of them together. I was very pleased about the garden, as usually sometimes gives up and has a dramatic death while we are gone! Almost back to normal now, back to the Art Gallery and the choir singing.

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  7. You bought home some beautiful things and great reminders of your travels. I love the mug!! The picture of Prince George and Princess Charlotte is beautiful isn't it! A real family photo which I think is so nice. I hope that you recover from your trip soon, it is a long way isn't it and travel can be very tiring. At least your garden and plants didn't mind you being gone! Hugs. xx

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    1. I like that Prince William and Kate are doing things their own way - the baby photos are lovely, and also what normal families do. In the past the royal baby photos were very much staged affairs, I think. It was a long way to travel, and my back was strained on the trip home so has taken a bit of time to get fully recovered. Yay for the plants, who have finally realised that neglect is good for them :) hugs to you too, xx

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  8. I'm glad you are back home safe and sound - jet lag is horrible though -takes time to recover and get back into the swing of things. Isn't it funny how the the Queen's birthday is different weekends - even here, and NZ is a different Monday as well. Lovely photo of the babies - very nicely composed.

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    1. Hate jet lag, although it is now gone. We are both still a bit tired though. Yes, funny re the Queen's birthday - I discovered as we passed through NZ that they also had yet another day for the holiday. Kate is showing quite a talent for photography. Good for her!

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  9. Yes, I thought Kate did well, and must be a confident photographer. After all, previous royal babies were photographed by such famous people as Lord Snowdon! I'm enjoying our tiny winter, getting out the jackets and scarves...

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  10. I know you enjoyed your trip but coming home is nice too isn't it? You brought back some nice reminders of your stay and the places you visited. I like the Klimt so would like to see the movie.

    Darla

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    1. I think you would like the Klimt movie, Darla - after all, it is about art :) We are happy to be home again, back in our own little nest with the reminders scattered around to see.

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  11. Yes, it takes time to recover from the journey and get back into the daily routine after so much travelling, Patricia, as i know from long experience. Your souvenirs will bring back so many happy memories.

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    1. As you are the Perpetual Traveller, I think you would be the expert in re-adjustment! Thank you for all your kind comments on my Canada posts - we did have an absolutely wonderful time, bringing back many happy memories not only of the family but of the new aspects of Canada which we were fortunate to see this time. Meeting two fellow bloggers was a nice way to break up the journey.

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  12. Patricia, "The Lady In Gold" portrait is lovely. I really like that. This sounds like a good movie. The picture of the little ones is precious. Those decoy ducks remind me of my father-in-law, who had a special talent of carving wooden ducks. He gave me his white one before he passed away. Your wallet is so pretty, and I have been looking for a nice wallet lately for myself, but no luck. And the roses are beautiful.

    Have a wonderful week, Patricia.

    love, ~Sheri

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    1. Hi Sheri, If you ever go to New York, The Lady in Gold by Klimt lives there these days! I always wanted a decoy duck - mine are not carved wood, but much cheaper plastic ones, but I love them nevertheless! How wonderful to have your own proper carved duck - very precious. Hope you find a nice wallet for yourself, asap :) xx

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  13. What a lovely post, accompanied by beautiful photos!

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    1. Hello Linda, and thank you for reading my blog. I notice you are from Montreal - we went there on our last trip to Canada :)

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  14. I like your picture potpourri from your trip to Canada. Also a bit curious what family fortunes you took over to Canada?
    As you know, our stuff is free to take for our daughters as our house is on the market. No results yet.
    You and your husband must be in extra goos condition cruising across the continents. Even the idea makes me dizzy ; )!!

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    1. Mette, it is curious the things a daughter is interested in having. We took her grandmother's silver cutlery service, in its wooden case. There was a Christmas tablecloth we used when she was a child which she apparently always liked, and an unused Christmas kitchen towel from the other grandma. Some of her childhood
      books, and a couple of heavy adult books. Also new things, like her favourite Australian sweets, Vegemite spread, and the toiletries she likes. It all added to quite a few extra kilos. We each carried one extra small bag as well as our medium suitcase. The airport trolleys are our friends.
      Jet lag makes me dizzy too, but the way we go, stopping after each flight and spending one day/night, makes all the difference. We hardly noticed it this time. I can no longer manage the 24 hour dash around the world without a break!

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  15. Sorry, meant: in extra good condition..

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