Yes, dear Reader, it did indeed SNOW ... in Queensland....this week!
A once in thirty years event, a decent dumping of snow came to Stanthorpe and surrounding areas, about three hours South West of us.
Further South in New South Wales, large areas became a Winter Wonderland, so much fun for many children who had never seen snow before.
To see great on-the-spot photos, pop over to see Val at Learning to Focus - a Photo Blog. Val was driving back to Sydney when the snow began to fall.
Exciting!!
Lots of artists have painted snowy scenes.
I think this one is particularly attractive.
Lawren Harris was one of the Group of Seven, Canadian Modernist artists.
Monet painted snow, many times..
So did Van Gogh...
and way back in the 1500s, Dutch Painter Peter Bruegel the Elder made this fascinating work, full of rich detail of people enjoying snowy winter action.
Meanwhile, on a very cold day for Brisbane, 14 deg. maximum, I went with my girlfriends to see the new version of Thomas Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd"..
Sweet little Carey Mulligan stars as Bathsheba, faced with a choice of three suitors...
The sheep and wheat fields of Dorset look gorgeous too.
We loved it. Five Stars*****
Afterwards we retreated to a Tea Shop.
Seemed the right thing to do...
When the cold winds dropped, we went with Little Aussie to the local zoo:
Feeding kangaroos is mandatory, as is the Cuddle the Koala photo..
Here's mine from back in the Olden Days:
I guess I didn't like the claws scratching my arm...
The joy of blogging comes from the lovely and unexpected friendships forged with like-minded bloggers from around the world.
Today I had a lovely surprise, when the delightful Sheri, of Red Rose Alley, featured the Red Cardinal in her list of favourite blogs.
She has found a treasure trove of friends, and I am enjoying visiting them.
Perhaps you too would like to pop over and visit Sheri, at
Red Rose Alley
Keep Warm, and have a great week.
Over and Out..
XXXX
Exciting!!
 |
| Lawren Harris 'Winter in the Northern Woods' |
I think this one is particularly attractive.
Lawren Harris was one of the Group of Seven, Canadian Modernist artists.
 |
| Claude Monet 'The Road to Giverny in Winter" |
 |
| Vincent Van Gogh, 'Two Peasant Women digging in Field with Snow' |
So did Van Gogh...
 |
| Peter Bruegel the Elder 'Hunters in the Snow' |
Meanwhile, on a very cold day for Brisbane, 14 deg. maximum, I went with my girlfriends to see the new version of Thomas Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd"..
Sweet little Carey Mulligan stars as Bathsheba, faced with a choice of three suitors...
The sheep and wheat fields of Dorset look gorgeous too.
We loved it. Five Stars*****
Afterwards we retreated to a Tea Shop.
Seemed the right thing to do...
When the cold winds dropped, we went with Little Aussie to the local zoo:
Feeding kangaroos is mandatory, as is the Cuddle the Koala photo..
Here's mine from back in the Olden Days:
I guess I didn't like the claws scratching my arm...
The joy of blogging comes from the lovely and unexpected friendships forged with like-minded bloggers from around the world.
Today I had a lovely surprise, when the delightful Sheri, of Red Rose Alley, featured the Red Cardinal in her list of favourite blogs.
She has found a treasure trove of friends, and I am enjoying visiting them.
Perhaps you too would like to pop over and visit Sheri, at
Red Rose Alley
Keep Warm, and have a great week.
Over and Out..
XXXX
Dear Patricia - I was introduced to the Group of Seven on my first visit to Canada by my SiL when we went to Toronto Art Gallery - I love their work. Monet, now he is the master of the winter scene.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of you cuddling the Koala bear, and being such a very good little girl smiling for the camera.
So funny, trying to smile while the koala's claws scratching my arm - no wonder there is a little frown there as well.
DeleteI also made my first acquaintance with the Group of Seven in Toronto, Rosemary. There is a fine collection there, as well as in Ottawa. It was my son-in-law who introduced me to them!
Snow must be very exciting for people in the area since it is so rare. I enjoyed looking at the various snow paintings you showed us. What a cute picture of you and the koala.
ReplyDeleteDarla
The media were beyond excited, Darla - whipping up enthusiasm for snow! I enjoyed finding the snow paintings too - it seems everybody of note has had a go at snow at some time :) My koala picture amuses me, as I am clearly a bit uncomfortable, not smiling broadly as is usually recommended...
DeleteTrish, so funny to think of snow when our Texas weather is in the near 100s. We are in the northeast at the moment, so the temps are a bit cooler. The animals are adorable, and love your picture with the koala
ReplyDeleteYes, it sure can be hot in Texas, Linda Kay; we have experienced that! Hope you are enjoying the cooler climes.
DeleteSnow, a good movie and a cup of tea...it almost sounds like winter time in Canada! I love that picture of you holding the koala. I've always wanted to hold one. Enjoy your cool temperatures while they last, Patricia!
ReplyDeleteWell, I have to say it has been colder here in the past week than it was in Canada in May! It is fleeting though, and I am making the most out of wearing my leather jacket. By the end of August, the temps will climb...
DeleteBeautiful snowy paintings!!! Amazing to think of you getting snow so close! It must be quite exciting I imagine. xx
ReplyDeleteIt is so rare to have a bit of snow in Queensland, of course in the most southerly parts only. The TV commentators are having a great time being excited and doing live crosses. However, it has probably melted by today, and everyone can get back to normal :) xx
DeleteGood grief,snow in Queensland. That's the place they grow pineapples, right? :D Of all the pictures, the one that makes me shiver is the Van Gogh. You can imagine how frozen those womens hands are, poor things.
ReplyDeleteYes, Queensland, where we grow pineapples, sugar cane, and bananas. But not in the little part in the south that gets snow, Jenny. That area, called the Granite Belt, is where we grow apples and berries. So it all works out nicely :)
Deleteyes, Van Gogh's Dutch paintings of peasants really do show their misery...I can only imagine how cold they must be out there with only shirt sleeves, no warm jackets on. Brrrrrr
Its definitely been a chilly old place here in the "Sunshine State " perfect weather for a movie and some teashop action in pretty cups. Loved all the snowy scenes and your golden oldie "koala" photo...you do look a little disconcerted there. Stay snug Trish xx
ReplyDeleteYes, Chilly State this week, Michelle. But we braved the Westerleys, dressed up like Polar Explorers, and took our warm coffees into the movie :)
DeleteYes, my funny old Koala photo makes me smile now, as the koala was digging in those claws at the time! Keep toasty warm over there! xx
I can imagine the excitement of snow in Australia and it is nice especially the scenery when it's snowing or just has fallen. This is a lovely reading and watching post, of course I love those paintings of which most of them are very familiar to me, but 'Winter in the northern woods' I did not know and it's very beautiful. Then 'Far from the madding crowd', one of my favorite books too, hope to see this film too in future.
ReplyDeleteA great photo of you and the Koala bear, haha, you were just thinking about his claws on your arms.
Snow scenery is really pretty, isn't it. I didn't know the Harris painting either, although I am familiar with his work. It is really quite special, I think. I have downloaded 'Madding Crowd' to my kindle - first read it years ago, but need a new copy, to read it all over again.
DeleteSo true re the koala, he was definitely digging in those claws :)
Good heavens - I knew you were getting the cold spell as well, but really, snow in the tropics - whatever next :)!
ReplyDeleteWell, not quite in the tropics, Sarah Liz, but definitely within the border of Queensland, if only in that bit that curves southwards. Apparently the last good fall at Stanthorpe was in 1984, a long time. It is slowly warming up here, and the dreaded Westerley winds subsiding.
DeleteYes, hopefully it will be milder this week - I think we are all tired of this cold snap. You did the right thing going to the movies and having a cuppa afterwards - inside and warm. I love the British costume dramas - a genre they excel in.
DeleteLove that photo of you. I once saw an exhibition of the Canadian 7 and loved it. We don't seem to get a lot of Canadian art over here. We saw Far From The madding Crowd too. So lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Katharine. I love that you also saw Madding Crowd; it makes me want to go to see S.W. England, right now in Summer.
DeleteWe don't see the Canadian art over here, either, which makes the Group of Seven that little bit more interesting and unique.
Always so lovely to visit your world my dear! I so agree with the gifts of blogging and fin dining like minded people all over the world! Thank you dear for sharing yours!
ReplyDeletexo
Tamera
Dear Tamera, thank you for visiting. Blogging has been an unexpected gift in my life, at a time when we are the 'sandwich generation', with responsibilities touching four generations of family. In a busy week, blogs such as yours are a haven, a peaceful place for friendship and enjoyment. xo
DeleteLook at you in that picture! I love it!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Patricia...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
ps...you are in my sidebar♥️
Funny little thing, wasn't I?
DeleteOoh, thank you, love being on a sidebar :))
Cheers, P.
We are experiencing the other extreme 93 degrees F here in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing all the fun Assie animals. Can you imagine what the first settlers thought of them? Probably didn't know whether to make friends or run away.
Oo, 93 F is a bit warm - quite like it is here in Summer.
DeleteYes, the first settlers were amazed at the Australian animals, particularly the platypus. I have never seen one of them in the wild, but we saw one in an acquarium at the zoo. It swam so fast that despite many attempts I could not get a clear picture of it. I have heard that the settlers thought the kangaroo was much more violent than they really are - it must have been quite confusing all round!
Late, late again with my comment, I apologize.
ReplyDeleteSnow. It would be ok, if it lasted only a few days..
Darling pictures of kangaroos!
Yes, I totally understand, snow is only fun in small quantities! My daughter has some tricky experiences getting around when it is metres deep everywhere. Isn't that kangaroo/snow picture unusual - such a sight almost never seen here.
DeletePatricia, you had SNOW - lucky you! We never get the snow here, but a few times it came our way. The kangaroos are wonderful, and the picture of you and the kangaroo when you were little is such a treasure. The tea shop sounds lovely. I went to a tea shop with Jess and Nel one time, and it was such a nice experience. I love the snow paintings, but I think my favorite was "winter in the northern woods." That's so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always such a delight to read, Patricia. Very interesting and charming at the same time.
oh, and thank you so much for mentioning our blog. That means so very much to me.
love, ~Sheri
The snow was in our State, Sheri, but not our city. We did not take the three hour drive to see it, although our neighbours did!
DeleteTotally agree with you about the 'Winter in Northern Woods', which is a great painting, very popular with everybody. Thank you for your kind comments, and you are welcome :) xx