ORANGE

Last week we went to Sydney on some family business..

The weather was nicely Autumnal...

We found time for some fossicking - life-sized camel anyone?

Deer continue to be in the ascendancy..

I was tempted by a French country cart, but don't know where I could fit it..

On the bargain table, a new piece of milk glass..

and an embroidery, for Palm Sunday.

We dined Italian..

Daughter-in-law and Daughter-in-law to be....

The Irish Lass made Irish Soda bread - so good, must learn this one.

I discovered the Sportscraft Outlet store.

Although I've never been a fan of Outlets, this time I scored well:

Much needed black ponte pants, a white cotton sweater and a pure silk orange tunic.  80% off normal retail.

And speaking of fashion, did you like Kate's new look?

I love the grey chapeau..

In her final year at the White House, Michelle is showing evening gown perfection:

The Garden of Neglect managed to look after itself for a few days..

I can't trust those naughty cockatoos, who like to tear apart my succulents.

I thought a couple of sentinel wooden ducks might discourage them.

So far, so good.

What are you doing at Easter?

XXXX

ART AND CONVERSATION

This weekend I was invited to a fabulous lunch with a group of guides from the Gallery -

Good food, good champagne, a great venue at M's beautiful house, and the best conversation..

Virgin and Child with Saints c. 1510-20 - Triptych - Cologne School, Germany

This was not on the agenda .. but it could have been!

Currently on display at the Qld Art Gallery, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia, is

a 500-year-old Triptych, from Cologne, Germany: Virgin and Child with Saints.

In the 15th century, the artists of the flourishing city of Cologne were famous for their magnificent colours, decoration and narrative skills particularly in their elaborate oak panel altarpieces.

The painting depicts the Virgin and Child in a garden, surrounded by angel musicians and six female martyr saints of the early Christian era, each holding their 'attributes'.

In the middle ages such works were didactic, to teach the large proportion of the population who were illiterate about the Christian religion.

Symbolism was important in conveying the stories of the saints.

To the right of the Virgin is Saint Agatha of Sicily, who according to legend was martyred in 251AD after being imprisoned and tortured, including the cutting off of her breasts.  Hence she is carrying a breast!

Beside her is Saint Katherine of Alexandria, being given a ring by the infant Jesus.  She is said to have made a mystical marriage with Christ.

Left is Saint Dorothy of Caesarea, patron saint of horticulture and gardeners.

Her attributes are fruit and flowers.

On the Virgin's left are Saint Barbara, who holds a little tower (her father imprisoned her).  She is the patron saint of miners.

Next is Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music.  She is said to have sung to God as she lay dying.  Here she is playing a little portable organ.

On the far right is Saint Agnes, martyred at 13, patron of young girls.  Her attribute of a lamb is used because her name resembles the latin word for lamb: agnus.

Here is the left shutter showing Saint Henry, with crown and sceptre, an eagle and a church, and Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine who is said to have found the true cross of Christ.

Kneeling is the donor figure who donated funds to commission the Triptych.

In return for this, he becomes part of the holy scene.

On the right shutter we see Saint Peter, the Apostle and first Pope, with a large key (keys of the kingdom of heaven), and Saint Margaret of Antioch, with an attribute of a dragon representing her apocryphal fight with the devil.

There are lots of smaller symbolic details, and in the background of the central panel and the right shutter is a view of Cologne, with elements of the cityscape identifiable as real landmarks. 

The Triptych is in an amazingly good state of preservation and an excellent example of the high state of refinement in late medieval painting.

M has an amazing collection of gigantic ferns.

I asked her secret, which was divulged as 'water'...

She is obviously a more conscientious waterer than moi - our ferns have been rather dying off in the heat lately.

Bring on Autumn, I say.

We popped into the Woolloongabba Antique Centre for avocado on toast ..

and to buy some white Chalk Paint for a furniture restoration project I am planning ...

I really can't imagine what made me buy a pink heart-shaped trinket box, for a mere $7, can you?

Have an excellent week, and may the saints watch over you...

XXXX

AS TIME GOES BY

 I ventured forth to Brisbane's own Paddington Antique Centre ..

admired the green depression glass 

and birds 

and came home with a little bit of kitsch:

Two bird plates, and four metres of fine vintage crepe de chine, in a delicate powder blue not done justice by photography -

(cool summer nightdress coming up - I hate hot nights)

Meanwhile, I had another delightful catch-up with a fellow blogger:

Michelle Ridgway who designs charming stitching projects, under the name Rag-Tag Stitchin'.  Pop on over to her blog to see her cute and whimsical collection of characters..

I knew Michelle back in the day when we met at a Quilting Group. 

It was lovely to see her again and hear about her work - especially how she has developed her business.

Her designs are published in all the best creative craft magazines!

The lovely Michelle, generous always, gave me one of her excellent project patterns, and the sweetest pink 'n white felt Christmas tree decoration,
 made just for me.

Uncannily, it so happens that I am conjuring up a pink/white/silver theme for this year's decorating - how did she know?

Enjoying the Christmas edition of Country Style?
Me too..
especially the instructions for making Christmas bunting from vintage lace doileys:

Fun and quick to do - but I am unsure how to use it now ...
could look like washing on the clothesline - hmmmm
(note my white agapanthus blooming out there)

And so, today, remembering the day the changed the modern world -

I bought this pen-on-a-rope at the Texas Book Depository, back in 1999 -

It is difficult to to believe it's been 50 years ...

Peace and Blessings
XXX

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

We took my nearly-92 year old Dad for a drive in the country the other day.

Spring may have Sprung, but it is terribly dry out there,

after no rain for a couple of months.

I have seen three dead snakes on the roads in two days:

another sign of change of season, as they come out of hibernation and start to move about, with a fatal attraction towards warm bitumen.

Our destination was Tamborine Mountain, a pretty touristy spot not far from Brisbane.

With its rich volcanic red soil, the mountain is famous for growing flowers, avocados and rhubarb.

I came home with a huge bunch of fresh rhubarb for a tiny price.

There were beautiful Wisteria and May bushes all around the Mountain.

Back at Dad's Aged Care Village, I noticed a garden brilliant with red poppies ...

and other assorted pretties ...

He is certainly living in lovely surroundings.  After nearly eight months there, he has settled in beautifully and does not mention his old home.  He goes on all the outings, often to malls, markets, fetes or fairs.

To my amusement, just as we have been clearing out the house and disposing of a lifetime's worth of antiques and collectables, he has started collecting again.  Little objects d'art are turning up in his room; this week a couple of antique English plates!  Another week, a group of little watercolours! 

Then there is the bird ornament, and the pretty kitten plate ....

I wonder who I take after .........

Enjoy the Sunshine xxx