EPIPHANY

 

The Wise Men (1900)
by JC Leyendecker (1874-1951

I trust everyone had a blessed and happy Christmas Day.

On Christmas morning, I was greeted by our favourite feathered friends, the lorikeets, waiting for breakfast in our big gum tree..

We sang the old carols at church, and enjoyed a very special family lunch at the home of our younger son.

It was lovely to have three of our grandsons to share the day, and a Lot of Lego changed hands...

We were spoilt by our children, with gifts of champagne, books, and many useful items for everyday life...

Our host even gave us a beautiful banana loaf, wrapped in a brown paper package, tied up with string... Delicious!

Do you know what this is?

A case for my sunglasses, which folds flat in my purse.  Nifty...

It opens up like a piece of origami...

Our daughter sent a new book to read, The Promise by Damon Galgut, a winner of the Booker Prize.  I am sure I will devour it very soon - when I finish the biographies of Dame Nellie Melba and The Emperor Charles I....

Do you read several books at the same time too?

There are few flowers in the Garden of Neglect these days - it is the height of Summer, humid and frequently raining...

Mr Red Cardinal is spending the holidays weeding and pruning...

Did you watch Her Majesty's Christmas broadcast?

As always, she reads beautifully and her words are well-chosen, a sad time following the passing of her husband Prince Philip, after 73 years of marriage.

I thought her red dress was stunning...

Kate the Great gave us a lovely surprise, playing the piano in concert.

So accomplished.  And in red.

(I wish I had made myself a red dress for Christmas.  Maybe next year...)

The last of the pansies. 

I have an annual competition with myself, to keep pansies going into the Summer until my birthday (November) and even better, until Christmas.

This little one made it on Christmas Day.

Pansy season is, alas, now over until next Autumn.

Thank goodness for geraniums, such stalwarts, even in Summer.

Happy New Year to you and yours

XXXXX

CHRISTMAS DAY 2020

 

Christmas was a simple but joyous occasion at the Red Cardinal house, after our sudden change of plan.

Sadly, the pandemic is continuing to spread in Sydney...

We celebrated with the tiny twins and their parents...

and also with a new grand-puppy who has arrived at the home of our younger son in Brisbane:

Of course, I watched the Queen's Christmas message, a rather solemn one -  

the United Kingdom has seen great loss and sadness this year, and our thoughts are with you all.

Her Majesty looked very chic in purple crepe, set off by the stunning Queen Mother's Shell brooch.

I also like to follow the Royal Christmas cards, and my pick this year is the one chosen by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their adorable little family (I admit a soft spot for a family of three, just like mine, two boys and one girl).

We went out to the post-Christmas sales today, and finally bought a new cook-top and a new dishwasher.

Both our existing ones are literally on their last legs...

Now to await the delivery man...

And the installation man...

And the man who will safely remove the unsafe old stove...

And the man who will put in new benchtops to accommodate the new, modern, differently sized cooktop...

And the Electrician who will then connect the new stove...

Which should bring us up to Easter....

In the meantime, I am reading a gift book, 'Mary's Last Dance'.

Mary McKendry, wife of Li Cunxin, known as Mao's Last Dancer in book and film.

Former stars of the Houston Ballet, they are now based in Brisbane where Li is Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet.

Their first child, Sophie, was born profoundly deaf, and received a Cochlear Implant as a toddler.  The book follows Mary's career as an Australian ballerina, dancing in London and Houston and her early retirement to help her daughter.  She is now Ballet Mistress at the Queensland Ballet.

It is a beautifully written and inspirational book.

Perfect for Summer reading.

Take care wherever you are in this holiday season.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. 

Thank you all for your support and beautiful comments throughout the year.

I value your friendship more than I can say, and especially so during the past weird and challenging year of 2020.

Here is a little shot of my Canadian grandsons, which should help we Australians to feel a bit cooler in the current high humidity.

My daughter tells me they are already rolling out the Covid19 vaccine in their area...

It will start in Australia in a month or two.

Let us hope a vaccine brings us some safety, peace of mind, and the beginnings of a return to normality in the coming year.

XXXX