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

STORMY WEATHER

When I was growing up, my mother always said 

'October is the Month of Storms'...

and back then it was.

After weeks of extreme dry and a day of record-breaking heat (41C in our area)

we had a storm this afternoon.  

 The flowers I bought yesterday will get a good start in life:

Halloween this week, so today I put up some Canadian decor sent by my daughter..

I also took my courage in both hands, went to the Mall, and bought my first mastectomy swimsuit.

It's taken me over two years, there was a psychological resistance, and it was hard to walk past many lovely costumes which could not be mine.

I had a choice of two styles, and this fitted me best.  

Unexciting, but eminently suitable for a grannie with a prosthesis!

Pleased I've crashed through another barrier...

In other news, the first of the yellow cosmos plants my friend J. gave me before we went travelling burst into bloom:

Pretty little thing, isn't it?

Mirdidingkingathi Juwarrnda Sally Gabori 'Dibirdibi Country' 2012

This is my current favourite painting, on display at QAGOMA.

Mirdidingkingathi Juwarrnda Sally Gabori is an indigenous Queensland artist.

She was born around 1924 on Bentinck Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria off the far north Queensland Coast.  

Bentinck was inhabited for thousands of years by the Kaiadilt people, and officially 'discovered' in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstensz.

Gabori began painting in only 2005, already in her 80s, and quickly gained recognition for her vibrant works, apparently abstract, but in fact landscapes of her country through her mind's eye.  

Earlier works are a riot of gorgeous colour, but this more restrained recent work in dark navy blue and white, is astonishingly powerful.

Gabori says 'This is a big saltpan on my husband's country on Bentinck Island'.

Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam passed away last week.

He was 98, and was PM in the early 70s.  

They were exciting times, and during his term many profound changes to Australian culture swept us into the modern age.

When we visited Parliament House in July, I liked his portrait, by Clifton Pugh, best of all the line-up of former Prime Ministers.

And speaking of people in their 90s, my Dad turns 94 this week.

Astonishing!!

Wherever you are, I hope the weather is kind.

And have a good week

XXXXX

SUMMER WHEN IT SIZZLES

Greetings, on this hottest of hot days -

It was 38 degrees here, and the hottest October day in nine years...

When I went outside around 2.00 pm, it was like walking into the Fires of Hell!

Jacarandas are in full bloom, weeks earlier than usual ...

I've had the girls over, for a day of sewing and telling...

Look at the block R made me for my French-themed Friendship quilt...

Eiffel Towers, French Perfume: what's not to love?

The gifted R also has been busy making a gorgeous and charming scrapbook:

Textured and painted cover, with buttons, flowers, and trinkets.

I wish I could construct something like that..

L finished her beautiful quilt: what a triumph!

While we were stitching, a parcel arrived containing these sweet stitching patterns from my friend Michelle Ridgway.

Pop on over to her lovely blog to see what else she has been drawing up..

I finished the pink linen dress, put lace on the hem of the lining, wore it for photos -

and studying the photos realised it looks wrong in the shoulders.

Now being pulled apart and re-worked.

A few people asked about my recent diet and weight loss.

I am certainly not qualified to give advice in this area, but I will tell you a little of how it came about.

Nine months post my mastectomy in 2012, I could not regain my former level of wellness, despite my normal active lifestyle, walks and weekly gym class.

I have been a member of Weight Watchers for 30 years, every few years going again for a while, lose a bit, eventually put it back on: the usual story.

During that period of reflection after my cancer, I realised I had to take control of this issue for myself.  Going to weekly meetings did not work for me, neither did counting the points.  I never focussed beyond the next weigh-in, and my daily food intake was to use up every 'point' of food allowed.  And I got tired of writing food diaries.

The setting of goals never really worked either, as it just seemed to put me under pressure.

Following the hospital guidelines for eating after breast cancer, I devised my own plan.  Mostly organic food, lots of fish, both fresh and canned mainly salmon and tuna, red meat only once/week, avoid as much as possible any processed food or chemicals.  I cut out artificial sweetener and other chemical additives.  The only thing I measure out is 1/3 cup of traditional rolled oats each morning.  I make it with water, and usually have an apple cut up and mixed in.

I have 3-4 pieces of fresh fruit, 3 small protein serves, cooked very simply.

Usually 3 milk serves, eg skim milk coffee, 1/2 cup almond milk, small amount plain low-fat yoghurt.  No sugar.

I have unlimited salads and steamed vegetables, and use olive oil to cook, a bit of olive oil spread or butter.  No margarine.  

I try to limit the carbs to 4 per day: the oats, 2 brown bread, and one other.

After losing the first 10kg, I gave up potato/rice/pasta at night, and don't miss it.  I avoid any carbs after late afternoon.

This is so easy to remember I don't need to write it down, or count things other than in my head.

If I deviate for social reasons, I don't stress about it. I just keep portions very small, leave quite a bit on the plate, and make the next meal or next day a little leaner.  Sometimes I do an extra walk.

There is no real goal such as a certain weight, or deadline, or special occasion, so that takes off the pressure.

If it takes another year to lose a bit more, that's OK too.

I feel so much better that I mainly focus on just sticking to what works.

There are another couple of reasons for going slowly.

My skin is getting wrinkled as I shrink - I am using lots of oil and moisturisers, and hope by going slowly it will improve with time.

The other issue is my prosthetic left breast.  They are expensive.

I have gone down one size, and need to buy another smaller size.

The good news is it is great fun catching up with old friends I haven't seen for a year or two, and seeing the astonishment on their faces!

Have a great week - and keep cool!

XXX

BOY ON A DOLPHIN

 

It took me about two years, but I finally finished my

Cardinals Christmas Cross-stitch.

Framed and hung, part of the Christmas theming.

 

 

 

Little Aussie, our eldest grandson, came to visit the other day.

His computer skills are fast becoming superior to his grannie's...

hmmmmm...

 

Do you remember that hit movie from 1957,

Boy on a Dolphin?

 

 

 

I present the 2012 version:

 

 

 

Starring Little Aussie, in the Cardinals Pool..

 

 

and, after a decent drenching from long-awaited storms,

the garden has sprung back into action.

 

 

 

 

 

With a  little help from Aussie,

I planted out a new cottage garden beside an old rose bush,

with blooms, yellow foliage, and a rosemary bush.

 

 

It is possible there was a Hobbit influence going on ...

 

 

 Happy Wednesday

 

xxx