FLOWERS AND FASHIONS

As you may have guessed, we are once again safely home in the Red Cardinal nest...

where the red geraniums on the deck remind us of Italy..

and the rose bushes are happily in bloom -

obviously didn't miss us at all.

Spring has arrived in our absence.

I didn't spend all my time in the Art Museums of Europe, you know:

Padua: shoes, bags, and creamy cupcakes - what's not to love?

I was also out there taking really bad photos of the Fashion Shoppes..

See the Spanish steps in the reflection?

Ah, Valentino..

Apart from the red leather jacket in Florence, it was so hot in Rome I bought a Tee shirt at Desigual:

which reminds me so well of the architecture and the streets of Italy..

Loved Desigual so much, I bought this huge scarf, because I love it,

and because I need another sewing project.

Be warned scarf, you are going to become a dress..

Of course, we were determined to keep the weight of our baggage down,

but earrings don't weight much - gold copies of ancient coins from Rome,

and blue Murano glass from Venice..

Scarves are weightless, and when I saw this near the Ponte Vecchio, I knew it would be happier living in Australia with me..

We loved eating strawberries and cream in Italy;

bought a little ceramic reminder, and this fruity length of tablecloth fabric in Florence - so cheap compared to here.  

I enjoyed visiting the Petty Guggenheim Collection in Venice so much,

I bought this yellow coffee mug as a reminder..

A couple of weeks ago I enjoyed a post on Handmade by Carolyn

about the 'Travelling Yellow Skirt Freak Show'..
a long yellow skirt which has been going around the world from one sewist to another,each one adding their own slight embellishment.
At that point in time, I had never noticed anybody wearing such a skirt -
but then came Rome:

I saw this one in the Roman Forum, standing on the Via Sacra,
and five others in two days.
Wonder if they'll turn up in Australia?

It could work with this indulgence,
found in a foreign airport duty free, a long way from home...

Have a great week

XXXX

I ENTERED THE JUNGLE

Happily, I returned to rehearsals at my Ladies Choir today, after nearly 4 months absent.

It was great to be back amongst friends,

and on this crisp wintry morning to sing

John Rutter's version of All Things Bright and Beautiful.  Which they were!

I wore my new purple jeans.  Of course...

with black sweater, pink bag, and favourite new scarf.

As the lovely Mette, of Metscan, points out, we can wear the brights in Queensland,

(aka the Sunshine State).

With the cooler weather upon us, I figured all self-respecting snakes would be hibernating under a log in the bush, and ventured into this jungle, a part of the Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect rarely visited.

I found several bunches of red berries; very Christmassy

and lots of giant pink hibiscus. 

 Funny how such a tropical flower blooms in winter.

In other news, the Petite Garcon in Canada needs some summer PJs.

Even in the land of snow it apparently gets hot sometimes.

This Grannie has been to spotlight:

Hopefully a little pair of size 3 jamas will be winging their way across the Pacific in a few days.

Have a super weekend!

RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Today was a special day in the Red Cardinal household.

We celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Someone, way back when, decreed that the 40th is the Ruby Anniversary.

I was more than happy to go along with this suggestion ...

Mr Cardinal gave me a pair of antique ruby earrings:

I love them to bits - they are the first rubies I have ever owned.

I gave Mr Cardinal a pair of rose gold cuff links:

I think he likes them - he wore them out to dinner last night ..

Today we had a small gathering of friends who were at our wedding in 1971 -

we looked through the old wedding albums,

and wondered how on earth we all got older,

when we feel exactly the same inside:

Black hair and 70s whiskers have become grey,

long glamourous tresses have become short cropped do's,

waistlines have thickened ...

but we all enjoy each others company in just the same old way.

Our three wonderful children presented us with a bottle of wine made from grapes planted in 1971,

and a pair of ruby glass goblets.

Even the box was suitably ruby red.

I made lots of tiny port wine and strawberry jellies,

dropping a few frozen berries into each glass.

In the spirit of these tough economic times,

(and becuse I am perfectly capable of baking it myself)

I made our favourite orange cake.

I smothered it in butter cream,

and used Queen writing icing in bright red

to do a Very Rustic 40, and our names.

Not that there is anything wrong with rusticity.

Woolworths little red roses at $10 a bunch came in handy.

In case you are wondering, with all this rubiness,

No, I did not wear red.

I wore this light caftan, with sparkly sequins.

Accessorised with red sandals,

and Ruby Earrings.  Of course.

Have a good week.