A Breath of Fresh Air

LANAI...... island of contrasts.

2012-03-03T03:00:00.000-05:00

The HAWAIIAN islands.................you just never know what you you will find. The weather changes constantly from seaside to volcano peak..............75 humid degrees as we leave the house mid-morning, later a few showers and cooling for a while, then blustery winds making the palm tree fronds blow and the coconuts tumble to the ground!

Here, on that recent day trip by ferry to the island of Lanai, on leaving the

Shipwreck Beach,

we drove up through the red rocks

to the 'moonscape' named the Garden Of The Gods.

Who would have known Hawaii even had areas so arid and non-tropical..........this was so different and quite jaw-dropping after so much green, not even a coconut palm in sight!

Driving back down toward the coast, the clouds returned and the former pineapple growing fields were lush green, and the home of horses and rolling pastures.

We stopped at this beautiful Four Seasons Resort for lunch............

........Rob, Kim, Paula, me and Bob.

.............fish tacos, which have become my new favorite here in the islands, especially when the fish is freshly caught Mahi Mahi!

Love eating outdoors - the patio was really beautiful here above the ocean.............

........and dessert was a yummy fresh lime tart with

guava honey sorbet and

crushed macadamia nuts.

A few interior shots from inside the resort...................

Much more to share with you but so little time..................stay tuned,

more coming when I can catch up!

Visiting Maui and Lanai islands, Hawaii................

2012-02-28T05:56:00.000-05:00

This is our view from the lovely house we are staying in on the island of Maui this week. Across the water, where we saw whales this morning, is Molokai.

A short walk through the garden brings us to

the small private cove with plenty of kayaks available.......

...........and the swimming pool, all very lovely.

I have to admit that I love this kind of outdoor living in Hawaii and, despite always saying I was not a lover of the tropics, this is not so bad after all! In the living area, the entire wall of glass slides open and the garden becomes part of the space where one can enjoy breakfast and other meals, or just kick back and relax, listen to the birds, and feel the trade winds gently blowing. There don't appear to be any flying, or more important, biting insects here......perhaps I am in paradise.

Yesterday we took a day trip leaving Maui and crossing to Lanai by ferry. The pleasant 45 minute boat ride included some whale spotting and I did manage to get the good pic below..........

....'fluke up' dive, occurs when a whale lifts its tail upward as it begins to dive revealing the ventral (underside) flukes.

Lanai is a very interesting island. We loved exploring this desolate beach named for a WWII liberty ship which wrecked here and has been left in the ocean, a rusting hulk battered by the relentless waves.

There were a few ramshackle shacks with interesting, think 'shabby chic' peeling paint, probably used by fishermen......

........and flotsam and jetsam thrown up by the sea.

Paula had us climb the rocks - Bob, me, Rob and Kim - for a beach shot.

More on Lanai later.......it is the former home of the huge Dole company which shipped up to a million pineapples daily when growing here. Sadly, if a Lanai resident wants to sink their teeth into a juicy, fresh pineapple now, they have to shop for one on Maui.

5th Anniversary!

2012-02-27T05:30:00.000-05:00

I'm here on Maui in the Hawaiian Islands at present.......but had to just post quickly

on my special anniversary!

I can't believe 5 years have somehow past since I first picked up a digital camera and started on the fun journey of taking photos and writing words for my blog! When I decided to have a go at blogging I was such a neophyte entering a completely new technical world. Not too many people were blogging back then and it took a while to know if anyone was even interested in reading my posts.

Looking back at what now seem somewhat blah and blurry pictures, and ordinary day to day happenings, I see I started my first blog named Across The Pond on February 27, 2007. It gradually became a place where I found so many new and wonderful friends living all around the world, and a way to continue to be creative following a career in art and advertising which I was missing so much. Almost two years ago I had to start this second blog when Across The Pond was 'hijacked' and I could no longer post photos there. So, here I continue to share snippets of life and what my eye sees day to day, both at home, and abroad.

Being a blogger changed my life, made me see the corners and colors of the world close-up through a lens.......and gave me the wonderful chance to get to know YOU! Thank you for always stopping by to encourage me to keep blogging. I love to read your generous comments, and when possible, meet you for lunch, shopping, a cup of tea, even gather together for a fun blog party! Knowing each one of you, and being gifted with your friendship, whether in person or online, has been a very special part of my life which I will always treasure. This year I will be traveling often. I hope to bring you many stories and images from some very special places around the world. Hope so much you'll continue to come along with me.

Whale watching in Hawaii............

2012-02-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Whale watching off the Big Island of Hawaii........two and a half hours on a bright yellow boat, searching the cobalt blue waters for those immense creatures, the female humpback whales, who come to Hawaii at this time of year to give birth and nurture their young in the warm waters. The males accompany them hoping to mate again before heading north to Alaska to feed. There will be up to 10,000 whales here in Hawaii over the Winter months.

Watching for these beautiful huge, yet gentle, creatures on a warm and sunny day is extremely pleasant - except when the woman with the big black floppy brimmed hat keeps jumping up in front of your camera just as a whale breaches off the starboard side!

My whale pics are not great........................catching these gigantic yet fast moving humpbacks requires a fast shutter and a much better camera than my present one.

So this time all you get are some whale glimpses, however we are going out again in a few days time here in Maui.........hopefully I'll have some better ones then.

I'm now planning to get a new camera. I think it's about time I upgraded to an SLR with a good lens and a fast shutter. I've put it off because I don't like carrying that heavy, bulky equipment, and I'm just lazy when it comes to learning new technology whether it's cameras, computers, or washing machines, ha! ha!

Our whale watching boat....a fun trip in the blue Pacific.

To Market on the Kona Coast........

2012-02-25T14:39:00.000-05:00

A quick trip to the outdoor market in downtown Kona was really interesting. I enjoyed the handcrafted items using shells, stones, and tree bark. The people were friendly and shared stories of their families who made the items.

Great looking fresh veggies, always a market must-have.................

.....beautiful leis made from local Plumeria tree blossoms,

we saw many farms across the island growing

these small trees.....

...............orchids, about the only thing

I've seen which costs less here than

on the mainland!

I've no idea the name of this stunning flower,

but it's very colorful and pretty!

More of those delicious papayas we're enjoying at breakfast - and yes, I'm thinking also much cheaper than at home!

Good Morning................

2012-02-23T14:14:00.000-05:00

...........from my breakfast spot yesterday, a surprise, a very large visitor, the Norwegian Line cruise ship, Pride of America, just outside the window.

This shot was taken from the the pool where I took an early dip. With 2,000 plus passengers and a large number being tendered onto shore for the day, we stayed away from the town center until early evening when the ship sailed away as the sun went down.

You perhaps heard on the news that Pele was grumbling on Kilauea yesterday, and there were many small earthquakes here on the Big Island. We didn't feel a thing!

Off this morning on a whale watch cruise - hope to get some pics to share next time. We fly to Maui tomorrow.

More from the Big Island of Hawaii.......

2012-02-22T05:19:00.000-05:00

Place of Refuge National Park, Hawaii......

..................a very windy spot

Note the snow just visible on Mauna Loa behind

the blowing coconut palms on the beach below.

Bob at the Hale O Keawe, Place of Refuge

Young boys don't mind the wind though, fishing

from the lava which has reached the sea is still

fun on a school holiday.

Funky little towns with delightful shopping.........and shop we did!

This salesman was wearing the usual Hawaiian shirt and

a sarong! Kim and Paula checking out a Koa wood

ukulele - Rob in the background - my Bob hanging about somewhere outside,

need I say more about his shopping enthusiasm!

Tropical color everywhere.......

Near Hawi on the northern coast of Hawaii.....today

was very mixed weather, warm and a wee bit humid,

somewhat windy again, then almost chilly for a while,

and an occasional heavy shower.......

...........the Big Island of Hawaii seems to

have several different areas of weather all on

the same day!

Our group, pic by our waitress, left to right - Bob, Me, Paula, Kim and Rob.

We've traveled together often and always have a great time.

Hawaiian sunset.

Island life..................

2012-02-21T04:30:00.000-05:00

So much to see and enjoy here on Hawaii, known as The Big Island.

Sharing some of the amazing places I've seen since arriving.

Best ever fresh papaya with lime juice for breakfast.........

...........while sitting here and enjoying the ocean.

Later, spending the days sightseeing around the island...

........famous for its huge fields of black lava stretching as far as the eye can see.

Tropical rainforest plants.

Waterfall at Akaka Falls State Park.

View across to the town of Kona from the house where we're staying.

Snow in Hawaii!

This morning our our drive to Volcanoes National Park
we noticed it had snowed on top of Mauna Loa
during the night.
Whoever knew it snowed in tropical Hawaii!

Mt. Kilauea Caldera - the most active and most dangerous volcano in the USA.

The lava flows down to the ocean - beautiful coastal scenery.

More next time............a few more days here before flying to Mauai.

Aloha from Kona..............

2012-02-18T22:00:00.000-05:00

We made it, no thanks to you know who!

Our early morning flight was delayed at San Francisco International due to Mr. President's departure..........however, with a heavy foot, our pilot managed to get us to Honolulu just in time to catch the connecting flight to Kona, Hawaii.

Flying in over the Kona Coast

Friday afternoon, we settled in at this beautiful oceanfront house where we're staying for a week, looking out to the Pacific where fishing boats and breaching whales were spotted.

Sorry no time to comment but I'm reading your all your lovely posts whenever I have a spare moment!

No-fly day, boo, hoo!

2012-02-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

The best laid plans of mice and men, Murphy's Law, it never rains but it pours etc. etc.

Well there's not a drop of rain in the city today, the sun is shining and the mountains are clearly visible across the water from Paula's windows here high up on the hillside. The airship is mechanically sound, the tickets are purchased, we are ready to fly!

Today was to be 'the big day' circled in red on the calendar. The much awaited flight over the Bay area on the Zeppelin airship, Eureka. Paula, Bob, and I were excited, especially as we couldn't do it when last scheduled in the Fall due to a last minute engine problem in the airship. There are just three Zeppelins in the world, one in Germany, one in Japan, and this one based in California.............and it looks like we'll have to wait again before gracefully flying quietly over San Francisco and capturing those special photos to share. Tomorrow we fly to Hawaii as planned.

Oh yes, why are we not going today? Well I'm glad you can't see our long faces and hear our disgruntled sighs......................Mr. President has decided to come to San Francisco this afternoon for a ~~matter of national interest~~ campaign fundraiser, and the air space is closed to all but Air Force One! Enough said!

Always time for a baguette.......................

2012-02-15T05:45:00.000-05:00

I'm awake and getting ready to leave

for the airport after a

very quick piece of toast with my

steaming mug of black coffee.

I'm just betting that you, like me, always have time for a great French baguette? Still warm from a boulangerie in France is the best....................however this is a great one to pick up when you're thousands of miles and an ocean away from the real thing!

This is the partially baked Archer Farms baguette from Target and I think it's excellent. I discovered it some months ago and usually buy two, one to bake that evening and one for the freezer. Just 8-10 minutes in the oven for a crunchy crust and a nice slightly chewy interior.

Leftovers are good for morning toast, or a quick lunch when put under the grill with a slice of cheese to melt in all gooey and delicious!

Have you ever baked your own French style baguettes? Do you do any bread baking from scratch or using a mix and a machine? If so tips for those of us who are frustrated bakers would be so appreciated.

Paris on St. Valentine's Day......

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Just a little post for St. Valentine's Day to tell

that special man in my life that I love him...........

.......that he is still very dear to me, and

that I am grateful to him for all the many

wonderful things we've shared over the years.

Even though I grew up just across

the English Channel, I didn't see Paris until Bob

took me on my first magical visit in 1968, a few
years after I'd emigrated to
the USA and we were married.
You'll have to agree, tourism was apparently much
more formal then! I made my knit suit, recall
fondly the crocodile embossed bag with the chain handles,
and although you can't see them, I was was
trotting around Paris in elegant high heels!

Bob has a big heart and is a

dear man......how he's
put up with me all these years

I'll never know!

Paris, Summer 2006 ~ photo taken by our granddaughter Jasmin who was with us.

We're standing on top of the

Arc de Triomphe de L'Étoile, looking a lot

more casual (t-shirt, backpack,
and comfy Converse on my hot, aching feet). Whew, was
it ever hot that Summer, 94 degrees at the Tour Eiffel.

Hey Bob, even though we've been to Paris several times, it's about time for a new Paris picture......how about planning another visit soon to one of our favorite cities!

A very happy, filled with love, St. Valentine's Day
to you and your loved ones.

Cheerio......I'm off again soon!

2012-02-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

I wish I could have traversed the world during the

Golden Age of travel.

The accoutrements of journeying included pretty suitcases and hatboxes, steamer trunks, leather Gladstone bags, a soft leather handbag. Fitted coats, a silk blouse, and high heeled 'court' shoes. A soft felt cloche hat pulled over a shiny Marcel Wave style, seamed lisle stockings, a choker of real pearls, and delicate buttoned kidskin gloves. Elegance was paramount as ladies boarded ocean liners to cross the pond or sail around the world.

Well, enough day dreaming about the good old days. I'm off on a trip to the islands! I'll be wearing shorts, a tee shirt, comfy sandals, and hauling the trusty wheeled duffel bag. I have just one last American state left to visit, and on Wednesday I'll be on my way there via San Francisco. Meeting up with Paula, and friends Kim and Rob, and on Friday we'll be heading to.............HAWAII!

I plan to keep in touch with you while away as long as the Internet is available - if you don't hear from me though you'll know the reason.

Oh, almost forgot, the very best part, Bob gets to come with me on this trip. He'll watch out for me while we whale watch, tiptoe over lava rocks, climb volcanoes, and go snorkeling........and do come back later to see what we hope to be doing on Thursday in San Francisco, something really exciting.......before heading out across the blue Pacific!

Gold Coast, Queensland.........

2012-02-12T16:30:00.000-05:00

Looking out from our condo at Broad Beach

I have one more place to show you from my recent visit to Australia following the sub-Antarctic Islands. Here's a look at the amazing Gold Coast and Broad Beach in Queensland, just south of Brisbane. After our stay in the rainforest with Michelle and Mark here, we were invited to visit Paula's delightful friends, Carole and Graham on the beach.

Carole, stylish and elegant, cooked an amazing dinner for us - I swear I gained 5 lbs. that night alone! The following day she, and charming Graham, arrived in their off-road vehicle and drove us to see more of the scenic countryside and rainforest hinterland. In the above pic you can just make out the distant ocean, and tops of the beachfront high-rise buildings, from the higher areas we visited.

Descending from those high hillsides, we could see the building where we were staying in a very modern condo, it's the taller of the two strange shaped towers in the center.

Loved seeing more rainforest, and having lunch in a lodge where those adorable pademelons were munching and hopping outside the window.......................

Many people were hanging out here because Hang Gliding was the big sport - imagine flying over such beautiful countryside with just the air currents propelling you.

Have you ever been Hang Gliding - do tell us about it if you were that brave!

On our return to the beach, we stopped for afternoon tea in a picnic area and, while Carole surprised us with the most delicious homemade cake ever - think apricots, ginger and marmalade - Graham set up the little stove and proceeded to 'boil the billy' (Australian for 'put the kettle on')and made the best cup of tea..........complete with swinging the 'billy' in circles - you Aussies reading this will know what I mean!

That evening we all 'dressed to the nines' and walked to RockSalt, an amazing restaurant near the beach, with excellent food and service. In the above pic taken from our condo balcony, you can glimpse the beach as the sun goes down..........another wonderful day in Australia before we headed home the next morning.

I really loved Australia and the delightful people I met during my much too short visit.

If only it wasn't so far away!

My life with SuzAnna's Antiques..............

2012-02-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

I did not intend for this to be such a long post! I guess I got carried away as I often do when talking about things I love in life! It's rather dreary and cold out so I'd planned to stay home and attack my to do list. I'll be off on the road again very soon - more about that in a later post. Well, the list hasn't received many check marks yet, and you get to read my ramblings instead!

Corner of my living room

Those of you who have visited here over the past several years know about my delightful relationship with SuzAnna's Antiques, the owners Susie and her daughter Jenny, their charming Bruce the ever helpful husband/best daddy in the world (Jenny's words), former partner Anna whom we miss but who is now an important addition to the equally important USO where she works, and all the girls who work there including, on the weekends, my granddaughter Jasmin. What a great learning experience for a young teen who rarely gets the opportunity to 'have a job' making some cash for all the things young girls need/want! I hope Susie and Jenny know how much their kindness has meant to Jasmin and our family. When SuzAnna's first opened in 2007 I was one of the first customers I think....and the then 'little girl' Jasmin often accompanied me, spending time organizing the large button container, all while listening to we 'big girls' bantering back and forth about our love of the old, chipped paint, yellowed lace, and decorating with items that had already experienced life years earlier.

My dining room

Let me tell you, before SuzAnna's - and visits to the French countryside where my family live - I was a neat polished wood, mixed prints, traditional yet to me somewhat boring decorator, since then everything has changed.....for the better, in my home and in my heart. We each know what we love and tastes are different, which is great. I learned to let go of many things I didn't enjoy resting my eyes upon in my home. I painted everything I could in colors I love such as grey-blue, slate, cream and warm whites, as in this pic of my now dining room. I added lots of linen fabric on the beds and in simple drapery panels, covered chairs and pillows in authentic grain sacks I brought back from France or found here in antiques shops. I had off-white slipcovers made to cover older but still good sofas and chairs. I have a great husband who didn't mind me changing things..........except paint the woodwork, sigh! Oh well, a girl can't have everything her own way....and I did eventually get to hang a chandelier in the kitchen, a huge win! Nothing I changed cost a lot of money because I bought nothing brand new, nothing from the very pricey popular home decor shops.

My kitchen

SuzAnna's has also been the catalyst of so many of my precious friendships. Because I started taking photos there, and I'm an amateur photographer who still uses just point and shoot digital cameras, I used my earlier blog Across The Pond, then this current one, as places to share them, what else could I do with so many pictures of old stuff? I then had people come up to me in grocery stores, or stop me at the Post Office, or comment on my blog, saying they recognized me as Mary from Across The Pond and that they would like to meet up with me to shop at SuzAnna's. I made new friends who came from across the state, even out of state, all because of SuzAnna's Antiques. So, I can't stay away for long, even though lately my visits have been too short, and far too few, as it seems I'm always off somewhere a bit exotic.....thanks to my best friend Paula! Yes, Paula's even come from San Francisco and visited SuzAnna's, and brought her daughter, and her dear friend.....imagine that, California gals coming East in the freezing cold of Winter to shop, ha! ha!

My daughter Kim, me, Jasmin, Kim and Paula from California - at SuzAnna's just before Christmas 2010

Paula and her daughter Julie trying on vintage hats at SuzAnna's - Winter 2010/11

Anyway, there's always something new and exciting going on there, and tons of antique and vintage treasures you want to bring home to start a new life in your own home. Yesterday I stopped by with my dear friend Vanessa - she who keeps me young and active. If you don't have friends younger than you........go out there today and make some, it's something really special and makes life wonderful. We started out sharing a booth, then each had our own as we needed more space. We shopped in a frenzy each week to find treasures to paint and upholster, turning them into pretty things we hoped customers would love. Miss it so much, but life got in the way for a while, meaning travel and school these next two years, but we may be able to do it again later, I really hope so.

At SuzAnna's I collected the two paper lanterns I've had on hold - the near and far ones in the photo. They will hang illuminated in the gazebo come Spring, replacing the faded stars in there now. I think they will be lovely while sipping a cup of Empress Grey (my new fave tea - only available from M&S so I'll stock up when I next go home) at 4 o'clock on a warm afternoon. Later, while we sip an aperitif at dusk, watching the last birds of the day at the feeders, followed by supper as the garden fades to darkness and quietness settles around us, I know I'm going to love these lanterns.

I was loving this cute shelf painted a soft green - unusual shape looking almost like a corner unit but lays flat against the wall. If only I had another wall...........it would've come home with me yesterday!

I always check this larger corner unit......because it's mine! I used it in my booth and now have it at SuzAnna's Antiques on consignment because, not only do I not have any spare wall spaces, sadly I don't have an empty corner in my cottage either! It hasn't sold yet so yesterday I marked it down.......it's a great solid wood piece, well actually in two sections which makes it easy to move, and I know someone out there really would love this piece in one of their cottage corners!

Above pic shows the corner unit when it was in my much missed booth. It's painted a cool white, with a little chippy distressing. It has much of the very popular Gustavian/Swedish look, especially with the diamond-shaped panels on the lower doors. Oh my goodness, I really want it for myself seeing it here in these old photos. Bob, please build on an addition.....with bare walls and a couple of empty corners!

Before leaving SuzAnna's my eye rested on this adorable vintage panel - the colors on the embroidered PJ's and little dog are just beautiful..........I know a certain grandma-to-be a (we had breakfast together just yesterday!) who is awaiting a new little boy's imminent arrival in her family......and this would be perfect for a pillow cover, or framed, in the nursery.
If you're in our area - Raleigh, North Carolina - and out and about this weekend, be sure to head over to the Vintage Village on Durant Road to enjoy SuzAnna's Antiques; The Two Old Birds; Vintage; and the other fun shops......you'll have great time and there's so much to see and buy at reasonable prices to get your home ready for Spring. Be sure to tell the girls Mary sent you!

Update: A lovely lady, who knows me from my blog, apparently went to SuzAnna's Antiques over the weekend and took my cabinet home! Wow, I'm so thrilled to know it will soon be snuggled in a special corner right here in town. Thank you dear reader - I hope we get to meet soon.

Easy baking, quick dusting, and flower arranging.......

2012-02-09T00:30:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Loretta was popping over for afternoon tea. So, yesterday morning I was ~~throwing~~ tossing together a few ingredients for that favorite little fast French cake, Gateau de Mamy. Two apples, two fresh eggs, the best butter, flour, sugar baking powder....and the always special two tablespoons of ground almonds. European baking uses lots of ground almonds, that's why their pastries are so yummy and, no kidding, perhaps the nuts make them healthier!

While the baking was going on, warming up

the kitchen and smelling homey and delicious, I was looking

about the room.

Do you do that? Let your eyes do a panoramic roll around and think about things such as, 'I wish I could afford new cabinets', or, 'just a couple of lower cabinet pull-out shelves would be great so I don't have to get down on my knobbly knees to find the casseroles and less used items lurking in the depths'.

How about, 'heck, I really need to get up on a chair and dust off those Ball jars sitting on the hutch'.

So I did.......it was an affordable option after all!!

While up there I happened to spy these out in the back garden.......more daffodils blowing in the cold breeze. I dashed and cut them, added the last of the almost 3-week old Trader Joe's white mums - still looking pretty good - and voila, a new ~~vase~~ jar of country-looking flowers to enjoy.

I can survive without new cabinets, current ones are working just fine and 'fit' with the cottagey look of this small house...............but those pull out shelves are a definite 'maybe' in the coming months.

Do you plan to buy colorful flowers to cheer up your home for the weekend........or are you lucky enough to have a few early blooms in your garden?

Beyond the pale.......

2012-02-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

I know I bombarded you with color from the colonial cities of Vietnam. Everywhere was so brilliant in the rain, the yellows and reds so intense, the blues and greens so deep, color saturated every visible surface.

However, there were pastels too. In Hue, while stepping out of the rain under cover, my eyes rested quietly on painted wood, bleached by time............

.........the old wooden rafters trimmed with carved tassels in shades of pink, cream and green, a stairway of greyed green.

............washes of color remain on walls and arched doors, the tiles worn down and faded by thousands of footsteps over hundreds of years.

In this open temple, the stone arches and pillars were carved and painted with dragons, more tiles of grey and pale terracotta.......

.....the colors had faded but were so beautiful.

Speaking of lovely tiles and muted colors - I loved these behind the rusting gate. An island house on the Saigon River, a gate of iron with perfect patina ............and a sweet but rather skinny cat, who didn't seem to understand me when I called "here, kitty, kitty".

When/if you travel to other countries, do you notice the domestic animals? There were dogs everywhere in Thailand and Vietnam - some very strange looking breeds. They were very quiet and stood perfectly still at the busy roadsides, staring into space. Meanwhile, the cats were........well just like cats the world over, independent, laid back, and not ready to befriend people who didn't speak their language!

Winter neighborhood walk............

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone, and their dog, seemed to be out

walking last weekend.

It was such beautiful weather to be outside.

I joined in...............even though I was minus a dog.

'Carolina Blue' sky................a squirrels nest,

old oak leaves and pine cones hanging on.

Fiery Pyracantha berries and leaves. Oddball
outbuildings in a neighborhood yard.....

...........Texas star, a lighthouse shed, a windmill.

The bright Winter sun peering through the woods.

Still beautiful dried weeds, small touches of green.

The creek so quiet, no babbling over the rocks.
No snow yet to bring a Spring flood.

Images from my iPhone last weekend.
This weekend was nowhere near as pretty, cold wet and dark all day.
I didn't get to walk at all ~ but I did catch up with all my blog friends who
also seemed to be snuggled up at home.

Fashion......stuff dreams are made of.

2012-02-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that I adore fashion? The clothes, the shoes, the boots, the hats and accessories.

My younger days were full of dreams to one day be a designer.........or be able to afford other designers' clothes. Instead, my mother, who was an expert dressmaker, spent hours at her old Singer treadle machine (and later a newer electric model which she never really liked), sewing Vogue Designer patterns into gorgeous clothing. When I emigrated to America she continued to sew for me.

In the sixties and seventies, brown paper wrapped parcels, tied with string and sealing wax, took up to 6 weeks to come by ship across the pond. Later they flew over the heaving Atlantic, and were plonked on my doorstep within a few days of leaving the old country. We never lost a parcel in all those years and I was always thrilled with everything she lovingly stitched for me.

Eventually I became an accomplished dressmaker myself - thanks to good training at home and in school - and I made myself some lovely clothes, again only using Vogue Designer patterns, especially Calvin Klein. Now I rarely sew except to do a few alterations, shortening a hem, sewing on buttons etc. I may make a pillow, a table cover, or some other home decor item, but dressmaking is just a memory.

I guess, like most women of a certain age, high fashion is mostly inappropriate for me now. Skimpy, see-thru, very short, form-fitting - not an ounce of extra flesh permitted - and sometimes downright ridiculous styling.

Instead, comfort has taken over my wardrobe. Still stylish when possible - I love Vera Wang's affordable bits at Kohl's, and the I.N.C. international styles at Macy's - but now I mix them with the classic and traditional such as good cashmere sweaters and cardigans, J.Jill's always great stylish jackets, and Coldwater Creek's comfy, non-wrinkle basic pants for travel.

I kick up my heels in nothing more than a comfortable mid-heel shoe, but secretly crave a pair of rusty red 6" heels for a fun night out - and painfully sore calf muscles for several days following no doubt! I like these bronze-brown Joan & David oxfords, my favorites this Winter, back in style again now, and I've had them several years.

I rarely wear dresses, however my Winter comfort piece - discovered at REI - is Horny Toad's warm, fleecy hooded sweatshirt style dress - so cozy worn with leggings, or over skinny pants tucked into my much-loved tall riding boots.

Yes, comfort matters, but one can be stylish with a little effort. I still love to flip through Vogue - there are some very talented designers out there following their dream. I wish them success.

Do you look at fashion magazines? If so, which ones?

Are you dressing for comfort these days?

People of Saigon, Hue, and Hoi An, Vietnam....

2012-02-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

Although I sometimes feel rude poking my camera into the faces of strangers.....it is the only way to gather images of the beautiful people of all ages in these amazing countries. Some people refuse to be photographed, hide their faces, turn their backs. Some stretch out a hand hoping for payment, not because they're greedy, more likely because they're hungry.

The street cleaner outside our Saigon hotel

Making a living on the Saigon river

Our boat driver on the tiny creek in Saigon

Saigon family out for a spin

It's all about young girls and beauty in the Saigon market...........

....and colorful clothing

Beautiful, smiling ladies in the Hue market....they actually enjoyed having their photo taken.........can't you tell!

Traditional, elegant ladies in Hoi An

A lot of cooking takes place on the sidewalks and in the market place in most Vietnamese cities and towns, people don't eat at home for lack of a kitchen......

......and the choice of food - vegetables, fruits, fish, meat - and the spices and sauces to make them zing, is awesome!

Young girl leaving the Buddhist temple in Hoi An

Gentleman relaxing at Thu Bon River in Hoi An - love his red ribbon

Woman in the typical crouching position paddling her small boat on Thu Bon River, Hoi An

The 83 year old woman I showed in an earlier post, making a living on the Thu Bon River, Hoi An

Happy Hoi An lady cooking

Young Hoi An boy carving rubber stamps in a minuscule shop

No age limit on motorcycling, even in the rain......I want the polka dot poncho!

Men at the market in Hoi An

Dining alfresco - waiting for the dinner crowd to show!

Smiling Hao........our great guide in both Hue and Hoi An - modeling traditional Vietnamese hats....he was such a good sport!

Thank you Hao for your thoughtfulness and patience, holding umbrellas over us, carrying our bags, all while showing us first the beauty of the city of Hue, and then your glorious home town, Hoi An. Paula and I loved it all, even in the rain!

On a breeze.........

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Mother Nature is playing tricks on us. Gardening books confound us at the best of times, playing with the green corners of our brain, telling us when to seed, plant, prune, harvest. Then to add to the confusion, along come daffodils, much earlier than ever known in these parts.

Today I picked these from my garden. They look pretty growing, adding bright spots of color among the drab mounds of crinkled brown leaves. However, what if it does suddenly turn really cold, ice and snow fall covering everything.......like last Winter. The daffodils will vanish under a white blanket.

I'm enjoying these few inside. I move them about - kitchen island, coffee table, this little corner table..............places where my eye will catch them in their freshness. They are no longer dancing in the breeze, but they are giving a lot a pleasure inside.

"A host of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze".
William Wordsworth

Colors of Vietnam..........

2012-02-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

More images I captured while enjoying the wet afternoon in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Words aren't really necessary.

Hope you just enjoy the colors of this lovely place.

Beautiful Colonial City of Hoi An, Vietnam...........

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hoi An is a city of 120,000 inhabitants on the coast of the South China Sea in South Central Vietnam's Quang Nam Province, and is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Long post with lots of photos - but a beautiful, very colorful, place I just have to share with you.

I first learned of Hoi An from the lovely Kim who has taken care of my much traveled feet for several years! She does a great pedicure and prepares me for those long journeys I've been taking. When I first met Kim she was quite shy and spoke very little English. Each visit to the salon, while being pampered in her chair, I encouraged her to talk to me to help her with her English. It was extremely difficult to understand her at first, however, over the years, she has opened up and never hesitates to chat non-stop now........not just to me but to everyone. When I told her where I was headed last December she was very excited.

This beautiful old city is Kim's home town. She left years ago moving here with her husband. She now has a delightful daughter in the 6th grade, but she has not been able to return for a visit home in over ten years due to the cost.

Once the busiest trading port in Asia, between the 7th and 10th centuries, Hoi An controlled the strategic spice trade and with that came tremendous wealth. Today's boats still have the same hull shape as those used then.

Many people in Hoi An still make their living from the river. This woman, whom we were told was 83, expected payment to take her photo.

If you've seen the movie "The Quiet American" starring Michael Caine, much of it was filmed in Hoi An and this bridge was shown several times.

During the 16th and 17th centuries the town was divided with a Japanese settlement across the 'Japanese Bridge'. This unique covered structure, built by the Japanese, is the only known covered bridge with a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side.

Traditional architecture in the old town area.....

.....and plenty of places to shop.....

...............especially for the shoe addicted!

Local crafts, especially silk lanterns......

.....lacquer paintings......

..........memorabilia from the war years.

Although much of Vietnam was ravaged by war, Hoi An managed to remain untouched. As you wander the mostly traffic-free streets of this ancient seaport, it's not hard to imagine yourself amidst the merchants of the 18th century.

Lots of healthy snacks from the ladies in their rainwear.......

........and plenty of what appeared to be perhaps less healthy snacks..........

......I'll take just a banana please.

Colorful restaurants......

........beautiful pagodas and temples........

Despite showers much of the day, we loved walking through this extraordinary jewel of a town. Like me, I'm sure you'll be amazed by the brilliant colors everywhere. This was a glimpse of the colonial past, a Vietnam that no longer exists elsewhere.

******

Before I left for Vietnam Kim asked me, if time permitted, to visit her much-loved cousin Huong in Hoi An, and I couldn't disappoint her. We had time for just a quick visit to her dressmaking/tailor shop before heading back to Da Nang airport to start our long journey home.

I hope so much that Kim can visit her lovely home town in the near future......her family is waiting for her. I know only too well the feeling of being torn between countries. We each try hard to embrace the land where we have chosen to settle. As the years go by it becomes easier, but deep down we are forever tied to the land of our birth and our childhood, and often our hearts ache for the family members and friends we left behind.

What I'm reading...............

2012-01-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

Happening to glance across at the titles of the current stack of books on my nightstand, I realized I'm on a world tour every time I hop into bed. Yes, I read several books at one time, and I always read before I sleep. I'm already excited at thoughts of traveling to these much-loved places this year. As for Tasmania, I was just there, but I want to know much more about that mysterious distant island. I picked up Nicholas Shakespeare's book at a used book shop last week and am finding it most interesting.

How does one read a pocket guide in bed you may well ask? One page a night to familiarize myself so next time I can spot and identify quickly.......many of those African birds are fast on the wing!

What are you reading? Do you have more than one book going at a time?

More from the rainforest, then heading for the Gold Coast.......................

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

During the evening at this beautiful place Paula and I were treated to many lovely things................a delicious Asian inspired dinner with grilled prawns prepared by Michelle and Mark, enjoyed outside on the deck, several (yes one too many for me I think - but it was so luscious!) glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, and the night sounds of the rainforest, late-calling birds, croaking frogs, flitting fireflies, whooshing lizards, slithering snakes, and the hopping pademelons.

Prior to dinner, dusk fell quietly and were taken on a walk down through the sloping rainforest, picking our way along pathways, down rocks and wooden steps, along a trail well-worn by those who embrace nature and the wonder of being outside in the wild places. The lizards crossed in front of us, the air became damp and cool, but down we went, through the ancient trees, homes to huge staghorn/elkhorn ferns............

.............until we reached Cave Creek a tributary of the Nerang River, and the Natural Bridge which was formed by a waterfall pouring through a pothole in the rock and eventually creating caves.

Difficult to get pictures at night, but here is the cave which is home to a colony of glow worms, a truly wonderful sight to see. There were also a lot of bats living here!

Leaving the lodge was really heart wrenching.....so lovely was the scenery, such delightful hospitable hosts to chat with, splendid and unusual territory to explore. I was really sad to leave so quickly.

Michelle and Mark took us on a scenic route to the coast enabling us to see more of Queensland's stunning Springbrook Plateau...................

Love these place names

..............the highest mountain with the pointed summit is Mt.Warning, part of an ancient volcano and the first place on Australia's mainland to receive the sun's rays each day.

We stopped here at the general store for morning coffee..............

....pretty gardens in back of the store....

.....mama swallow and babes nesting above our heads.....

.............and the most delicious mini-bananas for healthy snacks, very different in flavor from the monster ones we often see here in the USA.

Before too long we could smell the sea air and we arrived at the famous beaches of Australia.........

............beautiful, sometimes dangerous, with sharks and strong currents often found along this coast. In the above image, taken from the the dining deck of the famous Currumbin Surf Club on Elephant Rock where we had lunch, our final destination is just visible beyond the shore, the towers of the beachfront high rise buildings of Broad Beach.

Elephant Rock, Currumbin, Queensland

Next time........meeting more friends, enjoying the coast, and returning to the country one more time before flying home.

Postscript: Almost forgot - what was the creepiest of the creepy crawlies? How about a leech!!!!!! Yes, my first ever encounter.........attached itself to my foot whilst in the rainforest and scared the heck out of me when I was sitting at breakfast and wondered what was itching. Not nice at all - glad Mark was there to help me remove it!

Down under........it's not all surfing!

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm concentrating on a very special place in Australia.

After disembarking the Orion in Tasmania, enjoying charming Hobart, then seeing the sights of Sydney, Paula and I flew to Brisbane in Queensland.

First adventure took us inland where we were invited to stay in the country with Paula's charming and hospitable friends, Michelle and Mark. It was there I actually got to see the rainforest. I'm embarrassed to admit, I didn't recall this type of landscape even being an option on this dry continent. I was usually at the top of my class in Geography decades ago, I loved learning about other countries, and it was taught as a very important single subject in English schools back then. It's so sad that now many young students don't even know where countries are, let alone their indigenous flora and fauna.

Michelle and Mark have the most spectacular acreage tucked up against Queensland's Springbrook National Park in the sub-tropical rainforest, beneath the breathtaking rim of the Springbrook Plateau. Water is supplied by their own waterfall...........

............and at their pond we enjoyed visiting with ducks, geese, and the young Belted Galloways added recently to 'mow the grass'.

I awoke early morning to a distant crowing rooster and the most spectacular views from my window.

A light rain during the night had rinsed the grass and flowers making them sparkle clean and bright at dawn. Hydrangeas and agapanthus - my absolute favorite garden blues.

The wildlife was............well WILD!

How about peering out the bedroom window at 5:30 AM and viewing mating Pademelons. Anyone even hear of Pademelons before? They were certainly new to me and are timid smaller members of the kangaroo family. When Mr.P noticed my camera poking through the window blinds, he was soon hopping away across the meadow while Mrs.P was left looking quite surprised.

Birds were everywhere, vocal ones such as Kookaburras 'laughing' far off in the trees.......and magpies sharing breakfast on the deck.

I love the morning visits to my own feeders at home by our colorful small red cardinals and occasional bluebirds....

.........but brilliantly hued wild parrots at your garden feeders are quite different. Seemingly merry birds, and quite well behaved, it was delightful to watch them as free-flying garden birds rather than caged pets.

The huge tropical tree ferns and palms were stunning.

Michelle and Mark have made beautiful gardens around their property, adding their artistic touches to stunning natural beauty which is visible everywhere.

I truly believe I could sit in this beautiful place looking across to the distant mountains forever!

Isn't he gorgeous?

Reflection in Michelle and Mark's riverbed.

Next time....caves, glow worms, creepy crawlies, before leaving for the coast.

Weekend Treat.......

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Does this happen to you?

A quick trip to Trader Joe's for a few food items for the weekend.............but there, right inside the door, are the flowers saying "please take me home". Beautiful bunches of the freshest flowers at prices we can afford. A nice bunch of alstroemeria for just $3.99, or mixed bunches of blooms from California that we here in the east haven't seen in our gardens since early Autumn. This pretty informal bouquet from the west coast, a bargain at $5.99, included many of my favorites. It jumped into my cart alongside the salad greens, veggies for a stir-fry, box of warming oatmeal, and came home with me for the weekend!

Only problem, where to place them. I love flowers in the dining room, which is also where I write my blog! So, one day on the table, another on the Welsh dresser - they get moved around and enjoyed wherever.

Hope you have something pretty for your eyes to rest upon this weekend.

Sensational Sydney...................

2012-01-26T12:15:00.000-05:00

G'day mates! As it's Australia Day, I'm sending greetings to all the lovely new Aussie friends I made whilst on board the Orion expedition ship, and in terrific Tasmania, sensational Sydney, and brilliant Brisbane.

Above was the view from our hotel room on Circular Key overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge and the vibrant waterside restaurant area called The Rocks.

Views from the Concierge Lounge windows were of the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour.

Here we go, another day sightseeing from the top of the bus - this time an open top 'Hop On-Hop Off', and although very humid and hotter than h--- out there, we wanted good clear pics!

Loved the mix of beautiful historic buildings, such as the domed Queen Victoria Building, now somewhat dwarfed by modern skyscrapers..........

......my favorite billboard image with the great actress Kate Winslet.....

........more architecture spanning years of building a great city........

....Paula snapping the lacy wrought iron balconies....

.....tall bronze Queen Victoria Monument in Queen's Square is a copy of the colossal one in Windsor, England. Her Majesty is holding the Sovereign's Orb and Royal Sceptre.

Very unusual large birds hang about the city buildings, alongside the seagulls. These are the Australian White Ibis - definitely not the usual pigeons one sees in cities. They have become a bit of a nuisance, especially when stealing from lunchtime picnickers in local parks - apparently they're partial to pastrami on rye sandwiches!

Despite enjoying city sights, nothing beats leaving the heat and getting on the water.......

....hopped off the hot bus and headed for the wharf, choosing the calm round trip ferry ride across the harbour to Manly in the northern Sydney suburbs, noted for its great beaches.........

........great 360 views of Sydney, the surrounding homes, and boating life, and again........

.........that amazing building known the world over, the fabulous Sydney Opera House.

Later in the evening, after dodging a few showers, we were thrilled to meet up with Paula's delightful friend Fiona, who took time to drive quite a distance into the city to meet us for dinner at a great restaurant named Pony in The Rocks district......

...........then took us on a walk around the Opera House, thanks Fiona, I loved it all and was amazed to learn about, and touch, the millions of Swedish tiles covering the shells in the chevron pattern. Great nighttime views of the harbour and bridge - although hard to get good images with so many lights in the dark.

Interior foyer of the opera house building.

Yes, Sydney is a fabulous city to visit.......definitely hope to return some day and spend more time......

........but soon we were flying away over Bondi Beach and heading north to spend several wonderful days in the Brisbane area.

I'll soon share the wonders of the Australian Gold Coast and the rainforest....think surfing and kangaroos!!!

Last days at sea - arriving in Tasmania...................

2012-01-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't been there, and perhaps won't get there, it is a long way, thought I'd share my brief November visit to Tasmania, which was delightful.

On the way to Tasmania our captain took us sightseeing. Although very rough water often makes this impossible, our visit was perfectly timed and, way out in the rough Tasman Sea, we viewed Pedra Branca, home to thousands of breeding sea birds. With not a single sighting of another ship during almost two weeks at sea, you can imagine the feeling..........a rock, a small island, and resembling a ship no less. We grabbed jackets, rushed to the deck, hung on to whatever to steady ourselves, and cameras clicked nonstop. Another special treat on board Orion.

Tasmania at dawn from our balcony.

Next morning, as the sun came up and the waters calmed, we glimpsed Tasmania. Still another island, but one with the vibrant city of Hobart, lovely towns, many people, shops, restaurants, maybe even a Starbucks. (Later I discovered Starbucks is no longer in Australia - their coffee was not strong enough!). Somehow, all those things were not hugely exciting or even felt necessary any longer. I just loved everything about being on Orion and didn't want to disembark. The remote and tranquil islands, only Chatham being populated by its tiny community, made such a lasting impression. I felt sad knowing I will probably never visit those distant islands and their wildlife again - it was the trip of a lifetime.

Leaving the many friends, both passengers and crew made on Orion, we had just one day to enjoy Hobart. After checking in here - harbor view from our hotel window above - we hopped aboard the 'Red Decker' for a morning city tour to learn more about Tasmania's somewhat tarnished past as a British penal colony in the 1800's, then named Van Diemen's Land.

Being a Brit myself, I'm shocked at what I'm now reading (I picked up two books while in Hobart) as to how the British government acted regarding convict transportation to Australia. Men, along with many women, who had done nothing more than perhaps stolen a loaf of bread, a few eggs, or a goose, to feed their children who were starving due to the potato famine in Ireland and the industrial revolution in England, were give seven year sentences and a 3-4 month horrific sea journey to the other side of the world. Most never returned or saw their British families again. Fortunately many survived and made better lives for themselves, eventually starting new families once they gained a 'ticket of leave' and freedom. Many were the ancestors of the stalwart and charming Australians we know today.

............From the top deck of the bus, I loved viewing the buildings.........

.....the homes and gardens with abundant roses......

..........and schoolgirls wearing uniforms and boater hats, reminding me of my very formal school attire in England many moons ago!

Later, while enjoying a tasty waterside lunch here.................

...........we were thrilled to be joined for a chat by the talented Kathy and Terry - members of Orion's topnotch crew, our musical entertainers and just a great fun couple - taking a quick break onshore before leaving for sea again later.

Colorful fishing boats around the harbor, and many waterfront places to buy/eat great seafood.....

.............all fun to see. However, at 5 PM I rushed back to the hotel room to get a last look at Orion. With her horn sounding, she slipped her mooring, and sailed slowly back toward the sea in the early evening sunlight. That was such a strange feeling, knowing she was leaving without us......I really wanted to be on board.

I watched for a long time at the window until she disappeared from view, envying the passengers who had boarded in Hobart for an around the island week's wine tour.

Last glimpse of Orion sailing toward the sea.

Instead, Paula and I drowned our sorrows here.....

.......two old friends, surrounded by maritime paraphernalia, sitting in a rowboat.......

.....it wasn't Orion's elegant dining room, but we enjoyed a great fresh seafood dinner and a bottle of wine, as we only had a few steps walk back to the hotel!

Next stop will be....yes there's more....a quick visit to the exciting city of Sydney.

Ride 'em buffalo girls...............

2012-01-24T00:30:00.000-05:00

More riding lessons in lovely Thailand, and not on an elephant this time!
Can you believe the crazy things best friend Paula gets me up to when we're traveling together!

Let me introduce you to Mr. TONG, a 5 year old (a teen in buffalo years) albino water buffalo. According to his 'valet' he has strong leadership skills and is always eager to learn new things.........hopefully transporting silly tourists is on his favorites list!

"Giddy up" Mr. Tong...............it was awesome, and much closer to the ground than way up on my sweet but huge elephant Mokasoup, view here and here.

This view, from our suite, is of the spectacular rice paddies of The Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai, where these water buffaloes work. Staggered planting allows visitors to see rice in all its growth phases. The rice is also planted further apart to enable appreciation of the stunning sunsets reflected in the watery fields.

The harvested rice is donated to local Hill Tribe villagers through the assistance of Prince Bhisadej Rajani. This Royal Project, initiated by the King of Thailand, is to motivate farmers to grow vegetables, fruit and flowers, or produce handicrafts, rather than continue in the now diminishing opium trade which has been largely eradicated since the inception of this project.

This is the usual coloring for a water buffalo - he is named Mr. Thae and is the baby of the group. Although young, we learned the lady buffaloes pay a lot of attention to him because of his good looks. Just something special about those younger guys!

Paula on Mr. Tong............she actually rode him on our very first morning at The Four Seasons. I admit I was a bit nervous about hopping on. Can you blame me, it was my first close encounter with these big 'ole guys. Several days later, after conquering the heights of elephant riding, I was brave enough to try just about anything!

A buffalo talisman purchased at the Buddhist temple Wat Doi Suthep on the side of a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai. This one I brought back for a special boy I know - he loves zebras but I think he may just like water buffaloes too!

Daily Job Description for The Four Seasons Water Buffaloes -

8:00 am Start work
8:30 am First bath by the buffalo butler
9:00 am Tour around the Resort to greet/socialize with guests
11:00 am Nibble grass near the rice barn
12:00 pm Lunch (2 baskets of delicious grass)
1:00 pm Work in the rice paddies
3:00 pm Second bath by the buffalo butler
4:30 pm Second tour around the Resort
5:00 pm Finish work and go home to rest/relax

Sounds like a great life to me!

Australian Blackbirds..............

2012-01-22T22:30:00.000-05:00

I bought an Australian magazine in one of the airports down under on my way home in November. Always like to check out current fashions and home styles in locales around the globe.

The magazine was in a plastic bag and attached inside was a free gift, a cute box containing these........awesome Aussie blackbird paperclips!

There's even a little 'clothesline' with two big push pins so you can string 'em up and display photos, art, to do lists, your artist friend's lovely butterfly tag........anything your heart desires.

Draped the line across the vintage secretary in the guest room........I can almost hear those raucous blackbirds in the trees.

Decoupaged box made by me years ago, that was when I stayed home and had time for arts and crafts, instead of gallivanting to the ends of the earth!

Magical Macquarie Island - Part III

2012-01-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

This wonderful little island, just 34 kilometers long and up to 5 kilometers wide, has a maximum altitude of only 433 metres, yet its astonishing abundance of wildlife makes a huge impression on those who hop out of the Zodiac boat and paddle ashore. So pull on your wellies and parka and come along!

Here is the final episode of my November visit to Macquarie Island, last stop on the journey to the sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand and Australia.

The sunshine continued after the morning snow, this alone was very unusual. We felt truly blessed to see the beauty of the land, and the colors of the sea, in crystal clear southern light when we headed back to shore for the afternoon expedition around the Sandy Bay area.

The Kings were still plentiful and enjoying an afternoon stroll along beach.......

......and we were permitted to join them in 'Penguin Alley' where of course they had the right of way.

Love the molt on the one on the right, has to be a lady wearing a perfect scarf like that!

Meanwhile, our first close encounter with Royal penguins happened at the shoreline. What fun these birds had playing in the surf.

This one was obviously checking out the ladies.............

.......made his choice, then proceeded to offer her a nice smooth pebble as an engagement gift......

.........whispering sweet nothings and complimenting her on her elegant coiffure no doubt..........

............and whoops, before you could say how about a nice dinner out first, there was more of that afternoon delight going on in the shallows!

Continuing along the beach, we passed a long line of Kings standing in the sunshine, and then proceeded to climb up the more gentle sloping cliffs via walkways constructed to protect the native flora.

With no trees on the island, plants and megaherbs provide sheltered nesting habitats for burrowing birds. Macquarie lies in the path of the 'Furious Fifties', the winds that circle high southern latitudes, unhindered by any continental landmass.

I walked here alone, leaving one group and, before joining the company of another at the top, was able to just stop and take it all in. The silence was softened only by the breeze and an occasional bird cry. I admit I became very emotional seeing such raw, unspoiled nature all around me.

When I turned and looked, the view inland was breathtaking. At my feet was a Royal penguin rookery with thousands of birds on their nests, most protecting an egg.

Royal penguins are found only on Macquarie Island, no other place in the entire world. They breed in colonies scattered across the island and it is estimate there are about 850,000 breeding pairs.

They build their nest by making a shallow hole in the sand or a weeded area, lining it with plants and stones. Two eggs are often laid but only one chick survives. The egg is kept warm by both parents for 35 days, in rotating 12 day shifts. After hatching the male cares for the chick for 10-20 days while the female brings food, krill, fish and squid, for both. At about 20 days the chicks form a creche for warmth and safety and the parents continue to feed it 2-3 times a day. When the chick is 65 days old it will have adult feathers and head out on its own.

It was hard to leave this beautiful place...............it really did feel like tilting on the edge of the world, wrapped in almost indescribable natural beauty.

Interesting penguin facts:

They have been around for 50 million years
The first ones lived in the Antarctic, New Zealand and South America
The biggest fossil penguin ever discovered stood 5 feet 8 inches tall - no modern penguin is that tall
Penguins differ from all other birds in two respects - their wings are really flippers, and they do not fly
There are 17 species - two live in the Antarctic, the rest are scattered throughout the Southern Hemisphere. There are no penguins in the Northern Hemisphere

The next three days were spent crossing the Tasman Sea - referred to by Australians and New Zealanders as 'The Ditch'. A rather rough 900 miles to Tasmania.........and then the welcoming sight of Hobart in the early morning light.

Hobart, Tasmania at dawn from the cabin.

Hope you enjoyed coming along with me to the sub-Antarctic islands. It was an incredible journey.
If you missed Part I of magical Macquarie Island click HERE
and for Part II click HERE

Soon I'll share Australian adventures. Not a penguin in sight but other interesting birds, unusual animals, and of course delightful people.

Beauty from afar.................

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

In my mailbox this week......from across the pond!

Have you met Eileen? Her blog, Drawings From Nature ~ her pen name is Milly ~ is definitely one of my favorites.

Her treasure hunting walks along the shoreline of Cumbria on the northwest coast of England, are brought to life in her amazing art.

Eileen walks the shore almost daily, no matter how cold, windy, wet......but rarely ever really hot being that far north. She pulls on her wellies, bundles up warmly, and just gets out there in search of nature's little treasures. I admire her so much.
In 2011 her ambitious weekly venture was to draw and paint something from nature picked up along the shore. An awesome body of work, her fifty two pages of beautiful illustrations were successfully completed end of December............I could hardly keep still waiting for each one to appear.

Feathers, shells, oak leaves and acorns, berries, petals and blossoms blown toward the beach. Crabs picked clean by hungry birds, a dragonfly or butterfly whose short numbered days were over. Seaweed fronds both wet and dry, Mermaid Purses, fish washed up on the sand never to return to the rough cold ocean, even shards of pretty china and pottery washed ashore from ships perhaps.

Eileen's work is so detailed. Every frond, feather, scale, and vein is delicately rendered by her fine brushes and pens. When colors are added they are exquisite, true to nature's palette.

I purchased some items from Eileen's ETSY shop ~ the tags depicting English oak leaves and feathers, and a folder of her larger art cards. These art cards with feathers, shells, dragonfly etc. I was already familiar with..............as on a damp early morning last Spring, after my overnight transatlantic flight, I met her in person very briefly in an English railway station cafe, along with a mutual blogging friend, Delila from Finland, who had come to visit with Eileen. It was much too quick, just time for a cuppa, a hug, and an exchange of lovely 'blog pal gifts'. Mine was the folder of Eileen's beautiful cards ~ what a lucky day!

Eileen's package in the mail contained my purchases and some lovely surprise items too ~ the beautiful dimensional butterfly tags, some stamped tags, and a delightful bookmark.

Eileen's designs have also been printed on fabrics, to see how absolutely gorgeous they are ~ go here

..............and the end of the story is that I did actually have another brief meeting with Eileen, and Delila, when we visited Beatrix Potter's Lake District home, Hilltop, on a perfect English sunny day last Spring.

I hope 'brief meeting' will not always describe our get-togethers..........I want to spend more time and perhaps walk that awesome Cumbrian shore with Eileen. I have my Wellington boots at the ready!

I love the Winter weather..............

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

......................if only real Winter weather would get here! Much too warm, hit 65 yesterday. Rain rather than snow last night. Brilliant sunny, mild morning now. Birds and squirrels busy on the feeders. I'm having my breakfast too...........hot, healthy oatmeal with strawberries and blueberries. Love my linen napkin with the silver crown, thanks to Rachel Ashwell. Why not be a queen even when eating lowly porridge!

What do you eat for breakfast?

Magical Macquarie Island ~ Part II

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever met a person who doesn't love a penguin? I know I haven't.

Please note: This is Part II of my visit to Macquarie Island. Part I can be viewed HERE - it was posted over the weekend when apparently my comments were not working. As I don't know whether you saw the first part I'm linking back to it as you may enjoy it.

Penguins look comical when they walk, waddling along in an upright stance and, with their white front and black back, appear to be wearing tuxedos.

It was molting time for King penguins when I visited Macquarie in November.

"Hey there, you up front...............isn't it about time you bought a new coat? I'm getting embarrassed walking the shore with you looking so raggedy".
New feathers are so small and tightly packed they look like scales, because of this penguins can move through the water sleekly, and excellent insulation is provided.

The penguin is happiest when in the water. When Summer comes to the island and time is spent on land, penguins molt their feathers and grow new ones. Splendid swimmers, with this new plumage they later return to the sea, diving deep, up to 800 feet, and may stay down for 18 minutes. They push forward with their wings which become flippers, and steer with their feet, reaching speeds of up to 25 mph. They find all their food in the sea, living off their fat deposits during their time on land for the breeding season. Only two natural enemies, the killer whale and leopard seal, are fast enough to attack them in the water.

Beautiful sleek new coats..........testing the water....

............or taking a beach stroll, a shadowy strut to show off perhaps.

A high proportion of the world's handsome King penguins (second in size only to the Emperor penguin found in Antarctica) breed on Macquarie Island. Sadly, they were exploited for oil in the 1800's and their numbers decimated, however, in recent years they have returned and formed a colony of over 3000 breeding pairs.

Part of Macquarie's Sandy Beach colony

Paula, and Orion's First Officer (note, crew get blue parkas!) get down and dirty to meet and photograph the King youngsters. These are last season's chicks, now almost as big as their parents, but still with their fuzzy brown feathers. Rules include no touching the birds, however they sometimes touch you, which is OK.

Extremely inquisitive, these cuties crossed the demarkation line - we were not allowed to pass into the busy rookery - to visit with us! They checked out our cameras and Wellington boots. Note the mass of molted feathers everywhere.

My new best friend ~ photo by Paula

Next time in Part III, follow me along with the Kings to Sandy Bay for a visit to the amazing Royal penguin rookery, and more water fun.

Antiquing at the Vintage Village............................

2012-01-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

A special hello to the sisters, Debbie and Susan, the Two Old Birds who run this cute antiques shop of the same name at the Vintage Village here in Raleigh.

Unfortunately Debbie was home fighting bronchitis - get well soon dear - but Susan and her DH were minding the shop, which is looking amazing. How about that fabulous long French footstool, love that piece!

Anyway, yesterday afternoon I threw on warm clothes, leggings, a snug scarf, fingerless cashmere gloves so I could snap pics for you, riding boots, ~~mounted my trusty steed~~, plopped into the preheated seat of the Avalon (love that feature on these chilly days), and ~~galloped~~ drove on over to SuzAnna's Antiques to check out all I've been missing after several weeks absence.

First a stop at Vignette which is expanding constantly and full of quaint treasures thanks to Gail, Laurie and two new dealers. I checked out the hats, definitely for warmer weather - vintage versions of the trendy 'fascinators' being worn to weddings since William & Kate tied the knot last year........

.........then moved on to SuzAnna's Antiques. This vintage steamer trunk from the days of smaller ships 'crossing the pond' (not 13 story cruise ships acting like floating cities - and yes, I will actually be on one very soon, and am hoping it doesn't tip over!), was made by Hartman in the style of the famous Louis Vuitton trunks. It is awesome, especially the beautiful fabric pocket with the art deco pattern woven into it. If only one could travel like that today instead of chucking it all into a utilitarian duffel bag to conform to airline rules. This would be eye-catching in a studio for storing art and scrap booking supplies, wrapping paper, fabrics etc.

These very unusual and delightful paper lanterns caught my eye. I have the two narrower ones on hold as I think they will take the place of my two sad looking faded stars in the gazebo come Spring.

If you're in the vicinity, hurry on over to SuzAnna's Antiques, and the other charming Vintage Village shops - everything vintage and tons of antiques too.......and, if you go today, you can wish Susie of SuzAnna's a very happy birthday which is what I'm doing right now......"HAPPY BIRTHDAY dear Susie, and many, many more".

Edited: Yeah, think my comment thingy is back with this post......and along with it a whole new way to blog! I didn't request it but guess Google is now thinking for me!

Magical Macquarie Island ~ Part I

2012-01-15T00:45:00.024-05:00

Long ago when I read poet Mary Oliver's words,

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

With your one wild and precious life..............

November 3, 2011 ~ first view of Macquarie Island ~ the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) station to the left.

...................I had no idea I would some day be leaving the safe comfort of my day to day world behind, and taking my precious life to adventure in the wild and unfamiliar region of the sub-Antarctic Islands.

Words, even pictures, cannot truly show the amazing beauty of Australia's Macquarie Island Nature Reserve.....it's a faraway place where one has to stand alone in the silence and breathe it in.

Just a speck in the vast Southern Ocean, the island is almost brand-new in earth science terms, appearing above the waves less than 700,000 years ago. It achieved World Heritage listing in 1997. Geologists, archaeologists, ornithologists, expeditioners and ecologists are the few people who visit here......a lonely spine of land described as 'one of the wonder spots of the world'.

With precipitation 300 days a year, long periods of clear skies are rare here, but breaks in the clouds can bring short bursts of sun..............so we were lucky to arrive in brilliant early morning sunshine. By 8 o'clock we were riding Zodiacs for our landing at Sandy Beach near the ANARE station.

Welcomed by many basking locals................

.......and smartly attired birds.......

.........we came ashore, bundled up warmly in those red parkas, to spend the morning in this amazing place.

Gentoo penguins with their distinctive red beak and white eye-flash are quite timid birds and stay on the island year round. Breeding on the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands, there is a population of about 5000 breeding pairs here. Sadly their number is dropping, due most likely to over-fishing of their prey.

Four species of seals breed on Macquarie. Of these, the southern elephant seals are the most numerous having recovered from the slaughter of 19th century sealing when, after the fur seals were decimated, they were targeted for oil. It's estimated that now over 3000 cows give birth here each year.

Southern bull elephant seals are gigantic weighing up to 3000kg. The ladies are quite petite next to them, just 300kg, as you can see here where a little romance was going on later in the afternoon - November is the end of the breeding season. The young one was pushed from its mother when this bull, the 'beach master' made his choice from the many ladies lounging around. They breed in 'harems' with the strongest males controlling a harem of up to 50 females. Their name comes from the short trunk-like nose of the males.

Wouldn't you just love to know what those King penguins were saying?

This picture above gives you a better idea as to the size of the bull seals compared to the King Penguins...thankfully they live in harmony on these beaches.

Well, nothing lasts for ever. It was quite a shock when the sun disappeared and, although not really cold, because it was almost Summertime in the southern hemisphere, snow started falling..........

..............and I haven't seen another snowflake since that day. Where is our Winter?

The storm was brief and gave another dimension to the surrounding landscape. Soon the sun reappeared and stayed with us the remainder of the day.

Late morning we returned to the ship for lunch. Orion then repositioned a little further along the island to Sandy Bay for the planned afternoon expedition.

In my Macquarie Part II post, I'll share more photos of the beautiful penguins, their breeding grounds, their inquisitive youngsters........and how they love to have fun at the beach!

Dear readers. I've noticed that since yesterday the Comments link has disappeared at the bottom of this post! Perhaps you stopped by and wanted to make me happy with a little comment, I love to get them, but were unable to do it! Yikes, Google seems to be at it again, changing things and leaving many of us in the lurch - several people are complaining of this same problem. As I haven't been able to come up with a fix myself I'm just hoping the Google crew get their act together SOON!

Edited Monday - seems to be OK now - comments enabled on my new post of today - still don't think you can comment here on this post though. Guess Google decided to switch me over to their new format, now I just need to learn how to blog again!

The beauty of Thai Celadon...................

2012-01-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Arriving at Baan Celadon in Chiang Mai, Thailand you are immediately surrounded by the most amazing shade of green.............here at the entrance it's visible in the outdoor display of large pots and the tile pathways.....

..........even the plants share in the gentle color, and these brown dragonflies were certainly a new species to me.

Although this is called a factory, it seemed more like a quiet and peaceful studio where artists were creating beautiful pieces of stoneware.

Artist carving the delicate design into the stoneware

Celadon is a high-fired stoneware with a wood ash glaze, handmade by a traditional process to resemble opaque jade. Jade is a natural, very strong stone, said to bring the owner good luck and success. Celadon is thick and strong but also delicately crackled under its glaze, and this creates its unique beauty and value.

The artists used extra fine brushes to add color to the designs on the pieces.

Practical items made for daily use include cups and saucers, bowls, plates and trays.

This elephant is decorated in the ancient Thai tradition. Local crafts people are self-taught, or learn their skills through informal education passed down by their families....

.....and after the final firing it will take on the beautiful shade of celadon green, with the vibrant colors of the hand painted decoration, such as in this large completed elephant statue.

Another unique and very beautiful Thai traditional craft. I could have spent much longer here.......but of course would have really needed yet another suitcase.......and yards of bubble wrap!

How do you do it? Kitchen organization that is..........

2012-01-13T07:15:00.030-05:00

How do YOU get rid of stuff that's cluttering up your home, your life........your kitchen?

You know, all those plastic leftover containers lurking in the nether regions of the lower kitchen cabinets.......when these days you try not to cook such huge pots of sauce, stew, chili etc. that they then require ladling into plastic boxes and are left to lurk in their next home, the rear of the freezer. Just how many teeny tiny containers of my homemade pesto are back there too? I noticed the date 2009 on one - come on now that is ridiculous! I need to defrost those Italian babies and make a nice linguine with pesto and freshly grated parmigiana reggiano, FAST!
Whoever needs 500 plastic spoons, forks and knives; a zillion straws; 50 packets of wet wipes; plastic sandwich bags of numerous dimensions; and three jumbo packs of brown bags....................when you no longer have kids/grandkids in the house packing school lunches, and you are not into, or don't have the time for, artsy crafting projects, OR have plans to go picnicking with a loved one every day for the rest of your life! Whew, pardon the lengthy sentence, I got carried away by my stuff!

So here I am, cleaning out 'hell's kitchen' on a dreary day, and yes you do see the iMac on the kitchen table - my DH's peripheral office. Now that's a whole other story about stuff that I won't even go to in this post. Let's just say it irks me big time and is a bone of contention between us. Bob dearest, I know you'll hate me when you read this!!!!!

I refuse to share the really nasty pictures - piles of accumulated stuff from the lower cabinets, outdated jars and boxes from the upper. The above items (note the neat labels I made some years back when I apparently had free time), were stored on top of the 'frig, in a vintage metal basket which looked quite lovely, however that's a really stupid place to store anything edible - it gets really warm up there. Rancid pecans are not tasty, expensive yes, but these have to be tossed! Why do I buy so much stuff for two people? I must think we are still in our twenties and raising a family instead of in our golden years and constantly trying to knock off a few pounds! Or perhaps I stockpile in fear of a nuclear attack, or Trader Joe's going out of business next week, the first option being more likely!

It certainly doesn't help that the builder of this compact cottage actually forgot to add the pantry. He must not have been a chef, or even a cook, or he would have realized there was not a lot of space in those '80's cabinets to store much of anything.

Getting there, but should I add those organizers for the wraps and bags? They seem to take up a lot space.

Still more to go through so another dreary day will be welcomed to encourage me to stay home without makeup, jewelry, and bed hair.........the bowls, platters, and casserole dishes were a piece of cake - give away half of them, then ask to be bound, gagged and tied to a chair when a trip to Homegoods is mentioned by your shopping friends. The pots and pans will be more difficult - they look so nice in their shiny sets. OMG, hear that, 'sets'. However many sets does one require to cook for two.........not even one if you eat out, and sometimes drag the family along with you! My cooking for crowds days are over...........I will have plenty of space in those cabinets soon.

More to come.........closets, dresser drawers, bathroom vanities, the attic where there's plenty of storage space but we're getting a bit long in the tooth to be crawling on hands and knees, the potting shed......I could go on and on.

Cheers dears, here's to organization. I believe the secret is to learn to let go.........and then not to bring home more stuff, right?
Are you doing your annual new year declutter? Small house organizational tips are always welcome.

A few days in paradise...........

2012-01-11T05:30:00.001-05:00

Staying at The Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand was like taking a trip to paradise........well what I think paradise must be like!

Exquisite flowers, some tropical, some country garden. Orchids growing from tree trunks, banks of pink cleome, bougainvillea gracing our outdoor sala.

Monumental trees such as coconut and traveler palms, even a pretty tree resembling Chinese hats!

Stately and often whimsical statuary at every twist and turn along each winding pathway.

Join me here for a saunter through the gardens of the resort................I think you'll agree they are truly lovely.

This was our first morning and we had a little rain shower........I believe it was to wash everything to make it sparkly for our visit. Of course we had do a little shopping until it stopped! Our suite and outdoor sala is in the background to the right of me.

Our sala - the outdoor room where we were served breakfast each morning - overlooking the rice fields and lake.

The breathtaking 'elephant walls'(see them between the umbrellas above) around the resort entrance. Each small opening in the bricks contained a brass bell.

The lamplighter filling the oil lamps ready for beautiful evenings.

Evening view across the fields from our suite toward the restaurants and pools.

Perhaps the most awesome occurrence at The Four Seasons was when the landscapers and rice field farmers - it is a working farm of sorts - finished their long day of weeding, pruning, tending to Nature.......and, during our stay, building the large bamboo floating platform to hold a giant Christmas tree for the holiday season.

Just before sunset, tinkling bells and muted drumbeats could be heard, gently, pleasantly disturbing the silence and peacefulness which pervades the gardens and fields.......

......and the procession, clothed in their traditional work attire in hues of deep ink, brilliant cobalt, and faded blues, crossed the watery fields on their way home to simple music so sweet to the ear.

Such a special and lovely way to complete the day of hard work........in paradise no less.

Meanwhile, Paula and I enjoyed an aperitif at the pool bar, quietly conversing with the only other person around, the young Thai bartender. He has worked there a few years, is a local from Chiang Mai, and doesn't want to move on. Who would? Can't imagine living and working anywhere more perfect.....................

...........than paradise.

What was I wearing in paradise that wet morning?

Grey linen rolled jeans - Marks & Spencer, UK
J.Jill old and comfy grey tee
J.Jill linen blend pullover
Baggellini handy across-the-body bag
Puma extra lightweight running shoes - altho' I don't run - these are the most amazing non-clunky looking travel/walking shoes, and so comfy. You should get a pair and soon!
Brighton bead necklace - perfect travel jewelry

Flight plans........................

2012-01-09T10:42:00.005-05:00

I really dislike driving in the morning rush hour. Also in the rain......and of course in the dark.
This morning I've done all three, taking DH to the airport for his early flight to Dallas. With the heavy traffic and sloshy road conditions, the round trip took longer than usual. Twenty minutes of glaring headlights or red brake lights on the highway to get to the airport. But, as we sneaked a quick goodbye kiss in front of the terminal, and I called out "safe journey", I was already planning a better way home!
As I exited the airport, glancing carefully at the many painted tails lined up in the early morning rain, I recalled these...............

These planes were not parked at our airport this morning, but I did fly them in Vietnam last month. In all honesty, it was a scream, and we still laugh when talking about it!

Because Paula and I were the only Business Class passengers on the two flights we took, on landing, a bus was dispatched to take us to the terminal....a very short ride. The flight attendant actually stood with outstretched arms in front of the coach section dividing curtain so passengers could not pass through into Business and try to hop on 'our bus'. Another one was sent for them of course. Meanwhile we felt really stupid sitting on the bus, hugging our carry-ons thinking other passengers would need the seats, and then leaving on the empty but for us bus. As this happened twice we realized it was an upgrade perk, along with the hot meal nicely served by polite, smiling attendants - all on a one hour flight!

Come on US carriers - you definitely need to take a page, in fact several pages, out of Asian carriers' books!

Our empty Business Class cabin - a bit lonely!

This morning's rain was manageable and I took the slow way home with less traffic and more stop lights. Driving this early in the rain makes one aware of things which go unnoticed later in the day. Things gleam and glow - street lights reflected on watery tennis courts nestled among apartment complexes, children garbed in shiny yellow slickers wait patiently at the school bus stops, dripping dogs sniffing wet grass as their hooded people hustle them along the sidewalks. Just as it became light, I noticed remnants of the Holidays in yards, bedraggled garlands, dripping icicle lights, wreaths with red bows, even a few blow up snowmen - guess those homes are hoping for the real thing before this Winter leaves.

Beautiful Vietnam countryside - water everywhere, especially in the rice fields.

I thought more about our last day in Vietnam and the road trip from Hue south to Hoi An. Several hours drive through rain, then heavy fog as we crossed the Hai Van Pass. We were given the option of the faster tunnel through the mountain. Of course we chose the alternate route with the promise of excitement and photo ops by going over the mountains. The road was poor compared to our standards, in fact quite scary in sections where roadworks were underway in very muddy conditions, and there were broken or no barriers on the drop off side of the mountain!

Along the coast toward Da Nang, still in heavy rain, we passed My Khe, known as China Beach in the gritty American TV series about a US military evacuation hospital during the Vietnam War. I loved Dana Delany in that series - she won two Emmy awards for that show.

Funny how the weather can make one see things differently, bring back memories.............even make one want to just get home and get on with all those things waiting to be done on a rainy day!

What's on your to do list this wet (well it is here) Monday?