WOW Vienna!

We arrived late at night, the flight to Vienna from London England was over 6 hours late - three cancellations of flights & a very rough landing due to a huge storm front. That same storm front caught up to us after landing & once in the taxi, our driver stopped & said that there was not visibility!   Boy was there thunder & lighting & rain, during our drive to the motel. Morning presented itself with a beautiful day for us. 

 This is our first walk about from our hotel. Bill did much planning to have everything in walking distance, he did a great job!

 This horse & horseman is facing...

 This horse & yes, there's a story behind everything! I've a good memory just short. This is your visual tour of Vienna with a few of my own captions...

 It doesn't matter where you look, there's always something to WOW you!

 And the scale is so large in size...

 And the large bronze statues  & enormous cement statues, everywhere.

So much culture---

This was one of the smallest statues that I'm standing next to!!

I'm so jet lagged-however the awe of everything keeps me going

 The lion has his tongue sticking out, oh the details that are to be seen!

 This is a ceiling covered with mesh to keep the pigeons out, looking up all day was hard on the neck.

Look at the size of these fountains...& the movement of the figures!

 Splashes of gold - adding to the richness & beauty of Wein aka Vienna

 Entertainment was everywhere! Bill told me how this was achieved, it wouldn't be magic if I told you! Must say, clever though!

 This church is being restored, it's 600 years old! We in Canada are commemorating The War of 1812, see why I'm in awe with all of this. History - everywhere!

 The quilter in me wanted to document the roof of this church, such style & design---600 years ago!!

 Colour values - colour & design, WOW! Looks like the crocheted version of the rippling wave!

 The front has had restoration, the side is covered but shows what's underneath being restored, and beside it the original yet to be restored, huge, huge, scale in the Gothic style. 

 This is the name of the church

 Look at the grandeur of buildings, next to the people

 And the ultra modern glass building...

 Looking back to the church again - WOW such beauty.

 Look up, look way up....

Miniature bronze casting of the church

A funding incentive, much needed for this enormous undertaking of restoration, to this church.

I found a small door, 600 years ago people we smaller than today & this door does look small in scale to the larger ones. 

 I just shrieked with the visual delight of natures colours!

 Gold & Grandeur

 Loved the church! WOW!

 Bill in-front of a statue that I've already forgotten the name of - must research this one. Statues & fountains everywhere, in honour of the commemoration of so many influential people & others showing brutality once you see what the figures are doing.

 This is the circle that---

 the car chase from The Borne Identity was done...

 at the Market Square. Now I will have to watch the movie again. The week before leaving I watched the seasonal ending of Ugly Betty, in ends with her in Vienna & Missing took place in Vienna too! I saw it as a sneak peak at what was to come. I was not disappointed!!

 Finally the end of the day & dinner time. Bill found this wonderful restaurant, underground! down the stairs we went & it opened into-

 this outside Bistro with the restaurant inside.

Our Dessert

 We shared a Hungarian Trifle for dessert - that was loaded with nuts!! Bill's allergy - he successfully ate around them! No Eppy Pen needed, not that we had one!
 And that concluded our first full day in Vienna - both jet lagged we walked to our hotel to recharge for the next day, Sunday. What a day indeed!!

Journey Begins...

My journey to Europe begins by taking the train, followed by a plane, then automobile! First was the train, thank you Lynn for collecting me at 7am to begin my journey & for looking after Boris & Diesel too!!

Once in Brampton-GTA I spent the very first night in Bill's new apartment, on the 27th floor! This is a view from his balcony, it overlooks the Rose Theater & Brampton's downtown. 

 I was nervous walking out on the balcony for these photos, makes my tummy flip or something, it just doesn't feel right to be so high.

I tried to get a photo of the CN Tower, it was a hazy day of 29 degrees & it just didn't show up in the haze.

 The CN Tower is there but too hazy, maybe on my return the weather may have a clearer day. Brampton has a lot of trees in it, London is known as the Forest City, however this city may be a close 2nd. It's a very clean city & has NO tagging, something you cannot get away from in London.

The flying begins on this 777  Air Canada plane...this is a pod in the 1st class. Bill cashed in a lot of his travelling points to put me here, thank you sweetheart XO. Yes it's champagne that I'm drinking & then I'm going to watch a movie & recline & go to sleep, with Bill just behind me snoozing too. This flight will take us to England's Heathrow Airport, then another smaller plane to Vienna & the journey begins...

Poor Boris Loree

 I've been taking the dogs for a free run at the dog park, however this outing was different. Nick came with me this one eventful morning. As we were strolling, we came upon a man with two dogs, a Lapoapso(?)& & a Pointer Spaniel. Well the Spaniel immediately darted for Boris,  Diesel went between the two to stop anymore of the attack. Nick & I were so proud of Diesel as he protected his little buddy we talked & walked  the park some more. Then at the end of a turn, as we were strolling & Boris & Diesel  running after one another,placing their scent everywhere,  the Spaniel saw Boris again & darted away from his owner viciously upon Boris. It was a dog fight, finely the owner had control of his dog and apologized that his dog only attacks Boxers! I was gob-smacked & replied this breed is from a Boxer! We checked Boris over & he appeared OK & we continued our walk with much talk!!   Once home and our adrenaline down, I noticed the wee man's head had deep injury & as the days would follow, his scabs would lift & more wounds would release clumps of hair! 

 Boris has been to the vet's & everything looks OK. He is scarred on the face now & it's going to take everything I have not to take a black Sharpie marker to those scars, to cosmetically cover! They're an eye sore of the hurt to my innocent Boris when I look at him. He's such a friendly dog to those that know him. Now at the park he's more interested in the people than the dogs! Diesel, well he's his our character these days...

 He has taken to the Bombay leather sofa for the leathers coolness.
 He's so cute with his toys... I took this photo of him as he hugs the Mallard Duck that was Boris's Christmas gift from his Grandparents a couple of years ago. This duck has no squeaky or stuffing in it & looks like a rag doll as Diesel. lifts & throws it across the room. 

Another view of him sleeping with his duck, his eyes open to the flash of the camera. I think Santa may put a duck in  Diesel 's sock this Christmas.

After a good chew on the rawhide, he hugs it and falls asleep...or holds it till he awakes & Boris doesn't get an opportunity to get a chew off of it!

Renovations - Oh My!

 With Mitchell gone now, the renovations will begin to get the house ready to rent again. First to remove the beige carpet that has been there his he moved in 5 years ago. These photos are all in reverse, this the ending of the work. The floor underneath is not in good shape, so lamante flooring will be installed on top. I love the fireplace but the chimney needs mending, so it's just decorative for now. 

 Boris doing his walk through. The kitchen is at the far end with an open concept design.

 Nicholas bringing in some fresh air.

 Standing in the kitchen, looking at the living room.

 The kitchen table heaped with stuff, oh my the work ahead of us.

 The kitchen, rather galley like. The ceramic floors just need the grout whitened.

 Grout cleaning in the bathroom too.

 Notice the whole in wall, Diesel was a bit bored waiting for Mitch to come home & put in a total of three holes. Those are now patched & ready for sanding & probably more mud too.

 The beige bedroom carpet has since been removed & new carpet will be laid. With the carpet out the flooring layout showed the two small bedrooms, one in green linoleum & the other in red. This is a long narrow room with a good closet.

 The living room at the beginning of the reno. Mitch's stuff to be organized for storage & shipping. That boy had a green thumb, his cactus  plants(by the fireplace) were thriving beautifully, the devils ivy was nearly dead, you could tell which plants needed water!

Nick cleaning up after Mitch. I have to laugh--as wee boys sharing a room, Nick through Mitch's things out of the bedroom  & there they sat in a heap, with Nick saying "He's just too messy", through time - the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Tiny Stitches

 I've been working on some embroidery these days. Small tiny stitches are needed & only one strand of floss to stitch with. This is a first for me, for something this delicate. Well, I guess the Alex Anderson's Noah's Ark is right up there too.  The blocks finish at 4", the same size of hoop I'm using! It will be a small hanging that will have sashing between the blocks & a toy border around it, finishing at 22" x 22".

 So cute the blocks are & they remind me of the Campbell soup kids. Those polka dots were fun.

 The stitch work is so small & compact, great to take to appointments while you wait. I'm onto my 3rd out of 9 blocks now.

Doesn't she look like on of those Campbell soup kids? Two other girlfriends are doing this project too. Bev & Lynn are at different stages & both of them do better embroidery than me. As I've heard,  "Theory will inform, but practice convinces."  This is a bit of a fun challenge for me.