To the Moon Alice: April 2010 [Venice & Giveaway]

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April Full Moon

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Hi everyone...

Welcome to April's Full Moon post ..

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A little bit of artistic license here and I have transported La Bella Luna to La Bella Venezia... Hope you don't mind.. I know I've been an absent blogger lately and wanting to bring you the rest of my Venice post and the long awaited giveaway.. I thought I'd just combine the lot ...

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April Moon Notes

The moon is full Wednesday April 28 22:19pm [Sydney time]

The full moon is in the sign of Scorpio

April Full Moon Names: Full Pink Moon, Egg Moon, Full Fish Moon

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The Last Time I Saw Venice

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In my previous Venice post [here] I shared with you my 'First Last View' of Venice... The last photo from my first trip to Venice, and the difficulty to say goodbye and turn my face from the view, wondering if I would ever be lucky enough to see it again. Well I was.. that was 1993.. and this is 1996 and my second trip to Italy...

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After spending my first week in Rome with some work colleagues, we travelled together to Venice and spent a further week enjoying the delights of this treasure. My work colleagues were actually on their honeymoon.. haha.. yes that's right I went on someone else's honeymoon.. sort of.. haha.. More coincidence we had both planned our travels at the same time.. but suffice to say we stayed in different hotels and met up during the day to wander the alley ways and squares and discover all the nooks and crannies many tourists never visit. A wonderful few days getting lost in the atmosphere and beauty and hoping some of the magic may work it's way into our very being.

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Now this might sound crazy.. but when I booked my Venice accommodation, I purposely chose a tiny tiny attic room in a small pensione just back from St Marks Square.. When I say tiny.. well the head of the bed was situated at the top of the stairs.. so close I could lean out and touch the first stair... I had to sleep about face for fear of falling out of bed and tumbling head first down the stairs.. on top of this.. this room was the only access to the rooftop where the staff would regularly come through in the mornings to hang out the linens to dry.... So.. cramped ...no privacy... but.. I had access to the rooftop.. and therefore access to a secret world full of strange views and the beautiful rooftops of Venice.. Yes.. this was my purpose... all for the view.. Of course if I had zillions of dollars I might have preferred a view of the canal.. but my little rooftop hideaway idea paid off and this is the photo to prove it!!

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A bird's eye view of the domes and rooftops from behind Basilica di San Marco.. [low flying bird!]

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And the regular view.. taken from St Mark's Square [not that there is anything 'regular' about Venice]

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The Last View
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A few days later it was sadly time to leave Venice for the second time ... It was also goodbye to my Australian friends as I was off to spend a few days with my friend Paolo in Padua, before venturing off to Florence and two weeks of language school to prepare me for the rest of my Italian adventure . After picking me up from my hotel, Paolo and I slowly made that final walk back to his car.. I think he must have thought me a bit of a fruitloop really... Living so close to Venice it was an everyday thing for him to just walk off and not look back.. But for me it was agony.. My head was spinning and stomach doing flip flops ...I'm not sure whether it was angst to leave Venice or fear of starting out on the solo portion of my trip, but either way I was dragging my feet and when we reached the last bridge... the famous Rialto... and it was here I stopped.. pulled out the camera.. and took my last view of Venice.. facing south down the Grand Canal... My Last Last View of Venice... and now my favourite Venice photo...

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The [Late]Blog Birthday Giveaway
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So that is the sad goodbye to Venice for the moment... and finally this leads me to my giveaway.. I hope you know how much I have enjoyed your friendship, encouragement and inspiration in my first year of blogging.. In recent months I've been asked a few times if I sell my 'artwork'. Well at present I'm not sure if or when I will go down that path.. It still feels oddly strange to put my work up for sale for the first time.. So toying with this idea.. I had some of my photos professionally printed.. a test run if you like. I cannot tell you how strange, exciting and surreal that felt.... As a result.. I decided I wanted to share some of these with you and thought a giveaway would be more suitable... ease myself into releasing my mania onto the world.. haha... So I have picked a few of my favourite prints.... and today offer them up for a giveaway... Both professionally printed on archive paper.. just like the big kids do.... [without the text and watermarks of course!!]

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So here they are ...

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My First Last View
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[8x10" professional print]

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And the head spinning
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LAST View of Venice

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[10x10" professional print]

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Entry to the giveaway is open to all who comment on this post

[closes midnight Friday 7th May Sydney time]

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Three Chances to Win

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1 Leave a comment on this post

and if you'd like an additional entry

2. Leave an additional comment letting me know if you are a new or existing follower

3. Leave a third comment if you blog or post the giveaway button on your blog

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I will be having another Giveway very soon for Mother's Day...

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Thanks again everyone for all your encouragement.. and may my Last Views of Venice bring you the pleasure they have brought me... and to dream.... il Sogno!!!

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IMAGE SOURCE: .. ALL photography and artwork by me [being ruby©]

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ANZAC Day: A boy Named Tom

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ANZAC Day, April 25, 2010

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The Battle of Gallipoli, April 25, 1915

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The Ode

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

Lest We Forget

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The anniversary of the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I. The day our troops bravely went into battle at the Gallipoli Peninsula, only to lose to the equally brave Turkish Army who were fighting to protect their homes and family. Today we Australians and New Zealanders celebrate in remembrance of all who lost their lives in defense of their country. It is a day to recognize and remember not only those from the First World War.. but all the wars our brave young men and women fought in..

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I was going to tell you about my family members who served in the First and Second World War and how bagpipes, kettle drums and bugles playing the last Post factor into many of my happy and sad childhood memories. I was going to tell you about my own trip to Gallipoli and the many gravestones of boys as young as 17...

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But instead, as I was looking for a family photo to post, I found this one of a young soldier named Tom. He fought alongside my grandfather in the Salonican Army during the First World War. I don't know anything else about him. I don't know if he survived and lived a long and happy life, or whether he was lost in battle. All I know is he has such a handsome and gentle face that I found myself spending hours working at this photo to remove some of the creases and imperfections it has gained over the years. Still a bit more to go.. but with each and every crease I removed, I'd look up and his eyes would say thank you...

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... so I thought I'd post him instead ...

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.. A tribute to the Unknown Soldier..

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.. representing all those who bravely fought for their countries..

no matter which side of the trenches

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IMAGE SOURCE: .. the family library of [being ruby©]

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Venice: The First Last View

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a little blue, a little pink

all the colours you can think

This is Venice!

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Hi y'all .. welcome to Part II of Venice Week. I've received a couple of tags lately which I will certainly get to soon, but as one of them fits into my Venice theme I'm tackling it now. The gracious and uniquely stylish Monika of 'Splendid Willow' has tagged me to post and discuss the 10th photo in my 1st photo directory.

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Well the 1st had only 1 photo and the 9th photo in the 2nd directory happens to be of Venice!!! Ok I can hear the non-believers out there already... but even surprising to me.. there was an orphan image of Venice sitting shyly amongst some unruly rosellas making havoc in the Jacaranda Tree... Looking sadly out of place, this particular image was one I'd borrowed from the net and depicts gondolas bedded down for the night, with San Giorgio Maggiore Island in the background... Not being one of mine, I almost ignored it, then remembered I had a similar photo I took myself, laminated and languishing in the kitchen. So as the point of the excercise was to discuss what I was thinking at the time of the photo.... a quick scan and makeover.. and..

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here is my own

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The First 'Last View of Venice'

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'Dreams of Venice'

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This photo was the very last I took on my first trip to Venice in 1993. After spending only a few days in this land of miraculous beauty, I was scurrying around trying to get in those last few photos before having to leave and say goodbye. Hoping to get a picture of the gondolas I came across this lone man .. quietly sitting and packing up his tools of trade.. Is he a fisherman? or did he manage the Gondolas? I'm not sure which .. but he had a calm stillness about him that made me stop, slow down and drink in the beauty of the moment.. To breathe in the colours of the sea and sky, changing hues in quick succession with nightfall fast approaching. To stop and watch the candy coloured visions playing out in front of me.

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Not knowing that I would return again one day, I soaked in every feeling of this moment. Imprinted the memory of this scene and each small nuance into my mind and heart, hoping it would be enough to treasure a lifetime. Then, upon arrival home, I displayed the photo where I could see it everyday.. to remind me of the beauty of Venice, the calm sweetness of the moment, and the hidden colours that are revealed when one stops and takes notice of their surroundings. A good reminder that a simple moment can become a grand memory if it is savoured and given the respect and adulation we do a 'last view'.

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For a long time this was my favourite photo of Venice. This single photo greeting me everyone morning fueled in me the hope and determination to get back to Italy a few years later. And as it lived on my fridge for a good many years, it also reminds me of the places I have lived and the people who have shared those moments, it has become part of my history and the fisherman an odd family member who's name I do not know but inspires me to travel and dream. With the exception of my grandfather, I come from a family of non-travellers.. probably more due to financial circumstances than lack of adventure... Growing up in middle class Australia, Europe is a very long and expensive distance from home. One that not all my friends had made and those that did had no plans to return....

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So a desire to travel was not instilled in me by my family, and travelling to Europe was certainly not something I wanted to do alone, nor expected to achieve in my lifetime.. It was an idea that grew from imagination and yearning.. an idea that needed daily inspiration to make it happen. It was some else's photo of Venice that inspired the passion to get me there the first time, and then my own 'First Last View' and my fisherman that got me there the second. Another trip to Venice.. another first view and another last view to once again be imprinted on my heart and remind me to yearn. Now I hope that my image will inspire someone else to dream big and travel...

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Pay It Forward

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Thank you Monika for thinking of me with this tag. And thank you everyone for such lovely warm comments on my last post helping me celebrate my blogging birthday...

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Blogging has been a true life saver for me over this past year, helping me to step out of the mundane work routine I'd become accustomed to and reacquaint myself with world of beauty, creativity and wit. It's allowed me to dream again of distant shores and the world of artistic beauty, and all your support has made it so much more rewarding. Just like my 'First Last view of Venice' .. it has reminded me to stop, slow down and drink in the beauty of the world and dream a little dream into fruition. So to say thank you I'll be having a little giveaway soon.. hopefully next post..

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But before that I have to tag five other bloggers to go forth and produce their 10th photo post!! So if they'd like to participate, the goal is to find your 10th photo in your 1st photo folder and discuss what you were thinking when the photo was taken.

I'm passing this tag onto ;

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Dash at French Sampler

Jeanne at Collage of Life

Cecilia at Desde mi Ventana

Sharon at My French Country Home

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Suzan at Old Grey Mare

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IMAGE SOURCE: photography, text and artwork - [being ruby©]

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If It's Tuesday: Il Sogno [Dreaming of Venice] & Blogging Anniversary

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Dreaming of Venice

il sogno

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Happy Bloggie Birthday To Me

Being Ruby: Being One

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Last week.. very quietly and without fanfare 'Being Ruby' turned one!!!

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Being Easter Sunday and struggling with some aches and pains, I decided to let the celebration slide till I found my mojo again.. Inspiration was sorely lacking... I'd been trying all week to think of something to post for my one year anniversary. Well today Ethel paid a visit. Ethel the mermaid. My mermaid and I think the muse of Being Ruby. She brought with her inspiration and memories of my visits to Venice. So to celebrate my blogging birthday, I created these 'Postcards of Venice'. Little dreams of life in the dreamiest place on earth. As Venice and the sea are my favourites topics, I may have more for you later in the week ... OH!! and Ethel finally agreed to a portrait...

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Here she is .. in all her glory....

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The Gifts of Blogging

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Funnily, I started this blog just to show someone else it was easy to do.. but since then it has become a vehicle for me to find and share my passions .. Long ignored passions such as art, travel and photography. I've also found new interests and unexpectedly my voice in the written word.. But most importantly it has brought me friendships ... from all over the globe. Friends that have supported me through my long working hours, cheered me on with my attempts at photography and art. Friends who see my potential even when I'm not looking myself. Some have become close personal email buddies.. Buddies that email even if I'm not blogging.. and keep me me sane through unexpected worries.... You really couldn't ask for more in your friendships, except perhaps that they lived at the end of your street to share a meal, a cappuccino or walk by the sea.... other than the physical distance, these are friends in the truest sense of the word... Who knew this would all come from simply starting a blog..

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Ok.. some of you knew!!!

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Other goodwill has come my way in the way of followers, blog mentions, awards and giveaway wins and gifts from new friends for no other reason than to share good fortune and friendship. I've even received thank you gifts where thanks were certainly not needed or expected... but those are often the sweetest of all.. the unexpected surprises that blogging brings... all capable of lifting your spirits....

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So now I have rambled on in my usual fashion.. I think It's time for me to give a little back.... One Year of blogging and over 160 posts [although I seem to have slowed down in the 2nd half] has brought me much joy and a chance to express myself .... and you have all you graciously put up with all that Ruby expression!!! Sometimes full of angst during my long work hours.. sometimes.. joy .... quite often a bit of silliness, but no matter which mood was thrown your way ... it was always greeted with cheers, good humour, genuine care and moral support, provided by you all ... so to celebrate I'm going to have a little Giveaway.. to give back to all you lovelies... and say thank you to all my blogging friends new and old!! Come back soon and I will let you know the details... I'm pretty sure one of Cathy Penton's precious charms will be part of the fun... And If I can work myself up to it... one of my own creations professionally printed and ready to be framed...

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Once again so sorry I've been missing in action and sadly missing all your lovely posts that brighten my day. I hope to be back to full strength soon.. I want to say a big Thank You to everyone who has been on this journey with me... It's been such a joy to read your comments and share in all the fun at your own blogs too.... A small community of like minded people who's aim is to express their passions, old and new, inspire and be inspired. It's been one helluva ride!!

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... see you soon ...

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IMAGE SOURCE: photography, text and artwork - [being ruby©]

Exceptions of course are Ethel's Head!!!! a little help from my friend Botticelli!!!

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Happy Birthday Kim of Bella Rustica

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[Kim's gorgeous labs enjoying a day at the beach]

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Happy Birthday Dear Kim

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The lovely and talented Kim from Bella Rustica is celebrating her birthday today

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Self described as;

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Federal Agent

Creative Woman

Animal Advocate

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I would have to include in that list

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talented

industrious

supportive friend to all who know her

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Kim is also a lover of all things Italian and has incorporated that love into her creation of beautiful homewares with an Italian flavour.. Check out her Bella Rustica blog [here] ... and her online Bella Rustica Market [here] and don't forget to wish her a very happy birthday from all her blogging friends.. Kim hoping your year is full of happiness and joy and all the good things life can bring..

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Sorry - I've been Missing in Action

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Sorry everyone I have been missing in action this week... a few things on my plate and when I have been doing the rounds blogger has been causing me grief with comments.. so hopefully I'll catch up with everyone soon ... miss all your wonderful posts that cheer my day

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IMAGE SOURCE: #1 photo by Kim - alterations by me. #2 from Bella Rustica website

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