Carol's Life in Photos: Star's Wedding, War Brides, Family visits, Julian Exhibit

Here it is July 2016 and I haven't taken time to post! This has been a busy year for me and my family. The big happenings this past year, since my last post are the following: Star's Wedding to Jay Oct 10 2015, War Brides Reunion Nov 3-7, Jackie and Larry visited in November, The Julian Exhibit at the AZ Historical Society Museum Feb 18 brought Kirsten, Rob, Rowan, Dylan, Star, Jay and Karen to town, Diane visited us March 7-11, DBE fundraising garden tea was April 2, Mom's Birthday with many gatherings July 14 including a visit by Sean, Bailey and Airah from Alaska and last but not least Rowan and Dylan's summer camp in July on Mingus Mtn brought all 4 MacIntyre's to the valley for a fun visit to drop them off and pick them up a week later. In between Gary and I have been really enjoying ballroom dancing most every weekend. I will try to put pictures from this amazing past year up now.

STAR and Jay's Wedding, Oct 10, 2015

Star and Jay's wedding was wonderful, fun, unique and fit them perfectly. I helped Kirsten and the kids make all the flowers, corsages and bouquets, sweet! Jay is a good guy and they seem a perfect match.
Star was beautiful in this lovely gown and elephant necklace in remembrance of her Dad. Star and I cried a few tears missing him I have to admit. Actually I cried a lot of tears, not during the wedding, but later just wishing he was there and grieving. However, he was there in spirit and would have loved the wedding!

Grandma Dorothy and Star before wedding

Motor cycle gang escorting Jay to the big day, "Get me to the church on time"

Brother Julian gave away Star, Handsome!

Wedding attire of Mister and Jay

War Brides Reunion on the Queen Mary

Mom was reminded of her trip to the US on the SS Mariposa in 1946. We both were reminded of our family trip by ship to Australia in 1958 as we walked around the ship. Our halls on previous journeys were all creamy white as were our rooms, not the 1st class section with beautiful wood paneling we were lucky to stay in on the Queen Mary for the reunion. The Queen Mary carried English war brides and some of the brides present at the reunion had come over on the Queen Mary. The highlight of the reunion for me was when the Aussies and children sang Waltzing Matilda. Mom was the hit of the show as she knows all the words including hand motions. No one else knew the hand motions, she's amazing! What great fun!!!

Mom and her good friend and fellow Aussie Hazel Walker

Mom's suite in Queen Mary

Details from our suite

Toilet flush handle

Water handles for bathtub

All the wonderful war brides, Mom center top

Mom and I visit Joel in Venice Beach

Joel and Nicole live a short walk from Venice Beach. Didn't get to see Nicole much because she couldn't miss University classes, but we spent a whole day with Joel. It was great seeing their stomping grounds. I can see why they love this area, it is perfect for days at the beach, bike rides and roller skating. Joel took us out for lunch and the food was amazing. The high point for me was the delicious Lobster Bisque. Joel is truly a gentle giant, even I the tallest woman in my family am short in comparison to him. He is just so easy going and delightful

Joel and Grandma in front of iconic end of WWII kiss photo. I love this picture for two reasons, mural content and a very cute Grandma from the Greatest Generation with her tall handsome grandson.

Me wading in ocean

I loved the mounted police

These are the canals around Venice Beach

Jacki and Larry Visit, November 2015

We had a wonderful time seeing Jacki and Larry. I am so blessed to be a part of this family. These pictures were taken by Jacki (thanks Sis)! We celebrated Jacki's Birthday and Thanksgiving and had many sweet family gatherings. Jacki took pictures of me with my roses and the Peace Rose reminded me of it's start just before WWII in France and during the war in America. I expanded on that history and I think you will enjoy it and my Mom's never ending optimism. I quoted from one of her letters to my Dad in 1943 to illustrate the optimism of the Greatest Generation who fought or were on the home front during the War (Mom sang 3-4 times a week for the troops in Australia at bases and military convalescent hospitals)

The high point was Jacki's Birthday on November 25

Family picture at Faye and Javier's house

Sweet Jules

Rose Gardener Carol

Rio Samba in its red phase

Rio Samba in it's yellow/orange phase

Memorial Day Rose, sweetest fragrance of all

I love this rose and it's history. It started it's propagation in France. Later Hitler invaded France and, with the nursery under threat of destruction, three parcels of budwood were hastily sent out of France, one of which was smuggled out in the diplomatic bag to America. In America it was planted and tested, the Meilland family who propagated it in France had no idea whether any of the budwood had survived. Although the war was still raging in Europe, the launch date was set for 29 April 1945, in Pasadena, California. On the same day that two doves were released into the American sky to symbolize the naming of the rose, Berlin fell and a truce was declared. This was sheer coincidence. I think of all the allied troops who fought and died to protect our freedom during WW II and that generations never ending belief in success. This was verbalized by my Mom in 1943 in a letter to my Dad. She said, "someday when the lights go on again all over the world everything will be allright once more and all this will be only a memory, so all we can do now is to keep smiling and pray for a better world."

Thanksgiving. Elisa and Bill Lawrance joined us

Family concert, Paul, Mom and yours truly

Paul on guitar, Gary on violin and me piano

Christmas 2015

What can I say about Christmas??? Love it! From the time I was young and began decorating the church and lighting all those many candles on Christmas eve, church has been my favorite part of Christmas. These days of course I love gathering with family, but my favorite is singing in the choir to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ

Sleepy Addy

Elisa and Bill

Jules

Julian Exhibit, Feb 18 2016

This was advertised as "An Evening Honoring the Renderings of Julian Clark at the Arizona Historical Society Museum". Since Sept when I was approached by the Arizona chapter of the AIA and the Arizona Historical Society Museum about donating some of his vast collection of Julian's Arizona illustrations, I have been working at going through his work that I have at the house. The event on Feb 18 was to help fund the conservation of Arizona's greatest architectural work. They are interested in Julian's work because of his visual representation of many Arizona buildings, both historical and those built between the mid 1960s till his death. They also want to preserve his work because no one is doing hand drawn Architectural Renderings anymore. He was always very humble about his work and would probably be embarrassed by this. However, he would be happy that his work can continue to teach illustration techniques with his work. He always loved teaching, many architects came up to me and said, "I still draw trees exactly like Julian taught me".

Some of his fine art was included in exhibit, who's that guy on left?

Water colors of Mount Baker and Springdale B&B

Some of original renderings were loaned by Sky Harbor Airport and AZ Architects


Gathering at my home

Elsie Melgaard 100th Birthday Party, Feb 20, 2016

I have known Elsie since I was about 2 years old. My parents were building the South Phx house and ran out of gas on New Years Eve in front of the Melgaard's house (about half a mile north of us on 7th St). They always had a party on New Years Eve. Dad and Leonard became best friends. Mom and Elsie have been friends since New Years Eve 1950. Elsie picked me up at school when I had ear aches and we often stopped at their house or the Wooder's while walking home. Our families go way back. Very Sweet! Elsie is sharp as a tack at 100 and totally amazing! Happy Birthday!

Paul and Gary on guitar, Randy on fiddle

Diane Visits March 7-11, 2016

I got to see my sister Diane when she visited in March. It was great! We visited the Julian exhibit which was up at the AZ Hist Society Museum through the end of March. It had been moved from the lobby to two rooms adjacent to the lobby. I liked it in its new spot very much. We had a family dinner, but somehow I slipped up and didn't get a group family picture. We did a lot in the short time she was here, but also had time to relax in my garden and just enjoy her company.

We visit the Julian Exhibit

Diane and Mom looking at the big doodle

Union Jack Chapter planning our Garden Tea

Diane got to go with us to a DBE meeting

Plantagenet & Union Jack Chapters Garden Party and Tea

Cindy Halpern offered her lovely home for our tea this year which was April 2. Cindy and her husband worked very hard getting all the gardens ship shape and absolutely beautiful. Plantagenet chapter worked with us this year and the extra hands were great! This is a fundraiser that goes to the British Retirement Home in California and the Salvation Army in Phoenix. It is always a lot of work, but great fun also. We are always exhausted at the end of the day and often say we are not going to do it next year, but somehow we mostly end up having this most years. People who come really enjoy it and tend to stay for conversation and many cups of tea!