Our Wedding - Gladiolus

I'm not exactly certain why I love gladiolus so much, but I do.

In the deep dark winter of early 2006 I found looking forward to summer even easier than normal. We'd already set a date in August to be married, so it was all down to the process of sorting details. Yup, in the midst of winter all I really had to think about were flowers. *sigh Hard life I know!

After only a very short look around at the local florists, I decided that it would cost way too much for them to provide flowers for the wedding. Oh, my infinite wisdom when into high gear here! With Vessey Seed catalogue in hand, I went though all of the possible flowers that would be in bloom in August. Unfortunately lilac, forget-me-nots and tulips were out. But glads, glads should be in.

Only a couple of months later Micah and I sat on his parents back deck cleaning and potting 200 bulbs. Yup, we were going to be masters of the garden... a feet I had never previously managed. I am still thankful to his parents for giving up over half of their veggie patch to glads.

Somehow, against the ardent warnings from one of the local gardening specialists, our glads bloomed on time. And, my goodness, did they ever bloom! I have never seen anything like it in my life. We had over 100 stems perfectly ready for the wedding, all with at least 8 blossoms fully open... some with as many as 17! Several of the stems were as tall as me, a towering 165cm! (Their normal height is around 50-80 cm for those who want to know.)

All said, gladiolus really do now hold a very very special place in my heart.

Taken by Ellis Roddick August 2006 - Reception, All Saints' Cathedral, Halifax, NS

Genoa - that's a big bathtub

I have no idea why this became a common thing in the churches of this area, but the bathtub-alter is a sight to behold. Maybe it's the need to have solid rock to hold up the reredos, maybe it's to remind us of baptism... in either case, I find it a bit odd. I'm just so used to my alters made of wood. It's the whole table analogy that makes me think of wood. Also, I like being able to move the alter for, say, cleaning the floor or, I don't know, a spacial re-design.

Right... let me take a breath. This is a remarkable piece of art. I love how everything seems to direct your eyes up. (Except for the incredibly cool floor... that's inlaid marble!) All in all, well worth visiting, though I wouldn't really want to church here.

taken June 2010 - Basilica della Santissima Annuziata del Vastato (I think), Genoa

Genoa - watchtower

In my second year of University my father convinced me that I shouldn't take all science courses. (Thanks Dad!) I have no idea who suggested it, but I ended up in probably the most influential course of my undergraduate degree - Early Modern Italy, taught by Prof G Hanlon. I cannot even begin to tell you how much this one class changed, well, my life.

Though I never did get a paper handed in on time, and I am still to this day a terrible academic writer, I can, without a doubt, say that Hanlon was the reason I came back to university after withdrawing. Having to leave his course at Christmas of my second year was one of the most difficult things I had to leave behind in Halifax. Being able to sign into the course 2 years later and complete it, well, it was one of the things I am most proud of in my life.

Part of why I enjoyed Genoa so very much stems from my course in Early Modern Italian history. I felt like I could actually smell the same damp scent that lingered in the cobble from the 16thc. The tower pictured about also brought a smile to my face. Though it was obviously built after my preferred era, it reminded me of the prints I had studied. So many of the cities used to be littered with watch towers allowing family to spy on family, guild to watch over guild. The tower above would have had one of the most spectacular views.

...
Thank you Greg. Thank you for encouraging my cynical side. Thanks for suffering through my terrible essays. Thanks for so many afternoon chats. Even after several years, you still rock my world. I only wish had the courage to walk up to you and say all of this properly. Maybe someday soon. Until then I simply say Thanks.

taken June 2010 - Genoa

Genoa - rapturous details

I still haven't figured out which said this is... he's pictured tied by the wrists, arms above his head, to a tree. He has been stripped bare (save a conveniently and modestly placed cloth) and his armour has been propped up against the tree beside him. His sword is still sheathed and leaning against his armour, and his feet are resting on his shield. My best guess would be Saint Alban, but as Alban is an English saint, I could be very wrong.

This whole church is beautiful and seems so clean. Everything seems to be white, and the exceptionally high ceiling allows the clear glass windows to beam in lots of light. This is one of the most comfortable big churches I have ever been in, and I would highly recommend it to anyone needing some space and quiet. Because there are soooo many churches in Genoa, they seem to rotate who gets what funding and patronage. Unfortunately, Basilica Carignano is falling into disrepair. This is a shame, as it is very beautiful... but to every thing there is a season.

Wikipedia link in Italian or English

taken June 2010 - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Genoa

Christmas Rose

2006 was my first Christmas in a place where the ground wasn't frozen from October to April, so seeing a rose in full bloom while on my way to a Christmas service at church was absolutely stunning!

Happy Christmas everyone - may this year be full of roses and wonder!

Taken December 2006 - roadside, Cambridge, England