Gems of Virtue: Maryam and Nicolai

The Story Thus Far:
The following was found in the back of the old framed photochrome that belonged to Great-Aunt "Granty" Miriam (Maryam) and in a secret compartment of her battered Steamer Trunk.

A faded letter from Nicolai
(who was he? as far as we know Granty never married and last we heard was a professed Orthodox Nun who died in a Beirut convent),
some photographs,
an orange blossom botanical card,
a bar of orange oil soap still in its wrapper,
dried orange peel
an Eastern Orthodox 'lestovka or Ladder to Heaven',
and most surprising of all, cut and polished rubies, citrines, emeralds and amethysts.
(These were secreted in the bar of orange oil soap and it was only when I unwrapped it and bits of the soap fell away, that the gems were exposed)

Orange blossom is traditionally associated with Betrothal - is this why the botanical card was enclosed?

* Note to my faithful readers: (all 7 of you ) This is a A Story..I wish to heaven I had a real Granty Maryam who left me all those gems... But just in case you thought the Story was Real..it's only real between my heart and head. (If you believed it true, then I offer my sincere apologies but even so, believing in my tale is the best compliment any StoryTeller could ever hope to have.)

Artspiration Challenge #63 - Life's A Bicycle...

Our challenge for January - base your 'artspiration' on the this wonderful and colourful Ad (provided by Tangie Baxter at Scrapbookgraphics.com)

It so reminded me of my trip to France May 96 where on my way to the airport, my friend Vicki stopped at this small out of the way Chapel: Notre Dame Des Cyclistes - yes that's right, A Chapel Dedicated To Cycling!

Apparently the Italians had one first and as the local priest was an avid cyclist and the Tour de France does on Occasion Zoom By this area..well the rest as they say is 'la histoire'.

From Wikipedia:

'The chapel includes a stained glass window designed and created by Henri Anglade, a former rider of the Tour de France, to represent cycling. It was reportedly intended to celebrate a thaw in the intense rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, as they shared a bottle (bidon) on the Col d'Izoard during the 1952 Tour de France.'

Credits:

Location finder: Tangie Baxter Field Notes (Spring)

Photos: Poppyfield, Gates, Stained Glass window (mine)

Theatre and curtain (paid private d/l)

3d Notre Dame Bicycle wheel (created by me)

For Balinda

BB x LN

AJC 2011 Itinerary- Week 3 - Verb of the Week and Simply Started

Simply Started: I Wonder



Verb of the Week: Travel

TTJ!

BBxLN

Too Many Late Nights Watching Ellery Queen Mysteries

I love murder mysteries, especially those set in the 'gumshoe' era of the late 1940's: Ray Chandler, Ellery Queen to name just a couple.
When I saw Fifi's pages on the SBG site, I was inspired to go hunt out Clementine Designs, at DeviantScrap, download her Ladies and Gents kit and well..here is the result.

I call it: 'She Hated Opera, But Most Of All, She Hated That Hat (as well as Its Owner)

Did he escape Certain Death by nipping outside during Intermission for a quick smoke and leave his hat behind?
How did the Mysterious Lady in Red manage to cause the Chandelier to fall?
(Was she in cahoots with the Phantom?)
And what is the meaning of the Queen of Clubs? A call to Ellery Queen perhaps?
Blessings to those who like Late Night Mysteries.
Shanti