Saturday, November 3, 2012

Betty's New Dress

 Brown Betty has a new gown!  She is sporting a tea cozy purchased at The Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC.  I'm not sure she'll want to take it off.  It's okay, Betty.  Your sweet brown self deserves a fluffy Canadian wrap!  
 I'm home!  Victoria is beautiful.  I can't tell you how many times I stooped (Ouch!  The damp weather made my bones ache a bit!) over and picked up VERY RED maple leaves off of the sidewalks.
 Abigail's Hotel is amazing!  I don't know how Bill's travel agent finds the deals she does!  We felt completely pampered!


 Can you believe the bathroom?  It's five times the size of our little cubby we call a master bath.
 Clam chowder.  YUM.
 Ferry boats docking.  Joy!
 Majestic totems
 Victoria's artist:  Emily Carr

 My sweet "treater" Bill.  He's the BEST traveling companion.
 Our little home for three days

 The famous Empress.  I have never seen this kind of astounding architecture in real life.  
 Isn't the interior lovely?


 The gift shop.  This is where I bought Betty's dress.
 This church looks so "Northwest" to me.  Pretty!
 And then in the museum . . . YIKES!  A life size woolly mammoth!


 King of the crabs
 I can't describe the First Nation exhibit.  The totems are breathtaking.
 This is a an old kitchen display in the museum and I found that it didn't fascinate me as much as old kitchens used to.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe I'm old enough to have viewed my fill of old kitchens.  Hmmmmm.
 The blanket of leaves in the parks.  Delicious.

 Victoria's Chinatown


 I'd like the red teapot, please.  When one travels with no luggage (just a backpack) one cannot purchase teapots.  This one does not need any more teapots.
 The markets were so clean!
 I like this little Chinatown feature.  It's so clean and shiny.
 We found a well stocked yarn store and if I hadn't been so overheated (too many layers of clothes) I may have purchased a hank or two and tried to stuff it into my backpack.

Back up the stairs to our cozy room.  Two whole days was just right.  I'm thankful.
Now it feels good to be home.
Don't you LOVE November?  It's the thankful month and the turkey month.  It's the stay-at-home month.  

50 comments:

Angela said...

I feel as if I have been away on the trip with you PP. I love visiting 'chinatown' in whichever city I am!

TexWisGirl said...

i love the parks and gardens. glad you had a good time (and betty appreciates her dress, i'm sure).

Pom Pom said...

I wish you HAD been along, Angela! You would love this city!

Pom Pom said...

Yes, Betty likes her cozy dress. She's working hard this morning, but looking well clad!

Farm Girl said...

I really would like to go visit that place. It is just lovely. I loved the red leaves. I like Betty's tea cozy too. I am so glad you had a nice time. I am feeling a bit lazy today too. I do think I need a bit of needle time though.
I have missed you.

M.K. said...

Welcome home, sweetie! So glad you had a nice, restful time with your hubby. It looks so wonderful! The Empress is magnificent! I'd love to see that too - the facade is amazing with all that vine/ivy. I also picked out the red teapot right away :) And I'd definitely have squeezed a bit of yarn in my bag - haha. Welcome home.

Pom Pom said...

I missed you, too! It was hard to comment and do all my blog things when I was away. The wifi kept going in and out!
I'm so glad fall is upon us in earnest and I hope you get some stitch time today, Kim!

Pom Pom said...

Hi MK! I really should have purchased some yarn! I rarely go to the real yarn shops here in Denver. The closest one is intimidating. The knitters look at you like you just walked in off the street, right into their living room! I like the stuff, but I feel very conspicuous as I look around. I am not a big stash person when it comes to yarn, just books!
The Empress really is amazing on the outside as well as the inside! I couldn't get over all the little windows.

Elizabethd said...

What a wonderful place to visit. We loved Vancouver when we were there.......in fact we just loved all Canada.

Leslie said...

Just lovely~! You guys packed a LOT into two days. I think it is nice to be limited on space. When you can't buy things it changes what a traveler focuses on and I think for the better. Glad you are home safe and sound!

Elderberry-Rob said...

Welcome home. You have stayed in some beautiful places and seen some interesting sights - I liked the little ancient kitchen display - I am still fascinated! Betty

Left-Handed Housewife said...

So glad you had such a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us! I especially liked the ones from Chinatown. Bill is handsome!

Email me about Skyping!

xofrances

Kit said...

Oh what a lovely trip! I have never been there and from your photos I really should go. Love the new tea cozy. :) Kit

Pom Pom said...

Hi Leslie! You are SO right! I've been on vacations with other people who wanted to shop constantly. That makes me tired! We just browse. I wanted to buy some Canadian woolens, but I'm always to hot for them! Ha ha!

Pom Pom said...

You really would have loved this little kitchen, Betty. I should email you the other photos I took. It was so accurate for the time period (as far as I know) and the details were lovely!

Pom Pom said...

I'll tell Bill you said he is handsome! I think so, too!
Chinatown anywhere is lovely I guess. Come to think of it, I hardly remember San Francisco's Chinatown and Vancouver, BC's is a distant memory, too. Victoria is so small town and friendly!
Yes, when I get back to school, I'll get a SKYPE number and make sure I know how to work my school video camera on my computer and the readers will feel SUPER special talking to the author of Chicken Boy.

Pom Pom said...

You should, Kit! You could drive there. I'd love to cruise through Canada, heading to Vancouver and then ride the ferry to Victoria!

Pom Pom said...

Canada IS lovely! I have never been to the eastern part. I'd like to go!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

What a wonderful trip...thanks for sharing, it makes me feel I had a mini-vacation. The colors are just wonderful. I have never been to Canada, but my son has. Looks like a great trip and the tea pot got a new dress!

Gumbo Lily said...

Oh my! What a lovely vacation get-away for you and Bill! He did treat you royally, didn't he? The Empress looks amazing. I think a bright red tunic from Chinatown would have been fun to take home. So glad you got a nice break and now can appreciate the stay-at-home Thankful month.

Pom Pom said...

Hi Janette! Canada is a long way from Texas. I grew up in Washington State so it wasn't always so far away for me.
Thank you for coming by to say hello! I'd like to pour you a cup of tea!

Melanie said...

Oh Pom Pom your holiday looks divine ! The beautiful hotel that you stayed in has me drooling !! The yarn store, the gardens.......everything !!
I am so happy that you had such a lovely time xo

libbyquilter said...

your Betty does look quite well dressed and what a nice souvenir to bring home from your beautiful trip.
all of the photos that you shared were fun to look at and i think that is a LOT of exploring to pack into two days~! no wonder you are looking forward to a quiet stay-at-home November.

i'm glad that you made it back safe and sound and full of happiness.

:-)
libbyQ

Catherine said...

Hello Pom! glad that you two are back safe & sound. What a wonderful place for a sojourn. Thank you for the Sanderson! Did you know that I've made a pair of shorts & trousers out of this pattern...Chelsea?! Betty looks very seemly & attractive indeed now. Aren't tea pots just so comforting & huggable. It's so nice to share tea. We are really enjoying the Twinings New Zealand Earl Grey tea that I found recently. It was nice of the Brits to think of us wasn't it! Having a whole month for thankfulness is an excellent idea. We don't really "do" Thanksgiving here but we were delighted to realise not so long ago that we met at Thanksgiving so we're now extra thank full...as I am for you. Bless you my friend GK x0x0x0x

A garden just outside Venice said...

Everything looks amazing!
Thank you for sharing and happy November!!! :)
xxx

Unknown said...

Looks like an amazing trip. Glad you enjoyed yourself so much.

Anonymous said...

Hello lovely Pom pom.love Bettys new dress,very stylish :) Your stay looks fabulous ,what a lovely place..
So glad you had a wonderful time,welcome home Xxxxx

Nancy McCarroll said...

What a wonderful trip you had. I lived it vicariously and enjoyed it through your words. Can't believe the beauty you must have experienced while there. The hotel was posh...good job Mr.Pom and travel agent.

I am in Denver today to see the Van Gogh exhibit. Maybe I will see you in the museum. Who knows, stranger things have happened...

Pom Pom said...

Hi Nancy! I hope you have a lot of fun at the exhibit!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Julie! thank you for stopping by, friend! I wish you a fun and holiday-feeling week! (BIG HUG!)

Pom Pom said...

Thank you, Carolyn! It's always nice to see you visiting here. Yes, I like my holidays short and sweet!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Michela! You would LOVE Victoria! It's an exciting city on a smaller scale! You would definitely like the shopping! Happy November to you, sweet one.

Pom Pom said...

I knew you'd recognize the Sanderson. I didn't know about it until I met you! Now, of course, it's one more thing to love!
Yes, teapots need their cozies. I must knit one.
I am very thankful for you. You are so inspiring!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Libby Q! Of course now that I look closer at the tourist maps, I see all kinds of things we would have loved, but our legs would only carry us so far every day. We didn't even take our usual long naps!

Pom Pom said...

Oh Melanie! You would love Victoria! It's just your style! The hotel was very "Melanie" and The Empress would have thrilled you, too. We stayed at a darling little place that had all the lovely touches.

Pom Pom said...

I did love looking at the red Chinese things. I do like to come home to our bed after being away. Flying is hard on my aches and pains but I am NOT complaining because seeing new things is always life-giving. Sending love your way, good Jody!

Pom Pom said...

Ooops! I put my reply to you in the wrong spot. Silly Pom Pom!

Cheyenne said...

Oh friend, I popped over from Gumbo Lily's blog and am so glad I did...I feel like I was just on a holiday to the coast! Thank you for all the little details you showed! Victoria is SO LOVELY! Loved the looks of the place you stayed, too!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Cheyenne! Thank you for coming by and leaving a comment! Yes, Victoria is another one of those Canadian jewels, right? LOVE your land! I'm going to pop over to your blog!

Travel With Lulu said...

I was in Victoria years ago and visited their stunning garden in Spring. Such a lovely place on earth. Looks like a fantastic vacation!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

OH K...so much eye candy! I absolutely love the retreat, although, if you've never been before, how can it be a re-treat? Hmmm???
Betty's new frock is beautiful; good purchase. Would love to visit Chinatown, heck would love to visit Victoria and the rest of B.C.
Bet you felt like a queen at the Empress -ggg-.

Pom Pom said...

Hi Laura! It rained a lot while we were in Victoria and as much as I love flowers, I don't really care about plants. I've heard the garden is incredible though! Thank you for stopping by!

Pom Pom said...

Hi dear Sandra! We didn't STAY at The Empress. We stayed at Abigail's Hotel. It WAS so cushy. Maybe you'll go to Vancouver some day and then you can hop on the ferry and tool over to Victoria. I am thinking of you as you bask in the warmth. LOVE!

Sherry from Alabama said...

What a great trip and such wonderful pictures!

I mentioned you in my blogpost today, sweet friend. I hope you can come over for a visit when you get home from school.

Hope you have a great week!

Fat Dormouse said...

It looks as though you had a wonderful trip, Pompom, with a great travelling companion. I hope you had lots of R&R time. What lovely photographs you have taken to show us all. God bless xx

ann said...

Oh my. I hope my late comment does not get lost here at the end of really impressive number of comments. Your break looks absolutely wonderful. We could use a mid term break, for sure. The Emily Dickinson film is a PBS production now on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaK_vtaCp5Y
search voices and vision Emily Dickinson. It is 56 minutes long and if you love ED, you will enjoy the film.

Lisa Richards said...

Woo hoo! Thanks for sharing your beautiful vacation trip! Looks like a delightful place to visit. Welcome home just in time to hibernate! :)

Pom Pom said...

Hi Mouse! Thank you for popping in! It WAS a wonderful trip. I like quick trips!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Ann! Thank you for the link! I think I have seen Voices and Vision's Emily Dickinson when I took an advanced poetry class at Metro. I liked it very much and I'd like to show it to my classes when we study poetry. I'd forgotten about it!
The reason there are so many comments is because I've been responding. Ha ha! My readership hasn't swelled unexpectedly! Thank you for coming by!

Pom Pom said...

I've been thinking about you, Lisa! have I sent your package? No! I will!

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