Wordless Wednesday

A Quick Trip Through the BC Legislative Buildings

I am not sure, but I don't think people are allowed to wander into American federal buildings and start shooting photos. Maybe if you are on a guided tour, but not self-guided tours.  I could be wrong.  See how little I know about my own country?

Anywho, when in Victoria, it's well worth a quick stop inside Parliament to check out the area that's open to tourists.  It's never crowded.  There are hourly tours, but if you are pressed for time, you can just go inside and wander around and take photos.  The stained glass is amazing, but the windows have been placed where they are in both bright light and dark shadow from the tiny courtyards and light spaces behind the windows.  It's a massive building to walk around from the outside too.  

So Pretty!

I was headed upstairs the one late afternoon and this was what I saw in the big window over the door! The pleated shade was down and the sun was shining through the stained glass piece hanging behind the shade.

I ran to get my camera because I knew the sun would move off the window quickly.

Have a great weekend!

My Window

My window has an interesting story. I first saw it at my fave antique collective in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California. The price was $750.00. I visited that shop several times a year, for about 5 years, and I would just stand there, coveting it. Wanting it so badly. And unable to part with that kind of coin. One day when I went into the store and made a beeline for it, the price had dropped to $500.00. I asked the shopkeeper where the window came from, and he said he thought it was from a restaurant that went out of business. Brian was with me that time and he thought it was cool too, but again, $500.00 just wasn't in the budget for a large stained glass window we can't really use.

One day I decided to take Holly up there to check out the collective, and when we went in, I said, "I have to show you this killer stained glass window!" The price was now $175.00. I wanted it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. She was trying valiantly to talk me into getting it (she and I are very accomplished at spending each other's money), but I was afraid to part with the money. I thought Brian would be mad or something. When we got back to Fairfax, I casually mentioned that the window had dropped in price to $175. Then Holly, my tactful (not) and fellow Year of the Dragon/Sagittarian, quickly pipes up with, "Yeah and I tried to get her to buy it, but, you know Jo. Didn't want to spend the money!" To which Brian exclaimed, "WHAT?! You didn't buy it? Oh my god what the hell is wrong with you!" and Holly shakes her head and says, "I told her....I tried....." I stared at them blankly and said, "So you guys think I should get it then?" In unison I got a very loud, "YES!". Brian actually made me drive back to Sebastopol the next morning to get it.

It's pretty large, about 3' across at the bottom and it's pretty tall too, and it's heavy. But it's absolutely exquisite. I guess it didn't sell because it was so name specific. I've always disliked my first name, but this time I was really glad that it it what it is. This photo does not do it justice at all.

It's still in the packing material, at the back of my closet, from when we moved up here 11 years ago. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it at all. It needs a wooden frame or something to stabilize the edges and keep it from twisting with the weight. Someday, maybe we'll be able to have a house where this can be custom installed in a west facing wall. It would be a shame not to display it.