Back to Prairie Life

Pllllfffff

Well I have arrived back home to Lloydminster Saskatchewan/Alberta (I like to think of myself a resident of both...I grew up in Alberta but now live in Saskatchewan from where I was born, unfortunately we are made to choose sides as I  cannot reside in both, I SHALL build a house on HWY 17!!) ANYWAY... I felt absolutely nostalgic coming home to the slow moving prairies, which I longed to see after the noise of many European cities. As I drove home I observed the beauty of cows grazing, geese flying south, the sun gleamed wild grasses, and the never ending sun setting in the sky.  

Wild Rose in Saskatchwan

Dads Sunflowers

Louvre

Lock Up Your Love in Paris!

Light Up Your Love in Paris

Good Bye Streets of Paris!!

I had a wonderful time living the slow life of Marnay Sur Seine France, to hopping trains in Italy, and hob nobbing with the Parisians! Now I am happy to be home!! 

I am now busy getting my new series a home in some galleries!! I have been chosen as the Inaugural Artist of the Month by The NAC in Regina for November.  I am setting up a new larger studio and am excited to start creating once again!! I wish everyone well and urge them to create in anyway they know how, it is key, to a happy life!!

Love,

Brandi

An International Art Diary

Bonjour Everyone!!

I have landed back in Paris after quite the Marnay Sur Seine Residency and adventures through Italy with my Father and Lori. I will now take you through my travels...

Carousal in Paris

 The photo here was my first day in Paris waiting for my Dad the next day, the weather has been awesome! I Have been able to run and walk everyday seeing the sights and overeating pastry. I have had the opportunity to see art works that I have only studied in school. I am traveling in the land of inspiration, living here is one big indulgence for artists.  I have been offered to come back to Marnay and don't think I can pass up the opportunity. 

Pyramids

Doumo





The Doumo in Milan. Oh goodness Dad, Lori and I had a wonderful time here, actually we had a wonderful time everywhere, come to think of it. In Milan we had one of our best meals, I had a classic Spaghetti Pomodoro, Dad had the Seafood Spaghetti, and Lori had Zucchini with Calamari, simple, but done perfectly.  Then we walked back the Doumo to experience it at night. For any of you who have been to Italy you will know what I am talking about when I say they sell these little lights that they shoot up in the air (I was calling them fire works). Anyway these little light shooter things were sold throughout the square we were in Lori purchased some for her grandchildren and then we sat on the steps of the Doumo with some lightly chilled beer. Being asked countless times to be sold "Fireworks" and not trying to be rude and trying to be left alone my father made the best of the situation. He finally said to 2 gentleman that whoever shot there light into the air and landed in his hand they would get 5 euros. Well long story short we had every "Firework" sales man in the square surrounding us, it made for a fun night!! Thanks Dad :)

Verona

Then Verona, Oh Verona! I loved Verona for anyone who digs traveling be sure to hit this little gem when coming to Italy. Verona is reasonable for eating, accommodation and a fun place to bar hop in the night, the streets are alive!! We overindulged in Verona, hung food and drink babies!  Also I learned patience in venice, we were taking a night stroll to Juliettes Balcony that the hotel front desk told me it would take 15 min. Dream on my dad captured a window shot of every display on the way there. I believe I mentioned in an earlier blog that I took his camera away and he pulled a new one out of his cargo pants. So I wanted to name a blog specifically after "what comes out of my dads cargo pants" however I wanted to title it in a way that it would not sound creepy... Here were some of Carly (my partner) suggestions:



Carly Classem:The mysterious love for cargo pants, and the objects they behold.


Carly Classen: "rob and the cargo pants" band


Carly Classen: Rob and his cargo pants/the deep abyss


Carly Classen: Rob and his deep abyss


Carly Classen: Rob*


Carly Classen: Magic cargo pants.


Carly Classen: You know, like one day he'll pull a piano out of those things and it wouldn't surprise anyone.



This made me laugh so hard!!!

Venice

Classic Venice Shot

Show in Venice

Moving on to two nights in Venice. We unfortunately hit a water taxi strike, my arms are all the stronger! If in Venice I would not advise walking but taking the water transport (if available lol). Lovely place to be in Italy, the smells of the water and fish all around and the reflection of all the historic buildings on the water is breath taking!

Nightlife

Self Portrait

Ending in the rolling hills of Tuscany at "The Old Stone House".  A needed break from all of the fast paised city life of the Metro, people, and trains we moved to the country side.  We stayed at an exquisite BnB, beautiful decor and a little private pool surrounded by olive trees to view the sunset. The other guests at the house were a treat as well, two american girls who knew how important travel was for life experience and some fellow Canadian couples traveling as friends. So I decided that I should cook dinner while everyone went to Florence and Pisa. I needed a rest from the stresses of navigation and travel I took the day by the pool and started preparing dinner at about 4 to dine at 830. We had a charming night with some wonderful people. 

Dinner In Tuscany

Edible Art By Brandi Hofer

Me Attempting to Go Singing in the Rain in Paris Easier Said Than Done

Nightlife

Louvre 

Travel Buddy

Dad and Lori flew home yesterday and today I awate the arrival of my Mom and Philp. I have one week left in this exquisite life journey. I have learned that  Europe is beautiful and full of old and new life, I would however like to remind everyone how great it is to be Canadian. I have lived across Canada and have traveled through parts of the world (not yet enough) but enough to grasp how fortunate we are as a people and country. We have a vast amazing landscape and I have to say one of the most kind peoples. I will be back to Europe, but I will always be grounded in Canada I am a Canadian through and through.

Bye for now!!

Love,

Brandi

Romeo Romeo Wherefore Art Thou Romeo!!

My Favourite Picture from my Trip in Venice

How Fortunate to begin my journey through Europe with a series of sun kissed days. My father his friend Lori and I caught the night train from Paris on Friday night. We had the pleasure of sharing the sleeping car with our new acquaintance Yoanne from Paris (his ambition was to be a doctor in North America). 

We then landed in Milan at 5:30 in the morning and then chilled at a cafe for breakfast until the sun came up, dropped the bags at our Hotel Staizone (I would recommend this hotel is had a modern decor and a reasonable stay).  We had a wonderful time catching the metro through the city to see all of the sites. The nightlife in Milan was vibrant, we dined, drank, and walked the streets. 

Milan

In the morning we caught the train to Verona the Vallipolicella region. Being a Sunday the city was quiet and still when we arrived.  In my mind I was expecting a relaxing sunday evening if we were lucky enough to find a place open. To our and my great suprise as we headed out for dinner and around the corner low and behold, lit up bridges, castle ways, cafes, tapas bars, people, and shopping. Lori and I picked out some authentic italian leather pieces while dad stopped for beer (I make this sound short but really it was a good hour and a half (I guess dad had many beer).  We then hit the alive streets of Verona to get to the ever famous Balcony of Juliette (If you touch her breast it is said to be good luck).

Verona the Hidden Jem of Italy in my Opinion

Juliette's Balcony

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Juliette Boob Grab

 In Verona one of the main reasons I came was to see Juliet's Balcony and on this night I was on a mission, which the lady at the hotel described as a 15 min walk (yes with any other person but my dad, I will explain).  So here I am walking.... you know peering into the shop windows with a passive interest, well, no it was a big waiting game, a test of the patients one could say, (a real understatement) I tell you! So, a supposed 15 walk has now proceeded to turn into about and hour and ten minutes, Dad insisted on taking a photo of every shop window, every shop window, yes. Finally,  even Lori had had enough, so I say ,"Dad please can I see your camera", I throw it in my purse and Lori and I start walking forward down the street like we had conquered a great hurdle. I turn around to see if my Dad was following. To my utter amazement and not really surprise  he had pulled ANOTHER spare camera out of his cargo pants (only my immediate family can fully understand and appreciate this story of travelling with my father, although I hope everyone can find some comical relief).

Venice

After we had taken a photo of every crack in the street  we finally sat to eat (not that we needed more food or drink, there has been no lack). The first place we had drinks and a homemade Mushroom Ravioli in truffle butter with flat leave parsley mmm mmm. We then made it to our reservation, I had a Amaron Risotto (the wine of the region) and Pumpkin flowers Au Gratin with Cherry Tomatoes, Lori had a mushroom Gnocchi, Dad had Stewed Donkey on Polenta, this Meal was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!  I had the biggest food baby anyone has ever seen. 

Now settled in Venice we arrived to a water bus and taxi strike (for anyone who knows Venice knows that the best and most efficient way to get around is on water) so, to our painful delight we did eventually work off our dinner from the night before.

Anyhoo I miss everyone! Chao Chao!

Love,

Brandi