April Showers, May Flowers, June Bloomers

 

Fujeirah Castle

It was a trip to the East Coast of U.A.E. from Sharjah. As afternoon slowly turned into evening and the sun would soon set over the mountains, we reluctantly headed home after enjoying a day out with family and  friends. A long drive lay ahead of us - a mini convoy of cars that would shortly disappear into the sunset over the mountains back to Sharjah - as we hoped to safely make it home before eight o’clock. Lest we forget, it was Friday. We simply would not like to miss an episode of one of the greatest and longest running series of the early 1980's that delighted us all, and that was none other ‘Dallas’ and the conniving ways of JR! (Picture: Water colour rendition from original B&W line artwork drawing by Tony Fernandes). 

'O Caminhão de Goa'

 

'O Caminhão de Goa' from the Portuguese era. Water colour rendition on computer from original B&W Artline drawing by Tony Fernandes. The coaches were built in Goa on imported Bedford, Ford or Dodge chassis. They were quite unique in their appearance. The coachwork consisted of wooden framework, wooden panelling on the inside and brass sheeting on the outside. Some passenger seats were made of leather while others were made of wood. Fitted on the roof were a "carrier" consisting of a metal rail that would hold and transport a gamut of goods - from paddy sacks and metal trunks to bamboo baskets of vegetable produce to firewood, and also the spare wheel and a tarpaulin cover. The rear of the bus was fitted with a iron ladder for access to the top. Driver and passenger sides had doors. Vertically hinged passenger door was at the rear of the bus. The windows had sliding glass doors. Somes of these buses had longitudinal and parallel seating arrangement.

Fishing Boats of Dubai. Across the Creek View from Deira side.

 

Fishing Boats of Dubai. Across the Creek View from Deira side.

Watercolour Rendition on computer from Line Artwork

by Tony Fernandes

'The Fishing Dhows of Deira' - Dubai 1976.

'The Fishing Dhows of Deira' - Dubai 1976.

Line Art Drawing by Tony Fernandes

The Rocking Fifies & Sixties of my youth.

The Rocking Fifties & Sixties of my youth.

Rocking chairs are quite common in most family homes in Goa with their own unique designs and construction by Goan carpenters. It is essentially a varnished standard teak wood chair with its usual feature of a pair of 2 curved pieces attached to the bottom of the legs. The seat and the back rest is cane-strung.

They are made to rock and do not have foldable extensions to rest one's legs on like the Goan 'volter', which has 4 legs firmly on the ground with arm rest extensions that swing out to serve as leg rests. The original Voltaire chair was not a rocking chair and did not have extendable rests.

A single or a couple of these chairs usually complements several other straight-back chairs in the living and family rooms.

VICTORIA DAY

 

Victoria Day (French: Fête de la Reine, lit. 'Celebration of the Queen') is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24. It falls on the Monday between the 18th and the 24th (inclusive) and, so, is always the penultimate Monday of May (May 18 in 2026 and May 24 in 2027). Victoria Day is a federal statutory holiday, as well as a holiday in six of Canada's ten provinces and all three of its territories. The holiday has always been a distinctly Canadian observance and continues to be celebrated across the country. It is informally considered the start of the summer season in Canada.

Oil Painting

 

Oil painting of 64 years ago.  

Size: 16” x 12” 

by Tony Fernandes.

Year: 1962. Age: 15.

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is celebrated annually on May 13 to commemorate the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917. It is a significant Marian feast in the Catholic Church, focusing on messages of prayer—particularly the Rosary—peace, and reparation for sins.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

 

Cinco de Mayo

 

More April Showers bring more May Flowers

 

April Showers bring May Flowers

 

Come what may....I'm here to stay.

 

Earth Day

 

 

Laterite Soil, Stone and the Pick-Axe

 

Our Lady of Grace Church, Margao, Goa

 

My Old Country Church

 

My Old Country Church

Water Color Rendition from Photograph

 

Happy Easter Monday

 

Happy Easter

 

Holy Saturday

 

Good Friday

 

Maundy Thursday

 

Maundy Thursday, observed the Thursday before Easter, commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his apostles, the institution of the Eucharist, and the washing of the disciples' feet. 

April Fools' Day

 

Holy Week

 

Sun, Mar 29, 2026 – Sun, Apr 5, 2026

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast falling on the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as described in all four Gospels. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent, and is characterized by blessings of palms, processions, and palm branches symbolizing the crowd's welcome.

 

Spinning Forty-Fives

Oslando sings 'Soddun maka tum guelo' 

45 RPM Vinyl Record.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/956843066880533

A Holy Niche In the Wall

 

Catholic homes in Goa, India, have little a wooden niche with hinged glass doors called 'ollont-tor' (Konkani, ollont: wall; tor: tower or spire), placed into a recess made in the wall of the prayer hall, in the houses of the rich and poor alike. There is also a provision of a stand where candles, an oil lamp or vases with flowers can be placed. The 'ollont-tor' is almost a miniature representation of a church or chapel facade, with a graceful and artistic hand-carved ornamented gothic spire topped with a cross and columns on either side of the glass door. 

Inside the niche, statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, St. Francis Xavier, St. Anthony and others saints are placed. The miniature high altars come in various shapes, colours and sizes. The front of the base bracket is usually draped with a decoratively embroidered cloth with the caption "GOD BLESS OUR HOME". In addtion to this many homes have plaques or pictures with this invocative phrase calling for blessings of the Lord Almighty.

As a child I remember these niches were sold at the Feast of Nossa Senhora de Milagres in Mapusa and at the Feast of Nossa Senhora de Candelaria in Pomburpa, Bardez, Goa. India.

Here’s a niche I made using PVC for our home here in Canada. Among the statuettes are St. Anthony (centre) flanked by Our Lady of Fatima and St. Therese of the Roses.

Bird Symphony Orchestra

 

Bird Symphony Orchestra

They flew in. They Perfomed. And they flew out. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 

 

Comp. Watercolour Rendition from B&W

 

Comp. Watercolour Rendition from B&W

TonFerns Creations’ Daylight Saving Time Scale - Sunrise and Sunset times

Spring Forward with a thrill

 

Spring Forward with a thrill

Daylight Saving Time Canada

 

Sailing Yacht - Home Decor - Shelf Display

 ‘TonFerns’ Handicrafts. Miniature sailing yacht handcrafted by Tony Fernandes. Home Decor. Display shelf model.

Lunar Eclipse

 

Another Month Marching In

 

Comp. Sketch Pen Rendition from Pyrographed Drawing

 

Tonferns Tractor

 

TONFERNS Tractor Trailer

Yellow Lilies Watercolour Comp. Rendering

 

 

Ash Wednesday

 Ash Wednesday - Lent begins.

"Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" 

A Rare Occurence in February 2026.

Today, February 18, is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent for millions of Christians. On this day Muslims observe the start of the holy month of Ramadan with the sighting of the crescent moon. Both faiths emphasize fasting, repentance, and almsgiving during this period, with Ash Wednesday (Lent) and the start of Ramadan falling at the same time.

Devotion and Discipline:

 

Both encourage believers to focus on prayer and acts of goodness during their respective holy seasons and shared beliefs:

Shrove Tuesday

 

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the final day before Lent, a 40-day Christian fasting period before Easter, celebrated with feasting, particularly pancakes, to use up rich ingredients like eggs, butter, and sugar that would be forbidden during Lent.

Viva Carnaval

Swiss Chapel, Mapusa, Bardez, Goa.

(The "Swiss Chapel" in Mapusa, Goa, isn't named after Switzerland, but rather commemorates a battle victory against the Bhonsles and Ranes from Sawantwadi by Portuguese troops known as "suíças" (meaning "with sideburns"). A mock battle was staged at Carnival during the Portuguese era. 

Happy Valentines Day