Sunday, January 5, 2014

After the Darkness, Light


Happy 2014, everyone!
I've been on a short blog break,
as the new year brought a
 few unfortunate, and unexpected surprises.


 Firstly, my brother-in-law underwent gallbladder surgery,
the day after Christmas, which went well.


 Then, sadly, on New Year's day, my husband's uncle 
passed away after a short battle with cancer.


So, in between visits to hospitals, 
in different cities, it's been quiet,
 spending most days in the company
of family, comforting one another.


The photos today are from the little harbour
of Agios (Saint) Nikolaos, located right in the centre
 of the city, a short walk from the hospital
 where my brother-in-law is recuperating. 



Today was beautifully bright,
with temps reaching 16°C/81 °F,
and thus, a perfect candidate for
Karen's Sunlit Sunday!


Tomorrow, is the twelfth day of Christmas, 
the Epiphany, and according to Greek Orthodox belief,
the day that Jesus was baptized. To bless the waters,
priests throw a large crucifix into icy lakes and oceans, 
where it is retrieved by brave swimmers, who will
 have good luck and excellent health all year.

Thanks for visiting and
have a lovely week!

xo
Poppy

64 comments:

  1. Poppy, your images of the harbour are lovely. The water is so clear. Nice to see the sun shining and I can almost imagine the warm air! Sounds like your whole family has been busy during the holidays. So sorry about your husband's uncle and glad your brother-in-law is doing well. Happy New Year!

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  2. Hello, Poppy

    First of all, let me send my condolences to you for the loss of your husband's uncle. With his passing and your brother-in-law's surgery, you and your family have had an emotional start to the new year.

    With all of that, you've found some beautiful sunny photos of the harbour to share. I hope your loved ones continue to be a "safe harbour" for each other at this time.

    Fondly,
    Karen

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  3. Lovely sunny photos.Hopefully the new year will improve for you and your family.

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  4. Most sorry to hear about death of your husband's uncle. My deepest sympathy. Glad to hear your brother-in-law is recuperating from his surgery. Your pictures are very lovely!!! Wishing you well! Cathy

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  5. Poppy, My thoughts and prayers go out to your family..Your images of the harbor and the birds are beautiful. I wish you and your family all the best in 2014, Happy New Year!

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  6. So sorry for your loss Poppy. And best wishes to your brother-in-law for a speedy recovery. ... I love the positive title of your post and your images are just so stunning! ... Wishing you all the very best in the new year!

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  7. Beautiful photos and sorry for your loss. Wishing you a Happy New Year!

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  8. Wish everyone is fine and well. So sorry for the lose of your husband's uncle. Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!

    Kim,USA

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  9. Oh Poppy what beautiful pictures...sending you my condolences to your family...glad to hear your brother-in-law is on the road to recovery. Wishing you a lovely Epiphany! Marisa

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  10. I am sorry for the heartache your family has experienced.

    The photos of the harbor are so beautiful ~ I envy the 81 degrees there, even though it really isn't all that cold here where I live. And I just noticed Prince Richard on your sidebar. I think he is such a doll!

    All the best, Poppy!

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  11. Sorry to hear about Your Family. I hope your brother-in-law gets well soon. It is good to take a break from blogging from time to time. I hope the new year brings better times for you and your family.

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  12. From our family to yours, our sincerest condolences. May the light of His love shine and surround you all in comfort. xxxooo Eugenia

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  13. I'm sorry, Poppy. I wish your family comfort in this time. These are beautiful photos, I'm glad you can visit a nice place while you're with your brother-in-law.

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  14. What wonderful pictures,,, the color is so bright in them! Sorry to hear about your loss, I pray that you will have many "colorful" memories that will stay bright in your mind, just like these pictures. Take care,,,,,stoppin in from Mosaic Monday.

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  15. So sorry about the illness in your family and loss of a loved one. Hopefully everything is behind you now and it will be smooth sailing. Loved the pictures of the boats and harbor. Looks like you are having wonderful weather there. Most of our bloggers have LOTS of ICE and SNOW. I am so glad that I live in Southern CA. I freeze when it's in the 70's - guess I am a sissy.
    Have a terrific week, Poppy.
    Mary

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  16. I'm so sorry your year started off so sadly. I'm glad your brother-in-law is getting better though. Your photos look so bright and cheerful, so I hope you are feeling better too.

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  17. Poppy, I am so sorry about the death in your family, but I'm glad your BIL is doing well. It has been months of this with my friends and family, so I truly understand.

    I also want you to know how gorgeous I think these pictures are. They are breathtaking. There is nothing like the blues of Greece. Just stunning. Thank you for sharing. We've been warmish today in the 70's, but we are getting cold soon.

    Love to you and a blessed Sunday (I have seen the divers and the cross... I think they also do that in Tarpon Springs which is a Greek Community, but I have seen the photos). xoxoxoxox

    Sheila

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  18. What a great set of photo's, Never been to Crete though I have been Paros and Cyprus. Look forward to seeing more of your blog and thanks for visiting mine

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  19. I am so sorry to hear of your husband's Uncle's passing, and your brother in law requiring surgery. Sometimes you just need to circle the wagons, and comfort one another. The photos are lovely.
    Happy New Year Poppy!!
    xo Kris

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  20. Poppy - I am so sorry for the loss of your husband's uncle and I pray your brother in law recovers well. Your pictures are breath-taking. Thank you for sharing. I am here via Inspire Me Monday and look forward to following you in 2014.

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  21. I'm sorry, Poppy, about the loss of your husband's uncle. And so glad to hear that your brother-in-law is recovering well from surgery. Being close to family means so much during these times. I'm glad you have each other.
    Beautiful sunny shots full of colour and warmth.

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  22. A sad time for you and my condolences on the loss of your husband's uncle. Wishes for your b-i-l to have a quick recovery.
    This is a sweet little harbour with crystal clear water, hopefully it has brought you some happiness during this stressful time.
    Judith

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  23. I'm so sorry that your new year started off on such a sad note. My condolences to you and your husband on the loss of his uncle.

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  24. Dear Poppy,

    I am so sorry you've had a rough beginning to the new year.. wishing you brother in law a speedy recovery and I am sending peace to you and the family as you work through the passing of your husband's uncle. Nothing is more difficult than loosing family members.

    Your photographs are beautiful and peaceful ..

    Hope this week brings some happiness to you my friend. xxleslie

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  25. Εύχομαι να μην υπάρξουν άλλλα δυσάρεστα γεγονότα σε αυτή τη χρονιά ! Καλή ανάρρωση στον αδερφό του συζύγου και τις καλύτερες ευχές για ένα χρόνο όμορφο ,γεμάτο αγάπη ,υγεία και ευτυχία !

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  26. I am so sorry about your brother-in-law's illness and your husband's uncle passing away. Life does happen despite holidays.

    I love your sunlit Sunday pics. I did my first Sunlit Sunday post today.

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  27. My deepest condolences to you and your family Poppy. It's not the way you had wanted to end the year I'm sure, but life has a way of marching on in spite of holidays.

    The blues of the ocean are breathtaking. It must be very therapeutic to just be there and revel in your surroundings.

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  28. It is currently one degree fahrenheit without the wind chill factor and there is a snow emergency in town. I envy your ability to be someplace warm. I hope your day is wonderful.
    Heidi’s Wanderings

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  29. Dear Poppy, your photos are simply amazing. Their clarity is wonderful. What a beautiful, beautiful place you live in. Thank you for sharing it, with us.

    I wish your brother-in-law well. Speaking as someone who had that surgery, his life will be much more pleasant, after recovering from the surgery.

    My heart goes out to you and your family, at the death. But, your husband's uncle is at peace.

    I almost missed it being Epiphany! What a lovely tradition, the people there, have....

    Gentle hugs to you and to yours...

    Tessa~
    (In the cold upper NE of the USA)

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  30. I'm sorry for your loss..as sad time. Beautiful pictures and you are right that even through loss we find beauty.

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  31. Hi Poppy, thanks for the visit to my blog and I'm really so sorry to hear about such sad news and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I wish you a Happy New Year and thanks so much for the birthday wishes. Take care.
    Julie

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  32. HI Poppy, your photos are so beautiful. I love the brightly coloured boats in this pretty harbour. I'm sorry for the loss in your family. I wish you a blessed week ahead. Hugs, Pamela

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  33. So glad you could take comfort in the beauty of your surroundings while dealing with such unexpected family developments. Good wishes to you Poppy! Hugs, Jackie

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  34. Awh..it is warm and wonderful. Your pictures are so nice. I do want to send you prayers and well wishes, your family has been through much since Christmas.

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  35. Your photos are so beautiful, Poppy. I very welcomed change from looking at dreary outside. Happy New Year!...Christie

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  36. Beautiful pictures! I am sorry to hear about your family, I am glad you are able to find comfort during these hard times.

    Diana
    www.ManhattanImageandStyle.com
    New Outfit Post: The sun on a Rainy Day

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  37. You haven't had an easy time of it, but I'm glad you had family around you. I hope your brother-in-law is able to return home soon. Your photos are beautiful, and I'm sure you would've felt a bit uplifted being at such a pretty harbour. Here's to happier days to you Poppy. Take care. Wendy x

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  38. Oh dear - sending prayers and best wishes for your brother-in-law's speedy recovery dear Poppy.
    I love your photos taken at the harbour - I love boats in general and these fishing boats and dinghies are so colourful!
    A beautiful new year post!
    Hugs
    Shane

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  39. I am sorry for your loss and send good thoughts for your bil's continuing full recovery.

    What a beautiful harbor you show -- that's out kind of place. A safe harbor metaphorically is what your family needs right now, so these pictures were a great choice for this post.

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  40. I am so sorry about your family illnesses. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous, and full of life and new fresh starts. Thank you so much for sharing them
    Jenna

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  41. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's uncle but glad that your brother-in-law is ok. Visiting hospitals is never easy, under any circumstances.
    I hope the weather and the waters of the bay at Agios Nikolaos lifted your spirits, it's a beautiful place, though it's been quite a while since I visited.

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  42. So sorry that your break was not for Rest or Fun but rather stress and sadness :(

    Your harbor looks warm and wonderful :)
    HERE : Current Conditions ( and it is to get dramatically colder overnight and tomorrow )
    Broken Clouds

    Feels Like: -20°

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  43. Poppy, I found your blog from one of my followers. Your blues are so vibrant--the harbor looks heavenly. What a beautiful place to live. Hope it all goes well with the BIL.
    Ann

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  44. So sorry for your loss Poppy! Hope your brother-in-law continues to do well! Happy New Year to you and thanks so much for being a part of AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  46. A few years back we had the pleasure to visit Tarpin Springs, Florida, with it's large Greek community. The Greek Pope was at the resort that we were staying at and we were fortunate to see him walking to his waiting car. That is where we learned about the throwing of the cross into the ocean with the divers retrieving it. It was very exciting time to be there and to witness this historical event.

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  47. Oh Poppy, I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one, and yet am happy that one is getting well. What a beautiful area, near the hospital, such a gorgeous grouping of boats along the harbor. I do pray things settle down for you and yours a bit now. I love what you wrote at the end, what a beautiful remembrance of Jesus~Take care!

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  48. to live with such beauty so near is a comfort to the hurting soul.
    these are such beautiful pictures poppy! the clarity of light is amazing. they look like little paintings.
    i hope your souls will be blessed with rest and renewal for this coming new year.
    enough sorrow.
    but wonderful that you have good family all around to share each other's joy and hard. xoxo

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  49. I agree...paintings! You have such an artists soul my friend...

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  50. Hello Poppy and Happy New Year my dear friend!
    Your days have been filled with giving to others and you know, you do that so genuinely. I know you have been such a comfort to those around you and have helped ease the worry, pain and loss.
    I hope you are taking care of yourself and that you are looking forward to the anticipation of what 2014 might bring your way.
    I must say the glistening waters were entrancing and beautiful and oh so very clear!
    Have a splendid week!

    New Year Hugs,
    Jemma

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  51. I am browsing. deep into the magic light that is Greece.
    I am sitting on the terrace of the cochlias restaurant. if I remembered to spell it right!
    and i'm listening to poppy sing 'don't know why'... oh. it's wonderful. and it's simply magic.
    it's like listening to a beautiful child sing. simply singing in a perfect little voice.
    no acoustics no pyrotechnics no baring of teeth no in~your~face gimmicks. just beauty. lovely beauty.
    xo

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  52. I also took a break from blogging. Spent almost two weeks at my daughter's home east of where I live. It takes a good 2 hours or more to drive there. Love the water shot - just beautiful. So sad to loose a loved one but we have to take the bad with the good.

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  53. Poppy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband's uncle, and glad your brother-in-law is recuperating well. I hope that the beauty of your surroundings as you've captured them in these photos does something to lift your spirits.

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  54. Poppy,
    I am so very sorry for your family's loss.. This is always difficult but seems more so at this holiday.

    You really have been busy. Thank you so much for writing me, I was thrilled to get your comment.

    I wish you and yours a wonderful 2014..

    southern smiles and hugs
    Sonny

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  55. I'm so sorry for your family's loss, Poppy. God bless you all.
    Your photos are just spectacular. I love the colour of the water. I hope this New Year brings you and your loved ones much joy. Thank you for sharing at my HOME and take care, my friend.

    Blessings and hugs,
    Sandi

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  56. I am sorry to hear about the unfortunate events, please take care and I will be thinking of you!
    Wonderful photos you shared, it should put a smile on someone's face with all those sunlight.

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  57. It sounds like a rough time for your family. Happy to have you back. Gorgeous photos.

    - Alma, The Tablescaper

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  58. I am sorry for your family, Poppy. It sounds as if there has been a lot of sadness surrounding your holidays. I hope that your brother in law continues to recover and feel well and that 2014 ushers in a happier, healthier time for your entire family.
    BTW~81 degrees sounds just delicious! ;)

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  59. Great to have you at "Oh, the PLACES I've been!"

    - The Tablescaper

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  60. First time to your blog but not the last. Your photos are just beautiful. I assume you are in Greece. What a gorgeous place that must be.

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  61. I am so sorry for all the sadness over the holidays. How nice to have all the beauty around you to help lift your spirits. Gorgeous pictures! Visiting from Anything Blue Friday.

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  62. I'm sorry for your loss, Poppy, and for the rough start to your new year. I pray that 2014 will turn around and be a year of bright blessings for you!

    Hugs from Inspire Me Monday / Create With Joy :-)

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  63. Your family has certainly had a difficult start to the New Year. I'm sorry for your loss.
    I imagine that the harbour is a lovely place to which to retreat after a hospital visit. Such beauty!

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  64. Beautifully, put, Poppy. After darkness there is light. Gorgeous photos and I am sorry for your loss - I do appreciate you sharing with A Return to Loveliness,
    Kathy

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate hearing from all of you! Have a great day!