Thursday, July 31, 2014

Summer Sizzle

 
Potted petals, leaves dry and brittle,
line up patiently for their daily drizzle.

 

A sprinkle of H2O and plenty of TLC,
they are spared a sunburnt tragedy.

  

 A war of hide and seek 
with the fiery foe in the sky,


they dodge its burning bullets,
  blocked by marble allies.

 

Even those, who worship
the rays of its force,

 

 do not brave the watery oasis,
but choose, to change course.


 Only the fierce and the flying 
dare to socialize, 
taking a dip and a dive
before jetting back to their hives,


 now refuelled,
 and on the runway, 
ready for takeoff.


Thanks for visiting
and have a fun weekend!


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Monday, July 28, 2014

Post #150: Pondering the Path

A charming house, near the main church of St. Nicholas.

As early as third grade, I can recall sitting in the
school library, dreaming about little white houses
with blue shutters and lots and lots of flowers.

Mountain range views from my terrace

Up to that point, I had visited Greece only once, but
had no recollection of it, (aside from a few snapshots), 

St. Nicholas Church, our village's main church

since I was only six months old at my baptism, 
which took place on the island of Tinos.
 
On the path towards the village, one encounters St. George's Church.
  
 Perhaps, the fact that I was born in Canada,
 but christened here, was a sign that, one day,
 Greece would become my second home.

What I see, while waiting for the bus.

As an expat, I am constantly comparing my adopted
 country to my country of birth. For example, wouldn't
 you agree that designated bus stops are pretty darn 
delightful, here in the Cretan countryside, where the only
  line ups are those of fruit bearing trees, and vines?

Aegean blue covers an old, metal door, accented by rosemary green.


Don't get me wrong: as far as social and economic
infrastructure goes, for me, there's no place like Canada!

Containers filled with frilly flowers soften the surface of roughly laid cement.

But, my heart melts every time I step outside my door,
to explore the microcosm of a village that is my home,
in a country that is collapsing from economic woes,
which, once upon a time, seemed only to soar.


Thanks for visiting and
have a wonderful week!


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Friday, July 25, 2014

Fraternal Florals


They're here...
And they're absolutely adorable!

 

They arrived a little after 7 am, yesterday 
morning, after a long and difficult labour.


Mother and babies are all doing fine,
getting plenty of rest and nourishment.

 

Born not too far apart, (in flower time),


 from their slightly older siblings, they are not identical;


their leaves and and blooms are different in shape,

 

but the same brilliant colourS run through their veins!


Visiting hours are from 9am to 9pm, when 
the Purslane are wide awake, and playful.


But what's this?
It seems the stork has left 
yet another basket on my balcony
of a pretty and precious Portulaca family!


Thanks for visiting 
and have a happy weekend!
 
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Monday, July 21, 2014

The Beachy Rosemary Mystery


Yesterday, we made our way
 to the cove of Paleokastro, (Old Castle), 
for our first salty swim of the season.


Sailboats, floating on a splashy
 surface of sparkling waves,


glided past cliffy coastlines, signed by
stiff, sunburnt branches,


and rough and rocky shores, where aromatic rosemary
 seasoned the breeze with savoury/sweet bouquets.

The Venetian Fortress of Paleokastro of Malevizio, 1573

 I wonder, could this fragrant herb have been
 planted by palace proprietors, or the castle's cooks,

 

  who braved the descent down to the pebbly beach
   to snip the leaves for rich ragouts and scented brews?


One thing's for sure: 
the corns and calluses
 of the castle's culinary crew 
must have been
 pampered and pumiced
 with a weekly, pedicure!


Thanks for visiting 
and have a wonderful week!

Friday, July 18, 2014

My Shabby Chic Chair Affair

Our deck chairs, after too much sun, rain, wind, and wear.

I am not your typical shabby chic kinda chick,

 

although I do appreciate a little scruffiness

Newly sanded, awaiting the next step.

here and there, in a finely 
chiseled table or a charming chair.

Primed and prepped.

When pressed, I will admit
 to an affinity for the distressed.

 
  But, I bet that even die-hard fans of this deco
trend would probably agree that this patina is


way too weathered - even for their time-worn tastes!



 Don't let the floral frou frou fool you -


'Next!' Chairs cue up for a shabby to chic technique.

it was definitely time for a tune-up!


Freshly painted in a soft sheen of aquamarine,


their cool, blue hue, was the 
direct result of a colour crush


 on this good looking gate. Remember those words
of devotion I uttered when I first gazed upon it?

''...Quiet and unassuming, (it) spoke to me
in whispery tones, just loud enough to become 
a lovely inspiration for a future patio project, 
(to be posted soon), in my own garden.''


I kept my promise.


And that calls for a toast:
'To the shabby and the worn:
do not fret - for, you too,
 one day shall be reborn!'


Thanks for visiting
and happy weekend!



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