Saturday, December 15, 2012

I'll Be Home For Christmas


This post was written last December, while visiting my family
in Toronto, Canada. I've been particularly homesick this year,
 as I won't be spending Christmas in my beloved hometown, 
where my daughter, Liberty, is now living.
 Hope you enjoy my sweet holiday memories 
 of Christmases Past!

Source

Home. 
For anyone who shares their time, albeit, 
unequally, between two beloved countries,
 cities, even villages, home is sometimes
 a difficult place to locate.

Crete

For friends who have visited before, you know that for the past 24 years or so, Crete, my husband's place of birth, has been our permanent residence. We live in a tiny village in 
the countryside, having moved from the city last January.  
It's breathtakingly beautiful, where lush rolling hills are
lined with vineyards and dotted with orange and lemon groves, 
only to be surrounded by snowy mountains 
in the winter months.


Today, I am writing to you from my hometown, 
Toronto, Canada. It's been a while since I've posted, 
as we arrived just over two weeks ago
 and it has been non-stop: 
visiting with family and friends, 
shopping for seasonal items, 
and adjusting to the cold Canadian winter 
(which I long for when I'm in Crete!).



  But mostly, we're here so that my daughter
 can find work, as Greece's unemployment
 rate is at an all time high,  especially 
for young people under 25, of whom more 
than half are without work.


Toogood Pond, Unionville, Ontario, Canada

And so, here we are, 'across the pond'! 
My sister and her family live in Unionville,
 a charming little hamlet just outside Toronto,
 which boasts a pond all its own, 
home to various wildlife like the 
famous Canada Geese, ducks and fish. 


It is in this quaint and cozy suburban village,
 where we have the pleasure of taking
 long, leisurely walks around 
neighbourhoods nestled 
in forest-like landscapes,
 the foliage still glowing with
 memories of fall in the afternoon sun. 


The other day, on a stroll amid waterfalls 
and marshlands, I stood on a  bridge, 
gazing into the still flowing, 
not yet frozen water below, 
wondering what the future may 
hold, and thankful for good health,
and loved ones, near and far, in the present.
 Longing, and belonging, are perhaps 
one and the same, when you know and love
 two countries that can be found on a map,
 and people closest to you,
 deep in your heart.


Thanks for visiting!

xo
Poppy

All images: Poppy View,
except 2nd from top
 

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24 comments:

  1. Wishing you lovely a vacation with your family and much good luck to your daughter.

    What a charming and gorgeous place Unionville is - I got a big smile over "Toogood Pond".

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  2. Such beautiful places and wonderful pictures. Have a Merry Christmas.

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  3. Hi Poppy,

    I will send good thoughts your way .. hoping your daughter can find work. We are neighbors to Canada and visit the WEST side at least once a year. It is gorgeous in the winter and summer. The temps get cold! Dress with lots of layers.

    Enjoy the weekend and happy holidays!!

    xxleslie

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  4. Dearest Poppy,
    I have had you on my mind and it's so nice to discover your post. I pray you have a special Christmas with your family. Such a huge contrast between Greece and Canada....Oh, my goodness! I hope you brought lots of warm woolies!
    Blessings, my sweet friend,
    Carolynn xxx

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  5. ONE OF MY very favorite experiences in blogging is meeting people!

    Penelope

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  6. Welcome back to North America. I've been to Toronto and it is wonderful! It is such a big city that your daughter can surely find a job there. I'm sorry she has to leave you to do it though. I can't imagine what it would be like to love to homes so much. That would be kind of hard, I think. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. So glad to have found your beautiful blog recently.

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  7. Prayers for a good job for your daughter - that area looks like a lovely place to live!

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  8. Wishing you a very merry Christmas with your family ( on this side of the pond :) I hope that your daughter can find work. Yet if she does you will miss her. So...that's a sad part of it all :(

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  9. How wonderful that you are back home with family and friends. Maybe you will have a white Christmas? Beautiful scenery. I hope your daughter finds work, Poppy. Stay warm!

    Thanks so much for joining in this week!

    xo
    Claudia

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  10. As always, your house is gorgeous.
    Have fun where you are!

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  11. It's always fun visiting family and friends...gorgeous pictures love the bridge one...

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  12. I hope you have a lovely Christmas in Canada Poppy, it must be nice to go home - I hope your daughter is able to find work !

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  13. Ωραία η χιονισμένη Κρήτη, ωραιότατη κι η λίμνη στον Καναδά! Οποιο μέρος και να διάλεγες για να περάσεις τα Χριστούγεννα θα ήταν εξίσου όμορφο, είσαι τυχερή. Καλή τύχη στην κόρη σου!

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  14. Hello Poppy

    How exciting for you to be back in To. I am confident you daughter will find a wonderful job. Enjoy every minute and have a very Happy Christmas

    Helen xx

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  15. Hi Poppy, here's to celebrating a wonderful Christmas in Canada. Best wishes for your daughter . . . hopefully a great job will be on the horizon.
    Happy Holidays.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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  16. Somehow, I lost you off my blog reader and was surprised to find you are back with us in Canada. Welcome home! You haven't mentioned what kind of work your daughter is looking for.

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  17. Poppy, this is such a beautiful, heartfelt post.You have such a sweet spirit and a large, loving heart to be able to love both your countries so very much.
    I so hope you have a wonderful Christmas...and good luck to your daughter on finding a job.
    Over from The Charm of Home.

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  18. Well, it's been a while since the last time. I see you've already settled in and you had the time to post a new entry. Breathtaking landscapes Ms. P. You must have found some peace up there in the north.

    Sincerely yours, JKS, your "assistant stylist".

    P.S Do you mind my using some of your photos as wallpapers ?

    Libby don't fret! You'll find something!

    Merry Christmas!

    Υ.Σ Καλά εδώ έχει ένα ψόφο! :p

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  19. Dear Poppy -
    Unionville is very charming! I hope you are enjoying time with your family. And I hope your daughter's job search is going well. It's been a really hectic and busy few weeks for me. While I have some quiet time, I want to thank you for your support and friendship this year. I am so grateful we connected via our new blogs this year.
    Merry Christmas!
    Warm wishes,
    Loi

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  20. I hope you received my comments! I am thrilled that we found each other across continents! Because of my granddaughter's name is the same as yours!!

    Merry Christmas!

    I love your country of Greece; and I am sick about the economic problems there!

    With love, Merry Christmas!!

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  21. I hope you are enjoying your vacation, Poppy. How wonderful to have two such beautiful places to call home. Best of luck to your daughter.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  22. Unionville is a pretty place and I love the shops there. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas at 'home' with your family here in Canada. Wishing your daughter much success.
    Linda at Beautiful Ideas

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  23. It looks like a perfect place to be for Christmas. The images you shared are wonderful. Too bad you couldn't return this year, but I can imagine it's a big trip and can't always be done. That's wonderful that your daughter was able to get a job in Canada. It's difficult to be separated- I know because my son lives far away and it takes a lot of effort to see each other anymore. Wishing you a Peaceful and a Very Merry Christmas.

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  24. Merry Christmas Poppy! Thank you for sharing your memories of Christmas in your hometown last year. I hope you will find peace and contentment in Crete this year. You live in a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing at my HOME and have a wonderful and joyous holiday.

    Christmas blessings,
    Sandi

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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!