Tea and Curiosity: An Invitation

'High Tea', Denise Daffara

Have you ever been curious about what all your bosom blogger buddies are like in person? When reading their posts and comments, can you connect a personality to them? Do you hear their voices, each one different, but part of a unique collection of like-minded friends,

 who share the same ideas, life styles and passions with you?

'Afternoon Tea with Lilies', Natalie Singh

This coming May, Poppy View will celebrate its second year in the blogosphere, and in that time, I've had the pleasure of 'meeting' 

many sweet and talented people across the globe, some of 

whom reside in the Greater Toronto Area, and who I've

 been wanting to meet in person, but had not been able to, 

due to the deterrent of distance.  UNTIL NOW.

The Old Curiosity Tea Shop, photo: teaandtalk.blogspot.com

For those of you who live in the GTA, 

I'd love to see your real time smile,

 free, from its freeze framed profile pic,

  a smile now warming, after winter's wacky schtick!

 So, how about a cozy, traditional, Afternoon Tea?

Your presence would make me smile most happily!

Please RSVP in the comments,

 as the Old Curiosity Tea Shop requires 3 days notice, and

is closed on Monday, which means I would have to

reserve by this Saturday, April 5th, 2014.

Thanks for visiting

 and hope to see you soon!

xo

Poppy

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Turning 50 in Toronto

Hi everyone,

It's true: I'm half a century old!

I turned 50 on Wednesday, March 19th, 2014,

and interestingly, I share a birthday with The Royal Ontario Museum, which celebrated its 100th anniversary that day.

Hmm...Feeling a little like an artifact, myself!

I am very lucky to have spent the day with Liberty, 

my parents, my siblings and their families.

Some of you may remember how homesick

I was during the Christmas holidays.

Needless to say, being home for this milestone occasion

made it extra special and I feel very blessed.

Thanks for visiting!

xo

Poppy

P.S.: Will visit you all very soon, promise!
P.P.S.: A very big welcome 

to my new followers, and a favour:

After several stressful attempts,

it seems that Google is not letting me

 access GFC to follow you back. 

I wonder: could it be because I am
 not connected to my laptop?

Is anyone else experiencing this Google glitch?
In any case, I promise to do so when I return to Crete,

-unless anyone has a solution to this sneaky snag!

Until then, thanks for understanding!

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PR: A Dude in Demand

 Lately, Prince Richard, our ravishing, resident cat, has 
been the source of some spicy, internet intrigue! PR is single, relatively quiet and low maintenance, if he's properly fed,
 playfully pampered and sufficiently sheltered.

Now, I may be biased, but I have to say, this feline fella 
is handsome, rugged, and charmingly mysterious.

 

 Most days, when he is not dozing off for the dozenth time, PR can be spotted sitting silently in one of his many designated spots,
 soaking in the sun, supposedly deep in thought.

Nights, are another story; we have no idea where he disappears to, whom he sees, and what he does. He is your typical tomcat
 bachelor, and from what I hear, (according to him), quite
 sought after by countless kitties, who, (and I quote),
 'cannot resist his debonair demenour'.

 One day, snuggled in his favourite chair and staring at the
 sky above, day dreaming about the details of dinner,

 PR thought he'd heard a rustling in the row of bushes behind him.   
 He immediately shifted into spy mode and started his stakeout.

Within seconds, he realized that he was being stalked by a sultry, yellow eyed female, who had slithered her way into his territory,
 finally coming face to face with her target.

It wasn't long before this femme fatale had PR wrapped around
 her little finger, (not to mention her furry bod), catering to her
 every whim, sudden cravings and diva demands!



It goes without saying, that the manipulative Ms. Meow
 had made a pauper out of this prince, as he spent every
 waking hour fulfilling her wishes, causing him to
 collapse from exhaustion, early on. There was no doubt: 
this dude was in dire straits.

Enter Kanga: a sweet, gentle gal from across the pond. Pretty, 
pleasant and petite, she is a breath of fresh air, compared 
to the stuffy conditions in which Ms. Meow circulates.
 She first fell for PR after seeing his picture posted on
 this blog, and since then, their selfies have been the 
source of their romantic correspondence, each cyber snap
 securing  their loyalty to each other until the day they meet.

Of course, like all love stories, this one is not without its  complications; namely, Kanga is not willing to relocate, nor 
is her mommy ready to part with her - perfectly understandable,
 given how utterly adorable and precious she is!

 

Thus, poor PR seems doomed to distress, and until his own mommy returns from Canada, he can only hope that she brings him a special souvenir: his alluring, American sweetheart - in the flesh! But, until then, it's back to the trenches for this silently suffering, love-struck cat.

And the story continues...

Thanks for visiting!
xo
Poppy
PS: Hope to visit all of you soon! After an 8 hour delay in Munich, we finally landed in Toronto, having spent 14 hours on 3 planes, 8 hours in 3 airports, and countless more, jet lagged, with no end in sight!

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Fellow Dweller

When we first moved into our new home, here in the village, we quickly took notice of the quirky habits of our fellow dwellers. 

 In particular, we discovered that the sun, (an early riser), 
likes to sit and settle on our front doorstep every morning.

 It lingers there for hours, before feeling motivated to
slowly meander its way around the rest of the house.

Every day, minutes after its debut, we are gently awakened by its 
soft, a.m. light. Outside, it playfully paints patterns on porcelain tiles,

while weaving through iron railings, like a restless toddler in his crib, eager to escape and explore the collection of curiosities around him. 

 Wherever you are, I hope that today, you, too, were roused from 
a restful sleep, by the light touch of soothing sunlight on your cheek.

A big welcome to my new followers 
and happy hellos to everyone!
Thanks for visiting and have a lovely week!

xo
Poppy

All images: Poppy View

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Cozy in the Cretan Countryside

Sun pours in through the kitchen window. Notice the dainty napkin holder, crocheted by Maria's mother.

On Sunday, we celebrated Mardi Gras in the Cretan
countryside, where this beautiful, old-world home is part
 of a picturesque, little village, that overlooks the Libyan sea.

 The house's facade boasts original stone, while a carpet of Minoan colours covers the courtyard.

 The house, over 200 years old, belongs to my brother-in-law,

Alexander, and his wife, Maria. Purchased about twenty 

years ago, the couple painstakingly restored it, after it

 had been tragically abandoned and derelict for decades.

Solid stone walls multi-task, protecting the house from heat in the summer and cold in the winter.

  An arched doorway, marked with a cross from the Holy Light of last year's Resurrection ceremony, leads directly into the cozy kitchen.

                                  Original wooden beams support the ceilings, while a cast iron pan, once                                    belonging to Maria's grandmother, hangs on thickly splattered, stucco walls.

 Once inside, you are greeted by a large fireplace, original to 
the house, where most of the daily meals were once prepared.

Open shelving displays everyday crockery, including tiny cups
 for those mornings when strong, Greek coffee is a must!

A fireplace is nestled in the corner; the perfect spot for knitting or an afternoon nap!

 

Another door, also accessed from the courtyard, leads
to a dramatic, open plan living and dining room.

Maria takes a break from cooking, while the men light the outdoor ovens for bread and roasted dishes.

 Here, the second fireplace is situated, along with a wood stove,
 both used for heating the space, but also for cooking.

One of two outdoor wood ovens; this one was once the only oven catering to the entire village.

In addition, there are two outdoor wood ovens located in the courtyard, which are used for baking large quantities of food,

and making sure everyone is toasty and comfy when 
dining al fresco during the cooler, winter months.

At one point, the house was transformed into a tavern,
and the second level, equally spacious and efficient,



  boasted private dining rooms and breathtaking views of the sea.

 I have always had a weakness for these exquisitely crafted
stone structures, and feel very lucky when I get to explore
 and appreciate their unique history and charm.

 Thank you to Maria and Alexander, for their gracious
hospitality, and a very memorable Mardi Gras, at their
delightful home, in the hilly countryside of Crete.

Thanks for visiting!
 xo
Poppy

All images: Poppy View 

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Buttercup Brilliance

 6:45 am, Poppy View headquarters, orange skies just before sunrise.

  

 9:09: My feline ally, Prince Richard, the cat,
misses his wake up call for the day. So predictable.

 9:10: I leave him behind and head for the hills, as planned.

 You snooze, you lose.

 

 The Bermuda buttercups had arrived for their annual visit,

and I was curious to see how they were getting on

 with their hosts, the olive trees and grapevines.

9:49: Everything seemed harmoniously fine, from a distance.

10:15: A serene scene on a canvas of blue; a pretty, pastoral view.

10:34: Up close, it was evident that our generous hosts, 

indeed, had made the little buttercups feel at home, 

giving them plenty of space, in which to stretch and freely roam.

 11:58: At my garden gate, I am greeted with a yawn,

by a lazy companion I can never count on. Shameful.

Happy first day of March!

Spring Countdown

Spring: __ days, (and counting), to go...

Will flowers grow where there is snow? I sure hope so!

xo

Poppy

All images: Poppy View

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