Showing posts with label Houses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houses. Show all posts

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Birds, Bees, Lilacs and Peonies

'Canadian' colours welcome me to Unionville, Ontario, where my sister
   and her family have been living for the past 16 years, and Liberty for 3!

Hello, my friends,
I've missed you!

On Main Street, black shutters frame white windows,
 allowing for peeks into a reno taking place, 'inside'.

I arrived in Canada on May 7th, and have been enjoying
 the sights and sounds of my favourite season.

A perfect pale purple, luscious lilacs scent their
 surroundings, providing a sweet surprise for passersby.

 On my walks around the neighbourhood, I am greeted
  by frilly, fragrant lilacs, which instantly transport me
 back to the pretty gardens of my childhood.

Another ebony and ivory beauty, this one complete with French windows
and doors, facing a pretty pathway, leading back to a welcoming front porch.

The grass is green, the sky is blue, the birds
 are singing, and everything's 'brand new'!

An empty swing sways in the cool, morning breeze, as eager, early
 bird shoppers, (yours truly, included), hunt for charming treasures
inside this beautiful, barn red house holding a contents sale. 

Don't you just love it when serendipity sneaks up on you,
 smack -!- in the middle of your prepared plans, and 
suddenly plants a happy  smile on your elated face,
 because you just 'happened' to run into an old friend, or,
 oh, I don't know...stumble upon a brilliant estate sale?!


I do!

On her way home from work, Liberty stopped to
smell the peonies, after snapping them for her mama.

But when it strikes TWICE, (coming across pure pink
peonies in full bloom!), it's cause for celebration, and
 that's exactly what we did, as we celebrated Liberty's
 26th birthday, and Poppy View's  3rd, on May 18th.

A lemon cream cake, baked with lots of love, for my very sweet Liberty.

Thanks for visiting! As you know, I've been busy with my
 sister's move, buying new furniture, and packing up the old, 
with little breaks in between, seeing friends and relatives.
 I hope to catch up with you, too, all this week, since
 we are expecting 5 (!) days of non-stop rain. 


On the bright side, I was honoured to be featured
   at Junk Chic Cottage's wonderful series,
'Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger'.
Please come by and say hello to our charming
 hostess, Kris, and me; we'd love to see you!

Finally! Peonies - in person, after 30 years of  adoring them from a far!

Wishing you all a very sunny Sunday, and
a happy Memorial Day to my American friends!

xoxo
Poppy

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

HOME IS WHERE THE SUN IS


(This post was written last January, in Toronto)

I love Canada. I was born in Toronto, (where I am presently visiting), one of the greatest cities in the world, in my humble opinion. I have sweet memories of my life here, as a little girl, and of course, as a young woman. 


A loving and funny family of fifty plus, (I'm Greek - there's no such thing as extended family!), devoted friends, (some from as far back as highschool), beautiful neighbourhoods  and an effective infrastructure are the things I miss most when I'm not here, which is most of the time, as I live far away; both a sea and an ocean separate me from the first twenty-two years of my life.


As many of you know, I have lived on the island of Crete for the last twenty-five years, shortly after I met my husband, who was born there. I fell in love with the obvious attractions at first: the sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, the five thousand years of history, the friendly people and of course the food, which is simple, fresh and flavourful. 


But, aside from all of these wonderful aspects of this ancient land, it was the adventure of discovering its earthy and mysterious treasures that attracted me to it. 


So much so, that I left my close knit clan and Canadian comforts and began a new life, and in essence, a new identity, in a country whose blood ran in my veins, but was a stranger to my heart.


Much like the photo above, where tropical trees and snow cone peaks share the same surreal stage, Crete is a continuous source of contradictions. Venetian architecture, Turkish delicacies and French fashion, among other influences, have infused the Cretan carriage, creating subtle contours in its traditionally rooted character.  


But, amid all the flurry of foreign fluctuation, economic erosion and crippling austerity, one thing is always certain: the Cretan sun shows up on my doorstep day after day, to brighten my mood with the brush of its rays.


And so, I await its arrival, promising peace and colour and life!

 High in the hills, the flowers stir in the breeze and the waves rock to and fro below. Soothing, enriching and pure, it warms my face, my heart and soul. 


I miss the sunny skies at home! Until we meet again...
Hope you are blessed with the beauty and tranquility
 of natural sunlight wherever you are!

Thanks for visiting.

Poppy
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Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Candlelight: A Reflection


Have you ever seen such a beautiful couple? One that has managed to stay together through thick (skin!) and thin (ice!), remaining close after all these years, complementing each other's personalities like apple pie and ice-cream?

source

I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of you who have graced this little blog with your thoughtful presence, visiting and taking the time to leave such lovely comments, even when your days are a busy and bustling whirlwind of work, family and chores!


You can't possibly know how much I truly appreciate hearing from you! Your kind and caring words have been such a bouquet of inspiration, from the very first day, back in May, when Poppyview debuted in this big, bold blogosphere!


As the new kid on the block, I simply hoped that someone... anyone (!), would drop by, even for a bit, if only to say, "Hey there, nice to meet you!".  To my delight, you popped over, and luckily for me, have stayed a while and I couldn't be happier! 


In turn, you have graciously opened up your 'doors' and invited me in for a chat and details about your newest project or latest trip. Other times, perhaps even more importantly, we have been there for each other- support, from a now familiar voice, albeit, sometimes far away in miles, but nearby in our thoughts and prayers. Ultimately, isn't that what friends are for?  Ditto for blogger buddies, I'm sure.


    And so, on this cozy, candlelit eve,
 I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. 
May joy and peace be felt in your hearts,
 and those of our fellow man, around the world.

xo
~Poppy~

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Friday, November 2, 2012

TELLING STORIES


Crete Family Villas
I was told a little story the other day about my friend, Jocelyne. It’s a story that is indicative of her generous nature, of how her teacher traits played a revealing role, a story which, she herself, has never told. 
Crete Family Villas
In an effort to motivate the children to take responsibility and keep their village clean, Jocelyne offered each of them an ice cream, if they assisted her in picking up all the litter that they could find.  
In the village, drying grapes to make raisins

Before another remnant of rubbish could be thrown, and within no time at all, a huddle of house- proud youngsters could be seen, happily walking the winding, waste-free roads of the village, indulging in their icy treats. Just like that: stimulus – response!
Crete Family Villas
My second story is about the villas, and how they came to be.  Jocelyne gives us some fun facts about the vacation property, as well as a peek into her own personal preferences.
Crete Family Villas
 I wish I could tell you that this interview took place in the gorgeous room above, but that would be a ‘tall’ tale, of sorts. What I can tell you is that we had the pleasure of having a wonderful coffee morning here, in one of the villa’s most stunning spaces, with breathtaking views of the sea in the near distance, and the pools and gardens at your feet, truly making it a luxury to be enjoyed, all year round.
Crete Family Villas

Crete Family Villas: An Interview

Jocelyne, you were born in Turkey, which is very similar to Greece in many ways. What inspired you to build on Crete, and especially, in our village?

We lived on the island in the 80's and loved it so much, and after many visits, we decided to build in this perfect village.

The villas are simply gorgeous! How would you describe them?

The villas are built in the traditional way using local materials. They are spacious with views over the vineyards, mountains and the sea.

Each villa has an interesting name.  Could you please explain to our readers what they mean?

Eleftheria means freedom, independence
Kalithea/ good view
Irini/ peace

All three are stunning.  Which one is your favourite and why?

Villa Irini is my favourite, as it has a better sea view from the second floor rooms.

How did you choose your colours, both for the interior and exterior?

We wanted to blend the villas with the village and the surrounding nature so they look more as one with it.

Did you have any assistance with the design and landscaping?

We used several of my brother’s ideas, having been in the travel industry for 30 years and travelled the world.
Crete Family Villas
The property is so beautifully landscaped. I love all the hot reds and soft whites in the flowers and the many fruit trees.  Could you tell us a little bit about the gardens and why you chose certain plants, trees and flowers?

The landscape is still in progress. We mainly picked trees and plants which already exist in the area, as we wanted to blend all the villas and garden with the rest of the village.

Building a house of one’s own is a huge undertaking. You had to deal with three! What was your most difficult challenge with the villas?

Overseeing construction.

What do you miss when you are away from Crete?

I miss the weather, the views, the food, the peacefulness. But most of all, I miss the friendliness of our village, Pendamodi.

 And when you are away from the States?

Well, I wished that all my family was able to share this beautiful place for the long period that I spend there, but unfortunately long vacations are not possible..for them.
Crete Family Villas 
Choose one of the following:

City mouse or country mouse?

More of a country mouse but like to be near a city..

Colour or neutral palette?

I am more of a neutral person but like colour to accent.

Wood or painted finish?

Both! But I like wood better.

Stone or stucco?

Definitely stone.

Bungalow or two storey?

A two storey gives a better view.

Sea or mountain?

A bit of both to complement the picture.

Thank you Jocelyne.

Thank you.
Jocelyne
Hope you enjoyed this introduction to Crete Family Villas. For more information, check out their website at: cretefamilyvillas.co.uk

Thanks for visiting.

Poppy

Linking to:
Open House Party Thursdays
Home and Garden Thursdays
Home Sweet Home Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Fridays Unfolded
Make it Pretty Monday
Tweak it Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesdays


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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A NEW FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR

Crete Family Villas
This summer I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyne Sireilles Kerrigan. Jocelyne lives in Washington, D.C. She is the proud co-owner/operator of Crete Family Villas, three beautiful luxury villas located in our picturesque little village. 

 On a breezy summer’s eve, our neighbour, a stately judge, was having coffee with my husband and myself on our patio, when, in between small sips, he suggested that I meet the American woman who owned the Crete Family Villas in the village. He felt that, besides the North American connection, we had a lot in common. For instance, he noticed that she was very friendly and energetic, adding that she had taken a special interest in organizing cultural events for the village folk. Wow! That’s exactly what our little hamlet needed. Yes, we live in a most charming of authentic Cretan villages, but we lack creative and cultural outlets. Needless to say, I was intrigued.
"What does she look like?" I inquired, wondering if I had seen her around the village.

 "Well, she’s a petite woman with dark hair," the judge answered.

  Half the women in Greece fit this description! In any event, a few days later, my husband and I were taking a drive to the grocery store. We had just turned the corner, when I spotted a slim figure in the distance. For some reason, I was certain it was Jocelyne! Perhaps it was her confident walk and bluntly cut black hair. Her skin was bronzed from days spent gardening and swimming, and simply being out and about. I called out to her as if we were long lost friends. Slightly startled, she slowly approached the car, while we slowed down. As I proceeded to explain who I was, the confused look on her gentle face began to fade into an enthusiastic warmth and acceptance.  We agreed that a visit was needed to exchange stories, but no definite date was set.
Jocelyne
About a month or so later, my mom and sister were visiting from Toronto. We were inside the house, unpacking from an excursion, when I heard a woman’s voice greeting us good evening at the front gate.  Immediately, I recognized it as Jocelyne’s – friendly and American, with a touch of French flair. While my husband began showing her around the property, the women in the clan scrambled to make the house look presentable, in case Jocelyne wanted a tour! Finally, we all took our seats under a starlit sky, where we chatted and chuckled for hours, and became fast friends.
Crete Family Villas

Stay tuned for Part 2: 
Crete Family Villas and an Interview with Jocelyne!

 Thanks for visiting.

Poppy
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