Happy 2018!

 Happy New Year, dear readers!

You may remember the Greek tradition of

baking a St. Basil's cake, to ring in the new year.

As always, our 2018 'vasilopita', or St. Basil's cake, scented the entire house with a sweet, lemon-y aroma, and added a serving of holiday cheer to the open shelving in the kitchen, which was fittingly and festively dressed in all its Christmas cuteness.

Thank goodness, just a few days earlier, Liberty and I had gone on a long walk uphill, through vineyards and olive groves, to the next village over, a kind of preventative measure against expected calorie damage,

since aside from the St. Basil's cake, there were other seasonal sweets that were enjoyed at Christmas teas and gatherings. Above, we enjoyed a Greek brew amid the spectacular views of the sky, sea and valley below - a lovely break before all the busyness that was in store!

And, although we didn't hike, but drove, up to a beautiful, mountainous village, inland, to celebrate 2018 with our annual  

New Year's day lunch, at one of our favourite restaurants,

we made sure to feast on healthy fare, amid some richer dishes. Doesn't this Cretan winter salad look divine? It was drizzled with an olive oil/honey/balsamic dressing, and featured farmer's cheese, dried figs, BBQ mushrooms and sweet peppers, a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and a few honeyed sesame cubes... so refreshing and delicious!

 Hope you enjoy this short video of our exhilarating hike

 to that heavenly village in the sky. May 2018 be filled with 

happy horizons of clear, bright light, for you and yours!

Thanks for visiting!

xx

Poppy

Cookies, Cakes, and Caves: A New Year Adventure

Happy New Year, Everyone!

 May it be joyful and fun and filled

 with good health and prosperity!

Liberty arrived a few days before Christmas, and although I had

  already decorated the house, she trimmed the tree. Isn't it pretty?

We baked our traditional, painted cutouts, which we've been

doing for over 20 years. Libby is the artist around here!

The cookies are made with orange zest, and every time we

open the tin, a lovely, sweet fragrance floats into the air.

The village of Agios (St.) Thomas, where several Byzantine churches attract tourists  throughout the year.

Outside, the air is crisp and cool, and even though it's been 
raining for 3 days straight, we've managed to take a few drives
 to favourite, nearby haunts, seeking a little adventure. 

In the village of Agios (St.) Thomas, we hiked up a hilltop, 

where ancient Roman tombs silently claim the land. 

Wandering into the small, damp caves, we

 were sheltered from the sudden downpour, 

as we gazed in silence, at the most

 beautiful views, across the valley, below.

Back home, we got busy preparing for several gatherings,

adding some scrumptious savouries to the many array 
of sweets, and decided to bake a tasty tiropita (cheese pie),

which, in turn, was accompanied by lively conversation, 
and good cheer, at a Christmas Tea Liberty and I hosted
last week, for the ladies of the Philanthropic Society.

To ring in the new year, we baked our traditional Vasilopita, or New Year's Eve cake, named after St. Basil, who is associated with Santa Claus in the Greek culture. At the stroke of midnight, after many hugs and kisses and well wishes, the Vasilopita is served. This delicious lemon cake contains a hidden coin, and before each piece is cut, a name is called out. Whoever finds the coin in their piece is said to have good luck for the new year. The first piece is always reserved in remembrance of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo
Poppy


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