Up for a walk? Wear comfy shoes, cause this is a doozy!

Hello everyone, it's been a while - again. I've missed you! I'm glad you're here - if you haven't completely abandoned me, already - since I'm not here as often as I used to be. But, more on that, later. Let's walk, shall we?

 We'll start from my house; that way,

 you'll know where it is, next time you come.

 

If you've visited me on Instagram, lately, you'll know 

that almond blossoms are everywhere, right now. 

Their sweet, honey-like scent fills 

the air with the promise of spring.

I never tire of this particular spot, near our home. I have taken its picture many times throughout my years of blogging, where bare grapevines take centre stage, while silver leaved trees beaded with olives and bobbles of oranges beaming from another, act as a chorus, harmoniously illustrating how a variety of very different produce thrives so well, in such close proximity to one another, on this island.

In contrast, white mustard, (yes, it's yellow!), has invaded winter vineyards, all on its own. The adorable flowers add cheery colour to the fruitless vines, and every time I walk by this one, I want to merrily run through it, like a little girl, without a care in the world. 

Heading out towards the next village, this beautiful branch
 of almond blossoms in the distance, beckoned me 
to bestow its allure from up close,

 

thus forcing me to take a new path, deeper into the 
Cretan countryside, one which I had never explored before.

 

Do you see where I'm going with all this? 

Fields of aloe vera, vineyards, fruit and olive groves form the width of the countryside surrounding our village, while the mountains in the background soar to magnificent heights.

There are many reasons, my friends, that have been keeping me from posting as often as I'd like, but  I won't bore you with what they are. Besides, we probably have a lot of them in common. Just like the rows upon rows of aloe vera in the pic above, most days, my long list of 'to dos' seems endless, so that the components of composing a blog post, i.e., writing a theme oriented (as I tend to do), piece of prose, photographing 'subjects', formatting its text and pics, editing, editing and editing,😓 somehow, gets pushed to the bottom of the priority pile, and thus, days turn into weeks and weeks morph into months!🗓😲 Anyway, it's not like there's a rule that dictates how often one should post, but if you're like me, and really need to reach your creativity quota every few days or so, you could have a problem.

Or not. Enter Instagram! It allows me to post random pics, (although I tend to do triplets with a bit of text), in a few minutes. I really appreciate the frequent interaction with my followers, too; even just popping by to say 'Hi!',😊 is always a sweet gesture! As I've pointed out in a previous blog post, Instagram will never replace my blog process, as I really enjoy being challenged by what a blog post involves, but it is more achievable, for me, for now, regarding time and effort.

Interestingly, this seems to be a timely topic, since recently, I've come across several bloggers who are dealing with similar questions as to why they, too, are not posting as often. Some have explained that they don't have anything to report, or no new pics to share, they are not feeling inspired, or are too bombarded by deadlines in the real world. All good and valid reasons, wouldn't you agree? 

Unfortunately, I've lost a few followers the last few months, which I assume is due to the inconsistency of my posts - driving readers away because I've become blasé is too scary a thought! On the contrary, there are blogs that still grace my sidebar which haven't been updated in years, but that doesn't mean that they never will, and when they do, I will dash over to read them and say 'hello' to their authors and tell them how much I missed them and how happy I am that they're back. But if they don't ever appear at the top of my list, as blogs do when a new post is published, I will continue to keep their thumbnails there, like I do old photos, to remind me of their creators and their wonderful worlds.

Well, this blogger's all talked out 
and you are, no doubt, all walked out, 
so I'll say goodbye for now.  
But before we part ways, 
tell me, are you, too, 
going through a phase
 of unintentional delays, causing
 you 'blogger mystery' malaise?

As always, 
thanks for visiting!
xx
Poppy💟

Updating, Celebrating and Recuperating!

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The pic above

 is pure storybook, is it not:

cute, candy coloured cottages 

nestled between the deep, blue sea 

and hilly, gorgeous, greenery? 

Ah, and to add some mystery, 

what hides, we wonder, behind

all that rough and rocky scenery?

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Of course, every story needs a leading lady,

and this one, set in the fjords of Norway,

 features my darling daughter, Liberty,

who, by the way, is celebrating

 her 28th birthday today! Yay!

Happy Birthday, my love!

 Helping Libby get ready for her

5 month work and leisure holiday

is what kept me super busy 

(gathering documents, issuing a passport, 

shopping, writing recipes, packing),

until April 30th, when she 

spread her wings and flew away.

Luckily, my nephew, Christian, and his girlfriend, Erica,

were flying in from Canada within a week, so I needed to

get the house ready for their visit. It was a blessing, since

all the preparation for them kept me busy, again.

Spending 5 days together, (their first visit to Greece!),

was fun; I always enjoy introducing Crete to our guests.

The kids and I hiked to the village of Agios Myronas 
(St. Myron), which is about a 45 minute trek uphill, 
but the gleaming glory of the young grapevines, 
along the way, kept us steady and on track.

The village is home to the church that bears its name. 
Initially, an Early Christian basilica, Agios Myronas was 
converted into a four-pillard, cross-in-square domed
church in the 11th-12th century. It was the seat of an
Orthodox Diocese from the Early Byzantine era 
to period of the Venetian rule.

The chapel of Agios Myronas.

The church is home to the tomb of St. Myron, where the saint

 lived as a monk, and which now serves as a chapel. There, an

 icon of the saint, which dates back to possibly the 16th century,

 and thus considered miraculous, can be viewed.

At Koules, or "Castello a Mare" (1540), 
Heraklion's Venetian fortress, 
 Christian claims his Greek roots! 

Stunning Santorini! Paradise on the planet! The kids snapped 

a sample of the signature architecture of this idyllic island

just north of us, soon after they arrived there.

Talk about a room with a view! Unbelievably beautiful, isn't it?

A cheery and charming bunch of beauties welcome visitors at a house near the entrance of the village

And finally, on this 18th day of May, 2017, I am also celebrating Poppy View's 5th year anniversary! I would shout with joy, but I've been battling a bout of laryngitis.It's been a pleasure getting to know each and every one of you. Thanks so much for your visits and comments and friendship. This little blog has been my creative outlet and my connection to so many wonderful people across the globe. I am grateful for your readership and for your sweet emails; 

they mean the world to me.

Red and pink pretties playfully adorn the perimeters of another home's balcony

 What's been keeping you busy, lately?

  Thanks for visiting!
xo
Poppy

Sharing at:
Amaze Me Monday 
Make it Pretty Monday
Mosaic Monday
The Art of Home-Making Mondays  

Aglow in Yellow

It's the last week of March and the Cretan countryside is aglow in yellow. Above, clouds covered the sun, seconds before I took this photo, but the round, cheery flowers, like millions of little light bulbs, brightened the scene for me, so that I could capture the tiny church in all its radiant illumination.

This blossoming pear tree is one

 of many in the immediate vicinity. 

Its silky, white flowers are a soft contrast to the yellow 

  saturation that dominates the petal population at present.

These adorable daisies arrived in patches about a week ago. They're the first bunch of beauties I encounter on my walk around the village. Don't they look like those animated suns in kids' drawings? I can almost see their sweet, smiley faces and hear their childlike voices bidding me 'Good morning' in unison. 

'Good morning, daisies'.

Meanwhile, white mustard (Sinapsis alba L, belonging to the Brassicaceae family) is at its peak right now. I read here, that, 'while the table condiment mustard does indeed come from the mustard seed, the leaves, flowers, seed pods and roots are also edible.'. The young leaves, in particular, are used to flavour mixed salads.

I have been wandering through meadows of these lemony toned lovelies for years; who knew that they are packed with a peppery spice and provide a host of therapeutic qualities from treating ailments like bronchitis and pneumonia to alleviating arthritis?!

Indoors, a favourite flower of mine, my beloved freesia, take centre stage on a doily that resembles yet another sun, this one lacy and delicate. This fragrant posy is part of a bigger bouquet given to me by my sweet friend, Fotini, for my birthday, last week. She has several pots blooming on her balcony. Interestingly, her name, 'Fotini' is derived from the Greek, φως (phos), meaning 'light'. This bunch so beautifies the house with its glowing, yellow bulb-like petals and that scent!

 

And thank you, my sweet readers for visiting
   and for all of your thoughtful birthday wishes!
Have a wonderful week!

xoxo
Poppy 

Sharing at:
The Art of Home-making Mondays
Amaze Me Monday
Inspire Me Monday
Mosaic Monday
Tuesdays at Our Home
Home Sweet Home
Feathered Nest Friday
 

Women's Day Tea in the Village

Hello everyone, as you all know, last Wednesday was International Women's Day, and as a member of the Ladies' Philanthropic Society of our village, I suggested that we host a tea party to celebrate women all over the world. Firstly, I wanted the ladies of the village to feel special, so I proposed that invitations be created and hand delivered. Two of our artistic members, Kristy, and her mother, Sonia, created the pretty design, above. Isn't it adorable? 

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Next, we needed a venue. The obvious choice was the village schoolhouse. It has not been in operation as an educational facility for a while, but instead, is used for the various cultural activities that take place throughout the year, as well as being available to the children to play table tennis, a variety of board games or visit its little library.

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Expecting about 60 guests, we closed off  part of the space to make for a cozier atmosphere. The floor is grey pebble mosaic, the walls are white stucco, the ceiling a brown wood panel and there is no heating. Obviously, it is not your  typical, ornate tearoom,

but I  knew the heavy, folding doors, covered in a beautiful, olive green patina would make the room feel warm and inviting. I asked our members to bring as many of their teacups and saucers from home to add personal charm to compensate for the paper tablecloths and plastic garden chairs. A gorgeous bouquet of anemones was purchased and then divided into  posies that were placed on the tables. 

 

Magnets in flower and heart motifs - a gift for each guest, decorated each place setting. Handmade, clay candles dotted by cute ladybugs gave the room a fresh, spring-like feel and a soft, shimmery glow. A very heartfelt thank you to our talented and generous member, Eleni, who provided the magnets and crafted the candles!

When I asked our members to each make something sweet or savoury for the occasion, I had no idea that our guests would do the same! But, Cretans are known for their hospitality and I should have realized that our guests would also have wanted to contribute to our assortment of scrumptious treats! Don't they look delicious?

From a wide variety of traditional, sweet and savoury Cretan pites (pies) and koulourakia (biscotti), to loukoumades (pastries made of deep fried dough soaked in a syrup of honey and cinnamon and sprinkled with sesame seeds), and rich, decadent cakes (my chocolate/orange gateau, for example), there was something for everyone, including much Lenten fare for those who were fasting.

While the ladies sipped their tea and nibbled their goodies, it was time for our president to give a short speech about the goals and efforts of the Ladies' Philanthropic Society, and its dedication to helping the sick, the poor, and those less fortunate. She pointed out that we meet at a different member's home once a month, which gives us a chance to socialize over coffee and discuss our agenda, ultimately deciding on where our donations will go to for that month. In closing, she thanked each lady for attending and reminded us that, as women, we share the spirit of sisterhood and hoped that we could work together to make the world a better place.

I, for one, have so enjoyed working closely and cooperatively with my fellow members, who have since become wonderful friends, upon my return to the island. After a little convincing, (re: shopping, baking, crafting, setting up and cleaning!), I am very grateful that my suggestion to have this Women's Day Tea in our beautiful village was accepted with such enthusiasm by everyone in our group, who all worked very hard to make it such a sweet gathering of female fun; I will savour the memory forever!

 How did you celebrate Women's Day? 

Thanks for visiting!

xoxo

Poppy

Sharing at:

Wow Us Wednesdays

Cotton Candy Coloured Bling

Hello everyone! Last week, Liberty and I took a different route on our daily afternoon walk after spotting this beautiful almond tree in the distance. After a giddy decent downhill, we soon were standing before it. Stopping to take a photo, I cannot express to you how peaceful I felt, the cool breeze brushing my hair back, to focus on the serene scene before me: a pure, pastoral paradise.  

A wide variety of fruit bearing trees, among them, cherry, peach, plum, pear, walnut and chestnut, each taking turns to be in the limelight, thrive in the area. But presently, it is the soft and delicate beauty of the almond blossom that captures everyone's attention, just as this puff of pink petals did ours! It is the reason we detoured from our usual path and well worth the challenging climb uphill, back towards the village,    

where we were welcomed by fluffy, fragrant, vanilla flowers

belonging to one of many almond trees that 

decorate the village skies at this time of year.

 

This branch, part of a bouquet that sits on my

  kitchen window sill, is bursting with new buds,

   and from a bird's eye view, an abundance of blossoms.

But, aside from all the cotton candy coloured bling,

the frilly almond blossoms promise Spring,

my favourite season since my Autumn fling,

for the rays of light and hope that it will bring.

What's sprouting in your surroundings?

Thanks for visiting

and happy weekend!

xoxo

Poppy 

Sharing at:
The Art of Home-Making Mondays
Mosaic Monday 
Amaze Me Monday