Thursday, September 12, 2013

Forever Fall



 Note: This post was first published last year.

Are you anxiously anticipating autumn?
Do you wake up craving cooler temps, 
crisp, brisk mornings, coppery, collage sidewalks
 and layers of cozy clothing?


You do know that autumn officially arrives in ten days?
Can you contain yourself?


  Many bloggers have been busily scurrying about
  baking, decorating, prepping, and shopping.


 Every preventative measure has been taken 
to avoid being left with passed over scraps
 in the seasonal aisle.



Why am I so calm and composed?
Because I have fall at my footsteps every day!

When I finally got to have some fun and decorate
after ten years of 'serious' building,


I knew I wanted a warm and welcoming atmosphere.


Thus, every room is permanently pigmented
in autumn ambiance.


 The hues may be different,
but each room reflects a coziness
that we connect with this season.


The blues are cool and the golds are warm, 
like tarnished leaves against paler skies.


The blog, of course, is an extension of my home,
like an addition or guest house, (for all of you lovelies!),
and as such, it needed to fit in;
thus, the respective banner!


And speaking of lovelies,
my sweet friend, Maria, of scrapmaria.blogspot.com,
 sent me this beautiful, handmade pendent
for my name day!


She is so talented!
Thank you, Maria, I love it!
It's so me!


And thank you to all my readers
for visiting me today;
I appreciate your 'presence', too!

The countdown is on. 
Stand by...
and thanks for visiting!



Joining: 
Create It Thursday, Artsy Corner, 
The Homemaking Party, Worthwhile Wednesdays, 
 Be Inspired Features & Link Party, Saturday Sparks,
Fabulous Fall, Say G'Day Saturday,  The Inspiration Gallery, 
What's It Wednesday, The Scoop, Friendship Friday,
Inspiration Monday, The Art of Home-Making Mondays,
Centerpiece Wednesday, Mosaic Monday, Wow Us Wednesdays,
Inspire Me, Tuesday Trivia, bebetsy.com, Brag About It, 
Tuesdays at Our Home, Tweak It Tuesday, Make it Pretty Monday,
Sunday Showcase Party, Amaze Me Monday, Inspire Me Monday,
 Seasonal Sundays, Flaunt it Friday, Feathered Nest Friday,
 Simple & Sweet Fridays,  Be Inspired, Home, Open House Party
Show & Tell Friday, Home Sweet Home, Home and Garden Thursday

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Autumn Aroma


Today, my Canadian maple 'leafs' 
were cooked with Cretan flair.
Basted in clear stock from the sky, their
 autumn aroma floats in summer air.


 Lukewarm droplets landed on our Leylands, while
   Goldcrests were greeted with a firm H2O handshake,
giving them their word that fall is on its way.


This meteorological meeting was not scheduled. The day
 was off to a sunny start. It's still summer, after all!


But from my balcony, 
village views cued other hues,
of landscapes lush, but dewy!


 And then...
The skies turned grey,
the sun hid rays,
and the clouds 
filled up with tears.


 And when they burst,
they quenched the thirst 
of cooped up blooms, relieved,
  and ready to appear.


 Any sign of the season sneaking up on you?

Thanks for visiting
and happy weekend!


Sharing at: 
The Homemaking Party, Be Inspired Features & Link Party, Welcome Fall,
Autumn Abounds, The Inspiration Gallery, Create It Thursday, 
Artsy Corner, Worthwhile Wednesdays, What's It Wednesday,
The Scoop, Treasure Box Tuesday, The Art of Home-Making Monday,
   Say G'Day Saturday, Saturday Sparks, Inspiration Monday,
Flaunt it Friday, Friendship Friday, Friday's Five Features,
Feathered Nest Friday, Simple and Sweet Fridays, Be Inspired,   
HomeHome and Garden Thursday, Open House Party
Home Sweet Home, Wow Us Wednesdays, Show & Tell Friday,
Tuesdays at Our Home, Mosaic Monday, Inspire Me Monday,
Tuesday Trivia, Brag About It, bebetsy.com, Tweak It Tuesday,
Make it Pretty Monday,  Travel Photo Mondays, Amaze Me Monday, 
Inspire Me Tuesday, Seasonal Sundays, The Sunday Showcase Party,

Thursday, September 5, 2013

SNEEZING, STRANDED, AND STIR CRAZY IN CYBERSPACE


Hello to all my friends and new followers!

Yes, I've been away for a fortnight, as they used to say in the 'olden' days. That's exactly two weeks, and before I explain, I would like to say a big thank you to some very sweet friends for their kind words and concern, both in emails, and comments here.


On August 22nd, as I was writing an email to a dear friend and fellow blogger, my little laptop, it seems, wasn't feeling so great. Its fan was overheating (a fever, in human terms), and if I had known that I could have sprayed it with compressed air (taken its temperature) and not have kept it on all day, (plenty of bed rest), it just might have lasted a few more days. But alas, it was already too late, as it had contracted a nasty virus, becoming weaker and weaker by the hour, (loading pages at snail speed), and in a split second - crashed (collapsed)! 
This virus had some very strange symptoms. For example, GFC was partially disabled, i.e, people could follow my blog, but I couldn't access the feature on theirs. I couldn't upload photos when composing a post, and half of the other functions in this very template disappeared, as well. Chrome, which is 'wired' to Blogger, was my default search engine and the first thing that crashed, (thus all the weirdness), and it is still missing in action as I have not been able to reinstall it!


But, the strangest thing that came from this most bothersome bug, and which I have yet to overcome, is that my current Facebook page has vanished into thin cyberspace air, and therefore, irritatingly inaccessible, while a supposedly deleted and deactivated one has resurfaced! It's very surreal when your most recent Facebook pic/page shows up as 'people you may know'.  Very 'twilight zone', wouldn't you say? 


And so, after countless, futile attempts trying to diagnose and treat the problem myself, I gave up when I was no longer able to reboot (resuscitate) it. Frustrated with forums, and exhausted from all the tedious trial and error takes, this sneaky and stubborn sickness was one viral beast that physically vacuumed the energy right out of me!


Emotionally, I was feeling blue, uninspired, insecure and lost.  My laptop is my connection to creativity, my communication of vision and thought and expression of being, and without it, I am cut off, not only from this great forum of talented and interesting people, but also from myself, as it encourages me to walk around some wonderful and whimsical spaces, discovering, questioning, understanding, commenting, laughing. And learning, always learning.


Needless to say, it was only after a week's hospitalization at the Institute of Research and Technology, that my little laptop got the proper care it needed, thanks to a sweet and considerate professor, and husband of a good friend of mine. 


Recuperated and revitalized, this great giant of gadgets has finally come home, once again ready to ride the savvy search engines that take us to far and fantastic lands of thrilling stories, amazing realities and simple smiles that are contagious, but completely virus free.


Thanks for visiting!

Poppy

PS: Planning on replying to emails and visiting all of you tomorrow, 
as it's 2 am here right now!:)

All images: Poppy View, except #3: (Google)




Sunday, August 18, 2013

DemetER and DemetRA: The Goddess and the Girlfriend

Demeter: Greek goddess of  agriculture, the harvest and fertility of the earth.

While taking a few courses on Greek mythology at the University of Toronto, I was introduced to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, the harvest and fertility on the earth. Already acquainted with Aphrodite's beauty tips and advice on love, (subjects of deep interest to young, starry-eyed girls), it was Demeter who captured my attention.



Her intrinsic, 'global' goodness combined with courage and intelligence (especially regarding her strategy in the brave rescue of her daughter, Persephone, in Hades), symbolized a strong maternal force and independence. Demeter, who is also affiliated with law and order, marriage, and the cycle of life and death, quickly became my favourite among the divine divas.


Goddess of the grain, Demeter's emblem is the poppy, which grows abundantly among fields of barley. Surely, this was a further 'sign' from the gods that my connection with Demeter was destined to be one lasting a lifetime!

Demetra: teacher, mother, daughter, forever friend. (poppyview.blogspotcom)

Fast forward twenty years, when, another 'Demeter' appears before me, equally strong and independent, a great mother to two young men, a teacher and philosopher, who is forever discussing the law and order of her own society, on a never ending quest for national pride and defense of her fellow man.



This is my friend, Demetra, named after Saint Demetrios, the Greek Orthodox, Great Martyr, military and spiritual protector of Thessaloniki. Having the pleasure of knowing Demetra well, I can attest to the fact that she possesses and exhibits the personality traits of both her religious Orthodox and Olympian namesakes!



Demetra's  many hobbies and interests, which range from singing, traditional dancing, hiking and travelling, have allowed this active and multi-talented lady to meet and make friends with like-minded people who share her passions, one of those folks, being me!

Demetra in action! (click to enlarge)

It was through our love of singing and the Intercanto International Choir, that Demetra and I met. We also worked together as members on the board of directors,  promoting the choir and taking care of business, in general, with Demetra serving as president. Those were happy, creative and fun-filled times and we became fast friends and confidantes! Board room bantering soon led to late night, coffee house conversations, punctuated by loads of laughter and confessions over cocktails!


Birthday bash! (poppyview.blogspot.com)

But, sadly, this week, after thirty years on the island, my sweet and caring friend made one of the most heart wrenching moves of her life, and departed for her native Cyprus; a difficult decision, especially since she has so many friends here, who will miss her tremendously. 

Beautiful Cyprus (click to enlarge)

She is one of thousands who are leaving or have already done so, due to severe, austerity measures, inflicting insecurity and desperate, day to day struggles on the citizens of this once flourishing country, that are too painful to endure.


Another shared passion: red!

So, dear Demetra,

for now, it's girlfriend gabfest time on Skype
and visiting our lives by clicking Facebook 'likes'.
Unless Demeter decides to
fly you over courtesy of 'Goddess Air', 
we'll see each other in due time,
albeit, via mortal transport and full fare!



   The Goddess                                                                                        and the Girlfriend
         
Thanks for visiting!

Poppy



All images: 
Google and Demetra's Facebook page, 
unless otherwise stated.