shells and bells flowers and showers

sunday outing

2012-01-30T12:06:00.000+02:00

we went to the mountains yesterday;

it was a good, family day

{ a rarity lately }

~~~~~

it's a school holiday today.

son and his friends are playing with his playmobil in his room.

i'm enjoying some me-time;

trying to decide if i pick up a book or a hook-

probably both - not simultaneously!

~~~~~

i've been reading your words, looking at your pictures
but haven't been commenting much
as blogging time is really limited.

~~~~~~
thanks for stopping by!

take care!
xxxx

2012-01-15T17:09:00.000+02:00

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite. Or waiting around for Friday night or waiting perhaps for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil or a better break or a string of pearls or a pair of pants or a wig with curls or another chance. Everyone is just waiting.

~Dr. Seuss

Why always "not yet"? Do flowers in spring say "not yet"?

~Norman Douglas

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T11:01:00.000+02:00

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

I've found myself with some priceless me-time this morning and decided

to look back to the year we've left behind.

May you all have Health and Joy in 2012!

xxx

christmas

2011-12-24T14:13:00.000+02:00

May you all have a blessed Christmas

and a wonderful holiday season!

xxx

December

2011-12-01T10:44:00.000+02:00

is it really december today?

i guess it is.

i bought my son this advent calendar

and left a little note in the number 1 box, with directions for him to find this gorgeous book! ( i've just got it from the post office and i'm already in love with it! i wish I had ordered one for me, too!)

my son and i are secretly planning to decorate daddy's office when he's not there

-the tree ornaments are patiently waiting in their hiding place and we'll buy a tree one of these days.

and i'm - not at all patiently - trying to get over a nasty cold which has left me 'voiceless' for a week now.

hope you all have a warm, blessed december!

{ for a good dosage of graditude, you can revisit last year's advent calendar;

if only i had time to do it again this year! }

take care!

xxx

saturday night

2011-11-12T22:27:00.001+02:00

little man and i came back home from the shadow puppet theatre

to find our ~ very tired ~ daddy sleeping on the sofa.

now it's charlotte's web on tv and a new blanket on my hook.

little man and i are sharing the other sofa and our stripey blanket.

is it wise of me that i haven't watched the news today? i think it is!
(i'll watch it tomorrow morning anyway!)

take care everyone!

xxx

hi!

2011-10-27T16:53:00.000+03:00

Hello world!

How are you lovely people?

I really hope you're enjoying the new season!

Autumn has been here for a while; it's the time for pomegranades,

pumpkins and chrysanthemums around here.

I'm trying very hard to squeeze some moments of seasonal appreciation in

my otherwise crazy life.

I haven't just been busy lately; I've been crazy busy!

I haven't finished reading a single book since schools started;

I haven't done much progress with my crochet project;

I haven't even cleaned and organised the place properly since summer

and my wardrobe is a chaotic mixture of summer and winter clothes!

(I'm actually working on this today)

The reason I've found some time to be here today is the long weekend ahead,

which means there are no schools tomorrow. Yay!!!

So, do tell! What have you been up to lately?

Though, I have to admit, I do stop by your places on my ... free time(?) - more like free minutes! Somewhere between studying with my first-grader, preparing my work for the next day and keeping up with the most basic housework requirements, I check on my favourite bloggers whenever I'm online.

Well, this is it for now.

I don't know when I'll be back with a new post but I do come here every day so I'll definetely know if you waved 'hello'.

Take Care!

xxx

a break

2011-09-18T11:48:00.000+03:00

"The child must know that he is a miracle,

that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been,

and until the end of the world there will not be,

another child like him."

Pablo Casals

In times of tension, I need to remember this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm taking a break from blogging for a while.

Life's been calling my name much too often lately

and there are so many new things I need to tackle.

I may drop by your places every now and then when time allows.

Take Care!

xxx

flowers for your friday

2011-09-09T13:04:00.000+03:00

{via}

Schools start on Monday.

My little man will embark on a new journey.

Hope he has lots of fun along the way.

Happy Weekend!

xxx

so far today

2011-09-07T16:14:00.000+03:00

Can you see how fresh the plants at the entrance to our block of flats look?

Can you see how grey and dark the morning is?

Yeap! We got rain! Lots of it. It started last night and kept raining until about midday today.

So refreshing!

What can a woman do when it's all fresh and cool outside?

Well, have coffee at the balcony, of course, enjoying some 'hooky' time.

Bliss!

And what can a mommy feed her little man, other than warm, thick bean soup, loaded with

chopped veggies?

(have you spotted the sun-dried tomatoes my dad's made and the yellow carrot?)

Yesterday turned out to be a good day, after all. I suddenly felt on top of things after having shared my miseries here and managed to do quite a lot of housework.

And now, my son's waiting for me in his room to de-clutter his book cupboards.

We need to make space for his school books.

Have a good day!

xxx

september

2011-09-06T08:35:00.000+03:00

I love this month's picture from my calendar!

It's not very autumnal, but neither is the atmosphere here.

It's hotter and more humid than August!

There is some promise of a change in seasons in the evening breeze

but other than that, summer is still here.

Of course, we (I)'ve eating a lot of grapes,

but I long for a change in the air as well.

I long for cooler afternoons, I long for cardigans and I almost can't wait to snuggle under my crochet blanket.

And I long for rain!!! Where are the August showers I love so much? I would even be happy with a whole-day beautiful September drizzle. As long as there's water falling from the sky.

I find myself completely disorganised these days. My mind is scattered here and there (I still don't know which school I'll be working at - at least I know where I'll be living!)

I've got hundreds of items in my (mental) to-do list and don't know where to start. Well, I do know where to start: my son's room. I need to de-clutter it and get rid of toys and baby clothes and baby books, have it painted and then do the fun part : decorate it!

I somehow feel that all the stress I had in the previous weeks, waiting for my job placement,

hasn't lifted yet. All I want to do is read and crochet and lay back.

Well, this is not the right time to lay back!

I need to pull my act together!

Classes start on Monday.

And I want my son to have a warm, welcoming room to get back to after school.

news

2011-08-31T08:42:00.000+03:00

I've got great news to share!

The job placements were announced late last night and I got what I wanted;

I'll be here, staying at home and working in my area!

I don't know which school yet, but that's fine. As long as I don't have to leave.

Thank you all for your supportive comments and keeping me in your thoughts.

It means a lot to me!

More soon.

Take Care!

xxx

an award

2011-08-30T17:30:00.000+03:00

A couple of weeks ago, Fiona, who shares her life in Ireland over at Raindrops and Daisies,

honoured me with this award:

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll know that I have mixed feelings about awards:

though I love the fun of it all and I'm genuinely excited when another blogger chooses to pass it on me, I can't bring myself to choosing other people to pass it on, no matter what the criteria are.

So what I usually do is thank the fellow blogger for the honour and leave it there.

Today, though, I feel like adding a little something.

Something that made me really happy!

You see, Fiona is a really sweet woman; she always has something nice to say and here's what she wrote about my blog:

Yiota has such a beautiful blog and her photographs are wonderful, I honestly think they are some of the most lovely pictures that I have seen on blogland. She lives in Greece and her blog is fab!

Thank you, Fiona!

I'm going through a lot of stress these days, and gestures like this are much appreciated!

xxx

saturday evening at the orchard

2011-08-29T07:25:00.030+03:00

"Under the apple tree?"

I nodded and he got out the picnic blanket from the trunk of the car. We lay back, gazing at the feathered clouds sailing slowly above our heads. Bees were buzzing over the clover, crickets were chirping, and we could hear the children playing...

Karen Andreola

Lessons at Blackberry Inn

in awe

2011-08-28T17:46:00.000+03:00

Hope you're all safe out there!

happy sunny weekend!

2011-08-26T11:52:00.000+03:00

{ via }

See you next week!

... and repeat...

2011-08-25T17:55:00.000+03:00

a boy's room

2011-08-24T17:21:00.001+03:00

~ still waiting for news (will have no news before monday and i need to be at work on the 1st of september!)

~ still seeking distraction

~ still haven't decorated my son's room

i spent some time looking for ideas on etsy

(in case we do get to stay home)

I think you can gather the theme from my mosaic!

I've already bought the fabrics for a bedspread, and a trip to the city centre for some yarn for a blanket is planned for tomorrow.

Now, if only we could stay here!!!

(click on the numbers for links to the shops)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5 and 6. 7. 8 and 9.

a small life

2011-08-22T16:51:00.000+03:00

After watching the film 'You've Got Mail' yesterday, these words stayed with me:

sometimes i wonder about my life.

i lead a small life;

well, vabuable, but small.

and sometimes i wonder:

'do i do it because i like it,

or because i haven't been brave?'

Sometimes I wonder.

my {home-alone} sunday

2011-08-21T21:10:00.000+03:00

some reading and crocheting

washing curtains, washing windows (the whole thing) and putting curtains back up

a simple meal for one :omelette with pasta (angel's hair), spring onions and green peppers

a favourite film (you've got mail), coffee and a little treat

~ Can you tell by the way I write that I'm not really into words? ~

Have a lovely week!

xxx

a weight on my chest

2011-08-20T22:48:00.000+03:00

no pretty pictures tonight;

just a weight on my chest;

i've just finished reading this;

i really needed this;

i only wish i were there to hold her hand, too.

just because...

2011-08-19T10:00:00.000+03:00

...I needed the distraction...

I brought this tiny posy in, took pictures of it...

and made mosaics with some other pictures I took last week.

(I made the placemat for the winner of my recent giveaway, and it has arrived safely at its recepient)

Job-related news should be announced towards the end of next week.

Yes, I definitely need to be distracted!

xxx

the sea, the sky, and the moon

2011-08-18T16:02:00.001+03:00

~ snapshots from our holiday in Thassos ~

There was a lot of swimming, laughing and staring at the moon.

xxx

blue...

2011-08-17T15:30:00.000+03:00

...was definitely the colour of our holidays!

More soon!

Take Care!

xxx

on holiday

2011-08-11T10:57:00.009+03:00

here

See you next week, around Wednesday!

Have a great time, wherever you are, whatever you do!

Take Care!

xxx

a bit of decorating

2011-08-10T10:58:00.011+03:00

I've added a couple of summer touches to the little corner we spend most of our summer evenings: our balcony.

Hmmmm! Blue, green and white: I think this will become another favourite combination of mine!

Take Care!

xxx

lately in my kitchen...

2011-08-09T08:21:00.063+03:00

~I've discovered the amazing aroma of fennel seeds and never looked back.

~ I've been using the two different kinds of basil I have in a pot.

~ I've been cooking lots of vegetable stews (veggies courtesy of my dad's produce).

~ I've been adding cherry tomatoes to almost every dish I've made.

~ I've been chopping/ boiling /canning / freezing almost every day.

~ I've been baking and freezing muffins (in an attempt not to eat a whole batch in two days!)

~ And... I have no idea how many tomatoes I've washed, chopped, boiled, canned/ put in the freezer... All I know is that there are now 90 jars (big ones) at my dad's, twelve freezer bags ( quantity for one stew each) in my freezer and fifteen bags in my friend's freezer! And there's more to come!

inspiration in pink and green

2011-08-08T09:38:00.000+03:00

It seems that I've been using a lot of pinks and greens for my creations.

This colour combination really appeals to me.

I find it very relaxing and I've (very slowly) been working my way towards bringing more of it at home.

So when I started looking for a sewing book to order from the Book Depository in order to take advantage of a friend's offer (thank you J!), this one made my heart miss a beat. This must have been the fastest order I've ever placed!

I knew I didn't need another sewing book, but I also new I needed to spoil myself with some serious dosage of eye-candy!

You wouldn't believe me if I told you how much time I spent looking at these two pages above while drinking my Sunday morning coffee at the balcony!

Maybe I can finally find something to make with these fat quarters I bought back in autumn!

I realise I've basically showed you here some of the great photography that accompanies the projects and not much of the projects themselves.

I told you: in serious need of eye-candy!

Hope you have a great week!

xxx

melon anyone?

2011-08-07T09:51:00.016+03:00

...straight fom my dad's veggie garden!

And like he says:

'what an amazing thing nature is: it does something different to form the skin, and then the flesh and the seeds! And everything has a different colour: cherries are red, melons are yellow, watermelons are green and red...'

sewing

2011-08-05T09:16:00.000+03:00

When one project is slow and requires meticulous work...

... and you want to work on something more laid back...

you make...

a 'vintage' picnic blanket, with pre-cut upcycled sheets...

backed with a patchwork of old towels

and ... nothing in between the two layers!!!

I love it!

Happy Weekend!

xxx

lately

2011-07-29T00:34:00.001+03:00

~ a little crochet goodness I've been working on (when it's not too hot)

~ The Happiness Project (this is the right chapter at the right time - referring to contents)

~ Colouring pebbles

~ Some sewing did take place (more to come)

~ We all want some rain!

~ One more caravan - lego, this time

We're going to be away for a few days;

my dad's tomatoes are ready to fill lots of jars with summer bounty.

Take Care!

xxx

today

2011-07-27T08:40:00.021+03:00

I don't normally do something in order to blog about it (!)

but today I need the motivation.

With the housework done on Monday, and most of the ironing done yesterday

I have no excuse.

I need to start doing it.

Today.

I've procrastinated long enough.

And I need you to keep me on track.

I need you to ask me every now and then: 'how are you progressing, Yiota?'

Because I have so many projects on my mind, they're driving me crazy!!!

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go dust my sewing machine

and bring the ironing board out (you do iron the fabric before you start sewing the pieces together, right?)

Have a good day!

xxx

the sky

2011-07-26T09:44:00.000+03:00

I took these pictures with my phone on Saturday evening.

The clouds had this strange looking wave effect - very impressive ( this photo doesn't really do the whole thing justice)

While the rest of the family were still in the water, I had some time, once again, to admire the grandeur of nature. Such beauty!

~~~~~

Lisa, expect some love in your mailbox soon. Congratulations!

xxx

two years

2011-07-22T17:05:00.004+03:00

Two years ago (tomorrow to be precise) I found some comfort to my grief by coming up with a name, uploading a couple of pictures and putting down some of my thoughts. This proved to be really therapeutic for my wounded soul as I only wrote about happy stuff back then.

Two years later, passing my blogging experience in review, here's what I have to say:

~ I've got to know myself better

~ I've become a more thoughtful person, being inspired by many of you

~ I've become a better mum, again by being inspired by you

~ I've developed a couple of new hobbies and explored my creativity

~I've become more observant; taking photographs has helped me notice details I'd, otherwise, have overlooked

~ I've learned to appreciate the little things and am now more grateful for what I have than ever

Thank you all so much for visiting my little space.

(I have, in fact, changed this sentence a couple of times; it initially sounded as if I'd just won an Oscar award -" I want to thank...")

If you haven't read my previous post, then you may like to know that I'm going to send a little something (a surprise that will help me make it more personal to the winner!) to one of you as a way to 'celebrate'.

Just leave a comment here or at my previous post, saying that you're interested in some snail mail love.

~ comments are now closed - I'll draw a winner soon ~

Have a wonderful weekend!

xxx

I've been thinking...

2011-07-21T14:38:00.002+03:00

I was watching an interview on TV just now, of an actor I like, and here's what I thought :

" I could listen to him talk for hours"

and then

"but I couldn't watch him act for more than thirty minutes"!!!

"Why is that?", I wondered.

Is it because the TV series he has participated in so far are lame - because I have to admit I've never seen him in a play - or is it because real life is always more fascinating?

The maze of my thoughts brought me to blogging.

'Blogging is not acting', you may say. Is it not? Sometimes at least?

Are bloggers always so very happily married, with the perfect home, jobs, families?

I know at least two people whose blogs are full of pretty stuff and happy thoughts when in fact they're going through some kind of hardship or other.

I try to be true to myself first and foremost but to be honest there have been times that I haven't blogged much because I didn't want to say :'I feel sad'. But as you already know there have also been times when I felt like sharing my troubles.

At other times my blog is a bit like psychotherapy to me: if I feel blue, I may post something pretty or I may share my miseries; both towards the same end: to make me feel better.

Of course, being optimistic as I usually am, I try to be (and show that I am) content.

How about reading blogs? I like reading about other bloggers' reality, on their good days and bad; it helps getting to know people better. I won't deny it, though, that there's this part of me that gets all excited with pretty pictures of beautiful homes and smiling faces.

Could you please share your thoughts with me?

~~~~~~~

On a totally different note, (if you're still with me) you may like to receive a little something from me in your mail box; you see, I was looking for an excuse to send some mail love when I realised I've been blogging for (almost) two years. That's good enough for me. If you're interested in a surprise parcel, please do say so in the comments and I'll ask my little one to draw a name out of his cap next week.

Take Care!

xxx

PS. I keep forgetting to let you know that I have trouble leaving comments to some of your blogs; pop-up windows are fine and if I'm given the option name/url at the 'select profile' element I can do it, too but sometimes at some blogs I 'm not even given this option.

been camping...

2011-07-20T12:08:00.000+03:00

...sort of

another one of his godmother's brilliant presents

(Sunday was his name-day)

xxx

PS.Because some of you are asking, let me explain the living/working situation: the school I belong to is the one I worked at this past school year, faraway from home. The years before, I asked for a temporary transfer to a school near home, which I got, that's why I wasn't away. The school year that has just ended though, I'd decided to go to my appointed school because I had to do that in order to be eligible for a permanent transfer in case there was an opening near home - but there wasn't one, that's why I have applied for another temporary transfer (as have many many other teachers). We'll know who goes where at the end of August (schools start in September). If I get the transfer I'll either be here at home or at my village ( I applied for both areas; my village is 85km away from home, my school is 450!) If I don't get it...I may have to leave again or I may ask for a sabbatical (which means no income). Hope this makes sense. I know it's confusing and it's frustrating for us not knowing where we'll be in a few weeks.

PPS. Today's post: 13 words / Postscript: a gazillion words!

;)

today's colours

2011-07-19T15:42:00.000+03:00

orange and green

When I'm in no hurry to go out or clean the house or be otherwise engaged

I find it relaxing to wash, scrape, chop fresh vegetables and herbs and stock the freezer.

This is just some of the 'loot' I brought yesterday from my village.

Happy Tuesday!

xxx

the colours of summer bounty

2011-07-14T11:07:00.000+03:00

I sometimes know, when I prepare some kind of food, that as soon as it's ready, I'll take pictures of it.

This is not what happened yesterday with this Greek salad, though. I was setting the table for hubby to eat his dinner when I caught myself staring at it, trying to figure out what it was that made it so special.

And then I got it. For one thing, it was the colour combination: white, red and green. So fresh and summery.

But it was not only this. You see, except for the cheese, everything else in the salad came from my dad's and in-law's veggie garden.

Home-grown veggies are delicious in a feel-well kind of way; do you know what I mean?

By the way, my dad has 350 (I know!!!) roma tomato plants; they're the best for tomato products and we're planning to fill lots of jars next month!

Take Care!

xxx

right now

2011-07-13T10:54:00.002+03:00

"...there are also plenty of other reasons [to celebrate] ... A new job, the first day at school, a half-birthday..."

Amanda Blake Soule

The Creative family

How about when you can sit on your favourite sofa again, after having sorted out and put away mountains of clothes?

Yes! This definitely calls for the ultimate one-person celebration (as I'm home alone): coffee and reading! Yay!

Life's good!

xxx

on Monday ...

2011-07-06T09:32:00.001+03:00

...we decided to go to a nearby town with my husband, who had some work to do there.

While daddy was about his business, we were having fun at the park.

On our way back to the city, my husband had the idea of stopping at a seaside resort for lunch.

"Oh, goodie! I happen to have a set of clothes for little one, cause there's no way he'll stay dry. Just stop at a supermarket so I can buy him a towel and some sunscreen."

Done!

Little Mr Hard-To-Please said it was an awesome day!

Who am I to disagree?

Have a fabulous Wednesday!

Lots of ironing planned for me today. But not before spending an hour or so with my book and my morning coffee.

xxx

scenes from the weekend

2011-07-04T23:57:00.000+03:00

Hello lovelies!

Hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful start to your week!

Here things are quite laid back; slowly but surely, I'm going through the stuff we brought back home - a couple of boxes here, a suitcase there...

This morning, when I proudly stated that we could finally see our floors, hubby answered :'what about the sofa?'

Ahem..., we have another one, plus a very comfortable armchair; what do we need our (now full of winter clothes to be sorted out and put away) smaller sofa?

Our weekend was a very good one.

There was ...

...reading a very interesting book in my comfy flowery pjs (and a cardigan; it was a bit chilly in the mornings)

...lots of playmobil action (after the caravan, knights, pirates and a castle came out of their boxes and mummy discreetly turned to her book -shhhh!)

...some yummy action in the kitchen (chocolate-nutella tart; most of it still in the freezer to tempt me - no, no, I need to lose some weight)

...a birthday celebration with just the three of us at home followed by dinner at a restaurant with friends (it was hubby's birthday, by the way)

...a family breakfast - pancakes + honey+ almonds. mmmmm

...my blanket being put in good use by little one while watching cartoons early in the morning (good thing it's acrylic and not wool!)

...some (light) housework which resulted in fresh bedlinen (the piles of books are among the things that were revomed from the floor but have in fact nowhere to live!)

We also attended a Christening; my youngest nephew bacame godfather to a little girl and ...

watched the news... a lot :(

As you can see, regardless of the general chaos in my country, life at our little home is good.

Thank you all so very much for your lovely comments. It feels great to write 'I'm back home' and see that so many people I've actually never met understand what this means to me and feel happy for me. I'm so grateful for your being here!

Take Care!

xxx

home

2011-06-26T17:28:00.001+03:00

~ despite the chaos all around me

~ despite the fact that there are easter decorations in the living room

~ despite the unbelievable number of boxes and suitcases i need to unpack

~ despite not having the faintest idea where to begin from and how to organise everything...

it's good to be home!

xxx

this is it!

2011-06-21T19:07:00.002+03:00

(from the kindergarten end-of-year play)

The time has come; we're packing!

We're going home - hopefully, not only for the summer!

I think one of the wisest decisions I made when we first came here in September was to opt for the fastest internet connection around here.

I'm so grateful I discovered blogging about two years ago. You all kept me great company, especially over the long winter months; and they were really long at times!

Autumn was better, with the explorations and walks by the river!

Now we're more than ready to go back home.

I have big (inexpensive) plans for this summer. I'm thinking of changing the colour schemes in our place; make everything brighter. And since crocheting is out of the question for the summer (too hot for this), sewing a couple of throws sounds like a good plan to me. It's high time I finished this one for instance; I bought the fabrics last August!

Ok then! I sorted all my books and work stuff yesterday.

Now I need to go declutter my son's toys. This is a tricky one: if I do it with him, he'll want to keep everything; if I do it on my own, it won't be fair to him. I think I'll go half-way and do the first round on my own (discreetly) and then call him over.

Take Care!

I'll talk to you next week from the headquarters.

xxx

(PS. Lucy, if you're reading this, I can't leave a comment on your blog; I tried everything, but blogger doesn't 'see' me in this comment layout. That's why I changed to a pop-up window)

sewing

2011-06-17T15:33:00.001+03:00

I've been living in a whirlwind lately.

The visit home was great (though emotionally intense on the day of my mum's memorial service). There was time for slowing down, time for seeing friends, time for attending an end-of-school-year event at our neighbourhood...

However, since we came back here on Monday, our time has been filled with commitments: end-of-year events at our schools, going out with the teachers from one school, then the other, and later today with my son's teachers...

At the same time, I've been waiting for job-related news for ages; and when the criteria by which it will be decided who will be transferred where were finally announced, I felt the earth move under my feet; there's a chance I'll need to be here again in september (for the next school year) and we'll only find out late august! So we decided to keep the flat until we know for sure. I explained the situation to our landlords and they said that was fine but then there was a mix up with their daughter and now we have to move!

Are you still here? I wouldn't blame you if you weren't!

I tell myself that every obstacle has a reason and things usually turn out for the best, but still I feel numb at times and dizzy at others.

So now, instead of packing our clothes and leaving on Tuesday, I have to pack everything and move next weekend.

Seeking distraction, I was reaquainted with my sewing machine. I made two hearts for my son's teachers. Choosing fabrics, ribbons and buttons was really relaxing; little one helped me with the colours and I have to say I am thrilled at how they turned out.

Meanwhile, my son's first tooth will soon fall out and I had to act fast; you see, I promised I'd make him a cushion for the fairy to find his tooth in and leave him some seeds in exchange (an idea I came across in a blog, of course) but never actually got round to making it. I knew I was going to use his old sleeping bag(? - no idea how these things toddlers sleep in so they won't get cold are called!) and it took me about ten minutes to make it. I'm astonished at how happy this little cushion has made him! He hugs it all the time and he's even put his regular pillow aside and is now napping with this one. Amazing!

Hope I haven't bored you with all this!

Have a great weekend!

xxx

the value of being prepared

2011-06-08T18:53:00.060+03:00

(image courtesy of my son's file)

Here's one thing you may not know about me.

I'm a very spontaneous person and when it comes to the way I react to information I'm given, this trait of mine has often got me in trouble; not because I'm wrong, but because I'm honest; I can't pretend, not when being caught off guard.

On the other hand, I can be very diplomatic if I get a chance to think things through (we're talking about Oscar-winning performances at times)

Remember the issues at work I mentioned last week? Someone wanted to manipulate me and I was furious at first but I was wise enough to take time to think and plan and I finally had things done my way, sounding very polite and obliging (' I really wish I could help you with that but you see I've already...' !)

What made the difference? I was told what was being planned behind my back (thank you little one's teacher!)

On a different note, I've got good news to share.

I'm going home today for five whole days! I've taken a leave for Friday because I need to go to my village and do the preparations for my mum's two-year memorial service on Saturday. But I'm lucky it seems, as Monday is a bank holiday and tomorrow schools are closed in my area because of a teacher's meeting I don't really have to attend.

How's that for a mood lifter?

I'll 'see' you next week; I need to stop by your places; I've been reading quietly lately and I think it's time I waved 'hello'!

the shell seekers

2011-06-07T18:34:00.032+03:00

The past few months, I've bought quite a lot of books.

I discovered that buying books online is far cheaper than buying from a bookstore here, plus, in this small village I am now, it doesn't take a whole morning of queueing at the post office to collect a parcel as it does in the city. Most of these books are already back home, where I took them last time I went there.

So, once again, I'm reading The Shell Seekers.

There's something about this book, that gives me enormous pleasure...

the setting, the characters, the flashbacks in time...

And although I've read it so many times, I never feel bored; I never skip a single page. I devour it!

What's one book you've read again and again and never get tired of it?

13 years ago...

2011-06-06T18:27:00.013+03:00

...hubby and I embarked on an adventure called 'family'.

There were ups and downs,

but we're still here, with our bond stronger than ever.

today

2011-06-05T18:26:00.000+03:00

finding comfort in the little things

seems like the wise thing to do...

baking

having coffee

smelling the roses

smiling at the sight of something made for you with love

reading a book you've read many times before

hope you're having a wonderful sunday

xxx

june

2011-06-01T23:08:00.000+03:00

{ via here }

~~ you might be wondering

why i've been so quiet lately ~~

~ it's because i've nothing to say:

~ i don't read much

~ i don't go out on walks much

~ i don't crochet

~ i don't sew

~ i don't feel like talking

~ i've been thinking a lot

~ i'm very disappointed because of some issues i'm dealing with at work

~ i'm missing my husband so very much

~ i just want to go home

~~ of course, not everything is bad ~~

~ i'm very happy with the closeness my son and i share

~ my dad's here to keep us company

~ we're all -physically- healthy

~it's twenty more days before we go home

~~ hope you all have a wonderful month ~~

xxx

saturday

2011-05-21T14:08:00.002+03:00

you start the day with the best of intentions to make it a happy one...

~ you make french toast for breakfast

~ you read a great book with your morning coffee

~ you go out in the yard and really take in the enjoyment a six-year-old feels when jumping in the puddles (+ you don't have to worry he'll get sick when his trousers are drenched)

~ you hang the laundry out to dry and love the fact that there are green plants, all in full bloom, below

~ you plan a pizza evening

yet, at the back of your mind, there are always the stressful thoughts that have been bothering you for a while

~'where will we be in september? we'll only find out late august'

~'what will happen to my country, to our jobs, to us?'

~' how can we plan our future?'

and then the realisation comes: we might as well enjoy what we have in the present

have a gorgeous weekend!

xxx

down at the river

2011-05-17T17:21:00.001+03:00

We had a very pleasant and relaxing walk, all three of us, on sunday afternoon.

One that I cherish and keep close to my heart.

It will help these last five weeks go by faster.

xxx

my today

2011-05-11T09:13:00.000+03:00

While packing her bag in the morning, she remembered that it was Wednesday and there would be some free time between classes to unwind. The novel she was reading was the perfect choice to take along with a cup of coffee at the school yard bench.

12.35. She rang the bell for everyone to go inside after recess and went upstairs to get her book and make some coffee. Just then, she remembered she had promised a colleauge to look after his sixth graders while he took care of an unexpected emergency. 'They are good kids', she thought. 'I'll let them play outside, while I read'. Out in the yard again, she looked at the bright sky and thought it was the best possible weather; sunny but not too hot because of the breeze. The boys had already started playing hide-and-seek but the girls seemed quite undecided as to what to do. They were all lying on the grass, looking at her. 'What are you reading?', one of them asked her. 'The Violets of March, a novel', she replied. 'Will you read to us?' After pondering over it for a moment, she recalled a little extract she had underlined the night before. 'Sure, why not. Just grab me a chair; the grass is a bit too humid for me'. They all got comfortable, using each others' legs as cushions, some closed their eyes, some looked straight at her, waiting for her to start reading.

"Hello, girls!" she said, walking toward the kitchen. In her hands were a bottle of wine and a bouquet of purple lilacs wrapped in brown paper and tied loosely with a strand of twine.

"They're lovely," Bee said, smiling. "Now, where on earth did you find these this early in the season?"
"In my garden," she said as though Bee had just asked her what color the sky was. "My lilac tree always blooms before yours." She said it with an air of amicable competitiveness that only a sixty-plus-year friendship could bear.

After the necessary translation, there were a couple of comments about the two characters' friendship. The girls were amazed at it and two of them looked at each other with warm smiles on their faces. They probably had the same thought of them being still friends in their eighties. 'Go on. Read us some more. What happened next?' the girls asked their teacher. And she went on, reading about a secret diary, or novel. They were mesmerised. When it was time for their next class, they asked her if she could tell them what would happen next, once she'd read the rest of the story. 'I will most definitely do', she promised.

~~~~~~

~ extract (the middle part of the post) from The Violets Of March

~note to self: always have a camera with you! You never know when you'll want to capture a moment!

in the back yard

2011-05-09T06:26:00.001+03:00

Hello lovely people! I hope the second week of May is off to a
good start for you!

The weather's been crazy here. It doesn't feel like May at all;
more like November.

Saturday was fine, but yesterday it was windy and cold. We got about an hour of sunshine (kind of) in the afternoon and we grabbed the chance to go out for a while; and a good thing it was - it started raining as soon as we got back in.

Have a lovely Monday!

xxx

(PS. Any idea how to bring spacing back to normal?)

do crochet hearts grow on cherry trees?

2011-05-07T22:20:00.003+03:00

Thank you Maaike for the tutorial!
~~~~~~

It's Mother's Day tomorrow. Here's a heart my son made at school...

and one that his teacher made for us, mums.

Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely mums out there!

xxx

note to self

2011-05-05T21:57:00.003+03:00

Instead of counting your days, make your days count.

~Author Unknown

a year ago

2011-05-03T16:35:00.003+03:00

This is what I posted a year ago. While looking at the picture, I thought how much I miss the view of the sky from my kitchen window and that, even though I'm so close to nature now, I don't look at the sky as often as I used to.

I also miss the feeling of serenity that my words convey. Now, words don't come as easy as before, and this feeling of contentment is usually elusive and temporary.

May {right now} ...

2011-05-02T15:16:00.007+03:00

Today was the first day at work after the two-week break.

I found books waiting for me here.

I'm excited about my new books! I need to show you what I've bought so far this year.

I'll go drink this coffee now and leaf through my books before I go get little one from school.

Have a lovely month!

It's a beautiful, sunny Monday here.
xxx

I got to see my freesias bloom!

2011-04-29T06:20:00.005+03:00

Song of the Flower
BY
Khalil Gibran

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

Enjoy your weekend!

I've been meaning to...

2011-04-27T18:02:00.003+03:00

... stop by my little space here last Thursday to wish you 'Happy Easter', but it never happened.

... tell you how we spent the holiday, but, for some reason, I have no words for this either - it was ok, I guess.

Instead, I'll tell you what we did this morning: little one and I went to his godmother's (my best friend) for a visit. I've had some thing or other to do since we came here 12 days ago and this was the first time I relaxed and enjoyed the friendly chat. (check her tea-making 'equipment'; little one asked if we could buy it, too. 'Oh, of course, we can. Who am I to spoil the fun?')

Earlier in the morning, we had a great 'day out' with the caravan. It was so much fun! There was breakfast out in the open and then a bike ride around the lake... bliss. I'm so glad I've convinced my boy to 'choose' (ha!) the playmobil caravan instead of a hot-wheels something...whatever... Luckily, he enjoys playing with it as much as I do!

Hope you're all having a fabulous Wednesday!

What have you been up to lately? Do tell.

xxx

2011-04-18T16:16:00.004+03:00

this week finds me:

~excited to be home for the Easter break

~ tired after all the packing + driving + unpacking

~ satisfied that I've done all the Easter shopping for the little munchkins in the family in just one morning

~ disappointed at the low quality of clothes in relation to their prices

~ grateful that, no matter how tough things are, no one in my family is hungry or cold.

~ worried about my husband's job (he's in construction where everything is quite dead or uncertain)

~ cheerful at the wonderful sight and smell of my freesias

~ sad as we're preparing for another holiday without my mum

~~~~~

How are you on this first day of the week?

yarn + fabric

2011-04-12T23:55:00.002+03:00

Hello everyone!

I'm so excited to be talking to you!

My laptop has been dealing with some malfunction issues - viruses and the like- lately and I thought it went dead for good last night. I tried to switch it on this morning but I was greeted with a black screen. It's almost midnight now and while waiting for tomorrow's lunch to cook I thought I might give it another try before putting it in the bag, ready to take home.

But miracles do happen, so here we are again, my little blog and I, for a 'ta-daaaah' post!

~~~~ So, do you remember me mentioning a secret crochet project?

Well, now that it has safely found its recepient, I can let the cat out of the bag (boy, I love english idioms! they're hilarious!)

Look at this mosaic: do you see a colour scheme... kind of? do you?

It all started when I saw the blue yarn on etsy and thought of the perfect project for it; then I spotted the brown yarn and decided on a two-colour project.

Then, one evening, I was looking at bags on etsy and saw this one... the colours were quite similar. Finally, I decided the crochet part wasn't warm enough; I needed some 'back-up'.

Do you want to see what I've made?

Do you?

It was made with lots of love; lots and lots of love!

Here it is then:

a crochet baby blanket!!!

I added a couple of fabric details to make it more cheerful and the flannel backing for extra warmth ( because as my son says for our blanket:' cold manages to get in through the holes'!)

Of course, I used the best model for the photo shoot...

... and his best friend! The bag is, of course, for the baby's daipers, bottles, little toys...

Hope you're all keeping well!

Until we meet again,

Take Care!

xxx

today

2011-04-10T21:49:00.005+03:00

~a sunny yet windy and cold sunday

~ lots of time spent at the kitchen table

~ crafting and colouring

~ quite a lot of ironing, too

~ peter pan on the dvd

~ going to bed early tonight

~ a hot-water bottle will come along -in april, in greece!!!

~ my book (the happiness project) as well

~ alarm clock set for 6.30 a.m.

~~~~

have a great week!

xxx

spring

2011-04-07T22:03:00.002+03:00

have you heard?

it's spring!

at last!

enjoy!

from the archives

2011-04-06T14:22:00.000+03:00

As I was sipping my cherry liqueur last night, looking at some photos I took in the past, I wondered what had caught my attention this time last year.

I'd lie if I said my mind didn't think of flowers and I was right.

The bulbs in the pots next to my son's balcony door were my faithful models.

Now, some of these bulbs have blossomed or are about to, here - you see, I brought them along when we moved as I knew they'd make me smile.

But my freesias are back home and I noticed last week that they'll be open soon. I hope not too soon! I hope they'll wait for me! Nine more days!

note to self: remind hubby to water the freesias!

~~~~~~

Happy Wednesday!

the best things in life are free

2011-04-04T16:37:00.003+03:00

I agree!

But what about those other things that you really want to do and are far from free?

things you know will give you great satisfaction for years to come; things that you love with every bit of your heart and soul, every inch of your being.

I'm not talking about necessary things that you need. I'm talking about luxuries.

But is it really a luxury to want to get together with one of your very best friends who happens to live hundreds of euros away by plane? Is it a luxury to crave to see what else there is on this planet and experience different ways of life?

If I could afford it, travelling would be my favourite pastime. You know, we have a whole trip to Scotland planned; we know where we'll be staying, and some of the places we'll see if we ever (or whenever, to be more optimistic) manage to go there.

I don't believe that money can buy happiness in a general sense, but it certainly wouldn't hurt if a few more things were free or at least much cheaper.

What do you think?

~~~~~~~

(photos: some of the best things that are indeed free and make me happy)

April

2011-04-02T09:27:00.005+03:00

(via here)

Hello and Happy April, lovely people!

How was the first day of this month?

I woke up yesterday to a sore throat, a stuffed up nose and a headache

and after a long nap after work (an oximoron, I know...) and a good night's sleep, the headache part is better but the other two are still going strong :(

Anyway, it's the weekend so I don't care much about a little cold no matter how annoying it can be when I talk. Good thing I can talk to you without actually talking!

Our plans for the weekend include taek-won-do practice and a birthday party for the little one today

and a drive to the nearest town tomorrow to pick up my dad from the bus station. Yay, we'll have company!

April is a month we've been waiting and counting the days for: we've got two weeks of school and then on the 15th we're going home for the 2-week Easter break!!! How cool is that???

Other than that, I've been crocheting and sewing like crazy all week to finish my secret project as I want to get it in the mail on Monday. I'll take some pictures when it's finished - which is probably this afternoon - but the weather is so unbelievably grey I've no idea how they'll turn out.

~~~~~

I'm planning to snuggle up and read a lot this weekend.

What are your plans?

xxx

my son's new 'toy'

2011-03-30T14:49:00.008+03:00

Hello lovely people!

How are you all feeling today?

I hope you're all happy and cheerful like me!

My trip back home did me good, oh, so good!

I've returned revived and in a great mood.

Having my little family together was just what I needed to lift my spirits~

well, a visit to the hairdresser's for a long-overdue haircut and some highlights and some new clothes and make-up did play a teeny tiny (huge!) part in it, I have to admit!

There was a slight change of plans though, as my poor baby was ill; he had a temperature on the night before we left, which kept on till Saturday.

Poor thing, he didn't get to go anywhere but, on the bright side, he spent lots of time with daddy who was always with him (giving mummy time to spoil herself!).

Now, to this 'toy' I mention in my title.

One of the plans we'd made was to get together with his godmother's family for lunch; we had to cancel it though since they have a baby and we didn't want him to get sick, too. My boy was very disappointed when he heard we couldn't go. Why? Because there was a birthday present for him and he knew what it was: a fantastic birthday present! My friend (his godmother) did pay us a short visit when the fever 'had left the building' though and brought him.... his first 'real' camera!!!

The first photo below is one of the first he took

and of course - like a good mummy I am- I had to check his new toy to see if it's...hmmm.... safe? ;)

Happy Wednesday!

xxx

a sneak peek...

2011-03-22T20:27:00.007+02:00

1. ... of what I've been crocheting lately

(the colour is, in fact, darker - lavender blue)

΅΅΅΅΅΅

2. ...we've only had a sneak peek of spring so far.

I've found this quote, which describes our weather perfectly well:

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

~Charles Dickens

Was it really the first day of spring yesterday? I had to double-check the calendar!

Anyway, happy spring (or happy autumn) everyone!

I'll talk to you next week - I've decided not to take my laptop with me (remember? we're going home on Thursday! Yay!!!)

Take Care!

xxx

today

2011-03-19T10:52:00.003+02:00

Today I am...

~ admiring my son's resourcefulness and imagination

~ drinking lots of camomile tea

~learning about quilting

~ crocheting a secret project

~reading the Happiness Project

~listening to Black's soothing voice

~planning to do some housework (just planning for now!)

~ counting the days till Thursday (Friday is a national holiday and we're going home!)

~~~

Have a fabulous weekend!

xxx

back to nature

2011-03-16T14:20:00.004+02:00

Over the weekend, we took our first walk by the river of the season;

I'm looking forward to making this a daily contact with nature.

I want us to make the most of what it has to offer.

And although this place is far away from home,

living here has given us a chance to slow down, look around

and admire the magnitude of nature.

Have a beautiful Wednesday!

a lesson for life

2011-03-15T17:33:00.005+02:00

One of the things I want my son to learn as he grows up,

is to notice and appreciate the little things around him.

΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅

When he woke up this morning I told him to look around and see if he could spot

something amazing that had happened while we were sleeping.

It took him a while, but when I showed him the little pots on the bookshelves,

he was so happy to see the bright yellow petals, which had sprung open overnight.

He was so excited he gave me a big hug and started jumping up and down!

΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅

Mission accomplished!

Take Care!

xxx

true colours

2011-03-14T17:23:00.004+02:00

Isn't it shocking when you see the true colours of a person,

and realise they are so different from what you thought?

And how do you handle it when you know they're a hypocrite towards someone only to take advantage of this person?

...

Ah, but there's a catch here!

You don't like this second person yourself (and not without a reason)

but you prefer to keep your distances instead of being nice when they're around and nothing but nice when they're not.

What do you do when the first one starts a conversation like this:

'I had enough of her last weekend, I don't want to see her again; what use is she if she can't look after the children anymore?'

΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅΅

Hope your week is off to a good start.

Japan, we're praying for you.

xxx

PS. The picture shows what the colours of my blanket are really like. Compare with the pictures a couple of posts below.

six

2011-03-11T22:26:00.005+02:00

My little man becomes six tomorrow!

Time flies for sure!
We made this cake yesterday
to take to school today.
When we finished it last night, he said:
'mum, you're amazing!' and hugged me really tight!
:)

~~~~~~
Have a gorgeous weekend!
I hope I'll have more words to share next week.

Little Matters

2011-03-10T08:18:00.003+02:00

~ which cd to listen to during my 'me-and-the-things-i-love' happy time?

~ which book to read next?

~ which spot would make my stripey blanket feel 'at home'?

```````

'Little Matters they are to be sure,

but highly important.'

Jane Austen

father and son

2011-03-09T07:14:00.000+02:00

~ how good it was to see them spending time together ~

~ precious moments to cherish ~

~ help us all go through the last three months of our seperation ~

``````

have a great wednesday!

it's been windsday here since monday!

March!

2011-03-08T09:09:00.003+02:00

{ via here }

~~~~~

Hello there! How are you all?

Just a quick note to let you know I'm feeling much, much better

and to wish you all a very bright, cheerful March!

Back soon.

Take Care!

taking a break

2011-02-26T17:26:00.007+02:00

I've decided to take a short break from posting.

I haven't been feeling very well lately and I certainly don't feel very cheerful

so until I chase these blues away...

take care!

right now

2011-02-20T14:48:00.004+02:00

:: sunday afternoon::

my quiet time begins

(by the way, my blanket is not complete yet; it needs a border, but I thought we could enjoy it for the weekend)

~~~~~

ps. have you read my previous post? if not, please do!

meet Janice

2011-02-20T08:38:00.002+02:00

After reading her interview ovet at Kim's,

I think you'll agree with me that Janice is a very interesting lady.

Enjoy!

~~~~~

Thank you all so much for your supportive comments about my husband.

He's got an appointment at the neurology section of the hospital tomorrow and we'll take it from there.

My son has a bad cough now and I'm praying for spring to hurry; not possible, I know!

So sorry I haven't been leaving you notes, though I've been reading your posts.

~~~~

Have a great Sunday!

(and don't forget to read the interview)

uneasy

2011-02-15T21:20:00.002+02:00

~ hubby's been suffering from severe migraines lately; his brother took him to hospital a few hours ago, where they checked a couple of things - he's going back on saturday for another blood test and i don't know what else; i wish there was something i could do; i feel terrible for being so far away! he started homeopathy treatment which was the only thing that helped him in the past but somehow we both feel it's worse this time.

~ meanwhile, my son (who has just fallen asleep) has been complaining of mild headaches and he's a bit too warm; i hope and pray it's just a cold and not the flu again!

~ and because i really need to find a silver lining right now, i have to admit that my knee, which hurt quite badly for a week - especially when i went up and down stairs - has been much much better today.

~~~~~

now i'll go finish this amazing book! loving it! please read it if you haven't done so already; you won't regret it.

~~~~~

could you please send some positive energy over here?

thank you!

take care!

xxx

in love!

2011-02-09T13:41:00.005+02:00

I got a parcel full of 'scrumptious' fabrics today!

I ordered them on etsy a little while ago and they arrived on this sunny, beautiful morning. I'm totally in love with them! If you're into sewing check this shop. Love, love, love it!

I'm planning to make a quilt for my son's room with the bundles below and there'll be lots of the red ones left for a few more decorative touches.

As for these beauties... no plans for them yet. They were just too beautiful to resist (plus they were 'free shipping'). Yes, definitely, too beautiful to resist!
I've already started working on a throw with some upcycled sheet fabric I bought in the summer, so I've absolutely no idea what to do with them. Any ideas?
Of course, I could just lay them on the sofa next to me while I drink my coffee and feel happy. You know, something like the effect of a bunch of fresh tulips in a jug!
I knew you'd understand!

Anyway, I'm going to make a cuppa and delve into the wonderful, oh, so wonderful book I'm reading (more on this to follow, stay tuned).
Have I told you we went on a school visit to another school today and got home earlier? No?
Well, what can I say?
It's a good day!
~~~~~
Take Care!

sunday breakfast for two

2011-02-06T11:02:00.005+02:00

{click on the mosaic for a closer look}

~ pancakes a la jamie for breakfast! yum! i love this guy! we have a date tonight at 8 (i hope i remember to switch on the tv!)

~ beef stew with green beans cooking as 'we speak'

~ lots of sunshine outside

~ i'm thinking of a walk by the river before lunch (we haven't done this for ages!)

~ and now it's coffee time

~~~~~

("mum, we didn't finish the book last night")

duty calls! coffee right after that!

have a wonderful sunday!

just because I've missed you!

2011-02-02T17:27:00.005+02:00

oh, how I've missed having little posies

of delight around me!

nothing fancy; no, not for me - just a couple (ok, maybe more!) of stems in a jar or mug...

maybe a ribbon as well, for additional cuteness..

little splashes of colour and beauty...

hurry spring!
i need your jewels to brighten my days!

february

2011-02-01T18:52:00.004+02:00

{calendar bought here }

~~~~~~

welcome february!

I love you so much!

it doesn't matter that you came to me with fever and aches to my whole body;

I forgive you.

you know why?

~ because you'll bring me my love. oh, yes you will - sooner or later.

~ you'll also bring promises of spring (I have the first shoots to prove it)

~ I expect lots of little parcels from you (etsy love + friends' love)

~ longer days come with you, right?

~ how about some sunshine? do you promise to stay as sunny as today? if only...
welcome february!

I've been waiting for you; I'm ready for you.

meet Kim

2011-01-31T19:49:00.006+02:00

(image via)

~~~~~

Interested in getting to know a lovely lady?

Yea, I thought you would be.

Pop over at Jabblog's to read her interview.

~~~~~

My son is getting better but I can't send him to school yet so I've taken today and tomorrow off. Thanks for all the comments and 'get well' wishes for him. I do appreciate them.

Hope we're both back at school on Wednesday.

~~~~~~

Have a lovely week!

late at night

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saturday night, past midnight;

i should probably go to bed - little one is ill so i'll be waking up regularly to check on him; the alarm clock is set for 4a.m. so he can get his medication. fingers crossed he won't have a temperature.

yes, i should definitely go to bed. but no.

it's one of those nights when you feel you want more hours before the day finishes; you need time for you.

have you ever felt like that?

have you ever thought of sleep as a waste of time?

i love sleeping; oh, i really do! but how on earth can i sleep, when there's the ice-skating championship on tv - beautiful people dancing gracefully on ice to unbelievable music; swoon!

how can i sleep when there is fabulous yarn to be turned into rows and rows of

cosiness; isn't crocheting therapeutic?

and don't get me started on the books on my bedside table!!!
ah, yes! sleeping is good, sleeping is great... but there's always tomorrow-
after all, tomorrow is sunday; i'm sure i can catch a little nap while the children's shows are on!!!

now, if you'll excuse me, i'll go watch some talented people twirling, while adding another row to my blanket.
~~~~
have a great sunday everyone!

~~~~~

PS. pictures taken on wednesday, the only sunny day of the week.

at work

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~~ enjoying what's left of the snow ~~

...

~~ learning how to work with clay by a professional ~~
...

~~ feeling content as i get in the car to drive home and put my sunglasses on after many days of grey weather ~~
...

Have a bright Wednesday!

early this morning...

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can you believe the colour of the sky?

right now

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xxx

me

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if you're interested in getting to know me a little better

stop by Erin's lovely blog.

i'm off to work now.

take care!

xxx

the sun has come out...

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... at last!...

and i've got lots of shadows to prove it!!!

happy days!

xxx

the weekend

2011-01-16T21:29:00.004+02:00

Hello, hello and thank you all for the lovely wishes for a tranquil weekend.

Just a couple of hours before the weekend is over, I'm here to report that it was a good one.

Lots of playdates and coffee dates with friends from here and a most welcome visit from good friends from the city (well, they weren't visiting us; they just happen to come from the village nearby and they were here for the weekend - a true blessing!)

On a different note, the weather has been grey since we got here, nine days ago; only a couple of hours of sunshine on Friday. Fog, humidity, rain ...

In case you're wondering why this sudden interest in the weather, I'll tell you why: I'm not taking any photos! No inspiration at all! The light is horrible! And it's not like that everywhere; no, no. Back in the city they've been having lots and lots of sunshine! Ah, well, but they don't have a river at their doorstep, do they?

Hope you all have a good week!

xxx

where is it hiding?

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my little man has refused to let himself sleep these past few days;

he fights really hard to stay awake and says he's not sleepy though his eyes tell me he is ~

by the time he's finally asleep, i'm so exhausted i can bear no sound at all - i asked my dad tonight to watch something with subtitles; i couldn't listen to the tv for a second - i thought i would scream!

i felt like there was no air in the room; i needed space but the only vacant room was the bathroom ~

~ yes, tonight i've missed my spacious home ~

last night i spent a few minutes looking at my journal before i finally had gratitude thoughts come in; it felt good in the end.

tonight i won't even bother opening it; typing does not require a firm grasp of a pen like writing does, so i'll just say it here: i'm grateful for a healthy meal of fresh fish and salad and i'm grateful (oh, so grateful) that tomorrow is friday!

xxx

on reflection

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~ from home number 1 to home number 2, I'm home ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you've been reading my ramblings for a while, you may remember this post where I wrote about not feeling at home either here or in my city.

I'm glad to report that a different feeling is warming my heart now.

I had a lovely, relaxing time at the city home over the holidays with lots of cosy moments; it really felt like home after a couple of days (well, it is home, isn't it? ). And now I'm here at this little village that at least for this school year I call home; when I left the city this morning I thought I would need some time to feel this place warm and cosy but no, nothing like that. Both my son and I were glad to find all our things here and went about as if we never left!

~~~~~~~~

I've bought a beautiful notebook to use as a journal and this feeling will definitely make it to the top of my gratitude list today.

~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful weekend!

xxx

inspiration and creativity

2011-01-07T11:08:00.006+02:00

Have you ever felt that after a long period of doing something with your whole being - you know, being there, focused, body and soul - you are drenched and have nothing more to give?

That's how I've been feeling the last couple of days in relation to the time I spend with my little boy (who, by the way, is not so little any more and says things like "why did you book tickets for The Little Prince? I don't want to go to a play; I'd rather stay with dad"! - hum?)

Anyway, after having made an incredible number of Christmas crafts, read countless Christmas stories, played with play-doh for hundreds of hours (not literally but you get the picture), I ran out of ideas for mum-son time. Of course he spends a lot of time playing on his own but I'm talking about our time here.
Υesterday afternoon, I let him watch a film on TV while I surfed the net for ideas. And I found it! I came across this illuminating post. Maya's blog is such a great resource!

Not everything needs to be planned and be made with a certain outcome in mind, right? Right! So free expression it is, then! I took out whatever materials we had here and the idea was welcomed with utter delight!!!

Oh, the fun we had!

Take care!
xxx

January 2011

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Here we are in the new year!

Do you feel that when the year changes it's a new beginning or do you perceive time as a continuation with New Year's Day being just another celebration?

I stand somewhere in between I'd say. I'm not the sort of person who would make a list of resolutions, choose a word or phrase to live by or anything like that. However, I do get inspired by other people's resolutions or goals (Cassie has a lovely list here) and words ( I love Kamana's word here).

I do spend some time thinking of what I would like to change or add to my life, though I don't make any promises to myself. It's more on a 'become-a-better-mum/wife/teacher/self' level; nothing specific.

(Well, there's just one thing I need to work harder on: schedule a very specific day and time for ironing!!! Sometimes I realise that if something unexpected happens, I won't have enough pressed clothes to pack a bag!)

How about you? Do you grab a pen and paper and jot everything down even before the new year begins or do you just go with the flow?

On a different note, our days here at home have been slow most of the time (well, apart from Christmas Eve which was hectic)-

lots of playdates for little one, a bit of shopping, a visit to the cinema with my son's friends, friends over for a glass of wine (or two...), family meals...

and... from all the chores in my list I only managed one: I had my sewing machine fixed. Yay!!!

We're going back to our remote little village on Saturday and schools start on Monday the 10th; so we still have time to see daddy and more friends.

~~~~

Have a blessed 2011 everyone!

Spread some love and joy!

2010 ~ a year in pictures

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~~ January ~~

~~ February ~~

~~ March ~~

~~ April ~~

~~ May ~~

~~ June ~~

~~ July ~~

~~ August ~~

~~ September ~~

~~ October ~~

~~ November ~~

~~ December ~~

December 25th - grateful for ...

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{ His Birth }

~ El Greco ::The Adoration of the Shepherds ~

~~~~~~

Troparion for Nativity

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world. For they who did worship the stars did learn from them to worship thee, the Sun of Justice, and to know thou didst come from the east of the Highest. Glory to thee, O Lord!

~~~~~~

Kontakion for Nativity

The Virgin brings forth today the omnipotent, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable. Angels give glory with shepherds, and the magi journey with the star, when for our sakes was born, as a new babe, He Who is from eternity God.

~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~

May you all have a blessed Christmas!

xxx

December 24th - grateful for ...

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{ being here }

(do you remember this view?)

No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.

~L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

December 23rd - grateful for ...

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{ the beginning of the Christmas holidays }

:: listen ::

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