Read, read, read.

Read, read, read.
~ William Faulkner ~


Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

If I read a book that impresses me,
I have to take myself firmly in hand,
before I mix with other people;
otherwise they would think my
mind rather queer. (1952)
~ Anne Frank ~

The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one
on a rainy day who doesn't know how to read.
~ Benjamin Franklin ~


I have good reason to be content,
for thank God I can read and
perhaps understand Shakespeare to his depths.
~ John Keats ~

Books are the treasured wealth of the world
and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.
~ Henry David Thoreau ~

This pile was on my bedside table some days ago. I had to put some back on the shelf as there's no way I'll manage to read all of them any time soon. Do you like any of the quotes? My favourite one is the second. My defences are all down when I'm in a book shop. I could have added a couple of magazines in the photo.What are you reading these days?

PS. Stay tuned; there's a giveaway coming up!

xxx

Being spoiled...

Lately, I've been feeling much loved, even spoiled sometimes.

I've won two giveaways (I've yet to blog about the second one), got birthday presents in the mail and a surprise present by my dearest, closest to my heart friend and I'm expecting another book from a blogger friend (details in due time).

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A couple of days after my birthday my best friend came over after work and not at all empty-handed! She brought treats for little one/her godson, two little herb pots (see previous post) and this parcel.

Do you like how it looks? I was speechless! You see, my dear friend is not a crafts person and she would always admire the way I presented my gifts to her -from homemade tomato sauce to a little trunk with all sorts of goodies.

So in order to please me she sat down and transformed this box (of ? I don't really now what) into a girlie, lovely box for me.

Do you want to take a pick inside?

...matching wrapping paper...

...and..Ta-dah! A gorgeous, feminine, tight-waisted (I know that's not a word but you get the picture)red (much brighter than in the picture) shirt (blouse??)!!!!

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Last Friday I received my birthday present from my pen-friend in Malaysia. I sort of guessed part of the contents; you see, when we met in London in April we were talking about books and told her I didn't have time to find a second-hand copy of The Shell Seekers and she said she would find it for me. She's sent me other books since then but not this one. So (clever me!) I suspected she was saving it for my birthday. I've read the book a hundred times (almost) but always in Greek; I can't wait to read the original.

There was also another book which she says is very good (and if she says it's good then it is), two more bookmarks (I need to take a picture of all the bookmarks she's sent me and show you, they're endless!) and ...


... a silk caftan with a hand-painted peacock on it!!! It's gorgeous (if I may say so myself)

Thank you my friends for spoiling me! I need it and I appreciate it so much.



Take Care everyone!
xxx

November

Hello ladies!

I just got back from work, prepared little one a snack -he's always hungry when we come home although he's had lunch at school- and sat at my desk to wish you all a wonderful, sweet, cosy November and show you a few of the things we did over our stay-at-home weekend.

Soooo, ...

...there was changing pots to some newly acquired herbs (thyme and oregano); I know this sounds more like a spring task but the little plants were a gift

... there was a ♥ precious ♥ family breakfast


... there were beautiful colours in the sky (please ignore the rooftops)


... there was a delicious, warm meal on Sunday



...there was lego-playing while mum was ironing (imagine whole mountains of clothes)

...and 'pic-nicking' on the living-room floor (the piles of clothes you see is the 'food')

...and of course, there was coffee, home-made biscuits and a good book

...and, needless to say, more coffee, cake and the same good book.

How was your weekend?


While thinking about November, these two ideas sprung to mind:

film: Sweet November (listen to this song by Enya-gorgeous!)

and

song: November Rain

Can you suggest anything else relating to this month?

Enjoy what's left of autumn and be prepared to welcome winter (scarves and gloves all ready here)

Take Care

xxx

Trick or Treat!

I've wanted to say this ever since I discovered Halloween ages ago. But unfortunately we don't celebrate it here. I really don't know why; it's so much fun!

Anyway, I was telling Sarah about it, complaining rather, and she suggested I should celebrate it here.

So here I am, with my salt-dough pumpkins and ghosts, my right-hand shadow and a little help from Picasa, posting my very own Halloween picture!

(if I could only figure out how to make the date disappear from my camera!)

Happy Halloween!

(PS. For the salt-dough: 1 part salt, 1 part water, 3-4 parts flour; it needs to be baked when you finish shaping it, till it's dry. Warning: don't taste it-unless your blood pressure has hit the floor!)

Autumn Leaves

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
Emily Bronte

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.
Emily Dickinson
Nature XXVII, Autumn.

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
George Cooper
October's Party.

These are the leaves little one and I collected on our short walk last Saturday. My dad was telling us what tree they were from as we were admiring the colours and 'hunting' for more.

Today we've turned them into this autumn tree.

I think it's kind of neat. Don't you think?


This year more than ever I appreciate autumn and cherish everything it has to give. You've helped me see what a special season it is and in my turn, I help my son take it all in.

Enjoy this wonderful season while it lasts.

Pink Thoughts

Last Thursday of October;

Last Pink post;

Hopefully, not the last time women remember/are reminded to look after themselves;

Definitely not the last time we remember and pray for the ones we've lost.

Take Care my friends!

xxx

Can you see how excited I am?

I'm soooo delighted to be doing this post. I have a broad smile on my face as I type and love, love, love every second of it!!!

Do you want to know why? Read on...

These past few weeks I've been enjoying some 'countryside' posts here in blogland, thinking how blessed some people are to be living in such beautiful surroundings. I was patiently waiting for that autumn weekend that I would go to my village and it wouldn't just be cleaning, cooking and washing up. In fact, I'd planned it in such a way that I would find time for a short walk, no matter what -well, weather permitting, of course. So on Saturday morning we woke up to cloudy, yet dry weather and after my (long) morning coffee we set out -my dad, little one and me- for a little walk to my dad's (small) vineyard/veggie garden. There was still a lot a green around (this is the Greek autumn) but we also saw some autumnal colours, together with a few seasonal treats on the trees. We collected a few leaves, too but I'll show you these on a different post.

These pomegranates weigh more than half a kilo each!!! Some of them are on my kitchen table now.

We ate these after I'd taken the picture. It was a flashback to my childhood.

This is a wild pomegranate tree nearly 150 years old.

On our way back home. We only went about 300 metres away from my dad's house!

Have a lovely rest of the week.

No work for me tomorrow and on Wednesday; it's a national holiday related to World War II.

xxx