Crossing the Pond: Canada to Crete

 Crete: Snow capped mountains harmoniously exist with green meadows in early January.
This photo was taken on our walk around the village, a few days ago.

Hello everyone, hope 2017 has been treating you kindly so far. Liberty and I arrived back on the island in early January, and it's been non-stop cleaning, tidying and re-adapting, after a week or so of jet lag, having boarded and disembarked 3 planes (and gone through 3 security checks!) to get here. Decorating, at press time, is not in the picture!

Uxbridge, Ontario: views from my sister's family room after an early  morning snowfall

We packed all of December, then vacated Liberty's condo at the end of the month and spent the last 10 days at my sister's home in Uxbridge, Ontario, which gave us a chance to spend quality time with my parents, too, who live with her and her family. The holidays were extra special, as we got to see lots of extended family at holiday parties who we won't be seeing for some time.

Uxbridge, guest bedroom: waking up to frosted branches and pretty brick homes

Born in Toronto, then relocating to Crete in my mid twenties, I am a citizen of two very diverse countries, on two different continents that share one ocean which I have crossed many times in my life. Some, myself included, refer to the Atlantic as 'the pond', inferring that the distance between North America and Europe isn't such a big deal in this global village we call earth. But here's the thing: it is. A big deal, I mean. And the older I get, the larger that pond seems to get, further widening the physical distance between my family and me.

              Two beautiful blues: the Aegean Sea and the Cretan sky              

 

 

So, for now, I plan on staying on this side for a while - hopefully working from my home in the gorgeous, Cretan countryside, enjoying the temperate climate, seeing my wonderful friends, and staying in touch with all of you. You have accompanied me on my many journeys across the pond, and I thank you for your support and friendship. And, in contrast to the airborne kind, you continue to be that one, unique connection to my heart and I appreciate your visits so very much.

See you soon,

xoxo,

Poppy

Christmas Scenes of Red, White and Green

Red,

white,

and

green

create a festive scene

in my Cretan home, at Christmas.

Okay, and a bit of orange, too!

These photos are from Christmases past.

Click here, here, here, and here, 

to view the original posts.

Thanks for visiting!

xx

Poppy 

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The Form and Fate of a Full-Grown Grape

 

Presently, on the island, it's grape season.

In the early morning light of August

 jewels of juice await their harvest.

They begin their journey on a vine

while many will find their way to wine.

 Some are dried under a blazing sun

 that wrinkles them into sweet raisins.

Others are boiled into a thick spread

that perfectly complements plain bread.

 Finally, if not fermented, cooked or baked,
there are grapes that possess a fresher fate,
geared to land right on one's  plate!  

What's your preference?

 xx

Poppy 

Floral Flashbacks

High Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Autumn 2015

In Toronto's High Park, autumn flowers and fall foliage
still exist in happy harmony, but very soon, most
leaves and all petals will take their final bow, and the
landscape that is their stage, will have its final curtain call.


Special Delivery

And so, I took a trip down memory lane, and along the
way, gathered a bunch of bouquets to remind me of all
 those times when these dainty, floral darlings delighted
 me with their vast and various cast of characters!

A Mother's Day Bouquet

This bright Mother's Day bouquet I chose for
my mom last year beautifully complements the
crockery behind it, don't you think?

Forever Fall

A close up of one of my favourite decorative
 plates, which has repeatedly presented me with
delicious servings of whimsy when I crave it,
which in my case, as you know, is constant!
 

Rita's Roses

Pretty petals in paintings are precious, and even
though I cannot breathe in their fragrance, they
 are always a breath of fresh air for the soul.

A Rooftop Refreshment

Fresh fruit and flowers from my  summer garden

on the island whet my appetite for al fresco fun.
 

Scents for the Senses

The sweet scent of narcissus in this early spring posy
also transports me to the hilly meadows of Crete,
where these wild flowers cheerfully dot the
 countryside for weeks with their happy faces.

Of Sky and Stone: Contessa's Home

A bunch of silk blooms warms up stone and stucco
walls, as its reflection softly glows in the mirror.

A Spot of Tea

Open shelving in the breakfast room back home
makes space for seasonal, fresh flowers, in
  addition to the permanent pretties on plates.
 

A Mother's Day Bouquet

 

Ultimately, having access to flowers, whatever the season, calms me, so, when I came across this flower delivery website, I was pleased

 to discover that local florists can provide stunning bouquets,

 (and bundles of inspiration), to you and yours, all year round.



A Little Bit of Drama



Thanks for accompanying me on my

floral flashback, in the middle of fall!

xo

Poppy

 

P.S. Clicking on the title of each pic

will take you to its original post.

 

No compensation was received for this post.

 

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Brushstrokes in Bali

Recently, I visited the seaside settlement of Bali, Crete, although, judging from the image above, one would think 

I had spent my days floating on a cushion of clouds, 

rather than bobbing on wavy pillows in the sea.

Can you spot the dab of a sailboat on the

 canvas of dreamy blues in the distance? 

A whisper of white, it silently floats, to and fro, 

creating just a sliver of contrast against

 the palette of marine toned hues.

From afar, it seemed that a pack of gigantic sea monsters, were keeping the little boat at bay, the latter, fearful of anchoring at the ghost town the brutes had created earlier.

 As we headed inland, I wondered how long it could linger there, cradled in the wavy safety of the sea.

Then, pausing to take one last look, I was startled to discover, that the hazy horizon was suddenly, and puzzlingly, sailboat free.

Thanks for visiting, and

have a wonderful weekend!

xo

Poppy 

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Escape to Plaka, and A Prayer

A dilapidated cafe, Plaka, Crete

When things get a little hectic, 

or worry is wearing me down,

I drown myself in distress,

or, I get out of town.

 I am always drawn to the sea, 

(perhaps it's the Pisces in me),

 

Fishing boats, anchored and awaiting new passengers, Plaka, Crete

 and so, when that crystal hue

of Aegean blue is in view,

 my mood magically lifts,

my perspective shifts,

and suddenly, I am

floating in a sea of hope.

Please join me,

and say a prayer for my

sweet friend, Tammy,

witty writer of the Peanut,  

who is faced with some

challenges of her own 

at this time.

 

Thanks for visiting

and have a wonderful week!

 

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The Beachy Rosemary Mystery

Yesterday, we made our way

 to the cove of Paleokastro, (Old Castle), 

for our first salty swim of the season.

Sailboats, floating on a splashy

 surface of sparkling waves,

glided past cliffy coastlines, signed by

stiff, sunburnt branches,

and rough and rocky shores, where aromatic rosemary

 seasoned the breeze with savoury/sweet bouquets.

The Venetian Fortress of Paleokastro of Malevizio, 1573

 I wonder, could this fragrant herb have been

 planted by palace proprietors, or the castle's cooks,

 

  who braved the descent down to the pebbly beach

   to snip the leaves for rich ragouts and scented brews?

One thing's for sure: 

the corns and calluses

 of the castle's culinary crew 

must have been
 pampered and pumiced

 with a weekly, pedicure!

Thanks for visiting 

and have a wonderful week!

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