Memories of Monet

Last month I ran off to Paris for a few days. I have been missing France desperately, so it was a wonderfully nostalgic trip. Many memories came rushing back as I visited some of my favorite spots. Among those is Le Musée de l'Orangerie. A number of years ago, I took my mom there to see Monet's waterlily panels. On the upper floor, L'Orangerie has two large oval-shaped rooms devoted to Monet's Nymphéas. Each room has four panels each; two shorter ones and two longer ones. Due to the size of the longer panels, I could barely photograph them. Obviously, flash photography is forbidden, so these photos are a bit dim. Below you can see the benches in the center of one of the mural rooms. It is so nice to just sit and absorb the calm beauty of the waterlilies. Thankfully, L'Orangerie is a relatively peaceful museum in my experience, without too much crowding or talking. I can still picture my mom posing for a photo next to the panel I have pictured last, which was our communal favorite.

Καλή Σαρακοστή

Two days ago was the religious holiday known as Καθαρά Δευτέρα (Clean Monday) here in Greece. Clean Monday is the first day of Lent (Σαρακοστή) in the Orthodox calender. Traditionally, people eat a special type of bread called λαγάνα which is only prepared that day. It is a flat loaf covered with sesame seeds on top. The loaf I bought from the bakery downstairs is pictured here, with a sesame seed close-up for good measure.

Since Clean Monday is a day of fasting and purification, people usually gather in the countryside to enjoy meat-free foods. Seafood is not off-limits, so octopus dishes and fish roe salad are among the local favorites. Kite-flying is another typical activity on Clean Monday. Due to my impending move, however, I spent the day cleaning and packing! I'd like to think that I saved the life of one lucky octopus in the process...except that I don't eat seafood, so that octopus would have lived regardless!

My little moon pie

Here she is: my little moon pie! I wish I could take credit for this amazingly beautiful newborn baby, but that goes to her wonderful parents. As godmother, I have bragging rights, though!

Welcome to the world!

My beautiful dark-haired goddaughter Caroline was born at 1:10 pm (CST) on Sunday February 15, 2009. Congratulations to her proud mommy and daddy. Welcome to the world, baby girl! I can't wait to meet you! See you soon!

Bonne Saint-Valentin!

Je viens de rentrer de Paris et je suis vachement fatiguée, mais je voudrais souhaiter une Bonne Saint-Valentin à tout le monde avant que la cloche ne sonne minuit!

A hundred hearts and lots of Etsy love!

Yesterday I noticed that my Etsy shop now has one hundred hearts, meaning that one hundred people have marked me as a favorite! Many thanks for the Etsy love, and to all who have featured me in their treasuries and blogs in the last seven months. Just a few days ago, Robin (from DakotasStall) featured my "Galazio Gridwork" fine art photograph in her lovely treasury with brick walls as the theme. Also, last Friday, Liz (from lavenderlizard) showcased my fine art photograph "Tuber and Trefoil" as part of her Fabulous Friday Finds blog series. Her sons choose a random word, and she searches Etsy for items that best exemplify it. What a great idea! Last Friday's word was "potato," and she selected my photograph of a heart-shaped potato! Check out her blog for more details: lavenderlizard.blogspot.com

Lady in the limelight

Last Thursday the 29th of January was my sweet friend Ria's birthday. She invited me to her birthday festivities which were held at a charming μεζεδοπωλείο by the sea. It was a windy and rainy night, but inside, the atmosphere was warm with friendship, live ρεμπέτικο music and tantalizing μεζέδες (appetizers). Dish after dish of delicious Greek food was brought to our long row of tables. Just when we thought we could eat no more, new platters appeared before our eyes. And the wine flowed freely...so freely, in fact, that Ria's glass was knocked over and spilled all over the table. She instantly dipped her finger in the spilled wine and dabbed it on my neck for good luck (για γούρι). It was then my turn to do the same for her, since apparently the good luck doesn't work if you dab yourself! That custom was a new one for me!

In honor of her birthday, I made Ria a special pair of earrings to fit her Aquarian personality. I paired hammered fine silver beads with lime green lampwork glass beads that I purchased from two of my fellow Etsians. The larger green beads were made by Patricia (from PatriciaLubin), and the smaller green beads sprinkled with silver were made by Ellen (from edooley). The birthday girl adored her gift. I hope she feels like a true lady in the limelight every time she wears them...