Almost Easter...

Easter is almost here and we've been very busy enjoying spring and preparing for the holiday.I'm posting a few photos to share some of what we've been doing with all of you. 

Alexandra picked wild flowers when we visited the archaeological site, Dion. 

You can see her "Martis" bracelet.  The bracelet is made of red and white thread symbolizing a white complexion with rosy cheeks. The superstition is that children wear these bracelets so that the sun of early spring doesn't burn their cheeks. 

Alexandra's wild flowers. 

Some Easter Candles(Lambathes) on display. 

 One of my oldest and dearest friends, Brian,  came to visit and was impressed by all of the lamb he saw in the Kapani Market downtown. 

 Alexandra enjoys a koulouri while shopping.

We always get koulouri when we go downtown. 

 A little Easter shopping downtown. 

Yia Yia visited and made stefania(wreaths)  out of spring wild flowers for the kids. It's traditional to hang them on the front door of your home. We have one on all three doors  of our right now- one for each child. 

Foti  coloring Easter eggs.  

My lilacs are ready to blossom. 

The white lilacs seem to be a little bit ahead of the purple ones. 

                                                                       Apple blossoms. 

The kithonia(quince) blossoms are just about ready to open. This is one of my favorite blossoms. 

My friend Connie made tsoureki and gave some to us. Very delicious! 

This is the ultimate tsoureki made by Thia Nitsa.  We look forward to this every year. 

We'll be hosting dinner at our house this year, I have a little more shopping to do and a lot of cooking ahead. 

I'd like to wish everyone celebrating this weekend a very Happy Easter ! 

Καλό Πάσχα!

Afternoon Adventure

Here's a structure that we drive by quite frequently. I've been told that it's an old monastery that has burned down. I don't know what it was officially though. Each time we drive by the kids ask about it and want to stop to take a look around. So, one afternoon last month we had time to explore what remains of the monastery. 

This photo was taken from what I believe was the interior of the building. 

Toward the back of the structure. 

The field outside of the monastery. 

Alexandra on the road in front of the monastery. 

Inside of the structure. 

Alexandra's shoe fell off...

Her favorite gold shoes. It's great that Izabella is already a  photographer and was able to document the moment! She's very attentive. 

Pretty purple wildflowers. 

Chamomile

More wild flowers. I don't know what these are, unfortunately.

There's a small shrine (εκκλησάκι) on the property which captured the curiosity of my little ones. 

There's a fig tree toward the back of the structure. A friend of mine told me that she takes here children there in the summer gather figs. 

Here, I'm  in the field near the monastery. I didn't take too many photos from the inside because the weeds were so thick and high. One week prior to this adventure we walked through the overgrown weeds and  a tick hitched a ride on my forehead, (only to be discovered as I was driving home!)  so this time I didn't want to risk anymore hitchhikers on myself or the kids. 

~Have a nice week~

~Καλή εβδομάδα~