Alexandra's 4th Birthday & Name Day

Today is our little Alexandra's 4th birthday and Name Day.  We celebrated her birthday at home on Saturday  night, she had a wonderful time. 

Alexandra chose this cake. Originally, she wanted something with unicorns & monkeys...and grass on it. I'm really glad she took the time to look through the catalog and settle for the Dalmatians. 

When came time to blow out the candles she went for the challenge and tried to blow out the sparklers! 

What was on the table this year?

Tiropita

Spanikopita

Loukanopita

Olives

Melanzanosalata

Greek Potato Salad 

Tomato-Basil Bruschetta

Feta cheese squares...

Peanut butter & Jelly minis for the kids...

Sausage, crackers, Kalamata olive tampanade

and my favorite this year-tomato/basil/mozzarella  hor d'oeuvres. I couldn't stop eating these! 

We had a lot of leftovers so I didn't have to cook on Sunday which was fantastic since we were away all morning having coffee with very special visitors. 

It was a wonderful weekend full of celebration that we shared with our very special friends and family. 

Happy Birthday & Happy Name Day my sweet Alexandra! 

χρόνια πολλά!

Buckingham Fountain

I've been away from the blog for one month, probably my longest absence ever. I've been extremely busy this summer and I've also had the chance to travel to the U.S. to visit my friends and family. It's been an amazing summer, to say the least. Before I get back to my regular posting I'd like to share a  few photos of one of my absolute favorite fountains located in my absolute favorite city in the world...the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, IL. Whenever I visit downtown Chicago, I always make time to stop there.

I really love this place, could sit there for hours...

~

Enjoy what remains of summer!

Ten things that make me happy...

 My friend, Christie,  at My Comfy Escape has tagged me to list my Ten things that make me happy. She tagged me well over a month ago, but it seems that everything I do is late these days. Well, let's just say later than my usual late self, I'm always late. I was born almost a month later than my mother's  given due date so I have a great excuse. And then I married a Greek... so any chance of me being on time anywhere was lost. Although, I have to brag about arriving almost 1/2 hour early to a baptism recently. We didn't know what to do with ourselves, we walked at a casual pace and stood around waiting for the baptism to begin, definitely out of our element.

So, let's get to this list. I have just recently listed 10 things that make me happy for an award that I received -  so I'll add photos to this post to make it a bit different.

~~~

1. My friends & family ~~ VITAL to my being and appreciated more than I can express in mere words...the unconditional love and support that I receive daily makes me thrive. The emails... phone messages & texts and blog comments --I'm always eager to see who has checked in.  I'm surrounded by so much love & support, I can only say "Thank YOU"...all of you!! You're always on the top of my list!

One of my favorite photos of Christie & I. Yes, it was really funny...

2. Chocolate.  I think this one is self explanatory if there are chocoholics like myself reading this.

My chocolaty-chocolate birthday cake.

3. Photography. I've been inspired by so many photographers past & present. Some of my favorites include Gordon Parks .

and Ansel Adams.

                                                

4. Music. I love almost all genres of music. Music is life, I can't imagine a day without music.

Music is what feelings sound like. ~Author unknown

5. Coffee. What kind of coffee do I like? Most of it. Although I'd give anything for a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha (grande) I'm very happy with my own cappuccino. My cappuccino maker was away for about a month and I was lost without it. And, I love frappé. I have at least one frappé per day ...shaken not 

blended. Oh and Γλυκό με γάλα παρακαλώ ...(Sweet with milk please...)

(Alexandra sneaks a sip of my cappuccino, the kids already love coffee too...shhhh!) 

6. Art. Having said that I'll introduce you to a budding artist, my Izabella. Not a day passes that she doesn't create.

7. Food/Cooking. I love exploring new cuisine and trying new recipes. I also enjoy letting my kids help me in the kitchen. I find that letting them help prepare a meal ensures that they'll eat what we're making, most of the time. 

                   

Yes...I made everything in these photos...

8. The spa.  Recently spoiled by a whole afternoon at  the spa courtesy of one of my bests friends (wink, wink)-that would be the one who tagged me for this list. 

 

9. Flowers/gardening- I find gardening therapeutic although I'm overwhelmed by the amount of work that it takes to maintain our garden these days. 

 A rose & my garden a month ago...doesn't look so well kept now...

10. Our pets. (well, most of the time...) 

Tarzan & Alexandra

Myself & Gigi

"Torlitza" & Iza

Tarzan again...with Lobo

Thank you for tagging me Christie! 

I miss you!  :)

Little Feet...

We attended a baptism recently & I captured these little feet just after being handed into the arms of their new  Nonos/Νονός. (Godfather)  

The Quintessential Donkey

To carry his load without resting, not to be bothered by heat or cold and always be content: these three things we can learn from a donkey. 

~Indian Proverb~

Early Summer...

Early summer images...

Silly smiles

Quiet beaches

My pink flowers

Sailboats full of swimmers

Pomegranate blossoms

Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January. 

~Hal Borland~ 

Flamouri Harvest

Flamouri Flowers 

The flamouri (φλαμούρι) trees have blossomed and are passed their peak. For nearly two weeks we've enjoyed the sweet and  light floral fragrance breezing through the air. The scent of our trees was enjoyed throughout the property as well as inside our home, given that we've had our windows open for nearly a month now. I anticipate the blooming of these trees and this year they were just a little late due to cooler temperatures and a string of  rainy days.

 One day last week I was talking to myself, which is fairly normal. I mentioned that I didn't know when I would have time to harvest any given the horrible weather and our social commitments. Funny enough, Izabella was actually listening. When she came home from school the next day she went to outside to play with Foti and  a while later they came in and asked for two large bowls. I asked them what their intent was...how what they needed them for and they told me that I've been so busy that they would help me pick flamouri. I melted...just melted. Does this mean my children are finally old enough to really help me outside? And on their own? I see things getting a bit easier around the garden. 

So, they set out to pick the flowers. When I went out to show them how they should be picked I was pleasantly surprised that Izabella remembered from last year. See? They're getting so self sufficient! 

Izabella removes the larger leaves not used for making tea. 

Alexandra concentrates on her task. 

Foti presenting me with  his bowl of flowers & leaves. I was on the balcony lifted it up for me to see. Nice work! 

~

Flamouri tea is also known as Tilio ( Τίλιο )

in Greek and Linden in English.  Flamouri tea has many health benefits and has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries. 

Some of the common uses for flamouri tea include treating a cold or a cough and other related symptoms.  I find it helpful because it helps clear up my nasal passages whenever I have a stuffy nose and provides relief when I have a sore throat. The tea has a calming effect and it is often suggested that one should drink a cup to relieve any stress & anxiety that's affecting the body. 

The fragrance is so light and floral, it's also used in making soaps or used in skin care. Last weekend I gifted some of the tea to friends that were visiting from the U.S. and they were impressed by the fragrance that permeated the plastic bag I had packed it in. I'm sure the inside of their luggage probably smelled pleasant once they were home. 

I've been suffering from a sore throat for a few days and I boiled some of my already dried flamouri. It's always so comforting. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend  that you do and hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I do. 

Dried flamouri, just about ready for storage. 

~

References:  About.com: Greek Food - Linden Tea

Health Benefits of Linden Flowers and Linden Flower Tea 

A Trip to the Market

One of my favorite things about living in Greece is that open markets are a part of everyday life, unlike my other neighborhood in Milwaukee, where we have to wait for summer and warmer weather before an open or "green" market becomes available on a regular basis. Although, I have to admit that I shop at the open market aka "laiki" more often in  the spring and summer months since it always seems to rain on the day of our local laiki during the winter. 

The kids also love the experience of the market, especially since they always leave with wonderful treats. The photos I've posted are from recent visits. 

~

 Foti & Alexandra posing at the market. 

Alexandra has a small bag of assorted candy in her grasp, she chose her favorites, of course.

My favorite olives, stuffed with red peppers. I use these when I make arroz con gandules. Although, I have to say it's arroz SIN gandules since I have run out of them a few months ago. Now I use red beans/frijoles rojos instead. 

It's also cherry season. I absolutely have to go to the market for these every week until they're gone. My girls love to taste a few before we buy any. 

Leaving the market with treats in hand. 

Notice how the kids are paying close attention to their surroundings. They enjoy going to the market not only to absorb the sights and smells; but also because now that we are regulars, many of the vendors take special care of them and often treat them with candy and smiles. That alone takes the monotony out of shopping for fruits and veggies. 

~ 

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~