Happy Birthday Ryan!

Per request by my new friend, John Palmer, I'd like to wish my second new friend, Ryan Lindsay, a very happy...and by now...belated birthday.

John requested that his friends and followers post a link to their site for Ryan's birthday gift. You see, like most of us in the blogosphere, Ryan loves tracking his visitors. Please visit John Palmers Blog today so that Ryan will have the most visitors that he's ever had...for his birthday. What a great present! I can't wait to hear about the results.

Also, please read the post "I Love the Internet" (9- 28 -2009 )...it's my shameless plug for a very sweet and surprising mention. Thanks guys!

Happy Birthday Ryan!

visit

John Palmer Art

or

John Palmers Blog

She said, He said

I know that we usually hear "he said, she said" but not in this case. You see, I started to photograph her first. So...

She said, "Oh, it' really windy. Wait, my hair is in my eyes. Mom, does this look ok? Can I see it? I like the first one better. Let's take another one."

He said, "I didn't come out here to take pictures, Mama". And then, he turned away.

World Tourism Day

"The United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27 since 1980. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide."

Phivos Nicolaides

World Tourism Day

Entrances II

...a few more entrances that I captured while in Athitos.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend...

Related posts: Entrances

Coffee in Athitos

Meme...

I've been tagged to do a meme by my fellow blogger, Jessica aka truestarr, to share a bit of what I might be reading. If I wasn't reading online so much, I would definitely have more time to finish some of the books that I have sitting around.

The object of this meme:

First, you pick up the book nearest to you...turn to page 161 and copy out the 5th sentence. So, here's what I have to offer...

"I don't think the gap between races is any wider than it's been".

It's from the last book that I toted to the beach - "Race: How Blacks & Whites Think & Feel About the American Obsession" written by Studs Terkel.

So far, I've only read half of this book although I've owned it for several years.(and it's an autographed copy!) I was turned on to Studs Terkel in college when I was asked to perform a monologue based on one of his interviews. I morphed into a middle-aged black woman for my chosen monologue. Was it challenging? Yes. But, I loved it.

Here's a little bit about the book...

"For this book Terkel interviewed a cross-section of Americans about their views on race. Though many interviews center in Chicago, people discuss experiences growing up in various locations, their migration experiences from the southern United States, and how they understood racial changes at different points in their lives. Terkel chose to

interview people who regularly cross racial lines through their work such as physicians, nurses, and social workers; and those who have to lead others in their thinking such as teachers and preachers. He questioned activists in both national civil rights movements and grass roots assistance organizations. He interviewed students in integrated schools, welfare recipients, and homeowners who watched their neighborhoods change. He frequently inquires if their experience is based on issues of class or issues of race". (Recordings from Race)

So there you have it, the book that I'm currently trying to read. Now, I have to choose 5 of my fellow bloggers and ask them if they'll let us in on what book they have on hand.

I choose:

Angela from The F.A.B. Files

One of my very best friends-Linda- at Whatever is on my mind today

Liz from The Making of cupcakes.gr

Maria at Organically Cooked (that is...if you're not writing a book!)

and finally,

My friend Christie at Casu Consulto

I won't be offended if you don't participate...no pressure! :)

References / Links: Chicago History Museum

Chicago History Museum-Studs Terkel

Entrances

I've always been drawn to entrances, gates and doors. An entrance is full of intrigue and wonderment.

Kitesurfing in Salonica, Greece

I'd like to thank my friend- Phivos- for featuring us on his wonderful site Travelling - Ταξίδια.

His site features exotic destinations embellished with great photos and personal travel experiences, whether they are his own or one of his reader's contributions. What's more, is that usually there are less commonly known facts offered about locations or landmarks that are featured. It's always interesting to visit his site!

Phivos has two other sites as well-

NEOKYΠΡΙΟΙ

Phivos Nicolaides

Once again, thank you...

Coffee in Athitos

Although I had been visiting Greece for just about 18 years at the time, it wasn't until two years ago that I stumbled upon the lovely village of Athitos or Afytos, Halkidiki. A friend of mine from the U.S. was visiting, so we hopped in my tiny rental car and explored parts of Halkidiki that even I hadn't been. We chose to turn into the village of Athitos because we knew that since we were so close to the sea that having a nice cold frappe with a great view was inevitable.

Since having coffee in Athitos two summers ago, I've been talking to Kosta about it because although he spent nearly every summer in Halkidiki as a child, he had never been there. So, Saturday afternoon we had the chance to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee together in Athitos.

The weather wasn't perfect as it rained for most of the day, but it was still nice enough to enjoy a cup of coffee seaside. The view in Athitos was gorgeous despite the clouds. I highly doubt that this view is ever anything less than beautiful.

I took so many pictures during our time in Athitos and chose 16 for this post. Enjoy...

This little cat kept us company.

The front of the cafe, "On the Rocks". The cafe is actually upstairs & there's an artist's shop downstairs.

Kosta at our table.

I'm taking in the view. It's never enough.

Our little friend received a lot of attention.

Another view from where we were sitting.

I have taken a photo of this view once before. I'm not sure which one I like better.

There is a psarotaverna next to the cafe, the food smelled amazing! Imagine enjoying fresh calamari with this view.

More of the view.

Old buildings along the street are so interesting.

Tight squeeze tractor parking!

Stray dog...

A walk down the narrow streets of Athitos.

An adorable home.

A small church.

Some tourists enjoying the view.

My Sunflowers

Three days without internet,

One day with no phone (thanks OTE!) grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

two sick children,

no electric for a whole afternoon,

gloomy, rainy weather...

I'm glad that I remembered to plant sunflowers.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do. --Helen Keller

Sunflowers~~Vincent van Gogh

What a difference...

an hour and a visit to the vet can make...

Before

I took this photo right before we dropped Gigi off for another haircut. Personally, I think that she's adorable this way, so fluffy and cuddly. But, she gets dirty quickly with all of that moppy cuteness. I have to pull burrs & other plant matter off of her constantly...she's definitely like a walking Swiffer.

After

Here she is, all clean & tidy...just like a princess dog that she is. She's so easy to keep clean this way although I feel sorry for her as the temperature dropped dramatically and she seems cold as she's been shivering. It's time to find her a new adorable sweater for the fall. And yes, I see that one hair out of place, I've snipped it off already:)

Octopus weekend

Summer is over and I realized that I haven't shared our adventures in octopus spearing...and eating. I know that many of my readers love that our kids are learning the skills of fishing and spearing octopus and what they love more is to see photos of our kids with the octopuses. Honestly, octopus is our their favorite choice whenever we go to a taverna, so it's always great when Kosta can spear a few for us to enjoy at home. One weekend in early August , Kosta speared four of them...two on Saturday in beautiful Halkidiki and the second two on Sunday at a beach just outside of Thessaloniki. Here are some photos from our weekend...

Saturday

Yia Yia and Foti were swimming in the area that Kosta was hunting octopus so, naturally, when he speared one he handed off to Yia Yia so that we could start to prepare it for our dinner.

Before we slam the octopus on the rock to tenderize it, the kids usually get time to examine it closely. They're always captivated.

Izabella loves when the octopus still has suction and sticks to her.

Here's Foti working on tenderizing the octopus. Izabella & I did the hard work as we took turns slamming the octopus against a rock.

Enjoying the fruits of our labor. Can you see the octopus next to the wine? It's the same one that we caught a few hours earlier.

Octopus was a perfect addition to the fish that we grilled.

Sunday

This octopus that was speared on Sunday was a bit smaller.

Although Alexandra loves to eat octopus, she had never handled one until this day. She was completely enamoured by it and examined it closely for a while.

This weekend our forecast looks promising and hopefully, we'll have time to go to the beach. And, I really hope that Kosta will have great luck and spear a few more octopuses!!

Have a great weekend!!

Related links:

Octopus anyone?

Octopus pics

1st Octopus of the Season

Friday evening at the beach

Octopus (Wikipedia)

Gorgeous Halkidiki

Friends...

Where there are friends, there is wealth.

~Titus Maccius Plautus