The People And The Sea
Posted by Granita To Go, 11 Nov 2009, 09:03 AM
I've come to believe that people who live within sight of the sea are able to recognize more easily the shades of gray in our lives and our decisions.
A Day To Be Spent On The Balcony
Posted by Granita To Go, 23 Oct 2009, 11:27 AM
Good morning! 
Another very beautiful day in Crete. I have trouble leaving my house because I have the best of all worlds here. Inside the house is comfortable and cool. Outside the temperature was just right all morning here on the front balcony (on the west side of house). Here we have the best view of the sea.
Now the sun is starting to near the western side so I have brought a big sun umbrella for a nice bit of shade and am feeling very comfortable. I sort of worry about what the neighbors will say but they will probably just shake their heads and think, "Oh, that Vicki, she's a writer, you know." Hopefully that explains my eccentricities!
During natural events in life sometimes it is hard to keep our faith strong. I did something very unusual. I bought myself a piece of jewelry. For me this piece has a lot of spiritual power and brings me solace. First you will notice the pearl eye to protect me from the evil eye. Than underneath fall three charms. The first is the heart-shape with tiny diamonds, the universal sign of love. Next the blood red gem, a symbol of creativity's color and the third charm is the 'stavros,' the cross. The cross is a symbol of resurrection and also a symbol of an intersection in life or the four directions into which nature reaches infinitely.
This beautiful piece was designed and made by the Greek jeweler, Tania Drakithou. I noticed in the jewelry store window of ERA in Platanias. I hope one day you will be able to visit this lovely jewelry store because there are many pieces that speak to ancient spirituality but are for us, modern women living today.
I hope to be back tomorrow to talk to you more about how lovely life is in Crete.
Weather: Sometimes Hot, Sometimes Chilly
Posted by Granita To Go, 17 Oct 2009, 07:25 AM
Hello, hello. So good to be back 
.
I was going through a painful loss. My younger brother passed away totally unexpectedly. Terrible shock. I still have trouble with accepting what has happened.
But now, I am well enough to write again. It's best to "get back up on the horse as soon as possible" everyone says.
We've been having wonderful but changeable weather here in northwestern Crete. We're experiencing[attachment=377:pomegran...s_framed.jpg] autumn and the leaves at the deciduous trees are turning yellow and red. The first part of the week we had some good rain and cooler temperatures. Then the wind started blowing in from Africa at about 7 or 8 Beaufort. High enough winds to roll up the awnings at the front of the house. I washed a heavy wool sweater belonging to my husband. It took only about a half an hour to dry outside. So I'm working on the fall cleaning especially washing anything that can fit into the washing machine because items dry so fast outside. Much better than a dryer!
Elections for class president and the student council took place in the high school last week. I'm blogging about N's experience on my RedRoom blog if you have an interest.
Finally we had elections and New Democracy and its incompetence and corruption is out on its ear.
Looking forward to a nice weekend. Hope you have a nice weekend too.
Days Of Nice Rain And Coolness
Posted by Granita To Go, 11 Sep 2009, 07:49 AM
Two more days of great rain. Still soaking into the soil at a slow rate. Today and tomorrow we should have more of the same. The water table of Crete should be replenishing very nicely.
Turkey has had a terrible tragedy with six months worth of rain in two days. All over the world the same problem with flooding is repeating itself even in my lovely Iowa.
First day of high school for Na today. (She's a senior.) She was only there for about an hour, because the first day schools are only open for the blessing. The students and teachers were sprinkled with holy water. A spring of basil is dipped into holy water and the priest, after prayers, sprinkles the holy water with a shake of green, fresh basil over each person that files by in front of him.
The ritual is lovely and I used to participate when Na was young. Now she's independent and doesn't need her mother coming to high school with her.
Religion is taught as a class at the school. How interesting the class is depends on which religion teacher you have. One of the religion teachers both girls have had is a very kind person. She's also quite superstitious and judgmental. So the girls have learned how to be listening politely to the views of others without having to agree with them from this teacher.
N usually takes the car to the university when he goes to work. During the school year he drops Na off at high school, turns the corner and drives about one mile to his office at his university.
Today the blessing was held from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning so I dropped N off at work while Na was getting ready for school. The university is growing all the time. It's a new, up and coming university. The most recent building finished is a very large science building with labs and classrooms. The science building also has underground parking.
The university sits next to the sea so all the windows facing west give a great view of the sea.
K is in day two of her university classes in Athens. Her job at the International Policy Institute has been keeping her busy during the summer and now that she's getting back into a schedule she is working more. Her classes in the Communications Department are good, she looks forward to going to class. Just what a mom wants to hear.
I'm enjoying this weather very much. The air in the house is heavy with humidity due to the sea and the rain both, a double whammy. With cool temperatures though the humidity is not uncomfortable.
We painted the rooms in our house this summer. The paint is specially made so we don't have worry about mildew in the house. The main part of the house is a creamy ivory beige, sort of elegant. We painted the bedrooms in our favorite colors: K - rose, N - mauve, master bedroom - sky blue.
more later!
Bare Feet And Marble Floors
Posted by Granita To Go, 9 Sep 2009, 06:30 AM
We've had rain each day of the last three days! Early morning Monday seems to me to have been the best kind of rain. The rain lasted a long time and thoroughly soaked into the ground.
Today is the first day since spring that I haven't been barefoot on our marble floors to keep cool. I'm wearing socks and slippers . . . and a sweater twin set(!) to keep warm.
The sun off the flat portions of the sea makes the area look like a mirror. The surface of the sea is varied and also has strips of turquoise, deep blue and silvery dimpled water.
Lovely sunny day. I'm going to open the curtains and windows to let some warmth inside.
Have you checked out the Explore Crete weather page http://www.explorecrete.com/nature/crete-weather.html
It offers general weather for making decisions about when to vacation in Crete to more detailed daily information from the National Weather Service.
I was writing a long a nice blog post for here a couple of days ago when Na came in to the room talking on her kinito (cell phone.) Out of the side of her mouth she asked me to check the weather. I walked out the balcony and came back with the report, "There are some small grey clouds keeping things cool but it's going to warm up soon."
She looked at me very strangely, "I meant check the weather on the computer, Mom."
Another generational gap moment!
(And I lost all I had written to the ether. Oh, well! Life goes on.)
As Day Progresses So Does The Heat! To A Higher Level!
Posted by Granita To Go, 6 Sep 2009, 03:18 PM
After the noon hour I grabbed up a basket of wet clothes to hang out to dry on the back balcony. The back balcony is on the east side of the house, usually by this time of the day the sun has traveled far enough to the east to leave the balcony in shade. Before I had even stepped completely out the door I was so startled by the intensity of the heat I ducked back into the bedroom. I grabbed my FAIR baseball cap from the hat tree and was able to accomplish my mission.
I try not to wash clothes too often in the summer in honor of summer vacation and because the sun and I aren’t very compatible this year.
But it’s September. I can’t put off catching up on the wash!
The clothes dry faster in the sun than with any electric clothes dryer. They smell so fresh and clean.
From now on I’ll be remembering to wear my hat to go out of the house anytime of the day until I’m positive that autumn has arrived.
Cooler Temps Coming With Autumn In Crete!
Posted by Granita To Go, 6 Sep 2009, 10:14 AM
Autumn is my favorite time of the year and slowly, slowly I feel the temperature cooling here in northwestern Crete. Today the breeze over the sea is coming from the west causing some small waves with a bit of white froth. The water is a steely blue with patches of turquoise. The northern horizon is clearly delineated from the sea today. There is a haze close to the water but soon as I raise my eyes the sky becomes a traditional sky blue. I did peek through the buildings on the next block and saw floating there a long wispy cloud. The only cloud I could find.
N is back from his project in Sparti. A European Union representative was on hand to find out more about the project so she could prepare a brochure and later a video, I'll let you know when all that happens. The Technical University of Crete is working with universities from Spain and Portugal to help alleviate problems with the waste form olive mills. Great place for a research project!
Sunday is my no cooking day or washing dishes day. Lately the weather has been hot for me so N and Na have been bringing souvlaikia from Roumelis a small taverna at the north end of Iron Polytechnio Street next to the Courthouse. Maybe today's the day to get out of the house for a nice sit down Sunday meal.
on Weather: Sometimes Hot, Sometimes Chilly