:-( Watching Tsitsipas lose to Sinner...

 

What an honor for Stephanos to be picked to participate in the 6 Kings Slam, and what a drag to have to play Sinner in the first round.  He's a great player, but he is not in the same league as Sinner.  The only person I can think of that can give Sinner a run for it is Alcarez.  

Stephanos is such a gentleman!  Smiling, even though I'm sure he was frustrated.  

This is one of the last tomatoes on this particular plant.  As I scrutinized the photo, I thought it kind of looks like it's suspended by a chicken with green legs.  :-)

 

I have more tomatoes on my other plant.  The question is, will they ripen before the first frost?  Not that I think that will be soon.  Now that the temps have dropped, they aren't ripening as quickly.  I will really miss going out in the morning with my coffee to check on how everything looks.  

I can't believe the strawberries continue to produce, but they will probably stop blooming and producing soon.  Don't be jealous, because I only get one small berry about once every 7 to 10 days.  Romeo doesn't ever want any, he says I did all the work, and it's not like there's a bowl full.  Haha

I am still waiting for my large oven to be repaired.  It has been nearly a month.  It took 2 weeks just to have someone come out and tell me what needs to be fixed.  Even though this company specializes in repair to Wolf appliances, I'm not sure I'm calling them next time.  It's a fairly simple oven.  No digital settings, all manual.  

I will be so glad when it's working!  I have decided that I need to use the smaller oven more often than I have been.  I've been lazy, because I store my cast iron skillets in there, and apparently I'm too lazy to pull them out to use it.  

Friday morning, my friend Katherine and I are going on a road trip!  I am excited to get out and travel even if it's just a small road trip.  I don't think I've ever been to Chandler, AZ.  At least the temps aren't 110.  Still, it will be 87 on Sunday.  How does anyone ever live there????  I can't imagine how difficult it would be to garden in that kind of heat.

Well, I'm going to go and put some items in my luggage.  

Y'all have a great weekend.

Love, 365 

 

All the things.......

 

Our 50th Greek Festival was a great success!  From the left going right ~ tsoureki, paximadia, koulourakia, baklava, kourambiedes.  Across from the shelves are baklava cheesecake, combo packs, chocolate dipped paximadia.  Once again, the chocolate dipped went really quick, and we were out by mid day Saturday.  This is a three day festival from Friday through Sunday.  I worked each day until around 3 or 4 pm.  Each day I came home exhausted mentally (having to deal with my friend and coworker that is not good with technology) and physically (from running around and standing a lot).  I really don't know how many more years I can take this on.  I was so glad when it was over! 

My son and his fiance/girlfriend (not sure?) arrived late on Friday.  I still had to work on Saturday and Sunday, due to a mix up on what dates they were coming.  It worked out  though, as they were busy as well, visiting friends and seeing the sights, as this was her first trip to New Mexico.  They were busy, we were busy ~ my son bought a new game called Everything Ever, which was really fun.  The only real glich was the big fight they had on Tuesday night through Wednesday.  It wasn't a yelling fight, it was very quiet, and all I really knew was my son was very upset.  By Thursday, all was ok again, and Romeo and I breathed a sigh of relief.  I was glad they worked it out and stayed until today as they had originally planned.  

She's a lovely girl....very shy.  I  hope they can work out all their issues and stay together, because they seem very compatible.  Only time will tell.

We hiked the Sandia Mountain Crest Trail.  It was great with the fog, and not so great with the drippy rain.  The dogs got really muddy, so I guess I can say it was really a great day for them!  We had to give them another bath though.  

 

Interestingly my phone camera kept telling me to clean the lens, and it was only later I realized that the sensor thought the lens was smudged due to the fog. :-)

The kids (as we call them, haha) left this morning at 4am, so of course we had to get up at 3ish to say goodbye and send them off.  Being unable to go back to sleep I washed sheets, blankets and towels, loaded and ran the dishwasher, and then took off to pick up our champaign apples from Dixon's.   

They are beautiful and so delicious!  I am going to make some dried apple snacks with some of them, but mostly we'll just eat them and will make at least one pie!  

Dixon's Apples were originally here in New Mexico, which is how I first discovered them.  Unfortunately there was a fire at the apple grove, and then devastating floods through the burn scar.  The owners then chose to go to Wisconsin, and started over?  Or perhaps took over an existing apple grove, and then introduced the champaign apples there.  Once a year they come to New Mexico ~ and bring apples.  I look forward to it every year!  

Ok, I've got to go have an apple and some cheese.  Enjoy your weekend!

Love, 365
 

Happy fall, y'all!......

I love fall.  Come on cooler weather, where we can walk the dogs anytime of day!  The sun comes up a bit later, allowing us to catch a few more zzzz's.   That crisp air in the morning.  Love it!  It's also going to be a super busy month.  The 50th anniversary of the annual Greek Festival.  My son and his significant other will visit for a week.  I'm going to a Chandler, Arizona to listen to a talk by Dr Jeannie Constantinou ~ a writer and podcaster I highly admire.  A wedding on Oct 25th ~ I was asked by Corin to be her koumbara (her sponsor).  

I am currently finishing up painting the last wall in our "guest" room.  It has been many years since we painted in there!  I think it will look great when I'm done.  Then the annoying part of putting everything back in.  Curtains, book cases, throw rugs.  I plan to turn the sofa bed into a bed, since I think they will get in late.

Only 3 more work days of Festival packaging (we are done with baking, yeah!).  I took today off so that I could finish painting. A week from this Friday it all begins!  It will be interesting to see if we have more people this year because of the anniversary.  

In our stairwell is a window that I put a curtain instead of buying cellular shades (mostly due to the stained glass panel that is hanging in there).  I really liked those curtains ~ then one day earlier this year I came home to discover that Romeo took my curtains down and put a pair of plain dark blue ones up.  I don't like them, but I didn't want to complain, so I figured I would put the other ones up after some time.  And I guess I waited too long, because I could not find them this morning.   :-(. I could swear they were in the hall closet not long ago.

Does your spouse make decisions about home decor, and you just don't like it?  But you don't want to come across as some sort of home decorating diva?  Haha. 

This is a photo of my garden guardian ~ a small lizard that has been living in our wisteria all summer.  I often see him hanging around the garden....hopefully eating bugs!  I guess I have about 5 weeks or gardening left.  I will miss it.  Especially having to get used to store tomatoes again.  Tasteless.

Well, I must get back to painting!   Enjoy your week.

Love, 365

Eating crow:  I did find the curtains, they were in the closet underneath other things.  Oops.
 

Kpńtn ~ or Crete, written in Greek.

The road to Knossos ~ this is a road that was build during the time the Palace of Knossos was constructed (although our guide mentioned that there have been buildings on the site from way before the palace).  This road goes across Crete, she said, from sea to sea, which is around 36 miles, give or take.  Much is under buildings, roadways, and homes.  She semi-jokingly said that if you need a plumber, you wait to have them come until late in the afternoon  ~ because if they come across an ancient structure they are duty bound to contact the Greek ministry of Culture.  All digging must stop.  But if the archaelological office is already closed....you see?

Interestingly enough, all antiquities found anywhere ~ including your property ~ is automatically the property of Greece.  If the site is deemed important enough, they can take the property from you by eminent domain.  
 

Once a palatial entrance to the Palace.  Built in the 7th mellennium BC, this palace is the origin of the myths of the Minotaur, Icarus and Daedalus.  It was the political and ceremonial center of the Minoan civilization.

 

Beautiful peacocks hanging out ~ everyone got their phones or cameras out.

 

These two photos show part of the labyrinth, as part of the myth of the Minotaur.

 Gorgeous frescos......

Throne room and throne.  The throne looked almost like a kids chair.

 

A depiction of acrobatic bull jumping.  Our guide thought that it was unlikely to be an activity that was practiced....The idea was to grab the horns, then flip over the bull and hopefully make the landing.  

 

Beautiful ladies.....

One of my favorite frescos......

Last walkabout day in Crete....

 

I was surprised to see so many Egyptian crafts in Greece...

 

Love these jars with the dolphin and octopus figures.

 

Also loved this butterfly pin or broach, which had some colorful jewel or faience in it.  It was small, about the size of my thumbnail...

 

Such an amazing sculpture of the bull.  

Our last night in Greece, we stayed at the Brown Hotel, which was a funky "let's bring back the old days" vibe to it.  There were old record players, consoles and art work of the time (think the 50s). They had a fabulous roof top deck with a bar, and on one side you could catch a glimpse of the Parthenon, as it is lit up.  That night it was also under a partly full moon.  If I hadn't had to get up so early, I would have hung out there with a drink or two.  They also had hot tubs!

Well, that's all folks!  Thank you for hanging in through all these photos!

Love, 365 

 

I promise that Crete, part II will be later in the week.....

 

Tsoureki......for some reason we are doing 3 bake days of tsoureki, where we've only ever done two.  

Me and Fula, she has been doing this for nearly 50 years.  I love her, but she is kinda starting to forget things.  The bread last time could have used a bit more flour.  This time I'm gonna hang out at the mixer, and see how it is before we get it out and can't add anything.  I will try to take a photo of the huge bowls she likes to use.  The batch typically makes about 45 loaves.  Sometimes more, sometimes less ~ based on how much stuff she adds in addition to the recipe.  You know how yiayia's are (Greek grandmothers)......there is no way I know how to make it.  Even though I do.  And make bread every week.  Sigh......

 

Here's something for all of you who enjoy a cocktail ~ a prickly pear martini.  I made the prickly pear simple syrup for a friend, and she said it is really delicious.  She asked me how I made it, and after I outlined all the steps, she replied "a labor of love!".  Yeah, I don't think she's going to make any.  It's a lot of work.  But that color!  There's really nothing like it.  

In honor of Zoe's birthday, I made pupcakes for her and Demitri.  I even made the potato frosting!  As it turned out, she didn't like the frosting, so good for me, I won't need to do that step next time I make them a treat.

***I'm ending with this.......Lol!

 

Have a great week!

Love, 365 

At last.......Crete....Part 1

 

It's the color of the sea.......so uniquely beautiful.

 

Brief history of Chania ~ 

Minoan civilization: 2700-1450 BCE

Fell under Roman control: 69 BCE

Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Chania became part of the Byzantine Empire.

 The Venetian period, beginning in 1204, marked a significant era in Chania’s history. The Venetians fortified the city, constructing the impressive city walls and the iconic harbour that remains an essential feature of Chania, even today. They also constructed numerous buildings and churches, many of which still stand and contribute to the city’s unique architectural landscape.

1645, Chania fell to the Ottoman Empire after a prolonged siege. The Ottomans left a profound impact on the city, introducing new architectural styles and cultural practices. The Ottoman Era saw the construction of mosques, baths, and public buildings, as well as the conversion of existing Venetian structures for Islamic practice.

Chania remained under Ottoman rule until the late 19th century, when Crete gradually proceeded towards unification with Greece. Following the Balkan Wars, the city officially became part of Greece in 1913. In the 20th century, Chania experienced significant growth and development, despite the challenges of World War II, during which it suffered severe destruction. 

 

Cathedral of Eisodion tis Theotokou in Chania, Crete

The mix of architecture is evident and obvious when strolling through Chania today.

 It was cute to see these kids going through town, singing....

When the Ottoman's invaded, their social norms impacted the architecture as well.  The building at the top of the stairs had an open balcony at one time, but many were enclosed so that the wives of the Moslem men could "hang out" on the balcony without being seen.  

 

I love the different colored buildings along the harbor......

 

Crete was no different than anywhere in Greece : graffiti!

Gorgeous bougainvillea.....

 

I imagine many tourists took home a variety of photos of this cool lighthouse....

One of the shop owners brought his cute dog to work everyday ~ she was very friendly unless you had something with wheels on it, and then she went nuts barking.

 

One of my travel buddies and I stopped and let the little fishies nibble on our feet.  As you can see from the expression, it was a rather weird experience!  Our feet were smoooooooth after that visit.

 

It was a pretty hot day (I can't imagine what it's like in July, this was the first week of May).  

Ok, there are so many photos I want to share, I need to stop here......next time: The Minoans!

 *************************

I also want to share the final product after hours of embroidery:

Enjoy your weekend!

Love, 365