Dreams are coming true

This afternoon I came back from a few days on the mainland. I had already thought of a few subjects to post a blog about. But then I read my e-mails and immediately changed my mind. How could I possible "blogger" on about crafting projects, diet struggles or other daily happenings when something big is happening. Somebody's dream is coming true and somehow I feel part of it.

Jen Lemen with Odette's daughters, Grace and Lilian, shot by Stephanie Roberts in Konombe, Rwanda

I only learned about Jen Lemen's story when I joined the Mondo Beyondo course. And now it seems the last chapter is finally going to be written. I'll copy the e-mail here and hope and wish that you will consider to chip in as well and help to make this dream come true.

dear sweet dreamers,it is with many tears and much happiness that i can announce that one of my biggest mondo beyondo dreams is coming true.many of you know that i met a young Rwandan women about two years ago who had been separated from her children due to an immigration and labor problem. in may of 2008, i went to visit her children on her behalf and began the process of reuniting this family.for the last two weeks, i have had a harrowing time in east africa--criss-crossing borders, learning the art of handling government officials, helping the girls thru unexpected difficulties, surviving a car accident that should have killed all of us and many more adventures meant for books, i'm sure. today, in the worst of it, after much hassle, word came that the visas would be issued and the girls were legally allowed to rejoin their mother in the united states.the only thing that remains is for me to book the airline tickets.i wanted to share this incredible news with all of you and to tell you the thought of you, reaching for your dreams and taking risks to trust and act, buoys me on days like this and gives me incredible hope.for those of you who have been following this story for a long time, you are welcome to contribute to the fund created to bring the girls home. (http://jenlemen.chipin.com/odettes-girls-to-come-home) and for any of you who are doubting today the possibility of a truly impossible dream, let me be your witness that even these dreams can come true.all my love,

2 new projects and 1 important announcement

Yesterday it was my birthday and I got these beautiful flowers plus their vases from my dear friends.


Aren't they pretty? And as I am sitting at my laptop the scent of the lilacs is bringing me the message of spring. The weather at the moment is too beautiful to be sitting inside so I am going to show 2 "before" pictures, start working and hopefully very soon will be able to post the "after" pictures.
The first one is an old iron table that I have saved from going to the garbage about three times now. So it really deserves to be pimped.

And the second one is a little chair that was handmade by a german uncle of my mother's and it was his present to me when I was born. So it is pretty much antique. It is one of the few things that has always been with me and it will feel strange to make it look all different.

But like me, also objects after a certain age....can do with a makeover.

Therefore this is the perfect time to officially anounce that I will start my very first serious attempt of a diet on monday together with my above mentioned friends.

Wish us luck!

How we celebrated Easter

At midnight on Saturday we gathered at the monastery Evangelistria where in a beautiful setting and a peaceful atmosphere we lit our candles with the Holy light. Afterwards home for our midnight supper which consisted of the traditional Mageiritsa (easter-soup) red eggs, salad and some roast lamb.

On Sunday morning we all gathered at our friends place where the barbeque was hot and the meat was getting ready.

And in company of good friends, plenty of food and with lovely weather, we all enjoyed a relaxed day.

On Monday afternoon we met again at the church square in town where another custom took place. Every year on the second day of Easter there is a little festival where girls in local dress dance the "kamara", a local dance. There is music and food and drink and everybody is having a good time. First the girls dance by themselves

but soon everybody joins in

The new generation in local dress

The feast went on after the sun went down and the dancing continued under the lights of the church.

My Sweet Lord

This song is high on my list of all time favorites and has been in my head since early this morning. It came to my mind when we were following the procession and singing the traditional Epitaph "Ω Γλυκύ μου εαρ": my Sweet Lord.
In most of Greece this procession takes place at 10 o'clock on Friday night but on our island it is at 4 o'clock in the morning. It is always an impressive sight. Hundreds of people with lit candles following the beautifully decorated coffin of Christ and singing.

Whether you are religious or not, it must have an impact on you. And it made me think. How religion can be so important for many people and how many find comfort and peace of mind through religion.
And then this morning I read the post of my blogger-friend rawqueen on her blog Somethingblu about how they have a different tradition on her island and that made me think a whole lot more.

And whilst I am in the middle of preparing our feastmeal for tonight -of which I shall spare you the details because it involves cutting up lamb intestines amongst others- I felt I just had to sit down and share my wish, or prayer if you like, with you:

May every person have the freedom to choose to believe what he wants and the wisdom to respect everyone elses choice.

Easter is near

This weekend is Easter. The biggest holiday and the most important religious celebration in Greece.

Since the beginning of Lent, now almost 40 days ago, everything in daily life has been building up towards the highlight of this celebration: the Rising of Christ on saturdaynight.
Many people have been fasting for this whole period. Some only for this last week and some are fasting just the last 2 or three days. But everybody is looking forward to enjoying all the culinary specialties and festivities that go with Easter.
This last week before Easter is called "Megali Ebdomada" and it is a week full of excitement, expectations, preparations but mainly a lot of devotion. The churches are full almost all the time.
Today the children made their rounds singing to family and friends with their beautifully decorated crosses.

There is a smell of spring in the air, the lemon and orangetrees are full of blosom. I wish I could bottle the scent and share it with you, it almost makes you dizzy!

In my kitchen though it smells of freshly baked koulourakia (cookies) and tsourekia (sweet bread). The recipes are from my favorite greek cookblog "Recipes from the heart"

And my fingers are red from dying a lot of eggs. You can find beautifully decorated and painted eggs in many colours, but I prefer the traditional red.

I wish everybody a happy Easter, Καλή Ανάσταση και Καλό Πάσχα!

On a road trip with my mother-in-law

One of my items on my Mondo Beyondo dreamlist is: making a roadtrip, to drive by myself from Greece to Holland. Although I find it very scary, I know I am going to do it someday.

It is not going to happen this spring or summer because our time of leasure and freetime is almost over.

Instead I took my mother-in-law on a little trip.



Of course this doesn't count as a real roadtrip. First of all we didn't even drive ourselves but traveled by hydrofoil boats, taxis and buses and second you don't really call it a roadtrip when you travel with your 80 year old mother-in-law. But it was adventurous nevertheless.

My mother-in-law hasn't traveled a lot. The times she has been off the island can be counted. She was the youngest of four sisters. The elder three got married on the mainland and moved away. When she married my father-in-law, a local fisherman who unfortunately passed away 6 years ago, they stayed in her parent's house where she took care of her father until he passed away. She has lived in this house since she was born.

Only one more sister is alive now and they haven't seen each other for many years. So after long planning and a few times postponing, it was finally the time to actually go and visit her.

It was a long journey but so worth it. I think the picture speaks for itself.





Our visit was too short but we already decided that after the summer we are going to do it again.

A morning well spent

Well, today was our clubs turn for clean up duty. It was a beautiful morning with blue skies and plenty of sunshine. The wind was still a bit chilly though. Perfect weather to be spending some time on the beach.

There was a lot of driftwood and plastic that the sea had thrown on the beach but I have to admit that there was also too much rubbish that people had just thrown down the slope. We picked up al sorts of things: little children-bicyles, some engines, half a motorbike, a pram, a broken woodstove, plastic chairs and more.

At least we were having some fun with our found treasures

But..........................................................................................................................................................

When will we learn to give this beautiful environment the respect it deserves and not just throw all our unwanted stuff in the bushes where nobody can see it?!


I suppose it will be little steps at the time and we just must never give up trying.