Countryside stories

Keeping life simple, this is what I always bear well in mind 

every time I leave the countryside. In mid December, 

we had a romantic getaway to Arachova, a winter destination, 

a little mountainous town built on the hills of Parnassus. 

Despite being a touristy region, life carries on 

as if it was yesterday.

People seem to understand themselves and the world around 

them in a deeper way. By virtue of its striking authenticity, 

village life appeals so much to me. You could say that things 

are never perfectly candid. Yes! But I insist on retaining 

this generous integral part of pureness 

as a good purpose in life. 

The story is the following. 

Once in the village, we woke up to a snowy scene outside

our windows. We took the car to reach a café giving an 

exhilarating view on top of the mountain. At the beginning, 

the road was still pretty clear and dry. The snowy landscape 

caused us a flurry of excitement but alas, ice suddenly 

brought an end to the fun. The car was sliding up and 

down on the icy tarmac making it impossible to put 

the chains on! A man appeared...

...from nowhere. He calmed us down, helped to steer the car 

to the edge of the road and invited us to have coffee 

at his home, a cottage hidden in the woods. 

Convinced by his nice behavior and struck by this squeeze 

of kindness we were hosted for a couple of hours by a 

wonderful man and a woman, both retired in province 

by will. The authenticity of their simple being and the fact 

that they were so genuinely interested in our problem,

 made us think that village people are the best. 

Those simple things count the most and can bring an amount 

of joy. The more sophisticated we become, 

the more egoists we are… 

I’m not sure but it’s a piece of the puzzle 

completing the human face. 

Wishing all people and especially women (8th March)

all the best things of this world.

I will be back soon with pretty spring photos.

O 

The advent of spring

This year with no proper winter, things have been strange 

but miraculously beautiful in the garden. The advent

of the spring has already begun with those beauties 

appearing throughout the yards in the village, putting 

a smile on our face and pushing us giddily 

towards outdoor projects! 

For anyone that gardens the spring is pure bliss! 
Exciting things happen all around! Part of the front yard 

has been sowed with zinnias and sweet peas. Some
unexpected poppies are prematurely in bloom adding with 
audacity their touch of red. The eastern part of the edge
has been covered with decorative gravel in order 
to eliminate weeds.

How gladly we henceforth trade the gardening chores 

for the benefit of having a bunch of flowers like those! 

Ahead of schedule and not yet full-blown this wonderful

 bunch of violets made our day! 
Everything outside is gearing up for 

s p r i n g. 

I picked up the anemones from the local nursery; 

they fit with the season albeit I crave violets!

This year, lemon and orange trees carry too much fruit 

on their overcrowded branches. It’s time to prune them 

and shape them more nicely. Unfortunately, a spray 

application will be needed as an infection produces brown 

spots not only on their leaves but also on the fruit. 

Until now, they have been totally organic 

and heavenly scented.

Spending time in the garden with my husband is one 

of my passions besides others.... He does the heavier yard 
tasks and doesn’t complain even when asked to pose 
for my pictures! A sweetheart!

I’m still rather invisible on your blogs. 

It becomes a little stressful as 

I’m currently away from my laptop… 

I make an effort to keep this little space 

of mine alive, it’s a goal I want to achieve, 
just an entry once in three or more weeks…  
Just don't give up! 

Anyway, I’m very, very grateful that you still 

take the time to stop by and leave a kind word. 

Thank you so much!

O

Anemones and a Love Story

I’ve rounded up some photos of those awesome anemones 

highlighting the beauty of the season and capturing the

 romantic atmosphere surrounding Valentine’s Day. 

Greek mythology linked the red anemone, sometimes 

called the windflower, to the myth of Aphrodite, 

Goddess of Love and Adonis, a mortal.

Anemos in Greek means wind! 

According to this myth, when Adonis lived with Aphrodite, 

the two lovers would go hunting in the woods. As Adonis 

chased game through the forest, the goddess would follow 

closely behind, in her swan-driven chariot, dressed as a 

huntress. Aphrodite's ex-lover, the god of war Ares, 

grew jealous of her affair with the mortal. While his rival 

was hunting alone, Ares disguised himself as a boar and 

attacked Adonis causing him lethal injuries. Adonis used 

his spear to strike back to Ares, but was soon gored to 

death by the boar's great tusks. Aphrodite hurried to 

Adonis in her chariot, but his soul had already descended 

into the Underworld. In despair, she sprinkled nectar on 

Adonis’ wounds. As Aphrodite bore her lover's body out 

of the woods, crimson anemones sprung up where each 

drop of blood and nectar fell onto the earth.

This specific myth inspired great poets like Ovidius or, 

much later, Shakespeare, to compose hymns dedicated 

to  l o v e !

Enjoy Valentine’s Day! 

O