Basil Flowers/λουλούδια βασιλικού

The ‘basil’ plant from the Greek βασιλικόν φυτόν (basilikón phutón) and from Latin, basilius, means “royal/kingly plant”.

It is a plant that is used in many cuisines all over the world.  It plays a big role in many religions and ceremonies for the dead in different culutres. In the Greek Orthodox religion, and other Orthodox churches in the Balkins, basil is used to sprinkle holy water to cleanse a home. In India it is place in the mouth to help the deceased person reach God. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed it would open the gates of heaven for a person passing on.

When the plant flowers you can collect the seeds and plant them in the spring.

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Shoot For The Moon/Πυροβολείτε το Φεγγάρι

Shoot for the moon = to ask for the best or most you could hope for.

Τραβήξτε (Πυροβολείτε) για το φεγγάρι = να ζητήσετε το καλύτερο ή το μεγαλύτερο που θα μπορούσατε να ελπίζετε.

‘It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.’ Aristotle

«Κατά τις πιο σκοτεινές στιγμές μας πρέπει να επικεντρωθούμε να βλέπουμε το φως». Αριστοτέλης

Pomegranate Harvest/Συγκομιδή του Ροδιού

It’s October which means it’s time for some pomegranate picking. This delicious fruit originated in Iran and Northern India and has been cultivated in Greece since ancient times. It is a fruit that is very significant in Greek culture and mythology. In ancient Greece the fruit was called  the ‘fruit of the dead’. It is the fruit of Persephone, who was trapped in the underworld was only allowed to eat Pomegranate seeds.  Interesting enough the pomegranate is still associated with the dead. In Greece today the seeds are  included in a dish called ‘Kolliva’. This dish is served on the day of the memorials of the deceased or on religious events like ‘Soul Saturday.’ It contains ingredients such as wheat, flour, sugar, raisins, walnuts etc.

The pomegranate fruit is also symbolic of abundance, fertility and good luck. It is categorized as a berry and it has anti-inflammatory effects, it can lower blood pressure and many other ailments. You can drink it as a juice or just eat the seeds.

Renewal/Ανανεωση

At summers’ end

the music plays

through concrete streets

another season

another reason

to hold on.

 

 

 

Envisioning Success/Οραματίζοντας την Επιτυχία

‘Success’ handmade collage by Angela Zafiris

My collage is inspired by the meaning of success and especially what it means to people in most countries in our modern society.

I think that it looks like an unintentional vision board 😉

In the past I made myself a vision board-why not? It’s fun, I have my magazines, and you can be as creative as you want to be with your vision board. Although I am not a huge believer in ‘manifesting'( as the new age gurus like to call it) because I think that life is more complicated than that. As the old proverb says ‘man makes plans and God laughs’. Yup very true!

Are we the masters of our fate? Or are we slaves of our fate? Perhaps a bit of both? Who can know for sure?

But, I think about the future and how it would be an interesting thing to look at when one gets old. Imagine when your are in your nineties (God willing and if the apocalypse doesn’t come!) and you are rummaging through your stuff and you come across your vision board. You become overwhelmed by emotions looking at all the positive images that tell the story of  all the things that you envisioned for yourself.  All the dreams that may or may not have come true. Sad, bitter, happy you decide.

Echeverias/Εχεβέρια

The echeveria succulent is native to Mexico and Central America. It flourishes in dry Mediterranean climates. It’s is so easy to propagate too. You just take off a leaf and place it in the soil without watering it, and after a few days roots begin to form. I have so many in my garden now. No need to buy more.

Το φυτό εχεβέρια  είναι εγγενής στη Μεξικό και την Κεντρική Αμερική. Ευδοκιμεί στα ξηρά μεσογειακά κλίματα. Είναι τόσο εύκολο να διαδοθεί. Απλά βγάζετε ένα φύλλο και το τοποθετείτε στο έδαφος χωρίς πότισμα και μετά από λίγες μέρες αρχίζουν να σχηματίζονται ρίζες. Έχω τόσους πολλούς στον κήπο μου τώρα.  Δεν χρειάζεται να αγοράσω περισσότερα.

Ancient Athens in 3D

This video is incredible. It’s a 3D simulation of ancient Athens. I always wished that I had a time machine so that I could go back to that time in history and see how everything looked. Now I don’t need one 🙂

 

Emerald Sea/Σμαραγδένια Θάλασσα

“Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me: If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature’s simple treasures, life and living need not be so hard.”     -Psyche Roxas-Mendoza

«Κάθε φορά που στέκομαι μπροστά σε μια πανέμορφη παραλία, τα κύματα της φαίνεται να μου ψιθυρίζουν: Εάν επιλέγετε τα απλά πράγματα και βρεθείτε χαρά στα απλά θησαυρά της φύσης, η ζωή δεν χρειάζεται να είναι τόσο σκληρή».

Nephophilia/Νεφοφιλία

The cloud on the left looks like a bird with wings.

It’s coming for you.

Big marshmallow man.

A few photos of a cloudy day and rainy August day in Greece. The photos have an ‘instant’ style filter.

Nephophilia: a person who loves clouds; a fondness or obsession with clouds.

Μερικές φωτογραφίες μιας συννεφιασμένη και βροχερή ημέρα του Αυγούστου στην Ελλάδα. Οι φωτογραφίες έχουν φίλτρο “instant” (άμεσου) στυλ.

Νεφοφιλία: ένα άτομο που αγαπά τα σύννεφα, μια συμπάθεια ή εμμονή με τα σύννεφα.

Secret Garden/Μυστικός Κήπος

It’s nice to see some greenery in a concrete jungle like Athens. It’s a little piece of paradise. I don’t have to go outside the city to feel close to nature. It’s a lot o f work to maintain it, but it’s worth it. And there’s my big, fat cat Angelo chilling on the grass which he loves to eat.

Είναι ωραίο να βλέπεις πράσινο σε μια  ζούγκλα απο τσιμέντο όπως η Αθήνα. Είναι ένα μικρό κομμάτι του παραδείσου. Δεν χρειάζεται να πάω έξω από την πόλη για να νιώθω οτι είμαι κοντά στη φύση. Χρειάζεται πολλή δουλειά για να το διατηρήσετε, αλλά αξίζει τον κόπο.   Και να τος! Ο μεγαλος, χοντρος γατος μου Ο Αγγελος που χαλαρώνει στο γρασίδι που του αρεσει να τρωωει.