I wish you all a 'fright-fully' happy Halloween!
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
A touch of Thailand
... the resonant gong of prayer bells
....ancient terracotta water jars
....a prayer house to shelter the spirits
.... and bamboo coolie hats to ward off the tropical sun and rain
.... no not Thailand, but the entrance to the Asian elephant enclosure at Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Friday, 21 October 2011
My little unkempt garden
is....
.... where cobwebs waltz in the breeze
.... whilst wild daisies sing in chorus on the rocks
....and dragonflies rest with Air Fern wings
.... and where hearts sprout wings of love
....and angels lie on the green
.... where Nodding Violets nest in baby gumboots
.... and Cretan goats' bells await a passing breeze or the odd stray goat
.... and Oregano spills from a water jug
.... these are some of the things that I love,
and live in my little unkempt garden!
and live in my little unkempt garden!
© 2011 Francesca Muir
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Monday, 17 October 2011
An October-fest of festivals, fairs and markets
.... where coconut shell beads speak my 'colourful' language
.... and Neplese fashion hangs to attention
.... and little girl's dresses mimic fairy floss
.... where Chinese dolls face the crowd
.... and the eyes have it
.... where love hangs in the air
....and freshly baked bread sits under dappled light
.... where Eco-friendly Nettle scarves beckon on bamboo
.... and the energy from the Hip-Hop boys is contagious
.... where the artist and his little subject sit intently in the shade
.... and you can choose from Jute hats on pegs
.... to Trilby's and sun hats stacked in rows
.... where dogs find the cool in the midday sun
.... while African Bolga baskets swing in the breeze
.... and French market baskets stack a shady floor
It's a time to reflect ....
and revel in the touch of the sun on winter skin....
.... Summer is not far away!
Friday, 14 October 2011
Strawberry fields forever....
The strawberries are at their very best at the moment - big, luscious, sweet smelling, juicy strawberries
Time to make strawberry preserve
No not jam, preserve - with whole strawberries sitting in their own thick syrup - THE BEST
Wipe and hull strawberries (don't wash them) and place in a large saucepan
Add the same amount of sugar as strawberries - ie 1 kilo of strawberries and 1 kilo of sugar
Leave overnight so that the strawberries soak in the sugar - mixing occasionally
When all the sugar has turned to syrup, gradually heat until all the crystals have dissolved, add the juice of a large lemon and bring to a rolling boil for around 30 - 40 minutes
Test by putting a spoonful onto a chilled plate and allow to cool - if it sets and the liquid doesn't run it's ready
Take off the heat and allow cool for 20 minutes
Pour into warm sterilised jars and seal immediately
Take off the heat and allow cool for 20 minutes
Pour into warm sterilised jars and seal immediately
And never mind if it doesn't set completely - mine sometimes doesn't - simply spoon over vanilla ice cream and top with toasted almond flakes - Deliciously wicked!
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Beautiful Cooktown Babies
....cheeky
.... delicious
.... inquisitive
....angelic
....playful
.... soulful
.... shy
.... charming
....and just plain beautiful!
Friday, 7 October 2011
The Venetian House of Lion - Chania, Western Crete
A spur-of -the-moment decision to visit the romantic Venetian port of Chania in western Crete ended up being one of the highlights of the trip
The old “Venetian Quarter” or Old Town is a web of charming, narrow little streets running between magnificent pastel-coloured Venetian houses which sit on a semi circular Venetian Harbour
.... some have been restored to their former architectural glory, some simply run down, aged and creaking with weeds and vines tenderly vying for space in the cracks in of their walls ....
....each unique
....with a Venetian door here
....a Venetian door knocker there
....and elegant Venetian taps
I had last visited Chania in 1989 and stayed in an ancient hotel right on the harbour – it was very run down and desperately in need of love - but the memories still stop me in my tracks today
....the golden light which greeted me every morning as I opened the broken shutters overlooking the Port
....the wheeling of the swallows as they skimmed the surface of the water and then looped high overhead in the silence of the morning
....the mouth-watering smell of freshly baked bread from the antiquated baker and his wife below
....the wheeling of the swallows as they skimmed the surface of the water and then looped high overhead in the silence of the morning
....the mouth-watering smell of freshly baked bread from the antiquated baker and his wife below
....the empty chairs and empty tables beneath my balcony, patiently waiting for the first customers of the day
I couldn't wait to go back
I couldn't wait to go back
It was in the back streets of the Old Town
We were awe struck as we walked through an old iron gate and began climbing the stairs around a charming little courtyard....
.... bursting with succulents, Argaves and a tumble of pots
It didn’t matter that this wasn’t on the waterfront....if there was room - we were staying!
When we walked through the front door we were speechless
Charming Beautiful Breathtaking
Inspiring Glorious Opulent
Luxurious Classic Romantic
Oh so romantic
No words did it justice
Charming Beautiful Breathtaking
Inspiring Glorious Opulent
Luxurious Classic Romantic
Oh so romantic
No words did it justice
The Turkish Mosque, perfectly reflected in the harbour formed a focal point at the end of the room - the iron doors onto the little balcony forming a proscenium arch
The April sun shone though the double doors, bouncing off wooden glass-polished floors, sending splinters of light high up to the ceiling
More importantly, the building faced the harbour and had THE view – the same one I recalled so vividly from all those years ago.
I was ecstatic!
Classic period furniture and rich, elegant decor and antiques fill the five exclusive, spacious suites
Each is different and maintains the delicious luxury of the Venetian era whilst offering all mod cons surreptitiously hidden from view
The original owners were Venetians, descendants of a well-known family of musicians named Leone - hence Casa Leone
During Turkish occupation, the home became the residence of a wealthy pasha until Crete became an autonomous state in 1898 and Casa Leone was occupied by a Greek family
During World War II the building was requisitioned by the Germans and turned into their headquarters. The Greek owners of Casa Leone returned at the end of the war until 1951 when they sold it to the family that owns it today
In the late nineties, the building was carefully and painstakingly restored to its former glory under the watchful eye of the Archaeological Service and opened for business as a boutique hotel in 1999
Twenty years on and I am not disappointed. Many of the surrounding buildings have been carefully restored, retaining their old charm but now house chic art galleries, shops, restaurants, cafes and boutique hotels
Renovated, restored or left alone, the architecture along the harbour front reeks of a tortured history as it stands proudly framed by the snow-covered Lefka Ori - White Mountain Range
The Cretan morning sun still rises golden and the spring swallows still silently reel and the smell of freshly baked bread still lingers at the break of day,
but now there is a great sense of grandeur ....
.... the perfect synergy of the Past and the Present
.... and more importantly, it lives up to all its memories, plus some!
Thank you to Janny who took this photo of Alexandra and me on our little Casa Leone balcony
.... and more importantly, it lives up to all its memories, plus some!
Thank you to Janny who took this photo of Alexandra and me on our little Casa Leone balcony
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