West Life

Scenes from the everyday life of the people of County Mayo in Ireland who lived more than a century ago, as seen in the Museum of Country Life. Looking at the woman with the dark veil, I recognize a very familiar portrait that I am going to share with you sometime in the future

  

Babogbaby meets BabogMoro

Το δώρο του Άγιου Βασίλη στη Φρέγια Ειρήνη: το αρκουδάκι που μιλάει την Ιρλανδική γλώσσα. Προσωπικό αγαπημένο κουμπί, αυτό που μας μαθαίνει να λέμε το εξάγωνο, "hexagon"! Εκτός από τις γλωσσικές ομοιότητες, το όνομά του συμπαθέστατου αρκουδακίου δεν θα μπορούσε να ταιριάζει με το μπλογκ μας πιο πολύ! Βρείτε το εδώ. 

Poetic Universes for little ones

       Beautiful tricycles brought back to life by les petits bohemes

Free association

                                                         Carlow, Ireland 2011

                                                   Kalloni, Tinos-Greece, 2010                                  

A Palestinian child holds a sheep in his family farm in eastern Gaza City. Gaza, Palestinian Territory. 24/11/2009.

Muslims worldwide are preparing for Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorating God's provision of a ram to substitute for Abraham's impending sacrifice of his son, where able Muslims offer an animal sacrifice during the feast rituals.

Counting Sheep by Russell Edson

A scientist has a test tube full of sheep. He
wonders if he should try to shrink a pasture
for them.
They are like grains of rice.
He wonders if it is possible to shrink something
out of existence.
He wonders if the sheep are aware of their tininess,
if they have any sense of scale. Perhaps they think
the test tube is a glass barn ...
He wonders what he should do with them; they
certainly have less meat and wool than ordinary
sheep. Has he reduced their commercial value?
He wonders if they could be used as a substitute
for rice, a sort of wolly rice . . .
He wonders if he shouldn't rub them into a red paste
between his fingers.
He wonders if they are breeding, or if any of them
have died.
He puts them under a microscope, and falls asleep
counting them . . .

LISBOA

To the person who passes through this place

You that pass and raise your arm to me
before you hurt me, look at me well.
I am the heat of your home in the cold winter nights.
I am the friendly shade that you find
when walking under the august sun
And my fruits are appetizing freshness
That satisfy your thirst on the way.
I am the friendly beam of your house, the board of your table
the bed in which you rest and the wood of your boat.
I am handle of your hoe, the door of your dwelling
the wood of your  cradle and of your own coffin.
I am the bread of goodness and the flower of beauty.
You that pass, look at me well and do no harm.

Veiga Simões, Arganil, Maio de 1914
Veiga Simões was a brilliant Portuguese politician, diplomat, writer and journalist.

Galway Maternity University Hospital

for every child born, a kingdom of blessings

happy Christmas

St.George, Lycabetus, July 2010, 40 degrees Celsius.

Lefkadian Magic Carpet

This stunning all-time-classic hand-made carpet with geometric patterns was made by my grandmother's grandmother in Kavalos village in the Greek island of Lefkada  more than 150 years ago.  For the past couple of weeks it has been lying full of colour on our Irish floor and it seems more contemporary and glorious than ever. Funny how mater travels in time and space. I bet if you told those hard-working and proud Lefkadian women that their artwork would end up two centuries later in Ireland they would not believe you, as mum said. This was a bridal dowry that was handed from generation to generation until it reached me. The natural colours used to dye the threads include walnuts, poppies, and egg yolks, among others! The wise art of poverty could show us one or two things about home economy in the present.My great great great great great great-grandmother I salute your imagination and your skilled fingers !

Winter preparations

Cute woolen mittens for her tiny happy feet by Stella McCartney.

New Life

Let me introduce you: Vrassidas & Amaltheia.

Tin lunch boxes

Retro tin lunch boxes from Oslo-based company Blarfe available at birdkids.  

A Sky Full of Kindness by Rob Ryan

British artist Rob Ryan's whimsical story and cut-paper illustrations offer a poignant glimpse into the world of parenthood told as a tale of two birds overwhelmed by the responsibilities of raising a new life. A real artwork of visual and philosophical merit.  

Available at Amazon.

Pictures in Instagram by Simon Lewin:

Aesop's myths

I am finishing the day with a generous dose of the deep-cleansing Parsley facial masque formulated with superior clays and anti-oxidant botanical ingredients by Aesop.

"The combination of premium purified clays in this frequent-use masque gently draws out deeper facial impurities, whilst skin receives anti-oxidant protection via the inclusion of Parsley Seed and Rosehip Seed botanical extracts. Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is designed to remove impurities and refresh the skin, preparing it for further treatment and hydration. An essential twice-weekly skin care addition for all skin types".

Now, beat that.

Vintage Maternity dresses

Late night vintage maternity browsing

Untitled

Water sustains all.

Thales of Miletus, 600 B.C. 

You Know you're gonna be mine/ Το Ξέρεις οτι θα γίνεις δικό μου

Beautiful ring for the beautiful fingers that mother us all. Plus it is engraved with a very Greek-sounding word: Mama. 
Όμορφο δαχτυλίδι για τα όμορφα δάχτυλα που μας φροντίζουν όλους μας. Επιπλέον, έχει σκαλισμένη μια πολύ Ελληνική λέξη: Μαμά.




(From the uber-talented jewelry designer Nora and St.Kilda). 

Generations' Bridge/ Γέφυρα γενεών

Easter afternoon, siesta time, Kavalos sleeps apart from M.I. and old Vassanis. 


Μεσημέρι Πάσχα, ώρα κοινής ησυχίας, ο Κάβαλος κοιμάται εκτός από την Μ.Ι. και τον γέρο-Βασάνη.

Το παράθυρο της γιαγιάς μου/ My granny's Window

"Όταν ανοίξει ένα παράθυρο θάναι παρηγορία", λέει ο Καβάφης. Το παράθυρο του σπιτιού της γιαγιάς μου της Ειρήνης στην Τήνο έμενε κλειστό μόνο τα μεσημέρια του καλοκαιριού και όταν άνοιγε, μυρωδιές από πατάτες τηγανιτές μας σταματούσασν από το παιχνίδι μας στα σοκάκια. Μεγάλη παρηγοριά τα ανοιχτά παράθυρα. Και όταν χρειαστεί να κλείσουν, να΄ναι για λίγο μόνο, μέχρι το επόμενο καλοκαίρι, με μια γλάστρα με βασιλικό στο περβάζι να περιμένει νέες αφίξεις...


"When a window opens, it will be a consolation", Cavafy says. My granny Eirini's window at her home in Tinos used to stay closed only during the summer afternoons, and when it was open, the smell of fried chips was the only thing that stopped us from our play in the alleyways. Open windows are a great consolation. And when they need to close, let it be only for a while, up until next summer, with a basil pot on the sill awaiting new arrivals... 

Haunting Semiology: "Upon Small Shoulders" by Neil Condron

The haunting painting by the Irish artist has been chosen by Sinead O'Connor for the cover of her new album...every time I look at this picture it sends shivers down my spine.