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.

little man bearded lumberjack hat

Learning gender roles from an early age? : I wonder if anyone would try this on a girl. Still, what a great, fun, and practical idea...you can hardly go unnoticed with your little man wearing that!

handmade by taraduff (USA).

Ειρήνη- Γ. Ρίτσος

Το Περιστέρι της Ειρήνης του Pablo Picasso.

Τ’ όνειρο του παιδιού είναι η ειρήνη
Τ’ όνειρο της μάνας είναι η ειρήνη
Τα λόγια της αγάπης κάτω απ’ τα δέντρα
είναι η ειρήνη. Ο πατέρας που γυρνάει τ’ απόβραδο
μ’ ένα φαρδύ χαμόγελο στα μάτια
μ’ ένα ζεμπίλι στα χέρια του γεμάτο φρούτα
και οι σταγόνες του ιδρώτα στο μέτωπό του
είναι όπως οι σταγόνες του σταμνιού
που παγώνει το νερό στο παράθυρο,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Όταν οι ουλές απ’ τις λαβωματιές
κλείνουν στο πρόσωπο του κόσμου
και μες στους λάκκους που ‘καψε η πυρκαγιά
δένει τα πρώτα της μπουμπούκια η ελπίδα
κι οι νεκροί μπορούν να γείρουν στον πλευρό τους
και να κοιμηθούν δίχως παράπονο
ξέροντας πως δεν πήγε το αίμα τους του κάκου,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Ειρήνη είναι η μυρουδιά του φαγητού το βράδυ,
τότε που το σταμάτημα του αυτοκινήτου στο δρόμο
δεν είναι φόβος,
τότε που το χτύπημα στην πόρτα
σημαίνει φίλος,
και το άνοιγμα του παραθύρου κάθε ώρα
σημαίνει ουρανός,
γιορτάζοντας τα μάτια μας
με τις μακρινές καμπάνες των χρωμάτων του,
είναι ειρήνη.
Ειρήνη είναι ένα ποτήρι ζεστό γάλα
κι ένα βιβλίο μπροστά στο παιδί που ξυπνάει,
τότε που τα στάχυα γέρνουν το ‘να στ’ άλλο λέγοντας:
το φως, το φως
και ξεχειλάει η στεφάνη του ορίζοντα φως,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Τότε που οι φυλακές επισκευάζονται να γίνουν βιβλιοθήκες,
τότε που ένα τραγούδι ανεβαίνει από κατώφλι σε κατώφλι τη νύχτα,
τότε που τ’ ανοιξιάτικο φεγγάρι βγαίνει απ’ το σύγνεφο
όπως βγαίνει απ’ το κουρείο της συνοικίας
φρεσκοξυρισμένος ο εργάτης το Σαββατόβραδο,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Τότε που η μέρα που πέρασε,
δεν είναι μια μέρα που χάθηκε,
μα είναι η ρίζα που ανεβάζει τα φύλλα της χαράς μέσα στο βράδυ
κι είναι μια κερδισμένη μέρα κι ένας δίκαιος ύπνος,
που νιώθεις πάλι ο ήλιος να δένει βιαστικά τα κορδόνια του
να κυνηγήσει τη λύπη απ’ τις γωνιές του χρόνου,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Ειρήνη είναι οι θημωνιές των αχτίνων στους κάμπους του καλοκαιριού
είναι τ’ αλφαβητάρι της καλοσύνης στα γόνατα της αυγής.
Όταν λες: αδελφές μου, – όταν λέμε: αύριο θα χτίσουμε.
όταν χτίζουμε και τραγουδάμε,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Η ειρήνη είναι τα σφιγμένα χέρια των ανθρώπων
είναι το ζεστό ψωμί στο τραπέζι του κόσμου
είναι το χαμόγελο της μάνας
Τίποτ’ άλλο δεν είναι η ειρήνη.
Και τ’ αλέτρια που χαράζουν βαθιές αυλακιές σ’ όλη τη γη,
ένα όνομα μονάχα γράφουν:
Ειρήνη.
Τίποτ’ άλλο. Ειρήνη.
Πάνω στις ράγες των στίχων μου
το τραίνο που προχωρεί στο μέλλον
φορτωμένο στάρι και τριαντάφυλλα,
είναι η ειρήνη.
Αδέρφια,
μες στην ειρήνη διάπλατα ανασαίνει όλος ο κόσμος
με όλα τα όνειρά μας
Δώστε τα χέρια αδέρφια μου,
αυτό ‘ναι η ειρήνη.

Archimede, you Superstar

Buoyancy Swimming suits by Archimede

The summer may be officially over, yet, ARCHIMEDE's beach wear can come handy during those winter-time swimming lessons for toddlers and older kids who need extra safety. Practical, intelligent,    comfortable and safe, the buoyant swimming suit enables youngsters  to learn easily how to swim. 

The Archimede buoyancy swimming costume is a pretty alternative to arm floats. It allows the child to enjoy the water. That’s because he feels supported and safe. The buoyancy swimming costume will quickly help him to learn swim. The position of the floats across his chest allows the young swimmer to adapt the ideal position in the water. His movements are free and not disturbed by arm floats.

At the beginning of the “exercises” all 8 floats are inserted the bathing suit. When the child learned the fundamental basics of “how to swim” and gets more and more safe in “swimming”, one float after another can be taken of the swimsuit. At the sucessful end, no floats will be needed anymore and the child has learned in an easy way, how to swim!

The floats are removable and the prices and sizes vary. Check out the amazing collection of swimming gear and accessories for boys and girls: so very Saint Tropez/Club Med for stylish lilliputians...


http://www.archimede.be/

Bbk, όπως "Μπεμπέκα"

Ερωτευμένη με αυτό το χαριτωμένο φόρεμα Robe Lizzi taffetas pois argent από την Γαλλίδα σχεδιάστρια Catherine Seixo.

In love with this cute girl's dress Robe Lizzi taffetas pois argent by French designer Catherine Seixo. 

BREASTFEEDING CHALLENGE 2011

The 2011 Breastfeeding Challenge is taking place across the world on 1st October 2011 from 9am-1pm and aims to have as many children as possible breastfeeding simultaneously. Friends of Breastfeeding are organizing the Irish leg of the Challenge.

The aim is to raise awareness about breastfeeding and to normalize breastfeeding in public.

There will be display stalls, free refreshments, spot prizes and face painting for the kids. The “latch on” and official count will take place at 11 am sharp. Mothers can register by emailing enquiries@friendsofbreastfeeding.ie or on the day from 9.30am to 10.30am or after the latch on between 11.30am and 12.30pm.

Certificates of participation will be presented to all nursing pairs. A YouTube video will also be launched at the event.

To download Info from Quintessence Foundation about the event click here

Click one of the thumbnails below to see the posters for the event. Feel free to print them and share them.

Challenge Venues: Citywest Shopping Centre (Dublin) and Mahon Point Shopping Centre (Cork), Cafe4u Bridge Centre (Tullamore), Tumble Jungle Ballina (Co.Mayo), Raheen Woods hotel Athenry (Galway), Old Cork Road (Limerick)

Contacts:
Dublin - Jolene Keating & Fiona Daly
Cork - Maria Moulton & Annette Walsh
Tullamore - Sarah Sherlock
Mayo - Sinead Hanley
Galway - Claire Kelly
Limerick - Laura (085-7305363) 

Pre-register for any venue by email your Name, Child's Name and Venue toenquiries@friendsofbreastfeeding.ie

**For Citywest, Please note that you must still confirm your attendance at Premaman, Citywest Shopping Centre registration desk on the day**

**For Cork and Tullamore, Please note that you must still confirm your attendance at the registration desk on the day**


Media Consent and other info
On the day of the Challenge, mothers will be asked to sign the Registration form confirming your attendance which will enable the organisers to issue you with your Certificate of Participation after the Challenge. On this form you are required to give your consent for "Media".

What this means is:
On the day of the Challenge we will have our own photographers at each venue taking snaps of the day which may be used in our various forms of media including Facebook, Twitter, Website and so on. We may also choose your photo to be included in one of our printed publications which would be made widely available to the public. There may also be some press coverage on the day by newspapers etc.

If you do not wish to be photographed and or do not wish your child/family to be photographed, please indicate so on the form and if you notice a photographer taking your photograph, please instruct them that you have indicated not to be included in any photographs taken on the day.

On the registration you will also find a section requiring consent for Premaman (one of the sponsors of our event) to include you in their newsletter mailing list. If you do not wish to receive this mailing list, please indicate your intentions on the form at time registration.

Please note, that if you do not indicate a yes or no answer in either instance, we will assume that you are in full participation and agree to both.

Please see full printable media consent document by clicking here.

Disney Store in Dublin

A taste of fantasy has come to Dublin with the opening of the first ever Walt Disney store in Ireland in busy Grafton Street.

Shoppers are being promised a magical experience with a host of much loved characters from Dumbo to Peter Pan and Wall-E among others.

Disney Skylines, a pixie dust path and the opportunity for a child to participate in an opening ceremony at the store each morning are among the experiences promised.

It took 16 weeks to build and features the first ever Disney Princess Room.

The shop also features a theatre with a giant screen on which children can choose from over 50 clips.


For more information click on Disney Store Dublin.

Greenhouse in the kitchen

Our tomato plants are growing fast. I cannot wait to try them in a cold Greek salad. I'll keep you updated...

A Prayer for my Daughter (William Butler Yeats)

Once more the storm is howling, and half hid
Under this cradle-hood and coverlid
My child sleeps on. There is no obstacle
But Gregory's wood and one bare hill
Whereby the haystack- and roof-levelling wind,
Bred on the Atlantic, can be stayed;
And for an hour I have walked and prayed
Because of the great gloom that is in my mind.

I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour
And heard the sea-wind scream upon the tower,
And under the arches of the bridge, and scream
In the elms above the flooded stream;
Imagining in excited reverie
That the future years had come,
Dancing to a frenzied drum,
Out of the murderous innocence of the sea.

May she be granted beauty and yet not
Beauty to make a stranger's eye distraught,
Or hers before a looking-glass, for such,
Being made beautiful overmuch,
Consider beauty a sufficient end,
Lose natural kindness and maybe
The heart-revealing intimacy
That chooses right, and never find a friend.

Helen being chosen found life flat and dull
And later had much trouble from a fool,
While that great Queen, that rose out of the spray,
Being fatherless could have her way
Yet chose a bandy-leggèd smith for man.
It's certain that fine women eat
A crazy salad with their meat
Whereby the Horn of Plenty is undone.

In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned;
Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned
By those that are not entirely beautiful;
Yet many, that have played the fool
For beauty's very self, has charm made wise,
And many a poor man that has roved,
Loved and thought himself beloved,
From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

May she become a flourishing hidden tree
That all her thoughts may like the linnet be,
And have no business but dispensing round
Their magnanimities of sound,
Nor but in merriment begin a chase,
Nor but in merriment a quarrel.
O may she live like some green laurel
Rooted in one dear perpetual place.

My mind, because the minds that I have loved,
The sort of beauty that I have approved,
Prosper but little, has dried up of late,
Yet knows that to be choked with hate
May well be of all evil chances chief.
If there's no hatred in a mind
Assault and battery of the wind
Can never tear the linnet from the leaf.

An intellectual hatred is the worst,
So let her think opinions are accursed.
Have I not seen the loveliest woman born
Out of the mouth of Plenty's horn,
Because of her opinionated mind
Barter that horn and every good
By quiet natures understood
For an old bellows full of angry wind?

Considering that, all hatred driven hence,
The soul recovers radical innocence
And learns at last that it is self-delighting,
Self-appeasing, self-affrighting,
And that its own sweet will is Heaven's will;
She can, though every face should scowl
And every windy quarter howl
Or every bellows burst, be happy still.

And may her bridegroom bring her to a house
Where all's accustomed, ceremonious;
For arrogance and hatred are the wares
Peddled in the thoroughfares.
How but in custom and in ceremony
Are innocence and beauty born?
Ceremony's a name for the rich horn,
And custom for the spreading laurel tree.


(1919)

Η Τεχνόπολις μεταμορφώνεται σε Μικρόπολις

Αν βρισκόμασταν στην Αθήνα μας, δεν θα το χάναμε με τίποτα:

Παιδιά εν δράσει για άλλη μία φορά στη μεγαλύτερη διοργάνωση για τους λιλιπούτειους επισκέπτες της Μικρόπολις. Μία πόλη θαύμα, για μικρούς ενεργούς πολίτες, που θα στηθεί στην «Τεχνόπολις» του Δήμου Αθηναίων από σήμερα 21 έως και την Κυριακή 25 Σεπτεμβρίου.

Η Μικρόπολις, που είναι υπό την αιγίδα του Υπουργείου παιδείας, θα περιλαμβάνει Γειτονιές για να μπορέσουν παιδιά Δημοτικού από όλη τη χώρα να γνωρίσουν τον κόσμο της Προστασίας του Περιβάλλοντος, της Οδικής Ασφάλειας, της Μουσικής, της Υγιεινής Διατροφής, του Αθλητισμού, της Τεχνολογίας, των σχέσεων μέσα στην Οικογένεια αλλά και της έννοιας της Φροντίδας. Οι δράσεις υλοποιούνται από πανεπιστήμια, ινστιτούτα, μουσεία, πολιτιστικά και εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα, αλλά και γνωστές μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις με καινοτόμο εκπαιδευτικό έργο.

Η Μικρόπολις όμως φέτος αποτελεί έκπληξη και τους γονείς. Για πρώτη φορά καλούνται να πάρουν μέρος στις δραστηριότητες ενώ διαδραστικά θεατρικά δρώμενα και δράσεις ανακύκλωσης θα πραγματοποιούνται και στους εξωτερικούς χώρους. Επίσης μέσα από διαγωνισμούς και κληρώσεις μοιράζονται πλούσια και χρήσιμα δώρα! Οι πύλες της Μικρόπολις 2011 θα κλείσουν μελωδικά, με μία ξεχωριστή συναυλία από την Καμεράτα, την Ορχήστρα των Φίλων της Μουσικής!

Η Μικρόπολις που για δεύτερη χρονιά στηρίζει το Χατζηκυριάκειο Ίδρυμα Παιδικής Προστασίας θα είναι ανοιχτή έως και την Παρασκευή,από τις 9 το πρωί έως και τις δύο το μεσημέρι για προγραμματισμένες επισκέψεις Δημοτικών Σχολείων απ’ όλη την Ελλάδα, στο πλαίσιο εκπαιδευτικής εκδρομής ενώ το Σαββατοκύριακο 24 & 25 Σεπτεμβρίου, θα μείνει ανοιχτή από 10.00 το πρωί έως και τις οκτώ το βράδυ για όλα τα παιδιά με τους γονείς τους

Δωρεάν είσοδος σε Δημοτικά Σχολεία, σε Φορείς για το Παιδί, και σε ΑμΕΑ. Είσοδος σε Ενήλικες και παιδιά άνω των 2 ετών: 5€ ανά άτομο. Πολύτεκνοι και επισκέπτες άνω των 65 ετών, 3€ το άτομο.

http://www.mikropolisfestival.gr/

Mediterranean Pasta

1 packet of spaghetti of your preference
1 tin of cherry tomatoes
olive oil
chopped Kalamata olives
1 onion
1 garlic clove
salt & pepper
1 tsp. of sugar
oregano
feta cheese
50 gr. crème fraiche
parmezan cheese and basil for serving

Boil the pasta for 10-15 minutes al dente. Strain and leave aside. In another pan, chop the onion and the garlic clove and fry with olive oil until golden brown. Then add the cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano, sugar, Kalamata olives and cook for 15 minutes. When the sauce is getting thicker add the cream and the feta. Cook for 3 more minutes and then add the boiled pasta in the sauce.

Serve with parmezan cheese and basil.

Yummy

Uncle Goose Greek Alphabet Wooden Blocks

The perfect gift for any Greek kid: the Uncle Goose Greek alphabet wooden blocks are available at amazon.com (USA) for 32.95 dollars. Alternatively, you can find them in facebook.

Baboro Kids' Festival 2011

Have  a look at the amazing programme of this year's Baboro Children's Arts festival in Galway: a great opportunity for young arts' lovers and their parents to share the magic of theatre! M.I.has already got her "Nubes" ticket: 

Contact details

+353 (0) 91 562 667
Alternatively you can email at: admin@baboro.ie

Mailing Address:
Baboró International Arts Festival for Children
Hynes Building
St Clares Walk
Merchants Road
Galway
Ireland

Half Irish, half Greek: Raising bilingual kids.

One of the heated topics that arises once a couple from different cultural backgrounds (speaking different languages) decides to have a family is what language to raise their children speaking. In our case, we decided to  go for the dual-language route, i.e., me speaking only in Greek to my daughter, and my husband who is Irish, only in English and occasionally in Irish (that really makes her trilingual!). And it works just fine. She is able to grasp everything we say to her, and what is more she can use both languages on different occasions. Often it can be very entertaining: living in an English speaking country gives me and my daughter the advantage of having our own little secret code-lingua franca nobody understands (or so we think). In addition, my husband has enriched his Greek vocabulary substantially, to the point where he impresses me with his progress. 

Many theorists have expressed diverse opinions on the subject of bilingualism, yet all unanimously agree on one thing: the benefits of thinking and expressing oneself in more than one languages is rewarding, stimulating, priceless:

"Sometimes children from bilingual families tend to speak later. But experts say the delay is temporary, and the advantage of knowing two languages outweighs that small disadvantage. There's often a slight lag in the speech-language development of both languages in a bilingual household. Over time, though, bilingual children can catch up with their peers and have the benefit of communicating in two languages with proficiency," says Patti Hamaguchi, author of Childhood Speech, Language, and Listening Problems: What Every Parent Should Know. In other words, kids raised in a two-language household tend to start talking a bit later, but eventually they get on track. And in the long run, speaking two languages (or more) offers big benefits. In the job market, for example, fluency in more than one language can open many doors. It also creates opportunities for education, travel, communication with older relatives, and so on."

Source: Babycenter

   

Πολεμικό Μουσείο Ώκλαντ, Νέα Ζηλανδία/ Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand

Μερικές φωτογραφίες που τράβηξα όταν επισκεφτήκαμε το Πολεμικό Μουσείο του Ώκλαντ, τον Απρίλιο του 2010. Απεικονίζουν πλευρές της ανθρώπινης ιστορίας της Ν.Ζηλανδίας, των εφαρμοσμένων και διακοσμητικών τεχνών από τις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα , όπως επίσης και του πολιτισμού και της οικογενειακής ζωής των Mαορί.

Here are some photos I took while visiting the War Museum of Auckland, in April 2010. They depict aspects of New Zealand's human history, applied and decorative arts from the turn of the 20th century as well as Μaori culture and family life:

 Με μεγάλη έκπληξη, είδα πως ανάμεσα στα ενδιαφέροντα μουσειακά εκθέματα, υπήρχαν και πολλές αναφορές στον Ελληνικό πολιτισμό και την κατοχή της Ελλάδας κατά τον Β'Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο (βλέπε Μαορί), στο εσωτερικό και στο εξωτερικό του μουσείου:

Among the exhibits, I was pleasantly surprised by the references to Greek culture and the occupation of Greece during WWII(see Maori), inside and outside the museum:

Και εκείνη ήταν τότε μόνο 9 μηνών: μια μικρή κοσμοπολίτισσα γεννιέται.

And she was only 9 months old then: a little cosmopolitan in the making.