Another Goodbye

Seems like there have been a lot of them on this "trip"! First Yannis, then Mike, next week the "outside kitties", but for now it's my neighbor Helene, who is leaving tomorrow to pursue some additional training in London, and who I was just starting to get to know. She'll be back in the springtime, and I hope to get to see her again before I leave to go back to the States, but in the meantime she has set me up very nicely with a bunch of stuff from her pantry/fridge that she can't keep or take with her. I wish her a fun, safe and productive journey and thank her for the dinners, chats and all this great "free stuff"!


Since I'm also moving next week, I'm just leaving this stuff in the box for now, but there's all kinds of good things in here, including pecans with which I promised her I would make a pecan pie. I've never made one before so it should be interesting, and I've decided to give it a shot next Wednesday so I'll have it on Thursday for Thanksgiving, and so I can give some to my Greek tutor when I have my lesson Thursday morning. I'm also slated to move on Thursday, so it should be a busy day.

Some stuff from the fridge, including some of her home-made orange marmelade, made from the oranges that grow on our back patio. Also, some mustard and ginger curry pate from France.






Lavender from France. I love lavender, and this stuff doesn't make me sneeze when I stick it right up close to my nose and breath in deeply, which is what usually happens when I do that.








I made this curry tonight with the pate, mixed it in with some cream with sauteed carrots, chicken and raisins over rice.

Autumn Leaves

Venizelos Graves

Mike brought me here one evening this past summer. It was a beautiful day for a drive, so I struck out to find it again on my own and eventually did. I grabbed lunch at the Κουκουβαγια cafe, where we had later stopped for coffee and dessert. Very nice view of Chania in the distance.

Manolis the Mantis

I don't know if he was waving at me or telling me that he'd kill me if I got any closer.

Footprints

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

November 14, 1943

• The Chicago Bears beat the New York Giants 56-7

• In a freak accident, President Roosevelt, Generals Marshall and Arnold, Admirals Leahy and King, plus scores of distinguished politicians, and army, naval and air force strategists came under fire while traveling to the the Tehran Conference on board the battleship Iowa. While running a torpedo drill, the US destroyer William D. Porter was targeting the Iowa's #2 magazine, a live torpedo was ejected and headed for the battleship. After maneuvering, the torpedo detonated 1200 feet aft of Iowa in her wake turbulence. When the incident was concluded, Air Force General Hap Arnold leaned over to Fleet Commander Admiral King and asked, "Tell me Ernest, does this happen often in your Navy?"

• Railway yards at Sofia were attacked by U.S. bombers based in Italy.

• George William Kralovec III made his debut, and the world became a better place:-)

An indomitable, loyal, earnest, intelligent, kind and humble human being with two successful careers, a lasting, loving marriage of over 40 years, three relatively well-adjusted offspring and one perfect grandchild under his belt, whose best years are still ahead of him.

As they say...U da man!

May your 68th year be filled with happy times and snowy slopes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA!

This is the icon that I got for you when I was in Santorini in October. I will give it to you next time I see you!





This is one of my favorite photos...











Remember how much fun we had at your 90th birthday party?!













Grandma - your strength, perseverance, intelligence and generosity never fail to amaze me. I feel privileged to be your grand-daughter. I hope you have a very happy birthday - I love you!