Author: lisaponders

Breaks and Strikes and plan B’s

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Paros harbor

It never pays to think you have outsmarted fate.  A strike by dock workers was scheduled for 48 hours from Monday 6 AM to Wednesday 6 AM.  I had all of our reservations set for Santorini made back in August for Wednesday and it was going to work perfectly.  Hah!  They extended the strike another 48 hours until Friday at 6 AM, stranding our plans as well as the plans of thousands of others.  All of a sudden we had a stay-cation in Paros.  This is the windmill overlooking the harbor which was one morning’s expedition – or excuse to have tea and pastries somewhere outside my apartment. Continue reading “Breaks and Strikes and plan B’s” →

I love a parade

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Parade on "no" day

Last week was a big celebration in Greece, “No” day.  It is the day Metaxes, the prime minister refused Mussolini the right to use Greek territory to invade Albania.  It marked the end of that coalition and Greece’s entry into the Allied front.  Ultimately, there was great loss of life and much horror – but they are very proud of doing the right thing.  There was a big church service and then the parade which featured the high school’s marching  band – all 6 drums and flag carrier.  Every student down to wee ones were lined up behind flags and marched the whole length of the port.  Every thing was closed down and all cheered the participants wildly.  What a joyful experience. Continue reading “I love a parade” →

It takes a village

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Path to the beach

Last Sunday was a glorious warm and clear day.  The weather reports for this week and weekend indicated rapid declines in sun and warmth.  So I played hooky from the studio and photo lab and hiked the 45 minutes each way to a slighty more remote beach.  Being in the chillly Aegean, sleeping in the sun listening to the waves, breathing the salt-filled air did more for my soul than mucking about in paint.  The beach is in the center of the photo just beyond the trees.  Not a single soul besides me was wise enough to partake in this most wonderful portion of God
s magnificent creation.  This Sunday is 20 degrees cooler, windy, and completely overcast…I made the right call! Continue reading “It takes a village” →

What do you need?

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Hog operation in Paros

We took our weekly hike on Friday.  Again we took the bus from Parikia to Lefkes, but this time we turned uphill.  Really uphill – huffing and puffing and sweating uphill.  We passed this hog farm, the largest on the island.  You could smell it, hear the roosters, see the goats meandering about; but the pigs were safely inside during the noonday sun…unlike the crazy Americans walking by.  Not exactly what this Iowa girl is used to as an agricultural reality. Continue reading “What do you need?” →

Art on center stage

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first layer black and white

I do not like posting my art work, but then again this trip and blog are all about creativity.  Now into our 2nd week of work, I am going to get more technical about what I am learning in the painting classes.  Our first composition was a still life of our own choosing from their pile of stuff.  Do not, I repeat do not, ever choose a teapot.  Way too many ways to render it wrong – I know because that is what I have a whole of practical experience in that department.  Another mistake is choosing too many things that are light – or technically called a  high end palette.  Becomes rather boring, as you can see. Continue reading “Art on center stage” →