Kefalonia and Caps for Sale

This must have been early morning

Thought a lot about this childhood favorite while in Kefalonia for the landscape, the vacancy, and the siestas that all law-abiding islanders take.

Any Easy Picture

In the Hagia Sophia.

Right. Why would you photograph the Hagia Sophia when you've got cheaply printed reproductions to recapture? 

In the Hagia Sophia

Afternoon

The view from the boats onto the port of Sami.

Story time

Rosie and I were just settling down to our evening tea when she spots something caught in our boat's ropes. We hop to the edge to examine, promptly gag, and search frantically for a paddle of sorts. (This was the second time that day that I'd used the oar thing, as I'd dropped a bunch of letters to Baby B into the Ionian Sea that morning.) Pushed the decrepit thing (the former tentacle of a sizable octapus?) away. 

Then the wind changed and the currents brought It and The Most Putrid Stink Ever back toward the boats. Ruined tea and -- while I'm proper-nouning and superlative-ing things -- our generous spoonfuls of The Thickest and Most Delicious Greek Yogurt Ever. So tender. And given the setting, I think it fitting to say that it is ambrosial!

So we waited for it to bob back.

Bob bob bob.

I ran around pushing it along the width of the two catamarans until it came to the pier.

Was very difficult to stabilize it, slippery thing.

Flung it across the concrete pier and watched it bob away. The smell lingered on and by that time, our tea was cold. But that's alright, I like cold mint tea.

I will have you know that this is the most exciting thing that ever happens in island time.

Hike to ancient Sami

 Rosie and Emmy go on a hike to the the ancient Acropolis and castle of Sami. All calves, all olive trees, some goats which were terrifyingly agile at first, but very complacent if you don't return their gaze. Like taxi drivers in Rome!

Kalimera, Kefalonia

My morning walk from the port of Sami to the village of Karavalimos in Kefalonia, the big mama of the Ionian Islands.

For Lillian and Missah

Someone has bothered to accompany the song with the listed imagery. See climax at 0:56, "when the dog bites." 

Blue Doors for Baby Ella

The English love their saturated blue doors. I have to agree!

Lugano

You are among the fortunate and more certainly very moneyed if you live in Lugano. It is wonderful to be here and to see Joe -- oldest and dearest!

Giorgio de Chirico, anyone? I got chills walking through the arcades.

Devon, London, Lugano, Rome, Kefalonia, Istanbul

Six weeks for Easter Break: family in Plymouth, museumi-ng in London, Joe in Switzerland, and traveling with Rosie thereafter. We're going to be living on a catamaran in Greece for several weeks! Cannot wait to sit with sketchbooks/next term's reading and mint tea in 70-degree weather every free moment. AND TURKISH TEXTILES

:)

Cottages for Baby Ella, Part 1

Parks Road, Oxford

Medieval vernacular: 26-28 Cornmarket Street, Oxford

 

At the corner down our alleyway.

Christ Church

 I don't remember making this particularly astute observation that Christ Church Cathedral's nave has a "very high roof." Please disregard

 

For those among us who learned our cliches through a very close reading of Harry Potter, this is the college of the Great Hall, etc. Have to say though that it was thrilling to stand on the staircase up to the Hall. Just waiting for Peeves to come swooping down.

For Britte: New College

Victorian Gothic Revival additions to New College, whose actual Gothic structures I was studying last week. A sketch I botched up quite a bit, especially at the staircase, but all the same, here you go. Don't make me 'barrassed.

Between Broad and Ship Streets

A view behind my house from my staircase landing. There are fragments of Oxford's early 13th century Anglo-Saxon walls scattered about in these mini courtyards.

It was a beautiful day yesterday. Sunny, 50s, windy. Like some place I know!

One of my classes has me exploring the town and using its structures as case studies. Think I might post the images (and my sketches, if I am brave) as they go along. So the town wall, Christ Church Cathedral, and New College coming soon...

My room at Oxford

Sweet little Ship Street:

My little room in the attic:

They give us this really horrendous bedding that has me singing 'hotel motel Holiday Iiiinn' to myself every time I come in. To be a total baby, having only one pillow is really rough.

 

And the view from my window onto Jesus College:

So I'm at St Catz, but I'm living in a 17th century (could be 18th) row house in the center of town with an adorable little stoop and red door that belongs to Jesus College. There are ten of us. Quite funny, as we tend to wonder aloud: 'Did uh Jesus come change your sheets today?' 'I guess we should ask Jesus where we do laundry.'

:)

teatime improved

Finished a boat load of work yesterday and rewarded myself with a new teacup! I have really been missing my teacups that I kept at school. Not to mention teatime with Morris babies!

Green Regency Teacup and Saucer, £7.50

Picked it up from this adorable little gift and stationary shop/bookstore down the street from me. First green set and it holds the perfect amount of tea! I'm a bit annoyed with how excited I get about this stuff.

I’ve been doing work in the Radcliffe Camera all day. Needless to say, breathtaking, but it is just so toasty and the smell of mothballs permeates ever corner and archway-crevice that I find myself getting even more dizzy than sleepy. And that is saying something!

Also, the coffee here is seriously strong. Feel like a total weakling

Morris housemate Rosie came to visit yesterday for a bit while on a day trip. It made me so happy to see her and a bit of Smith that I spent a slightly pathetic hour browsing the Spring Course Catalog. Hey Rosie, we have some major Easter Break planning to do!! :)

Trivet

Just before Winter Break (read: during Finals), I made something that looks a bit like this loopy trivet by TOMA:

Cork Trivet (also in wood), $20, TOMA Objects

Quite happy with how it turned out, especially considering I was using a pretty low quality piece of plywood. Have got to make some more when I'm back at Smith for a proper set of trivets for our new house!

Engaland

I'm all settled in. I think I may have severely strained/fractured my ankles because I wasn't wearing socks and it was too cold and I slipped a bit. Hurts to walk and feel genuinely idiotic. Pictures of adorable Oxford soon.
:)