Anniversary Trip: Delphi

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One of my chief reasons for wanting to visit Greece was to see the Charioteer which I had learned about 50 years prior in art history class.

The Charioteer of Delphi

My professor had described this bronze sculpture in such a way to make me want to experience it/him in person.

Although Greece is hilly the roads are easy to navigate.

The Charioteer is in a small museum in Delphi, about a 2-hour drive from Athens.  After leaving the ship in Piraeus Port we took a cab to Athens Airport where we rented a car that we would use for the next 5 days to tour around the Peloponnese unaccompanied.

The view from our hotel room was spectacular.

Our first stop was Delphi where we stayed at the small Nidimos Hotel. Parking was included in a tiny underground lot which we did not leave until our final departure since the town is very walkable.

Charlie on the main street of Delphi in front of the museum.

We walked to the museum that held the celebrated statue.  It was not necessary to buy advance tickets online since there was no wait for entrance.

Statuary in the small Delphi museum.

The ticket covered both the museum and ruins.  I had seen enough rubble so we only toured the museum.

This is more the color I remember of the statue — photography generally turns it more green.

The Charioteer is one of only a handful of bronze statues that exist from the ancient time period since much of the artistic bronze had been melted down to make weapons.

A model of the Severe style of the early Hellenic Classical period, the Charioteer has the characteristic fixed stare, heavy chin, and regular folds of drapery.

The athlete was so handsome.

The entire original must have been prodigious.

Once upon a time the total sculpture had been the charioteer and his chariot, 4 horses, and 2 grooms.  Only the principal player and a few bits of horse have been found.

Restaurants spilled out onto public walkways.

Delphi is a totally walkable town in the mountains. I found it not very touristy although tour buses do arrive on a daily basis to see the museum and grounds.

Our balcony was well-equipped for leisure.

We stayed overnight in a room with a balcony and a view.

Breakfast included with the room was fabulous — Greek yogurt in Greece is delicious.

Breakfast at the hotel was spectacular.

The scenery coming down the mountain was beautiful — we passed miles and miles of olive groves.

After breakfast we headed down the mountain to Olympia.

Jo

Jo

Hanging a Wood Mantel

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After I painted the terra cotta tile on the front of the fireplace I decided to hang a simple, modern-style mantel.

A modern mantel — 72″ x 5.5″ x 9″

I scanned lots of mail order mantels, read the reviews, and finally chose this Aged Oak Poplar Hollow Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel from Lowes.  Since all the mantels online had mixed reviews from chips and cracks to streakiness of finish, I ordered from Lowes so I could return it if necessary without mailing it. The one I received, however, was beautiful.

Centerline marked on the wall would eventually be covered by the mantel.

I planned to hang the top of the mantel 5 feet above the hearth which meant it would be 3″ above the tile on the face of the fireplace.  I marked a centerline on the wall above the fireplace.

Lined up centerline on wall with same on batten.

I also marked a centerline on the batten that holds the hollow mantel.

Located studs and drove screws through the batten and into the wall.

I located 4 studs and screwed the supportive wood bracket  into the studs with long screws that are supplied.

I amended the directions that came with the mantel so I could complete the task and  kept my eye on the level supplied with the mantel to make sure it was totally horizontal.

The instructions said to use a 1/16 inch drill bit to start the screws but I was forced to use one about 3 times larger so I could actually screw it to the wall.

The bracket is secure and level.

The bracket should be centered under the decorative part of the mantel but there is a little room for play if necessary.

Screwed in from top with 5 screws.

Although hollow, the mantel is heavy.  Both Charlie and I lifted it and he pressed it to the wall while I drilled through the predrilled holes in the mantel then into the top of the batten.  I drove in the screws which were supplied and once they were all the way in the mantel was very secure.  Plastic caps which came with the mantel cover the recessed screw heads.

The mantel finishes the look.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the color and finish.

The fireplace has been painted and the mantel has been hung.

I plan to add some Greek objects for Christmas decorations this year. Love it when a plan comes together.

Jo

A Driftwood Project

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While we were on our Viking cruise Charlie and I investigated every corner of the ship including the gift shop.

When I saw this in the Viking cruise gift shop I thought “I can make that.”

We didn’t buy anything but I saw  a rugged yet simple twig tree in the Norwegian style but which could express any person’s terroir.

When the tide comes in it often deposits driftwood and other treasures in the marsh.

I began by collecting pieces of relatively small driftwood which had washed up into our marsh.

Any pile of twigs should work — don’t look for perfection.

When I had a good pile of various size pieces I decided I might be able to make a twig tree.

Wood pieces arranged from longest to shortest saving a spectacularly shaped one for the top.

I laid out all the pieces according to length not being too picky about their shapes, widths, and bends.

I had a rigid piece of metal to build the tree on but I believe a piece of hanger would work just as well.

My original plan was to stack the wood in the little wooden box  but I found a heavy piece of wood shaped like a dolphin that laid flat on the table so I used that instead.  I drilled a hole partly through the dolphin and stuck in the metal rod.

The tree was leaning a little off vertical so I just bent it to straighten it.

While collecting the wood took a few days, actually assembling the tree took about 15 minutes.  I drilled a hole in the approximate center of each piece of wood then slid it onto the thin metal rod. I did not glue or nail anything.

I left the metal rod longer than the finished tree so I could add a few decorations.

I continued drilling the sticks and threading them onto the wire until it looked like a tree.

This year the tree is a tribute to Dash with dog ornaments and some shiny blue balls. Don’t forget the star on top.

So simple.  So fast. This tree reflects where I live.

Jo

December, 2024: Do It

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Our plates are full this December.  Charlie will be finished his commitments as church pianist/organist on December 1st. We have a trip planned to visit our close relatives on both coasts of Florida.  And, of course, Christmas is upon us.

One of the last trees to lose its leaves at The Glade.

More and more we are living on the Eastern shore — getting into the ebb and flow of the tides, the people, and the animals — life on the Chesapeake Bay.

I never get tired of this view.

Here’s the 10-point plan I have for the month of December:

  1.  Celebrate Christmas.

    Last Christmas was our last Christmas at The Glade.

  2.  Work on a project at the Bay House.

    I need lots and lots of curtains in this house of picture windows and sliding doors.

  3.  Measure the vanities in the Bay House and search for reasonably priced replacements.

    I need a bigger vanity than this for the downstairs bathroom.

  4.  Attend a Christmas Market.

    I have a few from which to choose — or I’ll go to them all.

  5.  Read a book.

    I’m going to start reading Chesapeake. Inevitable I guess.

  6.  Visit Florida.

    We’ll start on the west coast.

  7.  See a movie.

    We saw Wicked on Broadway and now it’s in movie theatres.

  8.  Pack up Glade pantry and move to Bay House.

    The pantry has already been partially cleared out but there’s at least another couple of boxloads to go. (The microwave stays.)

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: GRATITUDE.
  10.  Write a goal list for January, 2025.

Jo

November, 2024: Did It

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I put this picture of The Glade on my Facebook page early in the month.

The Glade in autumn is full of audacious color.

It is certainly beautiful in the November. We have loved living here and hope to pass it on to another family very soon.

Sunset

Our heart is now down by the bay — the Chesapeake Bay — where the water and sky change colors at least twice daily.

Sometimes high tide comes right up into the yard.

In addition to the numbered list below:

  •  I hung 4 new lighting fixtures in the upstairs bedrooms.  That’s 8 so far.

    A second blue fixture is in the primary ensuite bathroom.

  •   I continue to load my car weekly and bring things from the old house to the new one.
  •   I painted the walls in the large living room/dining room space.  The color is Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster.

    This is a challenging room to paint.

  •   I set up the downstairs bedroom with carpet, curtains, bed and bedding so we could have overnight guests.

    Curtains, carpet, and matelasse bedspread in light neutral colors.

    Everything needs more work but it will do for now.

  • I took down the dining room chandelier (if you can call it that) and tied off the wires until I decide on a new fixture.

    This fixture is down and banished.

  • Charlie and I hung the fireplace mantel.

    I amended the directions that came with the mantel so I could complete the task.

    I completed the prep work which included hanging a level and secure batten for the mantel to sit on.  Not as easy as it sounds.

  • While hanging new curtain rods in the living room I stumbled on the perfect spot for a Christmas tree — picture the ladder with limbs and ornaments.

    Under the ladder is a conveniently placed floor electric outlet.

  •  In addition to hanging art on the walls I put up a few decorative clocks.

    Always nice to know what time it is.

Here’s the 10-point plan I had for November:

  1.  Celebrate Thanksgiving. Our friend Sug visited us on the bay and we had a grand time eating all of our favorite foods.

    Sweet potatoes a new way with goat cheese and cranberries.

  2.  Work on a project at the Bay House. Charlie and I worked on multiple projects: I painted the fireplace and he ripped out the half bathroom so we can design and build a more useful ensuite bathroom for the downstairs bedroom.

    The closet and half bathroom have been removed.

  3.  Bring down Christmas decorations to go with this year’s theme — Greek Christmas.

    Our Christmas decorations are mix and match with variable themes every year.

    We started decorating in earnest the week of Thanksgiving since I was at the Bay House for the entire week.

  4.  Check all the smoke alarms at the Bay House and replace the outdated ones. There were 4 potential smoke detectors all of which were well out of date and all of which have been replaced by yours truly.

    One of the battery operated units hangs on the first floor above the piano and the other one is in the back bedroom over the garage.

  5.  Read a book.I read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

    The false hope in the final chapters ultimately was not very satisfying.

    I’m wondering how I was expected to understand this book when I was in high school — the language and situation are for mature readers.

  6.  Wrap and pack Christmas gifts to mail.  It took me a little minute to gather the right paper, tape, scissors, and boxes but I have in fact wrapped everything that needs to be mailed.

    Sticking with blue and white this year.

  7.  Organize paint supplies and find a storage spot.

    No more paint supplies in my clothing closet.

    I have gathered all my paint supplies and stashed them together in the back of the garage.

    Even spray paint has a designated cabinet just over the cans on the floor.

    I can easily access everything including well-marked cans of paint.

  8. Learn how to use the Nest thermostat.

    I think I have this figured out.

    The Nest and I are still trying to get to know each other. I did figure out how to warm up the downstairs rooms in the early morning. Charlie, on the other hand, just growls at it.

  9. Pick a word to focus on for the month. My word: SPIRIT.
  10.  Write a goal list for December, 2024.

Jo

Curtains on the Bay

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Since we acquired the new house I have tried to “make do” with the window treatments already installed and the curtains I brought with me from The Glade.

These are 2 pairs of linen curtains from Ikea which I triple pleated with special hooks.

At first I put the old living room curtains in the primary bedroom but ultimately I have rehung them in the downstairs bedroom.

The sliding doors in the living room/dining room area were covered with bamboo blinds that had been damaged by the sun and didn’t hang straight.

The beach hut style of the bamboo shades did not fit with my ultimate goal of polished house by the bay.

I bought the longest rods to hang at the sliding doors.

Initially trying not to spend a lot of money on curtains I decided to buy fairly inexpensive simple French rods for the living room.

Using a panel from the aforementioned downstairs bedroom I hung a tester on my newly installed rod.

I started with the 3 windows that are exactly alike (the 4th one is slightly different).  My plan was to hang the rods just above the doors.

I was planning to use the same premade Ikea curtains.

However when I tried the curtains on them I discovered I would need to cut off about 2 feet and rehem them.

I prefer these longer curtains.

Then I hung the same curtain from the wood panels covering some fluorescent lights over the doors.

Dining room curtain area is open plan with the living room.

The first rod hung in its permanent position was the one near the dining room — the different one — which I placed as high as I could in the window opening.

DYTÅG Linen Curtains from Ikea with heading tape — 57″x98 “

Then I hung 3 similar rods high on the wooden panels that cover the fluorescent lights over the sliding doors.

We generally close the curtains at night and when the hot afternoon sun is beating down into the room.

I threaded the Ikea curtains on the rods until I have time to add curtain rings and drapery hooks which will entail hemming all the linen panels.

Before

After — The curtains still need to be hung on sliding rings but this will do for now.

Eventually I will order lined and pleated curtains for this area but until then I am pleased with this look.

Jo

Anniversary Trip: Athens

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On our final full day on-board our cruise we had one last tour scheduled in the city of Athens, Greece.

Olympic stadium in Athens

Our ship was docked in Piraeus Port so we had about a 45-minute ride (with narration) to city center where we were destined to climb to the top of the Acropolis.  Our first stop, however, was Olympic Stadium where we met up with a “Greek soldier” who was very aggressive to have his photo taken with me.  Just as we were about to pose he asked for 5 euros.

This actor misrepresented his intentions — we left him to scout another sap.

I gathered back my hat and checked that I had not been pickpocketed.  Such a shady come on.

Our Viking guides managed all tickets and entries.

After a truncated bus tour while we were waiting for our timed tickets to Acropolis to be in effect, we followed our very proper guide.

Much of the Parthenon is under restorative reconstruction.

The walk from the main entrance at the Acropolis to the Parthenon takes about 15–20 minutes, including 80 steps.

Even with crowds of people we were able to get very close to the Greek Parthenon.

We did not go inside the structure a replica of which we had visited in Nashville, Tennessee earlier in the year.

The lovely ladies of the Erechtheion.

From the top of the Acropolis hill we could see all over Athens and had a good view of the remains of the Erechtheion which was a sacred temple dedicated to Greek Gods and Goddesses, including Athena.

I had taken a photo of the shuttle schedule before we left the ship.

We left our tour group after visiting the Acropolis and speaking to our guide because we wanted to go to the Archeological Museum.  Our guide suggested we take a taxi (which we did) and then return to this same area because Viking ran shuttles from the ship every hour.

Agamemnon’s solid gold mask is 12 inches tall and depicts a man with a wide forehead, long nose, and tightly closed lips.

When I plan museum tours with Charlie I stick to 3 highlights since I’m more of a museum person than he is. We stood in line which moved quickly to get tickets and entry. The first exhibit of interest to us was at the beginning of the museum rooms — the mask of Agamemnon.

The Worried Man from Delos bronze portrait of an unknown man combines a heroic demeanor with an expressive countenance.

My main objective in the Athens Museum was to see the  Worried Man of Delos.  He was so real and handsome in person.

The Jockey of Artemision is a large Hellenistic bronze statue of a young boy riding a horse, dated to around 150–140 BC.

Finally we saw the Boy on the Horse — life-size bronze.  It is a rare surviving original bronze statue from Ancient Greece and a rare example in Greek sculpture of a racehorse.

Museum food is both authentic and delicious. I had spanakopita.

We had a snack in the museum cafe before taking a cab back to the statue of Melina Mercouri (near the Acropolis) where we caught a shuttle bus provided by Viking to take us back to the ship.

One of the benefits of not being with a tour group (look behind the statue) is that we can be up close and personal with Poseidon.

I was happy to have seen everything I had hoped to see in Athens so that Charlie and I would be able to tour the Peloponnesian Peninsula on our own after we disembarked without having to return to Athens city center.

Jo

Anniversary Trip: Life Aboard Viking Sea

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The first seven days of our anniversary trip to Türkiye and Greece began with a cruise on the Viking Sea ocean vessel.

We received special leather tags which we never actually used.

I described our journey just to get to the port in Istanbul here.

We arrived at the ship after around 7 p.m. so we headed directly to the dining room and were served a beautiful dinner.

We were tired and hungry after traveling for about 24 hours.

A luscious raspberry mousse (easily enough for 6) and a bottle of bubbly had been left in our stateroom in honor of our anniversary.

Once aboard the ship we were free to use all the facilities available even though we had booked the lowest level cabin.

The view from our veranda.

Still our cabin was nicely laid out and had a veranda as did all the staterooms on the ship.

Everything was maintained shipshape by our steward.

The bathroom in our stateroom was spacious considering we were on a ship.

We enjoyed afternoon tea in the Wintergarden.

We used the swimming pools, hot tubs, and spa but mostly we ate.

I had more than one waffle for breakfast.

My favorite restaurant was Mamsen’s all the way forward on deck 7.  Most of the other eating was aft on 7 or 2 therefore Mamsen’s was less congested and much more relaxed.   Charlie enjoyed the fresh squeezed orange juice at Mamsen’s. You can have fresh juice in the other venues but must ask for it.

I discovered that the custard of the crème brûlée  comes ready made in cartons (something like milk) but the topping is brûléed  upon request.

I had my favorite crème brûlée  every night for dinner.

The highlight of the week’s food for me was lobster night perfectly grilled on the rear deck.

There was more food than I need all presented beautifully and served by a busy but agreeable staff.

I learned a little something to take with me into every port.

Well, enough about food (I could go on an on). Entertainment in the theatre was presented nightly but I more enjoyed the destination lectures by a very engaging professor.

We mostly caught the tour buses early in the morning — afternoons were really too hot.

On a daily basis we either walked into town with our tour or caught one of a fleet of tour buses that waited at the port.  The tours were informative but not really our jam; we often cruised off on our own.

A view down into the atrium from our deck — #3. (That’s a grand piano down there.)

One interesting item for me was that passports were handed in upon entry to the ship. A stub for retrieval was given so we could pick up the documents at end of cruise.  When we picked them up they had been stamped with exit from Türkiye in Kusadasi and entry into Greece in Rhodes.

It only rained one day which we hardly noticed.

To sum it up — love cruising, don’t care for large tours, expensive.

Jo

Keeping Busy

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I keep telling Charlie I don’t believe that multitasking is a thing and to that end I don’t multitask but I do keep busy while I’m waiting for heavy equipment to be moved and for paint to dry.

All outlet covers and screwheads are painted before replacing on the wall.

So this weekend I “worked” on the following projects in a sort of helter-skelter manner.

  1.  Laid out the tile for the front of the hearth.

    I’ve selected tile for the front of the hearth that I think will work.

  2.  Painted the dining room wall with 2 coats of Alabaster by Sherwin Williams.

    There is really only one wall in the open plan dining room.

  3.  Laid out and shampooed the dining room rug (that was transported from the main bedroom of The Glade).

    I have always loved this carpet that my mother bought at auction then lugged to me in her suitcase.

  4.  Painted most of the living rooms walls with 2 coats of paint.

    I held off painting the wall over the fireplace until someone else put up the ladder which I was able to slide left and right on my own.

  5.  Took down the lighting fixture in the dining room.

    This fixture is down and banished.

  6.  Wrapped Christmas gifts.

    Sticking with blue and white this year.

  7.   Accepted delivery of the mantelpiece.

    A modern mantel — 72″ x 5.5″ x 9″

  8.  Watched the sun go down over the bay.

    I know when to stop!

Some things I’m thinking about:

  1.  Tile for the downstairs bathroom.

    Outrageous possibilities.

  2.  Flooring for the kitchen. (See square tile directly above.)
  3.  Replacement vanities  in all the bathrooms.

    A possible vanity.

  4.  Painting the high walls in the living room with a yummy color.

    The upper wall might need a fun color.

And that’s what I did.

Jo

Anniversary Trip: Crete

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After Rhodes our next port of call was Heraklion on the Greek Island of Crete.

Even by today’s standards the jewelry is stunning.

First we went to the museum with our guide.  While Charlie took photos of ancient jewelry .  .  .

Notice how nicely the real gold handles hold up.

and weapons (everything with gold on it),

I’m going to add some dolphin art to our house on the bay.

I was enchanted by paintings of dolphins .  .  .

I was interested to see a “talent” which I had previously heard about in the Bible — each weighs about 75 pounds.

and money.  The large metal tablets (about 12″ by 18″) pictured above are “talents”.  When used as a unit of currency it was worth about 6,000 denarii (one denarius was the typical payment for a day’s work). This meant that a talent was worth 20 years of labor, assuming a 6-day work week.

I photographed these ancient clay figures because they reminded me of our Dashie — dachshunds on Crete?

Once again we cut out on the tour early to have a Greek coffee in the museum’s cafe.

The shops are au courant with outfits that would look good on Charlie.

After the museum we were let loose on the town where Charlie and I walked through the marketplace chatting with vendors and getting a feel for the pride of Cretans.

Jo