The stories of my life on a little island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea ... and my occasional adventures beyond these shores.

Sunday 29 January 2012

Tunes On My Playlist - More Than Words

One of those rock ballads that sends shivers up my spine as so many memories come flooding back, More Than Words was released by Extreme in 1990. This song was one of the greatest hits for the band on both sides of the Atlantic. Its message is as poignant now as it was when it was released.

More than words is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
'Cause I'd already know
(Lyrics by Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone)
This song is a reminder than sometimes words are not enough and just saying ‘I love you’ does not necessarily make things better. It’s also one of those ballads that I sing along with at the top of my lungs whenever I hear it. Astonishingly, I even manage to keep in tune Smile

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Some Things Just Require Cake

                                               Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Lorna on Pinterest

I could do with a nice, thick slice of cake right now. Life is good. But time is short. Last Sunday I was wishing that every day was made up of 32 hours instead of 24. In that way I would have an extra 8 hours every day just to do the the things I really love – whether it’s playing with my son, blogging, making cupcakes or just sitting on a couch and listening to the wind. An extra couple of hours would also help me get to grips with de-cluttering the house. I am such a sentimental person. I hold on to things because they may remind me of a special person or a special moment.  But since we don’t live in a mansion, I need to pull myself together  and start donating or selling some stuff. And then there’s the Mischief  Maker’s ever-increasing collection of trucks, books, games and sundry plastic reptiles that he adores.
So I guess it’s time to take a deep breath, stop looking at magazines (incidentally, are real houses ever anything like the ones in the magazines?), find some cardboard boxes and start de-cluttering. A nice piece of cake won’t hurt either.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Wednesday Wanderings: A Stroll Around Hannibal

This was not the first time that we visited Hannibal (MO). However, all our other visits took place during the summer. I have to say that I missed the stalls selling fresh lemonade – but mid-December temperatures and ice cold lemonade do not go really well together. This time I had the opportunity to stroll around Hannibal by myself. It is a quaint little place - a small, sleepy town on the banks of the mighty Mississippi. It still has an old-time feel and charm to it. The main street is lined with art galleries, antique shops and small boutiques.
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Every year Hannibal receives thousands of visitors from all over the world. Its main claim to fame, of course, is that it was the boyhood home of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain). I am sure that the boy who is now known to the world as Mark Twain would have no difficulty recognizing the town of his childhood because it is delightfully well-preserved.
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Hannibal is a place where I love wandering around and staring at all those things which, to me, look so wonderfully different to everything I am used to. From its reddish-brown brick buildings,
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to its unique signs
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this is one of those places where I hope that time will continue to stand still.
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During our recent visit last December, my husband was given the opportunity to exhibit his painting at the  Hannibal Alliance Art Gallery. Most of his paintings were inspired by Malta and by places we visit on our travels like Venice and the Tuscan countryside. You may read more about his art show on his blog  Creative Canvas. Below are some of the paintings. In case anyone is interested, a number of these are still for sale.
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Monday 16 January 2012

Frost

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We had no snow during our recent vacation in Missouri but we did have some frosty mornings. It was never a heavy frost, the days and nights were not cold enough, but on patches of grass growing in the shadow of leafless trees, nature worked its simple magic long enough for me to capture its handiwork with my camera. And now I have an everlasting memory of a unique, natural beauty.
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It was just a hint of a frost, but as the tiny crystals reflected the rays of a silvery sun, it provided enough enchantment to hold me in thrall, to stop my feet in their crunchy tracks and gaze in rapture at its fleeting, delicate beauty.
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Thursday 12 January 2012

Fabulous Fridays: Tangerine Tango

So here I am, back with a Friday post that is full of everything fun and frivolous. As some of you may, or may not, know Pantone have chosen  Tangerine Tango as the colour of 2012. This colour is bursting with energy and positivity and can definitely be classified as a happy colour.
                                                          Source: chroniclebooks.com via Lauren on Pinterest

How you use it, if at all, depends entirely on your whim and tastes.
From fashion …
                                                                     Source: refinery29.com via Tia on Pinterest

To home décor …
                                                                    Source: blog.hgtv.com via Krista on Pinterest

To so many other things in between …
                                                                 Source: beautylish.com via Hannah on Pinterest

                                               Source: weddings.theknot.com via All Occasion on Pinterest

We can probably all use a bright pop of this warm, vibrant colour somewhere in our lives.
So what is it going to be:
Shoes?
                                                                            Source: google.com via Alli on Pinterest

Bed linen?
                                                         Source: greenteadesign.com via Nathalie on Pinterest

An accent wall?
                                                        Source: greenteadesign.com via Nathalie on Pinterest

A comfy couch?
                                                          Source: whippedstyle.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Or do you do what I do, stay with the colours you like and don’t give much thought to what the people at Pantone decide?
Enjoy your weekend and, no matter what your favourite personal colour scheme is, I hope that these Tangerine  Tango images have provided just the right amount of summery glow to those of you who may be dealing with cold, grey winter days.
                                                                   Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Jane on Pinterest
Tangerine Tango as defined by Pantone’s executive director Leatrice Eiseman:
“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Monday 9 January 2012

There And Back Again

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We made it – to Missouri and back. Now it’s back to the normal routine – after we recover from our jet-lag. It seems to be taking a bit longer this time. We had a wonderful time except that the much-longed for snow never made it to our area. Apart from that it was a relaxing and fun-filled vacation. In due course I will be sharing more about our little adventures.
In the meantime I would like to wish you all a very happy new year and I would also like to thank you for taking the time to stop by, read and comment. Your visits keep this blog alive. I have missed visiting your blogs and can’t wait to drop by and see what you’ve all been up to. I think that by tomorrow I should be sufficiently recovered to be able to ‘do the rounds’.

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