Me
This is the first time in my adult life that I am actually happy summer has come. I used to hate 
the heat and I still do, but this is the first summer I’ve had the chance to notice nature around me. The changes are amazing and athough it seems like I am stating the obvious, it hasn’t been obvious to me. Sunday was sunny and warm, so we went on a picnic, not very far, a 10 minute drive. When you walk in Athens, it is so difficult to believe that this forest exists near you. We also found a deserted monastery. It was peaceful and serene, and I had never noticed it before. We went to the top of the mountain to see the view. It is a view I hate because it is so full of concrete. But that’s Athens. Full of concrete, made without any plan, it is just haphazardly thrown buildings, among the antiquities.
The monastery
Athens
The moon!
My son
Then, there was my son’s art class exhibition. He is posing next to his painting, with a critical eye, which he directs to other people’s paintings, not his of course. 
My sister
We wished my sister a belated happy birthday in an Italian restaurant. 
I know the photo is out of focus, but really, what is this thing with men? They never take a good picture of the women in their company. So I took this myself. You have to see the other one as a beautiful person, to take a good picture of them. Ahem. You How has your weekend been? I missed you all. I am going to read about all of your adventures later today. Amazing fact: I have friends who are not moving into summer, but into winter instead. This earth planet is good. God Oh did I mention I went to the obligatory kids’ party again this Sunday? God has sent me this plague to test my humanity. Dear God, I failed miserably. Let school end now.
June 5th, 2006 at 5:33 am
Dear Chloe,
So glad you are enjoying your summer. There are such glorious things to be sought out and appreciated. I too tend to take things for granted. Then one day I am out breathing fresh air and it all becomes very clear…
Your pictures are beautiful.
Lots of hugs,
Connie
June 5th, 2006 at 6:59 am
That monastery looks like a great place. Add an internet connection and I’d be as happy as a pig in muck there
(no distractions).
I will post about my weekend (or lack of it) on 20__ today. Glad your weekend went well though.
June 5th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Such wonderful pictures! Good to hear that I’m not the only one who’s had a great weekend. Mine’s an epiphany of sort. I have a note for you on my recent post
love, missy xx
June 5th, 2006 at 8:20 am
I would have loved such a picnic; the weather here has been damp and rainy and soggy. I need a good dose of warm weather. We have been indoors too long and getting cranky with one another. My son watched over my shoulder as I was looking at your post; who is the lady, mom…do I know her?
xoxo
His favourite picture; the one of the castle door
June 5th, 2006 at 8:25 am
What wonderful pictures. You certainly do live in a beautiful part of the world. Glad you had such a lovely weekend. Take care, Meow
June 5th, 2006 at 8:30 am
once again I thank you for sharing your life with me. I thank God for such a great person to be in my life.
June 5th, 2006 at 8:46 am
i saw that same moon here on saturday….
June 5th, 2006 at 9:08 am
You really do take gorgeous photos. I would like to see that deserted monastery. It sounds very mysterious and holy. But with ruins and antiquities all over the place, I suppose one little monastery isn’t such a big deal.
My weekend was wonderful. Thanks for asking!
June 5th, 2006 at 9:46 am
Happy Birthday to your sister!!
The pasta looks yummy.
June 5th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Such breath taking photos..Beautiful..I would luv the summer as well if I lived in Athens.
June 5th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Great pictures, as usual. I really liked that monastery, that seems like a good place to concentrate on my studying
Athens is just huge!!
I’m glad your son likes Art, that’s good for kids, even if it’s just for fun. I liked that comment on the fact that men can’t take good pictures of women…it’s very profound
June 5th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
What a wonderful set of photos…discovering a monastery is quite something, too!
June 5th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
This is the second time your site sparked a flood of memories of my (Russian) Orthodox childhood. This is a mixed blessing.
June 5th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
And I posted a link to your site. S’okay?
June 5th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Hot weather is here too.
108 degrees yesterday, today, tomorrow….lower in a few day, then higher in some others. It will be like this through October…
Yes, sometimes we take things for granted and there are so many special places close to where we live….
June 5th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
great pics as usual! love the picnic idea…we are trying to enjoy the semi-hot weather here too before it gets to be blistering hot out.
June 6th, 2006 at 12:09 am
a deserted monastery?
how wonderful!!!
I am a “fall” person -
you know, crunchy leaves,
wooly sweaters (which i love
but make me itch)
keeping my hands warm with
a cup of chai, the smell
of the cool sweet lingering
air…
but hey!! summer’s cool!
smiles!
June 6th, 2006 at 4:06 am
Lovely pix. I’m glad you’re having such a wonderful summer. Where I am, the weather is only dry and wet so I have no clue about winter,spring, summer and autumn season like you do but I guess in everything we give thanks.
June 6th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
Great pictures, we could see the moon during the day here too, I wonder if it was on the same day. . .
I love summer.
June 6th, 2006 at 4:43 pm
wow! So much ash happened on ur blog since I last came.. your smile is like winter sun.. and that’s us son!! wow! U look so young!!
June 6th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Thank you for the awesome photos! As you know, I love looking at photos from around the world - but yours are especially talented and magnificent!
Driving home this afternoon I, too, was able to see the moon. Seeing the moon in bright daylight always stops me in my tracks (don’t worry - no car crashes or anything! tehehe!)
June 6th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
i typed this whole long comment and it vanished!! lol
i thought the windows in the first pic looked like a slice of provolone and a cracker.
your son is perfect even with his crictical eye. that is hilarious.
damn, girl. you DO get invited to a lot of kids parties. the moms must KNOW how much you enjoy them . quit enjoying them ( or pretending to at least!) HAHA
June 7th, 2006 at 9:48 am
Ahh, nature. [wipes tear from eye]
Athens looks mighty big and confusing from that hill.
June 7th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
hey Chloe.. Can i use two of the pictures here on my blog? I need to get a msg across andthese pics will convey that beautifully!
June 8th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Connie
thanks, and i just saw your backyard, please don’t take it for granted! we don’t have so much space here!
jack
i agree. i could live there too (not as a nun though)
missy
i like epiphanies. strange they always come when we have been sad for some time eh?
Cathy
i am cranky too. i don’t know if its PMS or something else. in a couple of days i am going to find out i think. i’d love to show the monastery to your son!
meow
greece is nice kitty, but it doesn’t compare to your part of the world. it’s just that it is tiny and all the nice places are relatively close.
day
this is the best thing i heard (read) today. thank you so much.
xx
moondog
really?
the moon is silly to come out when the sun won’t let it shine.
everything has its moment, the moon should know that.
Michele
no, it’s not really ancient by greek standards. it’s byzantine. it was built in the 10th century.
angel
thank you angel
heidi
summer in athens is too hot. and because athens is dirty it is unbearable. but if you live in a suburb it’s not so bad.
kimananda
it is a very famous monastery bec. it was built in the 10th c. I just hadn’t noticed!These last 11 centuries that is.
devil mood
isn’t it the truth though? beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the beholder is the one using the camera.
greg
of course it’s okay! i am linking you too.
cisco
you are in the desert right? summer must be sizzling there.
vani
i’ve always loved picnics. and i tag you with one: yes that’s my tag! go have a picnic and post pictures.
maddy
i know. i am a winter person. but i am trying to find nice things for the rest 6 months of the year. because that’s how long summer lasts here.
ebun
i don’t know what it is to have just wet-dry season. but i am sure your country must have stunning places to visit.
justacoolcat
hey i’ve been reading your blog and as i said there, you are always having fun. what’s not to like!
how do we know
of course you can. go ahead!
eternally curious
it’s nice but it always makes me think “go hide now, it’s not your time, that’s cheating!”
gina
it’s not the mums. it’s the kids. they invite my son. and M goes to some of them alone (i have turned him into a “manny”)
erikku
and if you look closer: ugly too!
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