DAY 61 Project 365

Here is a snap of part of the track where I walk the girls.

I have a whole stack of wildflower pics waiting to be posted, that I've taken when out with the 'girls'. When I began keeping a record of these beauties I thought it might be interesting to upload them on the day I first see them. But there are just so many, and they are coming so thick and fast, I just can't keep up.

Most visitors to the island, come in the summer by which time the wild flowers are mostly long gone and the countryside is frazzled to a crisp by the sun. In some ways this is sad, but on the other hand the lack of mass tramping feet does it's part in helping to preserve habitats, just so long as the developers stay away. I live in dread of waking one morning to the chug-a-lug of a JCB on our beautiful mountain :-(

Here is a Tassel Hyacinth one of thousands now blooming in the fields adjacent to the house. The bulbs are antiseptic and are thought to have healing qualities. Some villagers eat the bulbs and it's believed that they lower cholesterol levels. A book I have, The Floral Charm of Cyprus by Valerie Sinclair published in 1992, has them down as blooming in April. I saw the first one about 2 weeks ago, so not sure what this says about global warming.

DAY 59 Project 365

Carole and I had another mooch around Limassol old town this morning, to soak up more artsy places. Considering Cyprus is such a small country, the amount of art on show is amazing.

Popped into Dino's Art Cafe to see the exhibition of new work by Katie Sabry and Kelly Norman. The private viewing for the next exhibition by Raymond Wilson and Michael Turner is next Monday night, so may drag H along. Brought a copy of the very yummy menu away with me, in case he needs any persuasion :-)

Around the corner from Dino's is the studio of Theodosis Theodosiou, who is primarily a painter of icons. Today he was working on a wooden bowl and panel, which he was beautifully illuminating with an image of Agia Barbara and Agios Nicholaos. He was showing us how he mixes the traditional egg tempera and powdered pigment. We were intrigued to see he adds vinegar to the beaten egg ... top tip! Theodosis has some work in the Angels exhibition currently at Gallery K in Nicosia

Here's a pic of the old mosque at the west end of St Andrews St near Dino's Art Cafe and Theodosis studio.

DAY 56 Project 365

Not much artwork today. Met a friend in town for chat/shopping/lunch and paid a visit to Panayiotis my lovely canvas/frame maker. He's going to make me a dozen gallery wrapped canvases at a very good price, so he's my hero just now.

Today's pic was a toss up between a wildflower, of which there are plenty just now, and a genuine snake skin handbag in mint condition, that I picked up in a thrift shop earlier. The bag is just beeeuuutiful and I think it might sneak into the sketchbook, as snakes do. But that's for later. As I didn't have a lot of time, I nipped out into the fields with my camera... and so today the Crown Daisy wins!

The Crown Daisy, also known as 'Lazaros' in Cyprus, because traditionally the villagers pick the flowers on St. Lazarus Day for dyeing hard boiled eggs yellow in preparation for Easter. I've also realised it can be used for dyeing yarn. Also some villagers make an infusion of the flower heads to treat intestinal complaints and the oil from the plant can be used for skin complaints and rheumatism .... it says in the book :-)

DAY 50 Project 365

The gorse (calcotome villosa) is in full flower just now.

Incredibly heavy rain this afternoon. Though I think we'll need considerably more to avoid water shortages in the summer. Glad I was tucked up nice and dry in the studio.

DAY 49 Project 365

Birth of Aphrodite, my version of the old tale.

ACEO size painting 3.5in x 2.5in, acrylic on 250gr acid free watercolour paper. SOLD

According to local legend and Greek mythology Aphrodite was born out of the sea at a place called Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock) near Paphos, Cyprus.

"Kypros, godwelcoming island of the finefeathered Erotes (Loves), which bears the name of Kypris the self-born [Aphrodite] ... Paphos, garlanded harbour of the softhaired Erotes (Loves), landingplace of Aphrodite when she came up out of the waves, where is the bridebath of the seaborn goddess." - Nonnus, Dionysiaca 13.435

DAY 44 Project 365

Narrow-leaved Bugloss (Boraginaceae Echium angustifolium)

DAY 42 Project 365

This is a shot of a tiny blue glazed window set in a thick walled building in the old town. Not nearly as eyecatching as it actually was to the naked eye, but nevertheless it deserves to be tucked away for abstract painterly inspiration.

DAY 40 Project 365

Cyprus has a wealth of wild flowers, some of which I'm lucky enough to see when out walking the dogs on the hills.

I'm not a botanist, so am having to rely on books and the net. Any experts looking, please confirm if you can, but I think this is a Giant Orchid (Barlia robertiana). It's one of just two flowering 50 yards from the house by the track. They are the first I've seen this year, but I expect to see many more in the next few days.

DAY 39 Project 365

It was the King of the Carnival parade tonight to mark the start of the 10 day Limassol Carnival. One of Carole's verandah's had a perfect view of the parade overlooking the route so what better excuse for a party! Thank you Carole, we had such a good time :-)

Gabriella and Leo looked splendid! The sweetest Pink Fairy and Cutest Little Pirate (Johnnie Depp had better watch out, he's got competition)

DAY 36 Project 365

Regular visitors and island watchers will notice that you can now see the weather forecast for Cyprus in the sidebar.

Just to celebrate ....today we had the worst day of weather I can remember for a long time. Storms all day and even a flurry of snow at the coast.

DAY 33 Project 365

These pics are for Abi.

Went to Aliada last night to say farewell to some friends leaving for Singapore.

Too much food, wouldn't want to do this too often. This is the coldtable for the starter course ... 4 further courses followed!

DAY 32 cont'd.... Project 365

Carole's pretty verandah.

Piece of peeling doorway in the old town.

More fascinating gallery visits this morning, then lunch with the girls.

DAY 28 Project 365

YAY! It's raining.

DAY 27 Project 365

Almond blossom in full bloom on the nut trees.
Warm 20C+ today. Spring is on it's way,
and still we've had very little rain.

DAY 25 Project 365

Carole and I went to the Morfi Gallery this morning to see the Giorgos Koumouros exhibition. It looked like a non-starter to begin with, as the gallery was firmly locked when we arrived, despite opening hours info to the contrary on their website. Not to be put off, we rang the gallery owner, who apologised, directed us to the old tailor next door and miraculously a key was found. This could only happen in Cyprus! What a brilliant experience .... we had the whole of the gallery to ourselves and looked, discussed and wandered to our hearts content.

Initially we were disappointed that the colours were more low key than we been led to expect from the vivid images we had seen on the website. However, we ignored our preconceptions and ultimately decided we still liked the paintings very much.

Another highlight of today, was realising that not only does Carole have similar interests to myself, but she's also just as slightly crazy and into 'found' objects! Along the street from the gallery, we spied a skip brimming with throwaways, including this old Revlon advertising board, now being admired by Sally. It could be just the image to include as part of a large painted canvas I'm planning . Carole hauled away an even more magnificent Lancaster cosmetics board, still in it's original plastic wrapper, which will look amazing on the high walls of her eclectically furnished apartment in the old town. We then met up with the rest of the girls, who just didn't get it and were distinctly underwhelmed with our 'exciting' acquisitions. Carole and I just couldn't keep our faces straight LOL!

DAY 20 Project 365

Tonight H presented, on behalf of HIFX Foreign Currency specialists, a donation together with two fabulous kiddie cars to DJ Maurice at Rock FM in Paphos.

Friday 19th & Saturday 20th of January
The 24 hour show with Maurice at Rock FM 98.5 & 106.7 will support the Paediatric Department of Pafos General hospital.
Donations and Aucton bids: Call 26822073 or 99952552
You can also make donations at the Bank of Cyprus, Account No 0660-00-068774.

Live radio Auction will take place from 8am until 7pm. Many tempting items to bid on for this very worthwhile cause. Among them is an original portrait, subject of the winners choice, painted by myself using acrylic paints on canvas. Normal asking price 150 Cyprus pounds.

DAY 17 Project 365

Eeny, Meeny, Miny & Mo. Aka from left to right Daisy, Sally, Teddie & ChouChou.

No sign of rain for nearly a fortnight. We should be well into the rainy season by now. Water pressure very low today and sometimes cut off completely. Looks like we're heading for a serious drought this summer, unless we get spectacular rains PDQ!

Les Girls ain't bovvered .... more sunbathing and staring into the wide blue yonder for them. Great life!

DAY 12 Project 365

Alexandros with his assistant fitting the new solar panels on the house roof today. The old ones blew off during the Christmas storms while we were in UK. H safely watches from below. All we need now is some sun, but not a chance of that... cloudy and chilly today. A half decent sunset over Limassol tonight though.

DAY 9 Project 365

Just snapped this bright rockery clump on the back terrace, while the flowers were still wide open. The sunshine there will be shaded by the house in a few minutes, and already through the studio window, I can see the petals beginning to close.

These showy daisies (not a clue what they're called here) are the result of a single sprig I snaffled from John and Jenny's garden on Christmas Day 2005. There are lots of rocks on the back hillside that would benefit from a little embellishment .... so I think tomorrow morning I'll spread a few more sprigs around.

DAY 6 Project 365

Budding grapefruit blossom. Hope our citrus trees do better in 2007. Last year most of the blossom was blown off in the storms