Saturday, August 18, 2012

Summer Journal 2012, August 19

Yesterday, August 18th, may have been Ireni Katsaggelos' 23rd birthday, but the day was truly Margaret's Day.  For starters, the weather is Sun Diego-perfect.  Carrie and I agree this fallish weather is our favorite climate.  Paris did the prime painting of the Parent's Temple, then he and Stell left the rest of us with Foras and headed to town.  At first I thought they were going for additional painting supplies, but when Foras let the cat out of the bag that they were going to pick up Aggelos, I guessed at the purpose.  Aggelos, for several years, has supposed to have made a sign to designate the Vineyard as Margaret's Vineyard.   When the three of them returned, Aggelos divided a bouquet of roses from his garden between Carrie and myself.  He was grinning like a Cheshire  cat.


I had to go inside the house to hide my eyes while he installed the new sign which he then wrapped in a white cloth and tied with ribbons.  Then, I was permitted to come outside for the unveiling:

We then had mezze and ouzo to celebrate, after which Foras led the dancing:


Paris and Carrie took the children to swim in the sea, and when Stell and I got to Milos, I had a chance to meet Katerina, a local woman recently elected to the Congress.  Stell says she is a forester and very qualified.

Margaret kai Katerina, new Greek Congresswoman

In the evening Foras and his wife, Katerina, came with a huge casserole of cod fish.  They dug onions out of our backyard, steamed them in a huge casserole and then cooked the fish.  Before the dinner we had octopus in a wine sauce, which Carrie and I ate "delicately", with the sound of Nic's words in our mind, "more tentacles, please."   Aggelos Katsaggelos and his mother joined us.  They all enjoyed the peaches from our tree (it's loaded this year) and halva, a moist cake like local dish made with something that has a cream of wheat or farina texture.  Georgia had brought it the night before.   Paris and I agree it is an "acquired" taste.  This morning Stell is washing lots of dishes.  Generally, he won't let anyone help, but a few times Carrie has snuck around him and washed a few.  He feels none of us wash dishes quite right.  Somewhat like his States-side perspective on loading a dishwasher.

Today we are supposed to go to Serapotami to swim and then to lunch in Ouranopouli with Mary and Anna.  I probably won't swim because I hate the rocky beach at Serapotami and also the infrequent presence of sea urchins.  It can't possibly be another Margaret's Day!  Nothing can top yesterday.




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