High into the mountains we go!

This weekend was the start of the real heat. Soaring into the 30's, we decided it was time to get out of the city and head into the mountains.

I feel very far from friends and family when I'm up here in Shkodera, but my sanity was tested as we headed further into the mountains. It was about to get even more remote.
I honestly don't know how the villagers cope so far from city life!

We took a break and swam in the river that ran along side the road. We met two young guys who fearlessly dived into the shallow river from high rocks.

Then to finish the day off, we came back down to the heat and ate cherries and dipped our feet in Olivers paddling pool.

Heading into the cool!!!

Is there anyone out there?

Clean, cold! water.

Jamie cooling off!

Yummy cherries!

Then that night a little friend moved in to help out with the mosquito problems...

Have a wonderful summer everyone!!!

Back into to the swing of Albanian life.

I just recently arrived back in Shkodera, Albania. And so we set to work opening up the house and making home.
Opening up the shutters, banging out the rugs and clearing the cobwebs, (and there were loads!... Not to mention the hairy spiders and lizards!)



The the next morning I set off to the market to stock up on the local fresh fruit and veg.

And when I came home, washed everything and stood back to see what I bought... What an amazing array of colour and vibrant choice just from a local market!
I like to go to the poorer ladies who lay everything on canvas on dirt tracks, but even they have such an amazing choice.

My market finds!

This next week is a mix of jobs. Our vine has a fungus on it, so I'm off to find a cure from any of the locals who is willing to help a ignorant foreign girl!

I'll be de-weeding the garden, whilst Oliver plays in the paddling pool with his dinosaurs. And trips to the gym to catch up with some of my girlfriends, whilst Jamie meets up with 'anthropology people' along side hiding in a cubby hole in the back of the house to work.

Ideas...

I'm just setting off for my travels to Albania. But I always have time for a blog!

This time I thought I'd show you some of my sewing that I'm working on. I'm hoping to open up my webpage again on apalipost  (checkout the apalipost blog!) - so I'm starting to get some ideas as to what I'd like to sell.

One idea is a book bag.

So here is a sample bag I made whilst I was on the retreat.

Resources

The templates

Me sewing them.

The end result...

A book bag!

I hope to make bags with lots of other designs on them, but this is just a start.

Carolyn uses the bag as a nappy bag. I have a beach bag... what would you use it for???

I set off for Albania in half an hour. It takes about two days to travel far into the north.
Audio stories, picnic, lots of music and car games... the car packed to the brim and I'm ready for another adventure... always!!!

Come! Let us go up to the mountain - And He will teach us his ways...

This last few days, I went on a retreat into the mountains. No internet, No mobile phones, No television and nature completely surrounding us.
It was my family and a number of friends from the UK and Germany.

The kids were with us too... and they had no toys but a box of animals and two umbrellas to play with. They had such a great time of creative play together. Its amazing what stories kids think up when their imagination runs off with them!

It was also a chance for us all to explore nature and open our eyes and make us aware of life and the spirit that surrounds us!

Playing together!

We ate together around a big marble table, had interesting conversations, I got my guitar out a couple of times... and we even ventured off the mountain for a dip in the sea!

Meals around the table...

Late night discussions...

Music and singing... 

Daddies and kiddies... or superman!

Dad connecting with nature!

Mainly it was a time to re-evaluate the journey life finds us on... and all the blessings that God has for us, but how we reach that!

We all made new friends, and went deeper with the those we knew! It was a refreshing time together and maybe next time YOU can join us!






Check out this website run by my Brother in Law... perhaps you'd like a holiday in Greece?

http://www.aioniagreece.com/Aionia_Greece/Parthenonas_Cottage.html