Nuka is Back

Since WinterWonderland you have not heard about Nuka. It is because she has been very extremely sick. In February she was attacked -without any reason- by another dog and bitten -very badly- to her throat. We had few step backs because of the injuries. She was taken care of at home -immediately after the surgery- because we don't have animal hospitals. It took several visits to vets, consulting them and all our skills to rehabilitate Nuka in both physical and mental way. If she had turn out aggressive -as the victim dogs often do- I must have put her down because the world doesn't need any more aggressive dogs. I would have managed with her but I am not always with her. That's why I don't handle with aggressive dogs and don't accept or feel pity for them. I am not alone with my dog in this world.

I am happy to tell, Nuka is back, even better than she used to be. While being sick she learnt a lot. It was a hard job but definitely worth of it. This summer she has been helping to teach Go to swim and enjoy about the water.

LittleGo is not so sure about the fun of water but slowly he is changing his mind. He started his lessons already on the last summer but because of his size and fur he gets wet & cold very easily in our arctic summer. It is not fair to keep anyone in the water when feeling cold; so with Go we do slow progress. When you look at  Nuka, you can see her fur acts differently when wet. She is mix bred arctic dog when Go is FineFrenchDog.

Remember to be respectful and sophisticated when teaching a dog to swim. I have blogged how to.

SilkRibbonEmbroidery

Believe or not but this is MyFirstEver SilkRibbonEmbroidery! I had a kit as a gift. It is designed by Crafty Ribbons. I think the print on the fabric is pretty enough to be used without any embroidery.

According to the instructions I used stem stitches for the stems. Stem stitch actually is one of MyFavourite embroidery stitches.

For the next step I needed MyStitch Dictionary. The leaves should have been embroidered by long stitches but I considered them not the best possible outfit for them. I found two alternatives; thorn stitch or...

...attached fly. I chose this one and made the right decision. As you can see I've been naughty and written on the book...

You can see how well attached fly stitches work with the leaves. As the original plan, I used long straight stitches and French knots for the stamens.

At this point the project still looked so great that I wondered if should I use the silk ribbon embroidery at all.

But I did. I still am not sure am I pleased with my silk ribbon embroidery skills or not. I just have to remind MySelf about the fact that this is MyFirstEver try at silk ribbon embroidery.

ChestTable

I promised to show you MyChestTable. Here it is. The whole story goes like this: Once upon a time there was a princess who wanted to have a chest in her living room. A chest to be used as a table. A chest into which she cloud put in all her important things so that no one else could see them. To find a good chest was difficult because the princess had no incomes from her kingdom. To find it was difficult despite she didn't seek the treasure, just the chest.

The princess was very determined because her prince had promised to fix what ever chest if she finds any. That's why the princess went to a recycling center where they recycle all king of vehicles. She knew they recycle also old military equipment. She knew they put items for sale in old boxes. She wanted one of those boxes.

They told her they need all the boxes and have none for sale. The princess could not give up. She offered her last 50€ for a big dirty wooden chest. The salesman could not refuse when he saw the money. So, they made a deal. The salesman emptied the chest and the princess could have the chest if she could carry it away by her own little hands, without any help.

Anyone who has met a real princess knows that they all can do a bit magic. The princess backed off her car as close the ware house door as she dares, rolled the chest to the car and rolled it up into her car.

At home, in a very small castle, the prince was very proud of his princess and filled his promise. At the very happy end the princess had her wooden ChestTable with four wheels under it so that she never needs to carry or roll it around again!

Mandalas

DearA sent Me a gift. It was Mandala Tote Bag Crochet Kit designed by WoollyChic. I have crochet a lot before but never a kit! So, it was quite exciting see it and realize it included it all. I just had to sit down and do it.

I love the fact that it all was in a fabric back which I can re-use when doing shopping. I  like about the idea that the bag has actually crochet design print. It is fun and reminds you to buy some more wool to do it again!

The kit had quite much wool to crochet. If you are a beginner and mess around, you don't need to worry at all. Just start it all over again. When I finished the 1st mandala there was a lot of wool left.

So, I decided to crochet another mandala. It turn out as pretty as the 1st one. After finishing the second one I wondered if there was still enough wool left for the 3rd one...

And there was! But that definitely was all. No more mandalas from this kit. Now I had three mandalas. I wondered what I should do with them...

Ta-dah!!! I made a table cloth for MyChestTable. And right now I realized -after going through all the blog post- that I have never ever introduced you MyChestTable despite it is on the background of several pics in this blog!!! I must show you the pics... I have them all...

BlanketNo6 (rose)

Do you remember my own design BlanketNo6? Now I've I crocheted similar but rose. They are like twins but the shade difference makes them look different.

Also for this blanket I used Schachenmayr's  KidLight yarn (38% nylon, 32% polyacryl and 30% mohair) (100g = 600m).

JukoBag

Last May I finished CardWeavingKit designed by Juko. Now I have finally sew it to the desired form. I must confess it is a nice little bag.

I made the lining to protect the woven outfit better. When you put things in and take out; during the time it begins to be seen in the woven fabric.

I designed the straps for the bag. This took quite long. I have been thinking what kind of they should be. I made the bag for use. That's why the straps should also bear the time. At the end I sew the straps from the lining fabric and decorated them by zigzag to fasten the loose end yarns!

At the end, I personalized it by a badge I bought from Prague last Christmas. Now it is perfect and every time I carry it I remember DearA. and Prague.

CreteDream (part18)

On 2017 I told you about a local Tavern Zorbas in Pigi. Now, after two years, we went back and I was happy to see there was two new taverns nearby. These two taverns are worth of visiting also from far. Of course all the portions are not gluten free but coeliacs won't stay hungry nor be turn away.

I absolutely fell in love with The Leaky Cauldron tavern. The staff speaks good English. The best thing is that the chef is professional and he understood the meaning of coeliac disease and gluten free diet when I shoved him the info leaflet about it. I didn't need to explain or excuse. I didn't feel like being a trouble but I felt like being a customer! We had dinner there for many times during our holiday.

Another good experience was Paprika.  This was another perfect tavern to eat well and gluten free. I have nothing but good to say about this place either.

PS. Crete is well known about its healthy diet and a bit obsessed people to its food. My travels on the island have only proved, that they are not negatively obsessed on their food. If you have a special diet, they all are only happy to find something you can eat. Coeliac disease is quite unknown in Greece and Crete. When I show my info leaflet translated to Greek and explain I am sick, not a picky one, they are very friendly and understand how important thing it is to avoid gluten. Even in Scandinavia I am sometimes turned away from the restaurants and cafes. But in Crete, in family taverns, they even invite me into the kitchen to show how they make my food that it is safe for me to eat. My recommendation for all travelling with coeliac disease in Crete is to favor family taverns and be honest with your trouble, they will feed you safe and sound. 💙

CreteDream (part17)

Crete is full of beaches. On some of them you can even swim with horses. You can find silent ones and full booked ones. If it is too windy to swim in the sea you can try out one of the few lakes.

We love Lake Kournas. This year the water was still on June - July much higher than usual and you could not see the sand beaches or enjoy about them in Kournas. It is because of the huge rains and floods Crete has faced on the last winter and spring season (climate change is here, use your brains to help it out). Still, there was pedal boats for rent and you could just go into the middle of the lake and start swimming there. Lake Kournas is a great place to spot some flora and fauna too. I never have pic there because we often go by horses but you do can get there by a car too.

The beach pictured on these two pics is Preveli Palm Beach known also Preveli palmgrove.  You can google it and find information about it. But, one thing internet doesn't seem to tell you is the fact that there is the 3rd way to access to Preveli Palm Beach. It is the most easiest one. Of course, then you won't see the spectacular view using the steep stairs provide you.

If you have no good legs and physical fitness... or you have a heart problem, I recommend you to avoid the stairs because at the end, you need to climb them back up when going home. If you want to see the view you can go there on early morning when the sun is not so hot yet and walk down the stairs just little bit to see it all. Mind our steps!

The most easiest way to go to Preveli Palm Beach is to go to Plakias that locates 10 km west from Preveli palmgrove. ??? !!! Yes, just go to Plakias and take a boat trip to Preveli Palm Beach!!!!! So simple is that! I know, I love you too! 😍

(It cost a bit but it saves you from the walking under the hot hot Crete Sun but still you can experience the palmgrove. I didn't take the boat trip but I bet the views from the sea are great and spectacular too. You can consider to stay a night or few in a small & cosy Plakias and use one day for a trip to see Preveli Palm Beach.)

No matter which country or beach you visit or do you just stay home, remember the nature. If you want to participate on practical work take a look at Archelon. Easiest way is -of course- to pay attention on your own action AND donate some money for the society via internet. On Crete Archelon has stands all over the island, just keep your eyes open. They share the information, sell few items and have a money donation box there. If you see a volunteer going a round in the blue T-shirt you can always go to talk with them.

CreteDream (part16)

Crete has plenty of gorges to go and see the beautiful nature of the island. Samaria Gorge is big and challenging. Mili Gorge is smaller and easier to see. HopOn HopOff buss from Rethymno can take you there. It is easy to go there just to walk a half kilometer and visit the tavern and have a small adventure with your children. You do need proper walking ability to go there, but you can see quite beautiful scenes just with a short walk (with long stairs).

If you are curious to see more you can walk all the way down and back. That makes for about 6 km all together. But the way back is -of course- up hill. You can also walk only down hill. At the end there's a village and you can call a taxi there to drive you back to your accommodation place; if you want to avoid walking back to up hill.

In Mili Gorge you can pay attention to its flora and fauna and discover the magic of it.

CreteDream (part15)

Crete is full of caves. On 2017 we visited IdeonCave and SfentoniCave and on 2019 MatalaBeachCaves. If you have time to see only one but would like to see something great I recommend to see MelidoniCave.  I like its lightning because it is more natural than SfentoniCave. The entrance is open so the air feels better and easier to breath (SfentoniCave has closed entrance). The cave is also much higher than SfentoniCave. Unfortunately you need a good ability to walk (also stairs) when stepping down into MelidoniCave; but it is much easier to access than IdeonCave.

Can you spot a huge man on the pic? There is his head right above the center of the pic. He has a huge body and he seems to sit and think.

CreteDream (part14)

Rethymno has few museums. They are not well adverted nor big but still they have something to show. In Rethymno The Venetian Fortress Fortezza has museums. 

Historical and Folk Art Museum -for sure- fascinates all craft lovers. It is not so big, so it is easy to go in and have a break to see what's up.

The Nekropolis of Armenoi is Minoan cemetery that locates 8 km south of Rethymno. It is a beautiful and peaceful place. Its treasures have been transferred and secured to Archeological Museum of Rethymno which too is a small indoor museum. I recommend you to see both; the nekropolis and museum.

Paleontological Museum definitely is a place you should bring all the LittlePeople who are interested about dinosaurs etc.  Again, a very small place but it is sometimes good if you want to educate children to get interested about the museums and history.

***

Here are five museums mentioned. Fortezza and Nekropolis of Armenoi can be very hot places but offer a great adventure also for school aged children. If you go to see them, remember to have a flash light to create better adventure! Notice that the prices are not high and they have also reduced fees for students and children get usually free ticket.

CreteDream (part13)

Matala Beach Caves are interesting to be seen and investigated. You need to pay few euro fee to get in. I think it is reasonable because on the other way people would go in to camp and none would be able to go and see the caves. Worth of paying and visiting.

Pack up some attitude for the filthy toilets, broken dressing rooms and huge crowds; then you'll be just fine. There are plenty of taverns and hotels which services you are of course able to use when being their customer.

It would be interesting to see this place in March or October when there are less people...

In Matala you can see beautiful street art on the walls and on the street, just look down where you walk. I think this is the best book shop advert I have ever seen!

CreteDream (part12)

Hello hello hello! I am back! From Crete! We stayed in the same house as two years ago. That proves it is good. 😊 I am not going to show you the same places I did two years ago. Only the new ones we visited.

This is The Minoan Palace Phaistos. It is very interesting place. The location is a bit isolated so it is not crowded by the tourists like Palace of Knossos. Still there are proper toilets, souvenir shop and tavern; so, you'll be just fine there.

From the palace opens up great view down to the valley. It is very hot up there but you can find few shadow places and bring your water bottle.