Ode to old walls and peeling paint

Went walking alone this morning, 

actually I got lost, among some appealing side streets and dead ends. 

Birgu is like a maze. I ended up walking for far longer then I had expected and with this growing belly, that long walk back up the hill felt mighty long!!!

May your weekends hold some inviting sights and sounds and your legs not get too weary! 

Looking out to Bormla

You know your in the Mediterranean when.... you park the car next to a rubble wall and find an abundance of grapes, a few paces away an overgrown wild fig tree heavy with fruit.

Views of the three cities,  a 15 min walk from where we live and an area which I am increasingly growing more fond of. The top left picture was taken while picking my son up from his art class, this past weekend they were drawing and painting in an old building built by the knights in the 16th century (a really beautiful, but sadly mostly closed up and locked away building) the children were very lucky to have been able to use the space and to have gotten the chance to gaze out the windows and enjoy for themselves the harbours below (Birgu from one side and Bormla from the other). 

Looking forward

Thank you for all for your  thoughtful comments. Traveling state side in a weeks time for the funeral, looking forward to seeing my sisters, brothers, nephews, uncles, aunts and parents.

Recently the Mr and I walked down to this restaurant(Lupanara) in Birgu, it is literally built into a cave, along the backside of Fort St. Angelo, which dates back to the Phoenician period. Was a nice evening, and sitting out near the water we managed to catch a wee whisper of a breeze (the heat has been a little overwhelming these last weeks). 

**Side note. Am reading a book called the Sword and the Scimitar which describes the period when this area was a thriving hub of activity (1560's) - a good read if you like history and are at all interested in Malta. 

• Needing a little smile? Have a look here ! 

Returning

Sometimes things do somehow fall into place and you are reminded subtly that you are creating memories that not only your kids will (with luck) recall but yourselves as parents as well. Moments you want to savour, the cheery meandering of conversations, the light, smells and sounds. There were many of these in the last five weeks. On back porches, picnics on rolling midwstern country sides, and near campfires in the northern woods looking out at Lake Superior ….the squeals of kids in the background and the sweet company of old friends. Yes, feeling very revived and refreshed. The course now finished. It’s time for sewing, reading, painting, cooking and running.

The sounds of our neighbours trumpet echoing through the courtyard and fire works from Birgu's Festa pounding in the distance.... sweltering heat.. and the season of feasts. A fine welcome back to Malta. Best of all still fig season! This time a small kind (two inches rather than the earlier dark purple four inch size).... made some ice cream yesterday which came out quiet well. Roughly it was 250 ml fresh cream, 400 grams fresh peeled soft figs and 1/3 cup good quality honey. 

Dinner out- what a novelty!

Off to Birgu (pictured here )

a 15 min walk from our door, I can't really complain. Italian opera is sending us on our way (that neighbour of ours is at it again- this time blasting old Italian records) at least its fairly romantic... almost makes me feel like I have walked into a movie set. No art projects accomplished this week- apart from making some cinnamon honey ice cream (which was tastey!) and an impromptu orange plum upside down tart today for guests, its been a rather quiet week here oh yes, found out I got accepted into a masters program which starts in gasp.. just over a weeks time! Right along side the Maltese lessons... busy days ahead. Buona notte from me and Andrea Bocelli.