Advocating Creator

Advocating Creator

It's Been A While, I Know

Yes, I am going to continue with this blog; I've just been too busy!! We will take up with the Armadillo and myself on the Algarve after we look at the Turtle's graduation pictures.

Where I've Been

create your own visited countries map

Sorry I haven't written for a while. Shoulder is still hurting; getting ready for Leslie's Rhodes graduation.
And for all of you who have deplored (and snidely laughed at) my bagphone from about 1991 - I'm gettin a phone that is like everyone else's - I can actually put it in my purse! It's a hand-me-down; I'm getting Jeff's old phone because he just updated to a sleek black thing. I just have to activate it (soon) and change from my old bagphone.
Ah....it's the end of an era!

The Cluny Chronicles cell phone graduation maps Weblog Cluny Grey Jewelry

Me, Illogical?

How Logical Are You?
Go take this test to see just how logical you are. Then, I'll tell you my score if you'll tell me yours!

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Smile, Smile, Smile

Getting DH to smile is almost impossible. Doesn't he look as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders?

husband picture The Cluny Chronicles

Religious Test: Do You Pass?

Oh, boy! I did my best to answer honestly, and here are the results. I think that it is interesting that I have more in common with Islam that Roman Catholicism, and that Catholicism is last on the list, especially when one considers my reverence for the rituals, the happiness I have in a cathedral, and how much I enjoy attending mass, not to mention my fascination with the lives of the saints and early martyrs and my collection of retablos and other Christian art. I also thought I would rank higher on Hinduism, though I not surprised at all about the Buddhism.
Be blessed! Peace to All!
Cluny

Your Results:

The top score on the list below represents the faith that Belief-O-Matic, in its less than infinite wisdom, thinks most closely matches your beliefs. However, even a score of 100% does not mean that your views are all shared by this faith, or vice versa.
Belief-O-Matic then lists another 26 faiths in order of how much they have in common with your professed beliefs. The higher a faith appears on this list, the more closely it aligns with your thinking.

1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (97%)
3. Unitarian Universalism (93%)
4. New Age (92%)
5. Liberal Quakers (83%)
6. Reform Judaism (80%)
7. Hinduism (77%)
8. New Thought (74%)
9. Bah�'� Faith (73%)
10. Theravada Buddhism (72%)
11. Sikhism (70%)
12. Scientology (68%)
13. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (68%)
14. Jainism (59%)
15. Orthodox Judaism (59%)
16. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (58%)
17. Taoism (55%)
18. Orthodox Quaker (53%)
19. Islam (48%)
20. Secular Humanism (46%)
21. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (33%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (33%)
23. Seventh Day Adventist (27%)
24. Nontheist (25%)
25. Jehovah's Witness (21%)
26. Eastern Orthodox (19%)
27. Roman Catholic (19%

I did expect to score high in the Hindu and Buddhist religions since I know I have commonalities there.
By the way, I am going to take the test again, and watch how I "weight" each answer more carefully; I don't particularly like being branded a "Neo-pagan." Good, very interesting test. To take it, go to:
Religion Test



religion Christianity Personal Islam Weblog Neo-Pagan Buddhism God Catholic Hindu

Okay, Is This Getting Weird Yet?

Above you see one portion of one of my bedroom walls; it is covered in religious art. A couple of people were in my house not long ago and I saw them looking at the walls and I thought, uh, oh, have I wandered into the weird with all of my artifacts?
The top painting is an original retablo, or folk art work made by someone or commissioned by someone to say thank you to God for some boon or miracle. It is done on tin and still has the nail hole in the top where it was nailed to a church wall or to some kind of display in the church. Below that is a plaster replica I got of an icon from a monastery on the island of Patmos in Greece; I love it because it is an icon, I bought it in Greece, and it has my favorite colours of peach and gold. To the right of it is a tryptych that I received from my son and daughter-in-law who are living in Portugal. They know how much I love religious icons (I was terrified I would lose it on the flight home somehow). I love this one for itself and because they gave it to me.

In this picture you can still the two "santos" or little wooden statues of saints that I have on the pedastels on either side of the mirrour. Beautiful colours delight me! (These santos are reproductions).

Finally here is a portion of my bedside table covered more artifacts: an old religious card framed in a mother-of-pearl style and rhinestone decorated frame that my sister Gaye bought for me (she's gotten me lots!). In front of it is a little firgure of the Virgin and Child I got in Granada, Spain, a lovely old metal framed Madonna that my daughter-in-law got for me from Portugal, and next to it a silver tryptych with a gold Madonna inside that I bought in Seville, Spain. To the right is my favorite porcelain bisque Infant of Prague figure - bought for me by my sister Gaye. He has on a peach robe edged in gold and he has blue rhinestones in his crown; I have never seen another one like this with blue rhinestones. It is a real treasure to me. My newest acquisition is the little blue and white church (you can't see all of it in the picture) that my daughter-in-law brought me when she came to visit from Portugal this week.
Okay, so is this weird or what? And if you think that this is weird, wait until I post pictures of the things in my study, the den, and the living room. This is a collection, but it is certainly a "loaded" one, not just with my memories.
Have I overdone it? (You can't even see all the rosaries I have, and, by the way, I'm not, nor was I reared, a Catholic).
Cluny Grey The Cluny Chronicles religion Madonna Virgin art artifact Portugal santos retablo icon Catholic Cluny Grey Jewelry

Okay, I Know, Enough Already (But I Love These Things!)

You Have a Melancholic Temperament

Introspective and reflective, you think about everything and anything. You are a soft-hearted daydreamer. You long for your ideal life. You love silence and solitude. Everyday life is usually too chaotic for you. Given enough time alone, it's easy for you to find inner peace. You tend to be spiritual, having found your own meaning of life. Wise and patient, you can help people through difficult times. At your worst, you brood and sulk. Your negative thoughts can trap you. You are reserved and withdrawn. This makes it hard to connect to others. You tend to over think small things, making decisions difficult.

What Temperment Are You?

life daydreamer Cluny Grey Jewelry introvert

Okay, So It's Been A While!

Imagine having to pack up not only this cut glass, but twice as much that you can't see! We're selling a lot of it, somehow, but it will still have to be packed! Oh, and I haven't even mentioned yet the huge heavy furniture that has to be dealt with.
Sorry I haven't posted here lately, and I do mean to continue with "Travels with My Aunt" the Armadillo's saga of motoring and testing the beverages around Spain and Portugal. But meanwhile, my father-in-law's house has been sold and there is an unbelievable amount of work to be done to divide the various things in the house and deal with the cut glass. Also, my DIL just arrived last night from Lisbon to spend about a week with us and the cats. Meanwhile, Valentine's Day is coming up and I need to get the jewelry made and posted if I am to sell it for that holiday.
The Turtle is doing great in D.C. (more than great; one Turtle that never gets flipped on her shell, but so far lands on all fours with tail wagging and little head poked out curiously). The Armadillo has moved into a house in Fayetteville, and I'm waiting (anxiously) to hear from him about it. I've got to get there and to D.C. in the next month or 2 and I don't know how I'm going to do it!
Travels with My Aunt Armadillo weblog The Cluny Chronicles cut glass

Am I Cool Or What?!

Your Life Path Number is 11

Your purpose in life is to inspire others Your amazing energy draws people to you, and you give them great insight in return. You hold a great amount of power over others, without even trying. You have the makings of an inventor, artist, religious leader, or prophet. In love, you are sensitive and passionate. You connect with your partner on a very deep level. You have great abilities, but you are often way too critical of yourself. You don't fit in - and instead of celebrating your differences, you dwell on them. You have high expectations of yourself. But sometimes you set them too high and don't achieve anything.

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Cluny Grey Life Weblog

Surprise!!!

How evil are you?

The Last Letter from Lisbon

Yes, it is the last letter, since we'll be flying home tomorrow morning and I have no idea when I'll ever be back in Lisbon. This was my 5th trip here and I've grown to love the city; it's a human-sized city, seemingly small in many ways, with much to see and do.
Last night, as a fitting farewell of sorts, we went to Parreirinha de Alfama and heard fado, the mournful national folk songs of Portugal. Fado is what jazz is to New Orleans, the blues are to Memphis and Mississippi. We heard 4 great fado singers, and the 2 oldest women were definitely the best. Son says that fado is sorrow and anguish born out of experience, so it makes sense that one must be older to sing it well (These 2 ladies were in their 60's-70's). In a crowded part of the old Alfama we walked out into a square, then through a doorway down into a long low-ceilinged room that was whitewashed and had blue tiles. We ate dinner first: delicious sea bass; in honour of the Armadillo, I washed it down with a bit of vinho verde, even though it wasn't the right season for it. It was still good though.
So tomorrow we do nothing but fly and fly and then make the drive home from Memphis. Lisbon has so much: the sea, the city, the hills, proximity to many places; I just wish it were a little warmer in winter! The Cluny Chronicles

Third Letter from Lisbon

Let me tell you what not to do when you are in another country and you want to make every minute count: get sick. I haven't had a cold for over 10 years, but last Tuesday I had the grandmother of all colds just to make up for it. I didn't get out of bed until Saturday, and then during a visit to El Corte Ingles, I got so overheated, I went to bed again when I got back to Son's. But though weak, I'm ready to go to the Chiado, Baixa or wherever, and I've got to make the next 4 days really count!
We're going to go out to lunch in a minute, and believe me, I am starved to death! Thank goodness I waited until after Christmas to get sick! I'm looking forward to some good Portuguese food, but not necessarily bacalhau (cod) as it is seldom fresh. During the last few days, I was too sick to work on jewelry, even read, so I am now going stir crazy.
Since it's Monday, all the museums are closed, but I may see if I can go to the Alfama and go to the Cathedral de Se, a Romanesque church that may be the oldest in the city.
cathedral Lisbon Portugal

Another Letter from Lisbon

Hello, All! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
I am now the owner of my very own yad, which for those of you who don't know is the pointer used to follow the words in the Torah since it is forbidden to touch the pages of the Torah with human hands. I forgot which century this is (still spacey from flying-(18th?) and it is solid silver, beautifully chased, and just wonderful! My family were amazed that I knew what it was when I opened it; they had all seen it in the antique store and not even John knew what it was. I don't think I've ever seen one for sale in an antique store before. There were a couple of others and they were bought to go into a museum in Coimbra (the beautiful University town here in Portugal).
We went to the one star restaurant in Cascais and it was unbelievable! I thought of my friend Jorja almost the entire time. The view was lovely, a grey day, but wet-suited surfers were beyond the windows trying to stay on the Atlantic breakers. We had a Portuguese chardonnay that was heaven. Scallops that melted in the mouth like butter, sea bass with truffles, the others had venison with chestnuts, but I just had the vegetables being vegetarian although the chef just couldn't send it out that way and had the waiter tell me he was going to give me fresh cod - the key word being fresh here. It was the most delicious cod I've ever had, and Portugal is the land of bacalhau. We had a buche de Noel, pot de chocolat that was absolutely one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth, with a cafe ice on the side, and still more. Sorry Jorja, I can't think of the others right now, but I'll write them down when I do so that I won't forget. The meal was truly worthy of the praise John, Son, and DIL had given it.
We drove back home along the coastline so that I could get my fill of the waves splashing on shore (not that I ever could). It was one of the best Christmases I have ever had. Portugal yad cuisine Cluny Grey Jewelry

Letter from Lisbon

Merry Christmas, Everyone! It is Christmas here already in Lisbon (2:00 a.m.) . Christmas Eve has been very busy, and I just got in yesterday. Stepped off the plane at 8:00 a.m., then stayed up all day (and I don't sleep on planes) visiting with John Davis, my son's "adopted" brother, and didn't go to bed until after 11:00 or 12:00. I slept great, even though that Angola airplane that leaves every morning awakened me, but it was the best awakening because I realized I was in Lisbon in a very comfortable bed and I didn't have to get up anytime soon. Bliss!
We saw "Narnia " in the afternoon. The talking animals which could have been cutesy weren't; they were just perfect. Of course, Disney made it a little "Disney-ish" in places where it should have had more a "Lord of the Rings" mood or that sense of realism (the snowy Narnia is beautiful, and no one gets red noses or really cold; I think the snow should have been frightening). Of course I know little children should be able to see this too. But when I remember reading the book in grade school one of the things that I remember is that there was a sense of harshness in the world (which children certainly understand) and indifference (which children definitely understand) that made what went on in Narnia important. But Aslan was right - and they could have done him badly but thankfully didn't.
I need to go to bed. Tomorrow we have first seating at a Michelin Guideone-star restaurant that Son and Daughter-in-law went to 2 days ago and adored. They were with John who carried on a wonderful and knowledgable dialogue with the sommelier so that the wines were absolutely superb! I can't wait! Disney sommelier Lisbon Portugal

Merry Christmas!

My idea of a wonderful Christmas!!!

Cascais

I haven't been posting lately because I have been so busy with jewelry. But on to Cascais, a fairly short train journey from Lisbon which the Armadillo and I did for a day trip. Yes, people do go topless on this beach, although the only topless pictures here will be of the Armadillo. We loved Cascais. The train station is right on the beach and the beach has great resources (chairs, umbrellas, plenty of places for food, drink, sunscreen) yet for the first of June was remarkably quiet, I thought. There weren't thousands of people going topless, but there was one young attractive girl who, obviously not Portuguese, preened, stretched, and otherwise did everything she could to call attention to herself. I was fascinated, but the Armadillo didn't seem that enthusiastic.

Portugal

The Armadillo Captures the Castle

More Travels with my Aunt


There are so many places to go in Lisbon, so little time - even though we know we're staying around for a month - but we do have to go to Spain. One of the first places that we go is the Castelo de Sao Jorge since it affords a wonderful opportunity to see Lisbon stretching out to the Tagus River. The castle was an hilltop citadel of the Moors, and in 1147 King Afonso Henriques turned it into the residence of the Portuguese kings. It was in ruins after the 1755 earthquake and was rebuilt beginning in 1938. We go from the Baixa or low part of the city and take a trolley up to the cobblestone streets of Santa Cruz where we walk the rest of the way. The observation terrace is great, and we walk the ramparts imagining that we belong to another century. I try to get pictures of the Armadillo with almost nothing but the city and river below him so that he looks dangerously high - these are to show his mother! (Second picture, studying Portuguese late at night out on the balcony at Son's apartment in Lisbon; across the street is a park).

(Third picture at left) The Armadillo captures the castle!







(Fourth picture at left). The castle captures the Armadillo.


We leave the Barrio Alto (the high part of the city) and go to the Chiado (sort of the Rodeo Drive of Lisbon with Hermes and Lalique and other boutiques). There the Armadillo experiences a true rite of passage: he orders his first glass of vinho verde from the waiter who doesn't even blink. A young wine for a young Armadillo! And this vinho verde(green wine) was heavenly. On past trips, I rarely drank it, but this time it was my beverage of choice besides guarana and diet Coke. It was also to be quite a favorite with the Armadillo.
The Armadillo is in the middle under the umbrella; click on the picture (any or all of them) to enlarge it to full screen. He appears quite sophisticated for someone trying to ignore the middle-aged woman who is trying to take his picture from across the way!
Armadillo The Cluny Chronicles Portugal

Travels with my Aunt

Want to have some real fun in life? Take a 17 year old boy (aka the Armadillo) to Portugal and Spain where you will spend part of the time with your handsome son and devastatingly beautiful daughter-in-law in Lisbon, travel to the beaches and sights in the surrounding areas, then rent a little car and the two of you go off to the Algarve and wander around the beaches and hills and cities of Spain. Wow! And you thought you had a life! By the way, if my sister ever reads the Graham Greene book or sees the movie -Travels with My Aunt I'm in trouble!

Omigod! Gucci sunglasses! You mean you can SHOP on this flight?
(Uh,oh, the Armadillo can outshop the best of them! My purse feels lighter already!)(Trans-Air Portugal just after boarding our flight in Newark for Lisbon). Yes, that curly hair is natural.
Not a really long flight; leaves about 8:00 at night and you arrive at Lisbon at about 6:00 in the morning. You lose 6 hours along the way. Of course, after finally getting through Immigration, etc., we go to the apartment, but is there any rest for the weary? Of course, not! Luckily on the corner of the block is a little restaurant I like, appropriately enough Tatu - which means - yes, Armadillo. Fate is a funny thing, isn't it? And some people believe in coincidence!
A few hours of sleep, then Son and DIL come home from work; Son takes us downtown where the Armadillo is delighted no end because on his first night, someone actually sidles up to him and asks him (in Portuguese, which is really good) if he wants to buy some hashish!
Now I ask you: Can Armadillos smile?
The answer is "Yes!"

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Millicent and Agent Orange

Interesting title, I thought, but actually Millicent and Agent Orange have nothing to do with one another except that each has a connection to me.
Millicent is my sister's new cat; a female who is less than 1 year old, who has had one litter of kittens, all given to good homes, and who, of course, was a rescued cat by my sister and her husband. She is currently giving the cat and dog in residence hell! I am happy for her - that she has found such a good home, and once she realizes that Coolio and Darcy like to play - she will settle back and enjoy her good fortune. Right now she is following old teaching advice: for the first few weeks of the new school year, be mean as hell, get your bluff in so the kids don't run over you, and then you can relax later. Smart move.
"Agent Orange" as I refer to the cotton defoliants that are currently being sprayed all around me (and yes, I live in town, not in the country, but in a part of Arkansas surrounded by cotton fields) has made me a prisoner in my own home, and for right now in my bedroom, bathroom, and studio where I have 2 air filters running at top speed so that I can breathe, and so that maybe the sores in my mouth and nose, and my blistered lips won't get any worse. Can you believe that people do this to themselves? Everyone here knows what is happening, but apparently a cotton crop is far more important, and to be fair, while the whole town goes around with "allergies", a "cold", and mutters about the defoliants, not everyone is necessarily affected as much as I am - although I am sure that there are some people who are probably feeling worse, especially if they don't have air filters. C'est la vie, c'est la morte.

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