Two years ago....

Two years ago my husband passed away unexpectedly at the age of just 61. Yesterday my son and I and close friends gathered around his grave in remembrance, and my daughter paid homage to him, too, in Seattle.

The day after his funeral my son and daughter and I returned to the grave, where we found a little gray squirrel who stuck around for a while. On the one year anniversary, just as the Orthodox priest began his service, a pigeon flew down and landed on the cross which bore his name and stayed the entire time, seeming to listen attentively. Yesterday, before we gathered at the grave, I stopped off at my son's place. I was sitting with my back to the window when my son's wife said, 'Oh, look!' There was a colorful butterfly trapped between the curtain and the window. I carefully caught it and let it go.

Signs? I kind of like to think so. The butterfly in my photo is not the one I caught, but since I didn't have my camera with me yesterday, this photo will represent it.

It's a cliche, but I can't believe he's gone....

SUNDAY BRIDGES -The bridge to Lido Beach

It's nearly the end of the summer, but it's still hot here. Many people who could not get away to a big beach this summer (or even if they did) like to spend a day on one of Belgrade's riverbank beaches. Lido Beach is located on Great War Island and every summer the Municipality of Zemun sets up a pontoon bridge across this section of the Danube for sunbathers to reach the island.

Did you cross any bridges to reach a beach this year?

Check out more bridges at Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridges.

REFLECTIONS WEEKEND--Harley, Harley, Harley!

All decked out and ready to go. This Happy Harley rider was waiting at a red light and I didn't hesitate to snap his photo. Love his shirt...

And if you want a good har, har, turn on your speakers and check out this Youtube video.


See other reflections at James' Reflections Weekend.

SKYWATCH --The Bayrakli Mosque

I've been past the Bayrakli Mosque downtown many times, but never bothered to learn much about it. Here's a paraphrasing of what Wikipedia says:

"The Bajrakli Mosque ('bayrak' is Turkish for "flag" ) is located in the Dorcol neighborhood of Belgrade. It was built around 1575, and is the only mosque in the city out of the 273 that had existed during the time of the Ottoman Empire's rule of Serbia.

During the Austrian occupation of Serbia between 1717 and 1739, it was converted into a Roman Catholic church; but after the Ottomans retook Belgrade, it was returned to its original function.

It was damaged after being set on fire on March 18, 2004, during that year's unrest in Kosovo in response to the burning of Serbian churches in Kosovo, but was repaired later."

See other skies at SKYWATCH.

Aero Klub Restaurant

These are the stairs leading up to the Aero Klub Restaurant in the center of Belgrade. The link I've given will take you to the site, which, despite an English flag to click on (nothing comes up in English!) is in Serbian, but you can see additional photos. This Club is a beautiful place; was at a wedding reception there once.

ABC Wednesday "E" is for "erotic"

I can see a couple of items here that would fall into the 'erotic' category. Maybe you would like to buy something to combine with the sandals I showed yesterday....

See other E's on ABC WEDNESDAY.

Sexy Sandals

This type of 'boot' sandal was all the rage here this summer. Some have high heels like these and some are flat. I didn't like them at first, but now I do.

Enjoy the moment

The alternate title for this post could have been "Before Take-off," since my friend is leaving Belgrade today for NYC where she lives. I took this photo when she and I were having a (very) cool drink in Zemun, one of Belgrade's adjacent municipalities.

Unlike the dragonfly I posted here a short while back, this fellow stayed put a long time, as if enjoying the view.

I think we should all do this. I do now. Today, 5 years ago today, I finished an eight-month chemotherapy treatment here in Belgrade for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which I never suspected I had until it was fortunately detected early through my yearly physical. So far, so good.

One never knows how many days one has, so I try to take advantage of every single one.

Sunday Bridges- "Walls and Bridges"

Here it is Sunday again and I am without a real bridge. What's a girl to do except think really hard?

As you see, the spirit of the fabulous John Lennon inspired me with the cover from his album Walls and Bridges. And two of these pairs of glasses are sitting on the bridge of my nose or close.

Long Live John Lennon.

Check out other bridges, the regular kind and the maybe not-so-ordinary at Louis' Sunday Bridges.

Reflections Weekend--The Yellow Fiat

I came across this car in a gallery window downtown. It is a Fiat, year unknown to me. There were a couple of other cars inside, but I couldn't go in since the gallery was closed. I like the contrast between the old Fiat and the newer cars reflected in the glass.

See more reflections on James' Reflections Weekend.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY--twilight over New Belgrade

Aside from its overall beauty, Kalemegdan Park offers a splendid view of the rivers and the plain on which New Belgrade lies. In the summer, retired people, lovers, and families vie for a bench to watch the sun go down. Or some just sit and eat ice cream and ignore the view...!

I got a bench and watched the people, too.

Check out other skies at SKYWATCH.