Wish you were here

Wish you were here

imageThere is one thing that changed when she left….everything.
We are forever changed.
She will never be forgotten.
We will always have a piece of our heart that smiles when we think of her.
With beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
She is mine.
She is yours.
Our Angels in Heaven.
They are our Mother’s

(Dedicated to Nikola & Aleksandra)

Words: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Title: “Wish you were here” – Pink Floyd 
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo

The Saint Song

She will love you

protect you,

she will give her own life.

You will look to her for help

and at times forgiveness.

She will be devoted to you forever and a day.

She will never leave you side

She is your saint,

Your guardian.

Hold her close to your heart,

Like she does yours

 – This is Roshambo

CvetaPetka

Saint Petka (Cveta Petka) protector of women, the sick and the poor

Photography & words: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Title: “The Saint Song” – Paul Camarata
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo

Pretty Paper

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A seed was planted a year ago today. And over that time a small tree has begun to flourish, to which we’ve used its branches to make pretty paper, the traditional symbol used for a 1st anniversary gift.  “This is Roshambo’s” first story was born with dedication to my late mother, on what was her birthday.

With fragile beginnings, the pages of my blog slowly filled, growing stronger with each story. And today marks a new chapter.

Even though “Roshambo” lives through a digital age, the simple, everyday material, paper, reminds us of a clean slate. A fresh start for new hopes and ideas. It is also used to write letters of love….so I take this symbolic piece of paper and write to you…..

Thank you to all of my friends, family and Roshambo followers. With deepest gratitude I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your love and support over this last year. Thank you and I hope you will continue to follow me and enjoy the journey of “This is Roshambo”. Especially from those dear to me that helped make “This is Roshambo” happen.

To my Mother

and my greatest supporter,

wishing you a Happy Birthday.

Thank you for loving me.

To love and be loved

is one of the greatest gifts of all……

This is Roshambo

 

Artwork & words: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Videography: Alexander Kitanoski
Title: “Pretty Paper” – Roy Orbison
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo

 

The Little Shoemaker

The art of making beautiful, hand made leather shoes does not only exist in Milan (Italy).

Photo of opinći castsLet me introduce to you, the little shoemaker.

Photo of opinci with Milan the opinčar in the background

In Ohrid, Macedonia, you will find “Milan” the 89 year old “Opinčar” who still makes traditional Macedonian “Opinci.”

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With over 70 years experience Milan still has the talent, patience and skill to make these handcrafted shoes.

Opinčar  Opinčar

Opinčar  Opinčar

With less of a demand from the general public, ‘Opinci’ are still used today by traditional folk dancing groups all over the world.

Opinčar  Opinčar

Opinčar  _DKI0311

Milan the Opinčar is an institution in Ohrid Macedonia, with many tourists buying his handmade leather Opinci as beautiful souvenirs.

Opinčar  _DKI0312

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Opinčar

Head down to the “korzo” and buy yourself a piece of history before Milan retires!

Milan the Opinčar standing at the front of his shop in Ohrid Macedonia

Photography & words: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Title: “The little shoemaker” – Rosemary Clooney  
Opinčar: Milan S. Belevski / Опинчар: Милан С.Белевски
Assistant editor: Anica Kitanoska
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo

 

Your mother and mine

watercolour drawing / painting of hairspray and hair brush by Diane Kitanoski

My mother would always do my hair when I was a little girl.  She would sit there for hours putting curlers in my hair preparing for dancing competitions.  And I always went to school with the smoothest of ponytails, never a bump in sight.  A few years ago I asked her to help me with my hair and I passed her the hair brush and she said, “Why are you using this old thing?”  I told my Mum “I use this brush because it reminds me of you and of when I was a little girl.”  I still use that same brush today.

My Mum’s  mother, my maternal grandmother, used to brush my hair before school using this same hair brush.  And to make my hair as smooth as possible she would ‘spit’ on the brush to smooth out the frizzy bits!  Yes, you read that right!  But I was on to her.  When it was time to brush my hair I would get a bowl of water that she could dip the brush in instead of spitting on it and I would turn off the cartoons so I could see her reflection in the TV, just in case she reverted back to her old tricks.

My Dad’s mother, my paternal grandmother, would always let me use her hairspray when I was a little girl, I just loved the way it smelled.  You guessed it, Cedel hairspray in the pink can.  Just like that old hair brush, you can find the pink can in my vanity.  And yes I still use it to this day.  Not because it’s necessarily my favourite one, but because it reminds me of one of my favourite ladies.

My most favourite one of them all is my Mum. 

And today is Mother’s Day for her and her Mum and my Dad’s Mum too. 

All three angels.

Whether your Mum is an angel on earth or an angel in heaven too,

Happy Mother’s Day to your mother and mine.

 

Artwork: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Title: “Your mother and mine” – Wendy from Peter Pan
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo

Broken Heart

A year ago today my heart broke forever.

You took a piece of me,
a piece of all of us,
with you.

Nothing time will ever heal
Instead, a lesson of how it will be from now on

They say to remember the good times
I’ll tell you what I do remember,
I remember how you used to say…..

“This is fuckin bullshit!”

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You were our steel magnolia.
So strong.
Courageous.

But every beautiful flower eventually dies.

We will fight ’til the end, like you showed us how.
And as we do,
we will continue to miss you each and every day.

This is Roshambo

( Vera Kitanoski 1954-2014 )

This is for you
Xo

Photography: Diane Kitanoski for www.thisisroshambo.com
Title: “Broken Heart” – Eddie Vedder
All rights reserved © This is Roshambo