I am a freelance writer, a mother, a gardener, a forager, an aspiring and ever-learning cook. My writing appears in a variety of publications, including The Boston Globe, AFAR, Culture, The Art of Eating, Saveur, the Utne Reader, The Sun Magazine, Big Sky Journal and Montana Quarterly.
With my children, Jasper and Sylvie, I live in two rural communities on opposite sides of the Atlantic: one at the edge of the mountains in southeastern Montana, the other where the mountains meet the sea on the southern Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece.
As a writer, I try to stick to subjects that center around my passion: the culture of food. But like many freelancers, my stories hit on a wide variety of subjects, from travel to rodeo, yoga to an interview in long-form of the New Jersey-born kirtan wallah, Krishna Das. It is here, at The Shepherd and the Olive Tree, that I indulge in my passion, exploring the traditional foodways of the Peloponnese.
Thank you so much for visiting The Shepherd and the Olive Tree. If you wish to reach me, please email poulithra AT gmail DOT com
Lexie what an amazing blog you have. Hope you remember me, Harriet from Freddy’s. I have a house now in Vasilitsi, 5 k. from Koroni, in Messinia. And of course still in Montana. My daughter sent me the link to your article about the cheesemaker. Please call when in Montana, 406 544 8380 I would love to talk. xo
Harriet, I know we’ve tried to connect to no avail, but I still want to talk to you! Will you be returning to Greece this summer? I’ll try giving you a call this week. xxoo.
Alexia mou ~ Thomae’s smile draws me into her world of hard work and contentment. Subsistence is certainly a way of life that the Greeks have known through cycles of strife and calm. Back now into strife, and yet living life remains the same in Vaskina…and Thomae’s smile says it all.
What a concept of living life rather than life living as an after thought to our busyness focus. Does Thomae have women friends? I bet she loves having you come visit!
truly enjoy your articles, and love the photos….
Thank you so much, Sophia!
I’m so glad to have found your blog! I’m American married to a Greek and living in Greece, up in Thrace. I’ve just started blogging and am discovering so many wonderful new things. Your general area of the Peloponnese is my favorite place in the whole world… work used to take me there very frequently. I’m looking forward to more great posts.
Heidi, thank you so much for visiting my blog, and for introducing yourself. It’s a pleasure to “meet” you! I can’t wait to take a peek at your own blog. Let’s stay in touch!
not to get all stalkerish on you, but I just love your blog, so I’ve chosen it for the Liebster blog award for new bloggers.
Congratulations! If you’d like to, you can pass the award to other new bloggers, but either way, congrats and thanks for inspiring me 
(details on my blog post today)
Heidi, I am absolutely, utterly honored. Thank you so much!!!! You have truly made my day. Polla filakia, my new friend, and big love to you.
Finally signed up to follow this wonderful blog, although I’ve read much on FB. I love the imagery you conjure up, and i’m drooling as I write.
I want to work with you ,you ROCK.
You rockstar, Michele. Thank you! I want to work with YOU. (Heart Mountain??) And thank you for signing up for my blog updates; you are sweetness incarnate!!!
Dear Lexi,
I got to your blog via a mutual friend, James Foot. I am so glad I did – it’s fantastic. I love your writing style and just want to read more and more. My husband Brian and I love Greece, the people and food. We sail there when ever we can and are planning a 7mth sabbatical next year. At the moment we are sitting in our local Deli, in a rain-sodden England; Brian has just remarked that if we can’t actually be in Greece right now, then this isn’t too bad a substitute.
Perhaps one day we’ll meet at James’ over a glass of something outrageous he’s concocted and a bowl of something seasonal and delicious.
Sue
Sue, I am so touched by your kind words…and glad I can help transport you and Brian from rain-sodden England back to sunny Greece, if only in your imaginations for today! Thank you so very much for reading. I look forward to meeting you at James’ in Kyparissi. (Over some outrageous cocktail to be sure!)
My Daughter Jeanie found your blog and loved it so much that she shared it with me. My husband George was born in Vasilitsi, so I shared your blog with him too! Can’t wait to read all about you and your adventures! I’m trying to catch up, so I don’t know where in Greece you are now. I’ll be seeing you here, online, very soon!!
Athena in Houston, TX USA !!!!
Athena, thank you so very much for reading and sharing my blog (and thanks to your daughter as well!). I’m thrilled to hear you enjoy it. I’m in Poulithra, on the southeastern coast of the Pelops. So happy to meet you, “see” you here, and thanks again!!