Friday, February 20, 2026

storm seems more certain





The question about the storm now is will it 
come Sunday or Monday.
***
I really hope Monday, 
I would very much like to go to liturgy.
***
It's so easy to forget (since I have had injuries before
that have kept me housebound) how hard it is
to do.  To not go out, at all, it's not easy to say the least. 
***
I did a lot today. 
Laundry, dishes, meal prep;
had some nice treats 
(and really good tea, as it is Great Lent soon)
but wow, do I miss liturgy and being in church.
***
I have so much to be thankful for, of course.
***
How wonderful it really is for me, 
that my suffering is so slight,
compared to so many.
***
That said, I am glad I am not as sick as I was a few weeks ago. 
***
One Saint I have not mentioned as much, but who we look for
for is prayers is St Panteleimon you can read about him HERE.
***
May God have mercy on us. 

In Between

First pot of tea, caffeinated, enjoyed 🩷🫖☕

Second pot, ginger lemon is going to have fresh squeezed lemon and honey added.  We had gotten extra lemons for the house blessing meal. 

The weather is still unclear but we had to make a decision yesterday.  The thing is that the dinner party, I could do it, but it's a lot of work when one is wearing a walking boot.  The boot means my right foot is much higher than my left (somewhere I have a foot raiser for the other side from when I sprained my ankle but I couldn't find it but to be honest it didn't work).  I'm still healing from the bronchitis. I'm much better but I'm not yet 100% better.   

Forecast for leaning towards snow yesterday and today. They're doing so even more. Will we get a really bad storm? We don't know yet. But I had to make a decision on the food. See I was going to have a fish dinner. But Lent starts the next day and while I can't fast yet normally because I'm sick we still would have too much fish left over.  So I had to make a decision with my husband. And I think we made the right one. That was we are going to postpone it. Hopefully we will have it in two Sundays. I have yet to get confirmation from the others but we're all very busy. 

So our God willing house blessing (our priest already confirmed given the circumstances (he can't come earlier, I could not have had the dinner earlier, and the possible snow storm) he can bless our house in Great Lent exceptionally. 
Usually house blessings are always during the Theophany season.

Meanwhile my silver-plated teapots and silver-plated silverware is polished.  All the Christmas linens, decorations and icons are put away.  My Lenten icons are, for the most part, on display.  

It's a grey day rainy. I lit extra lampadas and have cheery lights on.  

I often use pretty dishes to cheer myself up! I need to work on my thankfulness.  I was really bummed about the house blessing dinner.  However I am regrouping and thinking of what I can serve that is Lenten.

I am so much better than I was 3 weeks ago, I was quite ill.  My ankle hurts a bit when I am up more but I am thankful for the improvements. 

I hope to go to church this weekend.  I just have to do it slowly and safely. 

Of course that includes God willing and weather permitting.  

I must say I feel a bit overtired and such, a little on the teary side HOWEVER how blessed I am.  I have a beloved Husband, a lovely home, pretty dishes, lots of tea, family and friends who love me and a God who is full of mercy.

There is such deep suffering in the world.  

May God have mercy on us all.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

First celebratory pot of tea: Victorian London Fog


Victorian London Fog by Harney and Sons is warm, comforting and creamy. My (lactose free milk aka sweet milk) added to the sense of comfort, brought the vanilla in the tea to the forefront and was just a lovely milk cream black tea swirl of comfort 🫖💜🥛☕🫖

I realized (it takes a bit for me to realize the obvious sometimes 🤣🫣🙃 that my egg salad needed more mayo (the chopped egg was not sticking together). 

My new mug is quite big! Basically my teapot fills it twice + a swallow of tea left behind! 

Great for a quick but enjoyable breakfast! 

There may be a storm coming, I am a bit concerned about the house blessing.  Meanwhile my professional help is coming later today.  I am SO HAPPY to get our house in order again!  

May God guide us and have mercy! 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

teacups & today


I have been (especially when trying to sleep at night) imagining my teacups and how to make pretty tea party tables.  

We are supposed to, God willing, have our house blessing dinner this Sunday night.  Possible snow storm coming.  

Hopefully everything will be OK. 

I can't wait until I can have caffeinated tea again! I am trying to get better with my bronchitis first.  I am improving..... 🩷🫖

I have a lot to be thankful for!
May God have mercy on us. 

yay! ☺️


My ankle is healing well! I only need the walking boot for two more weeks and then a brace.  I was able to do the X-ray standing and it was without any pain when two weeks ago I definitely was having pain.  So I'm very thankful! 

I know it's in part a large part because of all the prayers going up for me in my healing! 

To celebrate my husband and I are getting takeout Indian food to enjoy! 🥰🍽️🫖

May God have mercy on us all!

Small things & Ortho Appointment


New mug, a Christmas gift 🥰🎁

Orthopedic doctor appointment today.  My ankle seems to be healing well. Sometimes it's itchy which is GREAT because it indicates HEALING ☺️

I hope to get a lot of rest today.

Dorothy Sayers A Cloud of Witnesses is great company (a Golden Age detective mystery novel). 

May God have mercy on us 🙏🕯️💛

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Larissa's lamp is back


I am so very glad. 💛

Tuesday Progress

Things are still messy BUT the Christmas tree and all under it is put away.  And my table cloth is changed for Great Lent.  

They (the professionals I know personally) come back Thursday.  

Now I get to rest.  I am so thankful for the help!

May God have mercy.

Monday, February 16, 2026

Monday Progress

I am happy to say that some professionals I already know hope to help me Tuesday 3 hours and Thursday 3 hours to take down all my Christmas things and get ready for our DV Sunday house blessing!

My ankle swelling is down! Still more to go but progress 🙏 

Things are very busy.  I hope to rest well tonight.  

May God have mercy on us! 

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Sunday blessings

I had a good day.  I am relieved that tomorrow my Husband and I will be home alone together. 

May God have mercy on us.

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Happy moments from tonight 💝🌹


While my Husband was at vespers I made my little Valentine's Day display!

my beloved husband got me roses as a pick-me-up 🥰🥰🥰🩷🌹🌹🌹💝

Life is not all one thing or another but getting out our traditional Valentine's Day decorations / cards really cheered me up! 🩷❤️🥰 My friend mailed me the cute kitty Valentine's Day card 💝🌹 

May God have mercy on us all.