NYC checkboxes complete

NYC was good. I got a new box of toast & jam tea, lunch at Tea and Sympathy, restocked my scone mix from Tea and Sympathy, dentist was quite satisfactory, went to a hardware store, walked or took PATH train everywhere. Trader Joe's for their chocolate almonds, and back home with a quick stop along the way. I took a cab in the morning only.  So that felt really good, that I had some good excercise. 

The cab driver was from Africa. He talked about how gentrification is pushing people out. How friends call him saying that they have no money for food. 😥

There is so much pain in the world. 

Yet there is beauty. Sunshine. People helping people.  

We are called not to despair. 

In a week or so I will change DV my tablecloth for Great Lent to my red and white striped one.  Of course it has a new layer now to it this year that I didn't forsee. I got it from my Ukrainian Ottawa Mother for my wedding. 

If you knew the layers of complexity that I can never write about..... Well we all have these things.  It is unavoidable. 

NYC was good but I was surprised at how very glad I was just to be back home. I think it feels like my world has been shaken and so home is an even greater refuge.

I hope to do laundry and such things tomorrow that I could not get to earlier. I am eager to get everything ready not only for Friday's Tea but for Great Lent. 

May God have mercy on us all. 

So Much

Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed. ~ Psalm 143:4 NKJV
***
This week for me has not only had world-wide upsets 

that are quite grievous to me 

(Ukraine of course)

but...

~some of my friends had dear ones die

~a child I know suddenly hospitalized with a rare cancer

~a man told us of his loneliness as his wife died

(possibly, it was hard to tell with his broken English

but she may have died in a bomb explosion years ago)

~news of cancer of another friend

~friends with on going illnesses 

All in one weeks time basically. 

***

This week is going to be a busy one.

NYC Monday and Thursday with dinner

prep for a Friday dinner other days

plus cleaning house and such.

***

Today we had the last bit of meat before Pascha which is

Sunday April 24 this year.

6 weeks of Lent and Holy Week.

Somehow it suddenly feels real and long.

We've been praying that we will be prepared for it

and have some fruit from it.

***

I made this bread for tea this Friday night, 

it's in the freezer now...

***

May God have mercy on us all! 

At last the dishes are done

It's before 11 PM and the evening is mine now.  I am relieved that I got most things tidy.  I am carefully re-reading a Madeleine L'Engle novel, one that I consider to be one of her hardest to read. 

I LOVED the luxury tea blend shown above.  

The foster nephew situation remains uncertain, complex and difficult. 

I made chili and corn bread today.  Last week for meat before Pascha! 

God help us all!

I can't believe I am actually here to write to you

 

It was wonderful that we have a long weekend, with my Husband having the day off today.  I got more rest, so needed.  I have a cute nice looking new end table but the pictures are not downloaded yet so older pictures for today.  

The top most picture is my new teapot, sugar bowl and creamer, vintage in GREAT condition all the way from England! :) 

The dishes are done, we still have fresh fruit and nut bread and I am planning a trip to NYC for Monday.  While I am going to the dentist (just routine), I am also composing a shopping list! 

May God have mercy on us and save us!

briefly

it was a very full day today. Some emotionally taxing. Some beautiful. Progress is happening. Life is a struggle but a hope. 

God be with you all ❤🙏

about today

I tried to write for the blog post below this one but I am doing it on my phone and it didn't work. Anyway it was nice to have a fast free Friday. 

Soon Lent will be here.... 

May God have mercy on us!

fast-free Friday

b

a bit better

Other than having a quiet peaceful sunny morning I can't remember how my day went by so quickly.  It was a good day and thankfully not one I had to fix meals for other than reheating lunch. The house is pretty tidy which makes me happy.  I ordered a teapot from England and am so happy to say that it is now in the States and closer to being delivered.....

May God have mercy on us all!

feast day with lots of candles

We were at liturgy this morning. Went for lunch (we were the only ones in the restaurant to my Husband's comfort but I felt it lonely.  It was merely as it is at present.)

I got Joy's book today on her publication day. So far I am liking it.📚

My days are so busy right now. How are your days? 

May God help us and have mercy!

what I wrote yesterday

[Picture of looking at the blue sunlit sky when walking on the stairs from the subway underground. The following was written earlier this week.] 

There is a lot of talk of mask restrictions lifting soon in the news.  On all the trains I took to my library, mask wearing was almost 100%.  It's funny how you see so many types of people on public transit.  I saw a very beautiful lady, shorter than me (I was surprised as I first noticed her above me on the stairs because she had pretty cream patterned tights which I could not help but see as I was right below her and the only place to look really is straight ahead when on narrow stairs).  Clearly expensively dyed blond with some brown highlights, beautiful plaid pleated skirt, perfectly matching cream jacket, mask, makeup.  There was a man in black sweatpants, mostly clean, he looked worn and tired; I wondered about him and understood that he was probably in his 40s.  When we opened the door of an elevator, a man was waiting there with a huge shopping cart of bags, many plastic target bags.  Probably all he owns.  What is his story?  I saw another man, maybe 5 foot 7, well dressed, some sort of suit jacket and pants, of the latest fashion, nice haircut yet his face was noticeably worried.  I had a great lunch, the staff were so busy, the woman especially was working so fast as if so much was happening at once.  I felt that my thanks for the meal was really barely heard as she rushed away. 

It is sunny here in NYC today.  I am typing in a quiet beautiful room, wearing the still required masks.  It is strangely warm for February but snow is forecasted for the weekend.  Anne Tyler has a new book coming out! Called "French Braid", I got on the waiting list. 

Life is so fascinating, people all so different with their own story playing out.  A shining simple moment of happiness in my day today: breakfasting with my Husband, having tea and toast. Just being happy together at the table.  It was so simple but yet everything I could have wished for.  I think it is often a challenge to open our eyes to our life as it is today and stop and see the beauty in it.