Another step: lighting first lampadas in new home

Saturday night I got out 5 of our lampadas 

and lit them by the icons I have found

thus far.

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It is good to have their light in this new home.

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Today is the beginning of the rest of our time in our new home;

my parents are safely back home, Mr. Husband took a new

route to work this morning for the first time;

I can't find my camera battery charger.

That's the worst for me, which is not that bad considering 

the state of things world-wide.

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We got the roll-up blackout shades in cream

and some were cut wrong and don't fit the windows.

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We had a wonderful impromptu dinner at our dear friend's home

last night... they are a mere 5 minute walk away!

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The things to do are so much that I am not even bothering with a list.

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Mr. Husband gave me this book late Saturday night....

after we realized we left the cheese we bought at the store register,

the blinds did not all work and I was so tired.

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I miss my parents but am so thankful that they were here;

they helped so much.

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My laundry is piling up and that is going to be one of the main tasks for today.

That and hoping to find my camera battery charger.

Unpacking more boxes.

Calling my Grandma ~ it's her birthday today.

Many beautiful things before the Nativity Fast

I've picked up O'Connor's book again.
Such a joy to read snippets over breakfast.

Nativity Fast for Mr. Husband and I
begins next week on Thanksgiving Day.
I must say that this Cheesecake got better by the day!

We enjoyed the last of our cheesecake
this weekend!

I made the Dutch Apple Cake again
as Mr. Husband loved it
the first time
and this time I made them into muffins.
Same recipe, just in muffin form,
with one change,
bake for 30 minutes at 375 and check.
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I took some on the trip to the monastery
that one of my women friends from church
and I did this weekend.
One the way back I lost a filling,
most inconvenient, and it makes
eating things with sugar more complicated
due to the pain it causes.
Dentist appointment already set up for
later this week... 

I took out the vanilla to do the
once a week gentle shake!
It was neat how the vanilla was making it
wonderfully murky down below
while still clear on top.

Once the bottle was tipped, the amber spread
and it looks more like vanilla extract after just one week!

Today I cleaned my lampadas.
It is part of my preparing for the Nativity Fast.

And the cookbook I blogged about this morning came!
{I write some posts in advance, as I did the
one this morning.}

It's here! 

From Alberta, simple days in the late 70's and early 80's.
I felt like my Ottawa was sent to me!

I am so excited to God willing
do the Holy Supper this year!

My Ukrainian family tells me
that I have a Dutch Ukrainian home. :)
I must say that I also have various Romanian
touches in my home as well! :)

I am so grateful for Orthodox cultures
and that I can learn from many of them!

I will not do all of these dishes
but am excited to do a small humble
Holy Supper...

 

Mr. Husband and I were shopping together
a while back and he spied a
GF hot buckwheat cereal
and I must say it is lovely with some tea and honey.
On non-fasting days, milk or yogurt is also good...
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Wait, {God willing}, till I show you
the very cute Christmas table runner for our
buffet by our window!
I got it at the monastery and it is a lovely white with
red from Greece.
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I am so excited to do the various Nativity Fast things,
including decorating...
God willing, I am hoping for a beautiful second
Christmas for Mr. Husband and I!
I am so thankful for the opportunity! 

Sunday, Sunny Sunday...

Mr. Husband and I had
out first outdoor's meal...
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We have a courtyard that is now usable now that it
is warmer....
I've had this book of
Flannery O'Connor's letters
the habit of being
for a while,
over a year.
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I think actually I got it the
first time ever that I went to NYC.
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They have been lovely to read
and I quoted some to Mr. Husband over dinner.
She has a wonderful sense of humour.
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I have started another knitting project.
I've seen this called startitis,
the beginning of things but not finishing.
But my first baby blanket is done
(except the knitting in the loose threads)
and I've finished some things.
And I am well on my way to being done with my
second baby blanket.
The new project I am doing is knitting free-style
squares that I want to stitch into a blanket.
Mr. Husband and I have dubbed this blanket my first
yarn-quilt.
*
So we stayed in town this weekend
and went to our near-by church.
I had my knitting at coffee hour... :)
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Mr. Husband and I have been married 7 months now.
I am just beginning to see or be able to articulate to myself
what a huge change it was to get married and move
all at once.
Rather put me in shock,
which knowing me is not a surprise.
When I think about the stories I've read about
grief and even when someone loses a loved one who is very ill
and the death is a long time coming,
when it comes it is still a shock,
as if totally unexpected.
It kind of was like that for me.
We all knew it was happening;
I blogged about it and
had a blog for it
but yet when it happened
it was joyful but also very new
everything all at once
married,
new place, country, state, church, home
even a new kitchen;
my old dishes I had given away, my cups, silverware ~ all from IKEA
and bought in Ottawa.
I kept my pots and pans that I had from my parents and
my China
the blue and white China I have I got a garage sale for 5.00
and my other China was my Grandmother's old set....
*
I've been reflecting on this the last little while
as God-willing I and Mr. Husband will be going to our second
wedding as a married couple this July.
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I can tell how big a change it is in part
as I don't quite feel myself yet in many circumstances.
I am a bit shy.
This is not really me.
But this IS me when I've just been through a huge shock or change.
I eventually feel myself out of it
and it will be fine.
I've been through this before,
when I was in 4 different places and 3 countries for 4 consecutive fall/winter
semesters in my early undergrad years.
*
Anyway,
this is showing me that I've really been in a huge
transition and that it is okay to take time and
that lots of patience is needed.
*
Sometimes the most patience
is needed for one's self.
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I am half-way through reading
Everyday Saints
and it is such a wonderful and worthy read.
And a very kind read, kind to everyone.
Instructive, encouraging and consoling.
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Wishing everyone who is a
Mother, Godmother, Matuska or otherwise a Mother
a wonderful day today.
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May God encourage and comfort us.
Christ is Risen and is with us.