To be noted

It is to be noted that 

doing Christmas cards is taking 

more than the 1 day I allotted to it

and the St. Nicholas cookies,

if I only do one cookie,

needs only 1 day.

*

I have decorated a bit more for Christmas.

Pictures forth coming.

Table currently littered with cards, decoration boxes

and a sugar and creamer in need of a new home,

since the holiday box and plate 

suddenly up-heaved them from their resting place.

*

I found for a mere 3 $ something an old lovely copy of

A Window Over the Sink by Peg Bracken.

I am loving it already.

*

I just finished the last bit of my re-read of

The Cloister Walk.

I mean to write up some thoughts on it.

I find I mean to do a lot of things,

will see if this one can happen.

*

I can say now though that I am wishing

very much for a new book by this author to be published...

I keep hoping... 

*

Meanwhile, 

I await the UPS man daily,

am to get the chocolate coins today and 

I am always hoping for another box,

as some things I am getting for the

Mr. Husband gift stash are still 

coming in,

drips and drabs.

*

We have nobly promised to not look at each other's stash 

of gifts for the other.

We have birthdays, name days, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas

all a coming.

The only difference is that he knows about 1/3 or so of what he

is getting... while I believe I know 100% of what I am getting.

Though some of it was stashed so long ago,

like starting last February, 

that I am hoping I forgot some of it! :)

*

Mr. Husband and I tend to plan in advance.

Actually, I have his Valentine's Day present already.

I know, sad, isn't it?

:)

Okay, off to repair my sock so I can wear it 

(seems only way I can discipline myself to fix them

is to darn them when I put them on and then find a hole).

What is happening to my socks though, I would like to know.

And my favourite pink hoodie has just discovered holes in it;

never mind that it already has a horrid stain so it is 

relegated to home wear only, but still.

Advice clearly invited! 

*

Oh, 

and my idea of waiting until Dec 14 for Christmas music:

well let's say that I will be changing this!

We've been listening to Christmas music since about

the day after the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos!

Clearly my calendar for the Nativity Fast will have to be updated...

*

Blessed day to you all! 

Feast Day of the Kursk Root Icon ~ a marker in my Nativity Calendar 2013

It was a snowy morning yesterday,
the Feast Day of the Kursk Root Icon.

I am often thankful for very simple things.
One of these is basmati rice.
I finished our first big bag of this yesterday,
washed out the glass container and filled it with new rice.
I remain thankful that we have the funds for a nice supply of food.

It was a fish day for us...
Mr. Husband worked from home because of
the morning snow and it was so nice to have him
on this feast day.
I made salmon burgers, rice and salad for lunch.

We put out the Kursk Root Icon out for the day
and prayed a bit of the Akathist to her.

 

For dinner I found some haddock with vegan batter
and we had more salad and some nice hot rice again.
I used our blue and white dishes as it was a
special feast day.
*
We are inching towards Christmas
and this feast day is a beautiful day of comfort
along the way!

Edging towards Christmas, one day at a time...

I still have to put out today our
two Nativity Icons,
to do what is planned for today.
*
I am also planning ahead for Christmas.
I almost have all of our gifts ordered...
I also found that I can get in CD form
the record that I listened to as a young girl
at Christmas Time.
*
It's a simple record that
shows a time when classical music was still
more normal.
*

*
It should be here in CD form before Christmas!
I was inspired again to look for it when I read
Juliana's post on some of her Christmas music!
*
Now I just have to order some gifts for
the littlest of the short people in my life!
It's such a beautiful time of year.

I got this box at the rummage sale in October.
It's perfect for all my tall needles.
I am making scarves for all the nephews and nieces.
That would be 15 my friends.
I have a lot of knitting to do!

I made over ten balls of
white cotton yarn yesterday.
Hoping for lots of knit wash clothes for gifts this year.

I am loving our Christmas books
that I ordered while on Thanksgiving holidays.
 

I had a wonderful phone conversation this morning
with a dear friend in Ottawa.
She told me that she and her Mother are
praying for Alana and Wes.
I know I have dear and good friends when they
are concerned about those I am also concerned for.
Talking to her reminded me of all the good
and beautiful things that God gives us
each day.

These pictures are from a simple meal that
I made on Dec 3, the eve
of the Feast of the Mother of God at three years old,
and it was wonderful after this meal
to read prayers about the lighted candles
that many were holding as the Mother of God
went up to the temple.
I never did expressly write about ideas of how
to celebrate this feast.
They are simple of course...and I welcome
any additional ideas!
*
~pray prayers of the Feast for vespers and/or matins
~go to vespers, vigil and/or liturgy for the feast
~make a festive meal on the feast day
~light candles
~if you have an icon of this Feast, put it on display
~remember the young children in your life and remember
that they can make much progress towards God
~make one's house a temple worthy of being always with God

 

It is such a wonderful feast and it already has in it
hymns of Christmas!

Nativity Fast ~ Daily Calendar

First, lighting lots of candles today.
Praying for Alana and Wes.

I have a wonderful Christmas table runner
that I am going to put on our buffet.
This may sound funny,
but yesterday I was reading Fr. Arseny out loud to
Mr. Husband and I...
the narrator of that story, the one on
Mother Maria,
said that the Christian life requires a lot of patience...
it really struck me, and so I am not letting myself
change the table runner till next week...
*
December 1 : Sunday Liturgy.  Begin reading Christmas book with Mr. Husband.
Well, this one did not happen yet!
We arrived back safely on Saturday night
but our luggage did not!
So between coming home from church, making dinner,
taking a walk, reading Fr. Arseny, evening prayers and
then unpacking our newly delivered suitcases,
that was all we had time for.
*
December 2 : Change coffee table to Christmas Colours. 

I was able to change out the coffee table!

I got these candles with the last of our
gift card money that was a very thoughtful wedding gift.

I pulled out of Pascha rushnyk.

 

It is such a nice festive table now!
Later I will put out the Christmas books...
Just got
Donald Hall's
Lucy's Christmas
today in the mail!
Abebooks and alibris are great places
to find used Christmas books for affordable prices!