Monday in Mid September ~ Second Year of Marriage

We got a lot of anniversary cards
when we came back home
from being in Ottawa.

I love the two in front from two of our nieces.

Cleo is getting used to us being home again.
She always lets us know that
we were missed
(meow meow meow) and she got a
thorough brushing and then nice treat yesterday.
Mr. Husband says that cats, unlike dogs, do not
have masters but staff.
I remain in somewhat denial of this,
seeking to have some sort of order and rules
with Cleo but it must be admitted that
brushing = treat
and that I still find her chewing plastic and
at times naughtily on tables. 

You can see my new small icon of
St Euphrosynos the Cook.
When I was still in library school,
back in 2006,
I wrote my own narration of St. Euphrosynos' story
and read it to public library school kids as
part of my story telling class.
It's a beautiful story and one that I think
should indeed be made into a kids story...
I've always wanted his icon for my kitchen
and there it is!
A small one from the Greek monastery found on
our first wedding anniversary. 

I am enjoying our still more tidy
home since we made changes
when my family was visiting.

 

We made a few more changes since then that
I hope to blog about in the future.
*
Mr. Husband and I have started reading out loud the
book on Fr. Arseny that we both
read years before.
It is deeply moving and one that
we can both recommend highly.
It is such a blessing to be able to read
such books together.
*
My head cold still flourishes;
I slept most of this morning and
have filled waste baskets with my constant Kleenex use.
*
I am afraid I am not keeping up with all the blogs
and commenting.
Still seeing and reading...
*
I am still not using face book.
I realized that I need to discipline my computer use and
curtail it if I ever want to do something else with my life.
Like learning to knit more and perhaps
sewing, not to mention reading books, keeping house
and the like.
*
And so it is a quiet beginning of the (liturgical) new year for
us as we begin year two of our marriage.
I must say I am relieved by the quiet.
Planning a wedding, moving, the many adjustments ~
it's good, beautiful, needed but draining.
I would not say that my time of adjustment is over
or for Mr. Husband
but it is at least quieter
in the sense of a year under our belt,
a home that is slowly taking shape the way we wish
and some routines being established.
*
We never know what life will bring next so this quiet
I will savour while I have it.
*
Book club starts tomorrow.
Question: can you prepare a chicken for roasting the day before?
You know, stuff it with the onions and herbs, butter it
and have it ready to go and then cover it for the day
in saran wrap and bake it tomorrow?
Or is it best just to prepare it for a slow cooker and not roast it?
*
While so many things are troubling in the world
and so many hearts are aching, broken and so many
dream scattered like shards of grass,
I am glad that for today
while I continue to convalesce from this head cold,
that the main decision I need to make
(and welcome comments on)
is how to do tomorrow's chicken.

Today

Lampadas are lit.
Small icon for the fast of Holy Dormition that we are in.

Mr. Husband taught me a new way
to make corn on the cob in a hurry.
Take the pre-shucked still husked corn
(not cut in half or anything that would keep
the husk from being broken),
soak it with running water from kitchen sink
microwave as such for 3 minutes.
Steamed corn in 3 minutes.
Careful as it will be hot.
Cool slightly, shuck the still hot corn and
enjoy.

We are enjoying fruit salad.
I need to get more fruit for a basket for the
Feast of Transfiguration that is
DV this Monday.

Cleo is sitting by my chair as I type.

Mr. Husband remembered how
some pray special prayers during this fast.
I found the following here:
"Many churches and monasteries in the Russian tradition will perform the Lenten services on at least the first day of the Dormition Fast. During the Fast, either the Great Paraklesis (Supplicatory Canon) or the Small Paraklesis are celebrated every evening except Saturday evening and the Eves of the Transfiguration and the Dormition.^[1]"
 

We are constantly seeking to find ways
to build a life together that
involves prayer, the fasts and feasts and living our lives
rightly...
*
I am reading more of Dave Ramsey's book
which I still struggle with on terms of the goal of being rich
rather than the goal of seeking Christ's kingdom and
using what we have for this purpose
but or on the other hand
I can see how this book is really
important for many people...
to know how to do budgets, his encouragement to not give
into peer pressure when buying things and
learning to wait and not have instant
gratification in terms of purchases
and basically not living a fake life,
i.e. one that makes one appear to be what they are not.
Our world here in North America is crazy that way and
I can see how this book is important.
I, being decidedly North American, like how he talks about
baby steps and having a plan.
*
It's one thing Mr. Husband and I both like:
plans, goals and communication towards them.
*
We are hoping to get Elder Paisos' book on family soon
as we want to keep reading things on
marriage and family.
We have a good young marriage of almost one year
and we want to keep working on things so that
our marriage will grow into many years,
God-willing...
*
And so it goes, on day three of the beautiful short fast
of Holy Dormition. 

Thursday - a very good day - cold and sunny

I believe I interviewed well today.

I am thankful to God.

*

Got word of the other interview that I was promised!

Will be early afternoon Feb 1st.

So I have time to prepare.

*

I will not hear back from the interview I had today

until after this time

so that is good.

I had one of my dear friends over for a special

post-Theophany Feast.

(Notice that Cleo the Cat joined us!)

On the menu:

slow cooker beef roast with carrots, 1 small onion,

1 can of cream of mushroom soup,

1 can water (did not need so much water)

garlic slices in pierced meat with oil salt and pepper

good douse of Worcestershire sauce.

It made a great gravy...

(Thanks to Sarah for her suggestions on preparing this!)

Also on tonight's menu:

baked potato, bread

good deep red wine, water and

a chocolate chai decaf tea for dessert

with grapes to nibble on

and a lovely toffee chocolate bar that we never

got around to eating

for virtue of being full from the dinner!

The table cloth is from my Grandmother

who found it at a mission thrift shop where she

volunteers

(at 80 years old no less!)

*

The dishes are also from my Grandmother.

*

I thank God for this day

and that I have another interivew for an Ottawa job

and that I had one also today!

*

Thank you all for your prayers!

They were really helpful!

*

Thank God!!

Today is full of sunshine

The forecast last week said today would be

grey and full of rain

now it is today and it is to be

SUNNY all day.

Many of us prayed for this.

Today is our annual church picnic by a lake.

I bought ice cream to bring

especially for the kids;

my blanket

camera

and myself.

I am looking forward to this time.