The 11th Day of Christmas...

It snowed lightly! 

I made the vegan pancakes!

They were so easy and really good!

I felt like I was eating a butter-filled pancake! 

 So, I've kinda been wishing for a slightly smaller cream/white coloured tray,

as my white one, which I love, is quite large... but I took myself by the hand

and told myself to use what I have... :)... and then I remembered the cute 

Christmas tree placemats that an etsy seller included with my order

a few years ago of Christmas Tree Spode dishes... the place-mats are a thick 

paper but it was perfect to use to add a bit more 'Christmas' to the white tray!

We had a fun Christmas lunch and enjoyed

talking and then knitting together! 

I got some stuff out of the 3-month-make-sure-bedbugs-are-not-in-it VNA rummage sale

stash (we keep them bundled up in trashcans tightly sealed with bags for 3 months)....

and I got a bunch of picture frames! And a little bit of stationary,

including big card envelopes, I was so pleased! 

Also got this Anne Lamott book... she gives one things to think about and

 her humour is great... I appreciate her as a writer! 

I hope to have all the shades up (they need adjusting again) for the Christmas dinner

with the Munchkin DV this Friday night... I LOVE how the 

white lights reflect in the windows.... 

I love these sticky notes! 3$ at the VNA! 

You can see below that they were originally just over 8 pounds and that's

over 11.00 USD! So a significant savings!

I am thinking of using these to make cards with... 

and as markers for books that I want to note something about... 

 So....I had this in my cupboard and I must of put too much on it....

my friend was so kind when I realized that it the bottom of this had broke 😕in 3 pieces. 

... she helped me carefully clean it up .... 

then I could get the right skillet to do those delicious pancakes in!

 I will be hunting for a replacement in time but am so grateful for patient friends!

***

I must tell you the story of this IKEA 3 tiered tray... 

I had wanted one for some years, probably about 10, when I found this at 

IKEA back when I lived in Ottawa...When I showed my 

sister-friend, who I was shopping with, she was so glad

for me, that she gave me a hug! 

She understood! 

So a happy memory! 

I will probably replace this one with the same 

if IKEA still sells it when

I next go there...

My Husband's slice of cheesecake on this fast-free Wednesday!

So these were 2 frames that I got at the VNA...

but they are actually trivets/hotpads and really nice! 

So I am going to use them as such...

they are really pretty... this picture does not capture

how they glisten, having a nice glaze on top of the tile, and 

add to the sense of beauty that twinkle lights and candles give....

***

So, my friend is coming tomorrow, DV! (DV = Lord willing)...

hopefully we can tackle that hinge that broke a while back, making a 

cupboard quite difficult to use!

And make my skirt!!! I am so excited for this! 

So I better sign off so I can get the things out....

***

And that is today's 11th day of Christmas...

I feel a lot of joy in it...

{beauty where we live} ~ the Holy Mother of God

I was moved to see the moon highlighting

the tall Cross, in front of a smaller Cross

above the small grotto

Our neighbourhood is still in part

a troubled one and I am so glad

when I see candles lit here.

We need to show in all ways light in darkness.

*

So many churches are closing in this part of the world,

it is very sad.

*

But we must not loose hope.

God is with us.

and on to today...

 So Monday had me writing about 

getting the pantry ready for any 

possible mice invasion.

Monday is usually my 'rest' day since

Sunday at the far away church 

equals long car rides, a fairly long liturgy, Sunday School

and being gone much of the day.

But instead of resting,

I did lots of pantry prepping...

*

Tuesday, more on that below,

I went to NYC for various errands.

Whew, that was tiring.

*

Wednesday I rested...

and later in the day got the order of

mason jars and glass canisters...

and put them all through the dishwasher...

why do mason jars newly delivered when opened

reek of mouldering fish? well, thank God for

dishwashers and how they sanitize things... 

*

And today, Thursday, I am still tired.

Had some insomnia.

I know I have to take it easy...

Meanwhile I hope to do a little more pantry

prep...but we will see how that goes...

Cheerios will no longer be in box

but in a pickle jar...

The large ones to the right, above are the 

pickle jars, free from Mr. Husband's cafeteria :)

The tinted ones for tea and cocoas... 

 More mason jars and various lids...

*

I find NYC tiring; so many people, it's just astounding.

I see these urban refuges/parks and

they are about the only peaceful thing around...

I don't know how Introverts make it in NYC...

I find parts of it beautiful but over all,

it's just too much...

Mr. Husband and I appreciated some of the older

architecture... 

Something we always enjoy.

And if I don't get lost (I got lost again this past time,

the subways so so HOT underground, so loud)

and are going to a few marked places that make sense,

I can do it.

But whew, tiring.

*

I can tell I have to take it easy,

I don't want to ever fall ill to mono again...

*

I am thankful for a quiet home and a peaceful place to rest...

Sunny Tuesday ~ 5th Week of Great Lent ~ 2014

 Here we are.

Sunshine on a Tuesday nearly not-morning

and things are racing around like 

cats chasing a catnip toy, but perhaps worse! :)

But some good things and peaceful things of this day...

*

My beloved has a birthday around this time of year

and he was given these lovely, cheery, beautiful

yellow tulips for his birthday.

We are just loving them.

I am loving my window sill and savouring the light,

the beauty and this small place of light...

I always want my homes to be places of light,

of beauty, of icons, the warmth of Christ,

the hope of the Saints and the 

protection of the Holy Spirit... 

 It is a real challenge to keep

one's eyes on Christ,

the One who saves us,

who we can walk to with steady steps,

regardless of the waves that may surround us.

May Christ have mercy on us and help us! 

Beauty on a sunny morning

I woke to a sunny morning...

The roses were still beautiful and fresh...

Mr. Husband shows his love and kindness in so many ways.

He empties the dishwasher often as part of his morning routine

while he is getting ready to go to work.

I woke to sunshine in the morning;

how I treasure its light.

I am hoping to bake some special things during Lent...

It is sometimes so good just to step back

and appreciate what one has.

I love our little home,

with bookshelves overflowing... 

 

With icons and Holy Water...

*

With everything that is good and brings blessings...

*

For all of this I am thankful... 

Beauty in the Day...

Yesterday I saved the roses
that were wilting in the vase.

I have learned from my Mother,
from other Mothers,
from monasteries,
how important it is to have a home be beautiful.

What we put in our homes show
what and who we love.
Putting roses by icons,
lighting lampadas,
having a prayer corner,
it all matters,
it is all life building on life.

I really appreciated this blog post
to remind us to look for beauty
not just at the ugliness of our world.
It is a spiritual discipline,
one I am still learning.

I'm still having lots of tired spells.
Been in the house for two days again.
Tomorrow I hope for no rain and that
I can be out in the courtyard.
*
It is so hard to be patient
and then I realize again
how much I need to practice thanksgiving.
I have so much to be thankful for:

Some lovely things came in the mail;
a card from a dear dear friend.
A book from Powell's books

Finally I have
Edith Schaeffer's 
the hidden art of homemaking.

I've already started reading it.
I hope to write more on it later.
It is a topic,
beauty in the home,
that is very important to me.
If she had been Orthodox,
wow, how much this would of changed things.
I think her understanding of the importance of
creating beauty in the home
as being integral to being a Christian
would of found a depth that is missing in this book,
as in there is not a chapter on the fasts and feasts
or how bringing in the life of the church
into one's home
is of vital importance.
It's why I started the series Faith @ Home.

I really do wish for any and all comments or
emails on this topic.
*
I am hoping that my series can be one of the
sources that can help and inspire others
as we all seek to bring the faith of the church
into our homes...
*
It is important for women to know how to bring
the faith into one's home.
A good friend of mine encouraged me in this,
saying that it is an important way also to
teach children.
*
Speaking of this,
Mat. Emily's learning baskets are a great
place to go for the feasts and fasts for children.
Also see her festal learning baskets.
Do check them out!
 

If you have any suggestions for me
or book titles on homemaking, family, church and traditions,
not to mention recipes and how food for certain
feasts and fasts in our church,
do let me know!

First Day of Summer

 

It's been a quiet day today.
Mr. Husband is working at home.
A good friend called me,
who I only get to talk to every few months
and that was such a blessing.
I was able to knit a small orange square for
the blanket I am making
while we talked :)

Last night Mr. Husband and I went to a beautiful
Catholic church for a
1 year Requiem Mass for a friend's father.
The Mass was in Latin
and beautifully sung.

As it is a fish day today,
I made fish sticks for
Mr. Husband and I's lunch.
As I was making it
I turned around and saw that
Cleo had decided that she wanted a fish stick too :)
*
I recently got news that I may have a bit
of either mono-in-recovery or
chronic-mono.
Still waiting to talk to my naturopath.
Meanwhile,
I am having a really
tired day today.
*
Do say a prayer for me.
It's been a long 4-plus months since I came down
with mono and while I am getting a lot
stronger than I was at my worst,
I am still struggling a bit with it.
*
I thank God for His mercies
and that I have so many blessings in my life,
regardless of this situation!
*
Blessed day to everyone today! 

First House Blessing as Mr. Husband and Mrs. Wife

Hi there.
It feels like forever since I have posted.
*
I am still sick.
I'm sure I should be taking a nap about now.
One of the many things I am doing
to fight this
most-likely-mono and for sure tonsillitis
is taking a medicine that not only
gives me insomnia at night
but keeps me wired during the day
so it's really hard for me to actually rest.
Which is my excuse for why
I was up and about yesterday cleaning for
our already-planned and postponed once
house blessing.
*
So here's some pictures
meanwhile.


Cleo being loved on.

She was praying and watching!

Mr. Husband carrying the lit candle
into the kitchen. 

Cleo running away from being blessed!
I have a freshly blessed Cleo Cat!!!

One of my little small loves
is a clean soap dish
and fresh soap.
Olive oil soap in the kitchen...

Newly re-found Tea Tree Oil soup for the bathroom.
The bowls and soaps are from Ottawa.
This is the first time I've been
hugely other than a bad head-cold
sick since I left Ottawa.
So I am missing Ottawa right now.
*
That said my new friends and
church home here are
incredibly supportive
and my beloveds in Ottawa
are blessing me with prayers and love
and emails.
Really,
I am just once really blessed
albeit a bit sick
woman.

This towel was a gift from
my Aunt H. when I was a girl.
I saved it,
so soft, fluffy; I knew
I wanted to use it the first time
for something special.
And so I did:
as a new bride in my first home
I have been using and enjoying it! 

Icon corners lit and ready for the blessing!

The list of ill and those in need
that I and Mr. Husband ask
St. Nectarios' aid
is growing and growing...

Our wedding crowns
newly house blessed.
I went to sleep that night
with the sensation that I was sleeping
on brand new summer-washed sheets
and that all was new and clean again:
this is how I can best describe the blessing
that one gets when the priest comes;
all is new and young again...
Even when I wake up in the middle of the night
with an ear ache,
still all is blessed.

 

Cleo was quite curious about the whole event
and I am so happy to have her in my
new life with Mr. Husband.
*
Mr. Husband
is proving to be again and again the loving
doting husband that I always wished for.
*
Thank you all for your prayers.
I am still fatigued and quite congested but
I am also loved and
am grateful for this.