(Day 16) without Cleo: quiet, rest, dishes and meals

 

Today was mainly a quiet day at home...

I lit the lampada by our hand-painted icon of St John the Baptist 

in the morning and we did the 'little tradition' of eating out of bowls all

day and not using knives, as today is the day we remember his death

(if you know the story, you know his head was put on a platter, 

therefore no knives or plates today, just a little thing to acknowledge

and remember the greatest of prophets!)... 

in the evening we read the Akathist to him and I just LOVE the parts about

how he dies and goes to hades to tell everyone that Christ is coming

and it will be EASTER and Christ is going to defeat death forever! 

The Gospel, Christ's gift of eternal life, St John goes down to foretell,

just like he foretold the coming of Christ, telling everyone

to repent and be ready for Christ's coming! 

I love the victory that happens in the midst of his horrific death; 

to keep preaching of Christ's coming!

***

Well, I made the Pasta sauce and I boiled potatoes for dinner,

cut them up, put sunflower seed oil on top and parsley and baked them at 

425F (and then 450F) in our toaster oven. 

***

I did 2 loads of dishes in dishwasher and have it half full again now! 

I am finally done with all of the Slava dinner dishes...

the roasting pans and things are now clean and put away... 

***

I took a nap in the afternoon and used my new Cleo pillow gift...

it really does feel soft just like Cleo and is really nice...

I got another card in the mail about Cleo today in sympathy; 

that was really nice; I have such a kind little stack of cards from various ones

very dear to me, each of them, the people that is, and of course the cards

they sent and I plan on keeping them of course... 

I wish there was a photobook that had 

really good size pockets with space in the book for them,

so that I would have a place to make a photobook and keep the cards

I got with them... but my searches show that this just does not exist yet... 

(esp in a large pocket/envelope size).

***

We went to church tonight for a memorial service for those who died

18 years ago in the 9/11 attacks. 

***

I was struggling a bit today... 

it is about to be a really busy season ahead of us and at times

I am more worried than excited and other times more excited than worried.

***

I bought the rose incense (pictured above) at the Antiochian Village back in June

and saved it for our 7th wedding anniversary.

I am just loving it.

The smell of roses.

It has to be one of my top favourite smells.

There is something so comforting about it.

***

I hope all of you are being up held.

Lord have mercy on us and save us!

{Cooking at Home} ~ Chicken Salad with Grapes & Cran-raisins

I had a newer friend over for tea

and I made a lovely

chicken salad.

Inspiration for this came from three places:

1. My Mother's recipe.

2. This one

3. And this one.

Cooked chicken thighs, about three of them, cut up.

I used about a cup of half mayo / half sour cream,

a cup of grapes sliced, half cup of cran-raisins, salt, pepper,

1 tsp lemon juice, egg shell pasta cooked, mixed in at end.

It was quite delightful! 

Many beautiful things ~ Christmas, Princeton, Friends, Beauty and a good Dinner

I've been talking about Christmas

for a good month already.

Of the (artificial, allergies and 

practicalities necessitate) 

Christmas Tree

I hope to get and have by our bay window...

Actually I thought of that before we even bought the house,

back in March :)

*

Today I worked on a 2014 Nativity plan...

like I did last year, I've decided that Nov 15,

the beginning of the Advent/Nativity Fast for 

my new calendar friends and family,

is when I will publish this list, which I consider

now to be my annual list...

*

It's exciting to be building family traditions like this,

and I admit that Christmas is one of my most beloved times...

my Grandma's too... she and I were already talking last week

about how she hopes to get her tree up shortly after 

Thanksgiving...

*

Well,

this past weekend Mr. Husband and I were in Princeton.

  

Cleo missed us but was well cared for as usual.

(though I changed her water bowls last night and forgot 

to add water to the new bowl and felt horrible about that :( ).

*

I met a new friend who has a remarkable amount of

similarities to me in interests, reading and crafting.

So that was cool.

I drove only a very little bit but hope to drive more again soon.

I saw another few friends as well 

and visited a lovely knitting store.

*

And then at church I was given a gift of yarn and some 

crochet hooks!

So hope to learn how to crochet at some point...

I've been wanting to (and also learn to quilt/sew) but it will take time...

things are so busy...

*

I am one that has more ideas for things than time.

And, then there's Sunday School lessons that I need to work on yet...

things have been going great with that though;

I come back after being gone for 3 Sundays,

2 of those Sundays being taught with lessons I wrote and posted

before I left and the kids are getting out the 

komboskinis and praying the Jesus Prayer before I even said,

let's pray the Jesus Prayer now!

I love my Sunday School kids... :)

*

So more Pictures of Princeton,

whose beauty I love and whose pictures of the chapel

were the last pictures I ever showed my Oma who died

just days later.

It was such a sunny beautiful day.

Mr. Husband had work that day so I played 

Princeton tourist and went around by myself,

taking myself first to the chapel...

See the man walking to the right...

gives a sense of how large this chapel is!

I can never resist taking pictures...

It is such a lovely place to be in,

to pray....

I met two new friends, a couple,

in Princeton and had a very lovely 

lunch with them and then

time talking with the wife of the couple for

an enjoyable afternoon of tea, 

talk of books, crafting and the like.

We stopped by Princeton and went to 

the yarn shop,

seeing the window shop lovely antiques on the way.

And this was a dazzling blanket at the yarn shop!

Afterwards we went out for (vegan for me) ice cream

as it was a Friday of ordinary time (which means a fast day).

*

So it was a lovely day.

*

Today Mr. Husband has the severe sniffles/cold

and I made two pots of tea for him tonight...

And I made a really easy chicken dish:

Flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder in a bag for shake and baking the chicken,

pan fry for light browning,

then put in coconut oiled pan and more coconut oil on top and bake

about 20 minutes or less on 425 F (I was using boneless chicken thighs

which were not overly thick).

*

Will try to post recipe on this soon...

But for now it is time to close with hope 

for a fun yarn along day tomorrow!

Some of my beloveds... (and various other things)

My Godson has
two older brothers
and Mr. Husband and I
found a vintage
Lincoln Log Set for them
to add to what they already had...

Above is the picture of the farm they made with them!
*
I miss these beloveds so much!
And today one of them is coming down the flu...
so do say a prayer for them...
*
I am hoping to make Mr. Husband and I crepes
for dinner...
and I am already planning a special dinner for
the 14th...
*
Meanwhile,
I got some organic turkey bacon and am
thinking that with potatoes and cheese,
it could turn into a wonderful
crock-pot meal for
church this weekend.
So:
any suggestions, recipes? 
*
Tomorrow I hope to make bread,
today I did paperwork, laundry,
grocery shopping and phone calls.
Again.
It was one of those
I need-to-get-out-more days
but one thing at a time.
I find I have to be patient,
even with myself.
*
I am slowly reading this
biography of St. Seraphim...
so good to be reading on this
wonderful Saint...
*
God is with us,
in all our struggles and battles.
We must take heart...

Meal for St. Andrew's Day

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Andrew.
Mr. Husband brought me flowers!
And I made a nice meal for dinner.

Curry spices, coconut milk,
spinach, tomatoes and shrimp.

 

With Basmati Rice.

From a wonderful Indian Cookbook

that we were given for our wedding.

*

It is a joy to cook for Mr. Husband!

Wednesday, slight snow and completed applications

I made this chick pea potato curry this afternoon;

It is okay but was a bit too bland for me;

any suggestions on adding some 'bite' to it?

I am thinking fresh tomato/tomato paste,

more cumin, less garam marsala;

maybe some cayenne pepper?

I did add a bit of spinach for some added nutrients and colour...

Thoughts and suggestions more than welcome!

I finished two job applications today.

Now I am wanting a piece of this cake!

Still need the recipe...

boy was it good!

(picture of one of my Mom's sugar and creamers).

I am so blessed to have a family;

even though they are far from here, I can talk to my Mom

on the phone and that is a real blessing.

*

Tonight I will start preparing for my Tuesday interview.

*

I am really hoping that my waiting will soon be over

and that I will have a job.

*

Heard of more in Michigan and the surrounding areas

losing their jobs;

we have to take each day as they come

and keep trusting in God's mercy and care.

So glad it is Sunday tomorrow!

Yesterday I made the above pasta;

artichoke, penne noodles, Fia's Pasta Sauce

(from a slower cooker book I have),

mozzarella cheese,

spinach.

Turned out well,

made lots.

We are slowly gearing up for the Apostles' fast!

I am preparing a tea for tomorrow

with a few of my friends;

hope to post pictures of it, of course!

It was a fight against anxiety about the future;

I am glad I have church to strengthen

and encourage us in our struggles.

I am relieve that it will be a fasting time,

I pray that I can quiet my heart...

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday and

for all who are Orthodox,

a good beginning to the Apostles' Fast!

A Beautiful Morning

The weather this morning is perfect! Sunny, cool and green. I went to liturgy for St. Herman's day and then went to the natural foods store downtown and to my other grocery store.

The first week of my job (3 days since Monday was a holiday here in Ontario) was a bit overwhelming. I am feeling better about it now, but still have a lot to learn and figure out. It is wonderful to have a job that I have Friday off! Such a relief. This Friday I cleaned and made it (albeit late) to vespers for the eve of St. Herman's day. Yesterday was the 4 year anniversary of my chrismation, so it was good to be in Church. I did not even realize that I was chrismated on the Eve of St. Herman's day! I am not surprised though, since I started my journey in his church in Langley. And a wonderful beginning it was there - it has been over 4 years since I was there now, but it is hard to get back. As I already live miles and miles from my family, it is hard to get to other places. Hopefully someday, if God wills.

I am gearing up to move - have not given (2 months) notice yet, but am really anxious to move. My place is a two room (not two bedroom) apartment plus bathroom; what may be called a jr. 1 bedroom or a glorified bachelor. One of my closest friends calls it a glorified dorm room! I only have one narrow closet in the whole place, etc. So now that I have a permanent job, I am quite eager to find a nice one bedroom apartment downtown. I am dreaming of sunlight, wood floors, a living room and big closets.

I am on the old calendar at my home church (I go to the OCA Cathedral a lot too) and so we are not in the Dormition fast quite yet. So today I bought chicken to make "Ranch Chicken Bites" - a slightly unhealthy but yummy dish of chicken baked with ranch dressing and crushed sour cream and onion potato chips. YUM.

I am reading a bunch of mystery books for relaxation/de-stress time. For the fast I hope to read some Church Father's homilies on the Dormition.

Having a three day weekend makes a huge difference! I feel like I am able to put away the stress of my new job and immerse myself in the rest of my life - cleaning, cooking, church, friends. I am hopeful about my future and feel happy on this beautiful sunny day.