Yesterday, Today and Hope for Tomorrow

Last night I made Elderberry Syrup before going to vespers for

the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord into the Temple...

The Syrup is very much liquid, so I am wondering if I should of 

reduced it further... but now it has the honey in it, so I will just leave it.

Boy is it sweet! 

I am going to be trying different things for 

strength and immune boosts...

I went to vespers by myself that night,

as Mr Husband had been to the doctor in NYC already

and needed to rest.

It was wonderful to be there... 

I went to the store after vespers,

it's just down the street from church.

I got ingredients for this soup...

I may research more recipes for this...

I have fun sometimes just looking at tea ingredients,

without buying the tea! 

Of course I am also seeing how I can make the tea

at home with what I have...since I have a well stocked pantry! 

It was wonderful to be at Church again,

this time with Mr Husband...

Afterwards we went to the middle eastern restaurant again, 

where we had lunch...

I got this hand blender in the mail today!

I have hopes to use it for soups, smoothies and more!

We had a good friend over for tea!

Mr. Husband and I really enjoyed our conversation!

And I love having tea all ready! :)

We had left overs for dinner,

and clementines and the very last of my Grandma's date bread.

I called her this week and she said that the recipe for it was her

Mother's recipe and promised me she would mail a copy to me...

I am really looking forward to this!

***

We don't yet know when Mr Husband will be strong enough to return 

to work, but I am already beginning to think about that.

I am really hoping we can regain our health and strength...

and I am seeing the need for myself to get out more,

once he is back to work.

It is such a tricky balance for me...I have a lot to do at home,

from keeping house, baking, reading, writing, researching...

I think I need to figure out ways to do this (the last part)

outside of the house, so that I have more interactions with people.

I had ideas for this before, with a few possible

libraries in NYC, but I was researching this in July, and we had such a busy

fall - we traveled by plane 4 times from Labour Day - Western Christmas.

It was partly just how it happened, this particular year.

This new year we are hoping to stay home a LOT more,

and REST.  Anyway, all that to say, that I have not had time really to 

try to figure out other places for me to be during the week

and all the travel made it impossible to figure out.

***

I really long to have a more predictable schedule. 

To have at home days and away/social days.

To have time to do the home-tasks and have time for other things, 

like quilting, knitting, reading, writing, baking...

It's been a challenge for me to try to create this in part because we have

really been traveling so much, last year...

***

Mr Husband still has his cold, though he had a bit more energy today.

We keep trying to figure out ways to help him.

We live in hope and we keep praying... 

The last few days

We've had a lot of nice meals,

with chicken bone broth, dinner party left overs,

soups, English muffins and boiled eggs.

I am hoping to finish my godson's quilt soon,

and am working on my second many squared blanket again. 

I've been struggling a bit with a sense of 

restlessness, I am sure because, at least in part, we have been home so much,

recovering. We are gaining more and more, so that is something to be

thankful for.... I am just wanting to feel a sense of accomplishment

about something and am having to readjust my thinking to continue to 

be thankful for the MUCH that we do have right now...

I have had a wonderful hot bath on Sunday, it was such a blessing to me.

I am reading some good books, and sure am enjoying a lot of wonderful

hot tea with milk and beautiful dishes.

I have so so much to be thankful for....

and I know that it is in being thankful and seeking God

that I can find rest...

Nearly half way through Lent... things to ponder, suddenly

Finally little things are in order:

1. new camera memory card

2. my main computer had malware that Mr. Husband removed

and I can use it again

3. I ordered some key things for something I am making

for Mr. Husband's Birthday...

It's been a sunny week and I am so blessed by this.

Cleo's been liking it too!

Today I get to go to the store...

I am doing my big grocery run for everything

for now and for Pascha...
I hope to start baking (and freezing) for this 

next week!

I love my little kids section...

just wish that I knew kids that are local;

the ones I did know moved way...

but I have hope for this summer at any rate...

So I was talking to Mr. Husband about

a blog post that I am not quite done yet,

about how I love ordinary days best.

And he said, 

well, you like ordinary days as someone in 

the solid middle class.

and over breakfast I read the lead article in the 

Calvin Spark, Calvin being 

where I began my undergraduate education.

And I read about how there are tons of kids

in high school who are homeless.

And I watched the trailer for the film about it.

And what about the babies?

All over the world, abandoned.

I finished, finally, the book

Remains of the Day

and towards the end of the book

a peripheral but yet important character, a doctor,

says that most people just want to live a quiet life and 

be left alone;

these things together, 

the desire of many to just live quietly, and yet,

the poor, the homeless, the children...

well, they give much to think about and wonder.

*

I don't have any conclusion other than

Lord have mercy....