Day 30 (without Cleo): rest day

Today I rested a lot!

I also folded some laundry and I did some

computer and phone based errands that took

about 2 hours in the morning.

My Mom thought I was sounding better, 

when I talked with her on the phone...

I was really tired today.

I hope to get a walk in tomorrow as I think that will help overall. 

I was so glad I had prepared food to eat and 

lots of tea / ginger shot / ginger kombucha to drink!

The last picture is part of one of the 'sets' we won of Delft things

at the online auction.

The entire set of this one was 21 pieces and the total cost per item

was about $1.61! I would have paid more at a thrift store!

Esp for the pieces above, which are what I loved the most about it...

the 2 pitchers I am esp excited about and the covered jars as well!

Various pieces we will be giving away,

as we don't have room for everything, etc.

But I can imagine beautiful flowers in the pitchers or

using it for a nice dinner, lunch or breakfast, with water or milk...

***

I am thinking about my family's house, my parent's house, that is.

About how restful it is. 

How there, it's OK to rest when you need it.

I really appreciate that about my parents.

***

Praying for so many...

I was relieved that at least 2 people who I am 

friends with had good news today...

may God have mercy on us and save us!

(Day 15) without Cleo: turning a corner, beauty and peace

I put away more hostess treasures and had a nice breakfast with a pot of tea

This "mouse rug" was from the Cloisters and is WONDERFUL. :)

My beloved writing table re-set up and with the beautiful

Unicorn in Captivity Tapestry (card) on display...

I hope to find a frame for it at the VNA rummage sale in 

early October... :)

It was really wonderful to set up this table again.

I wrote 2 of my favourite persons letters as well...  

Lunch of leftovers and tea.

And a very moving card about the loss of Cleo...

I feel like I have turned the first corner in grieving Cleo.

I am not crying daily, though still missing her and thinking I see her.

And I love her always, always, always...

This is the teapot that I ordered from Ontario Canada via etsy!

It's just perfect! 

I know I alluded to this coming, but did not want to tell you until it came!

I knew it would be too late for Sunday's dinner

(it's the same pattern of dishes I used for that dinner) but I am so glad

to have it and it was at a more reasonable price than many I had seen

previously!  

***

Listened to various music pieces today, 

this song is lovely,

as is this one, the Dance of the Wolves song... 

and also this one... (I think I have shared the above and the below music before

here on my blog).

We had a really good dinner of leftovers!

Tomorrow is the (Julian Calendar) feast day of the Beheading of St John

the Baptist.  We were going to go to liturgy

but there was a family emergency that called our priest away

to care for one of his beloved children who had 

surgery to fix a broken bone and is recovering now.

So we are staying home tomorrow, unexpectedly.

We could use the rest however.

I was really tired and rested a lot today,

no surprise given how busy the Slava prep and then our wonderful 

7th anniversary day yesterday was. 

Tomorrow is what we call a 'strict fast day' to honour the solemness of the

Feast Day.  I am going to make a roasted baked potato and a 

tomato sauce, DV.... 

***

I had some quiet this evening after dinner and prayers and that was nice.

A dear friend sent me this blog post

about the need for faith and for Christian friendship.

How very true and timely. 

***

I am going to keep, as much as I can, the 40 days of grief

for my Cleo Cat... so the (Day #) will continue on my titles, just so you know.

I keep getting indications that my honouring of these days is important

for my grief over my Cleo Cat... 

***

Soon I will be busy with family visiting.

If I don't blog as much next week, don't worry.  

I am just super busy with family visits. 

***

I wish each of you the hope and beauty we find in Christ

and that He is carrying you, carrying me,

to His divinity, 

to his Heaven...

one step, one day, at a time...

First Wednesday of Great Lent, 2017

I had a quiet day;

a long talk with my sister-friend, so nice, it has been months.

I was really worn out today and took it easy.

I watched a cheesy Christian film,

knitted wash clothes.

Read a bit more of Laurus. 

{so ends my #lentenkal + yarn along section of this post!}

Mr. Husband took me out for Lenten Middle Eastern food,

I had lentil soup and bread.

We also ordered some for tomorrow.

I do hope to make a soup soon, but at the same time, realized

I needed some re-coop time, and Friday is going to be a busy day....

A trip to continue working on Patrick stuff, and I hope

to go to presanctified liturgy back at home, 

afterwards... if the weather holds and our schedule can happen

as we are thinking. 

And then we went to the 3rd section of the 

Canon of St. Andrew of Crete....

Below are some sections of it that really struck me tonight,

I how repentance and seeing oneself to be a sinner in great need of repentance,

that this is always in conjunction with trusting in God's mercy

and not despairing. 

My Ottawa spiritual father once told me that I needed to keep at an

exact 50/50 balance the fact that

I am a sinner and that God loves me.

I find that the canon has the same balance,

and that it is a very deep text, 

as in we can think we are a sinner worthy of hell

but at the same moment, we do not despair of God's mercy.

And that was Wednesday of the first week of Lent.

***

I do hope to get a more active routine for Lent yet,

but today I just had to do a lot of resting... 

I am weak and the culmination of the stresses of the past 2 months

got to me a bit again and I had to take a breather so that I can resume

life... thank God for His mercy and that I could be at church tonight.

***

I am seeing such mercy in God's care and in that I rest.