this morning

In about an hour I will go to NYC. 

Thank God that I have been sleeping better. 

I understood from the doctor that the best thing I can do is try to move (scrunch, wiggle whatever) my toes so that the tendons heal properly. Still have some swelling. 

I thank God for the medical care that I have. 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

St Nicholas Day (part 1) 2022

Happy St Nicholas day! 

Liturgy was good. Went out with friend to brunch.  Vegan sausage included! 

I am doing my best to rest.  

I am supposed to go to NYC on Thursday. Thankfully it is a fish 🐟 day 🙂

Choir director came briefly to church just before Communion. 

Our priest prayed "many years" for him.

I have the song "O Saint Nicholas the Saintly" in my head ❤️

Many I know (including in Ottawa) are sick.

May God heal us and have mercy. 🙏

weary

Was at vespers for St Nicholas.

Tomorrow liturgy and a friend and I are going out for a quick lunch 🙏....

Our local choir director is unwell (like taken by ambulance, in hospital overnight, now back home unwell) and we are all quite concerned.  

I am really tired. Having the bad sleep Saturday night really did me in.

I am trying to rest as much as I can in what is a very busy season. 

My foot still has a noticeable amount of pain. 

But yet all I trust to God's mercy....

May we all have God's mercy 🙏

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄

🎄 Christmas 🎄 Tree 2022-2023 is UP. 

Same tree 🌲 that lives in our closet the rest of the year  ..... 

 Starting to look a lot like Christmas 🎄 

Lisa ~ I had a moment of panic and prayer because I didn't see Cleo's ornament right away! It's there! Thinking of Cindy who made it and I think this is your first year since she passed 😔 💔  ..  Thinking of you ❤️ 🙏🕯... and everyone who has lost loved ones etc.

This has been a hard year for many of us, myself included. 

May God comfort us 🙏 

Glad to be back home

NYC was sunny and cold.  I managed to walk a good deal and go to the MET but I am not fully healed yet and walking was a bit exhausting and yet I know I need to start doing daily walks again. It's the only way.  My doctor has recommended it.

I think the most difficult thing really is just wanting a friend sometimes to visit NYC with. 

Well. I am very thankful that I have a Husband who loves me and that I have him as truly my closest and best friend. 

I am so worried about those in the cold who have no or few options for warmth.

May God have mercy 🙏

A rainy wet grey day is glorious for being home

I made Mary's red lentil soup for a late lunch! It was a rainy windy grey day... PERFECT for soup!

Tomorrow I hope to return, 7 weeks later, to NYC.  I can walk fairly well, without limping or needing to favor one leg/foot. So I am going!

I still get sore in my foot after hours of being up but I am well enough to try now. It will do me good, I think!

I am enjoying a quiet week and thank God for this! 

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

A Nice Quiet Day

I read another Molly Clavering novel Dear Hugo.

I baked a double batch of cranberry orange muffins ☺️

And washed all the dishes.  Pulled out the warm comforter for the winter.  Did toe exercises. (Still hurts!)

Luxuriated in a quiet day (Mr Husband was in the City for work).  Talked with a friend via video.  Called my Mom to check in. 

I have been absolutely CRAVING time to just read.  So today was a real gift and not one I take lightly. 

I am waiting for Mr Husband to arrive home and this too is such a gift. 

May God bless us and save us 🙏 

Breathing Room

I enjoyed reading this novel Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer by Molly Clavering.

It was just what I needed.

I am doing some toe exercises for part of my recovery. I can walk but can have some pain.  My toes are quite stiff and need exercises to get them to work properly as they have a hard time bending.

I am taking some days to enjoy the quiet.

I find I really need quiet quite badly.

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Last day, first day

Last night we had our last (dairy-filled) treats and meat until Christmas 🎄 

I am so glad today is the first day of our Nativity Fast!

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Turning Towards Christmas 🎄

I am so happy to be beginning Christmas 🎄 decorating. 

May God bless and protect us 🙏 

Thanksgiving 2022

We had Indian food for lunch (at a restaurant) with a new friend from church! It was a really nice day! ❤️

Much Better

The 🔥SPICY 🔥 soup + everything else helped tremendously my Husband is much better not even sneezing!

I am so HAPPY to report that I no longer have to tape my toes, I can flex them now (bones are set), can walk as much as possible and need to do little "toe crunches/curls" each day. 

So so relieved. And as I take on my normal tasks of food prep and dishes life is much busier!

God bless us each and every one 🙏 ❤️ 

Thankful

Chocolate covered Turkish Delight from Istanbul via my traveling tea friend. It was the best I have ever tasted. I felt it would have rivaled the addictive box Edmund, in Lewis Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, was given by the white witch.

Special blessed incense from my local church. My Husband has a bit of a cold so wanted extra special things.

I also culled my cookbook shelves to make room for new ones that I was given (all vintage except the one I got last week in the mystery package)!

Tons of chicken soup for my Husband ❤️

Excellent delicious Chinese food, spicy to clean our sinuses.  I felt GREAT eating this food!

I got to use pretty dishes and was able to wash them. 

I go to doctor tomorrow  .... hopefully will not need my toes taped any longer. 

Boy am I glad to be doing better as my Husband really needed extra support today. I made him at least a gallon of tea today 🤣🫖🫖🫖🫖 I am so proud of him for doing so much to recover quickly.

We are hoping to take out a lady with no nearby family out for lunch at a restaurant on Thanksgiving so VERY much hoping this can still happen. [BTW my Husband did test for ~the virus~ and it was negative].

Well thank God for all things and especially for such great food and tea! Tomorrow we will rest up!!

God bless protect and console 🙏