{Gift-Making @ Home} ~ Christmas Tea 2014

In the first half of December I had a dear new friend

over to stay and she and I made my 2014 Christmas Tea.

Recipe found here.

My ratios to make 20 batches of this recipe will be at the end

of this blog post... 

Last Christmas Mr. Husband and I went to an 

Indian store in the town where Mr. Husband had his first house.

By then I had already made my first ever

Christmas tea and we knew that I would need more spices.

And my husband knew the prefect store to get them

in bulk and in good shape!

Rooibos tea was from my Bridgehead stash.

My friend used our biggest knife and cut through the

candied ginger very quickly!

I used up the rest of my candied ginger... will have to order more...

My good friend Em. in Ottawa told me,

after I told her of making my first batch of tea

and how hard it was on my hand,

that I should get a coffee grinder to grind the spices for me.

Brilliant!

I did so and the whole tea making went so much faster

and with no crazy hand fatigue!

(Those cinnamon sticks are not easy to break by hand!)

I made two kinds this year.

The Rooibos tea like last year and new this year

one with caffeinated orange pekoe. 

My friend N. helped with the measuring while

I got all the glass in the dishwasher for a good wash.

I don't do caffeine personally but I trust the new blend will be lovely!

The first gift bag to go was to my dear new friend who

spent the afternoon with me doing this tea making.

It was a lovely after lunch and tea activity! :) 

*

Here's the notes we have from this year's tea making...

I hope to get more detailed notes as the years go along,

providing my life is the same and I will be doing tea again!

*

Chai Tea Mix Recipe

Makes about 12-16 tea bags per jar 

12 green cardamom pods ~ 240 for 20 jars (approx. ⅓ of a cup, or 100 ml)

1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns ~ 10 tsp for 20 jars

1 tablespoon fennel seeds ~ 20 tbs for 20 jars 

(slightly more than a cup, or very slightly more than 250 ml)

1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds ~ 10 tsp for 20 jars

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves ~ 10 tsp for 20 jars

1 4-inch cinnamon stick ~ 20 sticks for 20 jars

3 tablespoons chopped candied ginger ~ 60 tbs for 20 jars (3 ¾ cups)

1/2 cup loose black tea ~ 10 cups for 20 jars 

Note: we did 5 cups rooibos and 5 cups black this year

After spices are ground doing half rooibos and 

half black, the spices in half were 1 cup ⅓ cup each 

*

I filled about 24 small quilted jelly jars and a few tall ones with

this year's batch of tea.

The Kindness of my Husband...

After a slew of busy busy days, 

I was exhausted.

Between goodbyes to our goddaughter's family,

Christmas preparations and general business,

I had been home all day and not gone out,

so very tired. 

*

And then my husband chatted me about him

coming home and would I like to go out

to our favourite diner for dinner? 

*

Unsure, as I was tired,

I looked through pretty pictures on Habit and 

realized that I would indeed

like dinner out.

*

So we went, both of us got pasta with shrimp dishes

and now I have enough left overs for some great lunches.

*

I am so grateful for my thoughtful

Mr. Husband.

38 this year

My birthday gift this year

I got earlier, washed and put away safely...

Mr. Husband and I found some vintage made in England

Christmas dishes...

*

Today is the beginning of my 38th year.

*

I am very aware that this is a happy 

time in my life, a joyful season; but I am also aware 

of the way that life has seasons...

*

And so I pray that God will fortify me for whatever is to come.

*

And for now, on this birth-day,

I seek to be thankful....

Towards True Light...

When I did my many book orders for my church

for Christmas and St. Nicholas day ordering,

plus normal spiritual reading that we do,

I finally ordered for Mr. Husband and I a 3 year 

subscription to The Orthodox Word,

a journal I have long loved.

*

They sent an extra copy with our first issue,

this one to be exact:

and the talks by St. Barsanuphius have 

been just what I needed to read.

*

A challenge but also an encouragement

to keep up the Christian Struggle.

*

Something I've been struck with and find myself thinking on

throughout the day is the concept and understanding he 

speaks of in terms of heaven and hell starting now,

with what we put and allow in our souls.

Are we working on eradicating anger, greed, selfishness,

which make heaven absent in the soul...

 *

One of the themes I am noticing is that 

we struggle and fall but if we keep struggling as a 

Christian and thinking about eternity and the current and 

future state of our souls ... and turn to Christ in that struggle,

we will be saved. 

*

It's at once heady and challenging reading,

but that which gives clarity, encouragement and a light to go 

towards, a Light that really is there.

*

I am so thankful for such words.

A Blessed and Merry Christmas

May all children be glad on this day!

Their Lord Christ is born 

to be with us,

to save us,

to bring us light and joy!

*

Wishing everyone a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

The Norman Baron by H W Longfellow ~ a poem my husband sent me for Christmas Eve

The Norman Baron

In his chamber, weak and dying,
Was the Norman baron lying;
Loud, without, the tempest thundered,
      And the castle-turret shook, 

In this fight was Death the gainer,
Spite of vassal and retainer,
And the lands his sires had plundered,
      Written in the Doomsday Book. 

By his bed a monk was seated,
Who in humble voice repeated
Many a prayer and pater-noster,
      From the missal on his knee; 

And, amid the tempest pealing,
Sounds of bells came faintly stealing,
Bells, that from the neighboring kloster
      Rang for the Nativity. 

In the hall, the serf and vassal
Held, that night, their Christmas wassail;
Many a carol, old and saintly,
      Sang the minstrels and the waits; 

And so loud these Saxon gleemen
Sang to slaves the songs of freemen,
That the storm was heard but faintly,
      Knocking at the castle-gates. 

Till at length the lays they chanted
Reached the chamber terror-haunted,
Where the monk, with accents holy,
      Whispered at the baron's ear. 

Tears upon his eyelids glistened,
As he paused awhile and listened,
And the dying baron slowly
      Turned his weary head to hear. 

"Wassail for the kingly stranger
Born and cradled in a manger!
King, like David, priest, like Aaron,
      Christ is born to set us free!" 

And the lightning showed the sainted
Figures on the casement painted,
And exclaimed the shuddering baron,
      "Miserere, Domine!" 

In that hour of deep contrition
He beheld, with clearer vision,
Through all outward show and fashion,
      Justice, the Avenger, rise. 

All the pomp of earth had vanished,
Falsehood and deceit were banished,
Reason spake more loud than passion,
      And the truth wore no disguise. 

Every vassal of his banner,
Every serf born to his manor,
All those wronged and wretched creatures,
      By his hand were freed again. 

And, as on the sacred missal
He recorded their dismissal,
Death relaxed his iron features,
      And the monk replied, "Amen!" 

Many centuries have been numbered
Since in death the baron slumbered
By the convent's sculptured portal,
      Mingling with the common dust: 

But the good deed, through the ages
Living in historic pages,
Brighter grows and gleams immortal,
      Unconsumed by moth or rust.

Just loving our Christmas Tree

I love the lights reflecting on the glass of these windows at night.

*

The Saint Nicholas book is lovely though not fully Orthodox.

I read it to my Sunday School kids (they love it) but had to 

change a few things as the author does not have a full

understanding of Saints.

*

I am so grateful for all we have been given,

Christmas trees, books, beauty, and above all

the Lord coming at Christmas time...

{Christmas Baking} ~ Cookies for Christmas: New England Sour Cream Cakes

I found this vintage cookbook some years ago...

I made cookies with cranberries and chocolate chips for Christmas,

with a milk, vanilla and powdered sugar glaze!

Recipe is with eggs, butter & sour cream!

They are in the freezer waiting for Christmas!

Will try to remember to show them to you then!

{Homemaking} ~ Decorating our Home for Christmas

Decorations need not be complicated to be beautiful...

I got this candle holder / ribboned vase last year at 

St. Nectarios Monastery. 

The Nativity Icon is from Holy Dormition Monastery...

Saint Nicholas Day...

St. Nicholas Eve we met dear friends for dinner

and gave small gifts.

Mr. Husband and I somehow got both sets of our car 

keys locked in the car but thankfully help came 

within the hour.

And so we could all go to vigil for St. Nicholas day.

Church is always so beautiful at night...

The oil we were anointed with last night was so fragrant... 

St. Nicholas the much loved!

It was a lovely service.

*

We went to liturgy in the morning and handed out

cookies and things of dried cherries.

In return we were given some lovely ginger muffins and 

other surprises!

I am so grateful for St. Nicholas and all

the help he gives us!

*

I read this book to children last night and this morning

and it is simple and lovely.

The Day after the Nativity Fast Tea...

Cleo as always, sitting a top of one of the white chairs!

*

PS: Happy Saint Nicholas Day to all who celebrate it today!

Mr. Husband are off early to church for Liturgy 

and the handing out of cookies!

{Hospitality at Home} ~ A Ladies Nativity Fast Tea

Chocolate glazed and chocolate raspberry cupcakes,

chocolate and chocolate chip with raspberry cookies.

Lemon, two coconut creamers, sugar.

Teas: Prince Vladimir, Camomile Lavender, Christmas Chai, Orange Pekoe, Coffee.

Grandma's dishes, various tea pots, my Oma's tea cozies,

plus the one I was given as a wedding gift...

The tea tray is from IKEA.

The cookies are the ones I made this past week.

Koek and wonderful chocolate cake!

Cake was a lovely addition!!! 

We gathered together, all 8 of us, 

with our local Matushka and talked about

what it means to be an Orthodox woman, married, 

working Mothers with

children, how things have changed, raising children,

homemaking traditions. 

*

It was so lovely and I do hope we can have another

in the new year...

building community is so important and needed in our lives.

And to come together as Christians,

and of course to have tea....

Cozy Striped Blanket Borders Begun!

I am about halfway through L' Engle's Two-Part Invention.

I am really enjoying this; the first time I am re-reading it since

I gave my copy away to a cousin years ago and first 

time since I myself am married.

It's a comforting, real, consoling read.

I decided to do a boarder that is 'ribbed' as it were.

I have not picked up stitches yet as I kept knitting 

only where I already have a 'live' thread going.  

*

I think I will practice a bit before making the boarder itself,

but am confident that I can do it.

I am pleased that so far I've done the first border section without mistake.

A few times I frogged back slightly but feel

that I am getting the hang of paying attention to my knitting

to do a more constant slightly more complicated stitch. 

I am excited to add a border to the rest of this blanket!

I think it will finish it off nicely. 

I am enjoying the colour combination!

And am already thinking of my next blanket, 

which will be in shades of blue and with continued stitching variations. 

*

What are you reading and creating?

I would love to hear!

Yarn Along with us!