Finally, a slice of silence

 

I wrote this earlier today:

Elizabeth's Tea Files: a friend brought me teas from Spain. Here is my report on my first tasting of the my new tea treasures: Hi! First tea tasting!!! So delicious! I steeped according to directions. I tried it first alone and then with a small spoon tipped with honey. It's a green tea, really good with a lovely scent and hints of summer, hidden sweet flowers and a hint of sweetness that is hard to describe but would recall happy memories of friendship and an early summer's day in the shade of a large green leafed tree. 🌳☕

on my public IG account.

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THIS VIDEO is so sweet, about

St Basil of Moscow.

***

Today was kind of hard but I am feeling better now.

I got through piles of emailed notes for my writing project

that I was not able to get to earlier.

Some were from late May!

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Tomorrow I hope to go through things for my 

visit next week DV to the MET.

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I have ordered a lot of books lately,

and more again today.

I am glad about it.

***

I hope to get back to reading for my writing

project. It took me a good week to recover from our trip.

***

L, the lovely lady who came years ago to our 

Thanksgiving feast,

is back in a nursing home and not doing well.

I just got news that I can visit her.

***

There is so much suffering in the world.

***

I have had to pull back and have

some time to try to relax and not

get stressed from it all.

As in it's not mine to fix, etc.

***

Lord have mercy on us.

***

And save us.

More beautiful words

 Another church sign that I wrote down and forgot to mention:

Patience is trusting in God's timing. 

I am going through emails finding little treasures like this one 

“God gives me whatever I want, because I want whatever He gives.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

Snippets from our trip

We went to a cemetery where many of Mr Husband's relatatives were buried.  I had wanted to visit my Grandpa's grave but thing were too busy and I could not sustain the effort needed to do so.  However, we rememebered him as well.  On our way back from the cemetary I saw this on a church sign:

God is faithful and keeps His promises.

***

I have been thinking about many things over the summer and researching many things.   Here's another simple thought that I wrote down...

Faithfulness in marriage begins before marriage.

As in what you do at the beginning impacts the end. 

Fast, Heat and Sound

 My phone has not backed up todays pictures. 

So just a small note for today.

now that I am back.

***

Rosemary, I loved that shrug story.

black with gold. lovely.

The ones I got are white and cream.

I have a great all black one also

but I don't wear that till fall.

***

Today was so HOT.

I did not even step outside.

We worked with fans blowing on us.

Real feel was 104.

I sweated doing dishes with AC at 78 inside

(fans were in livingroom, we have central air

but it's elderly and we don't push it).

***

I had so much sugar today. 

:)  ice cream, lemonade, one hot chocolate too, LOL.

Last day before the fast.

***

I rested a lot today too.

***

I read an intense novel, not an easy one, but

one that I learned a lot from

including suddenly understanding what a breakdown

from being too manic is like (it's in the book)

but also seeing why it happens

(things to difficult to process, esp grief and loss)

and that somehow if you stay hyper like that,

you don't have to feel what is actually happening.

***

Loss is hard.

Just coming back home here to NJ

is hard because I don't have family here and

it's just the say it is.

***

I am so glad, on that more surface fun level,

that I found those shrugs. 

I use them when I wear a dress without sleeves

or a tank top.  At home, no problem, at church,

or even at my library or at the MET, I would not

dress like that.  Only at home or when taking a fast walk

near home when it is summer weather...

***

So I am really glad to be back in our home

because we have so many icons.

I find I am always looking for them without

realizing that I am looking for them.

The comfort, the presence of love, everything,

everything I am looking for really.

So that's a huge blessing.

***

I did so much laundry today,

folded many piles of laundry.

***

Even though a lot was accomplished,

I also rested a good deal.

I know I need rest.

***

May the Lord help us no matter

what struggle we are facing.

May we know that we never face life alone.

God is with us.

Tea Cup Connection

 I found this teacup the first of the 3 Wednesdays

that I was home in Michigan with my family.

My Husband and I drove.

It was good.

Of course the last 2 nights I have slept poorly

and I am dragging (plus we are in a heatwave). 

***

For at least a week at home I used this teacup 

and now I am using it back in my NJ home.

I know I wanted to feel the connection to my

parent's home, my Mother, my Father.

***

It does not work directly but indirectly

it is something and it's beautiful.

It, the teacup, was 3.00 and it's brand was called

'Elizabethan' so of course I bought it.

It is lovely.

***

The transition to home is alwalys a bit rough.

***

It will get better again.

I hope to go to the MET again towards the end of the month.

Today and last night has been a LOT of putting things away.

We got a few stacks of books, plus a few dishes, 

plus some new clothes (mainly thriftstore finds).

It was the year of the shrug. 

I finally found a second short sleeved one, 

I had to buy it new to find what I wanted 

but after wanting one for a couple years, I was 

glad to find one.  I also got a 3 quarter length white 

sweater new.  I got a longer more lace like 

kimono sized shrug at a consignment shop.  And I found a lovely cream one at a thrift shop (my cousin M found it actually!)...

I also got two skirts and two dresses at thrift stores...

***

I REALLY hope that I can start going to NYC every 2 or 3 weeks

so that I can go to the MET and my library 

(they are closeby to each other). 

Both places are involved in my writing project that I am

slowly getting back to.

***

My time away included some conversations with 

people who helped me with direction of the novel

(as in within the topics I am using). 

***

I admit that the idea of going to NYC and being 

able to wear my prettier clothes there

(instead of my functional summer at home wear)

is a bit thrilling.  It would be a huge

emotional boost for me to do this. 

***

 Well, we will see what will happen.  

***

Meanwhile, may God bless and keep you.

Briefly Here ~ With Beauty

 

Yesterday I was at the MET in NYC

and saw great beauty,

including these two icons which I believe were 

from Cyprus 1600s.

They are very beautiful.

***

(The line between/across Jesus' eyes was just a 

camera/reflection error and is not there in person).

***

It is nearly Midnight so I can't write much now.

***

I am going to have family visiting until mid-August so 

if I am not here much on my blog

or don't say much other than post a picture,

it's just that I am soaking up their visit.

***

God bless and keep you all.

May the Lord's face shine up on us!

May Christ save us and have mercy on us! 

Sunday's Lunch with Dear Friends

 As I shared on Instagram earlier:

We had dear friends over yesterday for Sunday lunch after being at liturgy together. The scones were the star of the show! It is my own vegan version of the wonderful #marioncunningham #thebreakfastbook Dried Fruit Cream Scones.  (I will put my recipe changes in comments below). These are beyond perfect with some cherry jam on top! 

The changes that I made to this recipe are: 1. Used coconut cream (from Trader Joe's) instead of dairy cream) and only used dried cherries (added the amount called for of golden raisins to the dried cherry amount).  Also I didn't add the glaze but sprinkled a small amount of raw sugar chunks on top! 2. All of the instructions about preparing the batter after it is mixed I ignore completely! I added the fluffy batter to the tart pan, made sure it goes to all the edges and back and baked according to the recipe instructions!! 🍒🍒🍒🍒

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Today is Tuesday already!

We went to church yesterday for St Peter and Paul and now the small

Apostle's fast is done and we are eating meat again... :) 

***

My life is so busy right now, it's hard to keep things straight. 

However, I got our laundry done.

3 loads done and more than that folded and put away. WHEW.

***

So today I learned more about some earlier scientific ideas.

I am learning a lot all related to ideas that are in my writing project.

***

Well, it's time to sleep!

God bless you all and keep you! 

May His Face Shine Upon You!

quickly about today

I don't have time to upload my pictures but the meal today went really well!  One of the things we discussed is the books by Elder St Sophrony and I did not realize until later that today is his second feast day!  (He was just made a Saint in 2019).  Here's a bit about him if you care to learn more.  I enjoyed listening to this (and am happy to say I have the book that Fr Josiah read from though I have not finished reading it yet myself). 

Wishing you all a peaceful night and God's protection and mercy! 

The last few days: a lot can change quickly

July 7, 2021 

Today was a good day, in the end.  Swimming early in the morning helped.  Getting out helps.  I am reading the Jan Karon Mitford novel series again.  A bit of L'Engle's book as well.   I am slowly feeling awake again, able to think about my writing project and feel excited about it again.  I did a bit of research and filing of research and reading and note taking.  I have a few notebooks that if I lost, I would be lost (in terms of my writing project).  

Meanwhile, some of my friends are really struggling.  It's always hard to hear difficult news. 

But today was a blessing.  And it was my summer name's day, as it is the Nativity of St John the Baptist and his Mother St Elizabeth and his Father St Zachariah are also remembered :)  We had Thai fish curry and rice, fresh fruit, tea and kombucha.  

July 8, 2021 

Today I have spent much of it researching the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.  I hope to go next week.  

We are having impressive storms at present! Thunder, driving rain, lightening, some hail.  So far so good in terms of power and the like.  Hard to believe we went swimming this morning with blue sky and sunshine!  

We had some flooding in our area but it went down quickly.  We even had some hail for a bit! 

July 9, 2021 

So, I finished re-reading A Live Coal in the Sea and am still thinking on it.  It's funny how a book can be so different depending on when you read it and what you are looking for.  It's hard to know how to recommend books sometimes.  This one has some really difficult scenes in it and painful trauma.  Knowing the book as I did, I knew what was coming and sometimes to be honest it was really hard to keep reading, knowing I would be reading the account of a family's pain.  Yet it is a rich book.  It has so much in it and I really see L'Engle not only trying to come to terms with questions (probably both from her own life and also in the lives of her characters, who were very real to her) but trying to see how what she believes (in theology and in science, which to her is part of theology) plays out in terms of family drama, pain and trying to come to terms with things.   

I also found out that a newer friend of mine, a really special new friendship, may be leaving.  To be honest this is super difficult for me.   I am coping by continuing to work on my writing project and making plans to do more research, including at the MET.  My life, in structure, is going to change (as far as we know) in September as my Husband is planning on being in the office in NYC come this September (unless things pandemic wise worsen).  We've been living home 24x7 with each other since March 10. 2020.  So by September that will be nearly a year and a half.  He will still have some days at home, but it will be a real change, adjustment for both of us.  

I have friends visiting this Sunday.  We have family visiting for a good while later this summer.  These things are keeping me going.  

Something I remember at times is what one of my fears is simply the unknown.  When I don't know what is happening in the future.  It's silly, in the sense of all of our future is, really, quite unknown.  But when one has worked job contracts and does not know what job she will have in a few months, it's quite another thing.  Now that struggle in my life is over (amazingly) but the question of what I will be doing this fall is quite another one.  What will happen with the pandemic? Will I have anyone for holidays? When will be ever travel by air again?  Will things shut down again come fall or winter?  Lots of unknowns to merely accept as unknown and deal with what I do know.

I know the following:  1. God will be there in the future and the only time I can connect with God is now in the present.  2.  I will have what I need for the times I will face and am in now.  

And so, the lesson of 'take no thought of tomorrow and trust God today' is one that I am still working on and working out in my life... 

July 10, 2021 

Most likely my newer friend is leaving.  It's for the best for her and her family and I am excited for her.  I am reading the Cross of Loneliness and it is so good.  

Another piece of good news is that a cafe I have been waiting for finally opened.  We tried a green vegan smoothie today, it was decent.  I look forward to trying more things...

I have set the table with our English dishes that have a Dutch scene :) for tomorrow for friends who hope to come over for Sunday lunch after liturgy.  It will be wonderful to see them again. 

I still need to prepare the fish. I should do that now.  Will be back DV to write more later!

I am back.  Now it is after 11 PM on Saturday. The fish is prepared and in fridge.  Everything is as ready as it can be.  The House is pretty tidy.  I am really happy for everything being ready and for the scones, which we will have with fruit and fruit salad... 

And so I wish you all well and with God's blessings, mercy and protection! God keep you!

A Many Day Update

 Friday, July 2, 2021

It is cooler today, cloudy.  I hear birds singing outside our windows, talking in quick chirps to each other.  Today is a fish day for St John of Shanghai and San Francisco.  I love St John.  I know a lot of my readers are not Orthodox Saints may not be something you are familiar with really.  Basically said, a Saint is one who allowed Christ to be within him or her self to such a degree that they gained great holiness and God uses their prayers to help others.  Orthodoxy does not, to say it in perhaps a unique way, though I did not come up with the idea, but anyway, it's that we do not believe in non-linear time like some people do.  Just because some one had departed this life does not mean that they are not absent from us or that they cannot pray for us when in heaven with Christ.   St John helps so many.  I went to his church were his body rests and when I was near by to him I felt such joy and peace.  That's what it is like to be by a Saint, a deeply holy one alive or alive in the next life that we are not in yet ourselves.  

So for St John we had fish for lunch.  And I went on a walk this morning (instead of swimming) and am working on my writing project and other things.  

Monday, July 5, 2021

I never finished my blog post.  Here I am again.  

Tuesday night, July 6, 2021 

I never got father than two sentences yesterday! The heat is back, it hollows me out like a limp dish rag needing a good wash and, if it were a long time ago and not a rag, a good bit of starch put back in!  I am reading, again, A Live Coal in the Sea by Madeleine L'Engle.  It is not an easy book, as in, reading of the deep and shocking tragedies in this family's life, while fiction, is quite vivid.  But I don't think one can fully understand L'Engle without this book.  I am realizing what a summation of her oeuvre this book really is.  I have read a lot about and by L'Engle, and am seeing the various interests and strands of her work and thinking and this novel really brings many of them together.  I know enough about her to know she hoped to write more novels, but her age, with further health complications prevented her.  She lived until 2007 but 1996 is her last year for a novel to come out, which is the one I am reading, A Live Coal in the Sea.  It's hard to know who to recommend her novels to (they are more intense/dramatic/difficult than most of her YA books, esp Wrinkle in Time).   She deals with a lot of relational problems, including in and outside of marriage and it's often messy like life can be. So not for everyone.  

I am relieved to say I finally have the dishes done again and the kitchen counters more clean.  It's a constant struggle to keep up with clutter.  I think it will be a struggle of mine for all of my life most likely. 

I've been swimming at times, early in the morning.  I can tell that I am tired and I don't push myself to do anything stellar in terms of laps.  I just try to keep going. 

July 7, 2021

I went swimming again.  I am praying for a friend who is waiting for some much needed good news.  I was really glad for the pool this morning.  I am finding summer days to be a bit hard.  It's partly the heat, we can't open our window shades and that always makes me feel a bit closed in. 

But we are having fish curry for lunch! I wish we could have gone to liturgy this morning but the long drive and other things it just could not happen, sadly. 

It's another hot day today.  We are keeping cool, the AC is on but also we have a fan.  

So the book, black is the colour of my true love's heart ... it's a great mystery book.  But it also serves another purpose at our home.  Our family motto, you may or may not know, is 'we tease those we love' and my Husband had such a happy smile on his face that I had to ask him why and he said, 'go look at your computer' and there was the BOOK.  I began it years ago, leaving it for my Husband to find as a joke.  He got it out of our library yesterday and left it for me.  Of course now it's my turn to return the favour... :) 

I know this is not a fun topic, but I am concerned about the d-variant in the ongoing pandemic.  All I know is that it is not over yet and we must keep looking to Christ... I feel like we have been in a world-wide war and the war is not yet over, no matter how weary we are. 

But I also see God's mercy along the way and we must not lose hope.

God bless and protect you all my dear blog readers!

Thursday: cooling down slightly from a few high heat days

 

I made a vegan plum cake today!

Used this recipe,

but with egg replacement powder and vegan butter sticks.

***

I have been swimming different times this week

in the morning, which has been a blessing.

***

I am reading books to try to replenish and feed my soul.

***

I am taking it easy as it has been so hot.

It is just really draining.

***

I pray you are well and that God is bringing encouragement

and guidance to you!

May the Lord have mercy on us!