Thank the Lord...

No abscess.
Tonsillitis for sure.
My throat is sore and swollen!
Mr. Husband bought me some mango fruit popsicles.
And I about doubled my scarf length today
since yesterday!
Played with Cleo with some spare yarn;
she loved it.
Thanks for your prayers;
they are needed and appreciated!
I am so glad that I can rest tomorrow
and should not have to go out...

ENT unexpectedly

So my wonderful doctor
called me and
said that it is very possible that I do
have the beginning of an abscess after all.
I am to see an ENT today.
*
I will take my knitting!
*
Asking your prayers.

Possible Abbess in my throat but there was Nun

So...
My happy surprise is that I am learning to knit!
I just started last week...
I went in for my second class yesterday morning
in NYC
(I could not find a class that was in the daytime
where I live in NJ).
And I went to see the doctor afterwards.
*
Well.
I woke up yesterday and felt even worse.
I looked in the mirror with a flashlight
in my throat and there
was a huge swollen gland,
the size of a cherry tomato.
*
Needless to say, I was quite concerned
and emailed for prayer support to some of
my dear family and friends.
*
Just after that my doctor's office called,
saying that they wanted to schedule a longer
visit with me in case it was needed.
*
So I went to NYC.
Went to this fun Greek Diner and saw icons of
St. Nicholas
St. Spyridon
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
and
the Mother of God.
This was a great comfort to me.
I ate some breakfast and went
to the near by knitting store.


I knit a lot on the weekend and the above
what-ever-you-call it was
the result.
I used up a whole skein of yarn!
I made a lot of mistakes which is why you can see it
bunching at the bottom.
*
So I bought some yarn,
some smaller bamboo needles,
and then went off the subway to get to the doctor's office.
My doctor Thank the Good Lord
is Wonderful and a God-loving Catholic!
She was also quite concerned about
my throat and I was suddenly sent off to
a near by hospital in NYC by cab
to have a cat scan with dye for contrast of my throat.
My doctor was concerned that there could
be a possible abscess in my throat.
I had other tests done as well and was waiting a while
in the doctor's very pleasant office
with paintings and a Cross...
Meanwhile,
I wanted to keep knitting.
I am really loving it and it helps me keep calm.
*
But I could not remember how to cast on,
which is the beginning row on a needle for a new project.
And the doctor's office was in a building that my
smart phone was not working...
I was hoping to find a quick video on how to
cast on so I could begin a small project...
*
The nurse helped me get a cab and told me again
where to go when I got there.
*
While in the taxi I quickly
found this video to remind myself of how to cast on.
I knew I was forgetting one of the four steps.
I found this video quickly via a Google search
and it was perfect.
*
And so I, my red cart and bag full of yarn
went to the hospital...
*
I texted Mr. Husband and the
phone spell checked it
to say
possible abbess in my throat...
he told me later and hence the title of this post!
 

This is my progress on my new project!
It's going to be a simple scarf.
*
I like most do not love needles
and I had to have an IV in my arm
so I was making small talk with the nurse,
asking him how long he's been doing this work
and he joked around with me
saying he was brand new
and just yesterday was working in
housekeeping! :)
Another nurse who was preparing a chart smirked
and it was clear that they were a good team and
the humour was great.
So I knitted with the IV in my arm...
I find it calming
and helps me focus to pray also...
*
I had emailed via my phone for more prayer
support as I waited for the cat scan.
I was a bit overwhelmed but God helped me...

Here you can see how big my first project was
and how small the next one is.
The funny thing is that one of the early mistakes
I was making was adding stitches...
like more than 40 more than I needed!!
The scarf on top was how many I was supposed to have! :)
*
So the doctor who looked at the
cat scan told me
that there was no abscess
and I already had the prescription for antibiotics...
so I was told to take them and drink lots of water...
*
It was a long day.
I got another cab Thank God
and went to Mr. Husband's work.
I called my parents to tell them that
I was OK and the cat scan result was good
and then I knitted some more...
*
We ate dinner and then went back to NJ
ordered and picked up the prescription and
did not get back home till close to 10 PM
last night.
*
Whew!
I had joked with my Mother
that nothing is every simple with me!
None of us had guessed that yesterday
I would be going to the hospital!

Someday I hope to be able to knit
something like this blanket that my
Oma made some years back.

It was so strange to be in a hospital in NYC
with the ID bracelet and everything....

Cleo was glad to have us back home.

 

She missed us!
*
So between insomnia that I had,
a still very swollen throat and
being very tired...
I am grateful.
*
I am doing a thanksgiving journal right before bed
and I had so much to be thankful for;
it really puts a different perspective on the day,
even stressful days,
when one remembers that many blessings that were
also in it.
*
So now I have to rest and drink lots of water,
take my antibiotics and probiotics
and I am going to sit on the couch and knit...
*
Asking for your prayers...

Many good and beautiful things and a malingering illness

Valentine's Day
I found myself with
very swollen throat and
so a doctor did tests:
no mono, no strep.
I was assured that I was not contagious.
*
Good.
So sick but told I should get better in 48 hours.
*
I had planned on making Mr. Husband
a beautiful more fancy meal
and a cheesecake.
This did not happen;
I was too busy trying to figure out what
doctor I could go to and rushing around
as we had a weekend away planned
starting the next day.
*
So I made pizza
(crust and sauce pre-made).
*
I gave Mr. Husband this DVD
and Mr. Husband gave me this
book on bread
and a CD for us to enjoy.


It was good;
organic ham, some mozzarella and
sauce.

Lit our candles and had
some sparkling juice
that we had been given as a gift
for Christmas.

We went to liturgy for the feast
of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
Candles were blessed at the end of liturgy.

It was a beautiful feast.

 

So then Mr. Husband and I went to our hotel
(of course a picture of our makeshift icon corner
with newly blessed candles!)
and then off to Princeton for the
third annual Florovsky Symposium.
*
It was wonderful.
*
Fr. Patrick Reardon spoke on the Bible and
preached Christ in the same
room where Einstein gave
lectures on the theory of Relativity;
to preach on the Creator of all
in such a room was deeply wonderful and
beautiful.
*
Archbishop Demetrios spoke
the next day on how St. John Chrysostom
love the Bible and that
we can be transformed by reading the
Bible with love
reading it as friend and advocate.
This was by far the highlight for me
in terms of lectures.
*
Really enjoyed two other lectures as well,
a real blessing.
*
And I got to go the book room where
8th Day books
and
Holy Trinity Bookstore
had stands and
Mr. Husband and I both got some books
there, agreeing that we will save them
as gifts for later...
*
So that was wonderful,
though I was still not fully well...
and now, on Monday
it is clear that whatever I am fighting
is lingering on, to the point of getting worse
instead of better...so
it is off to NYC to see the doctor...
and one other thing that I hope to tell
you all about soon!
*
If you could pray for me;
it would be nice to get back to full steam again.
*
I continue to be aware of so many needs and ills
in the world and in the circles of friends and
family.
*
Just today my Mother told me of a young man
in his early 40's unexpected passing from death to life;
the stories of sickness, struggles and uncertainty abound...
*
How much we are in need of the Lord's help,
succor, protection and healing.
Lord Christ come quickly, help and heal us!
Comfort us in our days here
that are so quickly past!

Small note about the rest of this week...

 

So Mr. Husband and I
will be quite busy with church things
this weekend.
And I am supposed to be making a
cheesecake for my
beloved
for tomorrow's civil
(as in how it is treated often now day's) feast...
St. Valentine's Day.
How wonderful that at least a few Saints days are
in some fashion being remembered...
*
So if you don't hear from me again until Monday...
that's why!
*
It's also the vigil for the
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
*
Due to various factors,
Mr. Husband and I can't go to vigil.
*
So we will have a very festive meal for
tomorrow
as it was a year tomorrow
that we picked out the engagement ring 
and the next day we do hope DV
to go to liturgy!
*
I have been teetering on what feels
like the beginning of some sort of head cold
something or other.
I do ask your prayers.
This weekend is to be quite full for us
and the last thing I want is to succumb to
some sort of sickness...
*
Meanwhile,
enjoy the following links
if you have not seen them already:
1. Elizabeth is blogging about cookbooks and I am
especially in love with this one.
2. Fr. Micheal's post on fasting was a wonderful read
3. Jane's continued blogging on bread is lovely.
4. So excited for Mat. Emily and her family's joy
*
Blessed week to all of you my dear friends!
May God save us and may we live in
Christ's joy!

Tuesday Tea in NYC, the state of the world and our need for salvation

I was walking in downtown
NYC yesterday
and was scheduled to meet a new friend
for tea at a very nice place
with beautiful dishes and decor.
*
I had some time so I stopped and sat on
a city bench in the sunshine and talked to a good friend,
on my cell phone,
who I've known for nearly 10 years.
We talked about how bad it is getting in
Syria and how over a million people are displaced.
It is so far from where we live
but yet not that far.
*
I have talked often with Mr. Husband about
the state of the world
and the concern we have over things that are happening.
Indeed it seems that we are close to saying
we are living in the ruins of
what was some sort of Christian society
and even worse.
*
Meanwhile,
years ago this friend who I talked to on the phone
visited me in Ottawa
and we went to a most exquisite high tea.
Years later, she and I are both married
she with children and
I about to have a very nice tea
with a new friend in
NYC of all things.
*
To say I felt the irony of my good fortune
to be safe, married and able to rest
from a few years of growingly frantic and
exhausting job searching
and to be in what is still a safe country
is to be seen as a significant understatement.
*
Actually I struggle with this a lot.
How can a North American be saved,
we still not that impoverished, etc.
Not war-torn, not homeless;
most of us reading this have some where
to live; food to eat...
I often think of this and hope
that I can give like Jane seeks to
and so it goes.
*
Meanwhile,
the tea in NYC:
the decor, the dishes, the linens
were beautiful.
My new friend delightful
and interesting and kind.


The silverware and napkin
were lovely.
Gold with mauve was very good choice.

This first small course
as they called it
was very lovely
a butter-squash tart
it was my favourite of all
upon reflecting on the experience.
And nice and warm.

The sandwiches were varied and tasty. 

The only thing I would really change
was having a decaf black tea.
They had none and I do not do caffeine.
Cute sugar cube with the tea cup,
I must say.

The tea I had was good
and quite redeemed by being in such a lovely
tea pot.

The scones were good
but I am betting in time I can make better;
a good challenge for me!

The clotted cream and raspberry was lovely.

The signature cake was
good esp. with the raspberry swirls
but it was a bit of a sugar-overload...

 

My new friend and I enjoyed the
chocolate covered strawberries
and had the beautiful light cookies wrapped
in a lovely take-away bag
as any hunger had long been assuaged.
*
So the tea was good and quite lovely,
but the conversation
and meeting a new friend
was even better.
*
It is a blessing to slowly be meeting new people and
making friends.
For this I am so very thankful.
*
Last night I read something very helpful
to the struggle I often find myself in...
that I discussed in the beginning of this post...
the poverty in the world,
the asceticism needed
and yet the situation we find ourselves in
and how to make sense of it all
in terms of what is for our salvation.
*
This was very helpful,
from the Prologue of Ohrid for
yesterday, January 31 on the Julian calendar:
*
Although the Holy Fathers praised monasticism as the angelic state,
and although many of the greatest saints lived their lives
and attained perfection in the deaf and lifeless desert,
nevertheless, the Orthodox Church does not
recommend tonsuring to all the faithful.
"Neither all those in the desert were saved
nor all those in the world were lost," said one saint.
To a city dweller who, with no inclination for monasticism,
desired to enter the monastery, St. Niphon said:
 "My child, a place neither saves nor destroys a man,
but deeds save or destroy.
For him who does not fulfill all the commandments of the Lord,
there is no benefit from a sacred place or from a sacred rank.
King Saul lived in the midst of royal luxury and he perished.
King David lived in the same kind of luxury and he received a wreath.
Lot lived among the lawless Sodomites and he was saved.
 Judas was numbered among the apostles and he went to Hades.
Whoever says that it is impossible to be saved
with a wife and children deceives himself.
Abraham had a wife and children,
three-hundred-eighteen servants and handmaidens,
 much gold and silver but, nevertheless,
he was called the Friend of God.
Oh, how many servants of the Church
and lovers of the desert have been saved!
 How many aristocrats and soldiers!
How many artesians and field-workers!
Be pious and be a lover of men and you will be saved!"

Sunday Night Dinner

Late last week,
I was looking at my cookbooks and pulled out one
on my top shelf:

going solo in the kitchen

which I bought
a few years ago in Ottawa;
I bought it at the used book sale
that the public library has.
*
I enjoyed looking at it
but found when I was single
that the recipes were a bit involved
and never used it,
ironically.
*
So here is how I made it.
5 organic chicken legs
in two small casserole dishes.
Flour, ground mustard, paprika, salt and pepper
in a bag for a chicken shake-and-bake
with a wonderful milk gravy.
Each chicken piece in the bag with flour mixture
shook well,
first putting lemon juice on each chicken piece
and after shaking it in the flour mixture,
dusting extra flour off
and placing in pan.
*
Washed organic mushrooms and baby tomatoes
smeared with butter
and a chopped small onion placed on and by the
chicken legs.
Butter dotted on each chicken.
*
Baked at 425.
The author said to baste it once and that it should take
20 minutes minimum.
It took more like 45 minutes at least
and I basted with melted butter
that I put on a brush and
then slathered over the whole dish -
chicken, mushrooms and all.
*
One lesson is to quickly take the casserole dishes out
instead of losing hot air of the oven
when doing this.
I did not do this at this time and
will seek to next time....
*
When done I took the author's suggestion
on the milk gravy and varied it a bit:
since I had doubled the recipe already,
I doubled the gravy recipe also...
I put in about 2/3 cup of milk,
with some added cream and half-and-half
about half of the leftover bag
of flour mixture (about 2 tbs I think)
all of the wonderful fat drippings from the
chicken and stirred
until it was quite thick and creamy.


It turned out really well!
It was enough for over 2 full meals
for Mr. Husband and I. 

I got to use some of my dishes
that I had for a long time but
were stuck un-shipped in Michigan.
After Western Christmas,
my parents mailed them to us.
The salad bowl you see above
with wooden spoon and fork
that my Dad sanded
down and re-stained with a
water soluble stain that
he knew is food safe
(my Dad paints houses etc for a living
and is an expert at this sort of thing).

Here is the dish
gracing our table! 

Here's the salad bowl.
It's super cute!
It is one that is hand-washable only
as it feels like a more fragile dish.
So not to be used as often because of this.
*
We used the smaller matching bowls for dessert.

 

It was a lovely meal
and gave me a great idea for a dinner party
idea God-willing in the future!
*
I am looking forward to using this
cookbook again for more ideas...

Snow on the weekend; we had power, thank God!

The snow as it came down on Friday night.

We got everything ready
in case we lost power.

You can see the snow falling!

Mr. Husband guesses we had
8-12 inches...

 

Saturday we woke to a still heated home
as the power stayed on
and it was beautiful and sunny!
*
Weekends are my busiest times now;
I remember years ago my
sister-friend telling me that Saturday was super
busy for her as she was married, etc.
*
Now I understand this more...
*
One of my new friends and I were talking
about how one does not really know
what it is like to undergo huge life-changing events
like marriage, or having a child, etc
until one has experienced it themselves.
*
I love being married.
I also can say that until one has done it
one does not really know what it is like.
*
In a few weeks Lent will begin it's beginning
with the fast free week, then a week of normal fasting
then a week of fasting from meat only
and then the full Lenten fast.
*
My new church fasts differently than my Ottawa church
and I can tell that it is going to be a bit of a learning curve
and I imagine that I will be really homesick for my
Ottawa parish as Lent is my favourite time
of year there.
*
Lent is really late this year.
So strange that Pascha will be in the beginning of May.
*
I am really glad for a Lenten cookbook that
one of my new friends gave me
as a wedding gift.
*
Since our house blessing got postponed,
I am hoping to get more little things
done to our place before
it is blessed.
*
One day at a time...
*
Do keep praying for Noah.
He is ill again...

The Bread is Beautiful and the Snow Plentiful

Forgot to mention...
I got the email suggesting our house blessing
be rescheduled for another day.
*
With the amount of snow coming down
and the drive that would have to be done
by many to have this blessing
it is not worth the risk, danger, etc.
*
So we will be rescheduling...
*
Meanwhile,
the bread is baked
and Mr. Husband and I each had 1 slice
hot out of the oven
with raspberry jam!
*
Here it is risen,
unbaked...

I did a new for me thing
and used our pizza stone to bake them on,
with the parchment paper underneath,
and under the pizza stone,
a Pyrex casserole dish with boiling water
in it,
both of which were in the oven when
I turned it one for the 30 minute preheat. 

The parchment paper was a bit too long... :)
But no fires, no burning, no problems! :)

The secret to the golden bread
I mentioned in my first sour dough bread post:
brush the just hot out of the oven
bread with olive oil.
*
Before I did this,
it was a pale pale golden hue. 

I was looking at the bread
freshly baked and was puzzled...
something was different...
*
Then I realized that I had forgotten
to pierce the tops!
Oops...
so this one cracked open,
the other did not...
*
These two loaves were denser
than some of my other sour dough loaves;
but I think that the dough may not of risen as high
during the first rising time...
*
There can be all different factors...
and I read in this blog post
that Gretchen Joanna posted
that weather can influence baking and that
sunny days help the bread rise more...
*
I also used a pizza stone and
had water underneath;
another way to do it,
that I did with the cranberry orange bread,
is to open the oven and spray water in...
So many things to experiment with... 

But still,
the bread was good!

Now I just need a soup to go with it
or another hot dish...
*
If we have power tomorrow,
I am thinking of baking a baked chicken with
milk/cream sauce that I have not
done before...

Meanwhile,
the snow keeps coming down.

 

But we know where our hope is:
our faithful loving Saviour
and Lord
Jesus Christ.

Snow...

It's coming.
But the worst is to be later,
if the Lord wills... 

In less than an hour
fresh bread!
*
God is so merciful! 

Baking Bread before the Blizzard and Chesterton

I woke early this morning;
troubled dream.
*
Realized that I was afraid
of something like the
super-storm drama
of this past fall.
*
Mostly,
I am afraid of losing power
as it will get cold in
Mr. Husband and I's cozy abode.
*
But after I relit my lampada,
icon candles and prayed
I began to get calm again.
*
So this morning
when I woke again
it was lightly snowing,
wet sleet snow;
now it is more a light rain with occasional hail.
It sounds nice on the windows...
*
Mr. Husband and I both have
the 'intelligent' cell phones now
and we have everything we could possibly need.
Batteries, juice, water, food of various sorts,
batteries, candles, flash lights, warm blankets.
*
If we lose power we know what to do;
lots of candles; it helps keep the living room warm;
use the gas stove (thank God for that!);
we will read more
Chesterton out loud to each other;
I can't tell you how WONDERFUL
I am finding this book; so consolatory,
so deeply vast and Christian.
*
Meanwhile,
I am baking two loaves of sour dough bread.
It is rising for first of two times right now.
*
I continue to love the stirring,
the pouring of flour;
Cleo was by my feet, hunting for fallen
flour;
she is such a funny cat;
she always wants to eat bread!

This tea towel is one that I got for my
spiritual mother's years later memorial service...
I had a few for these services and
I used them only and lovingly now
for baking bread as well...
*
Links to my past and present life;
I am grocery shopping often these days;
twice yesterday to stock up
and again this morning as I really wanted a few
more supplies for Cleo,
as some of her basic things were running low.
Have to care for her too!
While I am at the store, I listen on
headphone to my Ottawa spiritual father's sermons
on sound cloud, again and again and again....

So now I am home,
bread rising;
looking through a Lenten cookbook meanwhile
and glad that Mr. Husband is home with me
and that
God is with us,
cares for us,
does not abandon us.

I love baking bread;
Really appreciated this post by
Gretchen Joanna about sour dough
and a new blog friend
(hi! and thanks!!)
sent me really neat links about bread
here, here and here.
The last one is very beautiful...
*
I am really looking forward to trying some of
Jane's recipes,
including this one...

I love this cutting board that I have...
works so well for making bread...
Did some reading on bread cookbooks
after reading Elizabeth at the Garden Window's post
on a Bread cookbook that she loves... fun!
I've been thinking about bread since reading Kate's post
on bread and the book she uses...
*
Meanwhile,
I will do my sour dough and
keep lighting candles and hoping that
the blizzard,
which thus far is said to start about 6 pm this evening
here in my area of NJ,
does not mean a loss of power;
snow I love, it is only the power that I hope to keep on!
Especially for those with young children,
or the very old, or the poor, the homeless...
Prayers requested for all of these! 

Ready, Set, Go

 Cleo and I are ready!
The storm can come.
Mr. Husband is on his way home. 

 

 I went to the store twice
with my red cart
and got many good supplies.
*
What's more, I found these recipes,
Since I have a gas stove and
if we lose power
like when Hurricane Sandy struck
we still have our gas stove
but not the oven due to the electrical panel
to start it and not wishing to hurt our selves
trying to light the oven.
*
I found:
Stove-top raisin bread pudding
(I would have to use cranraisins for Mr. Husband
does not care for raisins baked)
*
Stove-top traditional Irish soda bread
*
Stove-top raisin bread
(That I could use cranraisins for too)
*
I had so regretted not having
any bread recipes when we had no power
for almost three days...
*
With my smart phone
I can access these recipes and if I have a chance
I will write them or print them tonight as well...
*
Now the question is if we will have the house blessing
or not...
After seeing this alert...I am not sure if it will
happen, as some would have to travel a
great distance to get to Mr. Husband and I's place...
*
As my Mom tells me,
prepare and put your trust in the Lord!
Prayers requested!

St. Xenia and house preparations

Yesterday was St. Xenia of Petersburg's Day.
Online Akathist to St. Xenia found here.
Her prayers help people find
spouses, jobs, help;
children; family.
She is a great intercessor and protector.
This icon above is the first icon
I ever bought
and she has been with me for over 8 years now...
*
Yesterday,
as I mentioned,
our table came for the office.
*
Here it is,
all set up!
Of course Cleo thinks it is here table...
I have since rearranged it a bit
so that it is not up against the window sill...

I think Cleo liked being a bit higher so that she
can see what is going on outside!

She is a cute cat,
if a bit naughty at times...

 

At some point I may iron the table cloth
but for now,
I am just happy to have it up!
*
It sounds like we are due to have a
snow storm in these parts;
I hope that our house blessing
that is to be tomorrow
will not be cancelled/postponed due to
bad weather...
*
Meanwhile,
I will go to the grocery store,
continue to pray
and clean...