Homemade pizza

I learned how to use a pizza stone to make delicious homemade pizza while I was visiting Kate and her family earlier this month.  I stopped to buy a pizza stone on my way home and I have made pizza at least once a week since.  It is so exciting to have something new to add to my cooking repertoire.

Missing Them

My sister and her babies left this morning and I miss them.

Stormy Sea

Rainy Day

A huge storm blew in last night and it is still raining today.  It almost feels like Autumn is here.  I have to say that July and August are my least favorite months with all the sun and heat, so I am savoring the sound of rain on the roof, the cooler breezes, and the cocoa in my mug.

Ivanna

 

My dear sister embroidered this beautiful piece for our family in honor of our little newborn niece, who was born on June 10th and died on June 21st.  This Sunday with be her 40th day.  May Ivanna's memory be eternal!

A Week with Cousins

My sisters, Kate and Juliana, are visiting this week with their little ones.  We have been doing lots of everyday things together, but we have also taken several day trips that have been wonderful:  a visit to the National Zoo, a trip to Ikea, and peach picking at a local orchard.  I'm so glad that our children are getting to spend this time together.  It is very important to us that our little ones are close, and so we are making every effort to get together as much as possible.

Peach Galettes

 

Our Blushing Star peaches have finally started to ripen, so our little girl made two galettes for coffee hour today!  We love the Summer Fruit Galette recipe that Alicia Paulson posted on her blog awhile ago.

Saturday

Today was so incredibly busy.  I don't think that I sat down all day until after Vespers!  It felt good to indulge in a cheese danish and cut a few blooms for my bedside table in the twilight.

Beauty from Ashes

God can create beauty from complete desolation."

Matushka Olga of Alaska

Blushing Star Peaches

The Blessing of Chariots

Namesday Cake(s)

 

Sweet Sugar Plum chose Lemon Bliss Cake with lemon glaze for her namesday cake today.  We baked it in the pan we bought for our recent May 26th birthdays and decorated the little cakes with the spray roses we bought yesterday.  We decided to serve them on our everyday plates at different levels...  one by itself, one on top of an inverted tea cup and one on an overturned mug.  I love how they turned out! 

Joyous Feast of Saint Elisabeth!

Monday

The fridge is stocked with leftovers from a busy weekend with guests, so lunch was an easy one today.  I enjoyed reading a book while I ate called, The Shopkeeper's Home, and got a lot of inspiration for our house and a little rearranging that I'm in the mood to do.  

We took a little trip to the library this afternoon to get a fresh stack of books.  I'm waiting for a bunch of Prime Suspect dvds to come in.  I enjoyed the recent Prime Suspect: Tennison show that was recently on Masterpiece and I'm now excited to continue the story.  

Our little girl's namesday is tomorrow, so we bought roses for the table and for her cake.  I love the ones that she picked out, don't you?  I'll be wrapping her gifts tonight and setting up the table for her to wake up to.  We have a full day planned and I can't wait!

Sunset on the Bay

Swimming on a Sunday

A Bloom from Our Garden

A Morning Out

I was able to slip away for a little while yesterday morning to visit my friend Lila.  We breakfasted together, wandered around bookshops and antique stores, and talked.  I look forward to our visits so much and always feel so rejuvenated after time with her.