Tales from Exile: 30 April

 

An absolute deluge flew in from out of nowhere this afternoon. The sky turned black and the rain came down in sheets. We lit candles and enjoyed the sound and scent through the open doors of the garden room. Eventually the rain stopped and gave way to a magnificent sunset. The woods looked like they were on fire. I loved seeing the puddles glow. It lasted such a short time, but I am thankful that I witnessed it.

Before and After

 

Pasta and Roses

 

 

I made sausage and pepper pasta à la Old World Home for lunch today! Here's the recipe: boil some pasta (I used penne today) and sauté some ground sausage and bell pepper (I also sliced in an onion and added salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning). Once pasta is cooked, add a ladle full of pasta water to the sausage pan and a bit of heavy cream. Allow sauce to thicken and then pour over drained pasta. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Scrumptious!  

 

In other news, the first roses bloomed at Rectory House today!

Rocking the Day Away

 

 

Our daughter's room got a little upgrade in the form of new seating today. One of our parishioners found an oak rocking chair at a thrift store he volunteers at and thought of us! She's so pleased! 

A Jar Full of Cherries

 

My Pascha present just arrived! Fancy maraschino cherries from Yummy Bazaar for sophisticated ice cream sundaes. 

Thank You Notes

 

 

Thank you notes are more easily written with a fountain pen and beautiful cards, don't you think? 

Near the Flower Farm

Tales from Exile: 28 April

My Pascha present just arrived! Fancy maraschino cherries from Yummy Bazaar for sophisticated ice cream sundaes. 

Remember This Day

 

 

1. Godiva makes pudding mix.

 2. It is delicious.

 3. I forgot that I made pudding for dessert. When I remembered, I pulled the kids out of bed to eat it.

 4. They better remember this the next time I scream at them. 😇 

Cliché

 

 

The children left their father and me some presents. I have Iron Man staring me down from my bedside table and my husband has some guy from Star Wars. These kids drive us batty all day long and then we desperately miss them once they've gone off to Dreamland.  

Unexpected Beauty

 

Tales from Exile: 27 April

I made sausage and pepper pasta à la Old World Home for lunch today! Here's the recipe: boil some pasta (I used penne today) and sauté some ground sausage and bell pepper (I also sliced in an onion and added salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning). Once pasta is cooked, add a ladle full of pasta water to the sausage pan and a bit of heavy cream. Allow sauce to thicken and then pour over drained pasta. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Scrumptious! 

Tales from Exile: 26 April

 

The first roses at Rectory House have bloomed! 

Bathed in Sunlight

 

 

My Girl

Tales from Exile: 25 April

I've been going to a nearby flower farm once in awhile to buy a cheering bouquet of flowers. Though I can take a busy two lane road to get there quickly, I opt to take the back roads.  I love looking at the houses on the way, but this is my favorite thing to pass.

Clean Dishes All Stack Up

Tales from Exile: 24 April

1. Godiva makes pudding mix.

 2. It is delicious. 

3. I forgot that I made pudding for dessert. When I remembered, I pulled the kids out of bed to eat it. 4. They better remember this the next time I scream at them. 😇 

 

Our mailbox has been in rough shape for the eight years we've lived here. Recently, someone hit it (and quickly propped it back up so no one would know 😂) and it went from being dilapidated to being basically unusable (taking in water from multiple holes and not staying closed). We're finally installing a new one after all the letters we got today were soaked. I can't wait to see our mail carrier's face when she sees that we have a respectable mailbox for her to use! In our defense, we were trying to wait to get a new one until we did some work on the front entrance (tree removal, stone wall and arch, and new sign) so that it wouldn't get accidentally broken and the style would match the work. 

Good Like Saints

 

Belinski looked at the bedside table with its lamp, its carafe, its silver biscuit- box, it's two books, one of them in German. A lower shelf held cigarettes, matches, ash-tray. He looked at the primroses on the bureau. The warmth of a hot-water bottle communicating itself, he shifted a little and looked at the small mound it made through the bed-clothes. Then he looked at Andrew.

 
"It is unbelievable, " said Mr. Belinski.
"What is?"
"All of it. That I should be here-- in this house-- with your parents-- is like a dream."

 
Belinski nodded seriously. "I had forgotten that such people were. No, that is wrong: I never knew such people. They are good like saints.

From Cluny Brown by Margery Sharp 

Tales from Exile: 23 April

 

A Mere Trifle

 

Trifle is our dessert of choice for Pascha and Bright Week. Layers of pound cake (Paula Deen's recipe), vanilla pudding, and berries topped with homemade whipped cream really hits the spot. 

Paschal Candle

 

I am really enjoying this beautiful beeswax Paschal egg candle that my friend, Mirona, gave us! 

Tales from Exile: 22 April

  The children left their father and me some presents. I have Iron Man staring me down from my bedside table and my husband has some guy from Star Wars. These kids drive us batty all day long and then we desperately miss them once they've gone off to Dreamland. #cliché

Dramatic Skies

 

Pascha Dinner

Pascha dinner: ham, potatoes au gratin, and parmesan garlic asparagus

 

 

Christ is Risen!

Tales from Exile: Great and Holy Friday

Great and Holy Saturday Doings

I made the baby-est of baby kulich yesterday and am so happy with them. And the eggs turned red!

Great and Holy Week at Home

Together

Dear faithful, you ARE here and we cry out TOGETHER:

We glorify Thy Passion! We Glorify Thy Burial! We Glorify Thy Resurrection!

Quiet Scenes