Happy Valentine's Day!

 

I hope that your Valentine's Day is as nice as ours has been!  We were able to get to cuddle the sweetest baby boys today!  I have hundreds of photos on the big camera to go through (including lots of pictures of our darling niece!), so stay tuned! 

Just Another Thursday...

I baked 62 cupcakes for Sampson's baptism today.  It was fun seeing them all lined up on the dining room table like soldiers...  Now they are all corralled into ziplock bags awaiting their frosting tomorrow night.  I am planning to make chocolate icing and the children and I picked out some fun Valentine sprinkles to decorate with!

Father John gave the boys haircuts tonight before baths.  Little Man really doesn't like getting his hair cut.  You can see from his stance how hard it is for him to stand it!  We don't cut their hair that frequently though, so he doesn't get tortured too often.  My sisters and I are planning to take pictures of the grandchildren all together and I was congratulating myself on doing my part to make sure that our little ones looked presentable, when Button crash landed into the bunk bed and got a nasty goose egg on his noggin.  I'm sure that it'll be an amazing shade of purple by Saturday...  I guess that is what Photoshop is for though!  

Speaking of Photoshop, check out the amazing adhesive hook situation on the inside of our bathroom cabinet door!  That little visual feast was one of the many treasures that the previous owners left for our viewing pleasure.  I've got to figure out how to pop those bad boys off without destroying the door.  Any ideas?

I downloaded Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death onto my Kindle app today and am really looking forward to getting to read a bit of it.  The Masterpiece television show, Grantchester, is based on the series of books by James Runcie and has become a Monday night highlight for me (I DVR it on Sunday night),  Have you seen it? 

T-minus 24 hours until I get to hold Sammy-Boo-Bear!

I Cannot Wait!

Rain pelted our area the other night and with the temperature drop, everything was covered with a thick coating of ice yesterday.  Even this afternoon the trees were just gorgeous sparkling in the sunlight.  The beauty almost makes up for the lack of snow!  

Our Valentine cards are all written and packed up to be given to our little cousins...  we'll be getting to see them this Saturday for the newest little one's baptism!  We are all so excited!  Tomorrow will be spent wrapping up our school work for the week and baking loads of cupcakes for the meal following the baptism.

It is  going to be so good to see my sisters and brother.  We all get along really well (in fact, not a day goes by when we don't talk or at least text) and I think that we are all going through a bit of withdrawal from each other.  We're planning on a little diner date on Friday night after the bigger children are in bed...  the baby boys will come with us to have a late night snack and Auntie Emma is going to have a hard time giving those babies back to their mamas!



     

Reading...

It's amazing how lovely common things become, if one only knows how to look at them."

Louisa May Alcott

Lenten Cleaning...

I try to deep clean our home as much as I am able during the weeks when we fast (Cheesefare Week begins on February 15 and Great Lent begins on the 23rd of February this year) . I find that it is really wonderful to enjoy having everything clean and organized for the Great Feasts of the year. I plan on breaking my cleaning up by cleaning one room or area each week of the Fast (there are seven weeks + Cheesefare Week).  I'll also try to keep up with my regular daily cleaning and laundry routines as much as possible so that the kitchen isn't spotless, while the rest of the house looks like a war zone with naked children running around!

+++++

Cheesefare Week
1.  Clean Icon Corners
2.  Plan Lenten Menu List/Create Shopping List
3.  Shop for Lenten Staples
4.  Purchase new watercolors and make a fresh batch of playdough
5.  Create a Lenten Calendar

Week One (Kitchen)
1.  Clean out fridge and freezer
2.  Clean out cabinets and drawers
3.  Clean counters, appliances, and sink
4.  Wash out garbage can and recycling bin
5.  Wash baseboards and scrub floor

Week Two (Sunroom, Dining Room, and Laundry Room)
1.  Scrub table and chairs
2.  Clean out cabinets and drawers
3.  Clean counters and appliances
4.  Wash baseboards and scrub floors
5.  Tend potted trees (add dirt, repot, etc.)

Week Three (Playroom, Living Room, Entrance and Hallway)
1.  Sort through books, magazines, dvds, and cds
2.  Sort through puzzles, games, and toys
3.  Tidy art supplies
4.  Dust furniture and vacuum under cushions
5.  Wash baseboards and scrub floors

Week Four (Bathrooms)
1.  Clean out cabinets and drawers
2.  Purge bath toys and sanitize keepers
3.  Clean tubs, showers, sinks, and toilets
4.  Wash baseboards and scrub floors
5.  Reorganize towels and replace worn ones

Week Five (Children's Rooms)
1.  Clean closets
2.  Go through books and toys
3.  Dust
4.  Wash all bedding and curtains/flip mattresses
5.  Wash baseboards and vacuum floors

Week Six (Master Bedroom)
1.  Clean out closet
2.  Tidy dresser, bedside tables, and bookshelf
3.  Dust
4.  Wash all bedding and curtains/flip mattress 
5.  Wash baseboards and scrub floor

Great and Holy Week
1.  Paschal shopping
2.  Clean car
3.  Wash glass doors and windows
4.  Tidy porch
5.  Fill hanging baskets and window boxes (weather permitting)

Overheard...

Continuing adventures in the Stroking-Mama's-Ego-Project:

Mama: Button, go potty before we say our prayers.

Button: Okay, Beautiful.

Sunday...

The weather was completely gorgeous today.  After Liturgy and coffee hour and a good Sunday dinner (pork loin, mashed potatoes, peas, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy), we went to the beach.  It was a lot colder there than at home, so we only stayed for an hour or so.  It was good to be outside though.

I started a new knitting project (Woodsmoke Scarf) yesterday afternoon and it involved a provisional cast on for 302 stitches.  Not fun.  I'm not quite sure how this project will go...  it's a lot of garter stitch and a lacy border and some skills that I have never done before.  2015 is the year of brave knitting though!

What's on your list of food to eat before Great Lent comes?  Our top picks are ham sandwiches and hamburgers.  Simple and delicious!

The February Beach...

The Original Polar Bear Club...

I'm guest posting on The Sounding today!  Hope over and read my thoughts on The Original Polar Bear Club!

Overheard...

While describing a scene from the movie Paddington, Little Man explains:

"He went in like a rough and tough man and came out like a civilized, gentle, cautious, British gentleman with a slight taste for tea."

Feasting...

With Saint Brigid's feast and the Meeting of the Lord falling on Sunday and Monday of a fast-free week this year, we had our hands full with celebrations!  It has been a joyous few days.  The children and I rolled candles on Sunday afternoon.  We used up our whole candle kit and gave some away after they were blessed on Monday and still have quite a few to use in the coming days.

Making Irish Soda Bread on the feast of Saint Brigid has become a bit of a tradition for me.  While I was in high school and college, I waitressed and one of the places that I worked was an Irish pub and restaurant.  The owners served the usual fare and were generous with the food that they offered the staff, so I often had a wedge of soda bread on my shifts.  Now that I bake my own, I use a recipe which is quite similar to the one that we served at Mannion's.  My silly family is not very fond of raisins, so I generally get to enjoy this all to myself throughout the week with a mug of tea in the afternoons.  It is just perfect fresh from the oven or toasted with butter.  I liked baking it in our pie plate this time.  It looked so pretty while it cooled!

I hope that your week has been off to a good start!

Living and Learning: February...

Faith
Saint Brigid
The Meeting of the Lord
Saints Simeon and Anna
The Publican and the Pharisee
Prodigal Son
Sunday of the Last Judgement
Forgiveness Sunday
Saint Raphael of Brooklyn

Homemaking
Put away the last few Christmas decorations
Reorganize Seasonal Decorations in the attic 
Enjoy Forced Bulbs (Hyacinth, Tulips, and Daffodils)
Purge Old Clothes in the Attic
Get Car Serviced 
Clean the Cars 
Valentine's Day:  Menu, Small Trinkets, Cards, Decorations
Plan Lenten Cleaning and Organizing
Wash Bedding (including blankets and comforters)
Create Lenten Garden Poster
Knit Hats for the Children
Knit Scarf or Cowl for Father John
Read The Mystery of Art:  Becoming an Artist in the Image of God

Themes
Candles
Hearts and Valentines
Red
Museums
 
Special Days
Groundhog Day (2nd)
Full Snow Moon (3rd) 
+Gege (1st)
Baba's 94th Birthday (5th)
Valentine’s Day (14th) 
Sampson's Baptism (14th)
Aunt Susan (17th) 
Grandma (17th)
Auntie Kate and Uncle Pete's Wedding Anniversary (20th)

Learning
Practice being still and quiet during services and prayers
Practice Venerating Icons Properly
The Sign of the Cross for Button

Practice chanting the Trisagion Prayers

 Listen to Peter and the Wolf
Tidy Bedrooms in the morning
Listen to Jim Weiss cds
Nature Table Scene
Winter Book Basket
Watercolor Pencils
Play with Kinetic Sand
Bird Bingo
Card Games
Learn How to Cut Out Hearts
Feed birds
Polish wooden toys together 

February Sponsor News...

Welcome back to Liturgical Time!

Liturgical Time provides handmade infinity veils, chapel veils, mantillas, and Christian headcoverings for their patrons to wear in church, at prayer, or in everyday life. They are the creators of the Eternity Veil - the original infinity scarf style head covering. They are able to take special orders, and to provide some customization, so don't hesitate to make special requests. Their veils are made with prayer and packaged with care. Please stop by their shop to buy a beautiful headcovering! 

Remember:  Ten percent of gross sales from Chapel Veils at Liturgical Time Veil Shop is always donated to charity. At the present time, this money is being used to provide emergency assistance to children who have been orphaned and families who have been displaced as a result of the civil war in Syria.

On a Saturday...

Overheard...

Mama: Good night, Button. I love you.

Button (in a rush): Good night. I love you. You're beautiful. You're welcome.

Wanted on Voyage...

It's nice having a bear about the house.”

Michael Bond

A Bear Called Paddington

For months we have been looking forward to seeing Paddington on the silver screen and so we went this afternoon as a family.  He is one of our favorite characters (we've read most of the books) and Little Man has a stuffed Paddington that he sleeps with most nights.  The movie did not disappoint (though there are a few sad/scary scenes, so be cautious with your young ones)!  We've decided to revisit the story for our bedtime reading for the next week or so.

This weekend will be busy (lots of house blessings, lots of services) but we will be making time for some candle rolling, Irish Soda Bread baking, and cross weaving.  Can you believe that it is nearly February? 

Reading...

Go out more, keep cheerful as well as busy, for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather.”

Lousia May Alcott

Little Women

Riverbank in Ink...

I finished up my Riverbank Cowl in Madeline Tosh Vintage early in the week and have been wearing it constantly since it finished blocking..  The colorway is a gorgeous dark blue called Ink.   I am really pleased with how it turned out and am really happy that it was such a quick knit!  I cast on 224 stitches, using a size 4 needle (32" circular) for the whole project (including the ribbing - the pattern calls for a size three needle for that).  For the ribbing, I did k2p2 for 5 rows.  I will be doing 3 repeats for the body of the cowl and then finishing up with another 5 rows of ribbing. 

How to Make Things Better...

Feeling gloomy?  Whip up a tasty treat to enjoy with a steaming mug of coffee or tea and light a few candles.  Tulips don't hurt, either!

Yarn Along: Redux...

I finished up my pretty little Riverbank cowl the other night and am blocking it as I type this.  I needed another project on my needles and decided to use up the last little bit of the ink colorway on a hat for one of my baby nephews.  I'm hoping that it will fit Sebastian first so that when it gets too small for him, Sampson will be able to wear it.  We'll see.  

2015 is the year where I try to conquer some of my knitting fears and it seems to me that the best way to do that might be to knit some crazy hats with short rows, cables, and charts (my three biggest fears in order).  This hat is going to be a Garter Ear Flap Hat and the main challenge is to learn how to do short rows.  I'm not a huge fan of double pointed needles, so my hope is that by working on hats I can get more comfortable with them.  There may be a few panicked phone calls to my sister in the near future.  Sorry, Kate!

I am reading North and South.  I only have it on the Kindle app on my phone (it's a free download), but I am looking for a nice copy of it for my shelf.  I think that it is one of those books that needs to be re-read every few years (or in my case every few months).  It is that good.

What are you up to?