Overheard...

Daughter: (over the speakerphone in the car) Papa, why is the number 666 the devil's number?

Papa: I will have to tell you about it when you come home later.

Daughter: (after Papa hangs up the phone) Oh, fiddlesticks! Now he's going to prepare a sermon for us. 

Eldest Son: It will probably be as long as one of Saint John Chrysostom's. We'll have to remember to clap when it's over.

Great and Holy Thursday

 One of my favorite jobs during Holy Week is to buy flowers to be passed out at the tomb of Christ on Great and HOly Friday.  This year, I chose tulips.  The colors go perfectly together...  which was not planned at all.

The Icon of Saint John Chrysostom was drawn by Little Man, Age 1o

Great and Holy Wednesday

One of the things that I am trying to accomplish this week is this white bonnet.  It was commissioned by an Instagram friend a few weeks ago and will be used, God Willing, for her third child's upcoming baptism.  Once this one is finished, I will begin a hat for my sister-in-law, Danyella, and bonnet for our new little nephew, Benedict.

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The Icon of the Mother of God was drawn by Sugar Plum, Age 11 

Great and Holy Tuesday

Father John and the children spent some time today watching part of The Gospel of John, which is one of their annual traditions during Holy Week.  They also like to read their entire Children's Bible over the course of Holy Week.  It's very sweet to see the children cuddled up in bed with their father reading the Scriptures.

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The Icon of Saint John the Almsgiver was drawn by Little Man, age 10.

Great and Holy Monday

What a day of joy this Great and Holy Monday is!  Our newest nephew was born today!  We've gathered a basket of tiny baby things from the attic to post to my sister.  I cannot wait to see him wearing these wee things that the four older boys in the family wore.

I changed around our little feastday shelf this morning.  The hyacinth and muscari from Annunciation are blooming beautifully and scenting the house with  their heady fragrance.  I left the sheep up and put out our Holy Week and Pascha children's book.  I adore the illustrations in this slim volume.

Our oldest two children have been drawing icons during the Bridegroom services this week, while their little brother colors some in from the Potamitis Press coloring book line.  It's been wonderful to see how hard they work on their icons.

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The Icon of the Mother of God was drawn by Sugar Plum, Age 11

Palm Sunday

 

By raising Lazarus from the dead before Thy passion, 

Thou didst confirm the universal resurrection, O Christ God! 

Like the children with the branches of victory, we cry out to Thee, O Vanquisher of Death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!

Eliseea's Baptism

Why I Like to Shop Online

A newly born little lady baby will be baptized tomorrow, and so I had to take a jaunt to my local yarn shop for a little white yarn to knit her a baptismal bonnet.  Fortunately, this bonnet pattern was made for procrastinators like moi, as it knits up rather quickly.  One of the best things about the yarn shop is the fact that I pass this wee secret garden on my walk from the parking lot to the store entrance.  It makes up for the fact that the shop ladies treat me a bit like a knitting charlatan whenever I darken their door. 

A Makeover

Faux fleurs were 50% off at Michael's this week, so I spruced up an old wreath that we've had hanging in our powder room for years.  Now, it'll hang on the front porch.

Her Second Skirt

Our beautiful daughter sewed her second Scarborough Fair Skirt with her grandmother a few weekends ago.  We purchased the fabric at Hobby Lobby and the pattern is one by Alicia Paulson.  I just love how sophisticated she looks in it!

Overheard

The Morning After

Scenes from Our Monday morning: party roses, a flock of peach colored cranes, and the Queen's Guard in my mug

SURPRISE!

 The children and I pulled it off!  We successfully threw a surprise party for my husband's 40th birthday with 75 guests!!  The decor was simple:  lots of balloons (gold, white, berry, and dusty pink), vases of spray roses in shades of pink, and berry colored plates and napkins.  The menu was baked salmon (lemon dill and Asian), roasted potatoes (made by my mother-in-law), salad, and cake.  There was wine, soda, and water and though I forgot to make garlic bread and coffee, it was a success!  I am so happy that he was surprised, that so many people came, and that it is over!

Annunciation

 Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with Thee!

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Note:  The above work is part of The Annunciation by Mikhail Nestrov.

Little "t" Traditions

I've been waiting all of Great Lent for our town's little health food shop to get their order of carved egg beeswax candles from Sunbeam Candles and today was the day!  Pascha is drawing near!

Beauty on a Friday Afternoon

New Original Art

The Trio painted self-portraits this week and I absolutely love them!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Happy, happy 40th birthday to my beloved better half!  May this year be a happy and healthy one for you!

Wood Rose Linens

My sisters and brother gave me this beautiful set of  wood rose colored Magic Linen table linens for my birthday and I am so pleased with them!  They are so very lovely in person and it was a joy to wash and iron them with my littlest boy yesterday evening. 

A Few Hours with Friends

 

We just spent a magical day with Lila and her lovely daughters seeing The Tomb of Christ at the National Geographic Museum and enjoying an urban picnic on Faragut Square.  It seems like it was a dream, now that we are home.