Church Walls...

This past week was the start of the wall beautification, which should be one of the last projects that we are planning in our little church.  So far the walls have been patched, primed, and painted.  We also tested out several methods that we are considering for the walls.  Next week Father John and Co. will be drawing out the design onto the wall and then they may even begin to paint.  After a pretty exhausting week, Father John casually mentioned that this project could take a year.  I will not lie, that made me feel a little faint.  Hopefully that is a generous estimate!  Either way, it will be gorgeous when it is finished!

Ballet!

 

We have had a very busy week!  Monday was Sugar Plum's first ballet class.  She has wanted to take one for a long time and we were able to sign her up for a class at our local community center.  I am very pleased with the class and like that it is such a low commitment.  The next seven weeks will give her a chance to see if she likes ballet without a huge expense.  I am really considering joining the adult class for the next session.  I have always wanted to take ballet! 

Blueberry Muffins...

A beautiful day is a sure thing when you put a plate of these muffins on your breakfast table!

Ingredients

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups blueberries

Method

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine ingredients, but be sure not to over mix. Divide batter into prepared muffin cups (I like to use an ice cream scoop for scooping the batter). Bake 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Yields about 12 muffins.

Yarn Along: Mystery...

I've begun the Follow Your Arrow Knit Along!  I started it last night and am really excited to see the rest of clue one.  It is exciting to see things begin to take shape!

After finishing Maggie Now, I picked up Snow in April.  It was a light read that was just right after such a depressing novel.

Painting on Canvas...

Recently, while on an errand to Michael's Craft Store, I came across a package of canvases that weren't too expensive (in fact, I think that I used a 40% off coupon!).  They have been such a fun craft for the little ones.  For this project, I lightly drew rectangles and squares with a pencil and the kids painted them.  We were loosely inspired by an art class that we took on Piet Mondrian.  I'd really like to use a wall in our playroom/schoolroom for displaying the art that the children are producing lately.  Any suggestions for accomplishing that?

The Original Polar Bear Club...

Just as the weather begins to get wintery in our area, I start to see signs advertising the chills and thrills of a Polar Bear Club Dive into the frosty waters of the Atlantic Ocean.   It always surprises me that even without the framework of Orthodoxy to follow, somehow the Liturgical Calendar is engrained into the mainstream human soul.

Orthodox Christians have been part of the original Polar Bear Club for thousands of years, plunging into the depths of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and oceans after the waters are blessed every Theophany.  Our Facebook accounts and Instagram feeds are full of amazing photographs of bishops clothed in glorious vestments, icicles dripping from their eyebrows and beards, standing on the edge of a cross cut into the ice as the faithful slip beneath the frigid waters, a stinging remembrance of their baptism and life after death.

My husband has been the priest for our parish (a mission church of the Orthodox Church in America) for nearly nine years.  We minister to the locals of our area year-round and are revitalized each summer as the vacationers swarm into our seaside town and swell the numbers in attendance for Divine Services.  In the burning heat of the summer, as I watch our three little children playing in the sand and splashing in the salty water of the Atlantic Ocean, I am reminded of the achingly cold day in January when our parish joined the faithful of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese sister parish, Saint George. Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey blessed the choppy sea waters that we rely on for so much, flinging Holy Water in a sparkling shower over the beach in the shape of a cross, releasing doves into the brilliantly blue sky, pouring the sanctified water into the ocean, and finally tossing a cross into the waters to be retrieved by brave teenagers shivery with cold.

Begun by Saint George's numerous years ago, the annual Blessing of the Atlantic has already become a tradition that the faithful of this area look forward to every January.  My husband and I wonder whether someday our little ones might grow up into teens who are eager to join their friends in the plunge to bring the cross back to the shore.  For now, though, I am content to keep swimming to the dog-days of summer, reminding our trio of children to make the sign of the Cross over themselves before they dash off to jump and play in the blessed waters of the Atlantic Ocean.   

My husband normally serves with the clergy during the Blessing of the Atlantic, but this time he recorded it with his drone and GoPro cameras.  You may see the video below.  Enjoy!

The Blessing of the Atlantic...

Black Bean Vegetable Soup...

Black Bean Vegetable Soup

1T. vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 carrots, chopped
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
4 c. vegetable stock
1 (15 oz) cans of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8.75oz) can corn
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add chili powder and cumin. Cook for one minute stirring. Add stock, beans, corn, and pepper and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes to the pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. 

This is yummy with a dollop of guacamole on top and a side of lime tortilla chips.

Yarn Along: Maggie Now...

I'm nearly done with my Riverbank Cowl...  only a few more rows until I bind off.  It ends with a few rows of ribbed knit which I am looking forward to finishing.  I never realized why my ribbed casts offs were always so wonky and my sister mentioned that you had to cast off knitting and purling as you go.  That makes a lot of sense (previously I was just knitting to cast off) and I am excited to see the finished product!

I did find a copy of Maggie Now.  It is going quickly, but I can tell that it will not be my favorite Betty Smith novel...  it's depressing.

What are you knitting and reading?

Ask Father: Holy Water...

Q.  Does holy water have magical powers?

A.  No.  But it is matter that is “spirit-bearing” which brings the blessing of God, cleansing, healing, and can be used for every purpose that is expedient.

Q.  Where should I keep the holy water?

A.  Some keep the holy water in their icon corner and others in the refrigerator.

Q.  When should I drink holy water?

A.  When you feel a spiritual need,  that is when you find yourself strongly tempted; feel in an evil way; are about to set out on a journey; will miss the divine services; before a difficult encounter; in illness, afflictions, etc..  It is the custom of some pious people to take a drink of holy water the first thing every day before they eat or drink anything else (not on days when they receive Holy Communion).

Theophany...

When Thou, O Lord wast baptized in the Jordan 

The worship of the Trinity was made manifest 

For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee 

And called Thee His beloved Son. 

And the Spirit, in the likeness of a dove, 

Confirmed the truthfulness of His word. 

 O Christ, our God, Thou hast revealed Thyself 

 And hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!

:::::

The Learning Basket for Theophany can be found HERE.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas...

 The first bowl of Lenten Soup of the New Year...  it is a delicious black bean concoction that everyone gobbled up.  I'm very glad that there aren't leftovers!  Father John commented that it would be even better with beef or chicken and a handful of cheese.  I can't help you with that on a strict fast day, sir!

We had Matins and the blessing of waters last night and the little ones were so cute watching everything with big eyes.  Button fell asleep about twenty minutes in so it was a pretty peaceful service for his mama.  Joyous Feast!

The Tenth Day of Christmas...

I forgot to tote around the big camera today and so you are getting a photograph of what I seem to do every night after bedtime:  knit while watching television and drinking hot cocoa (though the cocoa is a bit of a treat...  normally it is something a little less delicious).  It's kind of hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the Christmas season.  January is such a nice month though.  There is always the hope that it will snow and there are lots of cozy days spent beside the fire with plenty of warm soup, hot muffins, and forced bulbs. 

We were able to get a few books from the library today and I am excited to get back into our school routine on Monday.  I had a bad dream the other night that we tossed out all of our school books and started using something completely new and different.  Instead of getting smarter, the kids were getting dumber.  It sounds really silly now, but I woke up in a cold sweat.  It's is kind of a riot that I am that parent. 

Remember that Downton starts tomorrow!  Exciting!

The Ninth Day of Christmas...

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning!  There was only an inch or two on the ground, but since it had rained before turning to snow, everything was covered in ice underneath.  It was so beautiful!  Though I think everything was basically cleared on the roads by the afternoon, we stayed in.  The children got to play outside which was a huge thrill...  I think that they will sleep well tonight!

After Christmas, I ordered some cashmere gloves and it was nice to receive them today.  They are longer than most (though I don't really think that they would reach to the elbow even on a shorter-armed woman) which is perfect for me because I have long arms and big hands.  For the first time ever, I will have warm wrists!  It is so exciting!  If you need some, order quickly.

For my knitting friends, have you seen the mystery knit-along?  I am planning on giving it a go.  It looks like so much fun!

The Eighth Day of Christmas...

Today was spend running around on several errands.  I treated the children to lunch at Chick-Fil-A and we all shared one of their peppermint shakes (I've been wanting one since the beginning of the Nativity fast!).  Once home, we all snuggled down to crafts and toys near the fire.  I framed a few prints by Phoebe Wahl and by the time the little ones were snug in their beds, I was ready for hot cocoa, knitting, and the Call the Midwife Christmas special!  It seems that we will be having a cozy day in tomorrow...  maybe even with a very little bit of snow!  I am already planning blueberry muffins for breakfast.  I hope that your day was as nice as ours! 

The Seventh Day of Christmas...

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year!

The beautiful Saint Basil's Bread was baked by the nuns at Holy Protection Monastery.

Yarn Along: I'm the Boss...

My husband very nicely ordered three skeins of Madeline Tosh in Antler as part of my Christmas gift this year and I have been enjoying it so much!  I printed out the pattern for a Riverbank Cowl after hemming and hawing over it for awhile.  I really liked the texture of the cowl, but I wasn't crazy about all of the ribbing on either end.  It finally dawned on me that I was the boss of my own knitting and could change it!  I went with five rows of ribbing and to make up for it, I will be repeating the textured part of the pattern three times instead of twice.  I love it so far!

I finished Joy in the Morning the other night and then spent a little time reading through the end notes on Betty Smith's life which were fascinating to me.  I think that I will get Maggie Now to read soon...  I don't think that I ever have before.  In the interim, I've picked up No Holly For Miss Quinn, the first Miss Read book I ever read.  It is such a nice Christmas story!

What are you reading and knitting?