Great and Holy Friday Vespers...

The Twelve Gospels...

Great and Holy Thursday...

Holy Unction...

Great and Holy Wednsday...

One of my jobs every year is to buy flowers that will be distributed at the Great and Holy Friday Vespers service.  I love picking something pretty out.  For the last two years I have chosen masses of tulips in different colors.  I hope that these open a little bit in the next two days.  We usually put ours in a vase on our little feast day shelf to enjoy during Bright Week.  

I've finally written out my 'to do' list for Holy Week.  It mainly includes giving the house a final cleaning, our menu plan for Pascha, and a shopping list.  Oh, and a running list of those little things that need to be done like find the Pascha Basket cover, prepare something for the potluck on Holy Friday, buy chocolate, etc.

Our Pascha Dinner Menu is as follows:  Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus, Greek Pascha Bread, and Carrot Cake.  We'll also have goodies from our basket throughout the day.  I bought a lot of the things that we'll need at BJs today and freely admit that an abundance of meat and cheese made it's way into our cart.  Mmmmm!

Great and Holy Tuesday...

It was a rainy day today, so I am glad that we got in so much outside time yesterday!  The children and I took a little trip to our library and chose some great new books (Mr. Putter and Tabby, two Barbara Cooney books, and a bunch of others...  in fact, I had to limit the children because our bag was overflowing!). 

The little ones and I have been going to the services each night.  We have only had Bridegroom Matins so far and typically we stay until after the Gospel and then head back to the house for bedtime.  It has been working out well, but as Great and Holy Week continues, I hope we'll be able to stay until the end.  

In other news, the lettuce seeds that I planted a week ago are up!  I put quite a few seed in each hole and so now I am thinning them out a little.  I'll know to plant them a little better in the autumn.  In a week or two, I'll be getting the herbs situated.  I want to plant basil, rosemary, dill, and parsley to start.  I can't wait!

Great and Holy Monday...

We are taking Great and Holy Week and Bright Week off from our lessons.  I'm making sure that the children get as much outside time as possible, do something crafty with me each day, and listen to some special read-alouds this week.  Today we were outside nearly all day and spent time building a play tent together. 

I was so surprised to see that our wheat grass has already sprouted in our little Resurrection Garden.  I soaked the wheatberries in a bowl of water from Lazarus Saturday morning until Palm Sunday morning and once we made the garden, I covered the planted seeds with plastic wrap until this afternoon.  I can't wait to see the grass grow!

10 Tips for Holy Week and Pascha...

1. Make participation at the Services a priority.

2. In our homes we should strive to “keep out the world” and enter into the peace, solemnity, and theology of the events of the last days of our Lord.

3. Be sure to read the last chapters of the Holy Gospels that speak of the Passion, Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.

4. If you are visiting another parish and wish to receive Communion, make sure that the priest knows who you are and that you are prepared. This should be done in advance by phone, email, or any other way.

5. Last year’s palms and pussy willows should be placed outside in an area to decay where they will not be disturbed. They are holy and should not be simply thrown out with the garbage.

6. Before venerating Holy Objects, such as the Cross, the Chalice, Icons, or the Winding-Sheet, make sure to wipe off your lipstick or chapstick. Reminder: we do not kiss the face of our Lord, His Mother, or the Saints; in-stead kiss the hands or feet.

7. If you haven’t yet made your Confession during Great Lent, try to make it during the beginning of Holy Week. Speak with your priest to arrange a time.

8. Try to make amends with those we may be upset with or those who are upset with us, so that on Pascha we can joyfully sing, “Let us call brothers, even those that hate us, and forgive all by the Resurrection!”

9. Try to stay after the “Midnight Service” on Pascha morning for the blessing of baskets and festive meal. Let us share in the joy of the Lord’s Resurrection with fellowship and love.

10. During Bright Week, sing or read the Paschal Hours instead of your “normal” morning and evening prayers. Let the joy of praising the Lord’s Resurrection accompany you throughout Bright Week, the Paschal season, and your whole life.

From Fr John's Sunday Bulletin

Copywork: The Song of the Willow-Catkin Fairy...

I spend a little time each week looking for interesting things for my children to write in their copybooks, usually based upon a theme.  I will post them here each week as a record for myself and as a help to any other family that wishes to use them.

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The Song of the Willow-Catkin Fairy

The people call me Palm, they do;

They call me Pussy-willow too.

And when I', full in bloom, the bees

Come humming round my yellow trees.

The people trample round about

And spoil the little trees, and shout;

My shiny twigs are thin and brown:

The people pull and break them down.

To keep a Holy Feast, they say,

They take my pretty boughs away.

I should be glad-I should not mind-

If only people weren't unkind.

Oh, you may pick a piece, you may

(So dear and silky, soft and grey);

But if you're rough and greedy, why

You'll make the little fairies cry.

Flower Fairies of the Spring

Cicely Mary Barker

Lazarus Saturday...

Reading...

Calmness is not a character trait, it's simply a skill.  You have to decide that it matters; that the quality of your presence would be better if you slowed yourself down and were really connected to people and to the moment you are living in.  Then you practice until gradually it becomes part of you.  It benefits everyone around you - they feel peaceful and happy in your presence...  it is well worth cultivating.  

Calmness is made up of certain actions - breathing deeper, dropping your shoulders, settling your muscles, feeling your feet strongly planted on the ground, focusing your thoughts on the job in hand in a steady, easy way...  even just counting three or four breaths, in and out, will slow your heartbeat and calm your mind down...

...  Everything is better - the taste of food, the scent of flowers, the feel of the shower warm on your skin.  You will find that time slows down and you can think more."

Raising Girls

Steve Biddulph

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With thanks to Kyrie for sharing this quote!

Overheard...

Mama: "Little Man, will you take care of me when I get to be an old lady? Can I call you up and say, 'Little Man, will you take me to the doctor? Or, will you bring me to church?'"

Little Man: "No."

Mama: "What?! Why?!"

Little Man (very patiently): "Because I'm going to be a monk and they don't do that."

Something Different...

We're getting to the point of the fast when we are completely bored by the food that we've been eating all lent and so I've been trying to search my recipe box for something different.  One recipe that I somehow missed this lent was Greek Potatoes with Lemon Vinaigrette. They are delicious! I also spotted some maple glazed walnuts on Kyrie's Instagram feed a few days ago and decided that I had to make them!  I used pecans instead, but all that you have to do is toast the nuts in a dry cast iron skillet, pour a little maple syrup over the nuts and stir to coat.  Once the maple syrup thickens, dump them onto a parchment lined baking sheet, and sprinkle with a bit of salt.  Yum!

The trees are starting to blossom and everywhere we turn (except in our yard) there are daffodils blooming.  I am hoping to get to our little local farmer's market this Friday to see if the Flower Lady is there.  Last year she had multitudes of different types of daffodils and I think that it would be nice to start Holy Week with a bunch of them on our table.  We are also planning to plant our wheat grass on palm Sunday with our little church friends.  

Things have been busy here.  Our iconographer friend is applying gold leaf to several icons that are hung on the back wall of the Altar.  Because she lives so far away, she has been staying over this week, so it has been nice to visit with her.  She is sleeping in Sugar Plum's bedroom, so the little ones are having a ball sleeping together in the boys' room.  

We are almost at the finish line for this lent!  Only eleven days to go!

Overheard...

"The Lord made everything.  By Himself.  No one helped."  Button, Age 3

Ex Nihilo.

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Also, he is the talented creator of this little vignette I found on our table the other day.

Copywork: The Song of the Daffodil Fairy...

  I spend a little time each week looking for interesting things for my children to write in their copybooks, usually based upon a theme.  I will post them here each week as a record for myself and as a help to any other family that wishes to use them.

 

:::::

 

The Song of the Daffodil Fairy

I'm everyone's darling:  the blackbird and starling

Are shouting about me from blossoming boughs;

For I, the Lent Lily, the Daffy-down-dilly,

Have heard though the country the call to arouse.

The orchards are ringing with voices a-singing

The praise of my petticoat, praise of my gown;

The children are playing, and hark! they are saying

That Daffy-down-dilly is come up to town!

 

Flower Fairies of the Spring

Cicely Mary Barker

Reading...

It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existence, you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's the flowers you choose, the music you play, the smile you have waiting. I want it to be gay and cheerful, a haven in this troubled world. I don't want my husband and children to come home and find a rattled woman. Our era is already rattled enough, isn't it?”

Audrey Hepburn

Another Day...

It finally seems like the children are getting over the virus...  Father John is a different story.  Hopefully he'll be better for the weekend's services, but at this point, I'm not sure.  It is interesting to me that I really didn't know how terrible everyone felt until my husband got sick.  He's been head-achy, feverish, achy, and has been complaining of skin sensitivity.  Our poor kids didn't express that during their sickness, but looking back, I think that they were feeling the exact same way.

I went a little laundry crazy today and washed all of the bedding (including blankets), towels, and several hampers of clothing that I couldn't get to during the week.  I feel like everything is much cleaner now.  I've been very careful to keep our linens down to one set of sheets per bed, but I am wondering if that is really a good idea.  A few spare sets would help ease a burden when sickness strikes.  On the other hand, having just enough does force me to get things done without procrastinating!

I was able slip out for a little while this evening to go to an art show featuring my beautiful friend, Monika.  She is a fiber artist (the same one who taught me how to knit!) and her work is lovely.  I was able to watch her spin angora yarn on her spinning wheel...  she held her pet rabbit on her lap and gently brushed him with her hand while simultaneously spinning the Angora hair that came off in hand into yarn.  It was such a neat demonstration! 

And Then There Was One...

I am the last healthy person in this house.  On Sunday, Little Man woke up feverish and congested.  Sugar Plum followed on Monday afternoon, Father John on Wednesday night, and Button this morning.  The sad thing is that though the older children are finished with their fevers, they are coughing so much throughout the day that they are exhausted by 6:30 and begging to go to bed.  Our saving grace has been long, steamy bubble baths and lots of Vicks Vapor Rub on the soles of their feet.  They are virtually cough-free for the whole night, which gives them a good rest.  Having a week of sickness has really put into perspective those who suffer from illness on a regular basis. 

The weather has not been bad for the past couple of days with the temperature hovering in the upper 50's.  We have gotten out to play for a little while every afternoon, which I think has helped our spirits.  The children are working on a playhouse under a holly tree, sweeping out dead leaves, trimming low branches, and gathering odds and ends to play with.

I'm thinking about our menu plan for Pascha already.  Our little ones want bacon first thing in the morning!  That sounds wonderful, but we somehow never have time for a real breakfast on Pascha morning.  We usually blearily stumble out of bed just before Agape Vespers  (which is at noon).  Pascha is forty days though...  I plan to buy out all the Sunday Bacon at BJs!  Maybe I should start stockpiling now?!

Yarn Along: North and South...

I watched North and South this past week and was enthralled!  Amazon had the book by Elizabeth Gaskell available for free on Kindle, so I have been devouring that each evening before bed.  I also found that CraftLit is reading North and South for their podcast...  you can bet that I'll be listening to that!  My needles are still clicking away on the Grasshopper Shawl...  slow and steady wins the race!

Living and Learning: April...

Faith Saint Mary of Egypt
Palm Sunday
Great and Holy Week
Pascha
Saint George
Saint Thomas Sunday
  Homemaking
Lenten Cleaning
Meal Planning & Weekly Shopping
Prepare for Pascha
Confession for Father John, Sugar Plum, and Me
Paschal Food
Paschal Clothes
Paschal Baskets, Egg Hunt and Decorations
Begin Garden Planning
Plant Pansies
Plant Window Boxes and Hanging Baskets
Organize the Picnic Basket
Organize, Clean, and Replenish Rain Gear Begin Switching Out Cold Weather Clothing for Warm
Update Bike Helmets and Make Repairs on Bikes Work on Grasshopper Shawl Knit a Hat
Make Two or Three Washcloths Read The Habit of Being 
Read North and South

Themes
Rain
Farms
Pascha
Knights and Dragons

Rituals
Begin building in more outdoor time on fine days... bring life outside (meal times, reading, play, cleaning, etc.)

Special Days
Father John's Baptism Anniversary - 1st
Full Paschal Moon -15th Lucy - 20th Earth Day - 22nd
+Oksana - 28th
  Learning
Practice patience and love towards one another Practice Being Still and Quiet during Prayers and Services
Learn the Prayer of Saint Ephraim
The Sign of the Cross for Button    Lenten Lilies - Daffodils!
Festal Learning basket for Saint George Festal Learning basket for Palm Sunday and Holy Week
Festal Learning Basket for Pascha Holding Candles in Church Carefully (with Adult Supervision)  "April Showers Bring May Flowers"
Put Away Own Laundry
Learn How to Clean Bathrooms
Listen to Saint Matthew Passion by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev
Listen to Heidi on Audio Read From Iville to Youville
Learn to Say the Paschal Greeting in Different Languages
Nature Table Scene
Spring Book Basket
Colored Pencils/Watercolor Pencils
Feed birds
Polish wooden toys together 
Weaving with Sugar Plum
Knitting Fork with Little Man  Puddle Walks Gardening Butterfly Growing Kit
Zoo Visits Kite Festival! 
Visit the Farmer's Market

April Sponsor News...

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!

If you are interested in sponsorship for your small business, please contact me:  emily at orthodoxws dot com