Taking it easy...

This past weekend, the girls didn't feel well...some stomach bug going around, I guess. I did laundry, read books, took naps, watched a few movies. So glad everyone is better now.
Love this Baroque design by my friend, Chris. Here is the link to this digital paper on her blog! As you can see, I used it in my new header. That's a photo of the 4 of us in South Dakota by the Needles in the Black Hills.

The Newport aquarium has a deal going on right now: 2 FREE kids admissions with a paying adult! I hope to take the girls.

I've always like seahorses...when I was a little girl got a My Little Pony seapony. I think that seashell had a suction cup and would stick to the side of the bathtub. I found that picture on Ebay...wish I still had mine.The great 80s. My girls don't have one, but they do have the pegasus and some regular ponies.

Oh, did you know that male seahorses carry the eggs and give birth? Pretty awesome, eh?

Hannah is using modeling clay to make a Renaissance style medallion, round with a relief...for her art class, learning a bit of history and geography too. One day, I hope we can go to Italy. I want to go to Venice, ride a gondola, eat their good food and enjoy the art...

Pray for those in Haiti

It seems like there's not a whole lot anyone can do at this point, but pray...may God help those who have been hurt and are suffering in Haiti. Here is a photo I got from our church mission website: http://www.orthodoxhaiti.org/ A beautiful, simple church...filled with believing people. I wish I knew each of their names, to pray for them.
So, this is one of the necklaces I crocheted. Quick and easy...we gave it as a gift to my niece, Juliana.

Yesterday was my brother-in-law, Wally's birthday...that's the recipe for the simple and scrumptious Yogurt Lemon Cake above (click on it to see a LARGE version).

It's a recipe I plan on trying out soon!

January 1 (on the Julian calendar)

Today is January 1, according to the Julian calendar (that most Orthodox Christians follow, that's why we celebrate the Nativity of Christ later, it is really Dec 25th to us, but Jan 7th to everyone else who follows the Gregorian calendar)....so wishes for a Happy New Year!

*the above image is from the vintage knitting images found on http://www.agoodyarn.net

How to crochet a ball:

I use a size F hook/5 mm
(adapted from the happy hooker crocheting book)
Chain 3, then join with a slip stitch to make a tiny ring. Next, crochet 8 single crochet stitches into the ring; join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet stitch. For the next round, chain 1, then single crochet into the same stitch, then make 2 single crochet stitches into each of the remaining 7 stitches & connect with a slip stitch and chain 1. Now, single crochet into each of the 16 stitches, connect ring with a slip stitch and chain 1. On this row, you will decrease, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over a pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), then insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull the strang though all 3 loops. Repeat this until the end of the row, decreasing (turning 2 stitches into 1) each time. Pull the yarn tight and leave some for sewing or attaching to ponytail holder! I plan to make a necklace next.We have been enjoying the snow...

Homemade and simple...

A new friend gave me this book when invited over for dinner this past week...it opens with "You know, we eat better at home than most people do in restaurants." That was something the author's father would say as they ate dinner around the table together. I like to think that it's like that here...at my home. Simple homemade things, not just food, make me happy.
Introducing Anna Pavlovna who was born exactly a week ago!

January 7th was our FIRST official snow day of the year, school was closed and we went to church to celebrate the Nativity of Christ. It was a beautiful "white Christmas!"

Yesterday, we had a Christmas party (called "Ёлка" in Russian) and Grandfather Frost comes and after the children sing, recite poems or play a song...he gives them a gift. Well, my 4-year old niece got up to play a song on the piano (yet she doesn't know any songs and has never really played), she insisted on doing it and delighted the audience by daintily playing a few notes here and there, while singing with her whole heart "Somewhere over the rainbow!" I wish I'd taken movie...
I crocheted a blue elephant for my nephew Isaac. He said thank you...it was quite scrumptious. Yum.

I saw these on a blog I read...thought it was so cute. $10 per plate. I know...we can go to a pottery studio and make our own!I've been crocheting some balls and made them into ponytail holders...but I'm inspired to make a necklace...isn't this lovely?

A child was born...and is being born!

We're preparing for the feast of the Lord's Nativity, January 7th falls on a Thursday this year. I plan to bake sugar cookies with the girls and ice them...my fav is using plain icing and sprinkling coconut on top for snowflakes! This is my fav photo from last year...if Olivia was smiling with her teeth, you would've seen her 2 baby teeth, which fell out in the spring and are now replace with her adult teeth.

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Right now, my dear friend (and our little matushka), Bethany, is in the hospital, having her 2nd child. I am praying for them and look forward to seeing them soon!