A new leaf

This monstera has a 3rd leaf just beginning to unfurl.  It is slow and beautiful.

I undecorated our potted Norfolk pine tree, as it is droopy and I think got top hot with the woodstove being near.  I hope it survives.

My sister gave me a punch needle kit she'd gotten with a wooden tool, which is pretty, but just doesn't work as well as the plastic one I had gotten.  

Our hens have been laying well!  I collected 20 eggs just today.  On Wed. Father Theodore, the Scottish monk, blessed our small house, barn (he was especially happy to bless the cats, then said a special prayer over the sheep, walked out to bless the cows and pigs, even) then other house, which is still in-progress. He stayed and ate with us and we all had a nice time together.

Theophany

Blessed feast of our Lord's Theophany!

When Thou was baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest, for the voice of the Father bear witness to Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son, and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the Word. O Christ Our God who has appeared and has enlightened in the world, O Lord, glory be to Thee.

We found a patch of ice and the boys each got a stick and found something to be their puck to play hockey.

Our cats are great climbers!  And the pine tree grove in the back has 23 trees, so we were able to select 2 trees that we thought were just right for hanging a new hammock.  It was a Christmas gift!

We read the life of St. Seraphim and asked him to be an intercessor to God for us.

Here's the ornament my niece made for us.  Isn't it great?

A few more photos from our trip to Ohio.

Ohio trip

we had a whirlwind trip to Ohio!  We hadn't seen Olivia in 12 months.  We spent time with family and a few friends.  It was our first trip back since we moved to upstate New York.  We gave and got some Christmas gifts.  My mom had her little tree decorated.  My sister had a big pine tree that smelled so good.  Her 15 year old daughter made a beef cow ornament for us that I'll have to unpack and take a photo of...

Wednesday morning, we visited with George's Godmother, Caitlin, and her husband. She and her husband had gone on a trip to Charleston, SC for their 20th anniversary and got this tea brick.  We drank some together and had a lovely breakfast!  

Hannah flew in from Oregon.  All 6 of us together, staying at my Mom's house, so 7 in all, eating, talking, playing Sorry! and doing puzzles. The boys wanted to help Grammie make prosphora.

We said good-bye to our girls and my mom today.  It was a nice visit!  

Biscotti

I made gluten-free biscotti with hazelnuts yesterday using this recipe (the Bob's Red Mill 1:1 GF flour blend DOES have xantham gum, so no additional xantham gum is necessary).  It's an easy thing to put in a jar or bundle up and give as a little gift to a friend!

my sister, her husband, who was ordained a deacon almost 3 months ago, and 3 children came to visit last weekend.  They gave the boys walkie talkies and this gingerbread house kit!

she brought smoked salmon with dill, Greek style tomato and beans, stuffed grape leaves, dark chocolate with mango and cardamom, which was scrumptious with tea! We made lussekater again this year, this time using saffron threads that my cousin Jeff and his wife Mary gave me!  They were delicious.  I plan to make another batch for old calendar Christmas, which starts this evening:  https://goodeatings.com/recipes/desserts/lussekatter-vegan-saffron-buns/

I made 2 pounds of ground beef into meatballs for Nativity. We'll have cheese and crackers and open a bottle of wine. I also made brownies for tomorrow.

Hope you have a wonderful week!