Scrumptious...

Weekend project: pajama pants

2012-02-20T05:05:00.000-08:00

Isn't it frustrating that you can't find 100% cotton flannel pajamas for kids?
Supposedly the 100% polyester is better because it is flame resistant? So... I bought 100% cotton flannel to sew pajama pants for my daughter.Next time, I'm going to use this tutorial: http://lieslmade.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/pj-shorts-tutorial-with-pattern/

And just make the shorts longer...I love that she shows you how to do a French seam!

And the best thing about this weekend...is my newly baptised Godson in my arms! ♥

5x7 Folded Card

2012-02-19T19:21:00.001-08:00

Aren't these just such cute cards? Right now, you can get 5 cards FREE (you just pay for shipping) at:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

So I designed these, with a photo a friend took of our family at the Old West festival a few months ago...I love how the word "Dream" is written over the top! And when I was done with my order, I saw that there was a link to share it on my blog (when I do that I will get $10 off my next order)!

Dream Sketch 5x7 folded card

Unique party invitations and announcements by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Presidental election coming up...

2012-02-17T08:04:00.000-08:00

In November, I hope to vote for the best candidate for president of the United States of America. We all want someone who will help preserve our sweet land of liberty!

So, I'm curious, who are you going to vote for? Who would you like to see in office?

My first quilt...

2012-02-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

It's a mini quilt...but could be used as a hotpad I suppose. Why do I always think everything has to have a purpose? It can just be a work of art, right? I am definitely inspired to make another larger quilt.
There's Velvet stepping over it, as I try to snap a photograph. We picked her up yesterday, after having stayed overnight to be spayed. She seems to be back to normal, playing and jumping around. She is now 5 pounds. Shaved belly. And a little incision that is healing up already. We'd gone to the vet last week and it would've cost an additional $150 to have her spayed, but at the UCAN clinic downtown I paid just $35. It really encourages people to spay or neuter their animals when it's affordable.

A little snow...

2012-02-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

This morning we awoke to snow...and so took off for French Park a little after 8 o'clock...lucky we homeschool and can do lessons later on! There was no one else out so we let Lusy run free...no leash!!! She loved it. Licked the snow, raced like a wild dog and went into the woods...
Just enough for us to enjoy...to make it really feel like winter.

A few of my favorite homeschool books...

2012-02-03T11:07:00.001-08:00

Just 2 that I really want to share with you today: These were given to us with the K12 curriculum for my 5th grader, Hannah. The exercises in these books are very useful, Exercises in English often give sentences that teach you about something, like American history (e.g. Neil Armstrong) that are written incorrectly, where you have to write the correct form of the verb or underline the adjectives. The vocabulary one is nice, because at the beginning of each unit, they give you the words, with their dictionary meaning and an example of it used in a sentence. They are both workbooks, which I'm not fond of in general, but when you need one to help you with basic grammar, these are excellent!

We think of homeschooling on our "own" without a set curriculum...and if we did, these two books are ones that we would purchase!

Extra Yarn, a children's book...

2012-02-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

A few days ago we went to a local book shop where the kids made pom poms and then they read aloud this book Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett illustrated by Jon Klassen (I really love the pictures, looks like he rolled paint onto knitted fabric and pressed it on the paper)!They hung up their pom poms on a tree in the bookstore, and some on the trees outside, too. A group of women, who call themselves the Cincinnati Bombshells (they "bomb" the town with their knitted and crocheted colourful beauty...for example, we saw the outdoor statue of Cincinnatus the Roman with leg warmers and a scarf!), came and helped. What an awesome group! They wear blonde wigs, so to remain anonymous. And gave out blonde wigs for the kids to wear. What do you think of Olivia (I thought she was already blonde, but guess she's actually a dirty blonde or light brown hair girl now)?

Hermitage of the Holy Cross in WV

2012-01-30T06:11:00.001-08:00

Bishop George gave us this one..., originally uploaded by mama_marfa.

We went to the monastery in Wayne, WV, Holy Cross Hermitage, this weekend. It's a 3 hour drive from Cincinnati, OH.

The last time we were there in September 2010, Bishop George gave us this prosphora (bread that is used in the altar to prepare Holy Communion). Yesterday he gave us one again. We will visit my parents today and give it to them, as they have both been sick and were not able to attend services at all this weekend.

We stayed at the guest house, which is next to a small cemetery where a friend of ours, George Booth, is buried. At night, there is a lamb on his grave that is lit. We walked down the road to have dinner with everyone, about 30 monks and one nun, who makes pure beeswax candles. Along the way, we stopped to say "hello" to Myrtle the cow and the goats. Up on the hill, one can see about 10 white boxes, the beehives, and they sell their honey, which is a beautiful amber colour, Brother Anthony, who helped us in their store, told us that this is dark because of the many tulip poplar trees.

Vigil began at 6:30pm and when it ended at 9:50pm, it was dark, cold and the 1/2 mile walk would have been possible, but when Father Tikhon offered to drive us back, we accepted. He told us that when he turns around, the vehicle would turn into a Ferrari! That made us laugh.

Sunday morning, we watched as the monks sang in beautiful Znamenny chant and Bishop George was dressed in his festive garments. Buttoning up the sides and then finally placing the golden miter atop his head. The girls really enjoyed watching. The service was wonderful, we listened about Zacchaeus, the short man who was a tax-collector, who climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus and invited him to dine at his house. Then, he gave up his wealth and changed his life. We all partook of Holy Communion. At the end of the service, Bishop George held a beautifully carved wood cross. An old friend, Audrey, came with her husband and 3 children. It was really nice to see them. Everyone there was so very kind. We hope to go again soon!

A little yarn along...spool knitting!

2012-01-25T05:31:00.000-08:00

A while ago we got a wooden spool with 3 nails atop....and my 8 and 10 year old girls have taken turns working on it...it's about 50 inches long right now. We plan to twist it up like Lori did and if it's big enough make a small rug!In addition to spool knitting, we attempted i-cord (there's a link to the wonderful Purl Bee tutorial) this past week...that is what Hannah made using the purple yarn...3 stitches. The blue is made with the spool. I also made an i-cord with 5 stitches using my DPNs (double pointed needles) made it into a little bracelet for my niece.We got The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem from the library...what a sweet book, the stories are lovely and illustrations beautiful! I especially love this wintry scene above.

Follow what others are doing with yarn here ...Ginny's yarn along! ♥

P.S. I just learned how to make a heart! Thanks to Lori. If you want to make on, press the "fn" key at the bottom of your keyboard AND the "alt" and then the "3" on the right hand side!

Lemon poppyseed cookies

2012-01-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

When I saw this recipe...I wanted to try the recipe! Thank you, Gretchen for sharing!!!

Lemon Poppyseed Cookies

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
4 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I omitted this, as I wanted it to be just lemony)
1 teaspoon lemon extract (I just squeezed about a tablespoon of lemon juice from the lemons I zested instead of using lemon extract)

Mix flour, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Using electric mixer (I'm not fond of electric mixers, so I just beat it by hand using a wooden spoon), beat butter in large bowl until light. Gradually beat in sugar. Beat in egg, then poppy seeds, lemon peel and extracts. Mix in dry ingredients. Gather dough into ball, divide into two parts and flatten each into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 2 hours. If wrapped well, it will last in the refrigerator over a week.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Roll out 1 dough disk on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter (I don't have one that size, so I used a clean old small glass jam jar), cut out cookies. Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Gather scraps; reroll and cut out more cookies.

Bake cookies until edges just begin to color, about 18 minutes. (If you use insulated sheets as I did they might take longer.) Cool cookies on sheets 3 minutes, then transfer to racks and cool completely. Repeat rolling, cutting and baking with remaining dough. (Can be made ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 1 month.)

Gretchen uses a filling, but I chose to just have them like this...loved them! I had 60 sweet little cookies and decided to share some...I ate some as I sipped Trader Joe's Duchess tea, black tea infused with orange, lemon and bergamot. Then this morning I had plain yogurt with a cookie. Mmmm!

Scrabble addiction

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've always loved words...both of my parents read a lot. It started out with reading the Bible together every morning, when I was a child.
And I find that we are passing it on to our daughters now...

Right now Rob is reading Tintin to Olivia. Hannah reads novels voraciously, sometimes while eating breakfast, up late at night...

I played my first game of online Scrabble in November.
And we are addicted to playing Scrabble in person, too. Hannah and Olivia and I are going to play a game today! We allow the use of a dictionary, because I believe it's more educational...you LEARN new words!

The slouchy hat...

2012-01-18T05:27:00.000-08:00

When I saw this slouchy hat, I thought it was so cute, especially in yellow, but I had some nice green wool yarn already...now that I'm done with it, I can tell you that it was pretty easy, so I'll be making another one!Give it a try...if you go to the link above, you'll see there's a FREE pattern! You can see we have a little snow right now. And the outdoor color is realistic, but I had to share a picture of me wearing it, just so you can see how it looks on... very comfy!!!Last week I read Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo, the story of his 3 year old son, Colton, and his experience in heaven - he died for 3 minutes while suffering from appendicitis. What a touching story. I especially loved the part when he met his sister, who his mother miscarried. The little boy was so eager to go to heaven again. We all should aim for heaven...I mean really work on it everyday!!!

I'm reading Snow Falling on Cedars right now. Apparently it was made into a movie, too, so hopefully I'll find that and watch it after I've read the book!

Simple sewing...

2012-01-16T07:52:00.000-08:00

Nothing fancy, simply a curtain to cover the window in our back door (in our kitchen)...I used Amy Butler fabric that I got on sale at Sewn, a cool shop, I could've spent LOTS of money there. I got the pom pom fringe at another shop...isn't it so cute? I think it would be nice on an apron, too.When we moved into our house 5 1/2 year ago, there was an awkward space under the counter in the kitchen, I think the previous owners had 2 barstools there, but it's a galley kitchen, small, so it really doesn't make sense...so we use it to store stuff (all my stones and pans for baking are under there...recycling bin, etc.) and I covered it with this Michael Miller polka-dot fabric...and just added the same pom pom fringe to it, too.
Lately, my more adventurous sewing involved pennant banners, a pin cushion, circle skirts for my daughters and an alligator with a zipper for a mouth. I'm currently working on a prairie bonnet.

Yarn along...crochet lessons with a 6 year old

2012-01-11T03:31:00.000-08:00

My 6 year old niece broke her arm and is taking a break from karate class, so while her 4 year old sister is in class, she is coming to my house to learn how to crochet.
As for me, I'm making this slouchy hat....which is turning out really cute so far, don't you think? i love a free pattern. And I'm reading this book Heaven is for Real that someone in church gave to my 10 year old daughter, she read it in one day (she loved it), so now it's my turn!

Joyous feast of the Nativity

2012-01-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

(I sewed circle skirts for my daughters...here is Olivia with her friend Sasha after church on Nativity)

I greet you all with the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which we celebrated 2 days ago, December 25, 2011 (old calendar) or January 7, 2012 (new calendar)!My sister and her husband came down from Canada (a 13 hour drive in the car for them, they headed back early this morning, so are probably getting home just now).My 1 year old niece giving my dad a homemade present...
Today, my dad read prayers over my youngest sister's baby boy, Theodore. He is 8 days old now, and the naming-prayers are usually done on this day. I am going to be his Godmother! Hopefully, his baptism will be in about a month.

Isaac and Theodore

2012-01-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

Well, the little hat fits Theodore. I made it with a 13 inch circumference but it will stretch. I know he'll grow quickly...so it will only fit him for a little while. The yellow ocher blanket he's wrapped in is one that was Wally's when he was a baby! So it's about 29 years old.
Isaac wanted to share his car with Theodore...

Before you watch the video, you may want to scroll down on the right hand side and turn off the music. We went to the park with Isaac...and here's a video I took while at the "fishing hole:"

I love all my family...looking forward to celebrating Orthodox Nativity with all of them tonight and tomorrow! We're hoping to take a photo of everyone at my parent's house tomorrow...that will be 17 of us.

Yarn along...a tiny hat!

2012-01-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

It's the first yarn along of 2012...and what am I making? A hat for my newest nephew! He was born Monday January 2nd. I hope it's not itchy...it feels like a nice soft wool.I got this wool yarn while on a trip to Kentucky in May. Honestly I haven't been yarning too much lately...I've been sewing. I am working on Christmas skirts for Hannah & Olivia, using this free pattern: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-circle-skirt.html. Twirly skirts...we celebrate the Nativity of Christ this coming Saturday!

I'm sipping some ginseng peppermint tea and eating marzipan stollen (just got it for $1.99 at Trader Joe's and it's vegan) this morning.

Home-birth

2012-01-02T16:38:00.000-08:00

My little sister, Andrea, and her husband welcomed a new little boy today...in their home. I wish I'd had a home-birth, as it seems so much more peaceful and relaxing. I remember being happy, yet so exhausted when I had my girls in the hospital. Nurses would come and take my vitals just as soon as I would fall asleep. I thank God for healthy babies, and eventually I caught up on my sleep...Speaking of health...I wish my dad had better health. He didn't get to see the baby, yet...he has had a very difficult day, my mom said when I called them up. Hopefully they will go tomorrow. Dyskinesia is getting worse...so much so that Dad is balding because he moves his head back and forth so much. Parkinson's is really horrible. I think of it as the demons attacking him, because his soul is close to God...he loves the church so much and is very humble, not proud, of course he's not perfect, but compassionate, understanding and thinks of salvation . I will never forget when I was having the most trouble in my own life and he was so kind and positive, helped me more than he will ever know. This is the big brother, Isaac, who came over to our house for lunch and to play in the snow...and give his parents a little time to rest. The snow was lovely and great for making snowballs! We made vegetable soup and focaccia bread. I have renewed artisan breads every day by Peter Reinhart 3 times already...I love our library. Rob, Hannah and I are becoming expert bread bakers. Olivia loves to eat it.

I brought some of the focaccia over to Andrea and Wally, too. I am preparing another batch right now.

Sweets...

2011-12-30T04:37:00.000-08:00

Simple and scrumptious...
Rob's mom gave us a bunch of mini candy canes...and I bought a bag of chocolate chips from Trader Joe's...we melted them in a glass dish in the microwave for 1 minute, stirred and then began to fill in the hearts. Minty chocolate sweets after dinner last night!

(see Lusy coming into the kitchen, checking out the scene)
Thank YOU for the idea!

Sewing lesson with an 8 year old...

2011-12-28T06:43:00.000-08:00

When a button falls off, you can simply sew it back on, if you know how to sew. It's really quite simple, I think it should be taught at age 4 or 5 to all children, using:

felt
embroidery floss
a large blunt-tip needle (NOT plastic, the tip bends easily, making it frustrating)
scissors (let them make free form shapes)
buttons or beads
lace (it's easy to get the needle through)

I taught Hannah to sew using a sewing machine just after she turned 9. She has been sewing quite a bit this past week...making pillows. I thought it was time to show Olivia how to use it, too. She pressed the pedal hard when I said to put the foot down, I meant "put the foot down on the fabric" not her foot on the pedal. Laughing and learning... Olivia sewed a small pillow yesterday...her first project! We need more stuffing. I would like to get something besides the polyester fill available at most stores...any suggestions on where to get a soft natural fill?

Western Christmas

2011-12-26T05:14:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Christmas (which we call Western Christmas) with my husband's family yesterday, Sunday Dec. 25th. Rob's grandma here is 83. His other grandma is 101...both are doing okay, using their walkers to get around.We opened all of our gifts in the morning and then went to church. Hannah got 2 new dresses for her 18" doll, meet Jessica Ann. Olivia got Tintin books and a wood mannikin. I gave Rob a pair of leather slippers from LLBean and he got me fabric to sew with...We will celebrate the Nativity of Christ with my family on January 7th (which IS Dec. 25th on the old calendar).
9:30am Saturday we got to the ski slopes in Indiana. We stayed until they closed at 4:30pm, taking a break at 12noon to eat the lunch we packed (smoked salmon, bread, clementines). Walking in ski boots is so hard!

The best gift we had was spending time together!

6 years ago

2011-12-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

Rob joined the Army a month after September 11, 2001...and left for basic training that November. Hannah was a baby then, but we were really struggling financially (we both got bachelors degrees in fine arts), so this seemed "right" for us in so many ways. It was something to do for a steady income and after the attacks on our country, Rob really wanted to help America in some way. This place we love...and call home.

We moved May 2002 to Fort Stewart, Georgia...in January 2003 Rob left for Kuwait and then drove in his tank to Iraq. I didn't hear anything for him for a month...he was on his way to Baghdad...had some serious missions. We found out I was pregnant with our 2nd daughter just before he left. It was a very emotional time for me, but I had a good support network, made lots of friends since we lived on-post, and my parents came down to help out a week before Olivia was born. We were very fortunate that his captain let him leave, we really didn't know what was happening...and he came home just a week before Olivia arrived!
Then, he went back to Iraq in January 2005. He came home Dec. 23, 2005 for good!!! Hannah was 4 and Olivia was 2. He told us of his days in the hot dry desert, the sand in everything, working hard as a track vehicle mechanic, waiting to come home. His 4 year contract with the Army was up. So glad to have him home!
I just finished reading this book that my friend, Charlotte, gave me...an excellent, sad, yet moving and hopeful story of a boy from Afghanistan. It's based on a true story! The kindness of strangers is a blessing...

As Abraham and Sarah entertained strangers long ago...

Kitten adventures while homeschooling...

2011-12-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

We're trying to wrap up our homeschooling today...so we can take a few days off. Our kitten, Velvet, however provides some distraction. Notice how Hannah and Olivia have gotten good at ignoring her while trying to work on their lessons...I love how she perches atop the back of the chair! It gives her the best viewing spot out the window...and Lusy also likes to look out there, too.

Lusy has graciously started sharing her bed with Velvet. I hope for some snow! We have been planning on going skiing Saturday December 24th.

* * * * *

"Wise men still seek Him."

May you all have a wonderful Christmas! We are celebrating with some family this weekend, but will mainly celebrate the Nativity of Christ on January 7th since we are Orthodox Christians.

I love this time of year! Mostly for the simple moments, a cup of tea on a cold day! The sun peaking out behind the clouds...and getting to spend time with those we love the most!

Yarn along...I'm blessed!

2011-12-14T04:41:00.000-08:00

I think Clementine was looking at Nutmeg in a curious way, that made her self conscious...I crocheted a shawl out of some gray wool I got in either New Mexico or Arizona this summer. Unfortunately, she didn't like it, and tried to get it off and got her foot stuck in it...so I helped her out.

Follow the yarn along here: http://www.gsheller.com

Last night, I finished a wonderful book, Angelina's Bachelors, filled with wonderful recipes and a tender story...that made me realize how blessed I am indeed, to have a husband and 2 children...and 4 pets, and this one (in the photo above) is laying eggs!

Timer photos....

2011-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Setting up the timer and taking a family photo...
We wanted to have Lusy and Velvet in the picture...thought about having Clementine and Nutmeg in the picture, too, but it would be too much to get all 8 looking at the camera smiling...without us looking frazzled. All of our pets get along nicely, though.Now, which one do you think we should use for a Christmas card? I'm thinking about cropping one of them (I don't want our shoes in it).

Beautiful mosaics...

2011-12-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to a Greek church for their Saint Nicholas day service. I have been there before (for the funeral of my friend's Irene's mother last year and for their festival). I got to spend more time inside the church after the service and took some photos...A woman donated $500,000 to have the mosaics of Jesus, Mary and the 4 evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke John) along with numerous other saints...so a team from Italy came in and worked on it for 5 months, the result is breath-taking...the photos don't do it justice, as you can't see the gold glittering, looking like stars, as it may appear in heaven. St. Barbara (my mom's patron saint), St. Theodore (my sister is probably going to name her baby Theodore when he is born, due next month) and St. Paraskeva, above.
And there are also stained glass windows, which are very nice, my favorite little one was this (rooster or hen, I'm not sure)...My cousin, Zoya, posted this picture of a chicken from Shelburne, Vermont...and I had to share it, too...was a cute sweater, I wonder how long the chicken wore it. Shall I knit or crochet a shawl for my 2 chickens?

Yarn along....and our first snow!

2011-11-30T05:10:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on the circle blanket...inspired by this.We read a book every morning together (if you read my previous post...40 books in 40 days, but you could do a countdown just for December). I'm reading Alexander McCall Smith's Corduroy Mansions, which is okay, but I really love his No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books. I've read all of those, which take place in Botswana, and look forward to his next one, the 13th in this series, which is due out April 2012.

What are you reading and working on (a crochet or knit project with yarn)? Follow the yarn along here with Ginny.

Last night, we got our first real snowfall...it was so pretty, but sadly has melted this morning. Hannah and Olivia put on their snowpants and went outside to play, jumped on the trampoline (there's still a small pile of snow there, actually), slid down the snow-covered slide, it was really wet. Olivia made snowballs and threw them at our house.
(I wish I'd taken some pictures)

40 books in 40 days

2011-11-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

Today begins the Nativity fast for us...40 days from now is December 25th on the old calendar (which looks like January 7th on the new calendar, but it's still 2011 in our church calendar).

Every morning from now til then, we'll unwrap and read a book together. I added more books to our collection (thanks to our local library, we'll read those ones first). One of my favorites is Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman. Have you read that one? It's about a little mouse who lives in a house and finds a nice bed (in the manger they have set up). Mortimer takes the baby out of the manger and sleeps there...when he hears the family reading the story of Jesus, how He didn't have a place to sleep, he decided it was better for the baby Jesus to sleep there and he would find another bed...and that's when he finds the gingerbread house!

* * *

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving...started off the day by going to church to give thanks to God and spent the afternoon with our family, most of them live here in Ohio, my sister and her husband came from Canada and my aunt from Vermont, her son and a friend. Then, we had more guests (Anthony, Joanna and Ephraim) stay the night after they left...on the way home to New York, they'd spent Thanksgiving with their grandmother in Indiana.

Hannah got 2 ukulele lessons...one from my aunt and one from Anthony (both of them are awesome guitar players). She can play the chords for "How much is that doggie in the window?" "Somewhere over the rainbow" and "Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow." Olivia is also learning how to play, now. Here she is playing the C chord. So, now I'm looking for a good ukulele lesson book. Any suggestions?

Yarn along...illuminated glasses & more circles!

2011-11-23T03:02:00.000-08:00

How do you like these glasses? They're old jars (oh, have I told you how much we love the Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce from Trader Joe's?), I washed them and crocheted a cover...now they are illuminated with tealights.

I've been crocheting more circles...

Follow Ginny on her lovely blog (lately we've been picking carrots out of our garden, too, that's really all that's left) & see what others are making at the yarn along here.

Our first backyard eggs!!!

2011-11-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday my husband found 3 eggs in the straw nesting area...I'm pretty sure it was Nutmeg the Rhode Island Red because she's a little bigger and the eggs were brown. Clementine is the Ameraucana and will lay greenish-blue eggs. Later, Hannah went out and discovered another egg. This morning, Olivia took our dog, Lusy, outside and found another egg! We ate them this morning over-easy with toast and butter. Mmmm.

Countdown to Nativity

2011-11-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving, but I am preparing for Christmas, too. I'm sure most of you are, by either making gifts or cards, or if you're buying gifts you have to budget, it's not best to buy at the last minute.I have been gathering the books in our house that have to do with the Nativity of Christ, along with some snowy ones that are particularly fun, even a couple with Santa (although we don't do Santa, just St. Nicholas) only if the story is really funny (like Ian Falconer's Olivia Helps with Christmas and the wordy & poetic Eloise at Christmastime) or there is a good message. We'll open one each day and read it together in the morning. Inspired by Babyccino.My favorites are:

The Story of the Nativity of Christ by Vesna Nikchevich is a longer story that used very beautiful iconic drawings to illustrate the story. One of my very favorites! Good for my children (ages 8 and 10).
Little Porcupine's Christmas by Joseph Slate, a very sweet story about animals celebrating the birth of Christ by putting on a play called "Baby in the Manger" and the porcupine who feels left out, until they decide they need a star (he climbs to the top of the tree and rolls up like a ball).
The Best Christmas Present Ever by Richard Scarry is wonderful, for his illustrations and story, of children getting presents, and then seeing Huckle's new baby sister (THAT is the best present)!
Christmas Joy compiled by Skip Skwarek, which is full of recipes, songs, poems and stories with beautiful illustrations.
Niko Chocheli's Prepare O Bethlehem because all the Orthodox church hymns are used throughout the book, the drawings are a bit dark and artistic, so a younger child may think they are a bit scary.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto reminds me of our summer trip to New Mexico and Arizona, cute story and a cultural experience...if you've never made masa for tamales, maybe after the feast you could plan a day to try to make them!
Leo Tolstoy's Philipok is illustrated by Gennady Spirin is not a Christmas theme book, but a book about a little boy who walks through the snow to school. Gorgeous drawings of the town, church and people!!!
I included a Christmas carol book that has several songs like "Silent Night" and "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," some traditional songs that talk about the birth of Christ. We love to sing together!

The best way to use Kool-Aid...

2011-11-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

...as playdough. It's not good for you to drink, in my opinion.
Why do I like it? It doesn't require cream of tartar (which can be expensive). It's a pretty color. It has a great (yet artificial) smell. So...here's the recipe:

*1 cup flour
*1/2 cup salt
*3 tablespoons oil
*1 package of Kool-Aid (any flavor)
*1 cup boiling water

Mix well and knead. Store in an air tight container and it will last for weeks!!!

A circle blanket...

2011-11-16T03:09:00.000-08:00

It is early morning...our new kitten (today it has been 2 weeks since we brought her home) slept at my feet atop our comforter last night. It's raining outside. I just took these photos:
I'm crocheting a circle blanket...and reading Peter Reinhart's Artisan Breads book...I'm learning so much about "proofing" (that you can let your bread rise for 1 to 12 hours) and that your dough should be tacky or sticky. I confess when I make a yeast bread, I want to knead it and keep adding flour until it doesn't stick to my hands. Uh oh.
And I've been making lots of cards. Visit my etsy shop to see more of them!

online Scrabble

2011-11-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

I played a game of online Scrabble for the first time ever this past week...with my mom and sister in Canada. AND I won. Beginner's luck? I got the Z and J. They're worth a lot of points. I love playing Scrabble (well, any word game...have any of you played Jotto?) in real life, too. This past Friday night, I went to one of the art studios and set up a table with other artists...I sold my papier mache birds and cards. The one with glasses had to have a book. My mom ended up buying this one from me.

Please keep my dad (Paul) in your prayers, he has had a difficult week, voice therapy 3x a week and medication issues...no pattern evident, so no one knows how to find the perfect balance.
* I love that he always smiles, even though he doesn't feel good.

Yesterday

2011-11-09T05:14:00.000-08:00

I felt like I'm being called to the past...to live a simple life. Nowadays, the government has become so big and controlling, I want more freedom. I get it by going into our little backyard, which we were lucky to be able to get a 6 foot privacy fence around in the summer of 2010...

The 2 chickens are doing well...they love foraging around our compost and what's left in the garden (not much). Not laying eggs, yet, we're thinking they probably won't lay until spring.

At 8 o'clock yesterday morning I walked down the street with Olivia to vote. I tried to explain the issues that I was voting for and why they are important. My sister, Susanna, wrote on her blog about politics, too. We're both health-conscious, true conservatives who want freedom!
Our girls can take their homeschooling lesson outside...yesterday was a sunny and warm day...we were barefoot almost all day.
I worked outside on my papier mache birds, a warm breeze blowing my bits of newspaper all over the deck...

Lusy (our dog) and Velvet (our kitten...we got from an Amish family) are making friends. No fights, but Velvet hissed at Lusy quite a bit at first...they seem to keep out of each others way...yesterday they sniffed each other nose to nose a few times!
I watched a squirrel perched atop our fence, debating whether or not he wanted to come in our yard...lots of sparrows.
The leaves on our red oak seedlings that we got at the library a few years ago have turned a beautiful deep red.
I thought of my friend Charlotte and baked a loaf of bread with rosemary that I picked from our backyard.
I hung out clothes out on the line to dry...and I took some black and white pictures. Nostalgia.
Hannah had piano lessons and I helped Olivia do flips off the swing. Then both the girls had Irish dance class in the evening...

Little trumpet player?

2011-11-07T12:53:00.001-08:00

3 years ago both Hannah and Olivia started piano lessons...after a month, we decided together that just Hannah would continue. Since then, I've wished that Olivia would want to resume, but she doesn't want to...I'm not going to push her. BUT she's expressed interest in playing the ukulele...and the trumpet. Rob's dad gave her one of his trumpets and she's getting better at it...
Yesterday, we spent a few hours with my parents, raking leaves, jumping in them, hiding in them...and ended up staying for dinner. I wish I'd brought my camera. For those of you who have been following the story of my dad and his battle living with Parkinson's disease, he's been doing better lately. He went for a bike ride alone on Saturday, 2 miles...and was fine, until he came home, fell in the driveway, my mom said that the two next door neighbors rushed over to help him out...he gashed his forehead right by his eyebrow and really should probably get 5 stitches, but I'm sure he will heal, if there's a scar, it's one to be proud of... I admire him for riding his bicycle so much! I love to ride my bike, too.

We've got lots of green tomatoes...

2011-11-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

Since we had a frost last week, we thought we'd better pick all the tomatoes, red as well as green ones, so we can eat them before a really hard frost ruins them. They are ripening up on our kitchen counter and windowsills. I think this recipe will be good:

(image and recipe from here)
Doesn't this Roasted Tomato Soup sound good?

Ingredients:

6 cups (3 pints) cherry tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup chopped onion
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 cup whipping cream

Instructions:

Heat the oven to 400°. On a baking sheet, combine the cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and the salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients to coat evenly and spread them in a single layer. Roast the tomatoes until they are shriveled with brown spots, about 35 to 45 minutes.
In a large pot, heat the butter and the remaining tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice, the broth, the thyme, and the roasted tomatoes, including any liquid on the baking sheet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, for 40 minutes.
Using a food processor or blender, puree the soup until it's smooth. Return it to the pot and stir in the cream. Without letting the soup boil, warm it over medium heat, stirring often, until steaming. Add salt and pepper, if necessary.
Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with Grilled-Cheese Croutons . Makes about 10 cups.

And on Wednesday, Rob bought me this used bamboo bird cage for $10...it's a great house for all the papier mache birds I've been making! I've got 2 upcoming local events where I'll be selling them. I would like to try to make some smaller bird houses... On the sign I made I wrote "always open." I love the door open, it's a beautiful symbol of freedom.

A great time with family and friends...

2011-10-31T10:24:00.001-07:00

I thank God for the beautiful weather. Yesterday, we went to Potato Hill Farm in Augusta, KY where we had lunch, featuring breads and sweets baked by my dear friend, Charlotte. Charlotte has become quite the baker and started up Pony Express Bread...read a bit more about it here. Friends, music, singing, sitting by an outdoor fireplace, sunshine, a river, green grass, 15 chickens and 2 donkeys. Olivia woke up and asked me this morning, "Are they going to do it again today?" She said she can't wait to go back again. We drove down the "double A highway" there and then, rode on a $5 ferry across the Ohio River on the way back home, taking Route 52 the rest of the way to Cincinnati.

Almond Windmill cookies and Nutella....yum!!!

2011-10-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, my sister brought over some of these scrumptious Almond Windmill Cookies from Trader Joe's...and suggested topping them with Nutella...so, when we had some friends over yesterday for dinner, guess what we ate for dessert?
What a great combination!I sewed a pennant banner...
But I sewed them inside out, then turned them out, so they won't fray at the edges...and I used a thick ribbon instead of bias tape, just folded it over and sewed it atop of each pennant. A little more durable this way, so I can wash it and reuse it over and over...A friend gave us this sweet gift as a thank you, for letting them have our National Park Pass, (which we bought in June for $80 and is good for 2 families for a year). We used it to get into Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and Arches National Park. Our friends went to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado last month.

These are seeds they saved from their garden, dried and will use again next year...that's something that's very special, since nowadays, there are so many hybrid vegetables out there. So, next year, we'll have these heirloom Calypso Shell beans (right), Buran peppers (middle), and Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans growing in our backyard!

YARN along...a tiny shawl!

2011-10-26T01:42:00.000-07:00

So I heard a little bird needed a shawl...it must be tiny. What do you think?Follow others on their YARN along...here on Ginny's blog, Small things. There, you'll see what a lot of other women are making with yarn (knit or crochet) and reading...
I got Half the Sky (non-fiction, stories gathered by Nicholas D. Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn) from the library, a really dramatic book about women who are treated so poorly in other countries, and how they can turn around their lives (with help from us). It a hard book to read as it's sad to hear what women have to endure...I thank God I was born in America and have a voice. I'm also reading Christmas Train (fiction, by David Baldacci).Hannah saw this doll (which is very much like the American Girl dolls, which are $100 and I think it's unreasonably priced) for sale at Target, and didn't have enough money. The next day, Olivia, however, woke up asking if she could go to Target, she had enough money to buy that doll...and said "I want to buy it for her." It made me so proud...her generosity. She gave it to her, just wanted to see her sister happy.
It's fall here...and you might miss a beautiful tree in a day...there was a maple tree with fire red leaves, the very next day, they'd all fallen off. It's the best time of year for hikes. I love being outdoors...it's not too hot nor too cold. How is fall where you are?

"Tweet" handmade birds for sale!

2011-10-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

I'm ready to share with you what I've been working on this past week. That's stage 1...and below, stage 2:Go have a look at my etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/people/homemadegoodness
I'll be adding more very soon! I'm selling them for $9 each.

And how are our birds? The chickens are doing well. Rob has worked all week (when not at work) on the chicken coop. It's almost done. My sister and her girls came over just to meet the chickens...and we ended up getting the hammock out and having a fun time together.
Here are some beautiful earrings from Barberry & Lace. Just $9. They're having a $100 giveaway! And 10% off available immediately. I think I might get some Christmas gifts from them.
Another sweet giveaway from Gussy Sews!

a giveaway - Gussy Sews

2011-10-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, this really really inspires me! I've got to sew a bit more.
So... go check out her shop:
http://www.shopgussy.com/
And then enter this $75 giveaway to her shop:
http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2011/10/gussy-sews-75-giveaway.html AND
http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2011/10/10/gussy-sews-diaper-bag-giveaway/
I would like the cotton candy tote the best. Think about what you might want to give or get (tell your husband) for Christmas...these are way better than Vera Bradley, as they are made right here in the USA!

P.S. Although I haven't been sewing, I've been crafting lately...papier mache birds! I can't wait to share once I've finished...I do love our chickens!

will you give these girls a welcome?

2011-10-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

2 hens today joined our family today...meet Nutmeg and Clementine!!!

Nutmeg is a Rhode Island Red and seems to have made herself at home already. Clementine is an Ameraucana, and a bit more shy. We hope to be collecting eggs from them, eventually. As for now, they are sweet little pets.

Sick days...

2011-10-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

Olivia has been sick the past few days. She ran a fever of 102 and now has fever blisters or cold sores on her lips! It makes it hard for her to eat. She's been using a straw to drink, even used a straw to eat tomato soup... It's really fall here...the trees started changing color here in Ohio. It's also Canadian Thanksgiving today. My sister, Mary, and her husband live in Ottawa, Canada. My other sister and her son, Isaac, came over and we baked cookies. To make this orange frosting, I used just 2 ingredients:

carrot juice and

confectioner's sugar

Isn't it a lovely color? Happy fall to you.

FREE card

2011-10-07T04:42:00.000-07:00

In promoting my own etsy shop, I decided to give you a free card (it's also a bit of advertising for me):Just click on it to get a big version, right click to save it...then print it out on an 8.5 x 11" paper, fold and color (might be fun for a child, but I also really love using my Prismacolor colored pencils). I use a sepia toned Faber-Castell fine tipped permanent pen, which is made in Germany to draw.

Feel free to print off several for yourself, but please do not try to sell them. Just write a note to a friend the old-fashioned way. Sometimes that's more meaningful than an email, especially if you color it in yourself! And go check out what I have for sale...let your friends know about it and I will gladly accept custom orders. Thanks!

Yarn along...a wedding gift!

2011-10-05T02:55:00.000-07:00

I crocheted six coasters to give to Ephraim and Joanna as part of their wedding gift, using up the Noro yarn with other wool and cotton yarns. Want to see more of Ginny's Yarn Along?The trip to Maine was wonderful...and as my daughter Hannah put it: "It feels like we're already home." There were so many sweet and loving people there.

"Dance, O Isaiah, for the Virgin bore a Son,
Emmanuel, He is both God and Man, and Orient is His name,
magnifying him, we call the Virgin blessed.

The Holy Martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crown,
entreat ye the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

Glory be to Thee, Christ the God,
Boast of the Apostles, Joy of the Martyrs,
whose preaching is the consubstantial Trinity."

Our trip to New York, Vermont....and Maine.

2011-09-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

We have a friend who is getting married this weekend in Maine. First off, we drove from Ohio through Pennsylvania to New York. There, we picked apples, visited my grandparents' grave, watched my cousin row on the Genesee River with 7 other ladies.Edible flowers on that cake!
Currently, we're in Vermont, in a little town called Jamaica, which suffered much damage from Hurricane Irene. It's still lovely, sunny and lots of maple trees...turning different colors, most are still green, some are yellow and reddish and brown.

Yarn along on the feast...

2011-09-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

We celebrated the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Mary) today. Joachim and Anna were very old (70 and 69 years old, respectively) when their daughter, Mary, was born. She was the one to bear Christ our God. So, this is how we begin the "new" church year...living the life of Christ from before his birth to his Resurrection and then ending it with his mother's Dormition.
I really like how the Noro yarn looks against a solid color...so I made these wrist warmers for Olivia. Very nice for the upcoming fall weather. 2 more days of summer left, though.

One skein project?

2011-09-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

I got the Noro yarn from Allison today...it's so pretty! I'm excited to start using it, so I got out my crochet hook and just started a swatch to see what it will look like. Then, I took it out and knit it in stripes with some solid Spud and Chloe yarn, just to see what it would look like. Perhaps I'll make a hat like this: www.heavenlysocksyarns.com/patterns/noro-spiral-one-skein-hat.doc

What do you think I should make with it? Do you have any favorite projects (crochet or knit) you'd like to share?

What I've been reading...

2011-09-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

I finished reading Little Bee yesterday. What a sad story. It really breaks my heart what some people go through, even in current times (in Nigeria, as Little Bee fled to England only to be deported), we are so blessed to live in America and have freedoms!

I started reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand last month...I am more than halfway through, but have taken a break. I will resume it soon, however. BUT I have a couple more books I want to quickly read. Notes Left Behind is one about a family who lost their 6 year old daughter to cancer. I just picked it up at the library. I also plan to read:

My friend, Bethany, gave me a batch of Amish friendship bread in August...and it's so good. My only problem is I did not want to use "instant pudding mix" as the recipe calls for so I didn't and I actually used whole wheat flour as well as unbleached white...mmm! I poured the batter into cupcake pans...and when they were done, put some cream cheese frosting to put on top...and yes, I've been sharing them with friends. I gave some to my parents and some to other friends.

What have you been reading lately? Have you had friendship bread? Would you like some? I will be happy to share.

Yarn along...and Little Bee.

2011-09-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's Wednesday...follow the "Yarn Along" with Ginny...I've been crocheting with the Cascade 100% wool from Peru. This will be a gift for my nephew Bryce, whose first birthday we'll celebrate Sunday afternoon!I've been reading this book Little Bee by Chris Cleave, that my friend Charlotte gave me. So far I like it...very interesting, the girl who they call Little Bee from Nigeria comes to England.
I was thrilled to find out this morning that I won the blue Noro yarn from Allison! I look forward to using it and promise to share what I make with it here on my blog. You should go read Allison's blog (I love her header with the bicycle) :
I hope you have a great day!

Homeschooling today...

2011-09-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Olivia is almost done with her studies for today and it's 9 in the morning. Of course, the rest of the day, will be filled with learning in a way that only she can determine, discovering something in our backyard, perhaps? I think that unstructured time should be highly valued, as one should spend time doing what they love...Here, Olivia is making an abstract drawing of an animal, her assignment was to find a realistic image in a magazine of an animal and draw it, using shapes to make it abstract. We looked at John James Audubon's realistic animal illustrations vs. Paul Klee's abstract animal drawings (his cat on the cover of this book, above, the Come Look With Me art books are excellent for children, by the way, with questions about the work that get you thinking).Hannah working on her self-portrait that she started last week. See the little square mirror? How many of YOU have done a self-portrait? It is not an easy task.
She has been working on math, also mainly multiplication tables...she still struggles with the 7, 8 and 9...And what do I do? Now that I'm not working at the pre-school, I'm happily doodling and painting...watercolours, animals on bicycles and such (see my etsy site), while Hannah and Olivia complete their school work.

My dad's 61st birthday...

2011-09-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

Today is my dad's birthday...we celebrated by going to Graeter's to get some ice cream yesterday. While there, I saw a table with books Notes Left Behind and read of a Cincinnati family who lost their 6 year old to cancer...how devastating...but Graeter's had a scrumptious flavor of ice cream named after her, Elena's blueberry pie!

Hannah and Olivia taking off their ghillies...they resumed Irish dancing classes this week, which I thoroughly enjoy watching. Olivia was reluctant to go back. Hannah was so excited. We forced Olivia to go, because she tends to not try things, but when she does she usually is happy...and after class she said "That was so much fun!" I guess she forgot how much she liked it.

A walk in the drizzle. We hunted for silver maple leaves and sugar maple leaves, found some oak leaves and tried identifying others and got a pretty brown and green acorn. It's been gray practically all week. See the girls with their umbrellas?P.S. On a sad note...our bunny, Snowball died. We buried her in our backyard. I'm so glad we still have one pet, Lusy. I love animals. The heartbreak when you lose anyone you care about is difficult to deal with...

A shutterfly card of the Grand Canyon...

2011-09-07T01:55:00.000-07:00

I'm on the shutterfly email list and they always have a sale
on something...I decided to make a card with some photos (on the outside, as you see here, and on the inside):

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

For sharing what I made on my blog, I'll get a $10 credit on my next purchase of $10 or more. Incentive! Doesn't it make you want to make a card? I love all their designs!!!

We've been eating some of the watermelons in our backyard...this one has yellow flesh. Mmmm.

Real yarn is warm!!!

2011-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

Allison is having a yarn giveaway! Go check it out...I'd love to have some Noro yarn! It's so beautiful, but a bit expensive, so I have yet to buy any for myself. If you don't knit or crochet, however, you might want to check out Jane's giveaway! You can win one of the pretty bags that she crocheted:
Well, it's been an interesting weekend. Friday and Saturday were really hot and humid here in Cincinnati...about 100'F. So, my husband put the window unit AC back in! Then, Sunday it cooled off and today it's quite cool...I'm wearing a sweater, warm alpaca socks that I knit earlier this year and just had a cup of tea!I only like real yarn...wool (from sheep or alpaca) or cotton, no synthetic things like acrylic. The real stuff is warmest and the way God made it. What was the weather like where you are?

An old Challenger bicycle...

2011-08-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

That's a yellow Jerusalem artichoke flower in a vase I just got for 25 cents. See them below on the right? My sister gave them to me as wee plants and, my, how they've grown....guess after they flower, we'll dig up their roots, which are like a potato... to eat. We got this pretty blue old Challenger bicycle for Hannah.

Best way to spend $1.99

2011-08-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Me and 2 of my little sisters on the front steps of our home in Boston about 1983.
I started this blog.... 4 years ago today! It's officially my blogiversary (thank you, Urban Dictionary for that new word and definition). How times flies. I loved that coconut sorbet I wrote about in my first ever post, but Trader Joe's doesn't sell it anymore (my sister can make a really good coconut sorbet in her Kitchen Aid mixer ice cream maker). However, I recently discovered these:
$1.99 for a scrumptious package of sliced bananas covered in chocolate, frozen. I bought and shared 2 packs of them this week. I'm going to try making some...as I prefer homemade everything.

Yarn along...and patch!

2011-08-24T10:55:00.001-07:00

I crocheted a bunny 2 years ago, intending it for Isaac (my nephew), my sister and her husband are expecting their son in the photo book...but ended up giving it to Olivia and making Isaac a elephant. Now, she's expecting her second son in January and I hope to crochet him an animal friend...what will this be?

This is the patch my cousin Beth sewed on the bag on the back of her Harley. I love it!!!
Rob rode his motorcycle over to my parent's house, while we drove to have lunch there and visit with Beth who has been on a 3 week trip out west (to Yellowstone and Bozeman)...then he drove it to work, which he often does, saving gas $, because it gets like 50 miles per gallon, our Toyota Echo gets about 35 miles per gallon and our Toyota 4Runner gets more like 25 miles per gallon. Gas is now about $3.45 per gallon here. Makes me want to just ride my pedal bicycle everywhere. What's it like where you are?

Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor

2011-08-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

Lighting the candles, originally uploaded by mama_marfa.

A few years ago I took this photo while at church. It's the day we celebrate the Lord's Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, where he talked with Moses and Elijah (who had gone to heaven already)...one of the 12 Great Feasts...and one of my favorites! I love singing this song in the Greek melody that my parents taught us, and I hope to teach it to my children:

Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God,

showing to Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure;

shine forth Thou on us, who are sinners all, Thy light never-ending

through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Light-bestower, glory be to Thee.

I just took this photo yesterday...one of our tomatoes from our backyard garden in our basket, some pears and Olivia's favorite fruit (plums), plus a bunch of tiny champagne grapes (from our dear friend, Varvara)!

Yarn along...I'm painting and more!

2011-08-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm painting watercolors...jovial little animals riding bicycles, because it's fun and a great way to get around, no gasoline required, and one gets exercise! I do love to ride my bicycle. Tomorrow morning, Hannah and I will ride out bikes to the grocery store.My girls and their cousins posing in front of their collaborative garden installation at Brazee St Studios. They each made a glass flower and we will pick them up next month after the show.
This shawl is not exactly what I intended, but I ran out of yarn, so when I get more of this same color (it's the Stitch Nation 100% Peruvian yarn), I plan on working on it more! I love that big button...it was in the package that my dear friend Charlotte gave me for my birthday.

Ginny's "Yarn along" is fun to check out every Wednesday, and yesterday she posted a sweet story about some reptile eggs her sons found and then took care of...and out came baby turtles!
Right now, the girls are selling our extra tomatoes in the front yard. The 2 girls that live next door came over, they wanted to help. We get a lot of traffic since we live across the street from a plaza with a library, Walgreens, Advanced Auto Parts, Payless Shoe Source, etc. They are 25 cents each.
The movie The Help was everything I though it should be...did a great job of showing the story written in the book by Kathryn Stockett. I took my mom who also read it. I used a giftcard I got as a gift from the families of the pre-school students at the end of the year in May, if I didn't have that, I would've waited until it came out on DVD and gotten it at our library (as it's free). So, a big thanks to all those families!

Update on my dad...AND what we've been doing lately...

2011-08-12T00:11:00.000-07:00

Last week, my dad went back to the hospital for 5 days with my mom. This was the end to the 3 month period...and he is definitely getting meds through the gel in the pump, which goes right to his small intestine. He is doing a little better. Please keep him in your prayers, as there is no cure for Parkinson's, we are hopeful that this will improve things, though! The doctors said it may take time.
Have you read The Help by Kathryn Stockett? I read it last year and loved it...it's now a movie. I look forward to seeing it. I got a movie gift card that I will use...we rarely go to the movie theatre, as regular admission for an adult is $10.00 and a matinee is now $7.50. Our library gets most movies on DVD and usually I can wait. Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s when wealthy families had hired help, and treated them poorly, as though we are not all equal. I love all the aprons and dresses...and how the main character helps to expose the injustice.We had a wonderful time at St. Seraphim Camp in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania last week. There were lots of daddy-long-legs and huge crickets in the tents...which we tried out best to keep out. Above is a photo of Olivia in line (with her camp store card) with her tent-mate & new friend, Emma.We got reacquainted with old friends and made lots of new friends. Here is a photo of Hannah with Natalie (her mom and I went to church together in Boston, as children). It rained everyday, but we had a great time! The girls shot BB guns, used bows to shoot off 2 kinds of arrows, swam in the pool, made several arts and crafts, swam in the river, etc.This is a photo I took of 3 of the girls that I helped out with...such sweet girls!!!
My grandfather (who is 88 years old now) lives less than 2 hours away from camp in PA (in NJ). Here we are getting cold treats from an ice cream truck! I've never done this, but my parents bought my girls stuff from an ice cream truck once. A little over-priced, but fun!

Zoya, my cousin, and her daughter, Harriett, came from NY on Monday...it was so nice to spend time with them! They gave me a lovely new journal as a 34th birthday gift.These are some of the birthday gifts I got.

Sunburn

2011-07-25T05:55:00.000-07:00

After spending the day at the pool...usually we're there for shorter periods...we got a sunburn. I went to the store and bought some 110 SPF! I'd never seen it that high. It really works well.

This is my niece who is just 1...she really loves the water.

P.S. We do not have internet at home any longer, but we can walk to the library and that's where I am right now...

Yarn along...harvesting.

2011-07-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm working on several projects right now...sewing a long bench cushion for a friend, always working on aprons, and instead of crocheting, I've been balling up some yarn, getting it ready to use! Ginny's yarn along is especially sweet this week...she's reading the Bible.I hope to finish that green piece into a sweet capelet like this one below from Lands' End Canvas, it's on sale for $19.99 right now, but they only have the small size left:Last night I finished reading Anthem a novella by Ayn Rand. It was excellent because it points out that individuality and freedom are essential to joy in life...one cannot live under authority or a government that is extremely controlling. I hope to get her book Atlas Shrugged to read next.
A Carolina wren family is living outside our backdoor. I had a basket in one of the shelves and noticed that there was a lot of brown stuff in it...and birds back and forth...sure enough, 3 little chicks have hatched. The mother and father both seem very careful, I'm sure she wasn't happy with me having a look. I made sure not to touch anything...

This was yesterday's harvest...
I know you're wondering what's in the blue sand pail...

Remembering today in 1918

2011-07-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

Today is the 17th of July, 93 years ago exactly (in 1918) the Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and their children and their servents were killed by the Bolsheviks in Ekaterinburg, Russia. In our church, we have canonized them, they are saints, since they held onto their faith strongly and prayed until the end. They an example to us, our salvation is more important than anything else!
Our church was full today...thankfully it was air conditioned (thanks to Demetrios), because with all the people and candles burning, it could've been really hot!Playing duck-duck-goose in the yard after church.My nephew, Isaac, who turned 2 exactly a month ago, June 17, while we were still out of town. I love his little amber necklace.
Here are my girls and nieces with their new friend, James. It was Emma's 4th birthday yesterday, so they brought pink lion cupcakes to church to share...lions are her favorite animal.We went to Graeter's at 8pm to get a cone ($2.50 usually, but $1.41 in honor of their 141st anniversary) and, boy, was it crowded! But worth it. My parents came, too. My dad didn't have a good day yesterday, and missed church, but thankfully he had a pretty good day today. Tomorrow is actually their 35th wedding anniversary!!!

Yarn along...summertime!

2011-07-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

I crocheted a purple cat and kitten...just need to find my embroidery needle and sew a face and buttons on...here is the blog with the "yarn along": http://www.gsheller.com/Our first sunflower blossom!
I took this picture of our garden 2 weeks ago...we've been eating lettuce out of it, onions, green beans, peas and red potatoes. We've been finding quite a few praying mantis in our garden. It seems they are just as curious about us as we are them, turning their triangular head and looking right at us...This is what our garden looks like now...a bit wild and overgrown. I just pulled out some beets and Rob got 3 nice cucumbers! I plucked off 10 squash blossoms (on the right) and stuffed them with herbed goat cheese yesterday. Yum. Growing them is easy, and you'll get great squash, too...someplaces, you can buy them! I am looking forward to our tomatoes...there are lots of green ones right now. Hopefully soon! What's growing in your yard?Oh, and here's a video of the hula-hoopers. Even I enjoy hula-hooping.

Happy summer...

2011-07-06T12:43:00.001-07:00

We just went to Graeter's and got some mango and watermelon sorbet. Scrumptious for sure!!! They have a coloring contest going on until July 31, 2011. Right now, Hannah & Olivia are working on theirs...last year, Olivia won 3rd place in her age group! When you turn them in you get a free red scoop.
I'm wondering what that means...was it a typo? do they mean you get strawberry or raspberry (something reddish) or is it literally a scooper that is red? We'll let you know soon...
Wednesday we got to make big bubbles with a friend! It was so much fun. Here is how you can make them: http://theenchantedtree.blogspot.com/2010/08/giant-bubbles.html
Look at this pretty skirt! Lotta is an amazing, yet simple designer. I admire her work. There's a tutorial there...so you can make your own! I am thinking that design would be pretty on an apron, too.

Thinking about my dad...

2011-07-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

(Olivia made Peepaw a bracelet)

May 9, 2011 my dad (the girls call him Peepaw) went in to the hospital for 10 days to have surgery (a port inserted into his small intestine so that he can receive medication via pump) and for the doctors and nurses involved in this study to monitor his Parkinson's disease. My mom was allowed to stay the night with him, too, which was nice! Unfortunately, his dyskinesia has gotten worse & it's hard for him to enunciate clearly and loudly, so we have difficulty in understanding him, but we are hopeful that things will improve. I see the look of love in his eyes and my mom just sitting next to him just holding his hand. He will go into the hospital August 1, 2011 for 5 days and that will be the "end" of the 3 month double-blind study portion. I wrote about that in May.

I just read "Faces of Parkinson's" which is really helpful...there are so many struggling with the same thing:

Rick Schwartz wrote "No one I know wants to have Parkinson’s, including me. But sooner or later, life will put real challenges in front of all of us. When I think about the nine years since my diagnosis, I find that they’ve been some of the best of my life."

Mary Anne Ostrenga wrote "The surprising thing about having Parkinson’s disease and asking for help is that almost everyone says yes."

39 year old Dave Dorsey wrote "Sharing my story is therapeutic; I only hope others might benefit from my experience."

And for those of you wanting to know what you can do to help someone. Here is an inspiring article written by Jim Forest who had kidney failure...

America the beautiful!

2011-07-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

I've been scrapbooking photos from our trip across America (someone placed an oval sticker over this pedestrian sign):I'm really looking forward to this weekend...my husband has a 3-day weekend. He really deserves it. He only had Sunday off last week...and it was Hannah's 10th birthday, as well as his grandmother's 101th birthday.
Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that 6 years ago Rob was in Iraq...this photo below was taken by one of the women took at the airport the day he left to go back. Every soldier was given 2 weeks R & R to come home mid-deployment. Thank you to all of those soldiers to help assure our independence and freedom!
I just read this book A Long Walk to Water (found in the juvenile fiction section at our local library) and highly recommend it! My 10 year old daughter actually read it before me... It takes place in Sudan, one of the countries where there seems to be constant wars. The life of Salva Dut is amazing, and his mission to help get clean water for the people of Africa.
There are so many things I take for granted, living here in America...like living with freedom to do what we wish and drinking clean water!

***

Have a wonderful Independence Day!!!

The city pool...

2011-06-27T17:20:00.000-07:00

Nearly everyday, sometimes twice a day, we go to the local city pool. That's Olivia (on the right), at the swim meet last Wed. They threatened to close it, but thankfully, enough people wanted to ensure it is something that stays open! Our city supports a (pathetic) football team and building a streetcar (that will supposedly create revenue, but we have buses)...why would they want to close the pool? It's so good for the kids, lots of kids use it. I also love the libraries...so glad they didn't cut that, too. It costs $10 per child for the summer and I would certainly pay more! We pay $10 for swimming lessons per child, too, that's twice a week for 30 minutes each time for 6 weeks. We've made some new friends & seen our old friends. Above, Hannah going off the diving board, working on her dive (mostly, belly flops....ouch)! We went with my mom to buy the girls Speedo swimsuits at Sam's club for $11-something.

Since we don't have central air, right now, we have a window unit in the upstairs window that we turn on when it's too hot and humid at night...otherwise, we spend most of our time outside and the pool is the best way to keep cool!

Zion, Bryce and Arches National Park to Colorado...

2011-06-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Next, we drove from Arizona up to Utah...at Zion National Park, we hiked to the Lower Emerald Pools...can you see the water falling from the rock? The girls spent a lot of time on the bank of the Virgin River, because my right ear was giving me so much pain, I just wanted to lay down...after 24 hours of this, we ended up going to an urgent care. I guess it was too much change in elevation and my ears didn't "pop"...my ear still doesn't feel right, today. I can't hear that well out of it.
The next morning, we took the shuttle at Zion up to the main lodge, and ate a sumptuous breakfast. Their breakfast buffet is divine: French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, orange juice, tea, yogurt, granola...and more. It was $10.95 per adult and $5.95 per child. Well worth it!!!
Then, we drove to Bryce National Park...this is Navajo Loop here. The trail zig-zagged down into a narrow corridor of red rocks formed by ice, ages ago. They call the rock that protrudes upward like that a hoo doo. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ranger Kevin Poe as he told us about this park and sang, too!
This is the sand dune right across US 191 from Arches National Park...if you look up close, you'll see that little sign says "NO VEHICLES ON DUNE." Well, I sure wouldn't try to drive up that...but we did climb it. It wasn't easy!

We took a break in the middle of the steep dune...the biggest challenge was how HOT the sand was...and a little later in the day...we drove from Utah into Colorado.
The snow was so COLD. My feet got a little muddy, so I took off my flip flops and felt the coldness to the bone!!! Ouch. Just amazing, the air was so warm and the snow is melting, there must've been a lot of snow.

P.S. Check out this skirt...so cute....and the tutorial is here!

Skirt week 2011

2011-06-24T01:11:00.000-07:00

Did you know it's skirt week 2011? I just love wearing skirts.

Grand Canyon or bust!!!

2011-06-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

Red Rock park near Gallup, NM was a great place for us to take a hike...we saw lizards, birds, wildflowers and beautiful rocks. This is one of my favorite photos from the whole trip...our "jumping" one!From Ohio, we drove through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri to Oklahoma...
Totem pole...see Olivia holding her new boomerang? It works, too. First time Rob tried it out to show Olivia how to do it, it came right back!
Olivia riding a reclining bike at one of the KOA campgrounds. In her swimsuit...she went swimming right afterwards!
In Amarillo, TX, we when on a hayride...the guy driving the tractor that pulled this had speakers that played songs..."Get your kicks on Rt. 66" (it was right off the old Rt. 66) and "She thinks my tractor's sexy."Hannah writing a postcard to Peepaw and Grammie.Church Street Cafe was delightful...we ate on their back porch, so many pretty flowers, AND delicious food.
Ouch. I did touch the cactus and got one of those prickly things stuck in my finger! That was a mistake. This is Old Town Albuquerque...

Little movie I took while we were driving...listening to a local NM radio station!The outside and inside of our tent...we camped 13 nights. The last 2 nights were really scary, horribly windy! It made me thank God for all the wonderful nights we had previously.
We drove our little black 2002 Toyota Echo almost 5000 miles over the past 2 weeks. We packed light...4-5 outfits (and we stopped to do laundry), just the necessities. Rob packed the car tightly. We borrowed a slim cooler from my parents that held a gallon of milk and lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and salami, at one point. We ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly or honey, too.This is the 4 corners, where the states NM, AZ, UT and CO meet. From there we drove into Arizona...right to Grand Canyon. There, we purchased an annual pass for $80, since regular admission is $25 (but we planned to go to 3 more National Parks)... We rented bicycles for the 4 of us while in Grand Canyon. It was a little adjustment for Hannah and Olivia getting used to using hand brakes instead of pushing back on the pedal to stop!
Right behind our campsite at Desert View Campground (only $12/night here, site #48) in Grand Canyon National Park...nice little hike. There were no showers here, so we drove 26 miles to the building where there are showers...$2.00 in quarters will give you 8 minutes of hot water!

Heading out west...

2011-06-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

Every first Sunday of the month, you can go to a festival at the Bakersville seed company in Mansfield, MO. One of the first persons we met was David Kaiser...here we are with him on his front porch with his dog:

(click on photo to see it bigger)Rob took our photo by the Ko Shamo chickens.

So many pretty chickens...Olivia's favorite was that gray Silkie Bantam.

The Baker family can play...and sing! Strong voice out of this little girl...wow!!! We bought a lot of seeds there, some honey, soap nuts, that purple prairie dress that Hannah is wearing by the trees, etc.

Summer vacation

2011-06-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

I know it's still officially spring...but summer is just around the corner! I have worn my swimsuit this week, dipped in the cool water with my family. Here is a little walk down some of our past vacations:We drove down to Disney World in Florida in 2006 since we were living in Fort Stewart, Georgia, just 4 hours by car. I can't believe I used a stroller! My, how time has flown by...
Yeah, I know this isn't a vacation, but in June 2006 we made Cincinnati, OH the place of our new home. Home is such an endearing word to me, it means much more than a house, but a place of love, peace, happiness, sadness, laughter...
August 2007 we drove to Vermont. That's the house where I grew up. I have always loved that front porch. I still love sitting on our porch here in OH, although it is much smaller...
June 2008 Rob, Hannah and Olivia (so tiny, on the right)...in Red River Gorge, KY
Tetons - Jenny Lake in August 2009 after our stay in Yellowstone...we drove and camped for 2 weeks, from OH to IN, IL, IA, MN, SD, WY, then through Nebraska home...
Lake Erie in July 2010...my favorite thing to do is lay on the beach (or swim) and read (here I was reading No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. And I loved reading this page where Mma Ramotswe explained to Grace that she didn't swim, but happily floated in the water: "A thin person would sink. You floated."

Hop on over to:

http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2011/06/spring-green.html
to see what she's been up to lately...I love this photo she took of a crocheted rock, plants and the ceramic pitcher (my mom has the same one).

What are you hoping to do this summer? Whether it's something you want to accomplish or a place you are planning to visit...

Jail time...

2011-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hubbard squash in a Missouri jail, photo from the Facebook page of: Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. You know seriously there are some seeds that can get you into trouble. The HUGE seed monopoly Monsanto has sued farmers for saving seeds. If they contain a certain percentage of their genetically modified seeds, they own it, even if you unintentionally grew it and it was pollinated by a bee the year before who happened upon a field of Monsanto's crop. So, we're trying to steer clear of that crazy stuff.We're planning our trip out west and hope to stop here: http://rareseeds.com. I assume this photo was taken last fall...so pretty!

Our garden is doing well...we planted the rest of our seeds exactly a week ago. We have red potatoes, yellow onions, beets, yellow and green beans, carrots, tomatoes, peas and a little herb garden. We cut some of my rhubarb stalks to cook with a little water and sugar...yum. We're eating lettuce and cilantro straight from the backyard. We went to a log cabin built in 1894 with some friends. There, we spent Olivia's 8th birthday and she got this hammock and napping mask as gifts from us... She is napping right now, actually.I cut 12 inches of Hannah's beautiful hair yesterday to donate to Locks of Love. We did it already once before (almost 2 years ago) and they sent a nice personalized "thank you" postcard. She loves having short hair, although it may not look like it in the photo...no more braids, but it is so easy to brush. Usually we struggle to get all the tangles out daily!

Upcycling is a good thing...

2011-05-27T04:22:00.000-07:00

Olivia is almost 8...she's holding a little pink basket with a dog inside that my sister Susanna sewed. She upcycled a sleeper that my niece Natalia wore, but the zipper broke! Upcycling is a relatively new word that means making something into something better. She's wearing the dress and matching headband from Aunt Mary, who sweetly took her shopping and helped her narrow it down to this one...she tried on 14 outfits!

Yesterday we went to see Grammie and Peepaw and share some goat milk gouda with them...and they gave Olivia a present, too. While there, we made up our own madlibs, like this:

Have you ever seen a/an____________ _____________?
(adjective) (animal)
There are ___ at the ____________ zoo.
(number) (city)
If you go, you'll most likely hear them _________.
(gerund)
They might be eating________ ____________ and
(adjective) (pl. noun)
drinking __________ _________. Admission is just $____ per person.
(flavor) (liquid) (number)
If you bring in a/an __________ ___________, you'll receive a
(adjective) (noun)
$1 discount on admission!

* This is what we came up with:
Have you ever seen sparkly cows? There are 3 of them at the New York City zoo.
If you go, you'll most likely hear them praying.
They might be eating shiny flowers and drinking strawberry milk.
Admission is just $8 (Olivia chose that # since she is almost 8) per person.
If you bring in a pink swimming pool, you'll receive a $1 discount on admission.

Sunshine...

2011-05-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

After lots of rain, we had a weekend full of sunshine! It started with Friday, graduation at the pre-school where I work. It was a bit crazy. The children sang "This Little Light of Mine" and a few other songs. We had a picnic outside afterward. I made butter cookies...schools, little matroshka and dogs. I love using the edible Wilton pens on frosted cookies.Hannah and Olivia gave Aunt Mary the spa treatment (foot soak, hand massage, painted toenails, etc) after we rode bikes and walked for a couple of hours...there were lots of yard sales (we bought a marble run and I got a pretty skirt)! Then, we went to Aglamesis to enjoy ice cream in honor of Emmelia's namesday.Isaac walking with his Godfather, Uncle Andrey...so sweet how he's looking up to him!I got the raspberry hot fudge sundae with coconut ice cream. That is Emma...she didn't eat that whole thing...she shared!
I was happy to be a part of the 22Q worldwide awareness day. I painted faces in the sunny perfect weather (there was pleasant breeze, too, thankfully) yesterday for a couple of hours!We played Scrabble last night. I love word games...Jotto is another one of my favorites!

A jar of marbles...

2011-05-16T04:44:00.001-07:00

We were hoping to visit Peepaw on Thursday, but he wasn't feeling that well after the Wednesday surgery and he had nurses and doctors checking on him doing tests and stuff every 20 minutes!!! In the evening, when things calmed down, I thought we would go, but...

Olivia learned how to ride a 2-wheeler on Monday, so everyday we've been going for bike rides around the neighborhood together. Rob decided to pump their bike tires up (that thing plugs into the cigarette lighter) and left the ignition on...so the battery was dead. So, we played marbles instead!
The next day (Friday) we went to visit Peepaw and Grammie...all is well. He showed us the "hole" in his stomach, where the pump is going in...
He is getting medication or placebo via the pump and the other as pills taken orally. It's a study, so the medication is free and everyone is taking good care of him... This will be a more effective way of giving him this medication to help with Parkinson's, it will make it more consistent, no lulls between doses. We all love him so much and want him to feel better!

At church on Sunday, we read John 5:1-15 (the story of the Paralytic, which I find appropriate, considering my dad's health). We made a huge card for him, lots of children and adults drew pictures, traced their hand and wrote messages to him.

My etsy shop

2011-05-11T17:58:00.000-07:00

I love to draw. I am now selling cards on etsy...go check out my shop. Custom orders are welcome! Each card is hand drawn and colored, so each one is completely unique.
I use this Minka fountain pen that Rob gave me as a birthday gift when I was 22...I get refill cartridges in various colors, mostly black, but when I find pink or turquoise...oooh la la...I buy them. I do love colors!!!

P.S. Thank you for your prayers...my dad's surgery was today, all went relatively smoothly. My mom is with him and they will be at the hospital for at least a week more.

She did it!

2011-05-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that Olivia is riding her bicycle without training wheels! She is super excited as well. She just...seriously JUST did it...

We practiced coasting for a while first...as recommended in this Schwinn video by Joscie (thank you), but didn't take OFF the pedals.

Tomorrow is my niece's first birthday...Olivia likes to hold her, but I know it won't last much longer, she is getting big and is almost ready to walk.

Yesterday was my namesday...my sisters, Mary and Susanna and I celebrate together on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers (the women who came to the tomb of Jesus with myrrh). It was also Mother's Day. I got many gifts: 2 plaster magnets painted by the girls, a Jerusalem artichoke (which I planted in our backyard), 2 pretty hanging baskets that are now on our porch, Ghirardelli Luxe Hazelnut chocolates (100% natural and SO good), a bar of soap from the monastery in WV, a little candle...BUT best of all was being with those I love the most.My husband and dad went for a Harley ride together...my parents are at the hospital now for the Parkinson's study.

On transportation...

2011-05-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Since the rain let up...I was able to ride my bicycle to work to and from work today! I will walk to the library. And if I have to drive, I will make sure to have more than one place to go...before I go anywhere.
What shall I give my mother? Mother's Day is this coming Sunday... I know she likes Crabtree & Evelyn. Perhaps flowers (my mom loves irises) in this glass jar that I crocheted upon? Maybe organic produce to make homemade pizza? Perhaps we will just spend the day together, going to church, then for a walk? The simplest things in life are those I cherish the most.Do you have any great ideas to share or special plans?

Hope on the horizon...

2011-05-01T16:12:00.001-07:00

Christ is Risen! I took this photo about midnight on Pascha...my girls said goodbye to my dad (who they affectionately call "Peepaw") who was having a difficult time. As I've written before, he has Parkinson's disease. Things have been getting worse lately, he is in a lot of pain and is so stiff he cannot move at all, at times. Some men had to carry him out of church on Pascha, actually. Next week, however, he is going to the University of Cincinnati hospital to participate in a study...he will stay there for 10 days and they will give him a port and a pump, so the medication will be more constant. I ask you to join us in praying for him! We went to their house later on that day...and thankfully my dad was feeling better. Last night, he came to church, but didn't serve in the altar, and left right after venerating the Bible. Today, however, he didn't come at all. I love him so much...and so does our whole family...I want him to feel better!

2 years ago I was involved in car accident with the girls, Rob was at work...thankfully we were all fine, but the man who was riding the motorcycle (wasn't wearing a helmet and is lucky his head is okay) broke his pelvis and apparently suffered more, I don't know all the details, but I am being sued. I met with the lawyer on Tuesday. He seems to be a very kind and honest man. So, if you will pray for everything to settle as God wills...it's been causing me a lot of worry and stress lately.

I also made a BIG decision. I am graduated in 2000 with a BFA (bachelor's degree in fine arts) and life was busy, I got married and had a two children and put my artistic desires on the side...but I am going devote more time to creating art...and hopefully selling it. I am not going back to working at the pre-school next year.
When it's not raining (and we've had a LOT of it lately), we've been enjoying being outside...Olivia is holding a 3-leaf clover. Hannah found a 4-leaf clover a couple of days ago and another one today!
Yesterday, Hannah and Olivia ran the Flying Pig 26th mile...they did a great job! My sister, Mary, took this photo of the 4 of us...she and her husband Andrey came to Cincinnati for a couple of days, mainly to visit with my dad.

Rob and the girls are running on the right hand side of this video clip...

Christ is Risen from the dead!

2011-04-24T05:51:00.000-07:00

"He is not here: for He is risen!" Matthew 28:6

(Some of the kids in our church: Kyra, Olivia, Sammy, Emilia, Ella, Hannah, Thomas and Zach. )
***
Wishing you all a joyous and bright feast of
Christ's Resurrection!!!

John 12:1-18

2011-04-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

(my niece holding the palms and pussywillows)

1Then, six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom He raised from the dead.

²There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.

³Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

⁴Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

⁵Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

⁶This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

⁷Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

⁸For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

⁹Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

¹⁰But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

¹¹Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

¹²On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

¹³Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

¹⁴And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

¹⁵Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

¹⁶These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

¹⁷The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

¹⁸For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

+ + +

You may want to read the 12 Passion Gospels. I printed this out, so we could read it. Of course we have a Bible, but this is easier when all four accounts from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are together. I wish you a blessed Holy Week and a bright and joyous Pascha (Easter)!

Cornmeal soaked in lime water

2011-04-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

Page 454 of Nourishing Traditions states that "Traditional recipes call for soaking corn or corn flour in lime water. This releases nicotinamide (vitamin B3), which otherwise remains bound up in the grain."
So, I squeezed as much juice from the lime as I could and added enough water to cover the 1 cup of cornmeal in my mixing bowl, and let it sit overnight, then use the following recipe (as though I already used 1 cup of cornmeal and 1 cup of water) . It was scrumptious, healthy, vegan and perfect!
***Apparently the lime juice I used is not right...they were referring to the akalai powdery stuff! Well, it turned out nicely, perhaps it was just the soaking!

Golden Cornbread (from Food for Paradise)

1 cup yellow cornmeal *
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. oil
1 c. water *

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour into 9 inch square pan and bake in preheated 425' oven for about 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm. A nice bread to serve with chili!

Kite fest...and my favorite book series...

2011-04-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

Our tree is covered in pink flowers...I love it. I took this photo as we left home and headed to the Kite Fest.Rob and the girls in front of GIANT wind socks.
Hannah flying her little blue kite.That's me flying the parafoil kite...it's the best.
Olivia flying our parafoil kite.
The 12th book in the "No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" is out...and I have it on "HOLD" at the library, but it's quite popular, so hopefully in a couple of weeks, I'll get it!

We watched the BBC episodes on DVD, which we also got from the library...love it!

Save your onion skins!

2011-04-04T14:03:00.000-07:00

I have been saving my onion skins. Lately, we've been having a lot of onions and mushrooms sauteed with olive oil. So good. If you don't eat a lot of onions, you could go to the grocers and fill a bag with skins and a couple of onions...It makes the most beautiful deep red natural egg coloring! First, I place all the onion skins in the pot, then the eggs and cover with cold water and a little vinegar. I bring the pot to a boil, then reduce heat to medium for 10 minutes, the eggs will be hard-boiled...I like to leave them in the pot for a while longer, so they get a deeper red. Much better than food coloring you buy at the store! I'm trying to avoid all fake stuff... I took the photo above 3 years ago when I first tried it. A bit blotchy, but I love it, the eggs look even better if you rub a cloth with a dab of oil on it...shiny. And, oh, yes, scrumptious when you open them and add a pinch of salt.

Vegan cashew pesto...

2011-04-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

For lunch today, we had orecchiette with pesto and cherry tomatoes.

Vegan cashew pesto
1/2 cup fresh basil (I got .75 oz. organic basil for $2.75)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup raw cashews (I like to use pine nuts, but they've been so expensive lately and it's just as good with cashews!)
2 cloves garlic
1/4 t. salt (to taste...I like to add a bit more, to make up for the parmesan cheese)

I mix it all up together in my food processor...and enjoy!

A day at the Boonshoft

2011-03-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

Learning about Bernoulli's principle...Hannah and Olivia got to see their first planetarium show, 500 Planets and counting...it cost $1 extra per person. Neptune is Hannah's favorite planet because it's a nice shade of blue.
Yesterday, we spent the day at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton. Since we have a Cincinnati Zoo membership, admission was 50% off. There are a bunch of places you can go and get in FREE or half price with your membership: http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org/membership/reciprocityThere's a special exhibit there on electricity until May 8, 2011...I liked the activities, making a simple vinegar battery, connecting a circuit (making it longer using a fan and light bulb, that is dim, but light bulb alone is bright), using old electric parts to make sculpture, etc.
There is a small room with a mummy inside, I did not take a photo of her...and in this photo above, a beautiful Egyptian mask, along with the vases that would've contained the organs of the person who was mummified (gross, eh? just not what we're used to). I thought it was very interesting!

Making pottery...and socks...

2011-03-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

My sister and her husband just arrived...pretty chandelier, huh? This place has all sorts of art classes and open studio FREE.
Juliana, my 5 year old niece, made a volcano!
Emma, my sister's 3 year old...painting her bowl.

Hannah took a picture of me working on the wheel.
A video of Olivia working on the wheel to make her bowl...
Heading home...what a pretty building Happen Inc has...Susanna bought the girls each a ceramic garden butterfly!
I finished my first sock...on Saturday!
Sunday after church, I worked on my 2nd sock...
I'm wore a necklace that used to be my grandmother's yesterday. I wish I knew where she got it...she passed away almost exactly 9 years ago. She was a knitter, too. She bought me and my sister yarn and knitting needles when she took us to Scotland.

First class of Irish dancing...

2011-03-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

I purchased 4 weeks of classes for $20 from Groupon.com for Irish dancing...

Looking forward to the 2nd class!!!

Sunday afternoon...

2011-03-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Right after church, Hannah went to the tent...if you can see behind her, you'd notice the yarn and crochet hook, along with the book her Aunt Lucy gave her.Olivia running to the backyard, eager to play...
Saturday, I attended this great conference, Learning through Play. And I am looking forward to watching Waiting for Superman a movie that discusses the education, highlighting several successful charter schools (like the OHVA's www.k12.com that we are using) and upsetting many public school folks, but we've got to do what's best for the children!Later, we went to my parent's house...to celebrate my dad's namesday! We went for a walk together...nice weather.My sister, her husband and son came, after we played a game of Yahtzee with Dad...I love the expression on her face here, as she is talking to Mom. We got him some Justin's chocolate hazelnut "butter"...P.S. Did you see the moon Saturday night? Rob, Hannah, Olivia and I stood on our backporch and watched it rise, attempted at taking photos, but nothing could capture the beauty.

Wilted spinach orzo

2011-03-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Marianna made this for trapeza (dining hall where pilgrims gather for food and conversation) after church yesterday...It's a simple and really delicious recipe!
You'll need:

4 oz. fresh spinach, cleaned
1/2 c. pine nuts
1 red pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 c. orzo noodles (rice shaped pasta)
olive oil
about 7 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
salt and black pepper

Saute onions, red pepper and garlic in olive oil, while the orzo is cooking (according to package directions). Then add spinach and allow to wilt for ~1 minute. Add pine nuts. I like to add some freshly pressed garlic, too. Add olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Namesday...

2011-03-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

I took this photo when Olivia was 4 years old. She is standing on her bed. This is the icon of her patron saint, who is remembered on March 5 (which is March 18, new calendar...today). St. Oliva is an early Christian martyr whose relics are in Brescia, Italy in the church of St. Afra.

She chose a few girls from church to invite over later on today...we will have sorbet and these cookies together to celebrate.

Pineapple coconut drops

9 oz. crushed pineapple (and juice)
1 c. oil
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 t. baking soda
1 c. coconut

Mix together the pineapple, oil and sugar, then add the dry ingredients (mixed together well first, no one wants a clump of baking soda! I've done it before in haste...ew!). Chill dough for 1 hour (I usually omit this part). Drop on baking sheet (lined with parchment paper for ease, if desired) and bake for 10 minutes at 400'F.

The typewriter

2011-03-16T04:23:00.000-07:00

Rob found this last week at Valley Thrift on Reading Rd for just $3.99 and we're loving it. Hannah has been wanting one for a long time. We kept looking at thrift stores... Hard to be patient. We have all been excitedly typing away, I love listening the clicking and clacking... Hannah just wrote a letter to our dear friend, Joanna, in Vermont on this.

Just enough snow...

2011-03-11T15:40:00.001-08:00

Yep. It was just enough to go sledding...but we had to go early...the sun was coming up (and it turned out to be a beautifully sunny day):Both Olivia and then, Hannah crashed into the swings...poor Hannah it looks like she was hurt, but she's really okay! I promise.

Did you notice our dog, Lusy, rolling around in the snow? She loved it.

Spiritual life...

2011-03-09T13:07:00.001-08:00

My girls are happy to embark on Great Lent...they like reading the prayer of St. Ephraim in the mornings and evenings together!
This week, we read the beautiful repentant canon of St. Andrew of Crete (he is shown in the above icon with St. Mary, who was born in Egypt, living as a prostitute, but changed her life completely, abandoning worldly temptations by living in the desert, because she is a wonderful example of repentance) in the evenings. During Great Lent, as Orthodox Christians, we abstain from all animal products (meat, eggs, milk) as the Lord fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-2). I wonder if he fasted by foraging for foods, eating only plants? It's a time to spiritually cleanse or detox ourselves, our soul, like spring cleaning...and I always think I feel so much better (physically, too)!

The fast is 40 days, and then we have 7 more days, Holy Week. The raising of Lazarus from the dead, which prefigures the Lord's Resurrection, the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, The Last Supper, His Crucifixion and then in culmination, we celebrate his glorious Resurrection!

Tracking mud through the house...

2011-03-02T13:12:00.001-08:00

Blue skies and tulips poking through the earth......our garden still has tomato stalks and some dried up yellow shells from tomatoes that were left when the first frost came from the fall. All the brown will be lush and green in 2 months! We plant lettuce seeds first: red-leaf lettuce, mustard, arugula, romaine, etc.For now, I got a Green B.E.A.N. Delivery box...comes every 2 weeks. Regular price is $35 for:

1	Each	Cauliflower
1	24 oz -	Potatoes, Klamath Pearl
1	Two Pounds	Carrots, Bulk
3	Each	Grapefruit, Pink Florida
1	One Pound -	Green Beans
4	Each	Tangelos, Minneola
5	Each	Kiwi
1	Each	Lettuce, Boston Bib
1	Each	Leeks
1	8 oz. -	Spinach, Baby
1	16 oz.	Strawberries

Use coupon code: 2010NTAW to get 50% off your first produce bin! Thanks to the March 2011 issue of natural awakenings! See page 9 and 11 in this issue...

Who knows what the next delivery will bring? Maybe some early asparagus?

Rob and I have been talking about getting some chickens for our backyard...real good eggs.

We're reading "Swiss Family Robinson"

2011-02-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

A beautiful old copy that was given to my dad by his grandparents when he was 11.
Just last week, my dad started reading this aloud, then I took a turn, my mom...and Rob. We're thoroughly enjoying this book. Lots of faith. A bit wordy and the language is difficult to understand at times, but makes all the more interesting to discuss together!
Look at what's just inside the cover...the inscription is very sweet...I remember my great-grandparents as really fun and smart! My great-grandfather passed away when he was 101. I remember his 100th birthday party...I had just broken my arm from a skiing adventure (thankfully my whole family was there)...and his house was full of relatives...lots of his interesting antiques, snow outside...we all decided to build an igloo together!

Honey Onion Bacon tart

2011-02-25T04:56:00.000-08:00

I never follow a recipe...I personalize it...adding a pinch more nutmeg or a different kind of cheese.

(click on the photo to enlarge, so you can read the recipe from Bon Appetite, thank you Charlotte!)
This was dinner last night...I modified this recipe, however. First of all, I didn't use store-bought puff pastry...the recipe below proved to be perfect:

Flakey tart dough
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 stick (1/2 cup) of salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup flour

Blend well and roll out with rolling pin, then fold over edges and press with fork. My girls did the fork part...

Honey Onion Bacon tart
6 slices of bacon
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup dry white wine
2 large sweet yellow onions, chopped
1/2 cup grated swiss (the original recipe called for crème fraiche, which I did not have on hand but would like to try the next time I make this)
1/8 t. nutmeg

First of all by not roasting the onions, but frying them in the same pan in which I just fried the bacon, I saved time! Mmmm. I added the wine and honey and put it over the dough (that we has first sprinkled the swiss over). Then, baked it...at 400'F for about 20 minutes (until the crust was lightly browned).

*My girls loved it. Olivia only said she wished there was MORE bacon.

P.S. Did you notice the chair covered in fruit and vegetable stickers? That's the kind of graffiti I allow...