Wool, kittens, my husband's birthday, karate and 250 blog posts...

We went to experience the WOOL celebration at Turner Farm this weekend. This guy making knitting needles. There were about 30 sheep and they were all being shorn. The man said that all but the 2 males were pregnant, due in about 2 weeks! A woman was spinning wool into yarn. We saw a puppet show by the Waldorf students...who made their own puppets using wool and fabric.
It was super sunny. Hannah got to make a little scene using tidbits of wool...that was pretty cool, poking it with a needle, we tried to do it at home with a regular sewing needle and it didn't work.
I loved these brooches that were felted, now to try to make some...any ideas? Julie, you've felted some...I enjoyed reading your blog entry on using your Kitchen Aid mixer to felt wool!

We went to see the kittens at Lenora's house...aren't they so cute? They had a pregnant stray cat follow them home one day from the park! Lenora's dad is allergic to cats, but they've camped out on their back porch. Lenora's mom has found homes for these 2 little guys.
We had fun playing around with them...they scampered here and there. We tried to get them to catch a stick or a leaf...the kittens love games.

My dear husband will be celebrating his birthday in a few days. Today we got a sweet card in the mail from my 87 year old grandfather, addressed in shake-y handwriting to Rob...made my heart melt. He lives in New Jersey. We need to go visit him. I love my family.
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Pretty soon, you'll see 2 little girls with new karate belts. They've been working hard on their kata!
250 blog posts later: I remember when I realized blogs are free...and fun and thought it would be a good way for me to journal...that was two and a half years ago! Trader Joe's doesn't sell that coconut sorbet anymore...bummer.

Lots of colors...

We have so many flowers blossoming around here...I love it. In that pink tree, we discovered a robin has made a nest...we can watch it without disturbing her from dining room window. Rob gave me a lilac bush a couple of years ago and it's got quite a few purple blooms this year!!! Smells lovely.
My sister is expecting her 3rd baby in a couple of weeks, a friend from church is expecting her baby next month, and one of the teacher I work with is also pregnant... I made a diaper cake as a gift. I put a 32 oz. Santa Cruz orange mango juice bottle inside...they're on sale here for $1.00. Mmmm...love those juices.
We went to the Kite Fest on Saturday...and it was awesome.
So sunny! I got a bit sunburned though. Next time, I'm going to pack a picnic blanket and a basket full of water, raisins, nuts, cheese, etc. to snack on...
Graeter's was giving out coupons...for a free cone.That's the mini-cone. Just a tease.

I just ordered some yarn from Purl today...they have FREE shipping all week! They also have fabulous fabric...some Liberty of London stuff that I'd love to get. So, I am going to knit something next week...while the girls are in karate class or during piano lessons. Maybe something for Mother's Day?

Christ is Risen!

My husband's parents came over to our house and they gave the girls gifts, then we ate brunch together. Hannah played piano for Grandma. It was a nice visit, but short, because Rob's little brother is not well.

We celebrated our Lord's Resurrection later that day, by going to my parent's house. My parents on the left and all 4 of their daughters, 4 husbands and the 5 grandchildren so far... It was sunny and warm, perfect weather. We ate, chatted, the girls climbed trees, hunted for eggs, took turns on the swing and in the Radio Flyer wagon.

While sitting on the back deck, we heard a barred owl hoot in one of the large pine trees, then another respond, then we saw them swoop and fly over to another tree...it was amazing. God manifested Himself in the beauty of His creations. Nature. Mom's daffodils are blooming, their neighbors have a pink magnolia and Bradford pear trees...all full of blossoms!

Preparations

Looking for a way to naturally dye your eggs, still?
http://greekfood.about.com/od/greekcookingtips/ht/redeggs.htm

My dad was given a beautiful jeweled cross recently. I love my parents.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Lord's entry into Jerusalem and took home palms and pussywillows from church. This week, we are preparing by reading the gospels that lead up to the Passion of Christ and the Lamentations and then shout "Christ is Risen!" on Pascha.

This is a photo I took of my Pascha basket last year....I'm sure it will look much the same this year. I made lemon cheese last night and will use that to make cheese pascha.

I actually used 1/2 gallon of raw milk, juice from 3 lemons to make mine, minor differences from the recipe in the above link.

Cheese-pascha

3 lbs farmer's cheese (instead I used the homemade lemon cheese)

1/2 lb salted butter (softened)
1/2 c. raisins (I didn't put any in my cheese-pascha, just decorated it with them after)

1/4 lb finely chopped almonds (didn't use them this year)

1 3/4 cups sugar
3 egg yolks (I made macaroons with the left over egg whites)

1 whole egg

1 cup cream
1 tsp vanilla extract (scraped the seeds from the center of a vanilla bean instead)

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Combine with cheese (adding nuts and raisins, if desired) and cream. Cook in large pot over medium head until mixture bubbles, stirring occassionally (about 1/2 hour). When cool, add vanilla, place mixture in mould lined with cheese cloth. Refridgerate and allow to drain, unmould and decorate! Spread on top of kulich (see previous post for my mom's recipe that I use) and enjoy!!!

Kulich

This is the traditional Russian bread made and enjoyed on Pascha, or our Lord's Resurrection. I went to the store and got all the ingredients today and plan to bake tomorrow!
Click on the box to see the recipe up close...then, if you've never made it...consider it...tastes rich and delicious, a bit like the Italian panettone.

Next week, we'll dye eggs, I've successfully dyed my eggs with yellow onion skins to a reddish brown, I like to rub the eggs with a bit of oil on a paper towel to give it a little shine. I'm going to try some new colors this year.

Natural Dyes

Color	Ingredients
Lavender	Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice Red Zinger Tea
Violet Blue	Violet Blossoms Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Hibiscus Tea Red Wine
Blue	Canned Blueberries Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled) Purple Grape Juice
Green	Spinach Leaves (boiled) Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow	Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow	Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled) Carrot Tops (boiled) Celery Seed (boiled) Ground Cumin (boiled) Ground Turmeric (boiled) Chamomile Tea Green Tea
Golden Brown	Dill Seeds
Brown	Strong Coffee Instant Coffee Black Walnut Shells (boiled) Black Tea
Orange	Yellow Onion Skins (boiled) Cooked Carrots Chili Powder Paprika
Pink	Beets Cranberries or Juice Raspberries Red Grape Juice Juice from Pickled Beets
Red	Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Canned Cherries with Juice Pomegranate Juice Raspberries

found here: http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowtos/a/eastereggdyes.htm

Saint Patrick

enlightened the people of Ireland using a 3-leaved clover, one God is three beings, like the petals, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It's a great way to explain this to your children, too!
Did you know I was going to be Patrick if I was a boy?

My parents had a trip planned to Ireland, but canceled it... My mom and dad came over yesterday to give Olivia a gift...March 18th is the day we remember Saint Oliva, of Brescia, Italy, one of the early martyrs for her Christian faith. Dad seems to be doing okay, but mom said that he's not...getting sick a lot lately...so please pray for him!

Flax Pancakes

(adapted from Vegan Planet, their recipe is called Flax-Berry Pancakes)

1 1/2 c flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp ground flaxseeds
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c water
dash of nutmeg and cinnamon

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Combine flax, vanilla and water and mix until thick.
Mix wet ingredients into dry until just combined. We like to top ours with real maple syrup!

This is enough for 2 adults, or 4 children...unless they're really hungry.