Getting Ready!

And so the time has come again.

We got all the school supplies together,

some clothes, some new, some handed-down (thanks sis)

And off we go, into the new adventure.

For the first day, we put a little something together for the new teacher, 

one for day school and one for church school.

I'm not the creative one who thought of this, but

totally appreciate the sharing of this idea.

Big Hit!

Can be used for flowers or to hold pencils/pens.

My version was a dollar store glass, as straight-lined as possible, pencils, glue gun and some ribbon.

Voila!

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Prayer for a Student

Prayer for a Student

Christ my Lord,

 the Giver of light and wisdom, 

who opened the eyes of the blind man 

and transformed the fishermen 

into wise heralds and teachers of the gospel 

through the coming of the Holy Spirit, 

shine also in my mind 

the light of the grace of the Holy Spirit. 

Grant me discernment, 

understanding and wisdom in learning. 

Enable me to complete my assignments 

and to abound in every good work, 

for to You I give honor and glory. 

Amen.

Vesper Sparrow

Our backyard has so many birds, it has started a new interest for our family. 

Sometimes we get to see the little wonder and try to name them, sometimes though we can only hear them and so we are trying to learn to identify calls.  

There are many sites that exist to help in this task. 

One we use is enature, while looking, we noticed the vesper sparrow. 

We pondered, why is named this, does it live close to church? or sing when we are in vespers?

In our reading we found out.

Yes it does, it sings in the evening.

Looking below, we thought these might be them?

We looked here and then here.

So are these Vesper Sparrows?

No, we think just House Finches, but still welcome on the feeder.

Make your own dry erase communication center.

Not a new idea, but I don't remember where I have seen it.
It was brilliant!

I searched to find from whence it came, nothing.

Poor blogging manners. 

Forgive me please.
If you think I was inspired by you, please drop me a line,
so I can credit you officially.

Here's my version.
Using it for notes and menu planning.

I used pretty scrap paper, I know, I know, some of the windows aren't as easy to read,
 but I really liked the paper.

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I'm working on...

I'm working on these sweet crochet and knitted purses, can't wait to show you them all finished!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Look who's been visiting! 

I finally after much effort got a picture of him.  

Isn't he beautiful!

We actually have three hummingbirds, 

they are quite territorial. 

I have seen all three of them, around the feeder at same time, 

not being so friendly about sharing.

Here is our new hummingbird perch, he has yet to use it.

But I'm hoping.

Ease

Ease blinds a person so that he does not gaze upon divine matters with wonder; instead, it results in his examining them in an empty way.

Isaac the Syrian

Portrait in Pastry?

I came into coffee hour, to find a unique treat made by someone special for me.

Can you see my sweet cookie smile?

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Cupcake Hat

It's still summer I know, and the needles are busy.

Multiple projects are in progress but not ready for reveal.

So I thought I would share an oldie but a goodie, or should I say, "yummy."

I made this hat this past year for a sweet new little niece.

Both the pink bottom and the pink in the cherry topper are a mix of soft yarn and sock yarn to give a tiny bit more stretch.  The sock yarn also had a bit a bling/glimmer to it. 

I love using sock yarn mixed in for socks, mitts and hats.

If you like the hat, here's where I found the pattern.

Sweet Mother of God

Know and remember that the matter of your salvation is always near to the heart of the Theotokos, the Mother of God, for it was for this that the Son of God, by the favor of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, chose her out of all generations and was incarnate of her in order to save the human race from sin, the curse ,and the eternal death, or everlasting torment. 

As the matter of our salvation is near to the Savior, so likewise it is near to her.

Turn to her with full faith, trust, and love.

St. John of Kronstadt

Most Holy Theotokos, Save Us

What I did today

Today I moved and stacked wood, a lot of it. 

And

 I weeded, and weeded and weeded.

I am in a battle, with the pokeweed.

Pulling it up after snipping the blossoms and berries (they stain). And at other times, just plain stuffing whole bunches of it into the bags.

Here's one of the bags.

Then pouring vinegar on the roots in the sun and hot water in shade.

They are a relentless foe.

Invasive and still finding refuge nearby, where it will remain undisturbed.

Now I know some people will say, but hey, it's just a weed.

You can eat weeds, and yes if you apparently boil these three times and be careful not to get any of the root mixed it, you can eat them and make a salad.  But we have small children in this neighborhood and guess what those lovely blue berries, do look like blueberries, and can kill you.

So good bye Pokeweed.

BTW, did find a link for those interested in eating this, heard it makes a mighty fine salad and wine. Known in the south as poke salad and poke wine, is this true, southern friends?

Ever had any?

Sharing the Day.

Images from a sunny day, finally.

Have you figured out, I love taking photographs. 

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Where are they?

Ok, I'm very new to this bird-watching, and it shows.  

I have no idea where our sweet birds went? 

The robins are around but not much, no woodpeckers, no orioles, haven't seen the cardinals in over a week. Haven't heard our owls, heard a blue jay a couple days ago, and even the sparrows are quiet.
I can hear thousands of crickets and cicadas but during the day, so quiet, eerie.  

I went ahead and splurged on a new hummingbird feeder, as 'Hijinks' the squirrel took the other down and dragged it through the yard again.  We have seen both the female and male coming to feed a couple times already today.

Thanks to Kate St. John at Outside my Window, I feel a little better.

Maybe our friends are all on the nest again?

Here is one of our sweet doves, saying Good Morning.
I have seen them, but again, very little.

It's amazing how much you can miss them,
when most of us go through our day, not even noticing them.

How many other things do we miss?

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Eleni

Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are fascinating. 

They scurry up and down the trees looking and listening for their meal, of course just like them, you can hear them before you can spot them.  

In the springtime, before the leaves really were starting to bud, our woodpeckers arrived, drumming. 

As the summer has progressed we have  

seen three different kinds of woodpeckers.  

We have a large wood pile, waiting to be stacked,  our first bird seen seemed to really like this spot.

I think she is a she, and is a hairy woodpecker from her markings.  

She was mesmerizing to watch, as she would drum and then lift her neck up high to swallow.  

This type is a pretty common variety, did you know there are over 20 kinds of woodpeckers?

The females don't have any red in their cap.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.

We have also seen the Pileated woodpecker, the kind with a red crowned cap, he was rather large, and around for a while, but hasn't visited for some time. 

Red-Bellied Woodpecker 

I wonder what we will see as we approach the fall season?

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Today's Garden Harvest

Got them just before it started raining, again. 

No potatoes, they rotted from the rain.

Too bad, our poor farmers aren't getting any of it.

Corn is almost a total loss and soy is next, from the news last night.

Expect prices for everything to go up folks. 

Anyone read Atlas Shrugged? Eerie. Hmmm.

Back to my garden.

There are tons of plum and grape tomatoes-still green. 

And about 6-8 more big round tomatoes, and a few more cucumbers started, 

I think we are done for zucchini, and still have an eggplant growing.

Our friend, Chippy, 

started chewing on two more of the cucumbers and a few beautiful tomatoes.

A chipmunk's got to eat, right?

As long as there is enough left for us, 

and so far, there is.

Check out Chippy has his own passenger, I've never seen that before.

Well, time to make that Zucchini bread, eat one, freeze the rest, YUM!

Lenten Chocolate Orange Cake

I have a friend who says you can't be both a great cook and a baker, it's either one or the other. If this is true, I'm a baker.  Now finding recipes or tweeking them to be lenten or vegan is a challenge and a lot fun. 

Chocolate Orange Lenten Cake

3 c unbleached flour (can be a combination of whole wheat and all purpose)

1 1/2 c sugar

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 c cocoa

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 c apple sauce

1/4 c maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

2 T balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 c water

1/2 c orange juice

2 T orange rind

Icing

Chocolate-1/2 c icing sugar (powdered sugar)

1 T cocoa powder,

2 T orange juice

1/2 t vanilla extract

Orange- same as above, omit cocoa powder.

I use a non-stick canola based baking spray for the pan.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together all above ingredients slowly, leaving the rind last and blend this in.  Bake the cake for approximately 45-55 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Once cooled, mix both icings and slowly spoon over cake.  Fill center with mandarins or sliced oranges.

Enjoy!

This is a fave of ours, but usually I bake it during winter fasts, it's always a hit for the coffee hour table.  During the summer, we have a lot more sorbets and yummy fruits, as well as Zucchini bread.  Hmmm, Zucchini bread, going to have to make that next.

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Sharing here and  here and here.

Prayer

Every repetition of prayer...will leave a mark of prayer on the soul. Uninterrupted practice in the order described will make it take root in your soul, and patience in this practice will establish a prayerful spirit.

Theophan the Recluse

Feast of Holy Transfiguration

Let us pray unto the Lord.

Bless, O Lord, this new fruit of the vine, which You have been well-pleased to bring to full ripeness through temperate seasons, showers of rain, and calm weather, that we who partake thereof may be filled with joy; and upon those who offer this fruit of the vine for use at Your Holy Table, may it confer forgiveness of sins, through the sacred and holy Body and Blood of Your Christ, with whom You are blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever: world without end.

Amen.

Orthodox Priest's Service Book -The Hieratikon

They said it would rain...boy did it.

We expected some rain, this was the sky the night before, 

it was breathtaking, 

pictures don't do it credit.

And then it rained, and rained hard!

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, 

the cedars of Lebanon that he planted (Psalms 104:16).

Summer Fun

Summer fun means Water Balloons.

New game for us, if you can hunt for Easter Eggs...

Why not, water balloons?

Loads of fun.

Green balloons are worth extra points.

Try it.

Just be sure to remember how many are out there and pick up any pieces to make it safe for your backyard friends.

Olympic Squirrel

As I have shared, we have a rambunctious backyard friend.

Well, this week, what did we find, but him wishing to be in the Olympics.

Two toed pole hanging?

If you look at this picture, you will see he is quite pleased with the judges ruling and his results.

He did manage in securing the feeder ball down to the ground.

We have not named him, any ideas after these latest hijinks?

Marine Silhouette Art

I had seen a lobster silhouette framed picture at a home decor store 

and thought it would be perfect to match this blanket.

The store wanted $30 for the one piece of art.  

It didn't take me a minute to say, "please, I can do that."

So I searched for clip art of fish/marine silhouettes.

I sized them to fit inside some square frames ($9.99/each) found on sale 

and printed them out on white cardstock paper.

The four favorites were chosen.

I set to cutting them carefully out.  

The jellyfish was the most challenging.

Then I glued them black side down on colored cardstock.

When I was all done, here is what it looks like.

I'm not sure if I will keep them in a row or put them in a square pattern.

Have to try it out and see.

So, for $40, some cardstock that was already on hand and a little ink.

I made 4 pieces of art. 

I'm pretty happy.

BTW, I linked here , here, here , here and not least, here.

Great places to share great ideas.

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Most Holy Theotokos Save Us