Orthodox Christian Crafts for Pascha and other times

 With Holy Week approaching here are ways to help our littles.  Looking for a fun craft to add to your church school lesson or perhaps a Lenten retreat or just someway to reinforce the lessons of the season at home? You are not going to believe this post! I gathered my favorite Orthodox crafts, all one place, to make it easier to pick.

  Whoo hoo, let the fun begin!!

If you like what you see and wish to pin it, please be courteous and take from the source post, give credit to these incredible people who inspire us. Photo heavy post after the jump.

Ocean Skies

On this long storm the rainbow rose

On this long storm the rainbow rose,

On this late morn the sun;

The clouds, like listless elephants,

Horizons straggled down.

Emily Dickinson  

Share the Day 

Eleni

Blink of an eye

It doesn’t feel like it’s been so long and again it feels like forever- since I posted- connected. Something about this time makes me want to reach out and say Hi! Hmmm- quarantine maybe?
We have lived so much in the past year- illnesses, supporting those we love and those we pray for, losing my mother , welcoming a new child and now this era.

I’ve been spending time praying, cleaning, purging, singing, playing, chasing, working and painting again. I’ve always been drawn to landscapes and wildlife but recently discovered a connection to portraitures? Who knew?

I’m working on playing with flesh tones and capturing the look in the eyes ( the windows). My family thought my first attempt was “creepy” , not the feeling I was aiming for- 😂- what do you think?

Share the Day ~Eleni

Finding moments of joy

Hi friends- it’s been awhile- at least to post to the blog. I’ve been active on Instagram. The last two years have been very active on a personal front primary with sandwich issues. Everyone is well with routine now. Grateful to God. Life can change in a moment and a phone call.

I’ve missed connecting with all of you- hoping you will still be here and we can reconnect too. If you’re new - welcome- I enjoy hearing from you- let me know you stopped by.  Over the past year I’ve rediscovered a past love. I have always enjoyed being creative in different ways, as most of you do too! Those who read the blogs are creative souls otherwise you wouldn’t be here. It’s not that you have too much time - it’s that you make time for things that offer you moments of joy or that feed you.  It’s so important to do this!! For me, I have returned to watercolor painting. It is exciting and calming and fun at the same time. You can see my most recent pieces on Instagram. It is something worth making time for in a very busy day and something worth sharing with you.

I have more about this. About connecting, about how in this busy world to find a moment of joy.

Share the Day 

Not drowning

Hello sweet friends- 

I'm still here and almost ready to fully return. Life has been a whirlwind(of sorts) and I'm amazed... at how fast time has passed.  I have been very reflective and have so many thoughts and things I'd like to share...soon. I'm also thinking of ways to retool and bring this little space up to date! My Twitter and Instagram are active and waiting for you to follow me there, in the meantime. As is, Pinterest. Any suggestions on ways to improve the blog are appreciated.  I pray you are all well. 

Until then,
Share the Day!

The Sweeter Chair

 The sweater sweeter chair.

The $2 makeover, are you intrigued? 


If you have been following this blog, you know I really like chairs. Sometimes I find them, sometimes they find me. I even have a Pinterest board for them.

I have had this chair since I was in my early 20's.  It has a story, great pieces often do. It was acquired when my neighbor's were moving out of state and needed to empty their house. They lived in a gorgeous Victorian with many original pieces. Of course, I missed the house auction, as I was working nights back then (probably wouldn't of been able to afford the really good stuff anyway).  When I woke up that afternoon, this chair was on my porch  and waiting for me. They knew I had always liked it and when it didn't sell, they just gave it to me.

Moral of the story: 

Be nice to your neighbors and you will always have somewhere to sit.

Things I love about this chair:

• The tufting
• The color
• The lines
• The wonderful feeling you get when you sink into it.

So many memories sitting in this chair, I used to use it in front of my computer, have long conversations on the phone and read so many books and still do. 

When I sit in it, it feels like the club chairs that my parents had growing up. Basically,  it has that comfortable feeling of home.

We're not the only ones who love this chair and have enjoyed it.  You can see how worn it is.

It's such a great chair. This is also a great dog, he was visiting us for a couple days. Yup, this pooch was allowed on the furniture. Our pup well she is allowed only on one piece and it's not this chair, surprised?



So are you still intrigued about it's makeover?

Still here

Hello dear friends... I'm still hanging around. 

It's been ages, as you can tell that I touched my blog and connected with all of you. I miss it and you. It is one of my favorite creative outlets and ways to connect with others. I love it when you send email and comment, it is such a sweet joy, likely other bloggers will understand.

Time, time, time. 

I had overextended myself these past few months and tried to catch up after falling very behind, for many and various reasons. It's so funny, when I ended my last post, I said "bring it on" and boy did the world do just that! I will likely share in due time. 

But for now... 

I am saying No...more, I am taking care of myself...more, 

I am simplifying...more (lol, that doesn't fit together right?) 

Retreat vs Vacation

Hello my friends...

It has been a long time and I am ready to be back! The hiatus was necessary on many fronts and the hand is feeling much better.  

I recently was blessed to attend the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Retreat in Navasota Texas. Let me say Thank you to my wonderful community for making it possible and our hosts for all the southern hospitality! Presvyteres Renee and Anna certainly are quite a team and everyone in attendance had a wonderful time. 

So why a retreat as opposed to a vacation?

Look, I'm just like Jimmy Fallon...

Look, I'm just like Jimmy Fallon...

Laughing hard...

Feeder Friday

Look at who's in our backyard this year.

This little spark of color caught my eye while I was at the sink the other day.

What is that?

So what do I do? Of course, grab the camera.
And then it turned around and I saw it.
So exciting, it doesn't take much, right?

Sunday School Teacher Gifts-Free Printable

It's that time again.

The time of year to express our gratitude to all those who work so tirelessly for the benefit of others.

Last year, these are the little tokens offered to our Church School to express the sentiment.

Here's how I made them.

Patriotic Hosta

Big Hosta divided.

Did this actually on Memorial Day Weekend last year! 
But just getting to post about it now.

When working on the front garden beds remember the big hot mess it was?
Trying to tidy it up and make room for the catmint, 
had me needing to work something out.

Well, I worked it and removed a huge hosta, I think it's called Patriotic Hosta.

I divided it into 7 pieces.

Yup that's right!

I got 7 new hostas to grow from one!

Yippee, nothing like free plants, eh?

If you're Greek...time to start thinking of festival season.

If you're Greek...or even if you're not...
it's time to start thinking of festival season.

Yes indeed it is.

If you are Greek or belong to a Greek Orthodox Church you know exactly what I mean. As soon as Easter/Pascha has been celebrated... the baking begins!

What are classic parts of the festival, other than the fantastic time with each other?

Well, there's the food.

And then there's the food.

Umm, did I mention the food?

There's the dancing and music.

Then, there's the Agora (the village store). 

The Return and Bloom Day Combined

One nice thing of returning after a trip, 

is that sometimes something you have been waiting for, happens.

Our sweet hummingbirds have returned. There are three of them, two girls again and one boy who are frequenting the feeders. This year they are doing something new...

It is so sweet they are resting not up in the oak tree, but in the blooming azalea.

Here are a couple of pics.

They are so sweet and the colors of the azaleas this year are so vivid, after this long...long winter.

They do make me smile.

Share the Day

Sandwiches anyone?

Hello my friends, excuse my absence...
life occurs and my attention has been needed elsewhere.

One day I may share it all with you, 
but for now I will catalogue the last 3 weeks in our family as: 

one set of crutches

one emergency room visit (should of been two)

one hospitalization

numerous Xrays and CTscans of various body parts of different individuals

two surgeon appointments 

and a (YEH!) one new rolling walker

Needless to say, my sweet sister and I feel like this

source

Yes, a sandwich with a bite taken out for good measure.
Most appropriate image I could find.  We both need a vacation.

Joyous Feast-Pascha Moments and Updates

A beautiful joyous feast to all.  

From Holy Saturday at Midnight until this upcoming Sunday, is one day! 

Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!

Check out these cool Pascha Chocolates!

Actually found these while we were heading to the awesome Metropolis of Boston Retreat Center for the National Presbytera Retreat. It was a fantastic time and the facilities are so beautiful and staff are very engaging and attentive.
Next retreat is in October in Texas, mark your calendars!!!
Can't wait to see all my Sister-Presbyteres, it truly is a sisterhood.

We stopped at this grocery in Concord that turned out to be divine. 

I found these, they made me giggle. I've been wanting to share them for a long time.

Here are some of our beautiful flowers from our Kouvouklion.

They are still aromatic.

I made this wreath on Holy Friday, after helping with the flowers for the Kouvouklion.

This year we weren't able to get bay leaves and these gorgeous lemon branches came instead.

These were left over and so before heading to the Apokothelisis service (the Un-Nailing), 

I was able to tie this together. Not as structured, sort of whimsical?

Too big? What do you think?

The World Weeps

Icon from The Life of Christ in Icons Board Book by Marina Paliak 2011

Here are one of the adorable crafts from our Lenten Retreat.

Share the Day

Holy Thursday

Share the Day

Today we celebrate, wave those palms.

Not sure of the original source, if you know it, contact me please, to allow proper credit. Thank you to the sweet soul that shared it with me and gave me a BIG smile and laugh.

Have a Blessed Holy Week!
Share the Day

Happy April Fool's Day!

Well, it seems like pranks happen to be a big part of our lives lately? Our son couldn't wait for April Fool's and so in the past 2 weeks, we have had frozen cereal served, cotton balls in shoes, pull poppers on the doors and an elastic band over the faucet hose. Needless to say, gales of giggles have followed.

So this morning it was my turn.

Pretzel fish on the fish tank.

(recently all our mollies went to the big fish tank)

At lunch time, he opened up his lunchbox to find?

In addition to his regular lunch, an old banana and a bag full of nothing!

Here's the link.

It was a big hit at the elementary lunch table.

Then when he got home from school for his after school snack.

Dog biscuit cookies were served.

Don't be worried, they are chocolate chip.

Did you play any pranks today?

Share the Day