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 

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?

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?

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.

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

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?

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

20 Orthodox Crafts for Lent 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.

Special Tea Cookies

It's tea time again. Recently made these for a special event at our parish. It was an extraordinary event and a beautiful time with our ladies. We are so blessed to have them all.

If you remember I had made these before, sort of, so these were the inspiration . But since it was a tea event, naturally I wanted to incorporate, you guessed it tea.  So I decided I wanted to add my favorite flavors, Lavender and Earl Grey.

There's quite a few pictures that will follow the jump.

Lenten Recipe Roundup

I've been looking back at my recipes from last year and decided to do another recap. So, here's an easy link to each of last year's recipes for Lent. All veggie, many vegan. Be sure to check back for the Lenten Orthodox Crafts and more recipes, posting soon! There are quite a few pictures after the jump.  ENJOY!!

We Begin

To Forgive:

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a verb meaning to stop feeling anger and blaming. In Greek, the meaning is more to willingly show favor, grant pardon and exercise grace. Each year on Forgiveness Sunday, we look back and forgive and look forward once more,  one more opportunity to examine what is true and how we may grow from it.

Forgive Me.
Share the Day

True Love

True Love is able to shine through every single barrier.

Share the Day

Someone is happy about the snow.

Well, here we are in the Northeast, we are bracing ourselves for another storm.

No complaints, like last year it seems the kids will have a snow day, about once a week.

Olive Oil Love

How can you not love olive oil. Now think of it in a soap!

I recently received this fantastic package of olive oil based soaps, 

from Grecian Look and was asked to comment on them. 

Grecian Look is an internet based supplier of some items 

that can be hard to find outside of Greece for personal or festival use. 

My enthusiasim for these soaps is pretty high, as one of my memories from way back is actually watching my Yiayia make olive oil soap. As long as she was living we had a big hunk of it in the laundry room and bathroom. 

Resolutions

One of the best and sweetest gifts this past year. I was given a mug for my morning coffee from Agia Skepe Monastery. It has a delicate feeling in my hands. Just lovely. The verse on it also fills me with peace and a great reminder to start each day.

"Seek God daily,

But seek Him in your heart,

not outside it"

St. Nectarios  

So how are you starting your day and this New Year!
Happy New Year may it be filled with health and joy.

Share the Day

Thinking about Window boxes...Christmas

You know how I feel about my window boxes. I have been intensely wanting them to look beautiful and plentiful for the holidays. The last couple years I tried big ornaments and Christmas birdhouses etc. Nothing seemed right. Until this year...

This year I got clever, it takes me awhile. Garlands and fresh greenery were so expensive at the nursery. I looked at the prices and was appalled. Then my thoughts drifted to the our own trees and bushes in the back. "DUH!" How did it take me so long...? So I went and started trimming...see the results. Did I get carried away after I finished the boxes?

Here and Now

Hello there...I'm back.

Well- truly I never left, I've been writing posts several times a day (in my head) and they are really good ones. You the kind that make you giggle as you read them. I'm giggling at least.  The challenge is finding time to put down. The break was necessary and good.

Thank you for checking in, here is a little preview of what has been happening and what is ahead.

What have I done with my window boxes for the season?

It looks gorge and cost less than $5.

We had our annual St Nick Party, loads of fun!

Have a seat

I recently realized on a little introspection, (well actually it was looking at my pictures from the fair last year), that I have an affinity for chairs.  Yup, you read it right. I like chairs. In fact, I really like chairs. Chairs of all types, sizes, shapes, colors...it really doesn't matter. For some unknown reason, I like chairs. It's not anything creepy, just a real appreciation for this type of furniture.

I sometimes wonder what it was like when someone invented the first chair. The earliest would of been stools like tree stumps, logs and rocks. When someone figured they could make it light and mobile, what a stunning revelation? Simple and yet how much we take these for granted? A comfortable place to sit. It's important. This is what is considered organic in chair design now.

source