Snuffy and some Christmas cheer

Little M has hit her first growth spurt.  And caught her first cold too.  We call her snuffy nowadays, but she isn't a happy camper that's for sure.  Her lovely sleeping habits have shifted, of course, and instead of a 5-6 hour stretch at night, she only sleeps in 2-3 hour spurts.  Poor little darling!  I hope it doesn't last too much longer...

We are well into Christmas makings around here.  The kids have little gifts going on for their teachers, and I have put in some time for them while they're at school.  We finished a couple of pine cone owls too since I took that picture.  I am so glad I came across this idea by Lia Griffith.  

I finished a sweet little apron for S.  (I just love the lace with denim... so tempting to make into a dress!)  I had to try it on her for sizing since I had to make up the pattern.  She loved it!  I couldn't get it off her!  And of course, that makes me feel as though she's been getting the short end of the stick most of her 2-year-old life.  I guess it's time for her to have some handmade love from mama.  :)  I think I will try to finish a messenger bag for her too, but let me not get ahead of myself here!  

I have plans to make an apron for M.  A true chef's apron that is, because this little boy like to help in the kitchen too.  (And did I mention that this little boy, for some reason, is so much more prone to making huge messes?)  Thus, my thoughts (oh so naturally) run to aprons.

That there above is my second quilt.  I'm not too sure about that vibrant green I included.  I mean, it works, but I'm not convinced it wouldn't have been better with something less "electric".  Anyhow, J has claimed it and it sits on her bed when not in use on the couch.  They are so handy to have around for cuddling under while reading in the evenings.  And I've added to my wish list a sewing machine that can free motion quilt.

Stay tuned for more Christmas makings in the coming days.  :)

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid.  Then life would begin.  At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.  (Alfred Souza)  

Break (not that kind...)

Just came back from Michigan and the monastery there.  Another wonderful, though last-minute trip. So wonderful to see how God's providence orchestrates even the smallest details of our lives.  In the middle of Lent, a call to come.  And so we came.  And here we are, back again from our weekend break and wonderfully recharged.

It's March break now and M is home for the week.  That is a treat for us.  The kids have lots planned for the week.

First off, a treasure hunt.  Preferably in a sandy or earthy area.  (Very good for digging.)  Then a map will be drawn to show all locations where treasure was found.  Then, some carving.  Probably a house built - a real log cabin in the woods, if you please.  And of course a picnic, a trip to visit the cousins, and the maple syrup festival.  I don't know if I got it all down, but you get the idea.  Very creative plans have been fermenting in little minds...

I doubt I'll be around much in the coming week or two for that matter.  (What's new?)  There has been a little school work going on despite the warmer weather.  The kids are learning arabic, so there was a new alphabet board we made.  :)  Not really inspiring perhaps, though it sure is pur-tty to me...

Also, we opened the last jar of peaches canned from last summer.  So good.  So good.  Summer in a jar.  The kids ate a bowl for breakfast.  Then they quickly began planning how many jars we needed to can this year.  Hilarious to listen to.

I know there aren't many photos of creative pursuits these days.  We've put aside a lot of things during Lent.    Sewing, crocheting, crafting, art.  It's not so much for lack of time, though Lord knows how often that is the case.  It's more like an almost unconscious movement towards inner stillness?  A desire to meet Him in the silence after the storm - or perhaps the silence in the midst of the storm.   It seems like there may be a moment here and there.  Most of the time though, there is more reading, more services, more contemplation.  A special season  of the year set aside for just that.

May your week be blessed.

Letting off steam and waiting for spring

I haven't been on this space in a while.  A few things going on to keep me away.  Lots of work getting french materials ready for the summer as well as running the home and working with the kids.  Also kind of slower with Lent.  And sometimes not slower.  But that's usually because of the kids.  :)  They never slow down.  Except to sleep.  And maybe read.  (I love reading time...)

We had some dear friends over this evening.  A bit of a last minute gathering, but so wonderful.  So needed.  To connect and share and go deep.  There is strength in that, and comfort.  The kids were bouncing off the walls though, and for some reason it rocked my boat more than usual.  I mean, I struggle with patience on a good day, but today was not one of my finest.  I felt like I was almost picking fights with them... kind of like a teenager.  Maybe PMS is on the way... yeesh!  

At the end of the day though, all they really needed was to let off some steam.  Things improved once I sent them out the door.  They ran in the hallways over and over on our floor until they were too tired to keep going.  Then we made donuts and had them with fruit.  Cause if you're going to have donuts, you should be healthy about it... Riiiiight.

Then they begged me to sleep beside each other on the floor.  They've been begging for almost a week.  Tonight, I caved in and set up the mattress with some pillows.  This is what I came in to see when I went to check on them later.  (Obviously it was way darker than what the picture shows...)  So sweet.  So innocent and full of childlike love.  They were practically holding hands.  

And that made it all better.  (Well, that and having the dishes done.)  The whole day, my bad mood, my yelling, my stressing out over silly things.  Gone.  

I guess I needed a little TLC too... even if it came from sleeping babies showing it to each others.

PS - Despite the slew of recent -30 days, we are eagerly looking to spring nowadays, as you can tell!  We've planted some radish and parsley seeds in little "planters" for the kids.  Actually, it was M's idea and he started it all.  Now we have 3 little containers sitting on our table basking in the sun.  Stay tuned for the finale!  

A long journey

The cold is moving in again and we are expecting -30 degree weather for tomorrow.  That being said, I am actually looking forward to a cosy day together.  We don't have a fireplace, but we have a wall of windows on our corner unit, so the sun warms our place nicely in the winter.  (Sometimes I turn off the heat during the day because it's more than enough.)  A couple little ones are not well, so there will be some snuggling and reading - two favourite activities - and hopefully some quiet work.  And reflection.  Lots of that.

Lent is beginning, my friends.  A long journey towards the most profound and brightest Feast.   The Feast of feasts.  But first, there is the journey.  An often monotonous journey punctuated by a quiet sadness or gravity.  I love what Alexander Schmemann wrote about Lent - it captures the whole spirit:

"But then we begin to realize that this very length and monotony are needed... Little by little we begin to understand, or rather to feel that this sadness is indeed "bright", that a mysterious transformation is about to take place in us.  It is as if we were reaching a place to which the noises and the fuss of life, of the street, of all that which usually fills our days and even nights, have no access - a place where they have no power.  All that which seemed so tremendously important to us as to fill our mind, that state of anxiety which has virtually become our second nature, disappear somewhere and we begin to feel free, light and happy.  It is not the noisy and superficial happiness which comes and goes twenty times a day and is so fragile and fugitive; it is a deep happiness which comes not from a single and particular reason but from our soul having, in the words of Dostoevsky, touched "another world".  And that which it has touched is made up of light and peace and joy, of an inexpressible trust.    (Alexander Schmemann - Great Lent: Journey to Pascha)

A blessed journey to you.  

Weekending

This past weekend was a long weekend and we had planned a trip to rural Quebec to visit a Greek Orthodox monastery out there.  It is a dear place to us.  I grew up near that area for a couple years, so my sisters and I spent a lot of time there as children.  Needless to say, seeing my own children playing there now is a very beautiful and profound thing.  

The huge property is nestled in the woods in a rather remote location.  In the spring and summer and fall, it is stunning and colourful and in full flower.  But in the winter time, it is quieter, practically still, with the snow covering the earth in a white blanket and muffling all sound.  With so little movement from nature, it is a place for solitude, for prayer, for contemplation.  

Of course, I forgot the camera so no hard evidence.  (That always bums me out!)  And of course the kids had an unforgettable time!  Another bummer not to have pictures to remember them by!  There was lots of time spent with dogs and cats, a few pony rides, a visit to the cows and chickens, lots of wonderful indoor conversations around the wood burning fires, hot chocolate with the sisters, visits to the their workshops, a promise of carving lessons in the future for a certain little man, and two little girls crawling all over the kitchen playing doggie.  All of this surrounded by such love and warmth and care from the sisters.  They really are our sisters.  And mothers.  The kids soaked up their attention and love.  They did not want to leave.  (I won't lie, the animals were a huge attraction too...)  They don't usually like leaving those sacred places.  Truly Panagia's garden.  

We came home today, but we are not here just yet.  Our hearts have to have some time to come back with us.  A nice fish dinner helped.  But we are tired from the trip and tired from not enough sleep.  I bid you goodnight and wish you much rest.

Fast

I read a quote today that resonated with me in no small measure.  

"I am forever seeking a balance in our family life between activity and stillness, sound and silence, society and solitude. For now, I still have a measure of control over the tenor of my children's days, but as the actual amount of time we spend alone together inevitably shrinks, maintaining this balance becomes more important--and more challenging."  (Katrina Kenison)

While I strive for this balance too, it's been more of a challenge for me to encourage quiet time.  More so with three babes.  Children have so much energy to spend.  My second has perpetual ants in her pants.  (She can be found running or hopping around the house throughout the day.)  What's more, they feed off each other.  Oh, how they feed!  Moods, mannerisms and verbiage spread like wildfire, especially when one gets a case of the crazies.  What inevitably happens is things get too wild, too loud and too much for mama.  I struggle so much trying to stay in control and not lose my temper.  Sadly, I fail far too often.  

Thankfully, fasting always brings with it a greater measure of self control.  Maybe from all the discipline and self-denial required?  I don't know.  It's a blessing I look forward too.  Yes, I look forward to this Lent.  

I don't think I will be around here very much, if at all for the next little while.  A blessed Fast to you!  

PS - Kids are still sick this week, so today we began a spring mural together.  I found it quite amusing that my eldest, being obsessed with dinosaurs (and really all things ferocious), wanted to have his t-rex eat a crab (mama helped with the execution).  A fitting segue to Lent... even dinosaurs fast.  :o)

It's Monday & we're home

We're back from a very special visit to Montreal.  Thank you, dear family, for your kindness, hospitality and love.  (And for the delicious food!)

The kids loved this trip, even with the long car ride, which wasn't as bad as I was anticipating.  Despite the sudden chillies, there were signs of spring everywhere.  Green grass cropping up everywhere, flower shoots peeking through the soil, trees shyly showing their little buds, the water happily gurgling away.  It was soothing to watch.  I felt as though my soul was chapped from the winter winds and spring's humble entrance was like a nourishing balm.  

The whole weekend, J was showered with attention.  And she loved every minute.  At the monastery, she spent hours in the kitchen going from nun to nun.  They fed her ice cream and pineapple... and anything else they were working on I imagine.  And here I was worrying that she would be hungry!  Then we went to visit D's cousin, Rana.  J had a willing audience there as well.  She would take Rana's hand and lead her where she wanted to go.  Or she would command Rana to take her here or there (using incoherent baby babble of course).    

While less fond of attention than his sister, my son had no less of a good time.  He loved the tractor.  Please show me a little boy who doesn't love tractors.  He loved exploring the world outdoors and was happiest tramping around with his backpack on.  

Needless to say, both kids loved the chickens.  

Speaking of chickens reminds me of eggs.  I must share this recipe I found via Jill at Elliemoon.  These are ridiculously cute homemade Cadbury creme eggs that I'm itching to try.  Thankfully, they're apparently not nearly as hard as they look, which makes them fabulous in my books!  If I'm not able to make them in time for Sunday, I think I'll still attempt them for M's birthday.  We shall see.

Since it is now Great and Holy Week - the week leading up to Easter - I think it is fitting for me to end this post with a reflection of sorts.  I hope you have a restful Monday.

"...When He (Christ) found wandering in the mountains and hills the one sheep that had strayed from God's flock or a hundred, He brought it back into the fold, but He did not exhaust it by driving it ahead of Him.  Instead, He placed it on His own shoulders, and so, compassionately, He restored it safely to the flock."  


St. Maximos the Confessor (+ 662 A.D.)

Festive glimpse...

I leave two sweet pictures of the monkeys before the weekend.  Getting ready for Montreal and Palm Sunday...

Big plans

Lots of bustle going on here.  Baking and planning and story telling.  (Can't have a day without reading a story to the kids.  Or reciting one from memory.  Or composing one on the spot -   preferably one with a moral relevant to certain pertinent behaviours...)  For some reason, this is usually accompanied by "fort" making.  Hidden nooks for little people.

My nook is the kitchen.  Our ridiculously tiny cozy kitchen.  Lots of baking coming up for Pascha and the feasting following thereof.  Our Easter is a week belated, so while most of you are celebrating this weekend, I am gifted with another week to prepare.  So yes, there's a lot of planning what to bake right now.

In other non-food news: Spring is creeping up on us and I am bound and determined that we will have a window box garden!  ...Or balcony box garden as the case may be.  Other projects in queue include:

• Sew a messenger bag for Michael where he can store all the rocks, acorns, shells, etc that he comes across on our walks.  I'm thinking either denim or canvas.  Something hardy.  Boys are like that...
• Decorate our "Collection" jar.  This is simply a plastic jar we use to store the treasures we find during our outdoor adventures.  I'd love to personalize it though.  Looks a little shabby.  :o(
• Figure out a menu for Pascha day.  Do we go all out for breakfast?  Should I combine lunch and dinner if it comes to that?  And oh what should we make!?  
• No list would be complete without featuring my blankets.  I need to finish crocheting at least one of the baby blankets.  Progress is still slow.  As you can see, I've changed to yellow to blue.  (Gender is known...)  Otherwise, progress is still slow.  

I doubt very much if I'll be able to post anything before next week.  We are heading to Montreal on Friday for a weekend visit with my sister and D's cousin.  A very exciting and trepidation-filled adventure.  How is J going to handle a 6 hour car ride?   We shall see.  And quite soon at that.  Wish me luck.  Or patience.  Or a stiff drink.  ;o)

So.  If indeed delayed I be in posting, I wish you, though somewhat in advance, an especially joyous weekend!  

Weekend goodies

Ahhhh.  Saturday.  It's a magical day.  Commencing the weekend proper and bringing a myriad of hopes and plans with it.  In my world, the weekend actually starts on Friday evening.  Right around the time D gets home from work.  :o)  Still, Saturday; a glorious day indeed!

I found some pretty neat things during the past week that filled me with glee!  I hope you find some glee amongst them for yourselves.

• These homemade peanut butter cups are to become one of our Easter gifts... !
• A bouquet that will bring spring into any room any time.
• This.  And anything else on craftgawker for that matter.
• Ree's Seafood Pasta recipe.  Delectable.  
• Ashley English and her post on eating edible flowers at Design Sponge

We're off a-visiting this weekend, so I thought it would be fitting to leave a nice chocolate cake recipe.  A decadent hostess gift perhaps?  Bonus: it's almost completely idiot proof.  Almost.  

Happy weekend!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CAKE (dairy free)

1 2/3 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup water

1/3 cup oil

1 1/2 tsp vinegar

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chunks

Heat oven to 350 degrees C.  Grease a square 9x9" pan.  Mix dry ingredients together.  Add wet ingredients and combine well. Sprinkle in chocolate chips and mix.  Pour into pan and bake for about 45 minutes until firm.  Remove and let cool.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with strawberries.  :o)

A dash of orange blossom water

Around Easter-time is usually the time where Lebanese homes break out their Maamoul skills.  Maamoul is a traditional dome-shaped shortbread pastry cookie filled with dates, walnuts or pistachios and dusted with powdered sugar.  (See any downside yet?  I thought so.)  Not being one to relish last-minute rushing, I decided to get an early start.

I am loathe to share recipe I used.  Why, you ask?  Because of the myriad of Lebanese baking experts who a) could easily serve me a generous portion of humble pie, and b) likely have much better renditions to offer.  That being said, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, I am determined to post it nonetheless.  Just consider yourselves warned.  (Oh, and if you be Lebanese and likely a gourmet chef in your own right, both of which I am not, I crave your indulgence.)

Now that I've sufficiently covered my back, I will say that I found this recipe to be a melt-in-your-mouth explosion of buttery goodness.  Positively epicurean!  As you can see, my son M was recruited to help bang the mold.  Initially he was helping form the whole cookie (can you tell which ones he made?), but the banging just got too exciting and he left his post to be crowned "official maamoul banger".  

One of the coolest things about this project for me was finding out about some of the traditions surrounding maamoul.  Here are a few tidbits, courtesy of Fouad Kassab:

• The wooden mold (oops, I used plastic!) symbolizes the cross of Jesus
• The patterned mold represent the sponge used to give Christ vinegar
• The inside is an explosion of sweetness to symbolize the Resurrection... also kind of paralleling Christ lying in the tomb (outside cookie) but rising on the third day (inside filling).  :o)

So, without further ado, though still quite reluctantly, here's the piece de resistance... aka: my recipe.

MAAMOUL

2 cups fresh unsalted butter, melted (but cooled afterwards)

3 cups flour

4 cups fine semolina
1 pinch salt

1 pinch baking soda

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp orange blossom water

~1 cup water 

Filling:

2 cups finely chopped walnuts (or pistachios)

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tbsp orange blossom water (or plain water)

Mix semolina, flour, salt, baking powder and sugar together.  Rub in butter with fingers until mixture is homogeneous and resembles fine meal.  Cover dough with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 1-2 hours.  (This softens the semolina.)  Sprinkle orange water over the dough and then drizzle a little more than 3/4 a cup of water uniformly on the dough.  Mix lightly with a fork until just combined - like pie dough.  Don't overwork dough or cookies will end up chewy... take it from me and my first round failure experience!  Perhaps knead it 10 times maximum?  (If necessary add a little more water.)  Dough might be a little crumbly and that's fine.  It worked out for me on round 2.  Anyhow, if you're a pastry chef, you probably get this better than I.  Think pie pastry not cookie.

Take all filling ingredients and mix together until combined.  Set aside.  

Pinch off about a walnut-sized ball of dough.  Flatten or indent it slightly with your finger.  Try not to overwork dough here either.  (In the pictures above - obviously my first round - I've rolled it out thinly, and my final product didn't work out as well - it's better to keep it thicker.)  Place the dough in a lightly floured maamoul mold (I didn't need flour with my plastic one!) and fill the cavity with a spoon of nut filling.  Join the edges to seal and if necessary add a little more dough to fill the mold.  Press dough well into the mold to achieve good pattern indentation.  (If you don't have a mold, you can form the dough into a dome shape, or flatten the top gently and then decorate with a fork.)  NB: make sure you carve off excess dough once you've pressed it into the mold, or else you'll get a cookie with a rounded bottom that will develop cracks on top once it bakes.

Knock mold firmly on the table (can't imagine a kid not loving this part) or your palm to release the cookie.  

Arrange maamoul on a baking sheet and cook at 400 degrees F (around 200 degrees C), for about 12 minutes.  They will be a sort of golden-blond.  Do not let them brown.  Remove from the oven and let cool.  When cool (I actually do this step when the cookies are still a little warm so the sugar will stick better...), sprinkle powder sugar on top.  Serve to family and friends during the Paschal season.

Keeps well for up to 10 days in an airtight container.  Can also be kept airtight in the fridge or freezer for longer periods.  

Inspiration Thursday

This project marks the beginnings of spring crafts (read: Pascha gifts).  M doesn't much like to help with these critters since the fine motor skills required are a little advanced for my almost-three-year old.  Perhaps a four year old would fare better?  If you have one, do let me know.  

For me it's kind of an on-and-off endeavor for when I run out of yarn to crochet.  Or when the kids are occupied and I have a spare minute.  (Obviously this doesn't happen often, especially since J is sick...) 

It's pretty simple though.  Just "sew" three squares of plastic canvas with your choice of yarn.  Make sure not to edge the back piece with yarn, just the two "mouth" pieces, and only on two sides.  (See two photos below if confused.)  Attach two "mouth" pieces to the back piece around the edges with yarn.  Affix googly eyes, feathers, feet, ears, etc.  And off you go!  We've made quite a few canvas creatures: doves, chicks, ducks, frogs, rabbits, etc.  Maybe one day I'll have the presence of mind to take photos of the above...

Anyhow, not a bad idea for inspiration.  What I really love about these canvas critters is that their mouths open nice and wide.  Perfect for slipping a little treat inside.  Say, a Lindor truffle.

I love Lindt.  That, however, is another topic completely.  And certainly one that will not be attempted until after Lent.

PS - Excuse the blurry photo.  It does kind of mirror where I am at this moment though.  Slighty out-of-focus from lack of sleep.  Sick babies are no fun.