The Many Uses of Duct Tape
I am in no way an expert on the use of duct tape or parenting, but this blog is about a little of both. I was told to write this blog. Not by God, He keeps up with my thoughts the normal way (via Facebook) but by a friend who said that she wanted to be able to see in a more linear and outlined way the random sagacity that streams through my mind, particularly on parenting for some reason...
The Baptism!
The kid got dunked today! I was led to believe this would result in his being much more mild tempered, angelic even, with no more screaming cries or diapers that contain an explosion of evil or loud burps in church. I was lied to on all counts. Granted I was the one who came up with those ideas and was telling myself this, but you think I could trust myself! I'm such a liar. The kid did all three in the course of his Baptism. Here's a play by play, with some explanation for the nonodox out there.
The Promised Update
Well here's the post I promised you here, but without the promised content. See, we ended up not going on the Youth Retreat because of, to borrow a phrase, a series of unfortunate events and the fact that we had a ton of stuff to do. Stuff I'm going to tell you about now! Starting with last Sunday's dinner, because it was beautiful and needed to be shared.
Fresh Baklava
Yes, our little chubbers will be getting dunked tomorrow. That's what the baklava is for. Well not for the actual baptism, Orthodox do not actually baptize using olive oil and honey (I was surprised too) but for the min-reception thingy tomorrow after. The baklava is Lenten, the cake will not be.
Family Resemblances
Apparently we're running a cloning factory...
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Good Morning Liturgy
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
First Glimpse of St. Vladimir's
The giant black ball fountain, which he at first seemed to think was the entire point of the trip. |
Exciting for us too, as we got to yell "THOSE AREN'T JELLYBEANS!" in a horrific moment of realization as to what was about to happen. |
Because who cares about elephant rights when you can get photos this cute? |
I rest my case. |
Anyway, we made it to New York after a visit to Ohio to the ol' Wesseler Homestead. I have a video of that on my phone I need to post. We came to our new home to find out that our stuff was not going to be delivered that day; it couldn't get there until Monday. That made the movers very unhappy as we juggled their schedule. Imagine their joy when I had to call back on Monday and tell them the POD people had told us the pods would be delivered between eight and twelve, and could only be left with us for three hours because we're in the Metro New York area apparently. New Yorkers can get very angry. Anyway the pod people eventually said that we could keep the pods here because it's on a campus and not a street so whatever and it all worked out and I was stressed out for nothing because God is good.
Here's what we've been slowly unpacking:
The living room. TV's on pianos is so hot right now. |
Kitchen, which is being supplemented with a pantry (which hasn't come yet) and an island (which has) |
Our bedroom, the one room with an air conditioner. |
The dining room/library/study room, which doesn't look much different. |
And this room, which we haven't found a use for yet. |
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Don't You Wish Your Wife Made Jam Like Mine
I have a confession; I hate strawberries. I don't eat 'em. Nasty little buggers.
A sentiment not shared by Athanasius |
That's the baby sign for "please" |
Those magic people can make strawberry jam. And if its been very warm and you live in an area where fresh, roadside strawberries are as cheap as talk, you can buy a whole mess of them. And if you buy a whole mess of them and sweet talk your wife into doing what, honestly, she wanted to do anyway, you can get this shot:
Of a messy kitchen, (MY) super-hot-wife, and one of the jars of MY jam. MINE! Everything in this photo is MINE. |
And so yes, I have jars and jars of amazing tasting jam at my beck and call now, and a baby who's so full of fruit he's passed out. Life is pretty ruddy great right now.
BTW, this is what your toddler son will do with his red blocks after seeing the egg cracking game on Pascha. |
Sunday, April 20, 2014
CHRIST IS RISEN!
The Harrowing of Hades: Christ, by the Cross standing upon Death, who is bound, raising Adam and Eve from their graves. |
Friday, April 18, 2014
Dying Eggs for Pascha
Well, Christ, but the eggs come a close second. Maybe after the Theotokos. And the Saints. and Liturgy. And Baklava.
But eggs, man, they're up there.
Most people are used to a variety of pastel colored eggs for Easter. For Orthodox Pascha there's just one color (usually). Red. A deep, crimson red. It's dark for a reason - it represents the blood of Christ. The dye we make can look like a bowl full of blood. It's a sad reminder of the tortures Christ endured and His ability to meet us at our own level, no matter how shattered we are. However, inside is a golden treasure, and chicks burst from inside what, really, looks like it could be a rock, just as Christ turns all things into New Life.
Dying eggs is a very old Christian tradition, and no, we probably didn't get it from the pagans. The dying of eggs directly matches the spread of Christianity. Some say we get the tradition from St. Mary Magdalene giving an egg to the Emperor Tiberius as she told him of Christ's resurrection. He said it was as likely as the egg turning red, and the egg then did so. That's why St. Mary Magdalene is shown with an egg in many of her icons:
Some, as in this article which shows that there was never any goddess named Ostara, and that bunnies and eggs are Christian symbols (though Orthodox don't really do anything with a bunny) say the eggs come from old Jewish traditions about eggs and funerals and Passover.
So, if you want to get an egg as deep a red as the one in that icon, what do you do? Naturally, God's own creations are better dyes than anything from PAAS.
You start by collecting yellow onion skins. Many people think that red should be used, but no, it's yellow. The large yellow onions have a nice red tinge to them. We collect onion skins all of Great Lent. We're also doing some blue this year because, apparently, blue is the traditional color for the eggs that go in the German Easter Bread we make, so for that you need red cabbage.
You also need some pots, white vinegar and, of course, eggs. This is pointless without eggs. |
Cover the cabbage and the skins with water, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar, and let them come to a boil.
Your home will be quite humid. Some people go to spas and pay money for "Vegetable Steam Baths." Probably. I don't know. |
Yes it looks purple. Stick with me here. |
I know, orange. I promise, we'll get through this. |
Here's what our eggs looked like after cooking:
Not very impressive, amirite? Especially that blue. WEAK! |
Big difference, no? |
So after all that, what do you do with a red egg? You hold it up to someone after midnight this weekend and say "Christ is risen!" The other individual will respond "He is risen indeed!" and you crack your eggs together. The one who comes away with an intact egg is the winner and goes on to challenge others. The 'loser' gets to eat an egg. Really, no losers.
But please, take them out of the shell before eating.
Some people just gotta do their own thing, I suppose. |
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Smash Cake Photos
I forgot the camera when we drove down south to celebrate the day Li'l Athanasius erupted into this world, completely (unwantedly) quietly. So all I think I have photos of is him devouring his smash cake that my mother so graciously took for us, and a few of his birthday presents from my sister. So here's his birthday:
The Younglings who have undergone this Rite of Passage circle around as the ritual sacrifice is begun. |
At first, the celebrant is hesitant. |
He does not realize the entirety of the sacrificial feast, and believes it contains only sweet, creamy cheese. |
But soon, his bloodlust is triggered. |
Wild, majestic animals are summoned to feed on the wasted goods which are slung around in a display of pleasure. |
And, at some point, the kid will realize "this feels gross between my fingers." |
But he will press on! And finish the final layer of bread-cake-stuff with a belch of glorious satisfaction. |
The adults of the tribe, having seen what his vicious little hands can do, will attempt to appease him with gifts... |
...and loving sayings. |
And some will be books, which the adults will submit their child to before he goes to bed. |
I hope everyone has a blessed Holy Week!
Friday, February 7, 2014
Merry Christmas!
The face you all come to see. My witty remarks are all just filler, I know. |
Ok yes, I've been gone for a long time. The new semester involved, quite unexpectedly, a lot more work than I had anticipated, mainly with applying for graduation (finally!) and applying to grad school. Especially with a school that takes joy in screwing around with student's records, this has been rather involved.
So the last time we saw each other we were about to celebrate Nativity. Here's a guide to Nativity in Ortho-house. Y'all saw our tree n' such, I believe, so we'll start with Christmas Eve. Our tradition, for as long as we've been Orthodox, is to spread some hay on our table and cover it with a white table cloth. This reminds us of Christ's being born in a stable and His swaddling clothes. We leave the straw on the table for all 12 Days of Christmas.
I know what you're thinking and yes, hay does become the decoration that will endure past pine needles in your home. Everywhere. Including in your child's mouth. |
Then we head to Church for Vespers. It's decorated with poinsettias.
The next day we head back to Church for Divine Liturgy, and then our parish has a pot luck. We brought bread pudding.
After the pot luck we come home to presents!
If you look closely you can see where Daddy mislabeled a gift because he wrapped them all quickly on Christmas Eve... |
A little wooden train! |
Wood blocks with the periodic table painted on the sides! |
A sword, which he was REALLY excited about for a bit. |
Which does make it even harder to get a clear shot. |
His rash seems to be clearing up, for now. Eczema. |
Oh and mince pies which I found gross. |
Though I do love Christmas crackers. |
The party tuckered him out. |
Temporarily. |
Which he's taken to with relish since we've expanded his range. |
Eating solid foods is still something we're working on. |
And he's heading to Sochi, aiming for the gold in Sleeping. |
Alligator smile, this one. |
And, unfortunately, his climbing skills. |
But that's all I have for you, mes amis. So, until next time,
Relax, and keep your feet up. |