We in the West are in the last few days before Lent. Quinquagesima is the fiftieth day before the Paschal feast. Sadly, again, we are a week off from our brethren in the East. One of our deepest prayers is for reunion of East and West, and fixing the Paschal feast date so that we celebrate it together always! The next time we will do that is in 2025. We've been cleaning out most of the non-Lenten foods in the house and I have done most of our Lenten preparatory shopping. Tuesday, we will be having our traditional doughnut feast. The fast officially begins for us on Ash Wednesday, and since the dietary rule for that day is nor food or nutritive drink, the only meals that day will be for our youngest two girls. Three years ago, I learned that the fast is properly called a xerophagy, which means dry eating or dry food. Eating without meat and fish and dairy and egg results in "dry" eating. So if you need a Scrabble word, there are two for you!

My posts here about how we fast are not meant to show off, they are meants to show the reality of how we live our faith, and to (I hope) give encouragement and meal ideas to those seeking them. Now that all of our children are old enough to keep most or all of the fast, we are trying to live out the Lenten Rule more closely. This means no meat, fish, dairy, egg, olive oil (except on Saturdays, Sundays, and specific feast days), or wine/alcohol (except on Saturdays, Sundays, and specific feast days). Shellfish is permitted, but since it tends to be more expensive, especially lately, it will appear sparingly. Our meals will be within that rule, for the most part, though we will relax the rule a little for Sundays, when we will eat fish, as well as during some major feast days when that is permitted, anyway. We do have some birthdays within Lent and, not wanting to embitter our children, we have either allowed them to break the fast that day, or celebrated with a Lenten, but festive, meal and dessert. Since those with birthdays in Lent are or were nearly adults, they have chosen to stick with the Lenten and festive, for the past couple years. We want to accustom our children to striving to live in this way, just as we have our youngest fast from one meal or two meals as they are able on strict fast days in which the older family members are not eating at all. This is how we both practice our faith and teach our children to practice their faith. Just as we have grown in this practice, we teach them to do so as well. We struggle within our strength and try to keep our eyes on our own plate (and that of our young children). So, even though Ash Wednesday is a strict fast, our youngest two will be eating one or two light meals still, and if we have any non-Lenten food left by then, they can consume them for us this week or next.

As we prepare for Lent, we must prepare for self-examination, in that frame of mind, if I have offended you or wronged you in any way, please forgive me and pray for me, a sinner. As for you readers, I pray that this will be a profitable and Holy Lent for you, however you observe it. Please pray for us, as well. Have a blessed fast.

• Sunday - Quinquagesima
  Breakfast: Labneh on Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Cucumbers, Olives, Fried Pastrami, Mandarin Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Navy Beans with Ham, Rice, Herb Bread, Salad, Fruit
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Egg and Cheese Burritos, Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Hot Dogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Oranges
• Tuesday - Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs and Sausages, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: French Onion Soup, Chex Mix, Treats brought by our Friends, Louqaimat, Fastnacht Kreppel, Poderane Gaće, Fritule, Pear Fritters (made Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Eggnog (Dairy-free for Jerome)
• Wednesday - Ash Wednesday (Strict Fast - our youngest two will be eating one or two small meals)
  Breakfast: Toast, Banana, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Dates, Walnut Bread, Crudités
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle
  Breakfast: Asparagus, Chard and Chickpea "Scramble", Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Bananas (Grapefruit for Jerome), Coffee
  Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans, Salsa Rice, Chopped Salad, Oranges
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Honey, Sliced Apples, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Slow Cooker North African Vegetable Tagine, Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Lenten Pancakes, Fluffy Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter Pancakes with Raspberry Syrup for Jerome, Tea or Coffee
  Dinner: Brazilian Shrimp Soup, Roasted Asparagus, Fruit Plate

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Lent, Mardi Gras, Menu Plans, Quinquagesima, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:08 AM 0 comments

I'm more than halfway finished with Jerome's mittens and I only have the ribbing on the neck left and Imbat. I changed the top of the graph on this mitten pattern, and I think I'm still going to add three small stars to it on the second mitten and just duplicate stitch them on the other mitten afterward. It looks like I'm going to run out of the green yarn, but I was able to find someone with a skein of it in the same dye lot and it is on its way to me already. It feels so good to be finishing projects! I'm trying desperately not to start any new ones, because I want to finish these and a pair of mitts for my daughter-in-law first. Since I have the best reason in the world a cast on new projects, this is a little harder than normal. Alexander and Autumn are due at the end of October, which makes us grandparents!

I have been rearranging my knitting projects for the year, and finding more cute little baby things to make. I cannot wait!

The kids and I have only a few more chapters left on Rilla of Ingleside. It is hard to read about the devastation of World War I when it appears we are on the verge of World War IV. We are deep in prayer and grief right now. In light of that, reading Bearing God: The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch the God-Bearer has been edifying and calming. God is God and He is present now, even in these wars and rumors of war. Lord have mercy. Saint Ignatius, pray for us!

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Grandbaby, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:23 AM 0 comments

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday! There are also only nine days left until our Mardi Gras doughnut night. We are excited about that, and even about the spritual school of the fast. We are enjoying our pre-fasting time as much as we can right now. Rich wanted us to get some fancy barbecue and pizza from a restaurant here in town before the fast, so we are doing that this week. They are going to work with us to accomodate Jerome's food intolerances, which is fantastic.

Jerome gets cheese back tomorrow, and we are all thrilled for him. We start his test of coriander/cilantro this week, and I really hope he has no trouble with that, because we eat it all the time, normally. It will make Lent much easier for us if he can eat that, too. Then, we try the milk one more time, to see how it goes now that the weather has calmed down a little.

• Sunday - Sexagesima
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Raspberry Syrup (Fluffy Gluten-Free and Vegan Peanut Butter Pancakes for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftover Turkey, Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Salad, Cream Cheese Cookie Bites, Apple Pie and Chantilly Cream
• Monday
  Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting (Gluten-free for Jerome), Breakfast Sausage Patties, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Stacked Turkey, Corn and Chard Enchiladas (Non-dairy Milk for Jerome), Salsa Rice, Sliced Oranges
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Baked French Toast (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Canned Spiced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey, Barbecue Pizzas, Cowboy Beans, Corn Bread, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Polycarp of Smyrna
  Breakfast: Battatas ou Bayd, Grapefruit Halves, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Baked Feta and Tomato Pasta (Gluten-free for Jerome), Green Salad, Sliced Oranges
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Matthias the Apostle
  Breakfast: Shakshouka, Bread (Gluten-free for Jerome), Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Double Decker Grilled Reubens (Gluten-free for Jerome), Pickles, Green Salad, Sliced Apples
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Honey, Sliced Apples, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Caribbean Seafood Stew, Rice, Oranges
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Alexander of Alexandria
  Breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes (Gluten and dairy-free for Jerome) with Maple Syrup, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pepperoni Pizzas (Gluten-free for Jerome), Salad, Fruit Plate

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Sexagesima, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:09 AM 0 comments

We are in the countdown to Lent again! Lent is both later this year than it has been recently, but also still feels like it is coming faster. While we follow the western calendar for the dates of Lent and the Paschal feast, that image up there does feel accurate. In just over two weeks, we will be having our doughnut party for Mardi Gras. We are already planning some apple or pear fritters Jerome can eat, if we substitute his gluten-free flour, dairy-free butter or oil, and coconut milk.

I have been remiss in posting recipes here. Part of that has been our exhausted catching up on everything at home and with schooling, part of that has been that I haven't had a chance to get good pictures. My goal this week is to get them posted, even without pictures, and then add the pictures at a later date. The latest date I hope to have them posted is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

Also, there is only week to go and Jerome has cheese back entirely! Just in time to take it off his plate for Lent, but he is excited nonetheless. We don't really do the individual giving something up for Lent, rather choosing to take on the sacrifices and disciplines of the Church and fast and pray with Her. We have been growing into our practice, and still aren't as strict about it as the most strict, monastic, rules, are, but we try to fast within our strength. Now that we have no really young children, and I am not pregnant or nursing every two out of three years, this is simpler for our family. If you do not practice this fast (or the Wednesday and Friday fasts), may I encourage you to do so? It is joining in communion with the Church Universal, praying and observing with Her, in solidarity and unity, but also as a way we can make every bite that enters our mouth part of our worship of and devotion to God.

All of our children know that we abstain from certain foods on Wednesdays and Fridays because of Judas' betrayal of Jesus on Wednesday and Jesus' crucifixion on Friday. Every one of them knows that we fast during Lent and Advent as a way to see our need for God, and as a reminder to pray and give alms. Even the littlest of us who cannot fully fast, still know that this is the practice of the Church for our own growth and seek to grow into it. Once it becomes a habit, it is not usually too hard to do (though during the seasons of fasting and abstinence, it does get to be a slog, but that is good, too, just challenging), and forces us to remember to pray, to seek the Lord in the desert, to fast with Him, to identify with those who do not eat because they cannot, and therefore, to be generous with them, as well. We cannot even imaging going back to a time when only our preferences determine how we eat. This small devotion has grown us in ways we could never have predicted. I adjure you to give it a try, with the spiritual advice of your priest or confessor or another spiritual father or mother in your life, making accomodations for your health and strength, and see what God will do in you.

• Sunday - Septuagesima
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Beef Rendang, Sticky Coconut Rice, Stir Fried Peppers and Onions, Cara Cara Oranges
• Monday
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam, Toast (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Persian Carrot and Beef Meatballs, Potatoes and Chard, Home Canned Pears, Persian Love Cake
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Onesimus
  Breakfast: Baked French Toast (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Canned Spiced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Greek Chicken and Rice*, Potluck Vegetables or Salad, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Almond Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Pasta (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Tuna, Canned Peaches
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Harvest Pancakes, Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Tom Kha Gai with Turkey (Thai Coconut Soup), Sliced Oranges
• Friday - Feast of Saint Pope Leo the Great
  Breakfast: Ful, Shatta, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Oranges, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Cauliflower Walnut Tacos, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Salsa
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Herb Roasted Turkey, Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Orange Sauce with Toasted Walnuts, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Steam Sautéed Carrots, Salad, Apple Pie and Chantilly Cream

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Septuagesima, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:51 AM 0 comments

We had a big winner meal last week and a big loser. The Persian stew was full of things we eat all the time and like, every ingredient in it was something we enjoy, but somehow all together, even though it sounded and smelled good together, it was not good. I'm going to take the blame on that, but I am also not going to make it again, until I have eaten it with pleasure at someone else's hands and learn how she makes it. The Spanish fish and shrimp stew, though, was fantastic, and I will make it again. Normally, I try to keep daily dinners at or below $2.00 a person, and this one was around $4.33 per person, but considering what a single bowl of it would have cost at a restaurant, and how wonderfully it tasted, it will come out more frequently, when we can get fish and shrimp for decent (or as close to that as we get now) prices.

Now that Jerome is starting his third week of testing cheese, our assessment is not just neutral, but positive. His skin has improved quite a bit, which, to be fair, probably has at least as much to do with the weather and relative humidity, but it was during a time that my own ezcema blew up a lot. He is so excited to be able to eat fermented dairy products freely again in two weeks! This gives me a little more hope for our second trial with the milk.

Again, I encourage you to stock your pantries and freezers with foods that are lower priced in your price range and be ready. Be urgent and diligent about it, but be at peace, there is no need for fear.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Titus
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Bacon Sausages, (Gluten and Dairy-free Sausage Gravy on Toast for Jerome), Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hearty Beef Tacos, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Cabbage and Carrot Slaw with Cumin Lime Dressing, Oranges
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: H'ashweh, Sumac Roasted Cauliflower, Taratoor, Harissa, Home Canned Pears
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Peach Oatmeal (Grain-free Granola for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta with Prosciutto, Cabbage and Onions, Green Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Sliced Apples
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam (Coconut Yogurt for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala, Rice, Chopped Salad, Canned Spiced Peaches
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Scholastica
  Breakfast: Potato and Veggie Hash, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chef Salad with Ham and Chopped Egg, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Ful, Shatta, Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Oranges, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Roasted Garlic and Potato Soup, Crackers (Gluten-free for Jerome), Canned Peaches
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Ham and Potato Bake (Gluten and Dairy-free for Jerome), Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pork and Green Bean Stir Fry, Jasmine Rice, Oranges

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Presentation, Purification, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:13 AM 0 comments

Not only did I finish this baby blanket, but I made a little wash mitt to go with it. Both still need to be washed and blocked, and the blanket needs its ends woven in, too. Those are my first two FOs of the year, and I think Imbat will be finished by the end of the week (or at least the knitting of it and the pattern writing).

We have a new yarn shop in town and I was able to go to one of their sit and stitch sessions and chat with the owner. She used to own a shop on the west side I would visit when we were staying with a priest family with whom we are friends. It will be great to have a LYS here after about five have not stuck around here. I really hope she succeeds and thrives.

We finished Rainbow Valley and started Rilla of Ingleside. Reading these books have sparked all sorts of discussions on Protestantism in the Americas at the turn of the 20th century, Canadian and American history, and the run up to World War I. I think they want to read the Cheaper by the Dozen books next. Also, I have finally finished Desert Queen! The book and the woman were fascinating, especially to me, but I have to admit that I did not like her. I did enjoy watching her learn and grow and seeing how her opinion was modified by her greater knowledge of the people and culture of the Middle East. We are still dealing with the problems that she both foresaw and aided in creating now. Her disdain of women reminded me of why I despise that saying about well behaved women rarely making history, though. While there is an element of truth in that, as it is truly extraordinary people, both men and women, who mark the world so indelibly, well behaved women are busy making society and culture.

Now, I have returned to Bearing God: The Life and Works of St. Ignatius of Antioch the God-Bearer, whose life has come up at church this past week and his teaching and legacy come up in various theological discussions and articles we have been reading. His influence is so important to the Church, and I really want to know him better.

There is something I am frustrated about, though I have tried to keep my blog and social media largely free of political discussion. My apologies to those of you who follow me to avoid that. I am a woman of color, ethnic minority, daughter of immigrants, raised in relative poverty. Ostensibly, it is my voice that is supposed to be highlighted, though I have never wanted artificial, token propping up, which implies or assumes that my work is not good enough to stand on its own without the help of young, "socially conscious" saviors to lift me from my savage ignorance and incompetence. However, because I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and do not simply form an opinion on a person or organization based on what the mob currently thinks, I am in the cross hairs of these same people who think that minority voices should be magnified.

I try not to pay too much attention to small changes in my followers on social media, follows fluctuate, and maybe someone is no longer interested in my work or now likes it more. However, it was hard not to notice the large drop off of the last week or so, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why, as I hadn't said anything political, nor had I said anything controversial. I attributed it to it being January, and people cleaning up their feeds. Then a post from a publication came up in my feed, and I saw that I didn't really agree with what they were putting out, so I went to unfollow them. Someone had linked to them in the last couple weeks of January, and I followed to see what they might have to say or contribute. Then, I realized that this was likely the reason for the drop in my followers. I have already had evidence of people screen shotting my social media activity to prove my racism (snort), and I have had a young, white, privileged woman tell me that I didn't understand the experience of minorities and immigrants in this country. I have not wanted to dignify their venomous, petty, attacks with a response or acknowledgement. Let me make this clear, though. These are people with nothing better to do than sniff for blood in the water and go on the attack. I don't have time in my day to keep track of the activities of people I don't care for or know. I just don't. I'm not sure how they do. But I am tired of their nonsense. Since none of them were my customers or supported my work, it is not a big loss, but I am tired of all of these white saviors somehow thinking that this brown woman is too stupid to know her life and needs them to tell her how life is. What happened to holding space and sitting in discomfort to listen? I will still give people the benefit of the doubt and explore their words and actions myself to form my own opinion, regardless of the sharks. The funny thing is that sometimes I draw the same or similar conclusions, but because I am unwilling to toe the line and cast off anyone the crowd hates, and instead take the time to evaluate each person or situation myself, I am somehow a traitor. I may regret this free expression, but for now it stays. Thank you for reading my frustrated ramblings. We will go back to our normal crafting and reading after this.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Blog Info, Books, Design, FOs, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:24 AM 2 comments