Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

It is Holy Week for the East this week, and as we attend an Orthodox mission, we will be joining in some of the observance. We will be at the Vigil and rejoice with them in the celebration. I will be bringing our Italian bacon and Romano Pasqua bread, sirnica, strawberries, and ham to break the fast after the liturgy.

The polenta crust was alright, but a little bland. It needed more salt, some oregano and thyme, and parmesan. Otherwise, it made a good pizza for Jerome. We had to move some meals because of schedules and leftovers, so there are some repeats this week and some that were moved to next week. Saturday morning, we had an ordination to attend, which I had forgotten to put on the calendar, so we had a bit of a rushed goodbye with Shawn while we piled into the car to go. God provided for our rushed morning, however, because in the used bin of the grocery store, there had been exactly nine cups of vanilla yogurt marked down, and raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries were all on sale for an excellent price.

The gleaning club has our annual opportunity for asparagus at $0.75 a pound. We have usually ordered about 80 to 100 pounds in past years and cooked and pickled and frozen as much as we can enjoy. The pickled and frozen asparagus permits us to enjoy it at other times of the year, as well.

Our visit with Shawn was lovely, and it was so good to have her here with us. This week is a little more normal for us, and we are trying to get a lot accomplished, because our May is rather busy. Please pray for all of us. There is a lot going on - good things - but it definitely adds more pressure and stress, even with the fun.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup Strawberries and Raspberries, Hard Boiled Eggs, Orange Juice and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Side Dishes/Salads/Desserts brought by Church Family
• Monday
  Breakfast: Ham and Eggs, Toast, Strawberries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Quiches Lorraine et à la Niçoise, Marinated Salad with Herb Vinaigrette, Sliced Blood Oranges
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena
  Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs, Sausages, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Open Faced Hamburger Pizzas, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, and Saints Philip and James, Apostles
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Gatayif Filling, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Borani Kadoo with Yogurt Sauce, Basmati Rice, Green Tomato Chutney
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Athanasius
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Sausages, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pressure Cooker Dakbokkeumtang (Spicy Korean Chicken Stew), Jasmine Rice, Kimchi, Sliced Oranges
• Friday
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries and Coconut, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Squash Koubbeh, Basmati Rice, Tomato Salad, Sliced Apples
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Migas with Salsa, Sour Cream and Sliced Avocados, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: BLTs, Corn Relish with Sweet and Hot Peppers and Pickled Asparagus, Fruit Plate

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:07 AM 0 comments

So, I think I said that we are getting close to Amelia's baptism. Now, I think I can actually stop adding length to the skirt and decrease for the bodice! I am finishing the final repeat on the skirt, and then get to divide for the bodice, and stop knitting something that is my size and start making something that is her size. Yay!

I have kind of stalled out on my last sock, not because of any trouble, but because I want to take some photos and video of the heel turn technique to help people who are not familiar with it. But I'm knitting with dark yarn. And I want good light for the photos and video. So, I have been waiting to turn the heel for all the circumstances to be right. I need to get that done. Maybe that is something I can do tomorrow.

My reading is still largely a little in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages and a lot more in Northanger Abbey. I'm not getting a lot of personal reading time lately.

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, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:54 PM 0 comments

Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

We had a little bit of a topsy turvy week last week, and so several meals were shifted or abandoned, and are either now moved to this week or next. Then I realized that our Shawn will be here this week and I wanted to make some more special meals for her while she is here. So, some of the meals have been further moved. Unfortunately, Dominic was not able to get the time off so he could come visit home with his bride.

Rich has been wanting pizza since Lent, so we are making our own on Monday, making a polenta crust for one of them for Jerome. Because we like to put a few anchovies in our pizza sauce, I am planning a quiche next week which also uses anchovies so we don't waste any of them.

Beyond that, we are continuing to work and pray and live and play, Rich is busy in the garden, I am busy at home, and the kids are just busy. We have our annual homeschool semi-formal dance coming up and then spring might be here in earnest.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Anselm
  Breakfast: Fried Egg and Cheese Ciabatta Sandwiches, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chile Verde, Rice, Pinquito Beans and Corn, Corn Tortillas, Fruit Plate
• Monday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Sourdough English Muffins, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pepperoni and Vegetable Pizza (Polenta Crust for Jerome), Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint George
  Breakfast: Sausage and Potato Hash, Poached Eggs, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken Poblano, Cilantro Lime Rice, Fried Corn and Peppers with Onions, Sliced Oranges
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Gatayif Filling, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Easy Vegetable Bake, Salad, Bread, Pickled Beets
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist
  Breakfast: 'Ijja, Bread, Harissa, Olives, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: One Pan Lamb Kofta and Swiss Chard, Saffron Rice with Herb and Yogurt Sauce, Persian Walnut Cookies
• Friday
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries and Coconut, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Thai Chile and Coconut Milk Salmon, Jasmine Rice, Stir Fried Vegetables, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Mustard, Gruyère, and Prosciutto Rolls, Hard Boiled Eggs, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Red Chile Pork, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Cabbage Salad with Cumin Dressing

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:58 AM 0 comments

Life certainly has a way of getting in the way, doesn't it? I am still not finished with my sock, and won't be publishing quite yet. However, it will be soon. As I said, the pattern is already tech edited and beta knit. I will take the opportunity of taking a few more photos of the heel turning technique for the pattern, and perhaps a little video, as well.

Two out of five projects from my spa set are complete, which are bright and happy. I love them. I was really hoping to have the pattern set ready in time for people to make them for Mother's Day, but that will not happen. However, the patterns should be ready for May, and if you are interested in making one or more of the items in the set in a beta knit, I would be happy to hear from you! The third of the set will be made soon, and certainly any beta projects would make excellent Mother's Day gifts.

In the interim, I have a big sale going on at both my PayHip and Ravelry storefronts. Rich and I have had a goal to make it to our 75th wedding anniversary. I was 20 years and almost six months old, and Rich was just past 26 years and six months when we married, so I would be 95 years and almost six months at that celebration. As close as I can calculate, that is today!

I thought the best way to celebrate this with you would be to have a sale. So, between today and the end of the day PDT Saturday, April 20, 2024, with the coupon code Halflife, on both my PayHip and Ravelry stores, every singly sold pattern I offer will be 50% off. LoveCrafts does not permit its designers to offer coupon codes, so you will need to use either of these stores or contact me directly for a Paypal invoice.

There is slow, but steady progress being made in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages and the kids and I are working our way through Northanger Abbey fairly quickly and enjoying the humor and fun.

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, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:46 PM 0 comments

Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

My Bible study is taking a little break and hoping to interest a few more people to join us. We will begin again with a study of the book of Sirach. I kind of wanted to finish our former study at the end of last year so we could start it up in January again with this study, as there are 52 chapters in this book and 52 weeks of the year, so it seemed a perfect match.

In any case, that does leave my Tuesday nights a little less hurried for a little while. Even though I am a bit sad about not having our standing weekly study and prayer group.

We have a memorial to go to this week, so I needed a couple more simple meals than normal. We have some red chile pork in the freezer, so we can use that as well as some quick and easy pasta dishes and pressure cooker meals. This will make less work for our busier days. We are still eating mostly out of our freezer, also, and that is a great blessing now.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Blackberries and Raspberries, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Coconut Beef Curry, Jasmine Rice, Chocolate Ricotta Cake
• Monday
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam, Toast, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Saucy Hungarian Red Potato Goulash with Smoked Sausage, Green Salad, Sliced Apples
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Home Fries, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Lemon and Rosemary Chicken Bake with Potatoes, Sliced Apples
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs, Toast, Olives, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Seafood and Scallion Pajeon with Dipping Sauce, Kimchi, Rice
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Sausage and Potato Hash, Poached Eggs, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pressure Cooker Dakbokkeumtang (Spicy Korean Chicken Stew), Jasmine Rice, Kimchi, Walnut Cookies
• Friday
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries and Coconut, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Creamy Broccoli and Cheese Pasta, Green Salad, Ice Cream
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Za'atar Rolls to break the fast after Liturgy
  Dinner: Red Chile Pork, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Fruit Plate

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 5:24 AM 0 comments

Six patterns are written, five from a spa set collection, and I am working on a seventh! My goal is always to be three pattern releases ahead in my pattern writing and that went out the window in the last few years, so I am excited to be getting back on track with that.

I actually started the second sock of this pair, and since the pattern is already written and edited, I am hoping to have it finished in time to publish at the end of next week. I had a couple beta knitters, and I am looking forward to their pictures, too.

Now I have two out of five of the spa set designs knit, though I will be re-knitting one of them. I will be casting on the basic washcloth of the set today, and probably finishing it tomorrow. My goal is to have them all completed in time for an early May release. I will have beta opportunities for any/all of these pieces soon, and hope you will want to knit them.

P.S. If you do not already subscribe to my newsletter, check out the link below. I will have a new release soon, and have some fun suprises in store. This Friday, I am planning another FO post, too, so I can share some of the finished items I've made lately.

Still a bit exhausted, and trying to get back to normal work and school schedules here, but I did pick up Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages and read a little. The kids and I started Northanger Abbey this week, which we are finding delightful. It was one of only two books by Jane Austen I had never read in their entirety, and now that we've read Mansfield Park, this is the last one. Like Mansfield Park, I know enough of the story to know basically how it goes, the characters and themes, and, of course, how it ends, but I have never actually read it from start to finish, so this is enjoyable for me, as well. Having something humorous to read is really helpful right now when we are all a little out of sorts and tired.

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, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:01 PM 0 comments

Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

In the Antiochian Church, there is no fasting for all the Paschal season, not just the Octave. Our priest here has said, that though he would never tell anyone that he must keep the Wednesday and Friday fasts during the Paschal season, as the Bishop has spoken on this, and he would never go against the Bishop, that the people in the Middle East suffer much more than we in the west, and need more relief than we do, so he still keeps those fasts. So, as a way of still celebrating as we are permitted, but also acknowledging the truth of what our local priest has said, we have been eating fish, dairy, and egg on Wednesdays and Fridays during the season as a compromise, while still continuing our celebration. We are enjoying all the dairy and fish!

Jerome had an immense relief from his eczema that was nearly miraculous. Unfortunately, he has found that wheat/gluten triggered both stomach problems and skin issues. So, we are back to trying to eat as gluten free as possible for him. In general, though, we are trying to avoid gluten free breads and products, and just having him eat things that are naturally gluten free, like rice and potatoes, or loads of vegetables.

Our freezer cooking continues apace, and we are busy making room for more ducks and turkeys to be butchered and, we hope, a couple lambs and maybe a hog. Our poultry are producing quite well, and we are in a luxury of eggs, which helps with our feasting right now.

• Sunday - Final Day of the Paschal Octave and Divine Mercy Sunday
  Breakfast: Ful, Duqqus, Sah'awiq, Toast, Strawberries, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Guinness Beef Stew With Cheddar Herb Dumplings, Marinated Tomatoes and Onions, Guinness Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Monday - Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Sausage Links, Mandarin Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chili, Cornbread, Cookies
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Cottage Cheese Bowl with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Kalamata Olives, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken Paprikash, Rice, Salad/Sides/Desserts brought by Bible study members
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Migas, Salsa, Sliced Avocados, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Greek Stuffed Tomatoes with Feta, Roasted Yellow Summer Squash, Sliced Oranges
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Pope Leo the Great
  Breakfast: Sausage, Potato and Vegetable Hash, Fruit Plate, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Pressure Cooker Dakbokkeumtang (Spicy Korean Chicken Stew), Jasmine Rice, Kimchi, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Turkish Menemen, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Cream of Poblano Soup, Fried Tortilla Strips, Crema, Mandarin Oranges
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Gatayif, Bacon, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Gumbo, Rice, Pepper Vinegar, Scallions, Chocolate Ricotta Cake

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:29 AM 0 comments

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Holy Week and Bright Week have taken a lot of my time and energy, so there isn't as much progress to share, though there is some. I am finished with the first sock of Dahha, and the pattern is written and edited now. Three out of five patterns in the H'ammaam spa set are written, and I am close to finishing Amelia's baptismal gown (and she is close to getting baptized!).

The heel and toe on this sock design are one of three of my favorite ways to work a heel, and I'm really pleased with the fit and look on it. There will be a special offer on both this pattern and Nafhat when I publish Dahha, so keep your eyes open for that (if you subscribe to my newsletter - see the end of this post to do that - you will get the earliest notice of the discount).

One thing I keep forgetting about making gowns for babies and toddlers is how large they are in the skirt. It is basically the size of an adult sweater that would fit me! The bodice is toddler sized, but the skirt could be a sweater for a grown woman.

The facecloth and drawstring bag really would have been better had I made it a little larger, so I am probably making another pretty soon. Right now, I am finishing a bath mitt, and will make a washcloth, and a soap sack, as well.

Because of all the church services and cooking of this past week and a half, not much reading has been done in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages (or anything else, really). The kids and I finished Mansfield Park last month, and I finished my Romans Study, so those are three more finished books this year.

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, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:55 PM 0 comments