Author Archives: Ellen

Maundy Thursday ~ The Last Supper

GOTW-practice035

Excerpts from John chapter 13…

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

I Love Easter Tablescape!

Many tables will be set for your viewing enjoyment so click on over to Between Naps on the Porch to get an eye full and to join in the fun! I’m posting this early because I’m just so excited for Easter!

This is my practice table for our meal on Easter. We will have 10-12 sitting here then but I’m practicing with just 6 settings. I’ll be pulling out a different tablecloth to fit the extended table. My centerpiece on Easter will be the Russian Easter Bread my sister and I will bake on Good Friday. By then I’ll also have real hard boiled and colored eggs for the table with some Easter grass.

I’m pulling out my Royal Albert Moss Rose China for the main course and for dessert I’m using cut glass plates.

My bunnies are announcing the reason for our celebration in Russian! Christ is Risen! Xpucmoc Bockpec Truly He has Risen Воистину воскрес!!

Wish I had my crosses to grace my Easter table but they are still at my condo in California…

Have a Glorious Easter everyone!

 

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Saturday in the Northwest

It’s time for some outdoor shots wherever you are. I happen to be in the Western Washington which is part of the Great Pacific Northwest area of the U.S.A. Thank you to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for hosting this weekly event…

My girlfriends and I walked the Burke Gilman Trail on Saturday morning for about 4 miles and it was nice and sunny.

 

The blossoms are gorgeous and prolific. This tree was at Blyth Park in Bothell. So many blossoms that they look like snow when they fall.

The tulips are beginning to bloom, too.

My apple tree will soon be in full bloom. I’ll take more photos when more of the buds open up…

Hope your Easter week is filled with the wonder of Jesus and what He suffered and accomplished for all of us…

 

Goldilocks and Church Hunting…

At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of porridge. Goldilocks was hungry.  She tasted the porridge from the first bowl.

“This porridge is too hot!” she exclaimed.

So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

“This porridge is too cold,” she said

So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

“Ahhh, this porridge is just right,” she said happily and she ate it all up.

I realize this is a leap but I thought of Goldilocks since we’ve been church shopping for the last few Sundays. When we moved back to Washington we knew we’d have to find a new church home to settle into. The church we’d attend when we flew back and forth was a little too hot for us. A great church with a fabulous ministry but just too hot for our comfort. (And you know it’s all about us…)

The second church we visited 3 Sundays to see if it was the right fit but the chair was too big and too old. The next church we tried today was very close to home and  the chairs and the worship music were just right but we weren’t comfortable with some theology…

Soon we’ll find the place that’s just right and we’ll be able to start to use our gifts again to serve the Body of Christ. Until then just call me Goldilocks…

 

Mosaic Monday ~ Holy Week is Here!

What does Holy Week have to do with bunnies, especially the stuffed variety? Not much but we are sorting out and Spring cleaning around here in a major way. That’s not particularly holy although it could be. So my daughter brought out all her stuffed animals and then put together all her bunnies for an Easter shot. Then she asked, “should I bring out the lambs, too?” My reply to her was “If you are still a Christian you should.” We like to concentrate on the Lamb of God at Easter time. :0) I hope you can appreciate my sense of humor…my daughter chuckled. We are very serious about Jesus.  “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”

This week we’ll be busy preparing for our Easter celebration. My sister Lana G! and I will be making Russian Easter Bread (Kulich) and a soft sweet cheese spread (Seerneya Paska) to spread on the bread. My daughter Katie will color Easter Eggs. We love our traditions.

We’ll observe Good Friday. On Easter morning we’ll attend an Easter Service and greet each other with the Easter Greeting “Christ is Risen”…response “He is Risen Indeed”. My little bunnies are holding this greeting to grace our table. Any phone call we get on Easter Sunday will start with this greeting in Russian of course. Our Easter meal after church will have lamb for the main course with side dishes I haven’t decided on yet.

Hope you all have a blessed Holy Week.

Please visit Mary at The Little Red House to see more mosaics…

 

All Glory, Laud and Honor ~ Palm Sunday Hymn

All Glory, Laud and Hon0r

Refrain

All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.

Refrain

The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.

Refrain

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.

Refrain

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

Refrain

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

Refrain

Words: Theodulph of Orleans, cir­ca 820 (Glor­ia, laus, et hon­or) trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, 1851

Round Robin Challenge ~ 5 Miles!

Hi, Robins! Time for our new challenge! This one was suggested by Carly back in June 2008. The Round Robin Challenge for Saturday, March 27, is Up to Five Miles Away.

(5.0 miles = 8.04672 km.)
First I drove South. This was at 5.1 miles because I had to find a safe parking spot! This is a park in the city of Kirkland, Washington that is on the shore of Lake Washington. It was a cloudy morning…
Driving North for 5 miles I found “The Chicken” This is at Country Village in Bothell, Washington.
It really is wonderful to think about all these great destinations just 5 miles from my home. This was such a fun challenge because now I have a better handle on how many miles things are away from me.
Going East about 5 miles away brought me to 3 distinct watering holes. Ste Michelle Winery in a French Chateau setting. I would have had to have driven beyond the 5 mile mark to get photos of the chateau. Columbia Winery was visible from the street at the 5 mile mark and is directly across the street from Ste Michelle with a more Victorian architecture and then kiddy corner from both of these great wineries is your good ole roadside tavern!
This is the Columbia Winery in Woodinville.
Now if I would have gone to the 6 mile mark on this road it would have brought me to Redhook Brewery and then to the Herb Farm a renowned restaurant in Woodinville.
It will be fun to visit all you Robin’s and see what there is to see about 5 miles from your homes…
Click here to see more of the Round Robin Challenge…