Oh Happy Day!

My Case of Mennonite Girls Can Cook books arrived on Monday!!

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned because soon you’ll have a chance to win a free copy of the book here on my blog!

You can order a copy at Amazon here.

If you are wondering what to do with all those hard boiled eggs you made for Easter head over to the MGCC Blog for a recipe for Eggs a la Goldenrod on Tuesday!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Easter Was Glorious!

 

We baked, we dyed, we molded, we decorated, we celebrated big at a wonderful Easter service, and then we ate together.

 

There were 9 of us for our Easter meal. Steve, Lana, Josh, Laura, Steve, Pat, Katie, Dear and Me. We had to put the 2 Steves at the opposite sides of the table since they are both lefties! We had a wonderful time celebrating our risen Savior.

Tonight we’ll get to see our son Dan. The last time he was here was for my birthday in March. Hope your new week is starting well. We’re back to rain here…

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today ~ Hymn

Christos Voskress! Voistina Voskress!

Христос Воскрес!

Воистину воскрес!

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Stanzas 8-10 unknown author.

Busy In The Kitchen Today…

…preparing for our Resurrection Sunday Celebration. Here’s what we’ll be making ~

 

Our Russian Easter bread that we call Kulich and my friends call Paska.

 

And then we’ll make this yummy sweet cheese spread called Seerney Paska to spread on the bread.

Dear will be marinating the lamb that he’ll grill tomorrow. It’s another Russian tradition of ours. The way we’ll be preparing it for tomorrow is in Shish Kebab form which we call Shashlik. My sister Lana will be bringing rice with raisins and almonds and vinagrette, a Russian salad with beets, sauerkraut, pickles, onions, and potatoes. We’ll also have a green salad. Our DIL’s mother will be bringing the strawberries! There will be 9 of us for dinner this year. My mouth is watering already.

We’re going to go to Qwest Field for a big Easter celebration service in the morning that Mars Hill is hosting. It will be cool to be in a stadium with lots of folk praising our Savior together. Oh Happy Day!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

That Man of Calvary ~ Good Friday

That Man of Calvary

Fairest of all the earth beside,
Chiefest of all unto Thy bride,
Fullness divine in Thee I see,
Beautiful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

That Man of Calvary
Has won my heart from me,
And died to set me free,
Blest Man of Calvary!

Granting the sinner life and peace,
Granting the captive sweet release,
Shedding His blood to make us free,
Merciful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Giving the gifts obtained for men,
Pouring out love beyond our ken,
Giving us spotless purity,
Bountiful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Comfort of all my earthly way,
Jesus I’ll meet Thee some sweet day;
Center of glory Thee I’ll see,
Wonderful Man of Calvary!

Refrain

Words: Mannie P. Ferguson, 1904

Good Friday, the only way to the Resurrection and our gift of forgiveness and peace with God! Praying you all have that peace today…

Washing Feet ~ Maundy Thursday

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.”

A is for Apple Blossoms

I’m going to try to participate in Jenny Matlock’s Alphabe-Thursday this time around. The meme is at the beginning again with the letter A.

A is for Apple Blossoms

 

 

Since this is just about Maundy Thursday during Holy Week I’ll tell the truth that these Apple Blossom photos are from last year. My apple tree is behind like everything else this year and is just starting to bud nicely. I’m looking forward to what will come my way in the form of B for next week. Until then Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone. We’ll be busy around this old house with Good Friday, then Easter baking on Saturday and having a grand Resurrection celebration on Sunday!

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Ross Bay Cemetery ~ 2

In my 2nd post of photos from Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, B.C. there are a few photos from the Military Section of the grounds.

 

To the memory of those who died for King and Country in the Great War 1914-1919

1939-1945

 

 

This next Tombstone I found very weird. Not exactly what I’d want watching over my dust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This angel is a lot more comforting than that bird!

 

We got some sunshine today and it was such a welcome relief.  I did some shopping for our Easter Meal and stopped in at one of my favorite cooking equipment stores. When I got home I was able to mow the lawn and it was so much easier this week than last.

We were very saddened this past Sunday to hear about a devastating tornado that destroyed some military housing and damaged several more military homes at Camp Lejeune, N.C. This is the Marine Base where our son-in-law is stationed. He was not at the base at the time but someone in his unit got the call that his wife was injured and his toddler was in critical condition because of the tornado destroying their home. Please pray for this family as the mom is needing medical attention and the toddler is still in critical condition. Thank you.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Ross Bay Cemetery ~ Victoria B.C.

I mentioned previously that my sister Lana and I really enjoy visiting old cemeteries. The Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria was one that we were happy to discover.

Ross Bay Cemetery has the oldest surviving formal landscape design in BC and is a superb example of a Victorian-era burial ground. Its profusion of unusual trees and plantings, winding carriageways, graves with intriguing marble, sandstone and granite monuments, all bear witness to the people buried here.

 

This walk to the cemetery was part of our Sister Weekend. Lana is far ahead with Kathy and Vera trailing…

 

Many famous Canadians and Americans are buried here, including Sir James Douglas (BC’s first governor), many subsequent premiers, coal baron Robert Dunsmuir (who built Craigdarroch Castle), Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (the “Hanging judge), Emily Carr (world-famous artist), Billy Barker (discoverer of gold at Barkerville) and Nellie Chapman (the ‘Miners’ Angel who was featured on a US postage stamp).

This is my first of 2 posts from the Ross Bay Cemetery.

This week I’m laying low and considering a challenge to slow down during this Holy Week. I want to reflect on what Christ has done for us. Looking forward to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services with a Saturday in between where we have a baking day here at this old house baking our Kulich (Paska) and making our Seerney Paska (Sweet Cheese Spread) for the Kulich (Paska). We’ve decided on our Easter menu and we will have our traditional lamb marinated and grilled, Shish kebabs. We call our lamb kebabs Shashlik.

Hope your week is going well.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Cooking Class at Lepp Farm Market

Last Thursday evening 5 of us from Mennonite Girls Can Cook participated in a cooking class at Lepp Farm Market in Abbotsford, B.C. Unfortunately my camera was on a wrong setting and my photos are dark.

 

Judy, Lovella and Marg checked over the lists and then we headed out into the store to shop for our ingredients.

 

 

Bev and Lovella got ingredients ready for Lovella’s Paska.

 

Guests who had paid for the class started arriving. Some came an hour before the class was to begin. Bev was at the stove preparing her Green Bean Soup. This was something I was going to enjoy for the first time.

 

Judy and Marg started preparing their Zwieback. A traditional Mennonite bun.

 

At the end of the evening it was my turn to present my Paska spread, Seerney Paska. Although I am not a natural at being in front of a crowd everyone was very gracious. This was the first time many of the gals had ever tasted this sweet cheese spread.

 

Lovella kept us organized and on task and we all worked well together. I think I enjoy being a Sous Chef, behind the scenes, instead of front and center.

 

At the end of the evening we sat down and enjoyed the fruits of our labor and if I have to say so myself, it was all very good.

Here’s a link for Lovella’s Paska.  Here’s a link to Ellen’s Sweet Cheese Spread for Paska, Seerney Paska.

I’ll be linking up with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with these blurred out versions and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.