Rug Burns!!!

[Orthocat]

So what do you take for aching knees and forehead rug burns? :bow:

Just kidding.

How is everyone's Lenten season going?

Inspirational? Hungry?

Tell some good stuff...

[Sacrum Silentium]

Ups and downs! In fact, it taught me a valuable lesson that I jotted down in my Lenten journal.

"Don't be too proud in your own strengths and triumphs. Give all glory to God and rely on His strength and grace, because our own are like waves on the shore -- Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, always crashing."

My problem now is looking away from the monitor and picking up some spiritual reading. I'm going to make myself do that tonight.

How's yours Orthocat?

[Mary of Bethany]

Last week was wonderful. Father had scheduled several daytime services Monday - Wednesday, along with the Canon in the evenings, so I was able to take vacation days so I could be at all of the services. Plus I hung around the church to help Father with whatever he needed. So it was great - in church all the time; all the prayers, all the hymns, all the prostrations. Not eating. Two Pre-Sanctified Liturgies. It was great!

This week . . . . . not so much. Back to work. I've been sick with whatever cold/sinus crud seems to be going around right now; missed Pre-Sanctified last night; at home from work today. I've missed prayer times.

Pretty typical up-and-down for me, I guess. :sorry:

Mary

[Orthocat]

Mine? Not bad.

I broke fast for about two hours the other day. My dept had a breakfast (break fast) for me and didn't realize it was Lent. They knew about the two days of the week but not Lent.
I couldn't hurt anyone's feelings by not eating what they had made, so I sampled some of everything.

My body was not used to all the "fleshly" richness so it got rid of what I'd eaten quickly...so to speak.


Other than that, reading and listening to my knees pop and throw everyone off...
I have a Lenten hymns cd in my truck that plays constantly...

I've read your journal Isaac. It's awesome. You should have your own site....oh, wait.... ;)

[kamikat]

Like everyone else, ups and downs. To be honest, it's a bit hard for me to get into the solemn Lent state because I still feel giddy over my chrismation. I would have been a complete mess if I had had to wait until Holy Sat., but I see the wisdom in waiting until then. There's been some fallout at home over the chrismation, but that's starting to settle down. I received a couple of great prayer books and enjoying discovering them. I'm not really reading as much as I should be. I'm not really happy with one of the books I got specifically for Lent. It's just not what I had in mind.

[Michael the Iconographer]

So what do you take for aching knees and forehead rug burns? :bow:

Just kidding.

How is everyone's Lenten season going?

Inspirational? Hungry?

Tell some good stuff...
Were you wrestling your dog? LOL!

[Rowan]

I'm doing OK.

I read about the life of St. Mary of Egypt last night and I probably will read it over and over again. I love her.

I broke the fast once the other day so I didn't inconvenience another. I'm attending Akathist tomorrow.

I'm excited that it's Spring Break, but going home might bring new Lenten challenges. Please pray for me.

[Knowledge3]

I'm doing well and I already feel solemn, like a peaceful blank-stare feeling.

You know what I mean?

[Orthocat]

Were you wrestling your dog? LOL!


ah, have you seen my big ole mutt??^_^

He's there on myspace...

[Orthocat]

I'm doing well and I already feel solemn, like a peaceful blank-stare feeling.

You know what I mean?


Yes...exactly.

The fathers always taught that fasting is crucial to prayer and that a full stomach deters you and can lead to despondency.
I always forget until this great fast how much more I can actually pray and think better when my stomach is tighter after a week or so...especially later at night when everyone else is asleep.

This is a truly solemn, yet beautiful time of year.


Kamikat - sorry to hear of the fallout. You and yours will be in my prayers. Just think of Pascha and how awesome that will be for you now!! You are not alone in your journey - we are all with you. I usually take my kids alone, due to wife's health, and my extended family are Baptist and Charismatic. They simply don't understand...


Oh, speaking of Pascha - has anyone ever made Pascha, the Russian Easter pudding? I was going to make it this year and I was wondering about the molds you can buy to form it in - square with the cross and letters on the sides....

[kamikat]

I always forget until this great fast how much more I can actually pray and think better when my stomach is tighter after a week or so...especially later at night when everyone else is asleep.


For me, it's always in the early morning, before anyone has woken up yet. There's something very peaceful about starting the day out in prayer, with just some candle light, then ending with the sun shining bright.

I am very excited about Pascha this year. My MIL is coming up during Holy Week, so I'll be able to attend everything. Last year, there was lots of arguing and yelling. The kids had had enough by Thursday.

I know Pascha is normal, but a)I don't eat dairy and b)I'd like to keep some of my own family traditions. I'll be bringing Panettone.

[Orthocat]

For me, it's always in the early morning, before anyone has woken up yet. There's something very peaceful about starting the day out in prayer, with just some candle light, then ending with the sun shining bright.

I am very excited about Pascha this year. My MIL is coming up during Holy Week, so I'll be able to attend everything. Last year, there was lots of arguing and yelling. The kids had had enough by Thursday.

I know Pascha is normal, but a)I don't eat dairy and b)I'd like to keep some of my own family traditions. I'll be bringing Panettone.


Oy, I wish my mornings were like that. I have to get up first and hit the ground running. I have a prayer cd I listen to on the commute (People look at you funny when you're driving and crossing yourself :) ).

I have no family traditions. :sigh:

sooo...since inheriting all these kids running around here I decided we would now make our own.
A little Greek, a little Russian, with some good ole southern mixed in...

[kamikat]

Here's something y'all might want to try. My mom made something similar for Easter brunch every year.
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/hotcrossbuns.htm
And here's a Greek Pascha bread, yeasty and sweet
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/easterbread/easter85.html

We never made it with the red eggs baked in.

[Philothei]

Here's something y'all might want to try. My mom made something similar for Easter brunch every year.
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/easter/hotcrossbuns.htm
And here's a Greek Pascha bread, yeasty and sweet
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/easterbread/easter85.html

We never made it with the red eggs baked in.
Thanks for the recipe for the tsoureki like everything else my cookbook this year is in the boxes. It is a tricky thing to make but got to try it again, Kami and again "Na zisis" meaning "Many many years".

My lent has been okay... except my energy level is down... it always does. Anyway we are not suppose to brag about it. "Put on oil on your face..." or what ever it goes so that others do not know you are fasting. Like Orthocat, me and my family do not tell other people we fast. At work you got to eat whatever they offer you. Sometimes I am tempted to tell people esp. neighbours that we fast when they invite over for dinner but then again I refrain from telling people.

It is different when everyone is Orthodox it is easier, but living in a pluralistic society is different you cannot expect people to understand.

In any case I feel lighter and more focused inside. Outside I feel tired. Evening prayers are a must. Just got a rule on prayer from my SF last night, and plenty of advice.

Lord have mercy.

God bless,
Philothei

[cassc]

I have never personally made the lambropsomo, my Aunt makes it each year (with the eggs) and it is so beautiful we use it as the centerpiece at the head table :thumbsup:

were do you get prayer CDs?

[Akathist]

This lent is really a struggle for me. (come to think of it, the last one was too!... seems to be a pattern.)

Anyway, for what ever reason this year I am getting so many attacks right and left. I feel as if I am losing a lot more then I am winning.

At this moment, I wish I could just jump off the earth for the next several weeks and take a "break" but know that this is all good for my soul and all part of what I need to do for my Lent.

[Orthocat]

I have never personally made the lambropsomo, my Aunt makes it each year (with the eggs) and it is so beautiful we use it as the centerpiece at the head table :thumbsup:

were do you get prayer CDs?


My priest just happens to run a bookstore/cafe downtown.

http://www.alektorbooks.com/home.html


If you look at the pics you'll see where we have book study. I love it there...I just just sit there all day and absorb it all. (Presbytera will put me to work if I sit too long though! :) )

[Khaleas]

Yes...exactly.


Oh, speaking of Pascha - has anyone ever made Pascha, the Russian Easter pudding? I was going to make it this year and I was wondering about the molds you can buy to form it in - square with the cross and letters on the sides....
I have a great recipe for Pascha cheese (which Matushka who is Russian claims is the best one she's ever tasted) but it sorta hangs on if you can find Quark
http://www.vtbutterandcheeseco.com/fromageBlanc.html
(the link is to fromage blanc but it's the green container, I find it at Whole Foods and Trader Joes around here, so probably some specialty store, and for some reason it's in the cheese section in most places).
I'll be happy to share the recipe if you'd like! But I don't know what to substitute the Quark for if you can't find it. It makes the texture smooth instead of curd'y.

[Michael the Iconographer]

I'm doing well and I already feel solemn, like a peaceful blank-stare feeling.

You know what I mean?
My priest will tell you that if you don't struggle in some way shape or another during Great Lent then it has been a spiritual waste for you.

[Philothei]

My priest just happens to run a bookstore/cafe downtown.

http://www.alektorbooks.com/home.html


If you look at the pics you'll see where we have book study. I love it there...I just just sit there all day and absorb it all. (Presbytera will put me to work if I sit too long though! :) )
hey nice caffe there Orthocat wish we had one around here.... And who is your priest? I might know him...
You can pm me.
Nice joint...

God belss,
Philothei

[choirfiend]

Another necessity for making pascha cheese is how much you're willing to strain through cheesecloth to make everything smooth. The molds are nice, if you plan on making the dry-spread kind of Pascha. My mom got tired of draining it years ago, though, so we always have ours in bowls, and it's more like a whipped spread than a dry crumble. The mold also take some time, whereas we can make the cheese and it's ready right then!
Additionally, you dont need to buy a mold. You can take a (new) clay flowerpot and it will do the same thing for a cheaper price. Then you decorate the cheese with raisins and almond slivers--no matter if you made it wet, dry, mold, or pot.

[Philothei]

Another necessity for making pascha cheese is how much you're willing to strain through cheesecloth to make everything smooth. The molds are nice, if you plan on making the dry-spread kind of Pascha. My mom got tired of draining it years ago, though, so we always have ours in bowls, and it's more like a whipped spread than a dry crumble. The mold also take some time, whereas we can make the cheese and it's ready right then!
Additionally, you dont need to buy a mold. You can take a (new) clay flowerpot and it will do the same thing for a cheaper price. Then you decorate the cheese with raisins and almond slivers--no matter if you made it wet, dry, mold, or pot.
Do you have a picture of this cheese? What exaclty is it? Never heard of it. if you get the time to post it of course.

God bless,
Philothei

[Orthocat]

Another necessity for making pascha cheese is how much you're willing to strain through cheesecloth to make everything smooth. The molds are nice, if you plan on making the dry-spread kind of Pascha. My mom got tired of draining it years ago, though, so we always have ours in bowls, and it's more like a whipped spread than a dry crumble. The mold also take some time, whereas we can make the cheese and it's ready right then!
Additionally, you dont need to buy a mold. You can take a (new) clay flowerpot and it will do the same thing for a cheaper price. Then you decorate the cheese with raisins and almond slivers--no matter if you made it wet, dry, mold, or pot.

So it doesn't have a pudding texture? If you drain it it becomes a drier crumble, but if not it is like a whipped spread?

Do you spread it on Kulich?

[Khaleas]

It is smooth when you use the Quark instead of cottage cheese or whatever substitute you use. I line the mold or terracotta pot (remember to soak both) then line it with a cheese cloth (you can get those at Bed Bath and Beyond at least) and then put the mix in there and let it stand and drain for 24 hrs (small hole on the mold down) and then you flip it over and remove the mold. Voila!
The wood mold needs to be soaked in a few batches of clean water and then dried flat or it will mold in a day or two after you use it. I've never used a plastic one so I don't know how they work.