Sonlight Garden

preparing

The tree is decorated. Christmas music fills our home. After a major clean of the kitchen (a move the refrigerator kind of cleaning) we just finished a two day bake-a-thon. Mary Jane is quite the baker. We need to make one more batch of peppermint bark for teacher gifts. That needs to get done today. Also on the list...I need to make the pyrogies, wrap presents, Finish addressing Christmas cards, and grocery shopping for our Christmas eve and day meals. Terry is home so he and I will do this together :0)

I was in Walmart on Thursday getting all of our baking supplies and I started to get all choked up. I was thinking about my children and Terry and my Dad and how we are all going to be together over these next few days. No place to go. I feel so blessed to have this time together. I was so excited and overwhelmed at how blessed I am. In those same thoughts I think of those in Newtown, those families, those babies. I pray and beg mercy and grace for them...for all of us. 

Well, I am off for now. I promised John Paul he could help me make the dough for the pyrogies. I may have to give him his own little batch. Have a great weekend everyone!

 

gingerbread day

 

It was gingerbread house day yesterday. I had just poured myself a nice cup of coffee, sat down with my bunch with my camera in hand, and then...Henry, little stinker, reaches up and knocks my coffee over. John Paul was not happy, pour guy. We cleaned it up quickly and proceeded. No reason to cry over spilled coffee, however, I almost did because I used up the last of my half and half on that spilled cup. Oh well.

It was bittersweet this year. We assembled these while Joe and Julia were at school. It made me a little sad not seeing their faces around the table. They are getting older. All of them. As we were putting them together I was reminded of years past and how much fun we've had keeping this little tradition. When we started doing this a few years ago I never thought there would be a day when they wouldn't all be here doing this together. So, I am learning to savor these everyday moments. These children are growing up. Next year I think we will do our house building during Christmas break when mid term exams are over and see if I can lure some "big" kids in on the construction.

Easy Christmas Treats

Pretzels, chocolate chips, and some toppers equal an easy, fun, yummy treat. We made these last week and plan on making some more because our first batch is gone! All you do is melt the chocolate, spoon it over the pretzel and then sprinkle on your toppings. Let the chocolate set and your good to go. The little girls loved helping with these. Even Amelia with limited visibility who is growing out her bangs and keeps taking out her barrette. :0) 

 

People, look east. The time is near 
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

 Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.

 Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.

 Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

 Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

 Words and Music: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), 1928

 

That picture above was taken last week. But I love it and wanted to get it up here. We have a busy week ahead of us but we are not all healthy. Julia and I caught Patrick's bug. I am feeling better I just have a cough and feel tired. Julia is still running a high fever. I pray the baby doesn't get it or anyone else for that matter. I am also praying the upcoming busy-ness doesn't take away from some much needed quiet time so we can prepare our hearts. So if the cookies don't get made in my kitchen this year there is always the local bakery. Maybe this illness is a little gift. 

On the eve of St. Nicholas

 

Their shoes are out and ready.

How is it going?

I have been kind of quiet here lately. Not feeling the whole blog thing as of recently. And really I have been beyond busy which is not good. I don't like when it gets like this. It leaves me very unsettled and scattered, definitely not what this season is about.

How are your Christmas plans coming along? We are just about done here. I made 60 pyrogy yesterday. I still have cookies to bake. (or maybe I will just go buy some) I am still addressing Christmas cards, but they say "Rejoice! Christ is born!" so I am perfectly fine sending them out after Christmas, because really that is when Christmas starts.

and we have these little people to finish painting. The big girls and I are painting these for the little girls. The little girls are getting a castle for Christmas. We are providing the princesses and princes. We may have to stay up late tonight to finish them. But believe it or not, this is what I find relaxing and peaceful.

My mother-in-love is here and spending Christmas and New Year with us. This is such a good thing. My laundry and ironing is caught up. The children are being read to and the house is in a constant state of tidiness. Let me tell you, That is a nice change.

Today I am marching my unsettled scattered self to confession, Mass and Adoration. That is where I will find the peace for my soul. That is the place to truly prepare for the baby Jesus. The most important Christmas preparation of all.

I will probably not be back here until after New Years day. (I may post some Christmas pictures). Merry Christmas. May the PEACE and LOVE and JOY of our dear Christ be born into your heart!

Pyrogi (Varenyky) Madness

We have a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner. I have had this Christmas Eve meal my entire life. I believe my father has also. The meal is meatless. Included are pyrogi, pickled herring and sauerkraut, and a variety of fish. This is what we are having this year.

Oyster Stew

Pyrogi served with sauteed onions in butter and sour cream on the side

pickled herring and sauerkraut

pearl onions in cream sauce

glazed carrots

broccoli in olive oil and garlic

fried smelt

baked fresh flounder, red snapper, and grouper (will cook this in a butter, lemon, garlic sauce)

Christmas cookies for dessert

 Yesterday we made pyrogi. My mom always made them. It makes me sad that I  never took the time to learn how to make these from her. It really is an art. The last two years they were really doughy and I couldn't get the dough to roll out.  This year, I think I have mastered them. Mary Jane worked with me yesterday. My girls are going to learn how to make these so that they can carry on this wonderful tradition. We made 78 of these bad boys

 

 

 

The recipe for the dough is 

2C flour

1 egg 

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 C of water

knead lightly

One batch of dough made roughly 2 dozen pyrogi

The filling consists of potatoes, butter, milk and american cheese. All mashed together. I cooked the potatoes in salted water so I did not add any salt afterward.  You could also fill these with sauerkraut or cheese, I have even had these stuffed with mushroom.

If I can get my scanner to work I want to scan the recipe in here. It is a copy of a recipe card and on the bottom of the recipe it says.

 "During the Traditional Christmas Eve Supper, a bowl of Varenyky is placed before the father. He play-hides behind it asking, "Can you see me, children?"  "Oh no we cannot!" They shout. "May God grant us such bounty throughout the coming year." he responds.

So sweet.
 

Well I had better get off of the computer. The MAJOR house straightening never happened, and it needs to happen today. Plus, I would like to make more cookies.

Have a very Merry Christmas!!!
 
 

anticipation

  
 I was going to do a catch up blog post, but as I sit here to write about what is going on, I am coming up blank. Their is nothing really exciting going on just the normal every day stuff. Which is actually very nice. We have no outside extra activities taking us away from the house, which has been wonderful. I love to be home.

  All of my Christmas shopping is done, including all of the "last minute" things.  The Christmas cards are addressed and stamped and ready to go out. (a little late, but out before Christmas day, that is a record!) We are going to bake more cookies this week. I have to make Perogies for Christmas eve. And a major house straightening is in order. Major. Have you heard this song yet? This is my new favorite Christmas song.

Preparation.

 I can't believe Christmas is this week. This has truly been the most wonderful Advent.  In past years Advent has gotten away from me and before I knew it Christmas had come and gone and I was left feeling empty, feeling like I had missed out on something. Not this year. This year I have searched Him out instead of just waiting. I have found Him in His Church and in Her Feast days that we have joyfully celebrated. I have found Him in the silence. I am waiting in JOYFUL anticipation for the birth of my Saviour. I praise you God and I love you for becoming man and not leaving us alone!  I have found Him and His peace. This year was different.
 

gingerbread days and glitter messes

 We are having a very nice Advent so far. Actually for me, it has been the most meaningful and prayerful Advent  I have had. We are making memories and starting traditions. I feel very peaceful. This is the first year that we have come together and read and prayed the scriptures as a family via the Jesse Tree. This is how Advent should be in my mind.

 My Christmas shopping is done. The tree is up. The house is decorated mostly. We are hitting the three R's and adding in "fun" stuff. 

Gingerbread Day(s) (I say days because we did these activities over a couple of days. )

We read Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett and the Gingerbread Doll by Susan Tews and started the "gingerbread" section of our Christmas Lapbooks. We also made gingerbread houses and I had a cup of Gingerbread House Tea by Tantalizing Teas

 
  

Lapbook- Since Gingerbread Baby is a circle story we made a story wheel. This has been great, especially for the "littles" for retelling the story. And we printed out Gingerbread houses that the children created on the Jan Brett website.

making gingerbread cookies

And as for glitter messes, well, we made glitter stars. You get some wax paper, and squirt glue on it into the shape of a star and then you sprinkle glitter on it. Let me tell you, that is the first and last time that I will ever do that craft that way again. I am convinced that I will have glitter on my floors until next Christmas. It is everywhere! My friend Susette then informed me of glitter glue. Of course! I forgot all about that handy little invention. Maybe next year. Maybe.

Amelia with glitter on her face.

Since we have made the gingerbread houses Amelia will not leave them alone.  As of this evening hers is picked clean of the candy.

Our Christmas tree. You can tell we have a crawling baby, a curious three year old, and new puppy in the house. All of the ornaments are up high. It is perfect though and I wouldn't have it any other way.

   
 

 
 

prepare