FEAST-ivities continued...

My favorite month of the year is NOVEMBER.  It is a time when I feel things slow down, even for just a bit.  The nights get longer, the air is cooler and the sun is toasty warm...not scorching hot.  Here in California, the sun can be merciless.

It is also the month that I celebrate my birthday. :o)

This year, my daughters and husband made me the most wonderful Birthday Brunch to go with my Birthday Extravaganza.

This is the spread they prepared to help me celebrate the day...

It was a day of jollity!  Nearly festivity overload.

Everything tasted delicious.  Everything was done with such love.  Every detail in the presentation was exquisite and I was most appreciative.

Goodbye November...you've been feastive. 

XO,

Go Greens!

Not only did we switch over to a real green Christmas Tree this past year, I have decided to try out a new delivery system for fresh, organic, local produce.

Easter, Home & Garden

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{pretty}

This year, Easter seems to be pretty quiet.  It feels as though I am missing something...

Maybe I just need to learn to be at peace with some quiet...?   Anyhow...

We have been busy with other plans...future plans.  Easter, after all, is a time of new beginnings, of hope and of new life.

There are signs of new life all around us.  Even in this terrible drought we are experiencing, there is still growth and new life.

{happy}

It is time to make some Creamy Potato and Leek Soup...this makes everyone happy.

{funny}

Some bathroom beauty...if that is possible.  New curtains and fun way to display the unmentionables.

{real}

This is one sad chandelier.  It has been sitting and waiting to be hung in the girls bathroom for years.  Years!  One excuse after another..."I need to paint first...""I need to find the right hanging tool...""I'll have time this summer..."
Tomorrow...

Oh, yes!  One more real...scary-real...awaiting in my garden.  Time to trim back the overgrowth around the borders...

It was about 5 - 6 ft. long.  About the size when it changes from a reptile to a mammal!  This creature was enormous and vile.  Although, strangely beautiful with its color & pattern...blech!

And so, to not leave on an unpleasant note:

Popcorn:  {Look what that big dog did to my ball!}

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~ Happy Tidings ~

Annunciation Cake

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny & real times!

{pretty, happy}

Although we are still in the season of Lent, we are celebrating many feast days.  There are just so many Angels and Saints and we love to learn about them and ask for their intercessions throughout the year...In Lent, or out of Lent.

"Golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelations 5:8

Thank You Flowers for Confirmation 2015 & Conductor's clay Holy Family from 2003

We just celebrated the feast of St. Joseph (March 19), the spouse of Mary, and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (March 25).

There are many was to celebrate feast days, even in Lent:

From decorating with statues or art work, to reading about a saint, or writings from a saint.  A favorite of mine is to celebrate with foods.  We have to eat...everyday.  We might as well incorporate the day with those associated with the patron in honor.  We love to sample new and exciting international types of food.  Foods that are authentic to the lands of the saints and traditional recipes that have been handed down from both old and contemporary customs.  They can be familiar or exotic.  They can be simple or extravagant... But they always remind us of our beloved saints.

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.  This is good, and pleasing to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  1 Timothy 2:1-4

{fun}

Celebrations

By far, the most ordinary way we have celebrated a feast day is to attend the Holy Mass, which is extraordinary.  It is the perfect prayer and celebration.  Unfortunately, this past school year has been challenging to make every Liturgical celebration.  We attend daily Mass when we can, and pray at home and celebrate with foods and decor and readings and prayers...

Let us CELEBRATE!

{real}

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Something Pretty, Something Happy...

Joining Like Mother, Like Daughter for some pretty, happy, funny and real family fun!

{pretty}

I found this new plaid and floral print scarf.  It looks prettier in person.  I love the soft hues with the look of two scarves intertwined (minus the bulk).  

{happy}

We enjoyed an exciting basketball game at Santa Clara University.  The Seminarians of St. Patrick's faced off against the Priests of the Diocese of San Jose.  We took a few of the teens from our Youth Group.  Happy Times!

{funny}

I snapped a quick photo of this wild looking vegetable...I have never seen anything like it before.  Very funny looking!  What is it!?

{real}

These drinks have been part of my New Year's resolution...HEALTH via REAL food.  They are refreshing!  I will post the recipes of my favorites...

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~ The Easter Eggstravaganza & Menu ~

Have you moved on from Easter...?  Even though we celebrate for 50 days, here are some pics from our Easter Morning.  I am SO BACK-BLOGGED!

Every year we like to celebrate with the same delicious fare...maybe we add a couple new dishes & decor, in order to keep things a little interesting.  But we always, ALWAYS, serve the dishes we love and crave.  Including:

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

Stuffed Mushrooms

Lemon & Dill Baked Salmon

Leg of Lamb with Rosemary

(not pictured) Macaroni Salad, Mandarin Orange Salad, & Quinoa

More Easter fare...

Grandma's Jello & Auntie's Peep Cookies

Mouth-watering, soft, warm, Buttery Pretzels...(from Good Friday)

Liquid Refreshments & Libations...

From the grandpa to the youngest, there was something for everyone!

The Decor...

The Easter Baskets...

{happy}

Simple & Sweet

The Easter Bonnet...

{pretty}

{funny}

FUNNY+

Finger-pointer:  Do your school work!

Confused Child:  School work?!  What's that??

Finger-pointer:  Guess!

Confused Child:  Is it something that you do on Google+???

cartoonists:  Conductor, Little Lamb & the mama - we just kept adding to the fun, til it was done.   :o)

{real}

I cannot express how delighted I was to receive this gift...absolutely wonderfully made, lovely hand-made napkins.  They were a gift from my sister-in-laws mother.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am still excited.  Can you tell?  It was an incredibly thoughtful and generous gift...and I just LOVE THEM!!!

If you are visiting...Welcome!  I hope you found something pretty, happy, funny, or real here on my little blog.  For more {phfr} times, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter.

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~+~ Blessings ~+~

~ Thanksgiving Menu: Sweet Potato Crisp ~

Save those marshmallows for your hot chocolate or s'mores.  Once you taste this creamy and sweet potato crisp recipe you will want to make this without the sticky (and messy) "candied" version.

This is what you will need....go ahead an double your shopping list, because this is one dish you are going to want to make again, soon:
2 Sweet Potatoes
4 Tablespoons Butter
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ginger
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon whipping cream
1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon pepper (yes, pepper)

Peel and dice the sweet potatoes, place in pot and fill with water.  Boil until tender.

While the potatoes are cooking, mix the remainder of ingredients together with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. 

Drain and mash the sweet potatoes with a potato masher.

With a hand mixer, mix all the ingredients together until light and fluffy.
Place the sweet potato mixture in a baking dish.

~ The Crisp ~

Mix together:
2 Tablespoons cold butter
3/4 cups pecans
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
If you use a food processor, pulse just a few times.

Place the crisp ingredients on top of the sweet potatoes.


Ready for the oven...

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

For the complete Thanksgiving Menu & Recipes, click HERE.

~ The Assumption ~

On August 15th the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This day is also know as the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin...because her body did not know corruption after death.

Her body and soul were taken up into heaven. 

Although the Gospels say nothing about how long the Mother of God remained on earth after Christ's Ascension into heaven, the  foundation of the feast of the Assumption can be found in the sacred tradition of the Church. 

The Feast of the Dormition is one of the oldest of Marian feasts, beginning in Jerusalem shortly after the Council of Ephesus (431).  The Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God" is the title in the East, and "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the title in the Western Church.

Holy Father Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption; solemnly proclaiming:  "By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own authority, we proclaim, declare and define as a truth revealed by God, that the Immaculate Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, having ended the course of her life on earth, was taken body and soul into heavenly glory."

 

This Feast is associated with the old custom of the blessing of flowers and herbs.  In our parish, we bring them to our church to have them blessed.

At home, we haven't really had a tradition...well, besides attending Holy Mass.

Soooo, I was excited when this book arrived just a week or so earlier...

Listed under this feast day was this amazing exotic salad...MORACCAN SALAD!

This salad was both exquisite and refreshing!

Moroccan Salad for the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

All the combined ingredients gives this dish a gorgeous presentation...and the taste...
both tangy and sweet, making it the perfect combination ~ very flavorful!

Per the Hand-Maid Household - A Feast, just is not a feast without DESSERT. 

We decided to make something super simple. 

Three ingredients.  No baking.  Using what we had on hand.

Little Lamb named them:  A Little Bit of Heaven

INGREDIENTS:
Pitted Dates
Shredded Coconut
Coconut Butter or Oil (we used coconut oil because it is what we had on hand.)

DIRECTIONS:
Smooth a little coconut oil on date.  Roll date in shredded coconut.  Enjoy. 

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.”

~ Luke 1:39-56

 

Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

 

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