This bit of freestyle embroidery I based on a pysanky design found in Zenon Elyjiw’s Sixty Score of Easter Eggs: A Comprehensible Album of Ukrainian Easter Eggs.   A fantastic book.

I stumbled on a fabulous book by Sue Dove, Painting with Stitches, and it inspired me to create this small embroidered picture.  It’s only a few inches square, including the border, and it’s done with just the simplest of stitches.  Still, it was a blast, and I’m already working on my next one, which is inspired by Ukrainian pysanky.

Martha and Mary House provides a home for pregnant women in crisis.  Its housemother, Sarah Elisabet Oftedal, in talking about her journey to Orthodox Christianity, says, “I felt a glimmer of hope that Christianity was real and could save me from nothingness. Since I could not prove it false, I made a desperate leap of faith across the abyss of what seemed absurd and promised God that I would live the rest of my life as if He was there.”  I could have said those same words myself! 

But Sarah Elisabet really lives those words.  Here’s more about her journey and her current work.

(photo credit to Jim Forest)

The wonderful Carrie T has created The Thrifty Oreganic, an extremely helpful blog on living frugally and healthfully and somewhat sustainably!  Thank you, Carrie!

(photo credit:  Suttonhoo)

If you haven’t yet met Mother Gavrilia, today is your lucky day.   The book about her, Mother Gavrilia:  the Ascetic of Love, changed my life.

” … whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”  — Mark 10:44 RSV

Guess whose husband rode in the Bunny on a Bike ride last weekend?

(pic by BikePortland.org — thanks!)

Abbey Levine sent me this recipe and says:

” this chili from the Illinois Center for Soy Foods
at the University of Illinois won first prize at the International
Beer Tasting & Chili Cook-Off 2007 in Urbana, Illinois. In a blind
taste test, judges preferred this soy-based vegetarian chili over
all the meat-based chili entries in the competition. Taste it and
you’ll know why! You’ll absolutely love it over a baked sweet
potato.”

Seasonings:
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cups tomato juice
3 cups vegetable broth
1-1/4 cups dry TVP
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
2 15-oz. cans black beans, rinsed and drained
2 15-oz. cans kidney beans, rinsed & drained
2 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (from can), chopped*
Condiments (optional): grated soy cheese, chopped onions, diced
avocado, sliced black olives

1. Mix all the seasonings in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and
sauté until golden. Add garlic, bell pepper, and seasoning mixture
and sauté for another minute.
3. Add the remaining ingredients (except condiments) and mix well.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring
occasionally, for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors blend.
4. Serve with the optional condiments, if desired.  

Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 ½ cups): 229 calories, 17 g protein, 33 g
carbohydrate, 5 g fat (0.6 g saturated)

*Adjust the amount of chipotle chilies to make chili more or less
hot.

Join Abbey’s mailing list for more great vegetarian recipes.

(photo credit to cbcastro)

“O Aleppian faithfuls, Marona and Kyra, intercede for us to Christ the Lord to grant us his majestic mercy …” 

(pic by spdl_n1 of a stone carving in Syria)

 Archimandrite Daniel Byantoro will be speaking soon at Christ the Savior Orthodox Christian Church (Spokane Valley, Washington State):

Sat., March 1, 2pm: “The Church in Indonesia”

Sun., March 2, 2pm: “My Personal Journey” 

Fr. Daniel is a former Muslim from Indonesia who, to his peril, converted to Orthodox Christianity.   He is a powerful speaker and witness to the Orthodox Faith, and through his efforts about 3,000 Indonesians have converted to Orthodox Christianity (beginning with his own Muslim family);  he has established over 30 parishes there.  For this his life has been threatened more than once. 

The story of the current Orthodox situation in Indonesia is fascinating.  Did you know that the Orthodox Church in Indonesia has grown from the first convert in 1989 to close to 3,000 believers? Also, it’s intriguing that Indonesian Orthodox Christians have produced a version of wayang kulit  with Orthodox Christian themes and messages.  Find out more about this and how to support the Orthodox Christian Church in Indonesia at  www.friendsofindonesia.org 

(pic shows part of a Wayang Kulit puppet — photo credit:  Mimi_K)  

Father Seraphim Rose:  ” … it is not for us to define the state of those who are outside the Orthodox Church. If God wishes to grant salvation to some who are Christians in the best way they know, but without ever knowing the Orthodox Church—that is up to Him, not us. But when He does this, it is outside the normal way that He established for salvation—which is in the Church, as a part of the Body of Christ … [more]“

(Orthodox Wiki describes Father Seraphim Rose in this way:  “Father Seraphim Rose, né Eugene Dennis Rose [August 13, 1934-September 2, 1982] was a hieromonk of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the United States.  His writings helped spread Orthodox Christianity throughout modern America and the West;  they are also quite popular in Russia. Although not formally glorified [canonized], he is [some say prematurely] celebrated by some Orthodox Christians as a saint in iconography, liturgy, and prayer.”  The icons of Father Seraphim Rose above can be purchased from Uncut Mountain Supply:  http://www.­uncutmountainsupply.­com“)