Early this morning volunteers arrived to help here at the monastery. Some worked in the garden, pulling out weeds and trimming some of the plants that have become too tall, while others cleaned the reception room which has not been properly cleaned for a long time. Many thanks for all this help. In the early […]
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TUESDAY, 13 AUGUST, 2019
Today’s special event was the adult baptism of Victoria and we welcome her into the Orthodox Church. It was still fairly cool in the morning which made it easier for us, and quiet as well with just the occasional sound of some chirping birds or a train passing by. We wish her Many Years in […]
MONDAY, 12 AUGUST, 2019
Kirill oiled the hinges on the front door of the cottage and now I cannot hear when people come or leave. What is a nuisance to some is music to others. A carload of people drove onto the monastery property this afternoon to do some photography which happens quite often. There is such a contrast […]
SAILING IN THE WINTER SUN
Odd how often we spend so many years weaving it, only to see the fabric of our lives shredded by our own folly, or choices made in haste, or governed by passions. Instants and seconds rather than days and years can unravel the fabric of our lives. Sometimes, we are left only with the residue […]
SUNDAY, 11 AUGUST, 2019
We had some gentle rain at night and early morning so that the entire day was pleasantly cool, making it comfortable in church. Mother Evstratia was driven to the airport by Daniel this morning, but there will be a long trip ahead before she reaches home in Romania. I was surprised to see Liudmila and […]
SATURDAY, 10 AUGUST, 2019
How can a week pass by so quickly? I arose Monday morning and all of a sudden it is Saturday evening. There certainly can be no complaints about time passing by too slowly. I did not get to see the roof some of the men built over the landing on the ramp, but I am […]
FRIDAY, 09 AUGUST, 2019
A couple of days ago I mentioned that it might be a good idea to have a herbal and medicinal garden in the future since we have a lot of space for such an experiment. The first positive comment came from Larisa who is now visiting in Moscow and there have been no negative comments. […]
THURSDAY, 08 AUGUST, 2019
Thank goodness it has been much cooler today so that it was a pleasure to step outside for a prolonged period. As usual, Marina and Tatiana arrived at noon to prepare food for us. Today they made borshch, buckwheat kasha, and fried rainbow trout that had been lying in the freezer for some time. In […]
WEDNESDAY, 07 AUGUST, 2019
A large box arrived for us at the post office and, while I was talking to some of the neighbours who were drinking coffee in the general store/post office, the postmistress carried it to the Jeep. She is kind and most helpful especially in helping old people. I am most anxious to open the box […]
TUESDAY, 06 AUGUST, 2019
What great news we received! There will be a change in the weather and tomorrow it will be cooler by one or perhaps even two degrees!! A change of about ten degrees would really make a difference but, after all, it is summer and crops need this heat, even if humans could do without it. […]
MONDAY, 05 AUGUST, 2019
All of us here at the monastery have tried to keep out of the sun all day as, once again, the heat was almost unbearable, at least for old people like us. The only thing I managed to do was to water the plants, something that will have to be done every day. Yet, despite […]
SUNDAY, 04 AUGUST, 2019
At times it felt as if it could not get any hotter with the temperature hovering around 35 degrees C. which was hot enough for most of us to wish that we could jump into a cold pond. Actually, some people told us that they did just that yesterday by going to the ocean, but […]
SATURDAY, 03 AUGUST, 2019
Today’s heat was oppressive and I scarcely stepped outside except for going next door for Vespers where, for some strange reason, it was not as hot as it usually is for an evening service. After a supper of cold dishes including my favourite okroshka, a cold summer soup, Mother Evstratia sang a few excerpts […]
FRIDAY, 02 AUGUST, 2019
A strong wind and a heavy downpour at night caused a power outage, but I seem to have slept through it all. I think it was a good sign, or was it, and a sign of what? I am supposed to have a blood test at the end of each month for a whole year […]
THURSDAY, 01 AUGUST, 2019
Now we should experience the beginning of the hottest month of the year when many days are referred to as dog days. It seems that this expression has to do with ancient astronomy, but in my youth I thought it had to do with it being so hot that dogs could do little else but […]
WEDNESDAY 31 JULY 2019
Here we are at the end of July and ready to endure the heat of August. A while ago, while perspiring while sitting at the computer, I recalled how chilly it used to get in winter when I would have to put on an extra sweater. It was almost amusing to see the Romanian nun, […]
TUESDAY 30 JULY 2019
Mother Evstratia came to the monastery early in the morning and, before long, she was busy chopping wood with a large axe, then she took the splitting maul to split the huge pieces of wood. As if that were not enough, she asked Andy if we had a chain saw, which he then brought out […]
MONDAY 29 JULY 2019
I regret that I have little to write today. It has been a hot day and all of us here are still recovering from the activity over the weekend so that nothing unusual was done, although Mother Evstratia, the nun visiting from Romania, came early and began weeding, among other things. It was somewhat amusing […]
SUNDAY 28 JULY 2019
Today we celebrated our annual feast, The Theotokos Joy of Canada, under perfect weather, beginning with a cool morning and ending with a sunny but cool afternoon, which was ideal for the celebration. We had a large gathering of worshippers which included the Georgian congregation. I especially enjoyed the Cross Procession where I rode on […]
SATURDAY 27 JULY 2019
A heavy downpour at night was loud enough to wake up the entire countryside, but we did need it. Volunteers came throughout the day to work on different projects. We had the nicest visit possible with Father James and Presvytera Irene who drove up from California to visit us. It was even possible to squeeze […]
FRIDAY 26 JULY 2019
We have several areas where the grass must be cut: the upper and loser lawns, the western lawn, and the area around the memorial in the field. Davey was busy today mowing in all of these areas in preparation for this weekend. Lija phone today to inform us that everything is under control as […]
THURSDAY 25 JULY 2019
No one has been able to identify the boy photographed with me as it appeared on 22 July. Actually, it was taken in Salt Lake City, Utah, about thirty years ago, as you can tell by my bushy and full beard which now is just a shadow of its former beauty. The boy is Sebastian […]
WEDNESDAY 24 JULY 2019
To begin with, let me tell you a “very berry” episode. Feeling more confident than ever, I took a small bucket and went out to pick blackberries along the road, especially near the water where the berry bushes get a lot of moisture. I felt proud that I did not get a single scratch from […]
TUESDAY 23 JULY 2019
Several volunteers came to help us prepare for this Sunday’s feast the “Theotokos, Joy Of Canada” in addition to upkeeping the monastery grounds. They also picked blueberries, informing us that they are so huge and sweet that the slightest touch causes them to fall to the ground. At the same time a group of challenged […]
MONDAY 22 JULY 2019
Farher Moses accompanied me to Abbotsford as I had an appointment with the specialist who informed me that things are improving and, at the same time, somewhat deteriorating, if that makes sense. He did assure me that I should be around for some time yet, which was comforting. Before leaving the city, we briefly stopped […]
SUNDAY 21 JULY 2019
What a scorching day it was today, yet we should not complain, after all, it is mid summer and it is this heat that causes the fruit and vegetables to ripen. Prayers were read for those who are going to travel and it felt as if a quarter of the congregation stepped forward, just as […]
SATURDAY 20 JULY 2019
Some time ago, Naiana asked for a blessing to look after the gatehouse chapel and also the outdoor chapel under the high stairs. Since then she has faithfully tended these special places, and today she was there with “broom and bucket”. Kirill took care of the laundry and several other tasks while Andy and Vladika […]
FRIDAY 19 JULY 2019
This morning I was at the Cancer Clinic’s pharmacy to pick up some medicine and I was amazed to see a most beautiful white poodle sitting behind the reception desk. Apparently it belongs to the hospital and it visits people who would like comfort from a receptive animal. I just stood in amazement and admiration […]
THURSDAY 18 JULY 2019
I doubt if today could have been a more perfect day. A few people came in the morning to greet me on my birthday, then later in the afternoon they began pouring in and soon we sat down to eat all the food that was brought. We ate in the dining room off the kitchen […]
WEDNESDAY 17 JULY 201
Liudmila came to help us today and immediately we put her to work, the first thing was to launder the towels and sheets, after which she found cobwebs everywhere in the laundry room and, being a typical woman, she had to brush them away and do other cleaning. I do not know if it is […]
TUESDAY 16 JULY 2019
Father Moses and I had to drive to Abbotsford today and, while there, we stopped at the public library, one of our favourite places. Before we even managed to get out of the Jeep, an old acquaintance came up to greet us. We had not seen him for about ten years and how nice it […]
MONDAY 15 JULY 2019
It was a relief to not have had any visitors today which gave us the much needed rest. I think that many people realize that and give us this one day to recharge our batteries, so to speak. Vladika Lazar’s problem with his computer has been resolved and now we can wait for the next […]
SUNDAY 14 JULY 2019
After sleeping so soundly all night, it was difficult to get up this morning and to get ready for church. In fact, Vladika Lazar was up and gone to church before I even began to get ready. Many of our own people are away on vacation, as I had earlier mentioned, yet there were new […]
SATURDAY 13 JULY 2019
As I was working on a thankless job of cleaning the eight elements of the two stoves in the kitchen, [such tasks are good to teach us humility] I glanced out the window and saw a couple of people walking around the monastery grounds. As soon as I had finished, I invited them in and […]
FRIDAY 12 JULY 2019
We celebrated the feast of Saints Peter and Paul today, a feast that ends the Apostles’ Fast and brings us fully into the summer season. We had a small number of people in attendance for the service but good enough considering that it was a working day. Father Moses and I sang at the kliros, […]
THURSDAY 11 JULY 2019
I baked two prosphoras, one for tomorrow’s Liturgy, and the second one for Sunday. They both came out well without any cracks in the crust, so the baker’s advice of lowering the temperature was wise. The Thursday Narcotics Anonymous meeting must have been successful with almost thirty people in attendance. I was not present although […]
WEDNESDAY 10 JULY 2019
I got my hands dirty from weeding, at first in Vladika Lazar’s little garden, then the pots and containers in front of the main building. These areas were watered first, so that pulling out the weeds was not difficult. If only it were possible to regain the strength I had even a decade ago, but […]
TUESDAY 9 JULY 2019
Vladika Lazar had to go to Mission to have his hearing examined, so I went with him. While he was being examined, I sat outside in the shade with a few passersby stopping to talk to me, most of whom we are acquainted with to one degree or another. Most of them had to tell […]
MONDAY 8 JULY 2019
Peace and tranquility reigned throughout the day, leaving me with a feeling of great joy. As a matter of fact, this emotion was so powerful that it almost brought tears to my eyes. If life could only continue in such blessedness. No doubt what aided in this matter was that I walked everywhere without the […]
SUNDAY 7 JULY 2019
It was overcast the entire day with some light rain, although some of the forecasts led us to believe that we might actually be free of any rain, but as we all know, forecasts are not necessarily accurate. James and Yulia were present at the Liturgy before heading home to southern Washington and let us […]
SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019
It has been a fairly quiet Saturday and cool as well, so when I watered the flowers and berry bushes, I picked raspberries and ate them on the spot. I ate the last of the gooseberries too, tasty and not tart, as they were ripe. Lija was back from her and Gintas’ long truck hauls, […]
FRIDAY 5 JULY 2019
Work continued on the barrel on top of the gatehouse chapel and it is looking better each day. The roses and other shrubs at its entrance have become overgrown and they must be pruned back. The side road leading to the cottage has a stretch of tall pillar cedars on one side and a huge […]
THURSDAY 4 JULY 2019
The “barrel” on top of the gatehouse chapel was taken down the other day and a a new one made to replace it. Many thanks to all those who have been working on this project. Aside from the monument in the field, this is the first thing that one sees when driving up to the […]
WEDNESDAY 3 JULY 2019
Today’s weather was perfect, that is, overcast with a cool breeze that did not leave us feeling exhausted. In fact, it was so good that I went to Vladika’s little garden and began to weed, for it was getting to be overgrown not so much with weeds as with various flowers getting out of hand. […]
TUESDAY 2 JULY 2019
I went to the Insurance Corporation Of British Columbia to get my driver’s licence renewed for another five years and this time I was able to apply for a single card with both the licence and the personal services card with my own personal health number which I would use whenever visiting a doctor or […]
MONDAY 01 JULY 2019
This is the first day of July and also Canada’s national holiday which is called Canada Day. In my youth it was known as Dominion Day and that name has always remained with me. We used to sing God Save The King [later it was the Queen] before classes commenced in the morning and even […]
SUNDAY 30 JUNE 2019
This is the last day of the month and the middle of the long weekend, since it is Canada Day or, as it was called in my youth, Dominion Day. Of course this meant that many people would be away camping for the weekend with good weather blessing them, yet enough came to church, including […]
SATURDAY 29 JUNE 2019
What a day this has been without a single mosquito bite. I know that they have not disappeared but are simply waiting for the next opportunity to attack us. We wait for months for this time of the year when we can comfortably sit outside, only to be outwitted by these nasty pests and yet, […]
THURSDAY 27 JUNE 2019
We were visited two times today by David and Anna, our dear friends whom we love to have with us as often as possible. David and Vladika Lazar have cooperated on many occasions and travelled together, while Anna is my goddaughter who naturally is close to my heart. Our conversations become lively and full of […]
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE 2019
As I am composing this entry I can hear thunder but I see no lightning as the shades are drawn. There is something both majestic and frightening about such thunder storms, but this one cannot compare with those in the Prairies where they can leave one awestricken. After taking Father Moses to see his doctor, […]