I lift up my eyes to the hills

PSALM 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills -

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip -

He who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you -

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm -

He will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

 

In Honor of Victory: RT special coverage of Red Square military parade. Part 2

Russia is marking Victory Day - 66 years since Nazi Germany was defeated in World War Two. Events of commemoration and celebration are taking place across the country, including a traditional grand military parade on Red Square. RT is bringing you our special coverage throughout the day.

In Honor of Victory: RT special coverage of Red Square military parade. Part 1

Russia is marking Victory Day - 66 years since Nazi Germany was defeated in World War Two. Events of commemoration and celebration are taking place across the country, including a traditional grand military parade on Red Square. RT is bringing you our special coverage throughout the day.

9th of MAY 1945. I remember...

The Soviet Banner of Victory on the Reichstag building in Berlin

9 May 1945. This day can never be forgotten....

The Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany

came to an end. 

This day means a lot to me. In the country where I come from, the World War II had an effect on almost every single family. There was almost no family or street in the whole USSR, where people would not have lost at least one family member or friend because of this war. Several years of constant grief and fear for loved ones. Sons, fathers, husbands, mothers, daughters, brothers, sisters..... The war as with any war was merciless.
In 1945 the Great Patriotic War (the portion of World War II from June 22, 1941, to May 9, 1945, against Nazi Germany and its allies in the Eastern Front) came to an end.
My grandfather was a Veteran of World War II, he was sent to war at the age of 17, and he bravely fought to defend his country.
It can never be forgotten what all the courageous soldiers had done for us during that time.

Here are some harrowing statistics of World War II, just to remind us of sacrifices that were made for us :
Estimates of total dead range from 50 million to over 70 million, making it the deadliest war ever.
Estimated USSR losses within postwar borders now stand at 26.6 million.
The German Army historian Dr. Rüdiger Overmans published a study in 2000 that estimated German military dead and missing at 5.3 million.
Casualties include about 4 to 12 million war-related famine deaths in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India that are often omitted from other compilations of World War II casualties.
Jews: The Holocaust is the term generally used to describe the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, Martin Gilbert estimates 5.7 million (78%) of the 7.3 million Jews in German occupied Europe were Holocaust victims. Other estimates for Holocaust deaths range between 4.9 to 6.0 million Jews.

This is only the brief stats of this war, to read more, click on the link below.

Information source for this post is taken from here.

The veterans of World War II. They fought, they suffered, they won

The text on the picture: "I remember! I am proud! The Victory Day  9th of MAY 1945"

He has risen!

The angel said to the women, 

"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, 

who was crucified. 

He is not here; 

He has risen, just as He said..."

MATTHEW 28:5,6

The resurrection and the life

Jesus said to her, 

"I am the resurrection and the life. 

He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; 

and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. 

Do you believe this?"

JOHN 11:25,26

Eating RAW. Zucchini Pesto Pasta

This delicious new recipe I've discovered while searching for new recipes online. I found it in this wonderful blog Too good to be true. I love the combination of traditional pesto with avocado and cherry tomatoes! It's a make again recipe, for sure.

Raw Zucchini Pesto Pasta

Ingredients:

For pasta:

3 medium zucchinis

For pesto:

1/2 cup fresh basil, 1/4 cup raw pine nuts, 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado

Method:

Blend ingredients for pesto in a food processor. Scoop zucchini pasta into bowls. Top with pesto. Add some cherry tomatoes and avocados. Decorate with a basil leaf.

And this is how it looks when it's ready!

Eating RAW. Healthy breakfast- wonderful beginning of a new day!

Combination of freshly chopped seasonal fruits served with raw vanilla mousse in the middle and decorated with flowers.

The recipe for the raw vanilla mousse you can find here.

A box of kisses

I have found this story on my friend's blog page. It touched my heart so deeply, that I could not go past it without sharing it.

A Box of Kisses
by Author Unknown

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,"Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Picture Source

Eating RAW. Mashed "Potatoes" and Salad

Mashed "Potatoes" and Salad

Mashed "Potatoes"

The recipe is taken from Matt Amsden's "Rawvolution" book

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups cauliflower, ground in food processor

1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts, ground in food processor

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

1 small clove of garlic, peeled

Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients except the pepper and process until the mixture looks fluffy, like mashed potatoes. Top with ground black pepper. 

Parsley Salad

Quickly put together fresh ingredients go very well with the cauliflower mash!

Ingredients:

A large bunch of fresh parsley

1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup chopped spring onion

1/4 of 1 red capsicum

For the dressing:

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup olive oil

Sea Salt

2-3 cloves of garlic, peeled

Method:

Chop the parsley, transfer it to a large mixing bowl, add chopped cherry tomatoes, chopped capsicum and spring onion. Mix well.

Dressing:

In a blender, combine all the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth. Add to the salad, mix well and serve!

Forgiveness

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

MARK 11:25

Picture Source

Underwater life

"The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper.

I cannot quite make it out" 

- Annie Dillard

Swimming is a whole culture in Australia. While living in Moscow, Russia, I never had the chance to learn to swim. Moscow is situated far away from the sea, surrounded by land. Winters are very cold and summers are so short, that there is not enough hot sunny days in them. Besides, nights can be quite cold too, during summer, and water in the lakes and rivers just can't stay warm for long. I am not a fan of cold water! But I always wanted to swim.

I am a water person, I love the ocean, love listening to it.... love being around water. And a few weeks ago I achieved one of my old time dreams, I learned to swim. Now I try to go to the pool regularly a few times a week. I set goals in front of me, practising my technique, and learning new styles. I also have a big goal - I would love to try surfing! But for now, it seems so impossible to me... just like swimming seemed once upon a time. 

"Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar

a little higher each time you succeed"

 - Mia Hamm

 

Raspberry Tiramisu

This one is the yummiest chocolate dessert I have ever tasted! 

I should admit though, I have not made many raw desserts yet, but I am sure this is going to be a long term favourite.

You can make this one instead of dinner, how good is that! 

And you can have a couple of portions at ones and guilt free. 

It's raw, it's fresh, it's anbelievebly tasty and has its own nutritional goodness, 

like no cooked desserts.

The original recipe is taken from Juliano's RAW UNcooked book, here I have changed it a little.

Ingredients:

For cake mixture:
1C dates
(the original recipe has 1/2 C dates + 1/2 C dried figs, I use only dates)
filtered water for soaking dates
1/2 C maple syrup (look for pure organic 100% maple syrop, not a substitute)
1/2 tb sp vanilla extract (look for organic)
1 1/2 tb sp raw carob powder

For raspberry cream:
1/2 C raw walnuts
1/2 C frozen raspberries
1/3 C pure organic maple syrup
1 tb sp vanilla extract (organic)

For garnish (optional):
raspberries
strawberries
pomegranate seeds
chocolate mint
1 tb sp Raw Chocolate Sauce (scroll down for the recipe)
edible flowers

* I chose frozen raspberries, mint and raw chocolate sauce for garnish (in my opinion chocolate sauce complites the dish perfectly!)

Method:
Soak dates in water for 2 hours (if you use figs as well, soak them too); drain. Puree the dates (and figs if used), maple syrup, vanilla extract and raw carob powder in a blender or food processor. Divide the date mixture in half and spoon each into a glass or any other serving dish of your choice. Set aside.

In a blender, blend the walnuts, frozen raspberries, vanilla extract and maple syrup (add a little bit at a time, so you can work out the sweetness you want to achive, don't add all at ones, you might prefer it less sweet than the recipe) until creamy (or you might prefer to leave it a bit crunchy, so it has different texture). Spoon the raspberry cream evenly on top of each date cake. Sprimkle on top with a garnish of your choice. Drizzle with Raw Chocolate Sauce. Serve immidiately.

Raw Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients:
3 C maple syrup
2/3 C olive oil (cold pressed, extra virgin, I used)
2 tb sp vanilla extract
1 C raw carob powder

Now, here you don't have to make as much of the sauce, I usually use a third of ammount of each ingredient and it allows me to make a fare bit of the sauce any way, so it should last you awhile even if you make only a third.

Method:
Combine the ingredients in a blender. Blend well and enjoy.
Keeps indefinitely.

Have faith in God!

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

MARK 11:22-24

"Just one doll"

“It’s teatime and all the dolls are at the table. Listen. It’s that simple.”
- Anne Lamott

While being busy last week, I have had my first attempt to make a handmade doll for my daughter.
I did not have any pattern, so I drew a sketch myself. So here are a few pictures of what it turned out like. I did not make clothes for her yet, so she is wearing what we already had. Next, I'd like to try to make her a pretty outfit as well, and.... may be a friend or two.

JUST ONE DOLL

Poem by RomaMay 

If you could only keep one doll
Of all the dolls you own,
If only one doll would become
The last doll in your home,
Which doll would you give favor to,
Which one would your heart choose?
Would it be the prettiest,
Or the oldest and most used?

Or would it be the doll you got
As a little girl,
The one with teeth and big,brown eyes
And long,dark tendrilled curls?
Or would it be the homely one
That set you back a bit,
The doll whose straw is breaking through
Her legs,where seams are split?

Or would it be that German doll
With soulful eyes of blue,
Born at the turn of the century
And born to be with you?
The doll you found at that estate,
Forced to liquidate,
By events beyond control,
The one you couldn’t wait
To carry home,to treasure,own,
The one with flaxen curls,
The doll your heart had longed for so,
In vain,when just a little girl?

Or would it be the little boy
From 80 years ago,
From your dear Aunt,the one you can’t
Ever wait to show
To company?…Or would it be
The rubber baby doll
Your children played with years ago?

Why can’t you keep them all?
You look at each and everyone,
Some,gifts from those you love,
And your sad heart cannot decide
Which one to place above
The rest of them…Each one has been
So special to your heart;
But the time to let them go
Has come and you must part
With all but one…It must be done
Before the day is through;

I wonder which doll you would pick
From dolls so dear to you?

 

No one knows who the Son is except the Father...

"All things have been committed to Me by My Father. 

No one knows who the Son is except the Father, 

and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those 

to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."

LUKE 10:22

But I tell you who hear me...

"But I tell you who hear me: 

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, 

pray for those who mistreat you."

LUKE 6:27,28

My raw eating journal. Fruity Breakfast

From today on I am going to publish only one new recipe at a time. This is because I am favouring some of the recipes and continue "cooking" the same meals time to time during my raw days. And also this way I'm hoping to update my blog with new raw ideas a bit more frequently.
All together my raw food journey  is going really well, I am enjoying it so much! I am discovering a lot of new delicious recipe ideas and ready to share them with you.


Today's recipe is:

Fruity Breakfast

Those two go really well together: "Fruit salad" and "Vanilla Mousse", delicious combination of sweet date mousse and freshness of fruits.

Fruit Salad

For these recipe I used combination of seasonal fruits: peaches, nectarins, pears, apples and grapes - these fruits are in season now in Australia. Chop them up, sprinkle with a few lemon balm or mint leaves. 

Ready to enjoy!

Vanilla Mousse

This recipe is taken from Juliano's "The UNcook book"

Ingredients:

1 cup dates

1 t sp vanilla extract (look for organic)

water

Method:

In a blender or food processor, puree the dates and vanilla extract, add a bit of water to make it smoother. Spoon the mousse into a glass or a serving bowl. Decorate with mint.

Simple and unbelievebly yummy!

Image of the day

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. 

Always remember, you have within you 

the strength, the patience, 

and the passion to reach for the stars 

to change the world"
 

-Harriet Tubman

"Heart o' the North" by Robert Service

The other day, when I was browsing through the blogs of my fellow bloggers, I happened to read a poem by Robert Service, on one of the blogs.
Since I have moved the countries, and changed languages, I was looking for English classic poetry, and had not happened to read any yet, until now. Admittedly, I don't have much spare time to read books with two little toddlers, so most of the time I read poetry when I happen to see something good and interesting online.
I am new to reading Robert Service, and I have not read many yet, but I definitely look forward to reading more of his poems.

"Heart o' the North"
by Robert Service

And when I come to the dim trail-end,
I who have been Life’s rover,
This is all I would ask, my friend,
Over and over and over:

A little space on a stony hill
With never another near me,
Sky o’ the North that’s vast and still,
With a single star to cheer me;

Star that gleams on a moss-gray stone
Graven by those who love me –
There would I lie alone, alone,
With a single pine above me;

Pine that the north wind whinnies through –
Oh, I have been Life’s rover!
But there I’d lie and listen to
Eternity passing over.

Go into all the world

He said to them,  

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

MARK 16:15-16

Hello Autumn!

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. 

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you, 

and the storms their energy, 

while cares will drop off like autumn leaves" 

- John Muir

 

While Northern Hemisphere celebrates spring, we are welcoming the autumn season in Australia. For me it is the second favourite season after spring, when days become cooler and nights cozier. It's time to harvest and prepare for winter. 

My raw eating journal. Week 3. Day menu

Breakfast

Musely balls and fruit tartlets

Making these ones again, can't get enough of them, yummy and feeling.

Look for the recipe here.

First lunch

 

French Onion Soup

This recipe is taken from Mat Amsden's "RAWvolution" book

 

 
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup of Thai coconut water
1 1/2 cup pure water
1/2 onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Nama Shoyu (organic unpasteurized Japanese soy sauce)
 
Method:
In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. Using a spoon, remove and discard any foam that rises to the top.
 

Second lunch

 

Pasta Marinara

This recipe is adapted from the original recipe from Juliano's "The UNcooked book"

An exquisite, bright and colourful meal full of delicious combinations of flavours!

Don't go past this one!

 

 
 
Ingredients:
For pasta:
2 zucchinis peeled, using a potato peeler into long pasta like stripes
1/2 red or yellow bell pepper sliced thinly into long stripes
1/2 cup Marinated Onion Ringlets (scroll down for the recipe)
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tb sp fresh oregano, chopped
1 tb sp fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
1 tsp minced jalapeno
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced ginger
1 tb sp lemon juice
1/4 cup minced shallots
 
For the sauce:
Marinara sauce recipe (scroll down to have a look)
 
Method:
In a serving bowl combine zucchini, bell pepper, Marinated Onion Ringlets, tomato, basil, oregano, rosemary, sun-dried tomatoes, jalapeno, garlic, ginger, lemon juice and shallots. Set aside. Make a fresh batch of Marinara Sauce and pour it over veggie pasta.

"Marinara Sauce"

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dried pineapple or mango (optional)
1/2 cup strawberries
2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
1 tsp minced ginger
2 tb sp minced garlic
1 tsp minced jalapeno
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup red bell pepper, minced
1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves, chopped
1/4 cup Nama Shoyu (organic unpasteurized Japanese soy sauce)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 green olives, pitted
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup spring onion

Method:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. This sauce thickens 2-3 min after blending.
Do not blend the sauce until just before you are ready to eat it.

Marinated Onion Ringlets

Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 large onion, thinly sliced into ringlets

2/3 cup Nama Shoyu (organic unpasteurized Japanese soy sauce)

1/4 cup Olive oil

Method:
In a bowl combine onin ringlets, olive oil and Nama Shoyu. Allow onions to marinate. Onions can be used after 10 min and can be made up to 8 hours in advance. Discard marinade.

Dinner

 

"Strawberry Romanoff"

Another one of Juliano's amazing recipes.

This dessert kind of dish you could have for dinner any day of the week, guilt free!

 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups "Whipped Cream" (scroll down for the recipe)
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 tb sp dates
1 tb sp chocolate mint

Method:
In a serving bowl combine the "whipped cream", berries and dates and mix well. Garnish with chocolate mint and serve.

"Whipped Cream"

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups raw cashews (and/or walnuts), soaked in water for at least 2 hours in advance

I have used only cashews

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

2 tb sp dates

a few drops of almond extract, optional

Method:

Drain nuts and in a blender, combine with orange juice, dates and if you wish a few drops of almond extract. Blend, using a rubber scraper, scrape the sides to help cream turn over. Stop and check for sweetness and consistency. Add a little water if the cream is too stiff. Continue blending until fluffy and smooth. Use immediately.

 



Blessed are those...

Now Thomas one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" 

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it."

A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 

Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and My God!" 

Then Jesus told him, 

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

JOHN 20:24-29

...

My raw eating journal. Week 2. Day menu

I have not been able to update my Raw Eating blog entries for a while. Since my last update I have had 3 more "raw" days. So I have collected a lot of new recipes to share!

Here are some of them:

Breakfast

  

Peaches and nectarines tartlers

Ingredients and method of preparation of the base mixture for the tartlers is the same as for the Muesli balls from this entry. Shape the balls into the tartlers (I used the same method here), top the bases with chopped peaches and nectarines, sprinkle with a few drops of agave nectar.

Green Shake 

Made from fruit and greens of your choice ;)

Lunch

Nori rolls

Ingredients:
* From the original recipe from Mat Amsden's book
4 sheets raw nori (black are raw, green are toasted)
4 lettuce leaves
1 1/2 carrots, chopped lenghwise
1 1/2 cups shredded daikon
1 avocado, sliced
8 sprigs of spring onion
2 cups clover sprouts
1/4 cucumber, cut lenghwise
1 red bell pepper, cut lenghwise thinly
* I have not had daikon and sprouts but it still turned out lovely! :)

Method:
Lay out nori sheets on clean, dry surface. Arrange lettuce leaves on top of each sheet so it completely covers the half of the sheet that is closest to you.
Arrange all your veggies along the lengh of each nori sheet, about 2cm from the end closest to you.
Fold the edge of the nori closest to you over the filling. Gently roll each nori away from you, tightly and evenly, into a firm snugly wrapped roll. Seal the edge with water. Cut each roll into 2 pieces with a sharp serrated knife.

Dinner

Zucchini Alfredo Pasta

This is my absolutely favourite recipe so far. So yummy!

From Mat Amsdens's book.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup Thai coconut water
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 cup mixture of raw pine nuts and cashews
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
6 zucchinis, peeled with potato peeler into pasta like stripes
* The texture of zucchini noodles improves when they are left to sit in the open air at room temperature for about 6 hours

Method:
In a blender blend all the ingredients except the zucchini noodles and blend until smooth.
Put the zucchini noodles into a bowl, pour the Alfredo sauce over the noodles, mix well and serve!

Happy Valentine's

Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres.
And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is 

love.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7,13

Image of the day

This is a guest we had at our house yesterday. He got lost and somehow wondered into our lounge room, so we had to catch him and release him outside into our backyard. He was a lovely guest to have around though and a lot of entertainment for kids :)

Australian green tree frog

Where time does not exist

"I have never been able to grasp the meaning of time. 

I don't believe it exists. I've felt this again and again, 

when alone and out in nature. 

On such occasions, time does not exist. 

Nor does the future exist"

- Thor Heyerdahl

 

I have fallen in love with this park! We have visited it a few times now. The nature there reminds me of Russian nature, something so close to my heart. But at the same time it's so unique!