{my lily-of-the-valley; porcelain and tole by Vladimir Kanevsky}
Archive for the 'Holidays / Праздники' Category
Sunday, April 15th is Orthodox Easter. Last year we were in Ukraine during this time and could enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday. And since we’re home in Hong Kong this Easter time, I wanted for my family to have a little bit of Ukrainian tradition.
In Ukraine for Easter there are ALWAYS colored eggs -pusanky and sweet Easter bread – pasky, in pretty much every home. I’m keeping with the tradition, though in an easier way. Actually, many Ukrainians use this same easy way now with the colored eggs. They are not really painted on. It’s a picture on plastic wrap that you put on an egg and then dip it in hot water so the wrap ‘hugs’ the egg tight.
It’s cheating, but the eggs look really pretty.
Last Easter while in Ukraine I used my chance and bought all kinds of different egg wraps and dry food coloring specially made for eggs. I used red and blue color this time.
As for Easter bread … the process of making it takes whole day.
My homemade pasky and here from three years ago.
I’m having it easier for myself this year. Decided to make a cake, we call it keks or bunt cake, and decorated it the same way as with pasky. Pretty, and so much less work and time saving too! Looking good.
On Easter day we all greet each other with saying “Hristos voskres” with the other person responding “Voistinu voskres” or “Christ is Risen!”, and the response is “Truly, He is Risen”. It is also customary to exchange a triple kiss on the alternating cheeks after the greeting.
A glimpse at Easter in Ukraine from our traveling there last year here.
Nevertheless, Orthodox or not, I’m wishing you a beautiful Sunday!
Our breakfast this morning.
Valentine’s Day was an excuse to make a new cake.
The recipe is from Gorgeous Cakes by Annie Bell.
I have the book for a while but this Pink Specked cake was the first one I’ve tried making using Annie’s recipe. It was also a first time ever I’ve tasted a BEETROOT CAKE! Yes, it has grated beetroot in it!! But if you like carrot cake you will LOVE this one. The taste is wonderful, it melts in your mouth.
The fact that it doesn’t have artificial coloring is another big plus for me, I try to avoid anything artificial as much as I can. To make it pink, a teaspoonful of beetroot liquid is used.
I wished I could find sugar roses to decorate the cake just like in the book! Not much choice in that department in my supermarket, it only had these simple looking flowers. Oh well, I sure will try better next time.
Have a nice and sweet Valentine’s Day!
PS.
1. I’m not sure I can publish the recipe, but if you would like I can email it to you just ask :)
2. If you’re wondering … the empty frames on the wall in the last picture are waiting for their art or my embroideries. Nevertheless, these frames is a work of art by itself and were made in the early 19th and late 19th century in France. xoxo
My wonderful city is ready for Christmas. From the Flower market to the finest malls, there is Christmas magic in the air. Here are my photos for you. Enjoy!
{at the Flower market}
{IFC mall}
{in Prince’s Building Heather&March shop window display}
{Tiffany & Co. window}
{Christmas carols at the Festival Walk mall in Kowloon Tong}
{Festival Walk mall always has the tallest Christmas tree}
My absolute favorite holiday display however, is in the Landmark shopping mall in Central – a Christmas village in the snow covered mountains with a mechanical train riding through it. It is the work of American interior designer Preston Bailey.
Here is what he’s said about it: “For the last few years, I’ve been designing a holiday installation of my own for The Landmark, an impressive business and shopping complex in Hong Kong. I think this year’s designs turned out pretty well. I wanted them to be festive and fun for shoppers, and I think we accomplished that.” You can read more about Preston Bailey’s work on his blog.
Or in this case to be exact I should say hand knitted Christmas.
Every year before Christmas there are so many wonderful holiday decoration ideas shared around blogland. And every time I’m thinking I’ll make ‘THIS ONE’ for next Christmas. But the plans change fast and often and there seems always not enough time.
This year I actually have tried some of the ideas. I simply could not miss this one – worked in the round and stranded – all my favorite kind of knitting. And it is a nice little present to give away.
Down to business right away.
My first knitted Christmas ball.
It was not sitting on the Styrofoam ball as snugly as I would like it to be. But again it was the first one and I was trying to gauge. And this is no big deal since I’ve used wool that can be felted, and voilà – perfect shape.
After this one, I used different yarn and needles, so the next Christmas balls come out in just the right size.
There are five of them made so far. Some of these are gifts and some are to stay.
Hallway scones get decorated.
I plan to knit some more.
I like them so much, it’s going to be hard to stop me now. I also have some ideas on how to modify them with metallic yarn that I still have to go buy.
My previous years handmade Christmas – Christmas stockings for my family. The needlepoint and cross stitch work that I cannot live without and have to do at least a little every day.
In the absence of a fireplace my son’s stocking goes onto my chair :)
PS. {FREE Christmas ball pattern can be found here.}