Two loaves of molasses bread
Mixed: 3:15 pm
Molded: 4:40
Baked: 5:15
Barely out of the oven in time, we drove up the hill, the inside of our car smelling of warm molasses bread, our chatter focused on the house blessing to come. Orthodox folk have so much fun to look forward to throughout the year! And I just love everything about the blessing of a home.
The holy water flung here and there,
the singing as we process around,
the little jobs for the kids, being with beloved friends, playing dolls with my goddaughter, impromptu singing around the piano, and opening our hearts to the prayers for this family, this family that we admire and love. The gift of warm bread is just a tiny thanks for all this family has given us.
My husband laughed at a cliched conversation between myself and the amazing mother of this family. She stated how lovely my home always was, right after I’d told her how beautiful her house looked. Moms… homes… candles… children… messes… gardens… warmth… even bread. All of these elements, so sacred, are parts of our lives that really matter, that can heal wounds and save souls. And blessing your house each January or February, walking into each and every corner with crosses and candles and holy water makes a difference in your life and mine. I’m still basking in the afterglow…
The Woman and the Wheat 
I love the peace that settles on the home after a house blessing! Beautiful photos. I love that your priest uses an evergreen branch.
The branch is rosemary, and it holds lots of little water droplets! The aroma that comes from him swinging it around is just right… You could probably use a lavender stem, too, now that I think about it. 🙂
I love those Icon/nesting dolls. I’ve never seen those before. Any idea where they came from? Such a fabulous display on top of the piano too. Simple and sweet. I second the house blessing sentiment.
Heather–we found some similar nesting dolls in a gift shop in Alaska. Hmmm. I’ll ask my friend where she got hers. They’re lovely, aren’t they?
My friend said that hers came from Alaska, too–probably imported from Russia. 🙂
Hello Jane. Was glad for this posting as it reminded me of our priest’s scolding that we have not yet invited him out for our annual house blessing…perhaps this week. We were
“given” our house here in Romania. A friend raised money to buy us a home – she called it a “barnraising” – and 125 families and friends gave us this daily miracle. I have been listening a lot to this wonderful song, and thinking about house blessing – “Only then will your house be blessed” by Harry Manx, performed here by Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6SaVfYHT9Y&feature=related. Blessings on your home from Romania!