Lent – Jennifer Michie

March 30, 2021 / 2 Comments

Feast Of The Seven Fishes

I am fully aware that we are no longer in the season of Christmas; in fact we are just about to flip the calendar over to April. This is a post I had been working on in the weeks leading up to December, but as with many things these past few months, some pots have to move to the back burner and this was a pot that got moved and turned to low. However, we are currently in the season of Lent and as “fish” is still playing a prominent role and my love for Christmas doesn’t begin and end in December, I’ve rationally reasoned that I can just slip this in under the wire and so I’m running with that.

More than a year ago now, back in late October of 2019, I was scanning through YouTube in search of a clip for a piece I was writing. A movie trailer popped up in the suggested list and I was amused by the title, so I clicked on it. Before the trailer even finished, I knew this was a film that I had to see. I showed it to Mr. Michie that evening and he was in complete agreement. So, one Friday night, curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn between us we watched it. We laughed, we cried, we recognised these characters in front of us and then we watched it again and after that we watched it again and after that… well you get the drift.

We discerned after our first screening, but that thought became more solidified with each successive viewing, that we would be making our family watch this over the Christmas holidays when we were all together (*This was Pre-Covid when we could move freely). One side of my family is loud, crazy and Italian. All of our events revolve around food, but doesn’t everyone’s? This movie resonated with me, it spoke to my soul. I know these people, I know this town, I understood Tony’s reservations about letting someone else peer into the idiosyncrasies of his family. Every family has their own dynamic and letting someone else have entry into that world is a very personal thing, it’s a baring of your soul.

One evening, after Christmas day, by the twinkle of the lights on the tree, we sat everyone down and pressed PLAY. The rest, as they say, is history. Like us, they were hooked. It has truly become one of my parent’s favourite movies of the past year. So much so, that they have bought it, watched it repeatedly and told everyone else about it. This movie isn’t a secret that you keep to yourself. Personally, I’ve watched this movie in parts here or there, or fast forwarded to a favourite scene at some point almost every day of 2020, that’s still happening in 2021. It has been one of the many things that has gotten us through this current period with humour.

Feast of the Seven Fishes, is a charming, comically and tenderly crafted story with a lot of heart and soul. I feel that I know each of the characters. The clothes, the cars and the sets are perfect, down to the tiniest detail. The grandparent’s house is inviting and cozy, you believe this family truly lives there, it’s like being at your actual Nonni’s house. The Christmas tablecloth draped over the small dinette set in the kitchen, the angel card stuck on the avocado hued fridge and the ceramic tree with it’s jewelled toned lights glowing on the counter are all the little touches that seamlessly work to enhance and flesh out each scene alongside an outstanding ensemble of actors. Like a real family, their expressions say more at times than their words do.

Robert Tinnell has written a story about life, home, family, relationships, love, good food and the people you meet along your journey. I don’t care if you come from a crazy Catholic Italian family or not, this movie will speak to you. At its heart, it is simply about family and everyone can relate to that.

Do yourself a favour and go watch this movie!

Boun Natale!

The following are two conversations I found interesting, you might too:

Conversations with the cast and director of Feast of the Seven Fishes

The FEAST Podcast: A conversation with director Robert Tinnell

March 1, 2020 / 0 Comments

HELLO, March!

Hello, March! You bring us a slow awakening of the earth this month as we prepare for spring. There are already signs that the world around is starting to stir with daffodils and snowdrops blossoming and the few nests we have stumbled upon in the beginnings of being built with twigs and thread and bits of hair.

We’re ready for the days to slowly get a little longer, one by one, inching along. We’re ready for walks through the woods where treasures await to be discovered and our forest friends come out of their homes after a winter’s nap. We’re ready for more hiking adventures and the possibility of a picnic in the glen.

We’re ready to wear the green and celebrate St. Patrick’s day, to slowly move through this season of Lent with time for reflection and to celebrate life in the moment and all that it has to offer. So, here’s to seeing the sunrise on our morning walk, dinners by candlelight, music, dancing around the house and the joy of taking in and being aware of the world around us and the beauty that it has to offer if we only look.

{Image Phoebe Wahl // Pinned HERE}

March 1, 2017 / 0 Comments

Writing on the Wall #142

Today represents not only the first of the month, but also the beginning of Lent. It’s a time to turn the page, to reflect and to refresh. In my family we always added an activity as well as giving something up. This Lent one of the things Mr. Michie and I have decided to add in, is a twenty minute period of mediation each day. We hope to use this as a time to consider, to step back and to catch our breaths. We’re also giving up dessert. That has become a big deal around these parts. Even with all of our running/exercise we still eat a cookie or a square of chocolate with a cup of tea at night; occasionally we share a cupcake from the bakery. I’m already looking forward to our Easter basket, I hope the Easter Bunny packs it full of chocolate and jelly beans and Peeps!

{Image found HERE // Pinned HERE}

February 17, 2015 / 0 Comments

Fat Tuesday

Tonight we had our own Mardi Gras celebration in the form of Five Guys Burgers. I’ve been craving a cheeseburger for the past 2 weeks and this was the perfect meal to end Fat Tuesday on, before we move into the season of Lent.

February 13, 2013 / 2 Comments

A Valentine’s Day Round-Up & Lenten Thoughts

This will be a post in two parts today since I just have so much to say! Firstly, today we walk into the first day of Lent. I know that this is a period of reflection and abstaining. I have spoken about this before and I shall speak about it again this year.

In my family we had the tradition of adding something to our daily lives, instead of subtracting it. We still gave up things (and if you chose to give up chocolate, what a blessed morning Easter Sunday was because it meant you could finally touch it again and oh boy did you hope that the Easter Bunny left you plenty in your basket!), but my parents always made sure that we added something to our daily/weekly lives that would be to the benefit of others.

I am going to get on my soap box for a moment here and say that I have always felt it is wonderful to give of oneself; it is marvelous that Church organizations and charity organizations help so many people around the world. I grew up in the South and I was always amazed at how many churches in my town took trips to Mexico, South America, Haiti, Cuba and Africa. Those were extremely valuable trips for all involved, but I think it is just as important to know where we are from, to teach your children and others what is around them as well.

You don’t have to go far to help someone in need. Not only were there people who needed help within my own community, you only had to drive a few hours into the mountains and there were families that would have benefited from a little extra help as well. Start in your own backyard, so to speak and branch out.

I had the great fortune to meet Mother Teresa when I was in High School and I read an article recently that quoted her; it sums up my thoughts, better than I could:

“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. … You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.”

I want to make it clear now that I am in no way demeaning the work that others do, to give of your heart and of yourself in any capacity is a wonderful act. I just think that sometimes we might need to be reminded we can still make a difference just where we are right now, we can make a difference in the place that we call HOME.

Secondly, we sit on the Eve of St. Valentine’s Day today and I thought I would do a last minute Valentine’s round-up. I have breakfast planned for Mr. Michie, I will be making homemade doughnuts tonight and working on my dessert for our Valentine’s dinner, but I will share more of that later.

In case you need a few last minute ideas, this is for you:

These cookies from the lovely Sweetopia Blog are just too SWEET! Learn how to make them here:

For those classroom Valentine’s where teachers won’t let you give out candy, Inchmark has come up with adorable bookmarks instead:

The House that Lars Built, shows you a cute way to make your own wrapping paper, to make that special gift, extra special:

The lovely I am Baker blog, shared these Neapolitan Spritz Cookies this week and they look like a very scrumptious box of goodies for a Valentine to receive:

These “Sealed with A Kiss” waxed lips from Oh Happy Day, are a sweet and funny way to pass out Valentine Cards. Who doesn’t have fun playing with waxed lips?:

And last but not least, via Martha Stewart, you can give your Valentine a tied posy in a flower cone. These would be sweet to give to friends at a little Valentine Day Luncheon:

{all images are copyright their respective blogs}

February 19, 2010 / 0 Comments

Hopping Along

Ooh! I know we are now in the second day of Lent and we should be being good, but, I couldn’t help it! Tonight I ran to the grocery store to pick up some bread and he just jumped right into my basket and hopped home with me!

And, he was delicious!

February 16, 2010 / 0 Comments

Pancake Tuesday

Today is Pancake Tuesday in England. It wasn’t until I moved here that I celebrated Shrove Tuesday with Pancakes! So this morning we turned these lovely strawberries into this wonderful breakfast! Yuumm!!

I can’t believe that Lent is already upon us! Where has this year gone so far? We are already two months into it and I still feel that Christmas was not that long ago. In my household we not only thought of something to give up but my parents also incorporated something to add on.

So each year we would add on things, like help out at the Soup Kitchen, volunteer for Meals on Wheels during our Easter Break… I have always liked this idea of adding on “good” things during this season and using it as a way to help others, instead of being depressed about what you might have given up. It is something that I now continue in my own home.

So, today we are working on our list of ideas for things we want to do to help others during the Lenten Season. Even if it is just something as simple as a friendly smile and a “Good Morning” (people don’t do that a lot in England and coming from the South where everyone speaks to each other, I find it strange). What can you do to help someone else?