99/365: The forest in Konstantynów Łódzki

99/365: The forest in Konstantynów Łódzki, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 9th

I was actually looking for some swampy terrain I knew was around here, but I didn't find it. It was a nice ride nevertheless. The thing I like about Lodz is that it is, in fact, small for being so big ;). Eight, maybe ten miles on my bike in any direction and I am out in the countryside, and can easily get home in time for the proverbial tea.

98/365: Doors

98/365: Doors, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 8th

As far as I can tell these buildings used to belong to the nearby Niciarka thread factory.

I wish I could say more but I can't find much information about it online. I meant to go Northwest that day, but I went Southeast instead and ended up exploring this area. There are many like it in Lodz, which was a city built around factories.

97/365: Late on a bad day

97/365: Late on a bad day, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 7th

I contemplated giving the world the finger, but then nice people look at my pictures, too...

96/365: Hole in the wall

96/365: Hole in the wall, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 6th

A hole in the wall! Is someone putting in a shop? I bet it will be a booze shop, there isn't one within ten feet of that building yet. :P

95/365: I always get the wrong train

95/365: I always get the wrong train, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 5th

Most of them are low-riding, spacy new pretties, but somehow whenever I'm taking my bike I land on one of the old clunkers where I can barely squeeze through the doors with my bike. And there's steps, high steps. I got bruises getting on and off that thing.

(the box is full of mazurki)

A tree and a store...

Ladies and gentlemen, I have opened up a print shop on RedBubble.com.

I am trying to earn enough money to pay at least part of my way to the Bounty reunion this July.

I will put up more artwork soon, and I'll also open up a shop at Zazzle because they have mugs and tote bags. :) Also, redbubble ships worldwide but is US based, and Zazzle have a uk store, so my euro friends can help me out too >:)

For now, if you like me and my work, go buy something here: http://www.redbubble.com/people/magicmadzikhttp://www.redbubble.com/people/magicmadzik

94/365: The Resurrection

94/365: The Resurrection, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 4th

Blackfriars in procession for the Resurrection (though since Christ has risen, they have symbolically thrown off their black cloaks and appear in white). The liturgy began at half past eight on April 3rd- this photo was taken five hours later, just after one am as the bells tolled for the rising of Christ. As the final part of the ceremony, the host is carried outside along with light from the new Paschal candle, as a symbol of the Saviour's return, and (unfortunately for any non-religious neighbours) the community is encouraged to make as much noise as possible to announce the good news. Many people carry their own little bells for that purpose.

The Paschal Vigil at the church of the Dominican Order of Preachers is a very special event. Thousands of people show up every year, which is remarkable considering the liturgy lasts about five hours, and you need to be there a good hour early to get seats.

The appeal is not only in the Dominican fathers' challenging and intelligent sermons and the warmth of this enormous, once-a-year community, but also in the mere artistic value of the ceremony. Their choir is impeccable, and they are accompanied by a wide range of instruments, from the traditional organ to djembe drums, cello and harp. This musical combination is incredibly moving, especially during the baptism of the catechumens.

For several years now the Dominican church in Służew has also been home to a Korean community, and they too take part in the liturgy singing hymns in their native tongue. They are unbelievable. I would challenge the hardiest atheist not to feel a tingle run down their spine when the soloists sing.

The Dominicans are a popular order, known for their wholesome approach to life and their many engaging youth programs and endeavours to promote the evolution of soul and mind alike. They're renowned for their intellect and openness. They're quality. And perhaps a little bit crazy, but that's not entirely a bad thing ;)

93/365: Blessing the food

93/365: Blessing the food, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 3rd

Święconka is a Polish Easter tradition, where on Good Saturday we take a basket of food to church for a blessing. The most common traditional basket contains eggs, meat, cake, bread, salt and pepper, horseradish and beetrot sauce, and a sugar lamb. They represent all the food we will eat on Easter Morning, after the Resurrection. Children in particular like Święconka as they are usually the ones to carry a little basket. I still use the same basket I brought to church when I was very small, I wouldn't have any other.

(later my cat Radesh broke into the dining room and stole all the meat from my basket. Which is just as well since I don't really eat meat anymore anyway...)

92/365: A cross of light for JP2

92/365: A cross of light for JP2, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 2nd

This cross of lamps was set up as part of the last station for the city's Stations of the Cross procession, on Piłsudski square where John Paul II spoke on his first visit home after becoming Pope. By a moving coincidence this year Good Friday falls on the anniversary of his death, and the Stations left later than usual as they were timed to arrive at the square close to 21:37, the hour of his death. We were there an hour earlier but we stopped to light a candle.

91/365: Mazurek

91/365: Mazurek, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

April 1st

500 grams of flour
250 grams of butter
150 grams of powder sugar
3 egg yolks

Mix the flour and butter until it has the consistency of breadcrumbs
Mix in the sugar and egg yolks until you have a dough. If it is too dry, add a little cream.
Wrap up in cellophane, refrigerate for about an hour.

This is your pie and cookie dough. Roll it out thin, and be careful that it doesn't burn in the oven. And let the crusts cool before you take them out of the pans and pour in the filling.

The filling is chocolate, and you're on your own there- it's a matter of preference. The general rule is to sit a pot inside a saucepan of simmering water, and melt down a combination of dark and milk chocolate. You can add nutella, you can add fudge spread- just be careful that it doesn't get too hot and start clumping.

Pour it into the pie crusts, shake them gently to spread it evenly. And then start decorating.

For the above I used mini choux, green pumpkin seeds, almonds, milk dragees, and a cookie.

Done? Congratulations, you have just made a traditional Polish Easter cake, the mazurek. But you can't eat any of it until after the Resurrection!

The idea is to get creative with your decorating. As a child I used to play with cookies and that horriffic coloured icing which comes in little tubes and requires samsonic force to be squeezed out...until somewhere around 2007 I discovered seeds.

Seeds look classy. They look sophisticated. They look rustic, quaint, traditional.

They taste better than the icing. Although I did make some of my own almost-royal icing this year and used it on some of the cakes- particularly those with no nuts, meant for my sister who claims nuts make her sick. Also, if I get too comfortable with the seeds my mother complains that there are 'no crazy mazurki'...

So, for your appreciation, here are all the Easter treats we baked this year:

...and in 2009...

...and in 2008.

How's that to make your mouth water?

Here, I made a flickr set with ALL of my mazurki pictures from the last three years.