Have a Good Friday!

I'm really looking forward to Easter this year, if for no other reason than it is spring and that's long overdue! (She says, chirpily, knowing that by Sunday we could have eight inches of snow.)
Carrot cake will be in the oven (maybe carrot cupcakes; I have cute little papers and if I don't use them at Easter, when will I?)

Last night I celebrated spring with a group of friends that energizes me and fills me with joy. We welcomed spring with conversation, laughter and toasts and I left inspired and grateful that I know these terrific women. (And we all send greetings to Kate, who couldn’t make it, being far away! If you’re reading, know that you were missed!)

Then home, to discover a wonderful surprise from Garden Goose – these great tags are so springy and happy -- I was thrilled! Thank you!

Next up: Egg boiling!

Before

During (you'll have to wait for "after")

One Easter tradition I cherish is spending Good Friday evening with our good friends Mark and Jan. We have dinner first, then gather at their home to dye eggs. It's quite the production (though the egging never was quite so colorful after they stopped making the "bunny-head" dye, which was probably terribly toxic!).

Some of our color combos are interesting to say the least! We always dye way too many eggs (which will manifest as deviled eggs on Sunday, along with chopped eggs for the spinach salad and egg salad on Monday!). We revel in oooing and ahhing over each others' achievements. They’re not Martha eggs, that’s for sure! But so fun, so festive!

Then, with stained fingers, we head to the telly to watch Monty Python's “Life of Brian.” It wouldn't seem like Easter if we didn't "Always look on the bright side of life."

When I think back on Easters past, I think of countless hours singing in year after year of church choir extravaganzas (we had an ambitious choir director). And, I think of welcoming friends who couldn't go home for Easter at my parents for dinner. I think of the first Easter after Mom died (she died on April 21; Easter was late that year) and I think of looking for eggs as a kid. (Sometimes I’d find quarters, too!). My favorite Easter basket treat was creamed herring. I was eight. Maybe I’ll get some tomorrow.

What do you remember?