At Home: All Things Home

It's hard to believe that Easter is about a week away -- and it's as late as it can be this year, so we are well into official spring. Not that you would know it by the weather! But the mini-daffs, the first to pop each year, are looking perky outside and buds on the later spring bulbs. For the bigger ones? It's Trader Joe's! You go with what you can, right?

The house is looking a bit more springy. The spring/Easter decorations have been up for a bit, but I keep adding to them, moving them around!

The three egg trees finally went up, and with them, memories of making many of these eggs with my mom. I still remember the two of us, sitting around the kitchen table, lost in a mass of sequins, beads, ribbon and trims, decorating those  eggs. Only the night before we would both have had red faces from blowing out the yolks and whites, one pin-prick hole on each end of the eggs. Little gadgets make that easier now! 

She would be thrilled I still use Big Yellow Bunny -- such a face full of character!

And I know she would enjoy all the other rabbits in the house.  On the mantel is an enormous photo done by my friend Wally Parshall. It's actually too heavy to hang on the wall, but I love having it there, especially in the spring. Wally is so missed.

Even Peter Rabbit gets his own shelf!

It's a good time for cooking warm, cozy food, too. But lighter. These photos were taken after I dug into the dish to serve so it looks a bit like a dog's breakfast, but this is a lovely, light chicken dish. It uses chicken breasts or tenders, mushrooms, carrots, artichoke hearts and covered in a chicken broth-wine sauce. 

Here's the recipe. (Click to enlarge) If you use chicken breasts, follow the recipe timing; if you use tenders, cut back timing as they seem to cook when browning and too long in the oven makes them tough.

This fabulous recipe came from Ina Garten's "Go To Dinners" but here's the link. Save it. It's amazing! I  I served this over brown rice. The sauce was so good, I would make just the sauce for other things, too!

I've been able to do a bit of painting. I've found just leaving my paints out makes it a whole lot easier to just stop for a bit and then become engaged. Here is another page in my England journal. I'll write some things in the blank spot on the left. 

And another.

Meanwhile, I leave you with my favorite Rainbow Girl!

She may be neurotic but there is no sweeter cat!

I think I'll keep her!

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