A Hopping Easter Weekend

A year ago on Easter, it was just Rick and me. On Good Friday we had decorated eggs, as we always do that evening but instead of doing it with our friends, Mark and Jan, we did them by ourselves and later Zoomed our finished products with our friends. This year -- back to normal!

After a wonderful dinner (I brought some of the shortbread I made earlier in the week, along with lemon bars) we got to work. Mine were both hard-boiled and raw, Rick's raw and Mark and Jan's were boiled. (It gives me a great kick to open my fridge to make eggs and choose from bright happy eggs!

After our traditional "Life of Brian" viewing, we picked up our eggs and headed home, eager to enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.

Saturday was one of those get-ready days, lots of house tidying and prepping. We had big plans -- Kevin and Cam, who will be three this summer, were coming. So, I filled  loads of eggs with chocolate and goldfish for an egg hunt and made him a little basket. And I got the table ready!

Not long ago, Carol showed this very cute bunny cake on her blog and since Cam was coming, I thought I'd make one. I chose a lemon cake and modified the recipe, using ideas from this post from Home is Where the Boat Is. I was thrilled with the results!

Later, Rick made challah bread, which we have each year on Easter Morning with our French Toast. As always, yum!

We started Easter morning with a basket -- it wouldn't be the first! Then our challah French Toast!

But the real action of the day came when Kevin and Cam arrived. We started out with an Easter basket with stickers, play doh and chocolate. (I think there was a tad too much chocolate on Easter!)

 Then, a walk to the park a couple of blocks away...

...where there was loads of play time.

Sometimes I wondered who was the biggest kid. Well, we know the "biggest."

But it's hard to top the joy on this face!

After we returned, we did a little egg hunt in the back yard. 

Nothing is better than hearing the words "I see one!" as little legs run to collect yet another egg! 

 

 It was quite a haul!

Then it was time for dinner. Three of us were hungry. The fourth? Not so much. All those M&Ms, kisses and goldfish can fill a boy up. After opening and closing the fridge at least 50 times to look at the bunny cake, this guy was too full to enjoy it!

I never thought I'd have kids and then I met Rick with two ready-made boys. But they were a little older. It's almost like magic to see how they change with every visit when they are this young. It's all the more radical after so many months of no visits during our pre-vax Covid times. 

So, forgive me a bit if I jump for joy when I talk about this little munchkin and his brother.

I may not jump so well as I did when I was this age, but the pure joy is all there!

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An Easter Card (or Two...or More)

Sending all good wishes for a Happy Easter if you celebrate the holiday.

And if you don't, celebrate the bunny!

Or, imagine a basket filled with goodies just for you!

Or a full buffet, with all your favorites!

And if all else fails...

...celebrate spring! With all good wishes for a time...

From me and my bunny!

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The Colors of Spring

When you live in the north and the colors you see for several months of the year are white, gray and dark branches against an often gray-white sky, there is nothing more pleasing to me than to welcome the colors of spring, whether they are in festive decor or outdoors! (Not that the house wasn't colorful enough with all those bunnies!)

So when I saw this post, I became inspired to paint my own eggs! (I wish I could remember which of my regular bloggers leaked to this post. Apologies -- if it was you, tell me and I'll link in!)

There really are no rules. I got the eggs a few years ago at Michael's. You want a smooth egg, not the shiny plastic ones that come apart to stuff for kids. If you get those, you'll need a coat of paint over them and who needs to spend the extra time? Then, using watercolor (which dries quickly) or the paints of your choice, even markers, just free form your favorite blooms or patterns!

Easy peasy and pretty, too. (You could also add a hanger for an egg tree!)

There are more colors than those on the eggs. My first trip to the nursery brought me face to face with these pansies that I couldn't leave behind!

And these, too!

Tulips have been a frequent companion as well.

Of course, the floral color isn't limited to "store-bought." My dwarf iris were the first to come up this spring!

Those were followed by crocus popping up in the most unexpected spots.

And then there were the mini-daffs!

Every year after buying bulb gardens, I plant them in the garden in the fall and they bring about such joy when they bloom! 

All that bright, cheery yellow! What's not to love? 

Even the birds were showing their colors!

But the best part about this spring is that I'm collecting long overdue hugs!

The visit of friends was short -- but since we were all vaccinated, we could be together mask-free!

So, find our favorite bloom, your favorite flowering tree, your happiest Easter bunny or brightest smile!

It's spring!

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My House Is Being Invaded by Rabbits

It feels so good to start bringing out the Easter things! And not surprisingly, bunnies and Easter eggs  play big roles. And of course there is one cheery duck! Welcome!

Some of these bunnies are old friends. Others, like this cheery pink one, are only a few years old. She looks very happy with a little peat pot of eggs beside her.

Step a bit farther back and you can see she sits on the dry sink with a spray of forsythia and my egg tree.

Many of the eggs here were done by my mom and/or me as far back as the 1960s. It's hard to believe some are sixty years old!

Every time I put the egg tree up, I can't help but think of times making some of them with her. Others were bought a travel remembrances.

On the opposite side of the room, the fireplace mantel is a parade of bunnies!

I love this little moss one by my bird lantern.

I've had plenty of real tulips but these faux ones look pretty spot-on to me!

 I finally got my act together and spent some time polishing silver. I love the reflections and sparkle it adds.

A quick peek into the kitchen. Nothing much here apart from some cheery daffs and spring things!

In the living/dining, we have more bunnies. This one has lights, too, but they didn't photograph all that well.

M&Ms don't last long in the house but they're always there at the holiday!

I've been painting eggs, too. More on this later, but here's a sneak peek!

 

Atop the china cabinet, three of my favorite "Vintage by Crystal" pieces. 

This pink bloom was a long-ago gift. It seems to fit well with Grandma's silver teapot.

In the hutch, an few more bunnies.

I'll tell you more about the Lord Nelson tea set in another post sometime! I think it has found a new home here!

Peter Rabbit makes an appearance, too. (For two delightful Peter Rabbit design posts, visit Emily and Pam. You'll swoon. I did.)

More bunnies -- and a hyacinth that will need staking soon!

 There will always be bunnies and blooms in the spring. 

And sometimes, even a wee, Parisian bear, one of my felties!

 Celebrate a lovely spring!

 If it's not where you are soon, it will be!

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