EASTER and my memories of it

When I think about Easter, I think about these things below..



As a child we would always go to my Oma's (Grandmother's) house in our new Easter dress, so proud of our new clothes, since in those days you didn't get as much clothes as my children get these days!!

We, my brothers and nephews would run like crazy through her garden to find the chocolate and hard boiled colored eggs that were hidden in her garden by the Easter bunny. All of us would have a basket full and we would eat a nice Brunch with Easter bread, salmon, the colored hard boiled eggs, tea and other yummy treats like lamb meat, asparagus, young potatoes. All these foods remind me of Easter and Spring.

We also decorated the house with an Easter tree, this is a willow branch decorated with hollow eggs that are colored and some small birds and butterflies. We would always have the house full of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips that grew in my oma's garden. Easter meant for me the beginning of spring, although it still could be quite chilly but pastel colors are the colors of Easter to me!

I am keeping up with the tradition and baking some Easter bread with the girls on Friday and coloring some hard boiled eggs and decorating the Easter tree. We will have so much fun.

Living in SA and having so much friends from different cultures I realize that Easter is celebrated in so many different ways, some even don't celebrate Easter because in the Muslim religion there is no Easter celebration. I am hosting a Easter brunch on Easter Monday with a group of international friends and we will have dishes from all over the world, it will be an interesting Easter this year!

Have a Happy Easter y'all!
Mireille

Cravings for spring!

I don't know about you guys, but I have cravings.....cravings for spring. I had enough of this cold grey weather. I crave....colors!
white; of the pristine beaches of Florida
yellow; of the sun shining through the new leaves
bright green; of the new grass (and I am craving that smell of fresh mowed grass)
orange; of tulips from Amsterdam and fresh oranges
red; fresh juicy strawberries
pink; of the cheeks of my children when they play outside
purple; the fragrant lavender that grows all over France
blue; of the bright blue skies & the deep water of the oceans where I can dip my toes in. And all the colors in between.
I crave hearing the birds tjirping, finding a mate and building a nest. The new buds on the trees, the new baby ducklings in the pond in front of my house, the smell of spring in the air. I crave all these new beginnings, fresh smells, sun shine, going for beach walks on bare feet, hearing the voices of the kids playing outside, hikes in the woods, having picknics in the park, going to outdoor games with the kids, being outside without a big coat or bundled up with layers of clothing. I am craving for beaches, palm trees, lazy evenings with a book on the porch, seeing the sunset and just dreaming away. I don't know about you guys...but winter is taking too long. I need some change!...maybe that is what Barack Obama want too...just the spring! ;-)