Easter Fun!

So.....winter is trying to hold on for dear life - Spring one day then winter the next!  But you can't fool Mother Nature!!! When it's time to send forth her bounty she wastes no time.  Even the crazy winds that have blown in this week can't shake the delicate purple flowers - we WILL have Spring!!!


Tomorrow will be Easter - so many preparations for the morning......a special treat of dying eggs in a very magical way......have never done this before but looking forward to some gorgeous eggs!!!
To see full instructions for the silk tie eggs please visit the girls at Our Best Bites - really great site - oodles of fun!!!!www.ourbestbites.com

First step is to find some crazy silk ties......the local thrift store took care of that.....then they needed to be disassembled so that all that remained was the silk material....I had no idea how a tie was constructed - very interesting!!!  Next step.....cut pieces large enough to wrap around an egg - then an outer layer is wrapped around the egg.  Once all the eggs are wrapped they are placed in a pot with water and vinegar and brought to a boil - finished product? Some of the coolest abstract colored eggs I have ever laid my eyes on!!!!  Usually I would hide the hard boiled eggs - but for some reason these particular eggs have a really potent odor!!!! May be due to the length of time they were boiled - 20 minutes!!!! In any case - don't want the house smelling of stinky eggs - YUCK!  So a dozen "filled" eggs are hidden around the house - I don't know about you, but just the thought of spying a hidden Easter egg gives me goosebumps and thrills :)   I still delight in the custom and will hold on to it as long as I have willing hunters!!!!

Alaskan Purl: 100th Post...and a giveaway, of course!

Alaskan Purl: 100th Post...and a giveaway, of course!

Alaskan Purl

Just a quick note - will blog a bit more later.......Alaskan Purl is having a yarn giveaway over at her blog in honor of her 100th post - get over there quick!! The sock yarn is yummy yummy yummy :)  She is a delight to read and a delight to share her celebration with all of us! http://www.alaskanpurl.com/2010/03/100th-postand-giveaway-of-course.html

All My Sons......by Arthur Miller

Today we woke to blue skies and sunshine.....a very welcome site indeed.  Spring is not suppose to be all sunshine and lollipops in Colorado - Wet snow and chilled breathy air - that is more what a Spring morning in Colorado is like.....of course - blue skies are (almost) always available year round!  But today - the second day of Spring- offered up warm sunshine and blue skies.  That is not all....I.happened to glance at the edge of my driveway  ......PURPLE CROCUS! With many more getting ready to rise out of the winter soil. So beautiful - so happy they make me!!! Just enough blooms to announce the arrival of Spring - but not enough to be worrisome....more snow on the horizon......I checked on my trees for any signs of life and could just make out little bumps where the leaves will soon be pushing through. Before long the yard will be lush and thriving - a bounty of natural beauty! But until then - the little purple crocus smiles up at me.  I'm happy!

Went to see a very good play. Intense...but very good. Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" - had no idea what we were going to be witnessing - had to swallow my emotions numerous times during the play - the acting was incredible - felt like I was reliving a moment in time.  Life happens - we read it in the history books - but watching a play like this takes those words we read  and makes them POP! and grab you by the heart and soul......makes you truly understand and FEEL those words.  It was an incredible play - based on a true story, which makes it that much more poignant. 

Blarney!

I hope a bit of the Irish luck visits you today!!!!

Spring forward!!!!

Just a reminder to all.....it's time to SPRING FORWARD!!! Set those clocks ahead one hour - ufta! Sure hope I get to sleep in tomorrow morning....yaawwnn! The alarm on Monday is going to be quite early :(

Natchitoches Meat Pies

So.....I've been quiet for quite awhile it seems - quiet but not idle!  I have been exploring and discovering my culinary skills - thanks to a couple of ladies from "Our Best Bites" - THE most wonderful cooking blog on the internet in my opinion :)  You can visit them as well....see link below...  Anyhoo....I have have been looking for new ideas to liven up my repertoire in the kitchen. I have made the Flat Bread (which I recently posted about) and this week I'm working on the Natchitoches (NACK-it-esh) Meat Pies.  I love the idea of a portable lunch that can be nibbled on while leisurely window shopping - or taking a walk through the park - portable and delectable!!!! I made the meat filling a couple days ago - and just like they said, the filling gets better as it sits in the fridge :)  Definitely a do ahead part of the recipe - I doubled my recipe thinking I just wouldn't have enough.....oops!!! Was I so very wrong!! I made eight medium size meat pies and a bevy of little ones and I barely used any of the meat.....I will be making these all week long - good thing they freeze well. I was thinking that this would make a very good gift for a friend who is immobile right now - popping a couple in the oven for dinner would be quite simple for her husband to manage - a little green salad and voile'- instant meal.  I was also thinking that this meat mixture would make a good salad wrap or "Louisiana burrito" :) Or even scrambled up into some eggs would be nice - I may be getting rather creative as the week goes on......
Next on my list is the Thai Noodle Salad - with a very yummy sounding Thai Peanut Dressing - This I will be making for a friend who has requested healthy foods as she recovers - and she LOVES Thai food.  I think this qualifies as healthy....it will be up to her how much of the yummy dressing she uses :)

So keep on smiling - enjoy the life you are given and always remember to explore all the possibilities - nothing worse than a mundane life :) http://www.ourbestbites.com