My Mom, Easter 2012

 

It is hard to believe my beautiful mother is no longer with me. She looked so beautiful a year ago and 8 months later she was gone. I miss her every day. We all miss you here at the cottage, Anna. This morning Tabitha made a rare visit to my bed in the wee small hours before dawn instead of meowing to be fed and let out. She was my mother's cat and I think she was missing her too. Webster and Tabitha always go with me when I go downstairs to do laundry and they always hope she will magically appear in her home on the lower lever. But she's never there so we don't stay long. I really need to start dealing with her things but I'm waiting for the nice weather so I can open all the windows and doors and sort things outside. I'm still peaceful about her passing but that doesn't stop me from missing her. 

I've been busy in the kitchen making two dishes to take to Easter Ham Dinner with friends this afternoon. I am making my old standby (cranberry holiday salad from a book called 'Favorite Recipes from Quilters') and something new, a baked pineapple casserole that sounds delicious. I'll let you know. Have a Happy Easter Day! xo

Easter Duckling

Happy Easter, Everyone!

I never knew ducks could smile but this one definitely can. Click photo to enlarge for maximum enjoyment.

Awkward Baby Bird

This Bittern nestling is unusual looking to say the least. The wonderful photo by Alex Lavashkin appeared in Popular Photography 3/28/13. The mother made a beautifully woven nest for her babies, didn't she? 

Faux Bois Garden Set

Nothing could be more perfect. Are you entertaining outside for Easter? via

Waiting for His Walk

The question is, "Who will be walking whom?" Isn't this the perfect use for a window seat? via

Easter Greetings

Isn't this how the pyramids were built? Those two bunnies are very smart, knowing exactly how to move a giant egg. Happy Easter! via

via

Don't even think about getting close to the Easter chick. It's MINE to love and protect. via

Horace, The Housebroken Irish Hare

 

 

You will enjoy the vintage photos from and old Life Magazine featuring Horace, the housebroken hare. He was the pet of Cecil S. Webb, Director of the Dublin Zoo in 1956. What a character! View the slideshow with 17 photos here.

Allegri's Miserere performed by The Tallis Scholars

Allegri's Miserere performed by The Tallis Scholars. This beautiful Good Friday choral music was posted by Sally Thomas here.

Allegri's masterpiece was written sometime before 1638 for the annual celebration of the matins during Holy Week (the Easter celebration).
Read more. . .

Geese on a Road Trip

HaHa. Wonder where they are going? via

Free Range Chickens with Daffodils

My daffodils are just barely in the bud stage. Can't wait for the flowers. Don't you know these chickens produce delicious eggs?!! via

Quinoa Pancakes

Martha Stewart has the recipe here. Be sure to read the comments for tweeking hints from people who have actually made them. I think they would be good for a main course topped with Mark Bittman's Welsh Rarebit, creamed chicken, or corned beef hash. Thanks, Martha (and Mark).

Upstairs hallway reading nook.

This use of space at the top of the stairs is very nice, isn't it? via

Classic Craftsman Cottage to Love

Russell Road classic craftsman cottage by Thorsen Construction Company of Virginia and Moore Architects. View more photos of this wonderful home here.

Natural Egg Dyeing

image from Martha Stewart

Read the article on how to get these great colors from things like onion skins, blueberries, grape juice, spinach leaves, dill seeds and more.

via two men and a little farm

Bunny Eating Snowdrops

Is this little bunny powering up for the Easter weekend? My snowdrops have been in constant bloom since February thanks to our cold spring weather. I love these sweet harbingers of spring. via

Bathtime for Birdie

via

Can You Smell the Lilacs?

Lilacs are my favorite flowering shrub. Can you smell that delightful fragrance in your mind? This is an especially lovely arrangement. via

BIRD'S NEST COOKIES FOR EASTER

Recipe here.
Simple and easy using Chow Mein noodles, butterscotch chips, and Cadbury Mini eggs.

Big Clouds Over My Cottage

Yesterday was the day of big clouds, today there are none. I took this iPhone photo on the way back from Webster's mid-day walk on a beautiful fluffy cloud afternoon. my photo

Please Close The Gate

And that's an order from this rooster in Wales. via

Great Built-in Desk and Bookshelves

I like this home office very much. The radiator didn't prevent the owners from building around it. It's a clever use of the space, so bright and cozy. via

Whitewashed Brick Cottage

This looks pretty wonderful. A house you can grow old in is a real treasure. via

Beautiful Brickwork

I love to see decorative brickwork, another lost art in this world of rushing to get finished. via

So true!

via

Gray Kitchen

The sawhorse table is adjustable and can easily be used as an island when raised. I like this kitchen very much, don't you? via

Day Moon

I took this photo during an afternoon walk one day this week when the moon was out in broad daylight. [my iPhone photo] Goodnight. See you tomorrow. 

Outside Perfection

I love that the grass doesn't look perfect. Makes me think real people live here. The urns with boxwood really "pop" with no shutters on the first floor. via

Bunny in her Easter Bonnet

She looks very pleased with her Easter chapeau, doesn't she. via

Black and White Kitchen

I like the white marble on the island and the absolute black granite on the rest. It's beautiful and very workable, isn't it? I like the drop in range top and the wall ovens too. via 

Chicken + Cheese Quesadella Pie

This looks like the perfect Saturday night supper or Sunday Brunch to me. Yum. I'm posting early so you can go to the store to buy anything you don't have on hand. 

This is genius -- the crust is one 10" flour tortilla, burrito size.

I would probably use several frozen chicken breasts from Costco, cooked and shredded, of course. I always have a bag in the freezer.

Ingredients

1 (10-inch) flour tortilla (burrito size)
1 rotisserie chicken, skin discarded, meat shredded into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
(optional) 1/3 cup drained jarred pickled jalapeños, chopped
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Press tortilla into prepared pie plate and spray lightly with cooking spray. Toss chicken, cilantro, jalapeños (optional), 1 cup cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in large bowl until combined. Spread filling over tortilla.
Whisk eggs, milk, flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt in bowl until smooth. Slowly pour over filling, then sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until surface is golden brown, about 16-20 minutes, and when knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.
via: the girl who ate everything

Calico Monkey Flower - Mimulus pictus

Found only in California in the southernmost Sierra Nevada foothills alongside the Tehachapi Mountains. Seeds found here.

via

Bunnies

These bunnies are very excited about next weekend. via

Ping Pong with A Cat

Actually, this looks like fun. The cat is really good too. Watch on YouTube here.

Chalkboard Wall in Studio Work Space

I like this wall with a single board held up by brackets as a floating desk. It's interesting, simple and fun as well as functional. via

Tiffany Cottage House Tour

This double decker porch is my favorite feature of Tiffany Cottage. Luxist has more photos here.

Building The Nest

I got my hair cut today and the Christmas Tree with the colored lights is still up outside the shop's front door. I told them they should take it down before Easter and they said they could not because birds are already building nests in it. I watched while I was in the chair and there was a flurry of activity. I have to go to my garage and put up some of my birdhouses. It seems awfully early, especially since we got another dusting of snow last night. But I guess the birds know best. via