Easter Observed

Holy Week Around the World

Wet & Wonderful Easter Trails

Courtesy of the gorgeous Savill Gardens:

Egg Tradition

Just in time for the Easter Bunny shennanigans are this year's artistic endeavours:

Wind

I used to love a powerful wind. The sensation of the wind blowing my hair was exhilarating. Being a sailor I loved the wind even more. Sticks and stones could break my bones but a Gale Force 8 excited me.

And then I moved to England. Wind is as common here as sunshine is in Colorado. The wind and rain don't seem to bother the natives but it is wearing me down. I dont' like the wind so much anymore.

Today an arctic gale is blowing. The temperature is 6.7 C (44 F). Taking into account the wind chill factor I feel like I am living in the antarctic. I reckon it is well below freezing.

We are supposed to be enjoying our Easter Weekend. Good Friday and Easter Monday are holidays here in the UK so we've got a 4 day weekend looming. This is typically a time to get the garden in order and enjoy some walks, maybe even entertain thoughts of a BBQ.

There ain't no way I am going outside to enjoy any fresh air. My children would certainly get blown away unless I tethered them to me. The only thing keeping me from being picked up off my feet is all this excess weight I am carrying around.

The forecast for the weekend was rain, sleet, and hail. Right now the sun is shining and there is blue sky but that don't mean it isn't bone chilling.

We are digging into the DVD collection as we speak.

Apple Jacks

My mother, Linda, sent the Clare-Panton Family an Easter Box. This box was dispatched on 22 March from just outside Denver, Colorado, one would think in plenty of time to met the Easter Weekend celebrations. You would be wrong.

The box arrived Wednesday. The children thought Easter had come again. The box contained my favourite Easter treats, Peeps. Lucky for me, the children tried them and didn't like them. More for me! In addition to more chocolate, Sebastian got some shirts and Abigail got a beautiful dress (with a matching dress for her dolly). Marc got a box of Apple Jacks. If you are unfamiliar with the breakfast cereal, just suffice to say, Marc loves it! And you can't get it here in the UK. When we visit the USA, we inevitably bring a box or 2 back with us. Until now, the children have been blissfully unaware of the tastiness of this cereal. Marc is finding he is now having to share. Seb in particular is loving the cereal. Marc is not happy.

Seb also got a Power Rangers figure, which in his words is "wicked". Abigail received a Dora the Explorer doll which she won't release from her grasp. She even wanted to take it into the bath tub with her. Difficult to explain why Dora didn't need a bath but she did.

Thanks Mom, for thinking about us!

Easter Pics

Happy Easter!

Spring has sprung. The Easter Bunny has come and gone. He left loads of chocolate and eggs in the garden. The children devoured chocolate for breakfast and hunted down each and every one of the eggs. Our neighbour, Gill, joined us for the hunt and for a breakfast of bacon, eggs and sunflower bread with champagne and OJ for drinks (adults only).

We are planning a Easter dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow at 1:30 this afternoon. The day is set to be a beautiful, sunny, warm day. Everything you could hope for on a Easter Sunday.

Happy Easter everyone!

Hot Cross Buns

The English serve up these tasty treats toasted with butter. They are full of raisins and have a hint of cinnamon. My children love them. To be honest, everyone loves them. We are still trying to figure out how they put the cross across the top of the buns. And why are they an Easter treat? You can never buy them in the store at any time other than Easter time. We have gone through about 4 dozen in my household since last week. And we have only a dozen left. Might have to make a trip to the store today!


Auntie Mary and Uncle John had us round yesterday afternoon along with Auntie Dorothy and Uncle Mike for tea and hot cross buns.

Abigail put on one of her Easter Bonnets and a beautiful dress (a gift from Grandma Wink) and Seb paid special attention to his hair (?) which never sits right ever since he cut the side of his head open. He looks really handsome in green!

Apparently some Easter bunnies had appeared to Uncle John the night before and left chocolate Easter bunnies in the garden which the children ran around looking for. Seb explained to Uncle John that he must have been mistaken as there is only 1 Easter Bunny and he only comes the night before Easter. He doesn't hide chocolate Easter bunnies. He hides eggs. Seb thinks Uncle John is just a bit loco.

Uncle John got out the Lego and Seb and he spent the afternoon building all sorts of things including a flying car. Abigail entertained us with her mini-dramas.

We decimated the hot cross buns and the gorgeous Easter cupcakes. Seb ate 4 cupcakes and Abigail just licked off the frosting. She had frosting all over her chin.

We sat in the garden and enjoyed the sunshine. It was a beautiful day.

We dyed our Easter eggs in the morning and are all set for the bunny to appear to hide them.

This morning dawned another glorious day. The sun was bright and the temperature was warm.

Sebastian had his riding lesson and then we went to some friends house for an Easter party. (Diana & Shaun: Thanks - It was a great morning!) There was an Easter egg hunt (chocolate eggs only) and little nibbles for the children and adults. A really fabulous morning watching the children run around like banshees.

Tonight we are having Kerry and Eddie George round for dinner. We are having the other half of the cow we bought at Christmas time (remember that huge prime rib we got?). I'm sure we'll bust out a bottle of bubbly and wait in eager anticipation for the arrival of the Easter Bunny.

Easter Weekend

Here in the UK they don't have the idea of separation of church and state. The Queen is the Head of the Church of England (C of E) and also instructs the Parliament to form. Parliament's sole purpose is to run the country. As you can see the role of Queen intrinsically links the church and the state.

Today is Good Friday and Monday is Easter Monday. Both days are bank holidays which means we get the days off work by law. I always find it a little strange that we get religious holidays off. But it is a good time to spend with the family and get the garden sorted.

As a child, my mother dressed me up in the requisite Easter Bonnet complete with matching handbag. My Easter eggs were never very good and I never found very many during the hunt due to having 3 brothers who were nothing short of maniacs. But I did love the candy left in our Easter baskets. The difference between how they do Easter eggs is completely different from the UK and the USA. They don't dye proper eggs here. We are all in a bit of a panic because Asda didn't have the kit this year like they normally do. We are going to paint ours. literally. They give chocolate eggs, big and small, over here to the children. That's it. In the USA the candy is far more imaginable and varied. The marshmallow chicks and bunnys are my favourites! And I dare you to try and find plastic eggs for money. Nothing short of impossible.

I was raised a Catholic, attended to Catholic school, went to mass every Sunday, the first Monday of the month, and every holy day imaginable. As an adult, I loved going to Mass with Nanny and on several occasions I have gone to service at C of E here in the UK which is very similar to the Catholic Church. The only difference between the Catholic and C of E being that Henry VIII wanted a divorce and the pope wouldn't give it to him so he formed his own church. But that was a long time ago.

I occasionally go to church. I love the pageantry and celebration of a church service. I love the signing of hymns. I love the architecture (especially in Europe) and the stunning stained glass windws. I believe that many of the messages taught in the church are relevant and useful today. Faith brings many people comfort and purpose. There is nothing wrong with this. And sometimes I go just to see if they've got anything new to add......

Easter weekend is my favourite time to go to church. On Good Friday, the service is sombre, grey, sad, as you would expect it to be when recognising that on this day an innocent man who taught others to love and forgive, who was not guilty of any crime, who was unjustly accused and convicted, was killed. In the most outrageous and humiliating way. That is a time for reflection.

The ladies and men of the church keep watch in the church after Good Friday service until Easter Sunday morning. The churches here are old and dimly lit. They tend to be cold and made of grey stone. The parishioners stay at the church and hold a prayer vigil, just as you would imagine a grieving mother/father/friend to stay behind at a grave for their loved one. During this time I reflect on those who have left us physically but not spiritually. I reflect on those who have died too young to meet their grandchildren or those children who have died too young to grow into adults and realise all the potential inside themselves. This is a sad time.

But then all the promise of life is reaffirmed on Easter Sunday. Love, Hope, Possibility and Forgiveness. All good messages regardless of your religion, your beliefs, your faith.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!