Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Weather and Other Things

We've had over 1 1/2 inches of rain so far today.
(Looks like we need to fix the time and date.)

 You know what they say: if people didn't talk about the weather, they wouldn't have anything to talk about. That rings very true to me because the first thing I thought about when beginning this post was to describe the weather. And that's what I'm going to do.

It is a cold rainy day. It's been raining for a few days and will rain for a few more. This afternoon, the system that caused the devastating tornadoes in the Midwest will be coming through. We are told to expect wind, rain, and hail, with a chance of a tornado. As the system moves north, Mary Ellen, who lives in ME, said they expect 2 feet of snow. I know that I am lucky that we will probably not suffer either of these extremes here. I wish strength for all who are dealing with them.

Because of the weather, Ward and I have postponed the errands we had planned for the day. None are urgent, so there's no need to go out in the mess. Instead, I'm puttering around the house, and Ward is in his shop working on a table he is making. He hopes to get some work in before the storms this afternoon.

Miss Landers made a bunny cake for Easter dessert.

However, the weather on Easter Sunday was beautiful. It was a warm, sunny day with temperatures in the low 60s. A perfect day to spend time outside with our company. We had a small family gathering (10) for Easter lunch. We made a few dishes, and others brought the rest. 

I am slowly making progress on our spring yard cleanup. However, we are entering the stage where it is hard to outpace the weeds as we are clearing the dead foilage. I planted peas a couple of weeks ago because the forsythia was blooming—a general rule of thumb for when to plant this cool-weather crop. However, the weather has been cold since then, and I don't see anything sprouting yet. I hope the seeds don't rot in the ground before it warms up.

What's the weather in your neck of the woods?

Until next time...

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Jelly Beans

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

I have a busy day getting ready for a crowd for dinner, so I'm running a post from the files about jelly beans. Enjoy.



Jelly Beans

The techniques for making jelly beans have been around for hundreds of years, but when they were first made is uncertain. One thing that people seem to agree on is the first time they were mentioned in writing in the US, which was in 1861 by William Schrafft, a candy maker, encouraging people to send jelly beans to the troops. In 1905 they were selling for 9 cents/pound in Chicago.

Did you know that jelly beans weren't associated with Easter until the 1930s when someone decided they looked like eggs, as well as beans? Before that, they were considered a Christmas candy, and even today, after Easter, Christmas is the next most popular time for jelly bean consumption. That is a fact that is broadening my horizons because I have never associated jelly beans with Christmas. However, a quick Google search showed that there are plenty of people out there who are happy to sell you red and green jelly beans, so there must be something to it.

And speaking of jelly beans looking like eggs, when I think of jelly beans, I always think of eggs. Never as beans, which now seems curious since they are called jelly beans. However, when I mentioned the Christmas and Easter facts about the candies to Ward, he said he guesses that they could look like eggs, but he always thinks of them as beans because, after all, they are called beans. And after all of these years of marriage, who knew we had such differing ideas about jelly beans? :)

One of my thoughts for this post was maybe I could make some homemade jelly beans and share my experience. I had no idea how to make them, but it's the day of Google and YouTube, so I thought there would be some easy instructions to find. And I was right. There were several recipes involving gelatin, sugar, candy thermometers, and lots of time for drying. It would have been an interesting experiment, but I should have thought of it before last night.

I had a few more things to share on the subject, like Jelly Bellies being the first jelly beans to add the flavor to the inside instead of just in the coating, but I think this post has reached its natural conclusion. I'm hungry now, and I don't think anything will satisfy me except jelly beans. And I may not even wait until they are marked down after Easter to buy some.

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Happy Easter!

 Happy Easter!

We will be spending the day with Ward's family. A picnic is planned, but we woke up to frost on the ground, so it may be cold - at least for me. We shall see.

Below are a few pictures from past Easters. Whether you celebrate or not, I hope today is a good one for you.

































I am thankful for Easter because it reminds us that 
all things are possible.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!
Share with me our stay-at-home Easter Parade, with a few pictures from Easters past and present.

































I am thankful for Easter because it reminds us that 
all things are possible.






Sunday, April 21, 2019

Thankful Sunday, April 21, 2019



I am thankful for Easter because it reminds us that all things are possible.






Monday, April 1, 2013

Easter Gathering

Laughter, tears, silliness
fill the day

Family, connections, love,
fill our life





Sunday, March 31, 2013

Thankful Sunday--March 31, 2013

I am thankful for Easter


because it reminds me that all things are possible.





Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter

Easter Gathering

Busy schedules of
Family and friends
Made Easter Eve
 The time to spend

With brothers and cousins
And neighbors and cats
Eating ham and potatoes
While we sat

Playing chess and guitars
And enjoying the sun
Talking and laughing
Until the day was done.

Happy Feet at our Easter Gathering





















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