Magic

Just me, trying to sharpen my senses.

In honor of my birthday yesterday and because L.M. Montgomery just "gets" me, I'll leave you with these quotes that perfectly sum me up at 42 years old.

“I'd like to add some beauty to life," said Anne dreamily. "I don't exactly want to make people KNOW more... though I know that IS the noblest ambition... but I'd love to make them have a pleasanter time because of me... to have some little joy or happy thought that would never have existed if I hadn't been born.”  (Anne's House of Dreams)

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”   (Anne of Avonlea)

“In my maturity, I've come to the happy, evolutionary opinion that I'm unusual, and I embrace it”  (Anne with an "E")

Tulips

(Miss Adele' took this picture!)

I don't know why it took this Dutch girl THIS long to plant some tulip bulbs- but my procrastination has stolen so much potential beauty and joy from my life these many years!

There are two types of flower people:  The kind who would never dare to cut flowers- enjoying them only in their natural, living habitat.  And the kind that is perfectly happy to massacre them for the sake of indoor joy.

I am the latter.

It took me growing tulips myself to realize that homegrown tulips are NOTHING compared to store bought ones.  I always kinda thought they were a modest flower but in fact, they are incredibly ostentatious!  

If you cut tulips in the morning and bring them in when they are tightly budded, by evening they have stretched out and draped their petals in the most showy, flamboyant way.  

"Look at ME!" they cry.

And I do.  I DO!  I can't HELP myself!

Are you a hand-off flower admirer or a vase-filling flower butcher?  

Also: an important something to think on today...

So don't do it.

 "Mama!  I made this sign.  It says it is illegal to punch someone in the face."  

78

78

That is how many photos of cows I found taken on a single day.  

Apparently, SOMEONE wants to show you our cows!

So here they are.

Leave it to the Professionals

The other day Moses said to me...

 "Mama- since you are so professional at cutting eggs, will you please cut these eggs for me?"

He's a charmer.  ;-)

Eastering

The happy couple, up to their old tricks

 Ineke thought she hit the MotherLoad as she was opening up the largest of the eggs which was not only impressive in size but hanging from a tree and duct-taped to protect the immeasurable treasures within. Little did she know that it was filled with a crushed soda can, some empty wrappers and a single measly mini-kitkat for her efforts.  (No doubt the shenanigans of the conspiring boys above.)

(it was supposed to look like an Easter Egg)

"Resurrection Rolls" in which an empty tomb is revealed after baking a dough-wrapped marshmallow.  The marshmallow dipped in cinnamon was meant to represent Jesus' body, wrapped in spices.  We mustn't take the analogy too far though.  I can get behind an empty cavernous roll but there it must end as I am certain Jesus didn't ooze and puddle.

One "gift" middle age has given me in the last year or two is the inability to sleep.  Or should I say the ability NOT to sleep?  

(Even if I want to.)

It is a bane unless it happens around 2:30/3ish on Easter morning, leaving me time to finish up all the Easter things I had left undone the night before...like setting up the table, hanging the hanky bunting, making clues and going out with a flashlight in my robe to hide Easter treats.  

In these instances, insomnia becomes a superpower.  

Easter Egg stuffing elevated to a whole new level as I now have health conscious adult children. 

Pistachios, cashews, beef jerky and chocolate covered coffee beans rounded out the jellybeans and PEEPS this year- and the grocery budget barely recovered. 

With each stuffed egg, I felt my nose pointing upward more and more.  (What a snob.)

The Smooth Twin and his practically perfect wife.  And wonderful children.

The Hairy Twin, who it seems may have married a Cruella de Vil. 
Surrounded by wonderful children, nonetheless.