Easter and other miracles...

Oh Easter, how I look forward to you each year.  We've had our problems as of late.  My dearest was back at the hospital for a routine procedure and we ended up staying overnight.  It was early Good Friday when we returned home.  The question, could we pull off brunch for 20 in less than 48 hours?

The house was already cleaned and decorated.

Bunnies and a couple of ducks lined the stairs.

Blooming bulbs in the foyer.

The table set in the family room.

The groceries were already purchased, several cakes were made earlier in the week.

The muscari were potted.

The wheat grass was growing.

Pansies too.

The glittery chicks on the tables.

The fireplace all decked out.

Even a little Lavender display.

Everything was ready,  except for us.

We talked about cancelling, but we couldn't disappoint the family.

So I made my casseroles, and potatoes.  Coleslaw and Ambrosia.  Store bought pierogi and bagels.

We had bacon, Polish sausage and ham.

Scrambled eggs and Door County Potatoes.

Mindy brought her famous deviled eggs.

Elizabeth brought me flowers.

Mikey brought the ice and Amanda brought me more beautiful flowers.

Kris and Doug brought the veggie tray and fruit.  My dearest rolled up the ham and folded the dishtowels that came out of the dryer. We never made it to the basket blessing, but I hope the ancestors understood.

My dear friend Mary brought her traditional Lamb Cake for us to enjoy.

And, bingo bango we had Easter!

Grateful to be together, (except for Jon and Charlotte and the twins who are still too tiny for travel.)

grateful to be home, and for the most beautiful weather on Easter day in recent memory.

The only mishap, the egg hunt.  We filled the eggs with quarters, dollars, one five dollar bill and one ten dollar bill.  The cousins were ready! When the hunt was over, no one had the ten dollar egg.

Even the grownups joined the hunt.  No luck.

Yesterday, I cleaned out the fountain, a job I didn't have the time or energy to do before our guests arrived.  I found the egg in the watering can on the fountain, with the ten dollar bill safely inside.

 Even Doug who hid the eggs didn't find it.  How wonderful when the cousins are together.  

Next year six girls will be hunting eggs! 

My great niece Teya brought me a gift.  When she was little I called her my Little Bird here on the blog.  She will be 11 soon.  She made me a Suzy Snowflake figure out of all natural materials.  When she was very small, I made her a Suzy Snowflake that hung from a stick that she could make dance.  It broke and we said that we would someday make another. Teya decided to make one for me.  It touched my heart, that she remembered and that she though of me.  Sometimes I am sad that she doesn't remember all the fun things we did together, so it was especially wonderful.

What a special gift from a special girl.

When Penny was leaving she didn't want to go.  She held on to me, and told me she wanted to stay.  

I felt very loved.

My dearest, on the mend, enjoyed the festivities, and so did all of our guests.

I don't know how we did it, but we did.

Alleluia! 

Thanks for stopping by and for your friendship.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

I can see clearly now...

 Today I am so grateful for my vision in my right eye has been restored.  After cataract surgery, everyday has been a revelation.  I can see!  I can also see what time has done to my face.  Truly, I have earned every dark circle and wrinkle or as I prefer to call them laugh lines.  My dearest makes me laugh everyday.  Even when things are tough. 

 We've had some trying times as of late, but the good outweigh the bad, and the happy outweigh the sad.  Our beautiful tiny granddaughters are finally home.  Jon and Charlotte's days apart were very difficult, but they made it through.  The girls are growing and healthy. 

 Life is full of challenges, but also filled with joy and love.  We are preparing to celebrate Easter.  Even though Easter is late this year, I was not prepared.  A little cleaning, a lot of planning and lists, checking the pantry.  I got this!  I've been doing the holidays 35 or so years.   They have all turned out fine, even the year it rained INSIDE right before my brunch.  Sometimes a little smoke from the oven, a casserole that needs more time, a cancelled egg hunt due to weather.  Still we are together, and we rejoice.

I am a creature of habit.  I will make the bread for the blessing.  Buy the Polish sausage, color the eggs and go to the blessing of the baskets.  Looking forward to the Spring that is promised but late, to my family gathered and to celebrate life.

Happy and Blessed Easter to you and yours.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny

April, she will come...

 I hear the song in my head, and it's hard to believe today is the first day of April.  I am doing a little puttering around the house.  The winter still has us in it's grip, but hope springs eternal that Spring is just around the corner.

 Grandpa and Grandma finally met our brand new granddaughters.  Irene is already telling Grandpa, no more kisses!  They are the sweetest tiniest babies.  After having eight pound babies myself, these little girls are almost floating in our arms.  They are strong, and content and healthy.  What more could anyone want.

Stevie meets Grandma!

 I wept sweet tears holding our Jon Jon's daughters.  The love started as soon as we knew Charlotte was pregnant, and increased twofold upon knowing they were twins.  Holding our granddaughters for the very first time is one of life's sweetest moments.

 God willing, we will hold these little hands for as long as they let us.  We are almost at the seven year point of hand holding with Penny, and she is still willing.  We are blessed in so many ways.

 My dearest is feeling better, looking better and stronger since his hospitalization.  His work ethic is strong too.  It's hard to keep him from working, even on days when he really needs the rest.  He thrives in the work environment, and to hear him talk with customers and co workers is impressive.  I sometimes don't understand a word of what he's saying, but I love to surprise him by asking a technical question, or quoting something I've read or heard on the news.  It's fun seeing his reaction. 

He loves when I talk "tech" to him. ;-)

This week I will have cataract surgery on my problem eye.  I am looking forward to better vision, and getting my eye glasses updated.  I vividly remember my Buscia leaving for the hospital and me crying when she went to have her cataract surgery.  I was probably 5 years old.  Things have changed in almost 60 years, now I'm the Buscia!  Getting my eyes to work together after surgery will take a little while. I apologize in advance for any typing errors, bad punctuation...who am I kidding?  I've been writing this blog for NINE YEARS and my typing, grammar and punctuation has not improved a bit.  

 Until next time...

The only Spring you'll find in Chicagoland is inside.

Though it's faux, it cheers me up.  

Thanks for stopping by and for your kindness.

Enjoy this beautiful day.

Love, Penny