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Holidays:  Family Traditions at Easter  |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 08:29:18 AM
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Sunday is almost here and we haven't shared the special things we do with our families at this time of year. Anyone out there baking hot cross buns? That was something I always looked forward to with my Gram on Good Friday, that was our "project". My Mom and I always made homemade chocolate covered peanut butter eggs and that is something I do with my son. We deliver them to friends and family on Saturday
and have a blast. Do all of you dye eggs and what do you use? We have tried all differnt dyes natural and not but are still in search of perfect blue! Our church does an Easter dinner at the soup kitchen on Saturday evening so everyone has a chance to participate but still be with family on Sunday. Someone also had the great idea to provide sack lunches to our guests as they left so they had food for Sunday.
The kids really like helping pack these "goody" bags, it shows you how big their hearts truly are.
It wouldn't be Easter if we didn't have pasca( egg bread) from our Ukranian friends . We usually have ham but have been known to try pork roast,but scalloped potatoes w/leeks, pineapple bread pudding, spinach salad and ambrosia are always on the menu!
What about all of you? Do you hide the Easter baskets or leave them out? The "Easter Bunny" used to leave clues at our house and once our son got so excited he ran outside in his underwear! Do you have egg hunts at home or do you participate in a community event?
We spend the morning getting ready for the family dinner( SOME of us make the sunrise service!) and usually travel about 1/2 hr to who ever is having the dinner that year.
I've recently noticed that as the years go on and family dwindles, new faces are appearing at the table to share holidays with us. I love that the spirit of our loved ones is forever with us as our circle continues to grow and be renewed. Life, death, rebirth and renewal...
with a happy heart |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 10:26:59 AM
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What a great topic.
We always have ham for the main dish on Easter and usually scalloped potatoes (now adding leeks..that sounds good!!!) and usually a couple salads and homemade rolls.
We don't hide the easter baskets..the kids put them out the night before and they are filled in the morning and usually at their breakfast spot at the table. WE have an egg hunt in the back yard. WE dye the eggs on SAturday and put them in the fridge and the "bunny" gets them out and hides them while we are at church (one of us leaves for a few minutes and hides them during the sunday school hour) and when we get home the hunt is on. We ALWAYS make deviled eggs from the easter eggs and there are always some plastic eggs with coins inside...one special one will have $1 inside...a big deal to the kids. I don't give the kids candy so their easter baskets always have a video or music CD (depending on age) and their first new sandals or flip flops of the season and sometimes a book or small toy..this year I found pens with little video games in them...since we are going on vacation one week after EAster that will be handy... usually a healthy treat they like like peanuts or like that too..
I always make new easter dresses for the girls and the boys get new shirts for sure. I am hoping to someday be organized enough to make vests for the boys to wear to church new for easter. I made my girls (2 of them ages 8 and 10) new dresses a few weeks ago for their baptism and those will be their easter dresses this year. THey are white eyelet and have pink ribbon belt bows with a rose on front and petal sleeves. They turned out really cute and the girls feel like princesses in them..which is fun.
our town has an "easter egg hunt" at our city park on Saturday morning and there are prizes and stuff too, the park is divided into age group areas and the kids love that. They take and empty basket down there and it is all over with in about 15 minutes..but fun. I imagine we won't miss that.
I love the idea of the Easter dinner at the soup kitchen!! What a wonderful thing for the kids to participate in!!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 1:17:33 PM
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Jenny- Sounds like it's lots of fun at your house ! The dresses sound adorable and I love that the girls are happy to wear them! I made a barnyard vest one year that my son wore for Easter but now I'm lucky to get him in a button down and real shoes! We have a litle candy jelly beans, chocolate bunny; but add a video or game and always a book or two. (This year the Charlie Bone series!) Have a blessed and joyous weekend !
(This was the first time in 5 yrs I wasn't "the bunny" at the grade school egg hunt, I've retired my cottontail!Thank goodness!
with a happy heart |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 5:17:11 PM
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Well Ladies,
Our children are grown and gone from home too far away to continue with the old traditions we raised them with. Hope fully they are carrying on in their homes with extra people for dinner and all but we have in the past 6 years been included into the house hold of my husbands second cousin to participate in their traditional Easter fun.
We go and have a day long easter egg decorating contest where the children of all the brothers and sisters come to do their bgest at making a new masterpiece or two along with all of the adults. We have so much fun with freshly boiled eggs as well as blown eggs that the day just flies by. Some of the adult cousins are very competitive in the decorating department and we have some really wonderful decorated eggs to keep from year to year as well as some really funny dyed eggs to eat. One year one of the cousins baked an egg shaped cake and very meticulously decorated that cake to look like a fabrige egg. It was georgeous! She won the special mention prize that year. Everyone wins a prize no matter what so nobody feels like a failure and the kids get a real laugh out of us adults being childish. We wear bunny masks and sing. We get lots of photographs of the fun to remember from one year to the next and I have a nice collection of decorated blown eggs for my table decorations.
Happy Easter everyone!
Eileen
songbird; singing joy to the earth |
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Kassie_K
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Wisconsin
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 5:55:44 PM
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| I loved Easter when I was a kid.I hope that my children remember theres. Today I started a new tradition with my Granddaughter, we made cut outs, Easter cookies,Eggs, Rabbits,Chicks Flowers. We had a great time. We also made a big flour mess, she was so content with dusting flour on table, it was WONDERFUL |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Mar 22 2005 : 6:17:39 PM
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Everyone's plans sound so nice! I had big hopes for a fun Easter with my grandkids this weekend (my first one)... but I guess it's not meant to be. Son-in-law got called for security duty Saturday and Sunday at the Navy base, 4 year old grandaughter still has a sinus infection, 6 month old grandson came down with a double ear infection last night. I think it's not even worth sweating over... the Easter Bunny will just have to make an unscheduled stop at Oma's house the following weekend, provided everyone is healthy and no one gets "called in." Just rolling with it. Other than honoring the traditional reason for the holiday, I suppose Easter and egg hunting and family get-togethers can be held whenever the spirit moves us. Right
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
Edited by - Clare on Mar 22 2005 6:20:20 PM |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2005 : 12:46:07 PM
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Any day that you are blessed to spend time with people you love is a good day! Sorry to hear of the plan change but maybe you will find peace and joy in your day anyway. Here's hoping the wee ones are on the mend quite soon and you are all together.
with a happy heart |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2005 : 07:13:14 AM
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Our Easter celebrations are pretty simple, but I think it is easier to keep the religous in this holiday. Good Friday when I was growing up my mother and sister and cousins would watch one of those movies like "King of Kings" or "Prince of Peace" on TV, and dye our easter eggs. I tend to do the same thing with my girls. Sunday is early AM Mass and home to prepare dinner for family gathered, Black Forest ham, my mothers fresh fruit salad, cheesey potatoes, roasted asparagus from my Dad's garden, homemade rolls and a rich buttermilk and orange cake that is scooped from the pan. Kids have their egg hunt in the back yard. It's all about family and celebration of renewal of life and light.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2005 : 09:54:01 AM
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| Meadowlark, please share your recipe for "rich buttermilk and orange cake that is scooped from the pan." That sounds quite intriguing and yummy! Thanks! |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2005 : 10:57:40 AM
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Clare I hope your family is feeling better soon. We have had lots of colds, ear infections, croup and swollen glands here this winter, too, and it is so hard to watch a little one suffer with that.
When my daughter was growing up, we always spent the Easter afternoon after church hiding and re-hiding the eggs. But to begin we always put together a scavenger hunt with clues. It began with an empty basket and a clue. All the eggs were hidden and clues were attached to some of them. Each clue would lead to a little gift and another clue. Along the way, eggs would be found, candy would be found and always a stuffed bunny and then a special gift. When finished, the basket was full and that was her Easter basket. In the early years, it was The Easter Bunny that did the hiding and the clues.
Now I want to begin this tradition with my granddaughter and until she is old enough to read and follow the clues, we will do one big basket that mommy and daddy can hunt with along with her.
Then we all have a big dinner that usually has turkey and sweet potatoes, salad, fresh biscuits and a chocolate cake. We stick with our favorites, even if they are not Eastery recipes. :)
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2005 : 05:37:16 AM
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Lorij-- Nice to see you back! Hope all finds you and yours well and not apart for too much longer.
Did I detect a sly reference to the fact that ALL the eggs had not been found in the past?!!! That has got to be the worst when you know that dreaded rancid boiled egg is somewhere but can't quite locate it!
I think that's why we opted for the plastic treasure eggs to hunt recently , we couldn't chance "Mission EL Stinko" again!
Have a great holiday and travelling mercies to all your clan.
with a happy heart |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2005 : 07:40:31 AM
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One year when my daughter was about four we had so many eggs that we thought one was missing but were not sure after the hunts were over. Six months later, hubby was working in the yard and came across the nastiest egg you have ever seen! I can't believe that some critter had not found it already! At least it was outside the house and not in! Peeyew!
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Mar 25 2005 07:41:13 AM |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2005 : 5:39:46 PM
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I am in a wierd mood tonight...kind of up to my chin in dying Easter eggs! These posts remind me of the book "Charlottes Web" and Templeton the rat hides the old goose egg in his stash of trash and it explodes in a cloud of stench and sulfur... Hey Jp, your blue stars are sooo pretty! What is the meaning of the colored stars? Will you be a moderator or journeywoman?
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2005 : 08:30:56 AM
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WE have had the nasty egg thing happen too...thankfully it was outside, but I have a sis in law who found one months later INSIDE her house...yikes.
Oh look, my stars changed to bright blue now..
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2005 : 11:54:01 AM
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Meadowlark, as you can see from Aunt Jenny, too, the bright blue stars happen automatically when one reaches 500 in their posts. I agree it is a pretty color, and all the colors coordinatewith the number of posts in some way.
I think the title of Moderator is separate from this issue. You can read about moderators on the FAQ up in the right corner of your page.
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2005 : 2:47:32 PM
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jp, Thank you for clarifying this...congrats to you and Aunt Jenny for reaching the 500 level!
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2005 : 7:28:50 PM
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Meadowlark - you yourself are over 400 in posts. I think some of us really like this site! :)
Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! He is risen!
jpbluesky
Love those big blue skies and wide open spaces. |
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taylor
honeybee
40 Posts
40 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2005 : 3:17:23 PM
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Hi Ladies,
Just thought I'd pipe in here while you're on the topic...
Everyone seems to be quite curious about the Moderator issue and I am sorry I didn't address it earlier. This is an experiment we came up with to deal with inappropriate posts. We wanted the women on the connection to feel like this is a safe place to post. And although I do try to get on and surf around for awhile everyday to make sure everything is going smoothly, it is all too easy to miss the problems that can and have occurred and I usually don't find those strange posts till it is too late. The fact of the matter is that there are a few of you that are far more familiar with the forum than I can ever be, after all we made it for "you" so we decided to give a few of you some control over this environment so that it will continues to be a nice place for you ladies (and a few gents) to get together and share.
I ended up looking at the list of members and choosing the two members who had the most posts and asking them if they would like to be moderators. Their responsibility is not to erase posts on a whim or censor in anyway. Although they do have the power to delete posts, I have asked them to only to do so if a post is completely out of line and to let us know about it right away. Their main duty is to let myself, MaryJane or Carol know if something is awry so that we can look into it. So basically, you are all moderators, it is the responsibility of everyone in the connection to watch for wayward posters.
To this day only two or three posts have been deleted from the forum. One of these was posted by a company that was trying to use the forum as advertising space and the other two were from teenage boys with possibly too much time on their hands.
So far, things have been pretty quiet, no one seems to be bothering us in our little corner of the universe that is the internet... which is great! Happy Posting. And please let me know of any concerns you any have: taylor@maryjanesfarm.org.
Lots of Love,
Taylor
I came to explore the wreck.
The words are purposes.
The words are maps.
I came to see the damage that was done
and the treasures that prevail.
-Diving into the Wreck, Adrienne Rich
Please feel free to email me with any problems/complaints/suggestions about the connection. |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2005 : 6:23:36 PM
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The first year we lived in our home I was out at 10 pm the night before Easter to "harvest" all of my iris flowers. The weatherman had called for snow and I was not going to risk losing those beauties. We did get about four inches of snow that night, but it was ok. The flowers were saved (though the house did look a bit like a funeral parlor)and it was really easy to find the dyed eggs on Easter!! These, however, are Easter events I'm glad not to have as "traditions"!
Sharon |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2005 : 7:33:58 PM
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Well, the tradition continues! My 2 year old granddaughter had so much fun running all over the house looking for eggs. And we followed clues to find secret gifts from the Easter Bunny. Even her mommy and daddy got into the fun looking for their gifts. No place is sacred to be a hiding place - there may be treasures to find even in the trunks of the cars! Last night we knew there was one stray (Cadbury) egg left, but I found it on top of the china cabinet after all went home. So my husband got at least one candy egg! :) After the hunt, we ate ourselves silly. It was rainy and gloomy outside, but so nice inside with my family! I am so thankful for my blessings.
jpbluesky
"Keep us here, all simply in the springing of the year." From A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2005 : 8:18:13 PM
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I got new Easter goats (babies) twin bucks born yesterday..that was a great tradition I could sure live with..what is extra cool is that the mom of the twins took in my other little "orphan" baby and is treating them like triplets!
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2005 : 12:47:41 PM
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Jenny- Adoption seems to be contagious at your house! How neat for everyone! What fun to have new "babies" easter morning, your children must have been thrilled.
Glad to hear everyone had a pleasant day even if the weather wasn't cooperating. We had a fun day just being together and trying all the new dishes everyone decided to make! It will forever be known as Guinea Pig Easter! ( and no we didn't eat guinea pig! but we did learn they do in Peru, where my sister in law and her husband just returned from). MIL is still very slowly recovering from double knee replacement in Jan., so Easter came to her this year. It was a unique
day in many ways, but thoroughly enjoyable.
with a happy heart |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2005 : 3:42:55 PM
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I had Easter at my house this year. My folks came over, my Uncle, my cousin, her husband and kids, plus all of Norm's family. 27 total if you count the 2 under 7 months! I dyed Easter eggs the night before and every year I watch the 10 Commandements with Charlton Heston. 
I agree this is a holiday that can easily be kept within it's religious meaning.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
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Holidays: Family Traditions at Easter |
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Family Traditions at Easter
