Still and Breathtaking Beauty

Still retaining the enjoyment of the pearly white dogwood branches abiding on my dining room table from Resurrection Sunday.

This morning as I was making my way into the kitchen, I glanced outside and the aura of the dogwood trees in the backyard was luminous.

I stop breathing just for a moment, the beauty was breathtaking.

Triumphant Promise

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took out of the way, nailing it to His cross;



And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:14-15




( NOTE: I was busily preparing our Easter meal and then cleaning up when these pictures were taken....and irregardless of criticism......these were the pictures so graciously taken by others). However, on the bright note, it was a glorious day with family and friends, celebrating the resurrection of our LORD....and everyone certainly looks BRIGHT! HALLELUIAH!

Cupcake Fancy

Inspiration taken from the sweet shiny jellybeans.

Colors taken from Wilton concentrated gels. It was deeply satisfying to see how these color gels put on such a fancy show of glossy finish. It would make any sort of day brighter, which I shall keep in mind for future reference.

Now since Hill upon Hill asked for the recipe of Hot Cross Buns served at my house yesterday;

You will need 2 cups of flour, 4 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup milk, 1 Tablespoon yeast, 1 egg, pinch of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (or any variety of cinnamon and allspice). First sift the flour, salt and spices into large bowl. Dissolve the butter and sugar in warm milk, and add the yeast. Leave for 3 minutes, stir and add beaten egg. Pour the liquid in the flour mixture and beat until smooth. I use a mixer for this. The dough will be very moist. You can knead in your mixer or on a floured surface ( be careful not to add too much flour as this will make for drier buns). 1/4 cup of lemon or orange peel and 1/2 cup raisins may be incorporated into the dough at this time. Put a spoonful of oil into a plastic bag and place the dough into the bag. Set in a warm place to rise. When it has doubled in size, thump out all the air, leave to rise once again for 30 minutes (I have left this stage out in a hurry-and all was well). Remove the dough and shape into round buns; place in greased pan. Depending on now long you have for rising will determine how many buns to form. In 20 minutes you may have 4 buns or if you have the time, make smaller buns, I make 8, and allow rising time to get desired size of buns. (about 1-1/2 hours). I like to take food scissors and gently cut a cross into the top before slipping them into the oven, but you may want to cut the cross before rising. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-20 minutes. I mix up an icing of powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract to dribble on the cross since my family appreciates the touch of sweetness.

Good Friday Tea

They were hot from the oven, they had crosses of confectionery sugar dribbling down their sides, and they were buns shaped from the yeasty dough laden with spices.

It was Good Friday afternoon and time to remember the Lamb of God sacrificed on the Cross. Time to pause, feast and read scripture.



Eating the top of the bun first, the icing cross. There is symbolism in there somewhere for me, but for her it was pure sweetness from the start.

I love teaching my children using special events and things that they will hopefully associate and remember in years to come. It is intentional and purposeful and certainly more than just tradition.

Making an Easter Basket

It appears I am not the only one who likes to make a go of weaving baskets. Charlotte started her very first basket this week. With nimble fingers she manipulated the under and overs of the wet strips which were dyed pink and purple. Colors that speak of five year old girls and Easter baskets.




Yes, she had help, but for her initial attempt at basket making I believe it will be a grand basket to be used for gathering eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt at the church on Saturday morning.

Lemon Yellow

This time of year shouts yellow to me, specifically lemon yellow. Therefore, I had been thinking about tasting lemon things and I would find myself puckering and salivating with just hints of yellow things before me....and in my world yellow abounds!

My eldest son knows my love of books, old and new, so he gave me a bookstore gift card for my birthday. I had so many choices to make, but finally decided on Jane Brockett's, The Gentle Art of Domesticity. I chose wisely because I literally pore over this book and it rewards me by pouring out a magnitude of things that seriously satisfies my need for domestic well being.

There was a recipe for Lemon Cake in this book that I could not resist. And it did the job splendidly for meeting any need I had to eat something lemony; the icing alone was confectionery sugar with lemon juice.....very lemony. However, you must go here to get the corrections for the measurement conversions if you own the first edition US printing of this book.

I do believe hunting through our supply of gourmet jellybeans to get out all the yellow ones added a nice touch too. I will now think lemon because of the lack of yellow in the candy dish Sunday, but Lime Cake is on the menu.....and by the way this time of year shouts green to me!

Handy Gadgets

Do you know what this object does?

Several years ago Mothers Day slipped the mind of the husband of a good friend of mine. She bought herself a handy gift for compensation of his forgetfulness and she graciously loaned it to me. If you have ever in your life attempted to press puffed sleeves, then this is the gadget for you. It attaches to your ironing board securely

and as you roll the sleeve around the hard stainless steel knob, being very careful not to touch the metal because it gets as hot as an iron,

little puffs of steam escape and the sleeves become something that would even make Anne Shirley proud. I like this tool very much. I went to Charlotte's closet and pressed all her sleeves this afternoon. I believe my friend received her fair reward! But I do not wish for my husband to forget Mother's Day in order to acquire one, therefore, I will make sure the children are given the adequate amount of hints along the way.

Resurrection Tree

Traditions of preparing for Resurrection Day in our home:

A sprayed white branch placed in a clear vase held with blue marbles,
colorful and sometimes sparkly decorations of eggs and lambs dangling from its tiny limbs.


With wonder and awe, Charlotte observes her father place some of the ornaments.


It is intentional to be eye catching as it sits on the dining room buffet. We will gather here many times throughout the week as additional symbols of the Holy Week will be added to the tree by the children.

For many year this glass cross has hung on our Resurrection Tree. It is made of twisted beads of glass, fragile yet strong, clear yet frosty. The contrast speaks volumes to me.

An enlightened moment

As Holy Week is rapidly approaching I am consciously preparing myself to be drawn into the passion of next week's celebration events. Also looking for ways to draw my children that they too may grasp the eternal truths. We began with a study of Passover as recorded in Exodus 12.

Sitting in the warmth of the morning's sunshine, Bibles opened in blue jean laps, reading aloud, a light comes into her eyes, "Mama, the blood, the doorposts, the cross........".

Yes, darling daughter...... you see.

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things out of your law."

Tiny Blooms

A break in the rain to enjoy a romp down the road and through the woodsy areas. We must not bemoan the superfluous amount of rainfall because the rains will bring more flowers in May. Not included are pictures of the colorful tulips, red buds and dogwood trees which are making their entrance on Spring's stage.


Rose took the picture of these delicate fanciful wildflowers picked from their beds scattered among the dead leaves. I slipped them into a buttonhole of my jean jacket (see header above) while she chose to tuck hers behind her ear in true maiden form.

Not wanting the life of these tiny beauties to end, Charlotte gingerly plucked a few and I came home to place them in a jar of water to rest upon my kitchen windowsill.

My fingers are tightly crossed, please root.

A New Knife

While shopping with my husband Saturday morning in a few towns over, the magnetic pull of a fancy expensive kitchenware store allured us inside its double etched doors. This sort of well-marketed store makes my senses zing as I wander around its beautiful arrangements of kitchenware, my mind is like flint not intending to actually buy anything, but enjoying the looking tremendously. Chopping and slicing with good knives is rather like sleeping on 400 thread count sheets, they are not absolutely necessary, but it makes the going so much more delightful. As we paused by the glass- covered knife display cases, we soon discovered the Henckel knives were on sale with a substantial amount of savings. My husband purchased a 7 inch santoku knife which now enables me to chop my garlic, onions or whatever kind of vegetable with complete ease and pleasure.

Tonight's simple dish was chicken with a lemon-caper sauce. I diced garlic with elegance and dexterity.

A hot water soak prior to cutting the lemon yielded more juice.


The reflections gave me the idea of yet another item that could be used as an emergency mirror when I must apply lipstick in a pinch!

A subtle tube of lipstick may be kept in an apron pocket for those "just in case" times when company is knocking on the door. I find that a little lipstick goes a very long way for giving one a put together look even if everything else is awry.