“Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.”
The sun is shining on this Easter morning. The air is still, and the day is getting warmer. No winter coats will cover pastel Easter dresses. I can hear birds singing even though the windows are closed. Yesterday I saw a few buds on one of my bushes. The buds are tiny and closed tightly, but they are another sign that spring is gaining hold.
The alarm rang at 6:15 this morning, and I turned it off and went back to sleep for an hour. I had set it early so I could sneak down my friends’ house and decorate the tree which hangs over their deck: it’s an annual Easter surprise. Though if it’s annual, is it really a surprise? Anyway, when I realized how late it was, I was afraid they’d be awake, but Gracie and I went anyway. The car was covered in frost so I scrapped the windows and off we went. At their house, all the shades were down so they were still abed. I went on the deck and started decorating. One of the giant decorated paper lanterns fell over the deck rail. That meant walking off the deck then all around the outside of the deck and through the underbrush to retrieve it. That was an adventure. The leaves and branches were soaked and sucked up one of my slippers. I had to yank it out of the muck. I found a bird feeder covered in wet leaves and put it on the deck rail. I also saw a mango. I’m still perplexed a bit about the mango, strange spot for one. While I was mucking about, the door opened and out came Darci, their dog. Whoever let her out never looked so I wasn’t caught. I walked back to the deck, petted Darci for a while, hung the lantern then sneaked away. I just got a call thanking me for the surprise and telling me how lovely the tree looks.
I remember so well Easter Sunday mass when I was young. The church was always beautiful and filled with light. The sun shined through the stained glass windows. The dark purple of lent had been replaced by white and all the statues were uncovered. Flowers decorated the floor in front of and all around the altar. I remember the lilies because they were the tallest. The church was always crowded. Women wore hats, fancy hats with veils, small see through veils that went down as far as their eyes. The men wore suits and carried their hats into the church. Little girls wore dresses in pinks and blues and all the different shades of pastel. They wore short white gloves and round hats with ribbons. Their shoes were patent leather, both black and white, and were worn with fancy white socks with lace around the edges. Some boys wore suits, ones with jackets checkered in the front. Others wore white shirts and ties and new pants with deep creases. The shoes were always new and always with laces. The choir sang at Easter. If I had known the word back then, I would have said it was majestic, mass on Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter!
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March 31, 2013 at 11:31 am
The prince arrived at 4.00 am, I was ready to chat. The Prince wished that he could have stayed awake to see the Easter Bunny. finally he headed downstairs to find a basket in the Santa position. He was very happy.
At 8.00 the Pumpamobile, took The Prince and Mrs MDH to St John Fisher Chapel. It was a full choir, Kirsty and Terri were in voice, bongos were rocking and the resurrection was celebrated. A time to renew commitment.
Now we wait, the prince found the annual egg in the alligator’s mouth. He is cruising the house looking for more eggs , the rain is keeping him inside . Tottenham got it done at Swansea.
March 31, 2013 at 11:36 am
My Dear Hedley,
I didn’t think about the early morning anticipation for Easter. I just sort of figured it happened only at Christmas. I’m glad you were ready to talk: 4 a.m. is a bit early for a chat. Good that The Prince was happy!
That is the sort of service I always love on Easter, one filled with music and celebration.
I’m sorry it’s raining.
Good for Tottenham!!
March 31, 2013 at 11:48 am
When the Prince sleeps over, he comes in. I don’t sleep much so it takes very little for the two of us to irritate Mrs MDH. I was a bit surprised by the B- Santa visit but only in the mind of a 6 year old.
A very important spiritual time for us.
Back up to third. I have been invited to watch the last game of the year from a suite. Offer came out of the blue and I was suitably thrilled. May 19 I will be at WHL slugging down Fullers and generally misbehaving
March 31, 2013 at 12:20 pm
MDH,
You deserve the suite having been for so long a Tottenham fan and on two continents!
Poor Mrs. MDH having to deal with both of you!
March 31, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Merry Christmas! Beautiful snowflakes are falling persistently and gently to the cold and bleak ground, flowers and birds are hibernating and the warm light of the flickering candle shines on the egg liqueur cake. Oops, wrong holiday.
Happy Easter !
March 31, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Birgit,
That is awful!! No way should snow fall on Easter. It’s springtime, warmth, buds, flowers, not snow!!!
Happy Easter?
March 31, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Hi Kat,
I bought a little pail of purple and yellow pansies. They were lovely for the 18 hours that I had them. As they were sunning on my top front step this morning, the woodchuck came and snacked on all but one. Rocky spotted him and spooked him. Only one lonely yellow pansy flower remains. 🙁 From the look of Mr Woodchuck, I’d guess he had a bad winter and needed the nutrition. Happy Easter, Mr Woodchuck.
I don’t really remember Easter Sunday services. Generally I had sung in the choir at Midnight service so by Sunday morning service I was singing in a semi-comatose state. 🙂 I had choir robes and cap so didn’t need to get an Easter hat or even a dress unless I wanted to and I didn’t. It was always fun to shop for an Easter hat but Easter dresses were never any fun at all.
The day started out a bit chilly but sunny. I met my youngest brother for breakfast this morning. We had lovely conversation and excellent breakfast food. Now I’m home and thinking about cooking a pork roast. That might be as far as I get. 🙂
Happy Easter!
March 31, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Hi Caryn,
I think you made the day for Mr. Woodchuck. I still have my one plant inside with a yellow pansy as well.
We never had a midnight service at Easter, only at Christmas. When I was little, dresses were fun, but when I got older, I wanted sportier clothes. My sisters stayed girly far longer than I.
I didn’t do my Sunday breakfast today as we, my friends and I , go out for Easter dinner, and I didn’t want to spoil my appetite. Dinner is at the Ocean House, expensive and worth it. The restaurant is right on the water and the food is heavenly.
Gracie got a new toy, a stuffed lobster, and some decorated dog cookies in the shapes of a carrot, rabbit and an egg. She got the carrot this morning.
Happy Easter!!
March 31, 2013 at 12:48 pm
This morning on CBS Sunday Morning, the entire weekend can be summed up in one sentence. “Passover, Easter, Springtime and the first day of the Baseball season”. What could be better.
March 31, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Bob,
Succinct and perfect!!
March 31, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Also it is Caesar Chavez’s birthday. Check out google.com
Who knew?
March 31, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Bob,
I met him when I was in college. I used to go to the wholesale fruit center every Friday at 5 a.m. to picket for the grape workers. He came there once and spoke to us all.
March 31, 2013 at 3:39 pm
We’ve had a wonderful day here! The Black Grouse roosters did their best to impress the hens, the lark flew high up in the airs inging like crazy and the Black bird sat at the top of a spruce singing too 🙂 This was as close to spring we’ve come so far.
I have to admit that I don’t remember us ever going to church at easter when I was a kid, later on in life many times though. But my church is more frugal with decorations. Always flowers but that’s more or less it.
Did they explain the mango 🙂 🙂 🙂
I can imagine You digging up Your slipper and then meeting the dog 🙂 🙂 🙂 Didn’t she even bark a little? Orvar and Hector would have loved company but both Nova and Sune would have barked like crazy 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great continuing of Easter!
Christer.
March 31, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Christer,
I’d take it as spring-al those wonderful birds! I know spring is here when the morning songs are loud and the birds welcome the day.
We went every Sunday, but Easter was one of those special days. They used to call some people Christmas and Easter Catholics as they were the only Sundays they went to mass.
They did. My friend said it had gotten mushy so she threw it over the deck rail, and there it sits. She thought some animals, like a spawn, might eat it but none have.
She didn’t bark at me. Darci has known me since she was a baby so she doesn’t ever bark at me.
The dinner was fantastic!