Easter blessings

Easter is finally here;  it seems as if it has been a long time coming this year being mid April. 

It ends the 40 days of Lent that started after Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday, punctuated mid way by our Mothering Sunday a few weeks ago in the UK. 

I felted the cross a few years ago as part of my sunflower series on Ukraine  with the felting in blue & yellow 

I changed the sideboard to a few favourite Easter things, nothing new, just things I love. 

My crosses collected on our many trips around Ethiopia reflect my spiritualism at home. 

I choose & bought each of these crosses personally on my travels then mounted them on an Ethiopian woven fabric I had bought in a market. I enjoy having them in my space, they are not showy, just a silent reminder that religion & spiritualism is personal ... 

From my home to yours, I wish you all a blessed Easter time, however you observe it. 

Thank you for stopping by, it is always appreciated, 

Dee ✝️⛪️🐣

The importance of Mothering Sunday ...

 The UK celebrates Mothering Sunday in March, unlike Mothers Day across other countries when it is in May. Why is this? 

It is tied to LENT & traditionally falls on Laetare Sunday the 4th Sunday of Lent, half way through it where Lent promises were not followed on a Sunday. The date of Mothering Sunday, like Easter,  is not set, it depends on the lunar calendar. 

Mothering Sunday has religious roots. In the Middle Ages, Mothering Sunday was a day dedicated to the Virgin Mary, also known as Mother Mary. People were required to visit their main church where family members had been baptised, a return to their roots. 

In times past, children as young as 10 were often in service - working in large houses as housemaids, kitchen maids, stable hands, servants or tending the farms & gardens. They would live away from their families for long periods of time so Mothering Sunday was a unique opportunity to return home, meet up with their family, attend church together & spend precious time away from work. 

Flowers were often picked on the way to church as a gift for their Mother, or a small homemade gift was made to be given in appreciation. The tradition of giving flowers remains to this day with fresh of potted flowers sent or given as a gift. Because it is Spring, daffodils & other early woodland blooms have become synonymous with Mothering Sunday. 

Laetare Sunday is exactly 21 days before Easter Sunday so Mothering Sunday is tied to the religious observations of Christianity, even if it has (like Christmas & Easter) become more commercialised. 

However you observe it, I hope it is a peaceful Mothering Sunday. 

Thank you for stopping by, your visits are always welcome,

Dee 🪻🌸🌺🌷💐⛪️🔔

Familiar favourites for the Easter sideboard

 Easter is very early this year & falls on my birthday weekend. However, the sideboard had to change for Easter & I gladly got out my favourites again. 

Some previous Easters at home - I love looking over previous settings - 

2012  Cakes on the stand & an Easter tree 

2013  Easter shaped bread & chocolate treats 

2014   The bunny bowl is gifted 

2015  Easter fairies 

2016  Easter teapots & fun things 

2017  The Riga art bunnnies & bunting appear 

2018 Bunny bowl & jug 

2019  Some new South African bunny bowls

2020 Easter in challenging Covid times 

2021

2022

2023  

This year, the favourites appear again - it is a joy to use things you really love & Easter is so short. 

I hope to make some little Easter cakes in the moulds again. The cutters remind me of that … 

I’m sure it will change & be added to, but at least it is a good start.  How do you prepare for Easter? Are there any family traditions you keep? Tell all please … 

Thank you for your company, comments & shares - it is greatly appreciated 

Dee 🐣🥚

Happy Easter from our home to yours

Wishing all who stop by a happy Easter, however you observe it. 

Our local church always puts up 3 crosses in our suburb - one at each street leading in. They always looks impressive against the backdrop of the bright daffodils. 

We started our Easter Sunday with small pancakes, fruit, yoghurt, maple syrup & coffee.  

The conservatory table has a yellow cloth - the first time it has had that colour scheme but the brightness is welcome & it echoes the many daffodils about at this time of the year. 

I potted up a bowl of locally bought bulbs in flower & have cut flowers from the garden for the house too. They are a riot of colour which is exactly how the garden is at this time of the year. 

The sideboard is less cluttered this year but with various things happening soon, it makes changing it easier. 

Have a lovely Easter weekend & thank you for stopping by, 

Dee 🐣💕

Getting ready for Easter

Hi there

Having been away in Africa for nearly a month, has meant that we are playing catch up. This year year, Easter is very early & I needed to get the house ready to celebrate it.

The sideboard had not been changed in a bit so time to clear the conservatory sideboard & make a start.

This is what previous Easters looked like at home

Easter 2012 at home

Easter wishes in 2013 

Happy Easter 2014

Happy Easter 2015

Getting ready for Easter 2016 

This is what our Easter looked like in 2017 ....

The starting point this year was this gorgeous hand made bowl from a favourite glass maker in the Karoo, South Africa. I have visited her studio several times where she has her own equipment & everything is handpaited & handmade, this piece would be fired twice at least.

The daughters brought it back on their visit to their grandfather just before Christmas ...

You will be familiar with these of mine - the bowl was a gift some years back, the just was gifted last year. They are so special - a reminder of our very missed bunnies.

The blue tones were the starting point for the sideboard / dresser

I bought these two original art works on a trip to Riga in Latvia - they are just so lovely.

These clear blue glass IKEA plates are useful with our blue & white china. I bought the little china egg decorations on a trip up north to Whitehaven - they are handmade in Sweden

A favourite local shop, Number 45 had these decorations in her window when I passed by & I just knew they would go so well with my blue & white things. The delft like designs are so lovely

These little hand made chicks were also bought up north - they are so tiny & so sweet ...

 How could you not love this little bunny?

This little bunny teapot was bought years ago & it is so sweet, always adding a smile to the scene.

Fortunately I have these blue forks too - they will be needed for our Easter cake ....

 The little battery lights were up at Christmas & they have just stayed up - I like their little glow.

This is what it looks like - things that I enjoy looking at & they will be used as we entertain in the conservatory so it is good to have them close by

This tea towel reminds me of how much I enjoy my blue & white china - it is being used as an overlay over the plain white tablecloth ...

 A vase of simple white scented flowers is just right.

I hope that as Lent comes to an end, that you are ready to embrace the spiritual aspect of Easter & to enjoy having family & friends around your table & in your home.

Be blessed, thank you for stopping by,
Dee ~💕~

Happy Easter everyone ...

Hi everyone

My Easter Sideboard has been ready for a little while due to work & family commitments. It is a lovely calming sight which reminds us of time for family & friends.

Our dining-room sideboard hosts the modern Easter tree with bunnies - a memory of our own bunnies 

However,  my collection of Ethiopian coptic crosses collected on our many trips to Ethiopia, symbolise the religious side of Easter for me.

A wooden cross with handprinted images ...

Along with an inherited / gifted painting of a Cardinal, this corner of our home holds our special collection of crosses - a sign of our faith.

However you celebrate the Easter holidays, have a blessed long weekend & pause amongst it all to just give thanks for blessings asked for & received.

Dee ~♥~

Easter blessings

Hello everyone

Sending Easter Blessings from our home to yours. May your Easter be filled with love & light.

Thank you for stopping by - have a lovely Easter whatever you do .... 

Dee ~♥~

Happy Easter

I apologise for neglecting my blog but it has been rather hectic lately & so I have been taking lots of photos but not getting to upload them or write up a post.

A Palm Sunday cross seen in a church in Ludlow this past week

A few Easter things on our sideboard at home

A special bunny plate gift I received last year from Ms M that I love

Egg time on the sideboard

However, I just want to wish everyone a very peaceful & blessed Easter - from my home to yours ...

This cross appeared in our local suburb today - placed by a local church as a reminder of what Easter is all about. I really love it ...

Have a fabulous family Easter & thanks for stopping by

Dee ~♥~

A relaxing Easter ....

Easter has come & gone & at times it felt (and looked) more like Christmas in the Shire with snow all about ....

 

 

 

But, homemade cakes somehow are just right at times like this - hope you had a lovely, relaxing time too.

Thanks for stopping by
Dee ~♥~