Pascha

Well, Pascha this year was...different.  First, we had a newborn so I couldn't go to church.  Darryl was completely exhausted when he left for church and I was so fearful he was going to fall asleep at the wheel, I slept on the couch with Juliana frantically waiting for them to come home.  I did end up falling asleep and apparently he did as well(in the garage).  He was too tired to even get out of the car!

He finally woke up and brought the kids in and went to bed but I could tell he was soooo tired from lack of sleep with having a new baby.

The next morning the boys woke to their baskets and then we headed outside for an egg hunt.  It was soooo cold outside it didn't feel like spring at all!  All the boys had such a blast finding all the eggs!

We came back in to start our dinner.  We were making Roast lamb,Greek Potato Salad, Asparagus, Deviled Eggs, Hummus with pita chips and Strawberry Shortcake.
After preparing some of the food, I started to to feel ill.  I knew what was happening-I was coming down with mastitis.  I started getting chills and came down with a fever.  So, I started eating massive amounts of garlic cloves. I also headed to bed.  It wasn't what I expected on such a celebratory day, but that is the way it goes.  After much rest and much more garlic, I felt better by morning. 
Needless to say, the boys had a great day and even baby Juliana got some wonderful gifts!

Favorite part of his Easter basket...

Respite in Nature...

Pascha morning after a leisurely breakfast, we all decided to take a lovely walk around our neighborhood(well we don't really live in a neighborhood, more like a country road).  It was a bit chilly, as is the case most spring mornings, but lovely...

Pascha 2012

Christ has Risen!

Christ has Risen!

Truly He has Risen!!!

Busy bee...

'

I've been a  busy bee today getting ready for Pascha.  First, I gave the refridgerator a nice deep clean to make room for all the special treats we've been waiting for all of Lent! 

I then made these for the morning after church:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/04/hot-cross-buns/

I figured we'd be a bit tired from being in church all night and I love the glazed crosses.  They smell heavenly!

Tomorrow, I'm heading to the annual Plant and Herb festival (which I love!) at the Farmers Market.

This farm:

http://www.creeksidefarms-nc.com/pork.html 

has a wonderful pastured raised pork ham on hold for us.  I'll then peruse the farmers market for some other yummy local veggies to have on our Pascha dinner on Sunday afternoon. 

We'll also be having eggs(which I boiled today) from our farm made up into yummy angel eggs( I don't like to call them the other name) and I've already made a pound cake for dessert.  I figured we'd top it with some local strawberries and raw milk whipped cream...Oh!  I can't wait!!

We're almost there! 

Botantical eggs

We had such fun dying eggs this year.  After seeing several Pintrest and blog ideas to dye eggs using natural foods, rather than artificial dyes, we thought we'd give it a go! 

So, off we headed to the woods...just outside...luckily we are surrounded by acres and acres of lovely forest.  We searched for interesting leaves. 

They we wet the leaves down onto a wet egg and secured them with cut pantyhose.

They we dyed the eggs two colors.  Yellow onion skins turn the eggs a beautiful red(perfect for Pascha!)

I also boiled some purple cabbage to make the most beautiful blue eggs!

Isn't the blue gorgeous!

I love all the interesting leaf prints!