Easter and eggcellent eating

One of the things I most love about this time of year is the extraordinary display of rebirth everywhere. New shoots burst from the garden soil each day, growing rapidly in the sunny warmth. Peonies and astilbe, columbines and hydrangeas, bee balm and bleeding hearts...each year I wait for some and am surprised by others, but always I am thrilled by their responsible perennialism. Hello again, dear friends. Thank you for returning, as you always do.

Indeed the beauty and promise in this cyclical nature of, well, nature, is the way I plan to think about Easter in the future. It is a day of rebirth anyway, so I'll simply embrace and celebrate in a way that resonates with my beliefs. And because bunnies are natural creatures, I see now that the Bunny can fill my boys' baskets each year without conflict. 

Easter cake: strawberry with whipped cream-mascarpone frosting

We spent yesterday with Tom's parents and a cousin who lives in DC too. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and after an egg hunt, we ate a delicious lunch (which included that stunning strawberry cake with whipped cream-mascarpone frosting) and then watched the boys play and fly a kite in the field behind my in-laws house. Jack was initially concerned that he wouldn't be able to get the kite aloft, but soon enough, he'd unspooled the entire 500 feet of string.

When I wasn't smiling upon the pride emanating from his face, I joined the others in looking skyward, our eyes fixated on the simple joy of a colorful kite gliding confidently in the wind. 

Ol and I moseyed over to the playground that abuts the field, and he climbed the rock wall and found "stick treasures" while I sunned on a bench.

using a stick treasure to massage my feet

By the time last night rolled around, we were all so tired it seemed wise just to call it quits and hit the sack. The boys conked out early, T and I watched Going Clear, the recently released documentary about Scientology (oh.mah.gah!) and then, after a light meal, joined the slumber party.

This salad is always lovely but really hit the spot after a big lunch. Y'all try it: watercress, cantaloupe, goat cheese or feta, fresh figs or dried...It's absolutely lovely! 

Lovely party, tired Em-i-lis

One important catering lesson I've learned is that no matter how well you prepare in advance, the last four-five hours are always seriously intense ones so you best get a good night's sleep beforehand. Some items simply have to be finished at the last moment, and transport is always somewhat nerve-wracking, especially fragile items like layer cakes. I'm flat on the couch after going full speed ahead for five hours this morning, but the party turned out beautifully and I hope the ladies are still there, eating, full and happy, especially the mom-to-be and her mom, the fab hostess!

Pizza and Bill, strawberry cake, the leaves they've started a'coming

Where have I been all day? I don't know, but it was a nice one. Beautiful too though rain threatened for a bit but then walked itself back. Though the temps remain warm enough for shorts most of the time, fall is definitely in the air, and the leaves have started blanketing all horizontal surfaces. Raking is such a pleasurable though futile activity; normally such Sisyphean tasks would frustrate me, but not raking. I love it. So anyway, it was a lovely family-focused day in which each of us also got to do something for his/her-self. I had a two cake and salad catering order to deliver this evening which was a pleasure, and just look at this gorgeous strawberry cake. It's two layers of strawberry cake with fresh strawberries in between and a whipped cream-mascarpone frosting to cover it all. Perfection! And tonight? Grilled pizza and Bill Maher with my honey- what could be better?!