It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

My childhood did not contain plastic candy-filled Easter eggs. Mom would dye a dozen hard-boiled eggs and hide them in the house, because never was there an Easter Sunday where your pretty dress could be seen underneath the winter coat you had to wear. Thus, no eggs were hidden outside by The Bunny.

One year we couldn’t find an egg. My mother had four children, so exhaustion had to play a role in forgetting the hiding spots. We even had a dog who could have sniffed it out, but no such luck. It was months before it was found on the floor behind a curtain, leaving us to consider it was a dud egg since it never even emitted an odor.

These are the fond childhood memories of Easter I retain: the bowl hat, the dud egg, and cold weather.

Thankfully, maturity brought me to the true understanding of Easter and the joy of being able to sing, “Alleluia,” again. I still dye eggs and wear my winter gear most years. Alleluia!

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s, “Ode To a Skylark,” sprang to mind this morning as I retrieved my daily news publication. The songbirds are bright and musical already, and their twittering hymns cheerful and promising. Here’s a lovely line from the poem.

’Tis Spring.

Thanks to my nature-photographer friend, “Pom,” I get lots of reels on Instagram about animals. They are entertaining and often very sweet. Today featured a squirrel.

This squirrel – no lie – brought a cookie for the lady who feeds him daily. He gently crawled up the railing on the steps to place it on the ledge of the brick facade by her front door. Full-sized, frosted cookie. Of course, now I’m feeling a tinge of remorse for removing those little pests from the yard and relocating them to the plains of Kansas. Maybe I should be feeding them so they quit eating my siding on the house? It might be a safer alternative than sprinkling the porch roof with cayenne pepper?

Then again, my squirrel-wrangling husband would be out of a job and he needs something to do with his spare time. 🤠 Time to set the humane trap again and give the newest pest a vacation.

See the eldest girl in the middle with the ugly bowl bonnet on her head? That was me. See the cute younger sister with the brimmed hat and ribbons? That was my sister, “Pindy.” The third sister was much younger and probably had a blanket wrapped around her.

I was so jealous of my sister’s hat. I do not recall how many years I had to have a bowl on my head, but I probably rebelled enough to get out of hat-wearing after a couple of years.

Perhaps this early chapeaux is what sent me on a life-long love of hats? I have at least 40, and I seem to find myself drawn to them whenever I am lucky enough to be wandering through a clothing store. I have them in hat boxes and stuffed in a closet. Why don’t I wear them more often? The brims. My favorite hats all have super wide brims, the kind someone behind me in church or otherwise would not be able to see around. The kind that don’t fit in the car when you slide in. The kind that draw attention when worn.

I guess I made up for the bowl bonnet years in a rather disproportionate way, didn’t I? That settles it. I’m wearing a hat this Easter! Wait – I don’t have a pink one to match my outfit.

Shopping anyone?

My plan was to wash the windows on the main floor today, of which I can reach both inside and out handily. In my morning convo with a friend, “Pat,” I learned that washing them before a snowstorm is foolish and should be avoided.

Now my day is free! Happy Saturday!

Growing up we lived one block away from brother and sister, Sam and Patty. (Last name omitted to protect the innocent.) We didn’t play often with them because they lived so far from us. However, during Lent, we mercifully made fun of them.

My mother famously made salmon patties on some Fridays and I loved them. Thus, we were having “Sam and Patty” for dinner. Just thinking about those “delicacies” has me considering buying a can of salmon and replicating that meal, because obviously, canned salmon is what the recipe calls for.

Fun memory.

What do you think of this for the front door?

A little much, but I bet I have about half of those eggs! For the past five years? six? seven? – we have been hiding eggs at the neighbor’s house for the “kids” to find. Maybe it’s been longer because the kids are now graduating and in high school. I just couldn’t quite get the Easter Bunny out of my head when I didn’t have anyone to hide eggs for anymore, so, I engaged my adult children, as well as Parsha’s son, Patt, to help me sneak them next door under cover of darkness.

This year they are all being returned to me and this looks like a monumental creativity outlet. However, it would require me painting the door. Hmmm. I do have a few free hours this afternoon?

You know how you happen to speak a word or two and then receive oodles of suggestions for how to fix, purchase, or remedy your complaint?

My phone ended up needing a new charging cord…which in reality was the old one from my husband’s previous phone. There was excitement in the possible acquisition of a new piece of technology as I considered vibrant colors for my phone. (I clearly have standards for my devices.) It’s been over five years and the words “planned obsolescence” were thrown about. Even Pinterest was listening to my tales of lost battery power and provided my IPad with these gems.

These are two of my favorite memes consoling me as I continue to get the most out of my phone with the cracked screen corner, the short cord which now requires an extension cord to be used, and my weathered case designed to prevent cracked screens. Oh woe is me! I soldier on with my first world problems.

You know, when you don’t have phone use for a few days, you really are free.

It’s been years for me – five or six. My phone is slowly biting the dust. Being away from home and phone-less is interesting. I realize how much I rely on it, and yet, nobody really needs me for anything important. I have been living with a 2% charge, slowly creeping up to 30%. The only thing I need it for is my airline ticket, although we can dance around that, too.

My tiny satchel is a lot lighter without the technology. There is a freedom in traveling with only an ID and credit card. Oh – and sunglasses. I can’t live without them, but a phone is apparently not required!

Off to the beach.😎

One form of water for another! The snow for the ocean…a good swap.

Even though I eschew spring break travel, it was quite light at the airport and my plane wasn’t totally full. The storm and cancelations obviously impacted people’s plans. With the help of my spouse, who ably ran the plow five times during the storm to assist in our being able to flee the confines of the home, and who managed to not break the winch in the process, (which I did the last two times I had to plow) I made it just fine to my destination.

Now begins an early tribute to St. Patrick, who I am sure rolls his eyes every year at this fun and frivolity. With nary a hint of Irish in me, I do love the green and the wearin’ o it. We are decked out and ready to roll for the weekend’s festivities. Parade morning!