An Easter Tree

I was determined to make myself one this year.  I think they are great...and if you Google them you will see all sorts of different types of trees.
This one is in Germany..outside.  They are a German tradition.

Traditional German Easter Tree - The traditional German Easter tree is called an Osterbaum. The tree is not merely created from flowering branches collected in a vase, but can be made from living trees and shrubs situated around the house. The vase or planter that the tree is in is usually decorated with wooden eggs set on the top of the soil as well as hung from the branches. The eggs are almost always colorful as the environment in Germany around Easter is usually drab; the tree is meant to add a colorful, spring-like touch to the home.

... I stole this photo from somebody's blog and now can't remember whose...if it is yours... please say so...
It is a lovely curly shrub isn't it? ...

Pastel origami ornaments (after our traditional Christmas colours) have been on the go for the past few weeks.  In anticipation of hanging them on an Easter Tree.

Muriel,  who makes them with me, reminded me that I better get on it if I was going to do one...it is already into the Easter week..

My 'tree" was going to be just a branch or branches and already I'd been scouting the area for some that would be good for hanging ornaments .   I did notice some perfect trees in the Safeway parking lot and was going to take my pruning shears there one evening ... but, didn't have to do it after all.


The story goes like this.

There was an Estate Sale up the block last week...and I decided to see if they had any old Corning Ware with handles (lots of the new stuff is pretty white containers, but, alas, straight sides ..no handles... )  What the heck? They are useless and dangerous.  Especially when full of blistering hot food.  I know.  I have three. They are difficult to grab with pot holders or gloves or anything really.. too slippery to hold them safely.  I'm going back to the old stuff...and, decided not to pay full price for it either.  Guess what?  I found 3 containers almost brand new.  One has hardly, if ever, been used.  .. only two had lids but I have an extra lid anyway...so, for a whopping $8 ... I have new, safe containers... wooohoo ... and, I intend to check out a few more garage sales this summer as well..for a couple more and a few extra lids.

Anyway...back to the story of my Easter Tree..hahahahha.. man, I digress don't I ??   ..." and all around the circle" la la la ..... la la ......

On the way back from the Estate Sale... with arms loaded...I spied some great branches growing in the alleyway.  Two different shrubs.. managing to grow in pavement..

I broke off a couple 2 foot branches and carried them back as well.  Planted one in my little pastel pail that I got at Safeway for $4.99 ...  added some limestone rocks and a bit of fake moss and voilà ...  my Easter Tree.

Little "Sheepie" loves it.  He stood and admired it for hours...

And,.... see the little tiny buds on the branches?  I mentioned to my sister that I thought they looked like they could bloom or something...and, she said... put a bit of water in the pot.  They probably will.  Well................. today they are looking very green..... I think they may leaf today or tomorrow... how cute will that be?  I have a feeling it might be a Nanking shrub..... they could even flower.....  I'm standing around looking at it a lot now....

hoping...............................

I'm egg-cited....

I dreamed up something else to do with my special fabrics and trims.   Egg day is not far off.  So.. I thought... why do pincushions or hangings have to be rectangle or stocking shaped? ..  and drew myself an egg shape too.

Look how cute an egg will be when made from a piece of the fabric I made using narrow strips.  The sheet I got busy and made and then had nothing to do with it once it was done... hahah... except for using as test pieces and perhaps on a page or two of my stitching journal......but, now.... I want to get busy and make me some eggs!

I just want to do some stitching...

one a penny, two a penny...

..... okay...  weird.  We always said it that way... and our Mom is English.  It's just that when I was saying it out loud, to no one in particular except myself, I decided to look it up....on Google of course, and in the rhyme, it is actually one ha'penny, two ha' penny.... which is a half penny.  Seems they are cheaper in the rhyme than they are in the song.. which was the next entry on Google.. at "One a penny'  Who knew?  I wonder if they even use half pennies any more... in Canada we are even giving up the penny.

Anyway.... you probably guessed right away that I was talking about Hot Cross Buns.  I made some  yesterday. And, yes, I know they are usually baked on Good Friday.  But, on that day I had company...and I was still not feeling up to par all of the Easter weekend... so I let it slide til now.












But, I had found a recipe that claimed to be great... tasting like Easter buns of old, and I really wanted to try those buns.  It's been a long time since I gave up on store made buns...ick.... they are terrible.  Funny texture... strange flavour... who knows what they put in them.... they get rock hard before they get mouldy.... forget it... I ain't eating those things anymore.

I wanted buns.  So...because I felt more like my old self...I baked yesterday.

May I just say??    

YUM!!

The recipe is in metric measurements...and I was busy trying to convert as I was doing it.... but, want to measure the ingredients a second time...then, will put it on my food blog.  I think it would work just as well for a raisin loaf..... yep...must try that next time.  Why should we only eat yummy stuff once a year? .... must be able to just do crossless buns or bread with the same dough....

Hoppy Easter!!

Bunnies.... from days gone by.... I still have this one. Little Pinky ... my keeper. Normally she lives in the curio with some of the bears, but this is her day. She gets around too let me tell you... she has been everywhere in the last two days..... I began to think she was somehow multiplying all by her onesie....
She wanted to check out the new "etagere" as it is called by the store that carries them... hahaha....oooh, la la... yeh, okay, but it is still just glass and chrome shelving. This is my "easter egg" this year...
It fits perfectly behind the tub in the white, chrome and glass bathroom...the German Spa look....














...here are a few eggs for you. Just realized I have been collecting them........

these two are from St. Petersburg Russia...




























this is an interesting one I found on ebay..by a well known artist..but, it has something not quite right with it. I don't know if it is moisture..but, it if is ... it is sealed inside and there is no hope of taking off the base to get it out (although I have not taken it to a professional so I can't say that for sure)...but, I like it anyway...














my Easter bouquet...











feel free to take the carrot my dear...I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with this old chocolate egg....darn it... ...

Happy Easter !!

The polls are now open over at Lisa's blog.... so head over to the Easter Parade when you have some time... check out all the great entries and vote for your favourites. There are plenty of bunnies, (three days worth) ...and so many great ones~! There are chicks, Easter bonnets and even some Irish themes... seeing as Easter was hard on the heels of St. Patrick's day...

I am making a little stuffed chicken for supper.....working on a needle felted dog... and perhaps even sculpting some eyes on a new doll that I began yesterday.... a lovely relaxing day. Of course, in between that I may be called upon to help hold wires, lift some ceiling molding... balance drywall...etc.... not out of the ordinary around here. This is our 20+ year reno project.

...bit of snow overnight...

It was kind of wintery looking this morning. All white and glistening.... but the sun made a valiant effort and by noon...the temperature had climbed to a wonderful, warmish -8C degrees from -14C... As I was shoveling, the remaining snow was melting totally.... had to take off my coat, ..and, now, the sidewalks are dry and bare again... strange day....but beautiful....

Little Rufus II was sitting on the basket of chocolate eggs.... checking out the sky.... hoping for a sunny day.
I was working on my second little white bunny...
Lisa has some of the first pics of The 1st Annual Softie Easter Parade up today...the "Hot Chicks"... tomorrow, the bunnies..and so on... check them all out each day.... some really great entries by all of the artists.










UPDATE: poor Lisa... sooo many little bunnies and other critters to marshal for the Parade... it is going to go on for days..... wheeee... no bunnies yet... but..soon......... check them all out if you have a few minutes to look at cuteness.