lucky green thumb(print)

More fun with little finger prints.

Lucky four leaf clovers!

easter table

I decided that I would have a more 'grown up' easter table this year considering I will most likely have very whimsical themes in the coming years for the little miss to enjoy. All week I had envisioned purples in all different shades from flower to garden vegetable, and of course including my lovely quail eggs; a spring sampling of sorts. I tend to go a little crazy when making a centerpiece most likely because it is one way for me to pretend I am a florist again and also because a big, over the top centerpiece makes our dinner table for two and half actually feel like a holiday and not just another day.

I took a trip to the farmer's market in the rain on Saturday where I was able to find purplely-pink radishes, a lovely head of red cabbage, ruffly kale, vibernum 'snowballs', fragrant lilacs, hyacinths in three shades and a little inspiration. Later I found the purple hydrangea, bright green yoko ono mums, freesia, and ranunculus.

The arrangement took on a life of its own, as flower arrangements often do, once I started putting it together.  Although I originally imagined all purples with bright greens against the starkness of white linens, I ended up using a pale, cool blue burlap which had more of a rustic gardeny feel. The radishes and ranunculus were a nice pop of color. I am still amazed at those quail eggs. It's like a little robin found my nest.

making a garden out of marzipan

I'm sure you've seen a garden cake before. I just googled it and found lots of pictures and variations of this springtime novelty. Typically it is carrot cake decorated with vegetables.  Many, many moons ago Martha had it on the cover of her magazine. I remember sitting in my red kitchen in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts with my friend, Gia, molding vegetables out of marzipan. If Martha could do it so could we! We made carrots, cabbages, peas, and I really can't recall what else. I just know that it was a very time consuming process. So time consuming in fact that we skipped baking the cakes where these vegetables would 'grow' and ordered them from The Otherside Cafe, who back in the day made a mean carrot cake.

I thought I would make one for Easter this year. I'm feeling nostalgic as I sit here shaping these peas and carrots on this rainy Portland morning. It was not only faster to create this mini spring harvest with two sets of hands but the company and conversation made it seem like such a festive endeavor. Days like this I miss living on the east coast.

dyeing quail eggs is quite extraordinary.

After dyeing brown eggs I was inspired to dye quail eggs to use in my Easter centerpiece. Their tiny size appeals to me  but mostly I am in love with their fabulous speckles.  I was eager to see how quickly these little tan shells would soak up color.

Much quicker to absorb the color and so amazing with the brown spots!

My heart is aflutter at the sight of these little beauties.

In my ideal world, I was planning on blowing out the yolks and saving the eggs. The yolks are too big, the holes are too small, I am too dizzy, forget it. I'll be keeping them in the fridge to use on Sunday in my garden themed table setting. Until then, I will smile every time I open the door to get a snack.

dyeing brown eggs

This never even crossed my mind. Why haven't I tried this before?

"Because your mom didn't do it," replied my husband.

True. I grew up in a white egg household,

convinced that brown eggs actually tasted different than white eggs.

Farm-ier.  Funny. I had never even tried one.

What does farm-ier even mean?

Now brown eggs are the only kind I buy.

Well, except for the two dozen I pick up at Easter time.

White eggs for bright springy colors or pretty pastels.

Yesterday, while flipping through the pages of this month's Sunset Magazine, I came across a dozen dyed brown eggs.

The colors were so earthy, rich and beautiful.

I happened to have four hard boiled eggs in fridge so I gave it a try.

It takes a lot longer to dye them but once you plop them in the cups of color you can just walk away.

This may not be ideal for smaller ones who are anxious to stripe, decal, and sparkle, but for me it is worth the wait.

The result is jewel toned loveliness.

tulips. hyacinth. jelly beans.

Spring you can depend on.

Setting the table with sunshine

We set the sunshine at our table this rainy easter. Here are a few shots from our brunch.

One bunch each of yellow ranunculus, tulips, freesia, and two different varieties of daffodils were the basis for the centerpiece that I made. Two calla lilies and billy's balls added a little interest and the black grass gave it that final pow! I can plant the grass in my windowboxes after the arrangement is gone.