H1: Happy Easter and Happy Birthday

Happy Easter! Officially, today is a rest day from the A to Z Blog Challenge. However, why not have an H1 greeting? Nothing says Easter like tulips.

So pretty and elusive. They don't last long, but tulips have to be a favorite. They shout spring with their color and grace.

Happy Birthday to my brother, David. Born April 8th, his birthday lands on Easter every few years and today's the day.

E: Easter, Epiphany, Elmer, and Ergot

E is for Easter. Unfortunately, I've eaten all of my jellybeans. I can remember Easters in PA with sunshine,tulips, and shiny Maryjane shoes. I can also remember wearing a winter coat over my new Easter duds.

Here's my epiphany on e-books - I don't think they'll eliminate paper. I was reluctant to climb aboard the e-train, but once I published my own book (My Zoo World) I decided I should see my format and how it works out on an e-reader. Santa brought me a Kindle and I'm hooked. I've downloaded free books, 99 cent specials,etc - books I would not have considered otherwise. It's opened new horizons. I still go to the library. I still buy hardbacks. AND I enjoy my e-reads.

Elmer was my maternal grandfather. He's long gone, and I think so is the name. What's Elmer say to you? He was a kindly farmer originally from Indiana, wore suspenders, held my hand as we ambled to the five and dime in Quakertown, PA. Think about your characters' names and the time period of your story. Could Elmer, the name, make a comeback?

And now, your deadly e-dose of the day: Ergot, aka St.Anthony's fire, is a fungus parasite that infests cereal grain, especially rye. Seldom seen today thanks to cereal screening. Whew! In the Middle Ages, death by ergot was epidemic (unless you prayed to St.Anthony). Antidote - gastric lavage followed by activated charcoal. Ewww!

Contented

I'm breaking all of my blogging rules on this post. I try to maintain a professional non-personal veneer. But - cute girls in Easter outfits. Abigail is almost seven and Maklyla is twoish - three in August.

You can tell they are cousins, and Abby is the leader - maybe even downright bossy. However, Makyla trundles along behind her.

And now - drumroll - an original poem inspired by Easter Sunday:

Contented

she followed her older cousin

six year old wise leader knew to

dash, grab, fill her basket

younger two year old stumbled

on unmown grass

plastic eggs beckoned

chubby fingers clutched a purple sphere

she waved it, delighted

something rattled

pried open to behold a penny

enraptured, she stood

filmy cloud of white dress

billowed, blonde hair windblown

studied her find, ignored entreaties to

seek more

satisfied with her prizes

Joanne Faries

Easter Weekend Wilderness

Two Saturdays ago, the day was spent in Tahoe. Eight thousand feet elevation at spots, snow, and twenty seven degrees. This Saturday was spent in San Saba, Texas at Ray's aunt's place. Hill country, ninety degrees, and wind gusts had to be fifty miles per hour. Her place is rugged and not for the faint of heart.Pat is a modern day pioneer (at least in this city gal's eyes).

Her newly built pergola, rough hewn cedar, affords a splendid view of mesquite, cactus, and wild terrain. In this silent serene wilderness the weary can gain a heart - bath in perfect peace - John Muir. Sure, he was talking about California redwoods, but any view like this picture applies.

Spring time and cactus is in bloom. The bright yellow leaps out from the dry hardscrabble land. It's too, too dry. The Texas drought is extreme and it's only April.

Away, away, from men and town,

To the wild wood and the downs -

To the silent wilderness

Where the soul need not repress

Its music - Percy B. Shelley

Happy Easter!

Fool for Easter

April Fool's seems appropriate this year to begin the Easter weekend. It's Thursday and the first quarter of the year proved wacky weather-wise. Now sunshine and heat prevail. We jump from winter to summer in a flash. If you don't find the hidden Easter eggs, your nose will find the rotten eggs soon enough.

I've always loved the timing of Easter - both religious and frivolous. Renewal. Hope. Chicks and bunnies and jelly beans. Forsythia's in bloom at my father's house - the waving yellow tendrils contrasted with clear blue sky. Time to stretch, kick off the winter blahs, and go for a walk.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Easter break (corrected 4/8 version)

Easter break -rejuvenation. I grew up in a Catholic neighborhood and Easter Weekend seeped into my soul. Oh, I loved the Easter bunny, Easter egg hunts, and the whole commercial aspect of the "holiday". But I understood the underlying spirit and while I don't formally attend church - the religious Easter registers an amen.
I am not an animal person but bunnies love to live under our shed. If they venture too far, the hawks in the field nab them. Ray tried to plant strawberries one year...that didn't work. The bunnies beat him to the berries.
Here's the Easter spirit. Eight month old Makyla with father Kevin seeks chocolate. The heck with toys. Her bow is bigger than she is - now that's Easter fashion. I remember wearing the Mary Janes, the white gloves, the hat, a pretty dress - and then having to slap the hideous winter coat over the whole outfit. Yikes! Oops - Easter haiku is breaking out (after all this is a writing blog)

snow covered Easter eggs
encrusted they shine
dyed colored surprise
When in doubt, just start chewing. The big egg contains M&Ms for Kevin and Maria. Makyla was happy to stuff the whole thing in her mouth. What the heck! I hope she gets to nibble the ears of the chocolate bunny in her basket. Happy Easter to all. I'm headed to Philly to be with family. (Yo - Pudge's cheesesteak and I learn to talk again).

Joanne