Gone To The Beach: 2024/03

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Happy Easter! Welcome Spring!

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

love

to all from

lizzy and Bunny Mo

Friday, March 29, 2024

Baskets and Bunnies, Spring Quilts, Asparagus, and Bunny Mo

Frigid Friday, my friends, the last of March '24. Enough said, right? Mo and I staggered in from our buffeting struggle/ walk and sat down to share a bit of Easter memories and Easter/ Spring-y quilts.

So take a break from egg dying and sugar basting the ham, put your feet up for a few.

I thought I'd share a couple of very springy quilts. First, a favorite that YES! you've seen before.

This is my Tiny Baskets quilt. The Baskets are 4 1/2" finished. Years ago I so wanted (but knew I could never afford) a good Baskets quilt. Quilt prices were wildly high, a Basket quilt could cost a thousand dollars or more.

I found this bedraggled recycled top at a now defunct annual antiques show. The top had once been a tied quilt, much loved and well-used. I paid $35.oo. I repaired tattered white areas and remade about 7 basket blocks using reclaimed antique fabrics. Quilted, I think, by Lori C. of Quilters Imagination, one of our first projects together. Hand bound during Hurricane Sandy.

Now years later I can't be sure which I redid: the chrome yellow? the poison green? Only sure of the brown because I have yardage of that , also reclaimed, once a backing.

Then this little blue and white pretty Baskets crib quilt. A 4.00 Goodwill find.

And last, a Bunnies crib quilt. I bought it years ago to cut up for lavender pillow sachets for my etsy shop. Every time I'd be ready to sew the sachets the old quilt would be missing, not to be found til some useless day far past spring selling time.

Now I am rather glad I left it whole. It's entirely faded, was it pink and brown once?---and very worn. Faded to neutral cream, near monochrome.

But....cutest Bunny faces!

And darling little spriggy flowers.

Should I leave it as is, or wash again and rebind it, or make the darn lavender pillows? What would you do?

[probably a kit quilt, c 1920-1940]

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Today is Good Friday. We were always so thrilled to have a day off school---and Good Friday was always Easter Egg dyeing day when I was a child.

The eggs had to be done last minute because my mom didn't refrigerate them, but on Easter used them for deviled eggs or rather colorful egg salad. [no one got food poisoning!]. In later years she only made red eggs with dye brought from a Ukrainian shop in NYC [Surma]. The red dye was not edible so everyone's tummy was safe.

I still love the tradition, specially with small children who are so wide eyed and baffled by the whole idea. "Why does the bunny hide the eggs?" "I don't know, honey." Why should I look for them?" "uuuuuh...I don't know." Do you?

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In season and at its cheapest yet very best, Asparagus! This bundle is sauteed in butter and olive oil, with minced garlic and lemon. Still crispy! So flavorful. Served with wide egg noodle pappardelle and shaved parm. Or you could add a poached egg and diced ham, crusty bread for a lovely Easter brunch.

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Baby Mo had his Easter bath and spa day yesterday.

He is all set to don his bunny ears [''betcha can't find them, mommy ;-) '' ] on Sunday.

In keeping with the newish idea of celebrating with experiences instead of food or prezzies, I am going to the Flower Show for Easter. I can't wait to see this year's new and unusual pansies. And all the gorgeous displays.

Happy Easter, Happy weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Cottage Style ~ Is it Sneaking in with Spring?

Spring has arrived at The Beach, bringing us frigid temps, fierce cold winds, and very dark grey rainy days. Today is so dark, Mo and I wanted to sleep all day. But common sense prevails, as I putter aimlessly around. Spring is no picnic here, my most despised season.

Poor planning on my part means I have nothing planned to cook using my oven, nothing to bake either. I am all stocked up for this ''storm'' which in a non-internet frenzied weather cycle would be just another rainy winter day. Dinner will be spaghetti w defrosted meatballs in Trader Joe's quite good Bolognese sauce. [I am a big red sauce snob, only homemade is usually acceptable here.] Instead I'm brightening the cottage with touches of yellow and cream and maybe even some pink.

Brilliant yellow ranunculus fill an old, lidless rosebud sprigged canister.

And I took out rosebud fabrics for pillow cases [when looking for a sweet backing for Parsonsfield little quilt].

Am I creating a theme here? The pillow cases--one of which is a thrifted case with the sweetest tiny ruffle, will go on the bed more likely in May, as I transition from flannel to percale bedding. The print on the right is called "Apron Print", so cute. From American Jane. [Perhaps a fun apron is needed also?]

The rainy day puttering has included some Easter faffing [aimless home decor]---Easter is sooo early this year. "First Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal/ spring equinox." And so it goes.

I love this spray of Easter branches, here mixed with real pussywillow. Last year, Home Goods.

Antique Easter Eggs and tulips:

The papier mache and tin eggs here are my recent finds and gifts. I have a huge collection of the eggs that I don't always take out anymore. I think there's a pic of more of my collection on the sidebar at the right.

My natural eggs collection in a Nantucket basket this year.

I'll probably add some bunnies later in the week.

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In other news: Baby Mo celebrated his tenth birthday! He is puzzled but happy to be fussed over and given cake. [doggy cake made by me. I licked the mixing spoon, omigosh--yuck.] Ten years!