Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -5 April 2012

A bit of a departure this week for Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real.  It’s Maundy Thursday of Holy Week, so we thought we’d share the making of our Lenten garden.

This year we decided to make a proper cave for our garden.  We started with the bottom of a 2L coke bottle.

Once everything was taped down we covered the bottle with tin foil and the vase with plastic wrap. And then got ready to get dirty.

One surprise I discovered is that Ella does NOT like to get gooey with paper mache.  She did some, but was happy to let me do most.

It turned cold and rainy after we finished the cave so we took it out to Daddy’s greenhouse to dry.  It sure was warm out there.

Here’s our Lenten garden.  Ella’s quite pleased with herself for painting the cave without any adult help.  It’s hard to get a good picture because of the way the light comes in the window.  This year we have pussy willows, last year I was hoping the lilac branches would leaf in time.It never turns out the way I see it in my head, but Ella likes it and that’s the main thing.  The beautiful silk comes from Beneath the Rowan Tree.  Lori has such beautiful/creative things there.

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Easter Weekend

As you may have noticed, Ella and I went to Scarborough to spend Easter weekend with Auntie Belinda and Uncle Stefan.  We had a wonderful time.

We stopped by Peterborough on the way to Scarborough.  Grandpa Jim and Grandma Linda took us out for lunch at East Side Mario’s.  It’s Ella’s current favourite restaurant.  We had a nice visit and I’m glad Linda had the day off.

Auntie Belinda decorated the house for our birthdays (Grandma and I).  And no, the walls aren’t quite so yellow in person.  It’s more of a pumpkin and looks quite nice (for her house).

Uncle Stefan and Ella had a great time playing all weekend.  Ella loves having someone who loves video games as much as she does.  Uncle Stefan won the favourite uncle award this weekend with his castle creation.  This castle has everything a good castle needs, including a working drawbridge and secret entrance (don’t tell).

Sunday we were able to go to church!!  Easter service at St. Mary Magdalene is always wonderful.  Ella and her new bunny spotted the Easter garden.  Ella did really well making it through the 2 hour service.  Our local church is only 1 hour, and even St. Barnabas in Ottawa is 1.5 hrs.  Grandma forgot snack, but Momma had a couple Easter eggs in her pocket that got Ella through the service.  I wanted to take some pictures of the inside of the church, but as usual, Grandma made a bee-line for the door and I had to hurry along.

It never fails, regardless of when Easter falls, Easter Sunday is nearly always unpleasant.  This year was no exception.  You can’t see our new dresses because we had to wear sweaters (or poncho in Ella’s case).   This is the park behind church.  It used to be the location of the convent and school.  My Grandma Rees was raised by the sisters at the school when her parents left her behind in Toronto when they went to Winnipeg.  One of my favourite pieces of jewelry is the crucifix given to Grandma by one of the sisters when she finished school.

Ella came home to find quite a change in our Easter garden.  The stone is gone from the tomb, the wheat is growing like crazy, the lilac branches are even trying to bloom!  Ella really loved the eggs hanging on the branches.

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Lenten Garden

I’ve been wanting to set up a Lenten Garden for a while now.  As per usual, I finally get it done the day before Palm Sunday.  I have a great book, All Year Round that has wonderful ideas to bring more meaning and celebration to our days.  This is where the Lenten Garden idea comes from.   I need to find some different supplies for next year.  I would like to have bigger tray and a better dish for the pond.  I also need to plan ahead for the cave/tomb.  I just covered a box with cardboard for this year, maybe next year we’ll make something from clay.  The branches are from the lilac tree.  We don’t have any spring-flowering bushes.  I’m not sure if they will leaf in time for Easter.  The play silks come from my friend Maureen.  She’s closed the online store, but if you are near Wilno the craft-type store carries some of her products.  I made this Garden while Ella was in the living room.  She came out to investigate and was so thrilled.  She gave me a giant hug and a ‘thank you Momma’ .  It’s so rewarding that such little things give Ella such joy.

  Speaking of small gifts bringing Ella joy.  I finished her knitted dolly last night and she was met with squeals of delight this morning.  Here she is playing with Ella in the cardboard ‘house’.  You will note all the ‘decorations’ on the sides.  Ella has named her new dolly Addie, after one of her little friends.

Not sure why, but right now Ella is obsessed with taking her own pictures.    The camera is full of them these days.

Not sure what happened to spring today?  Can you see what is falling from the sky?  Yep, snow.  Blah!!  I’ve had enough of being cold, I’m ready for spring.

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