Friday 3 April 2015

Pasg Hapus ~~~ Happy Easter ~~~ From The Shire

Gentle Reader ~~~  
Pasg Hapus
Happy Easter 
Greetings From The Shire

{door bunting made by me using my Brother Scan 'n' Cut machine}

I do hope the weather is good where you are, but here in The Shire it is not good gardening weather. Nor is it good for the start of the tourist season, as people flood into the village on Easter holidays and long weekend breaks. I do feel so sorry for them as it is biting cold for the time of year. Earlier in the week, the winds reached strong gale force and there was a lot of damage and disruption right across the whole of the country.  It could not have been more badly timed as gardeners across the land prepare to bring their gardens back to life after winter. Daffodils are in full swing now in The Shire ~~~


As I write this entry, it is Good Friday.  By tradition we eat Hot Cross Buns for breakfast. Hot Cross Buns are a deliciously sweet, spicy bun filled with currants and candied peel. They have a cross on the top which is made using marzipan, icing, pastry, or just a simple knife slit before baking. I like them best hot from the oven, slathered in butter, or if they are a day old they are great toasted too. Again, with butter. There must always butter.

When I was little we sang this old {circa 1798} nursery rhyme ~~~

"Hot cross buns!
Hot cross buns!
one a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns!
If you have no daughters, give them to your sons. One a penny two a penny, Hot cross buns!"

I bake my own Hot Cross Buns, and you can find a good recipe for them here.  If you Google Hot Cross Buns there are many recipes, just pick one you like the look of.

Unfortunately, I got called away to the phone as my buns were baking, and as they aren't in the oven for very long it didn't take two minutes for my marzipan crosses to slightly over~bake, but they still tasted good.  

Hot Cross Buns ~~~


Hot Cross Buns are incredibly popular. Sadly, this causes them to be readily available in supermarkets all year 'round now, and I think this takes away from the specialness of the Easter time treats and celebrations. Even the shops that don't sell them all year start selling them before Christmas is cleared from the shelves. You can also buy an ever increasing variety of flavours now, but in my opinion chocolate, or salted caramel, or chocolate orange, or spicy apple, delicious as they may be, have no place in the Hot Cross Bun which is meant to be a simple, sweet, spicy bun with dried fruit. Make those flavoured buns all year around and market them as "sweet, sticky buns" or something else, but keep traditional Hot Cross Buns for Easter! I can be quite the pedant when it comes to tradition. I love Hot Cross Buns and they are all the more special for being kept for Easter treats.

{~~~Steps down gracefully from soapbox, removes splinters from feet ~~~}

I am certain we are all eager to see the back of Winter now, and I think someone needs to go out and find Spring and remind her it is her turn on centre stage!  I am longing for the fragrances of Spring and Summer to be filling my cottage, with the fragrant flowers right outside the door and windows, and with bowls of cut flowers from the garden, but for now I have to satisfy myself with one of my favourite Yankee Candle fragrances, "Garden Hideaway" {which I believe is now, sadly, discontinued} ~~~hints of Lilies of the Valley and other garden scents~~~ and the pretty floral relief design on the side of the wax melt burner ~~~



Unless the weather improves I can't see much gardening happening in my corner of The Shire, but then seeds sown, or plants moved wouldn't be very happy in the cold.  I don't think anything will be that much behind by waiting a couple of more weeks, do you?  Maybe I will hang out in my craft space {aka The Cottage} and make something springlike to cheer the warmer days along ~~~

{Spring bunting made by me using my Brother Scan 'n' Cut machine}

Here are some of my Peter Rabbit collection, for Peter is always part of my Easter celebration ~~~


So, I send you all heartfelt wishes and blessings for a Happy Easter, however you chose to celebrate. Try to spread your chocolate out and don't eat it all in one go ~~~says the Queen of Eating Chocolate~~~ 

{made by me using my Brother Scan 'n' Cut machine}


31 comments:

  1. From looking at your hot cross buns I don't think mine rose enough. I've never had true success in baking that requires yeast! I love your crafted Easter and Spring decorations. And your Peter Rabbit collectibles are wonderful. As for the weather. It is a dull day here--raining and chilly, but at least we don't have high winds. Monday is expected to be great, however, and I'm already planning to spend the day in my gardens.

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    1. Yeast cookery is taking me quite some practice and does involve a lot of kneading or it will not succeed. I use dough hooks on my KitchenAid "Emily" to take the strain for me and finish off by hand these days. I'm pleased you like my decorations ~ I had fun making them. Enjoy Monday in your gardens!

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  2. I'm also feeling sorry for holiday makers, we have 4 caravans and one tent on our campsite for the weekend and the sea mist has blown in from the coast making everywhere grey and chilly.
    I've also made hot cross buns but without the cross! How annoying when the phone rings just at the wrong moment - especially if it's a junk call

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    1. Some of our tourists are most hardy variety as they huddle on the Square hugging their fish and chip suppers, determined not to be thwarted by the biting cold winds today!

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  3. It has rained here today as well, our little town will be quiet for the tourist I think.
    Have a wonderful Easter & there is nothing quite like a hot cross bun.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Such a shame the weather is letting us all down this year. I love Hot Cross buns, and my grandmother made them into bun loaves which I have yet to try.

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  4. The weather was quite pleasant here yesterday and we managed to get some of the work done in the garden. Now we need it to give us more days like that so we can do some work on the plot. Unfortunately today has been pretty miserable. Also unfortunately I really don't like hot cross buns.

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    1. I think if I had all the land you have I would be out too, regardless of the weather. Early Spring is such a lovely time to be in the garden. Sorry you don't like hot cross buns, maybe you can swap them for chocolate?

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  5. Deb, I always enjoy my visit with you and today is no different. I'm loving your banners--all of them! They are so sweet and festive for the Easter season. I'll have to check out the scan and cut machine. I'll join you on the soap box concerning holiday specialties not being special. I think we have so much commercial marketing now! Hopefully your weather will improve soon and you'll be back into the garden. Your daffodils are just lovely--mine are now really beginning bloom en masse. Have a wonderful Easter! ♥

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    1. I love making the banners and buntings. The scan n cut makes it so easy as, unlike a lot of cutting machines you don't need a computer and you can resize everything to exactly how you want it {copyright permitting} Last year, I sent buntings instead of cards, but this year I haven't done anything due to time constraints.

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  6. It looks so very festive in The Cottage, Deb! I love your Springtime banners. You have really been busy. When I was little, I remember my mom making Hot Cross Buns, too. Thanks for the sweet reminder from my childhood! Our family tradition has always been a Lamb Cake for dessert with Easter dinner. My mom always baked and decorated a wonderful Lamb Cake every Easter. Now that my parents live across the country, we buy our Lamb Cake at a bakery ~ and share it via Skype! A bit of a new twist on an old family tradition. Wishing you a joyous Easter! ♡

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    1. Hot Cross Buns are so evocative, aren't they? I love the food at the beginning and end of Lent ~ is it really six weeks since I was tucking in to a plate full of home made crêpes? On Easter Day it is the one day of the year I actually eat chocolate for breakfast too!

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  7. Lovely post, Deb. Sorry to hear such cold weather there still. We are having a slower, but lovely spring right now. Purple plum, crab apple and Bradford pear are blooming. Daffodils have been and almost gone. Trees are leafing out. My shrubs (evergreens) are putting out new growth, and I'm clearing soil and planning the seeds and annuals (a few perennials) I will put in for color here and there. (If you can access FB you saw my photos; I will email a few special to you.) Let me know if you get them! You have motivated me to do some hot cross buns. I always loved them and they were a tradition in New England, too (I wonder why!! ;-) I have a Peter Rabbit exactly like yours and get him out to join us, too! So good to hear from you. Happy and Blessed Easter. Jane xo

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    1. I couldn't access your photos on FB but am so pleased you sent them on. Thank you. It is so magical to see everything coming back to life after the winter months, isn't it? I think a few of us with the same 'common denominator' have that lovely Peter Rabbit mug.
      ~~~Deb xo

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  8. Happy Easter, Deb! Nice buntings; it takes me forEVER to cut out by hand! I grew up with that little verse about hot cross buns, but have never tasted one. Your Peter Rabbit collection really caught my eye; would LOVE an Emma Bridgewater mug. Wishing you sunnier skies and drier days...

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    1. I confess, I collect Emma Bridgewater mugs. Despite their straight sides, they make a lovely thing to hold, especially in Winter when filled with hot chocolate ~ very comforting! Sunny skies this morning, but biting cold winds again!

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  9. Happy Easter Deb!
    I agree with you about how having something all the time takes the specialness out of it. I am enjoying the banner you sent me , gosh, was it just last year or two years ago? Doesn't matter, it is so cute and I love putting it out for Easter.

    Raining here, so no garden work. But at least it is warmer. I am itching to get out and garden more. I got the site of my new compost bins ready. Now to get Tommy doing his part and building it! Wish me luck. :-)

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    1. I think it was last year I did the buntings as it was last year I got "the machine". So thrilled you kept it!
      Sorry it is raining with you too; we do come up against the weather, don't we? Ugh, compost rears it's ugly head at me for the third or fourth time this week, nudging to remind me of a chore I am avoiding! Good Luck!!!
      ~~~Deb xoxo

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  10. Happy Easter dear Deb!... I hope it warms up and becomes Spring for you soon... I LOVE your Emma Bridgewater Peter Rabbit mug!... xoxo... Julie Marie

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    1. I'll let you in to a secret, Julie~Marie ~~~ I have the matching Flopsy Bunny too, in her sweet pink cape ~~~Ssshhhhhh! now don't you tell a soul!
      ~~~Deb xoxo

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  11. Hello, my dear friend!!! {{waving}} What a lovely blog post! The daffodils are beautiful and I envy anyone who can bake bread items from scratch! Yeast and I have a hate-hate relationship. =/ I hate to her that your weather is all icky for the holiday. We are having one last, lovely, cool spell this weekend and I am soaking it in. For the oppressive heat will be here all too soon. And, your banners? Beautiful! I have succumbed to writing a blog-type newsletter instead of the "mailable" version that I wanted to write...Too expensive. Sigh. I mention this only because I posted a pic of a banner I think you will like...I know I do! I wish you the very blessed of Easters! Hugs from across the sea ~ Donna E.

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    1. Donna! Thrilled to bits to see you today! What a wonderful Easter treat of the very best kind. I'll have to try and link in to your letter, but completely understand postage is so expensive. Huge Easter Hugs and Blessings to you and your lovely family ~~~Deb xoxo

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    2. Blessings to you and your mom, too! Hope you had a wonderful day. And, I LOVE your new diary heard/banner! Did you paint it? If so, you need to make those into notecards!!! I know I would buy them! Hugs from across the sea ~ Donna E.

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  12. Easter Blessings Deb!!! I really like your bunny picture. I have never heard of Scan 'n' Cut machine.

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    1. The Scan and Cut is like the Dark Side ~ it draws you in and you can never leave! lol

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  13. I have never had a hot cross bun, but they sound like they would be delicious.

    Spring seems a little slow in arriving here this year. I have hyacinths blooming, and I have seen a few trees in blossom. The roses are getting their leaves. I need to get flower seeds planted, but they are predicting heavy rain on two or more days this coming week. I suppose I will wait, I don't want my seeds to get washed away.

    Have a wonderful Easter!

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    1. There are lots of recipes on line, Susie, but you could take any sweet bun recipe and just add about three ounces of dried fruit and candied peel and a teaspoon of mixed spice to any yeast bun recipe that uses about a pound of flour. They are delicious.
      Yes, Spring seems to be behind everywhere this year ~ again! I prefer to wait rather than lose everything and have to repeat it all later. ~~~Deb

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  14. It has been way too windy of late but it has to improve soon .......... maybe tomorrow !

    Love the hot cross bun verse

    All the best Jan

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  15. Hope you had a wonderful holiday. I like all your traditions, especially the hot cross buns :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  16. Love your Peter Rabbit Easter decor, as well as your paper banners.! My grandma always used to bake us hot cross buns for Good Friday, they were so delicious. I would really love to bake some, I didn't have time this year for Good Friday, but I may have to make some this month so I can practice my yeast baking skills, I can bake cookies and cakes wonderfully but still haven't mastered yeast dough. :) Those daffodiles are so pretty, I am eager for gardening season to begin as well! :) Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!

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  17. Hello Debra Dear one!!
    I have been "blogger blob" lately and I am trying to catch up!! Outside has been calling and it took forever to have nice weather here too!! Hope all is well your way!! Sending warmth, Many Blessings, Linnie :-)

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