Easter 2025

 

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter.  We had an extra special one because Grace came home for the weekend!  I was so grateful and thrilled to see her, though we missed Harris like crazy (he has finals this week).  

We hosted family for a brunch since Grace had to leave fairly early for the airport (picture above taken as she was leaving).  I felt a little off my game but it was a lovely, relaxed morning.  

The spring flowers are looking so beautiful around the farm and I literally had my pick of beauty to arrange with.  On the table, I used a small vintage tablecloth that I picked up years ago but have never used.  It's rather darling though there was some puzzlement as to why the seamstress used quite so much brown!

I was delighted that for our menu we were able to use asparagus and baby rhubarb from the garden and ramps from the woodland!

Easter Menu

Carrot juice and coffee

Asparagus Quiche

Ham

Cheese Straw Biscuits (from the latest G&G)

Ramp Biscuits

Pepper Jelly

Baked Rhubarb with Lilac Sugar

Lavender Olive Oil Cake

Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs

I was excited to try the biscuit recipe from G&G but then when I saw a ramp biscuit recipe I knew we had to try that as well.  Both were so good and I will definitely be adding the ramp biscuit to our spring repertoire.  I halved both recipes but shouldn't have- we hardly have any leftovers!

The Lavender Olive Oil cake was easy to make and I actually loved its simplicity and rustic nature for a brunch, not too heavy on the sweet side!  Plus, the lavender flavor was present but not overwhelming.  In addition, I made peanut butter chocolate eggs, which is a first because I haven't made a nut dessert in two decades.  They were tasty and pretty cute but it sort of made me miss Harris even more!  Go figure.  

Carrot Juice

 

Before I post a few pictures of our Easter, I wanted to share my latest obsession... carrot juice!  Last fall, when Bryce and I visited Thyme, we would have breakfast every morning where they would offer a glass of carrot juice along with coffee or tea.  I wasn't super keen since I've never been a juicer but of course I tried it and it was love at first taste!  It was so delicious!

Fast forward to Christmas and Bryce gave me a juicer as a gift.  I was a little puzzled at first, like I mentioned I"m not typically a juicer, but he reminded me of our love of the carrot juice.  Turns out it was a very thoughtful gift!  I sent an email to Thyme and asked if the chef would consider sharing his recipe and he did!   We make a pitcher most weekends and it is so delicious!  

Thyme's Carrot Juice

2 large carrots

2 apples

1/2 inch piece of ginger

P.S.  I sowed extra carrots this year, including storage ones, so that we can use our own carrots!  I won't hold my breath for our own apples!

A Manhattan Night

 

Today is Bryce's birthday and we had a little celebration of him this weekend.  One of Bryce's very favorite things to do is to mix cocktails, with a love of whiskey, specifically bourbon, at the top of his list (we are sure in another lifetime, Bryce is a professional mixologist!).  

He mixed up several variations of Manhattans and we had a little tasting!

We used Grace's monogram for the labels.

We had pulled pork, baked beans and chips for dinner and I made a Bourbon Butterscotch cake to go along with the theme. 

It was a fun night and I loved celebrating Bryce and his bartending skills!

What I'm Doing- Weekend Edition

When I tell you I've spent most of my life not being "political," I'm not exaggerating (though I've always voted and I've paid more and more attention the older I've gotten).  However, the time to not be "political" has passed, to remain silent is not an option for me.  Yesterday, I attended my first protest along with thousands of others (millions across the country).  I"m incredibly thankful for our ability to do so in a peaceful manner in our country and I'd like it to stay that way.  

P.S.  I'm deeply disappointed in my signage game.  Seeing the signs others made were a highlight of the entire protest.  I've got to get it together before the next one :).  

In Bloom

 

This week, I started picking flowers again!  The front magnolias are blooming, the forsythia is golden and the daffodils have begun in earnest!  Thus, one of the prettiest times on the farm begins!  

Both the tulip and the star magnolias were here when we moved.  However, I never noticed the tulip for the first couple of years!  I can't figure out if it wasn't blooming, was just too straggly or what but it wasn't until 4 years or so ago that I noticed it one spring!  Magnolias are always tenuous because any frost will cause their blooms to turn an ugly shade of brown.  This year we've been lucky so far!

The daffodils in the orchard are getting to be bigger and bigger clumps and it's one of my favorite places this times of year!

The forsythia is also putting on a show!

I've brought some daffodils, forsythia and a few hellebores inside.  It's nice to have fresh flowers again (even if it's a constant battle with our cats trying to eat them!).  

Visiting Grace

This past weekend I got to see my girl in Charleston!  Bryce and I went down for a long weekend and had the best time.  She is absolutely thriving and loving her internship at G&G!  The city has been very good to her, she seems to have quickly assimilated to her surroundings and it's helpful that our family friends live there and that she's made good friends in the other interns.  

Grace met us at the hotel and when she walked in we realized we were dressed alike, ha!  As a side note, this was the only time that my hair looked semi smooth.  I woke up the next morning to a frizzy mess.  Hello South!

While in Charleston, we ate well!  Grace made sure we went to several places that were on her "list" but were out of her price range!  The first evening, we made our way to Lowlands, which was wonderful!  The next morning, we ate at Miller's All Day and then headed to the Charleston Home and Garden Tour!  This tour was actually the reason we timed our trip for this weekend.  Holle joined us on the tour, which was extra fun!

The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at Harken, one of Grace's favorites, before heading out to do some wandering and exploring.  We eventually made it to the Citrus Club, which was absolutely darling!  It's on the roof of the Dewberry and is so well designed!  We also made a stop at Wentworth, a home store of sorts that's beautifully curated.  

That evening, we went to Fig for dinner and afterwards met the K's for some time with them and Hugh!

Our final morning we got to go see Grace's offices, which are beautiful and also... huge!  What a dream to work in such an environment!

Of course, we couldn't leave the south without getting some Barbecue of some sort and Lewis's hit the spot. 

I loved our time with Grace, and it's deeply satisfying to see her loving and enjoying what she's doing.  She's truly embraced these past 3 months (3 more to go) and has already grown so much.