"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Easter Past


Easter came and went and was a low key affair.  For the first time, I didn't make everything.  In the past, I have even made my own butter, shaped in an old chick chocolate mold, with homemade rolls and everything else.  Though I do draw the line at paper plates, this was an easier day as evidenced by this cake.



A Chantilly Cream Cake from Whole Foods.  I couldn't have made a better one - it was delicious.  I simply added more berries and voila.  


I made the grands hide the eggs outside as I've found too many old eggs under cushions in the past.  I did not think (until too late) that they'd be stomping on all the perennials and new growth, but what else can be expected of kids?  

I planted tulips across the bed at the edge of the patio.  I've watched them popping up for weeks.  Came back to the farm yesterday and thought I wasn't going to get to see them bloom.  


Alas, a couple of parrot tulips did open before I left.  I was so happy to at least get to see these.


Perhaps next year.

21 comments:

La Table De Nana said...

That cake:) Those plates:)You made me smile at the butter..I have wanted to do that..haven't come across an affordabe mold for just butter lol..
But it's that last parrot tulip..That is my all time fave.I painted one once..never did it justice.Too beautiful for me.

donna baker said...

Yes Monique, I used to be Martha Stewart, but no more. I did it all and it had to be perfect, but being a perfectionist, it could always be better. I read once that if you can't draw/paint it better than a photograph, don't do it. While I certainly don't believe that old saying is true, I guess it can be true some of the time. It is a gray, rainy day here with thunder. I wish I didn't have to go out in it. The spring storm season is why I fear I won't get to see the tulips bloom. The wind and rain will get them if I don't go back soon.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Ooh Donna, I completely understand. I too wanted to set standards like Martha Stewart, and nowadays I seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum....
I love your Chantilly cream cake, so beautifully presented.
Spring has sprung, it feels good to feel the sunshine return.
Enjoy your gorgeous tulips.
~ jO

Val said...

Lovely. I've done the paper plate thing on a few holidays and don't mind them. Some are so pretty these days. :)

That cake is just wonderful. ♥

I'm glad you got to see your Tulips bloom. A riot of color, and so needed after winter.

Easter was non-existent for me this year. I had to work all weekend, and my husband was away visiting his family. Missing the holiday and family get-togethers doesn't always get to me--I just plan to celebrate earlier or later, or to make a little meal for myself on the day--but this year, it was a rather sad weekend for me, and I just couldn't muster the enthusiasm for it. I took a few pictures and went for a couple walks between work, and that was it. Wrote Sad Sack. :) Anyway, yes, it came and went and was even more low-key than yours, so I understand. The times I get to spend it with my family, it's all a bigger production--cooking, baking desserts, helping Mom write rhyming clues for the egg hunt, etc. Ah well. Years like this year make the "production" years sweeter, I guess.

donna baker said...

You too Jo. Soon your morning glories will come up and your beautiful clematis must be about to bloom. Every little thing must be glorious to you right now, just getting home after such an long ordeal. I am so happy you're home.

donna baker said...

I totally understand Val. You have traditions and they begin to be too much to do. My heart broke Easter and it has taken me days to get over it. Such is life sometimes.

Sandra Cox said...

The tulips are absolutely beautiful. And so is that cake:) Making your own butter....wow!

Elephant's Child said...

The cake is good.
The tulips are AMAZING. Love the grape hyacinths too. I hope both of mine bloom in our spring.

donna baker said...

Sandra, you would be surprised at how easy it is. I think we all see those old butter churns, but it is much easier than they look. A food processor - how easy is that? The cake had a cream cheese frosting that wasn't too sweet and layers of moist yellow cake with berries in between. It had some sort of almond esters (never heard of them) and it was divine - tasted of heaven.

donna baker said...

Child, I will be planting many grape hyacinths this fall. Just love them. They multiply and probably my favorite color in the garden. Look up Texas Bluebonnets on google. There are miles of them in TX, but do not grow wild in OK. I miss those.

angryparsnip said...

Growing up in a Polish neighborhood Easter was so special. Mum made the whole dinner plus her fabulous breads. But what I miss is we would buy our butter in the shape of a lamb. That is one tradition that i miss so much.
That cake looks wonderful.
Ok I am confused.... you used to live on the farm but now live in the city but you go back to the farm and live there too ? Where did you spend Easter home or farm ?

cheers, parsnip

donna baker said...

It was so good and I didn't have to make it. Such a delicate almond flavor and not too sweet. The farm remains and though I'd sell it in a heartbeat, husband won't. I go back and forth, at present, a week at each. We had Easter at the city house as that is where the kids and grandkids live and they don't like driving to the farm.

Frances said...

Donna, your Easter table is beautiful...and I applaud your decision of step back a bit from the total Martha experience. The Whole Foods cake is rather wonderful, and the additional fruit makes it your own.

I am imagining the joy of your grandchildren having their egg hunt! Even if there was a little bit of stomping. Parrot tulips are so amazing...thanks for including these glorious photographs!

xo

donna baker said...

Thank you Frances. It was nice to be simple. I always thought the whole Martha experience was due to my staying home to raise my children instead of the career route - my attempt to do it all perfectly. And, even Martha can't do it all anymore as she has workers galore doing it all. Since you can't find helpers at the farm, I had to let go of most all of it. Aging takes care of that for you.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I am totally mesmerised by that cake Donna - it is a work of art and am sure it tastes just as good as it looks.

Amanda Summer said...

The cake looks delish - what was the main course of this fantastic meal?

donna baker said...

It was so good Pat. Almond flavored and not too sweet surprisingly. I am the one who usually scraped off the icing and eats the cake, but this icing was very good.

donna baker said...

Baked ham with cheese grits. I even bought croissants this year instead of making yeast rolls.

angryparsnip said...

That you for helping me out... I get confused easier now.
I must try that cake.

La Table De Nana said...

Same day here..

I am on Instagram now and follow some artists..some of the paintings..watercolor..are so true to life they are like a photograph..I admire their talent and dexterity..but I like things less than perfect.

donna baker said...

Monique, I can't believe you're on Instagram. Guess I'll have to try it as it seems so many have switched from blogging to it. I have wondered about it. I still don't do Pinterest, Facebook or any other thing. I don't know why other than I guess it would just take so much time. I thought, starting out in drawing and painting, that I wanted to do photorealism, but talk about perfection. I don't have the patience as it would drive me crazy and really, why not just take that picture. That must have been who wrote that phrase I quoted, a photorealist wannabe.