Well Easter was in the middle of April this year. That means the kids got a week break in March for Spring Break and a 4 day weekend in April for Easter and they will have another in May for Memorial Day Weekend. Mom loves Easter time as that’s really the only time she can get regular Brach’s jelly beans. Walmart had a jumbo bag for just $5 this year so we were able to treat her with a bag every two weeks from just after St. Patrick’s Day till Easter Sunday. Sadly, I went to Walmarts near us this past week and they had all the Easter candy and stuff 50% off but those big bags of regular jelly beans for all gone. All they had were the sweet-n-sour kinds and mini jelly bellies. Oh, well I guess she will have to wait until next year and we will have to stock up.
The last couple of years we haven’t had to create Easter baskets as all of my kids are grown and living on their own now. We did have a lovely family get-together on Sunday afternoon at my grandmother’s house. My oldest daughter did most of the cooking and I was able to create a couple of dishes and a dessert. Granny just turned 95 so we are all trying to get over to see her as much as we can these last few years because you just don’t ever know when she will decide she is ready to move on. This year she hurt her back while making her big bed and has had to have someone stay with here all the time. She refuses to go into a nursing home and while there are enough relatives around her we are not going to insist on it. My aunt and uncle who now live in Fernandina Beach stayed with her for the first two weeks, my mom is staying with her the next and then my other aunt will be coming in from Denver to stay 3 weeks. Hopefully, by then she will be able to stay by herself for a little while until my other aunt can come for her visit from Alaska. The family is very important all year long but during the holidays it is even more so.
We are still living and volunteering in a county park in Lake City and Easter Sunday here was very busy. In fact, the past two weeks have been really busy with birthday parties, picnics and the like. I am still picking up plastic Easter eggs all over the park. I don’t really mind picking up bits of candy wrappers or even plastic bags that have floated away from the picnickers. It would be nice though if people would spread those party-popper things with all that small bright colored ribbons everywhere. Hey, celebrate all you want but by golly please pick up ALL of your trash when you are getting ready to leave!
Hope everyone had a great and safe holiday this year. Till next time.
