A perfectly gorgeous day was delivered for our family Easter get together. Impossibly blue skies, fluffy white cumulus clouds skittering across the sky and a Spring time temperature that was custom ordered.
Dressed in their Easter finery, everyone arrived at Chez Bailey around 11am after attending church with Roy and Leah. The guys were dashing, the gals dazzling and the kids cute as buttons. After a few family photos, everyone changed into their comfy clothes and prepared for a hearty lunch and a relaxing afternoon.
Shirley decided to join us for Easter this year so Terry left briefly to pick her up from church. Just for grins, Janice decided to ride along. As I’m prepping lunch, I looked at Jill who was playing with Levi and asked if she needed help bringing in the deviled eggs and macaroni and cheese from the car. Her mouth dropped open and with eyes as big as saucers informed me between giggles that she had completely forgotten to make them. We doubled over in laughter and she hopped into the kitchen lickety split and proceeded to make deviled eggs in a devilishly fast manner. Being caught short on noodles and cheese, I phoned Terry and asked if he could pick up a box of elbow macaroni and a block of Velveeta cheese on their way home. While we waited, Jill heated the butter and milk for the soon to be cheese sauce and pre-heated the water for a quick boil.
Chris and Amy arrived soon after bearing hostess gifts. Chris brought a beautiful purple orchid and Amy brought a Nature’s Wick candle in Vanilla Dolce. It’s sitting on my desk beguiling me with its vanilla scented deliciousness. Also sitting on my desk is an adorable, miniature orchid from Josh and Jill. Grandmother also bestowed a gift upon us. She thoughtfully brought us an egg shaped tin of Oreo cookie bark and the most adorable bunny figurine by Marjolein Bastin which now resides in our secretary. On Easter Eve, an arrangement of purple and yellow tulips arrived from Dad and Janice in a vibrant vase as well as an array of luscious, pastel colored chocolate covered strawberries which graced the sideboard.
While all this was going on Lily and Levi had systematically unclothed themselves and were parading around the fountain in their birthday suits, splashing, laughing and having a grand time. Lots of cute baby bottoms. Totally hilarious!
Shirley’s church is only 15 minutes from our house and yet after Terry and Janice had been gone for over an hour I began to get concerned and asked Chris to give them a ring. Well the delay was due to the fact that Shirley’s church let out 30 minutes later than usual and they had already been to Publix which was closed and were headed to Harris Teeter.
While they were searching for an open grocery store, Grandmother and I prepared the scalloped potatoes. She quietly sang a familiar tune from the 40’s that was playing in the background and handed me the thinly sliced potatoes as I placed them in buttery, cheesy layers. I can’t remember the last time Grandmother and I were together for Easter so having her here was a special treat.
As soon as Terry arrived with the coveted noodles and cheese, Jill proceeded with the macaroni and I popped the biscuits and asparagus in the oven alongside the scalloped potatoes. After an interminably long time, everything was finally finished and we were able to sit down and eat. By 1pm everyone was famished, nay starving so everything was devoured like vultures had descended upon our home with decidedly good table manners.
Easter Menu
Brown sugar encrusted spiral cut ham
Scalloped potatoes
Roasted asparagus
Deviled eggs
Potato salad
Green peas
Mac and cheese
Buttermilk biscuits
Carrot cake
Pound cake
Chocolate covered strawberries
Chocolate birds nests
Mini cupcakes
Congealed salad with strawberries, cranberries and pineapple
Too full for dessert, we applied the skillful art of distraction as we hid Easter eggs around the yard. Upon completion of our nefarious plot, we announced that the Easter Bunny had just arrived and hidden eggs for Lily and Levi to find. Lily’s face was classic. Intense excitement with wild, flailing of arms. She couldn’t get outside fast enough.
Post egg hunting dessert and coffee followed with a forced family fun viewing of a DVD I had cobbled together of the year that was 2011 and gifted to everyone.
Full, tired and spent, everyone gathered their leftovers, goodies and made their way home. Once again, it was wonderful to all be together, laughing, eating and enjoying each others company.
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