Quote of the Week

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see.  
- John Burroughs

Too often the busyness of our lives overwhelms our senses, and we become bogged down in the daily grind. We need to adorn our lives with a little more of that which is precious to us, whether it is enjoying a good book, taking a long walk though the woods, or simply letting the sun shine upon our faces.

His Name is "Moe"

"So what are you going to name your new friend?" Tommy's mom asked.

"Moe",  he answered without hesitation.

"Why?" 

"I don't know, he just looks like a Moe."  

"Hey Moe" called Tommy.  The little puppy's ears perked up and he wagged his tail.  "See, he likes it" shouted Tommy as Moe bounded toward his friend.

Posted for Friday Flash 55.

Note: Little Tommy is a fictional character. 
Artwork from the Open Clip Art Library

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Little Miss Muffet

Image source:  smallacornsnz.blogspot.com

Little Miss Muffet
Collapsed on her tuffet
She hated curds and whey
When the little ol' spider
Sat down beside her
She gave her curds away.

Quote of the Week

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  

- John Muir

Nature and it's wonder is all around us.  From the forests and valleys to the highest peaks, from the deserts to the oceans, we experience one continuous cycle of life.

Last week we celebrated Earth Day with our focus on preserving our natural resources.  Let's make every day, Earth Day!

Easter Delights

Happy Easter everyone!  This year Easter falls on April 24, or one day earlier than the latest possible date.  Because of the changing dates, Easter could nearly be considered a "floating holiday".  I mean think about it, Christmas is always December 25 no matter what day of the week it happens to be, and Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, no matter what the date.  But Easter can be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.  Why is that?

The calculations are a bit complex, and I confess I find it too confusing to read, absorb and spew it back for you, so here is the way one source explains it:

Easter Sunday is the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (PFM) date for the year. In June 325 A.D. astronomers approximated astronomical full moon dates for the Christian church, calling them Ecclesiastical Full Moon (EFM) dates. From 326 A.D. the PFM date has always been the EFM date after March 20 (which was the equinox date in 325 A.D.).*

Aside from the date-related confusion, Easter brings many traditions, some religious, some cultural and some just for kids.  Here are some of the things you see around Easter.


Easter Eggs.  The egg, the pagan symbol of rebirth, was adopted by Christians as the symbol of Jesus' resurrection.  Today, a popular Easter activity is an Easter Egg hunt. Here's a tip for boiling all those eggs.

As with most holidays, there is one or more foods associated with it.  First is a tasty treat called Hot Cross Buns, which were allegedly small wheat cakes baked to honor Eostre, goddess of Spring.  Later, Christians substituted sweetbreads blessed by the church.

The roast lamb found on many Easter dinner tables dates back to the first Passover of the Jewish people.  People would eat the roast lamb, hoping that God's angels would pass them over, thus the term Passover.

Ham is another popular Easter entree.  In the early days before refrigeration, any fresh pork that wasn't consumed during the winter before Lent was cured, and since this process takes a while, the hams were ready just in time for Easter making them the perfect choice for Easter dinner.  

What are some of your favorite Easter traditions?

Source: http://www.gmarts.org/index.php?go=412 
Artwork from the Open Clip Art Library