The kids were scarcely back from church for 30 seconds when Oscar spotted an egg and the hunt was on.
Jeanette and Jimmy are in town!
Kiera (&family) hosted Easter Brunch, and it was Incredible!
Kiera & Cole, Jeanette & Jim, THANK YOU!! What a gorgeous brunch you treated us to! So much attention to detail! It was very special. We will never forget it!
(I look forward to linking to the Sweet Kiera post, when it’s up, for all the pretty food photography!)
Can we do this every year? :)
Hope it’s a beautiful day in the country!
We love you! Congratulations on 45 years together. We are so happy for you!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch!!
♥, Mark, Vale Oscar & Lucy
My happy tradition (and means of coping through May 7th) is to head over to Bloomers for some Kick-ass Peonies.
We had them for Ava’s first birthday, and pretty much every year since!
(Last year’s was especially nice because Lucy was there, and our family finally felt complete.)
Here’s this year’s pick, paired with a sweet princess cake from Schubert’s.
(click to enlarge)
This sweet package came in the post:
Nana and Chief brought these gorgeous blooms to Holy Cross:
(If you ever want to go, the grave is all the way back, all the way to the right, in a place marked “holy angels”.)
____________
UPDATE:
Omi sent this photo in. It’s a peony she planted in Sebastopol. (See her writing in the comment section below.) These flowers don’t really thrive in SF, it’s too cold during the summers. But the heat in the country is ideal! And, what a pretty color!
(click to see larger)
(I swoon)
I’ve been watching all the recent coverage of the Royal Wedding of William and Kate, and noticing all the use of flower symbolism, a.k.a. ‘the language of flowers‘.
Kate’s bouquet was the traditional all-white arrangement carried at royal weddings. Dainty and elegant, the bell-shaped Lily of the valley symbolizes the return of happiness. (To the Monarchy? How cool!) The bouquet also had Sweet William, which stands for gallantry (an awesome romantic tribute to her groom). Hyacinth stands for constancy of love, and the myrtle is an emblem of marriage. This myrtle that was set into the bouquet was taken from a shrub planted by Queen Victoria, after her wedding to Prince Albert. Myrtle from the same plant was carried by Queen Elizabeth in her wedding bouquet in 1947. Finally, touches of ivy represent fidelity, friendship, and affection. The symbolism is old and meaningful, and so appealing to me in these modern times where I’m craving authenticity. If only my wedding bouquet had been as well planned!
It had been announced that the royal couple were dedicating many components of their wedding day to their country, nature and family. The flowers and trees for the wedding were all from the royal estates of Queen Elizabeth. (I absolutely loved the trees in the Abbey!) Flowers were brought from Great Park (Windsor Castle). Kate’s earrings were diamond acorns with oak leaves, a motif which echoes the coat of arms of the Middleton family (a wedding present from her parents).
The Victorians loved the language of flowers. This is a cute little glossary designed by my old favorite, Jacquie Lawson (also English), and and it just came to my inbox today:
(Click to enlarge)
SO happy for the good news! Congratulations to Lauren and Brendan and family!
Lauren is Kiera’s sister. They live in Boston, which has never felt so far away as today! This morning they were blessed with a sweet baby girl, April Elizabeth. (Elizabeth is Lauren’s middle name.) The word is she has red hair and blue eyes. Welcome to the world little April!
Photo of flowers by Gertrude and Mabel
flowers by Nicole Hill Gerulat
Madie and the birthday girl this a.m. – pic by Linsey (click to see larger).