Friday, March 29, 2013

Oh what a day...I'm spent!

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The week leading up to Easter, my emotions are just all over the place.

It feels like when you're going through a really hard time in your life, and trying to put on a brave face and smile, but that knot is always in your stomach and the lump always in your throat???

Goodness gracious, I'm a mess LOL

Started this morning bright and early, outside on the patio. 

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Don't you just love mornings?  The sun is shining and the world is stirring.  Best time to sit quietly and just watch it all go by.

I had my cup of coffee, my new ripply blanket and my Bible.

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I started in Matthew 24 and have been reading on from there.....it's some of the hardest parts of the Bible for me, but I find it so important to be reminded of what Jesus was going through.

I worked on my crochet, sipped my coffee, read my Bible and kept an ear out for the kids.  When they were up, I moved inside to start my day.

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First on the agenda, Hot Cross Buns.

I love a good Hot Cross Bun, but I'll tell you right now, I'm kind of a snob when it comes to Hot Cross Buns, there is no such thing as icing for the cross, that's a huge no no in my book.  Told you, Hot Cross Bun Snob.  LOL

The recipe I used this year was one I saw on The Great British Bake Off Easter Masterclass.  I think Mr Paul Hollywood is just brilliant when it comes to breads and dough and when I saw him preparing the Hot Cross Buns, I knew that was the recipe I wanted to try.

WOW were they delicious.  Funny thing though, he adds in chopped apple which is something I've never done before, but he's right, they really do make the bun.

If you want to give them a try, the recipe is posted on my food blog.

Hot Cross Buns

While the buns rose on the kitchen table, I set to work dyeing some eggs.  I knew what I wanted to do and I had seen these around the internet.

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I will tell you that they were so easy to make, and I love the pastel colors I got out of the dye.

I started by boiling the eggs, then I let them cool down.  Made sure the shells were dry, and stuck on the letters for Jesus.  You can use letter stickers if you have them, but I didn't, so I used a blank white sticker and traced and cut out the letters.

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Once the letters are on there the way you want them, go ahead and dye them whichever color you want.

I always use vinegar for mine. Just 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 2/3 cups of hot water and then food coloring, however many drops you want to get the color you like.

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Let them dry completely and then pull off the stickers.

What I like about this is that you can literally do whatever you want on the eggs. We'll be making more on Sunday and I plan on putting a cross on one, maybe different words...it will be fun to see what we all come up with.

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I have spent all day sneaking glances at this cross and the two nails. It keeps me in check, it keeps me in the moment, and it makes me forget all distractions that are not related to my Lord.

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After I was done with these, and after some puttering around with the sprinkler in the garden, and watering the vegetable patch, it was time to enjoy our Hot Cross Buns.

Hot Cross Buns

My Jasmine loved them, but Nicholas???? Nope. He caught a whiff of apple and that was that, it was set aside. Picky little boy I have here.

Hot Cross Buns

Nevermind that, because Jas, Dad and Mom will enjoy them for him. I won't pass up a good Hot Cross Bun, and I'm already thinking of breakfast, because nothing beats one toasted and slathered with butter. Yummy!

So, how has your Good Friday been? Any exciting plans for this weekend?

Here shortly I'll be watching The Bible: A Journey which is airing right now on GMC. The beauty of having a DVR, I can watch at anytime :)

Sending you much love and blessings on this Good Friday, and wishing you a very restful night.

4 comments:

Debby said...

I can't wait until we can sit outside in the mornings, soon I hope! Your hot buns look so good, I haven't tried to make them yet, it's now on my must try list. Happy Easter

Sherri B. said...

Love your Bible..very pretty!

I start getting emotional on Palm Sunday and this last one was really heavy. Our pastor did a message on the crucifixion and used a report done by the Journal of American Medical Association on what Jesus went through physically..all of the horrid medical details. It was awful. I am always so happy when Easter Sunday arrives.

Your photos are always so crisp and pretty..thanks for sharing. xo

Anonymous said...

Beautiful buns! (And your reflections). I really think frosting is cheating for a solemn day like Good Friday. My frosting would do better for a non solemn day.

Amber said...

Good morning, dear Sandra! I too love the morning time! My favorite time of the day! And I CANNOT wait until it warms up here in the Northeast so I can drink my coffee and do my devotions on our back deck. I LOVE that! I really loved this post, Sandra. So much feeling was put into writing this. Thanks for sharing. And your hot cross buns look delish. Unfortunately, we're gluten free here for health reasons, so there's so many things like this that I can't enjoy! Oh well. I pray that you and your family have a MOST blessed Resurrection Sunday!