Candy Easter Eggs at The Old Parsonage

I talked about making Easter Eggs on Good Friday with my nieces, and a few of you asked for the recipes. So I thought that I'd share them with everyone...

Peanut Butter Melt away Easter Eggs

• 2# Powdered Sugar
• 1# Room Temp Butter
• 2 1/4 c Peanut Butter
• 2 Bags Chocolate Chips (I use a good quality Chocolate Wafer from a Chocolate/Nut House instead of the chips - both milk and dark chocolate)

Coconut Cream Easter Eggs

• 8oz Cream Cheese
• 14oz Bag of Coconut
• 2# Powdered Sugar
• 2tsp Vanilla
• 8 tsp Flour (heaping)
• 1/2# Room Temp Butter
• Chocolate Chips (I use a good quality Chocolate Wafer from a Chocolate/Nut House instead of the chips - both milk and dark chocolate)

Directions for making both types of eggs:

1. Mix all ingredients (except the chocolate) until really creamy
2. Form into egg shapes (as big as you like)
3. Place on waxed paper lined cookie sheets
4. Chill in refrigerator or freezer until well chilled
5. Melt Chocolate in double boiler or microwave
6. Dip the eggs into the chocolate and place back on the waxed paper
7. Chill until firm
8. Decorate with icing if you like

I just hard boiled 30 eggs so that they are ready to color on Friday. I also made my red beets and eggs tonight so that they'll be good and pickled by Sunday. Did you know that you should use "old" eggs to make hard boiled eggs? They are easier to peel. The photos are from last year, but the front door looks the same. I just can't get a good photo with all of the rain and clouds lately.

Hope that you are enjoying your week!

Brrr Baby it's Cold Outside

The temp's have returned to normal for this time of the year, but that didn't stop me from being outside. The gardens are all coming to life - daffodils are blooming and the hyacinths are forming their fragrant buds.

We went to our local diner for breakfast this am before heading to the market. I much prefer our little market to a large chain store:

• it's within 3 minutes of home
• they sack your groceries
• the produce and meats are so fresh
• if I'm in a pinch and don't have time to bake I can always count on the bakery for some wonderful yummy goodness

What do you love or hate about your market?

Easter Plans at The Old Parsonage

If it's Saturday, then it's Pink Saturday all over blogland. I've been joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday for about 6-8 months and have met so many fun and interesting people. You should hop over and check a few or all of them out.


Can you believe that tomorrow is Palm Sunday and next week is Easter?

We're having Easter dinner here with the whole family, and we're going to celebrate my MIL's birthday since her birthday is Monday. I love Easter so much. The joyous love that was showered upon us just radiates with Spring and all of it's re-birth. The flowers, trees and landscapes come to life, and we get to reconnect with neighbors. Our neighborhood tends to hibernate in the cold winter months, unless there's snow to shovel (she said in a whisper).


Our Easter menu has many family favorites with a few new things added year to year. We make a ham, potato pierogies with butter and sauteed onions, kielbasa, pineapple filling, red beets and eggs, roasted asparagus, mashed potatoes, and a lot of other things including appetizers and decadent desserts. I'm making peanut butter melt away eggs and coconut cream eggs with Puddin' Pie and Schooch Bug on Good Friday when they come to help me dye eggs.

What are your Easter traditions?

Multiplication on Rudolph Day at The Old Parsonage

Well, I guess that what they say is true...rabbits do multiply. I love how these miniature rabbits look hanging on my white feather tree. This tree is one of my favorites. It has real goose feathers and is about 15inches tall - perfect for showcasing miniatures.
And, did you see my newest vintage find sitting in front of the baskets? I found these Lefton lambs in Adamstown on one of our recent jaunts. They called my name Le-annnnn Le-annnnn. Just like Baaaa Baaaa (I couldn't resist).

Did anyone else remember that today was Rudolph Day? Life has been so hectic, that I didn't remember until after lunch - so unlike me, RIGHT? I did manage to go through some new recipes that I tried this past Christmas. I'll have to add them to my Christmas recipe book next month.

Wishing you all a Happy Rudolph Day! Try to plan or prepare for Christmas on the 25th of each month, you'll be glad that you did!

Egg Cups full of Love at The Old Parsonage

A few years ago my Mum and I were at a great junk shop. It was an old elementary school that had several vendors (unfortunately they tore the building down and put up a strip mall). As we shopped, we talked with a lot of the vendors. I was looking for egg cups to add to my small collection.


One vendor happened to have these beautiful china cups painted with sweet flowers. She was so happy to sell them to us. As she wrapped them, she started to tell us a story about her daughter who had just recently passed away from breast cancer. She used to serve soft-boiled eggs to her daughter in the cups. The story brought tears to our eyes.


It's funny how you can open up to complete strangers. I find that I do that a lot. I guess that out here in blogland we all do it. We pour ourselves out, heart and soul and the love and friendship that we get in return is overwhelming.

We left there with her words ringing in our ears and our hearts. "Hold her close and tell her that you love her." And that's what I say to all of you. I love you!

I'm joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound - for some wonderful Pink Saturday fun.
Stop by and think about joining us next week!

Yep, a sign of Spring at The Old Parsonage

After all the snow, the torrential downpours and damaging winds, there is finally sign of Spring at The Old Parsonage. I was out picking up sticks and accessing the damage from our most recent rain storm and spotted this beauty in the far flower bed. What a sight to behold! I know that it will be officially Spring on Saturday and here at The Old Parsonage there are definite signs!

A Wee Leprechaun came to visit

We had a surprise visitor at work yesterday. Ali is working at Applebees to earn some extra cash while she's home on Spring-break, and they all had to dress up to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Isn't she just the cutest thing.

She is the daughter of a very dear friend and such a joy! She just emanates happiness and warmth wherever she goes.

Frozen Charlottes at The Old Parsonage

Thank so much to everyone who stopped by and sent their well wishes. I'm still not feeling 100%, but I am definitely feeling much better.

I bought these wonderful Frozen Charlottes from Karla at Karla's Cottage.

According to Wikipedia Frozen Charlotte is a name used to describe a specific form of china doll made from ca. 1850 to ca. 1920. The Frozen Charlotte doll is made in the form of a standing, naked figure moulded all in one piece. These dolls may also be seen described as pillar dolls, solid chinas or bathing babies^[1]. The dolls ranged in size from under an inch to 18 inches plus. The smallest dolls were sometimes used as charms in Christmas puddings^[1]. Smaller sizes were very popular for putting in doll's houses. Occasionally versions are seen with a glazed china front and an unglazed stoneware back. This enabled the doll to float on its back when placed in a bath^. Male dolls (identified by their boyish hairstyles) are called Frozen Charlies.

I didn't know the origin of the name and had to look it up, but what I did know is that I just had to buy some! My friend Bucky and I ordered them as soon as she offered them and she sold out within the 1st hour.

Not only were the dolls sent out right away, just look at the cute packaging. She carefully wrapped them in bubble wrap then inside an old page and tied it all up with a pretty pink silk ribbon and added a little charm. I read Karla's blog daily like a magazine. She shares the most beautiful photos of her home and her sweet granddaughter Sugar Wings. And talk about a creative gem - Karla is fantastic. She's the one who hosted our Alice Tag Book Swap, Which she said should be arriving any day. Can't wait to see those!

Now that I'm feeling a little better, I can't wait to get back to my crafting and to visiting with all of you my sweet friends.

Wondering where I've been?

"nuff said!

I won I won

I won a giveaway from Birdcages and Butterflies! Annie makes the most beautiful jewelry and I was one of the lucky winners from her recent giveaway. Can you see the sma,l perfectly pink stones dangling from the silver ear bobs? I immediately wore them to work and everyone agreed that they are just amazing! Thanks Annie!! Be sure to pop on over to her blog, she'll wow you with all of her creativity!
I am once again joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound - for some wonderful Pink Saturday fun.

Berry Baskets at The Old Parsonage

On a recent trip to a local junk store I found these great old berry baskets. They are small enough to use as mini-Easter baskets. I'm thinking I'll fill them with small loaves of bread, hot-cross buns or homemade chocolates (peanut butter and coconut cream eggs, etc).


I will of course fill them with other treats as well, for my sweet daughter's-in-love and nieces. Everyone will be here for Easter dinner and I'd like to have a "basket" at every place setting.


Do you have any suggestions? Is anyone else planning for Easter? I"m going to get out my Spring and Easter decorations this weekend. They are predicting temps in the 50's - woo whoo do the HapPY DaNCe!!!

Alice Tag Swap

I finally finished my tags for Karla's Cottage Alice Tag Swap.


I just need to package them up and send them off.


I'm a little nervous as this is my first swap ever and, well, you know how it is when you make something...your nervous how others will like it.


I created 6 different tags instead of making them all the same. I had more fun that way!


I can't wait to see what others have made!

Well, as they say, "I'm late, I'm late"...gotta get ready for work! Enjoy your day!