Peter Kevin works for a company that still gives its employees Good Friday off.  It's rare in our country for that to happen.  While Easter is a holiday (and recognizable by the candy and bunny shaped decorations all over) it's not as widely celebrated in the secular community as Christmas. 

I took Friday off and I left early Thursday after the health and wellness fair.  Kate and I set up a table and once again spread the fiber word.  She is such a good teacher.  We sent several folks off with needles, yarn, instructions and directions to my office if they had any questions in the future.  There were a lot of folks at the fair and I think it was a success. 

I ended up taking a nap when we got home.  Allergy season is in full bloom (pun intended) and my head was full.  We spent yesterday running errands.  Pk bought a printer/scanner to replace the very old and mostly non-functioning one we had.  We also decided to replace the 25 year old KitchenAid mixer that was still working but has lost its lowest two speeds (and sends flour shooting all around in a gusher when you turn it on necessitating covering the whole thing with a towel to keep flour from all the kitchen surfaces) with a new one.  It's down on the counter now waiting to make babka with me.  And cheesecake.  I have an unnatural love for this particular kitchen appliance.

We also did the grocery shopping and put away all of the food.  In support of our local firemen, we bought Easter flowers.  Lovely tulips and hyacinths and some daffodils which are all blooming downstairs right this minute.  I have a feeling that's why I woke up this morning sneezing my head off with a nose that is running like a faucet.  Either that or I have a cold.  It doesn't matter.  I took some antihistamine and it's not working so I'll just carry a box of tissues around with me as I clean and cook for tomorrow. I've never had a reaction to flowers like this before.  What a pita.

It's very still here at the moment.  The stillness that precedes a storm.  Not a leaf is moving and the birds are quiet.  It's eerie and fascinating.  We are forecasted to get rain and I think it's coming. 

I have potato salad to make and beans to season and put into the crockpot and some babka and cheesecake to bake.  You'd think we were having a housefull  but it'll only be Elanor, Peter Kevin and I.  I think Kate and Patrick are going to Emily's for dinner.  Easter dinner was never one of those big "have to get home" dinners.  This is the first year without Aunt Joan and I suppose I should have invited my cousin to dinner but I didn't think of it.  I've been preoccupied by all the other family stresses and Cheryl got forgotten.  I'll call her tomorrow and make sure she's ok.  She'll be spending the day with her friend Walter (whom Emily calls the "beigest person I know") so she won't be alone.

Cooking is like knitting for me.  Therapy of a sort.  I like to cook and I plan to set the table with china and silver for dinner tomorrow even if it's only three of us.  We should celebrate life and spring and renewal.  We're waiting to hear what form of memorial is being planned for Mandy.  There was some talk of a memorial at the school where she taught and gave so much of herself.  I think that would be lovely. 

I do have some photos to share but they're still in the camera which is in my purse which is downstairs.  Yes, I am that lazy.  Sorry.  I'll share them later in the week. 

When I can put down the tissues and stop blowing my nose.

If Easter is your holiday, then I wish you a joyous Easter .  If not, then have a wonderous April weekend.