Easter Memories and more

 I think back to my childhood living in the beginning of Warren Michigan.  We lived on a street that was one of the first ones developed in the neighborhood before there was a freeway,  Our street Kelsey Ave butted up to the 2 lane road, 11 Mile Road.  All the houses basically look the same with matching roof lines and houses all built the same distance from the street and all of red brick.  The driveways were all positioned the same.  Ours had three bedrooms on the same floor with and unfinished basement.  Family rooms had not yet been invented so the living room was the place where you lived, entertained, watched the 3 channel TV and decorated the Christmas tree. 

Easter started out the same as for most.  We located our baskets and had a little candy.  We got dressed up and went to Mass.  Dad put on his coat and tie and Mom wore lovely dress with heels.  We would drive off to church which was in the neighborhood really within walking distance.  We would sit through the rituals and the ceremonies of the Mass, maybe receive Communion and headed home.  Dad would rest on the couch and maybe turn on the TV and mom would commence to make the Easter dinner.  It was generally ham and mashed potatoes and a few vegetables.  Always there was some kind of bread, usually biscuits or rolls.  I remember the heat of the kitchen and her bustling around.  She made the cherry pie the day before and it rested in the oven only to be remove for the ham.  The smell of the ham cooking is my fondest Easter memory.  I my mind, I can still absorb it thru my nostrils.  It filled the whole house and was quite good but I could live on the delicious odor.

Harry and Leonard, Mom's brothers and their families arrived for dinner later.  Grownups sat the the dining table and us kids were at TV trays or the old card table. I'm sure there was playing around but I do not remember it.  This was a rather quiet bunch.  Dad would  good naturedly chide Uncle Harry for eating too much ham and would say " Dorothy cut Harry off!  He loved his ham.  Sadly all that is left of these siblings is Len and he is doing well.

Our post Covid? dinner was a little different with Andrew, his kids, Katey and Shannon. We had a collection of dishes that included polish sausage with mushrooms and onions simmered in Sweet Baby Rays  all day in the crockpot.  This is a hit with the grandkids. Judy made our squash casserole. I made faro salad and Andrew brought a delicious sweet potato pie that was the real highlight for me.  All took home leftovers and the frig was emptied out.  Because it was such a lovely day, I took Shannon on a long walk in the neighborhood with the Alan Jackson music blaring from my phone and her singing along. We received pictures of our Grand Rapids kids enjoying their dinosaur gift and was most pleased it arrived on time.  After dinner we went to the playground for kids and adults swinging on the swings and running around. It was a really nice day.

Was mostly a TV watching vegetable for Monday then fully energized and went to the West Bloomfield nature trail with Janine yesterday.  It was a truly spectacular day and my first foray into shorts showing off my white pasty legs.  It was great fun and I had no slips or trips.  Being outside in the sunshine is one of the simple pleasures that cannot be denied.  Those around here that chose to stay inside mulling over in their appointments are wasting the beauty of the day.  

Today will be another warm outside day.  Going to Katey's with Harry to take he and Apollo to the dog park they have in the complex.  We turn them loose and they chase each other till they drop.

Well that's about it for today.

Enjoy your self and get outside if your weather is good.

stay safe

get your shot if you need to

all for now