The piano

Lets remember where we started from.

Paint smeared, scuffed, uneven stain, drippy finish.

Old, chipped, yellowed keys. Faded blacks.

Veneer chipping off in places.

And now......

Ісус воскрес!

In Ukraine there is a lovely traditions that on Easter, instead of greeting people with, "hello", you exclaim, "Jesus Resurrected!" And the people answer back, "He Truly Resurrected!" It was hands down my favorite day in Ukraine. It's bigger than Christmas. People celebrate for days.

I feel to exclaim today that Christ is alive. I feel the joy of it in my heart.

We ate a delicious and way too big dinner with my Russian friend today. We had all my favorite Ukrainian foods: borscht, sourdough rye bread, cheese blintzes, mashed potato crepes, cabbage rolls, potato salad, deviled eggs, torte, and hibiscus tea. I was too busy eating to take pictures but it was delicious. I did take a picture of the Paska - the traditional Easter bread. It's the first time I made it and my husband and kids love it, so I think it turned out.

I am also including this funny and nothing-to-do-with-Easter video of Maggie. She wanted me to take a movie of her dancing, but actually ended up just spinning. I laugh till I cry every time.

Just relaxing

Maggie and I ate fresh-out-of-the-oven bread with blackberry jam out in the cheerful sunlight.

I love jam faces.

My little seedlings are doing nicely. Hopefully they'll make beautiful flowers and vegetables.

I have to guard them from Lucy. This is one of the lucky sunflowers I saved from her leaf plucking tirade.

I finished the yellow table. And it did pick me up.