Ostara Blessings

This weekend flewwwww by!  Friday when I got home, it was absolutely gorgeous and sunny outside and both kiddos were napping, so I threw on some old shorts and headed outside.  Our backyard has a flooding problem, so it is still very wet and muddy, but darn if that's going to keep me inside.  I picked up all the downed limbs from the tree that hangs over our backyard and bundled them up neatly, de-pooped the yard, and attempted to turn the compost in our heap.  You may remember my little homemade bin - 

The Mister kept telling me I shouldn't keep adding to it over the winter (he who has never cracked a book about composting) - well, glad I didn't listen to him!  The first shovelful revealed beautiful, rich compost absolutely filthy with worms and other little buggies.  I was so happy!  However, turning the compost is no small feat, and I think I need one of these - 

Mooch and Butterbean joined me and we played outside, getting unbelievably filthy, until the sun went down, then decided to properly end the day we needed a fire.  The Mister was dispatched for s'more supplies, and we burnt a lot of the white pine roping we used as decorations for Yule.  It smelled amazing and when it burns it's beautiful, although Mister wasn't too happy with the amount of ash it sent up.  
Speaking of the Mister, apparently he reads my blog - because Saturday morning he woke up and announced he was going to power wash the house.  We have cream colored vinyl siding and when it's dirty it looks awful.  I rewarded him with one of his favorites, mini turkey burgers with homemade sweet potato fries.
All in all, we ate way too much and took full advantage of the spring sunshine.  My idea of a perfect weekend.

 Did you all get out to see the SuperMoon?   Butterbean and I went out before she went to bed (she's a moon baby, just like me).  She pointed up and yelled, "'Night moon!  I love you!"  
I pulled out the girls plastic Eostre eggs this weekend and we had several egg hunts around the house.  They had so much fun!  Tonight we are going to blow out eggs and experiment with dyeing them using natural dyes (beet juice, blueberry juice, onion skins, and spinach juice)  I also came across all of our dyed eggs from past years this weekend, I can never bear to throw them in the compost bin.  My brainstorm was, I want to make a wreath out of them, albeit a delicate one.   We will see how this pans out, and I promise to be a good girl (no I don't) and take pictures.  Every year on the night we blow out eggs we make a big quiche with the eggs.  Here is my favorite recipe my dad handed down to me :

Crust -

1 1/4 c flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 c shortening (or butter)

4 Tb cold water

Preheat oven to 375.  Add the flour, salt and shortening to a food processor and pulse until combined.  Sprinkle with water and pulse until mixture thickens.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead, then roll out to a circle and   fit into pie pan.  Prick all over with fork and bake until brown, about 20 mins.

Custard - 

4-5 eggs

1 c milk (buttermilk is extra yummy, if you have any leftover)

2 Tb flour

salt, nutmeg, and cayenne to taste

freshly chopped chives and dill

(optional fillings - mushroom, cheese, ham, spinach, caramelized onions)

Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl, pour into baked pie crust.  Cover edges of pie crust with tin foil, then bake quiche at 400 for 1 hour, or until center is set when you nudge the pan.

Ostara blessings to all of you!