Friday Favorites from A Modern Homestead, Delish, Carlsbad Cravings and More

Easter dinner menu ideas, book recommendations, spring fashion finds and more this week on Friday Favorites.

 

Good Friday morning my friends and a very happy April fools day to you. Today is my late grandmother’s birthday, she was a twin and had 13 brothers and sisters(including her twin). My grandmother went on to have 10 children and her twin became a nun. Both ladies led very interesting lives but that is a story for another day.

Spring is here…I think. The temperatures are all over the place 33-37 in the morning and 69-75 in the afternoon. Rain, hail, high winds and weather warnings have also made an appearance. Thankfully we did not get any snow as some of you did. I am not ready for summer but now that I have my plants in their pots and bulbs in the ground I am ready to say goodby to winter. What about you, how was the weather in your neck of the woods this week?

Friday Favorites

Here are the articles, recipes, books and finds that piqued my interest the past week.

Food

I realize Easter is still a couple of weeks away but I am already planning my Easter dinner menu so I though I would share a few things I am adding to my list so far. Ham is always on the menu, it is the one time of the year that we eat it. This year I am going to make Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Ham, and I think this recipe sounds delicious!

Is there anything better than cheesy potatoes to accompany your Easter ham?

Do you make hot cross buns at Easter? Me too but this year I am going to make this Hot Cross Bun Loaf instead. You might also enjoy these double chocolate hot cross buns.

Cinnamon rolls are a favorite for holiday brunches but have you ever made Almond Sweet Rolls? They are scrumptious and they will also be gracing the breakfast table.

Don’t forget to get the supplies to make these surprise inside carrots, you can fill them with M&M’s, chocolates or mini-cookies.

If you need a few more ideas for Easter dinner check out my Easter Pinterest Board.

Interesting Articles

Here are a few of the articles that I read this week that I thought you might enjoy as well, they run the gamut from serious to whimsical, self-help to informational.

The Most Beautiful Place in Every U.S. State

In Ukraine, People With Disabilities Cannot Escape the Terrors of War

Is It Cheaper to Have a Bath or a Shower? Your Energy Questions Answered

Here’s How  To Figure Out Why You’re So Grumpy

The fountain of youth hasn’t been found — but swimming may come close

Why Community Matters So Much — and How to Find Yours

Pullman Women at Work: From Gilded Age to Atomic Age

Setting Priorities for Managing Your Time

What Lies Beneath: The internet is decaying all around us

That smiling LinkedIn profile face might be a computer-generated fake

A Look Back At Truman Capote’s Iconic Coterie Of High Society Swans

The 10 Most Shocking Moments in Oscars History

48 Oscar Nominated Movies You Can Screen Right Now

If you are a fan of Hollywood here are The 125 Best Books About Hollywood

Why Are So Many Romances Set in the Regency Period?

Photographer Explores the Beauty and Decay of Abandoned Churches in Italy

How an Exiled Mexican President Accidentally Invented Chewing Gum

Do You Really Need to Bake With a Scale?

If you are a sprinkles fan and want to know a little more about them this article in Taste is very interesting.

Books

This week several of the books I am reading are about gardening. I added one that is also great for your kids or grandkids and last but not least an easy read that I finished last night.

The Curious Gardner

In The Curious Gardener, Anna Pavord brings together in 12 chapters – one from each month of the year – 72 pieces on all aspects of gardening.

From what to do in each month and how to get the best from flowers, plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables, through reflections on the weather, soil, the English landscape and favourite old gardening clothes, to office greenery, spring in New York, waterfalls, Derek Jarman and garden design, Anna Pavord always has something interesting to say and says it with great style and candour.

The perfect book to guide you through the gardening year and, on days when the weather keeps the most courageous gardener indoors, the perfect book to curl up with beside the fire.

Master the Art of Garden Design

In Master the Art of Garden Design, here is just a fraction of what you will discover:

• The surprising financial benefits of landscaping your garden
• How to plan for a garden landscape project (and the decisive factors you need to take into consideration)
• 5 landscape design principles to follow that will guide you on creating a visually appealing environment
• How you can alter the mood and vibe of your garden — simply by choosing the right colors
• The man-made elements in a garden that add both style and function to your landscape
• Money-saving tips that keep you from overspending when creating and maintaining your garden
• Clever design tricks to create the illusion of space in a small and crowded outdoor area
• How to use plants to help you resolve the problems you’re experiencing in your yard

And much more.

Florette

When Mae’s family moves to a new home, she wishes she could bring her garden with her. She’ll miss the apple trees, the daffodils, and chasing butterflies in the wavy grass. But there’s no room for a garden in the city. Or is there?

Mae’s story, gorgeously illustrated in watercolor, is a celebration of friendship, resilience in the face of change, and the magic of the natural world.

Reluctantly Home

Pip Appleby seems to have it all, with her prestigious job as a human rights lawyer and her enviable London home. But then a tragic accident stops her life in its tracks, and in an instant everything changes. Retreating to her family’s rural farm and the humble origins she has been trying to hide, Pip is haunted by what she has done.

When she discovers the diary of actress Evelyn Mountcastle in a box of old books, Pip revels in the opportunity to lose herself in someone else’s life rather than focus on the disaster that is her own. But soon she sees parallels—Evelyn’s life was also beset by tragedy, and, like Pip, she returned to Southwold under a dark cloud.

When Pip and Evelyn’s paths cross in real life they slowly begin to reveal the hidden stories that are holding them back. Can they help each other forgive what happened in the past and, perhaps, find happiness in the future?

For more book suggestions check out “My Bookshop”

Finds

Emma Bridgewater Bunny Bowl, I am a huge fan of Emma Bridgewater and love the spring pieces.

Isn’t this needle felted Easter bunny with carrots adorable? If you want to learn more about needle felting check out one of my favorite artists Gretel Parker.  Etsy is an amazing resource for felted artists from around the world, if you are searching for the perfect Easter garland there are some beautiful pieces here. 

Country Garden and Bird Dress, this vintage dress is perfect for summer.

White sneakers are my “go to” comfy casual shoe in the summer.

That is it for this week my friends, I hope that you found something to make, something to read and maybe even something to share with friends. As always, if you read, made or did anything that you think we might enjoy please leave it in the comments.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend and don’t forget to stop by tomorrow when I will be joining my friends Kim of Northern California Style and Juliet of Make Mine a Spritzer  for our weekend meanderings.

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