Naturally dyed Easter eggs, the Coronation invitation, French Blooms and more on weekend meanderings.
Good Saturday morning friends! Today I am joining Kim and Juliet for weekend meanderings, our weekly series of things that caught our eye and piqued our interest.
Did you have a good week? It’s been cold and rainy the last few days, it feels a bit like Fall. I think it is the last hurrah or winter before the heat of spring. I’ve been busy this week with projects around the house.
You may remember a few weeks ago on weekend meanderings I mentioned turning the grass/weeds in the center island of our circle drive into a wildlife meadow? Yesterday morning my husband and I rented a tiller and between the rain showers we tilled the circle. Then we sowed the seeds and hopefully in a few weeks there will be lupines, zinnia, cosmos, and lots of other wildflowers, I cannot wait to watch them grow! Cross your fingers that the deer won’t eat them all.
It’s been a week/month of celebrations, Ramadan, Passover and tomorrow Easter. Will you be hosting family and friends? We will be having lunch with my sister-in-law and my niece and nephew, my brother sadly is out of town. The traditional family favorites will be served, bourbon glazed ham, au gratin potatoes, roasted carrots and homemade rolls along with copious amounts of chocolate candy.
Ok, let’s get to the good stuff!
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Natural Dye Blue Easter Eggs
Do you dye Easter eggs? In my opinion everyone is a kid at the holidays and Easter is no exception. We eats lots of hard boiled eggs and they seem even more tasty when they are colored. In the past I have used the colored egg kits but this year I went all natural.
There were grand plans for multiple colors or yellow, pin and blue but in the end I only had time for the blue. It could not be more simple, add red cabbage to a pot of water, add a little vinegar, boil for 30 minutes and voila you have colored dye.
If you want to make your own natural dye for your Easter eggs Martha Stewart has a great tutorial, using red cabbage(like me), onion skins, turmeric or beets.
Note: I used the cold method and some of the eggs had to sit for several hours in the dye to get this dark.
Coronation Invitation
Fans of the Royal family did you see the invitation of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla? It was released this week and it is colorful, beautiful and filled with symbolism.
Details of the Coronation Invitation
Here are a few details about the invitation you might enjoy.
The invitation was designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator whose work is inspired by the chivalric themes of Arthurian legend.
Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign. The shape of the Green Man, crowned in natural foliage, is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom.
The British wildflower meadow bordering the invitation features lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses, bluebells, and a sprig of rosemary for remembrance, together with wildlife including a bee, a butterfly, a ladybird, a wren and a robin. Flowers appear in groupings of three, signifying The King becoming the third monarch of his name.
A lion, a unicorn and a boar – taken from the coats of arms of the Monarch and Her Majesty’s father, Major Bruce Shand – can be seen amongst the flowers. Her Majesty’s arms are now enclosed by the Garter, following her installation as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter last summer.
Coronation Details
You can learn more about the Coronation which will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May 2023 by reading Coronation Weekend Details.
If you are celebrating the coronation with a party or simply want a keepsake you can purchase your own copy of the invitation.
Learn more about the artist, Andrew Jamieson, and his work on this site.
Jane Austen
Steventon House, the Hampshire house where Jane Austen wrote Pride & Prejudice is up for sale.
This beautiful house is on the the market for 8.5 million pounds just in case you were wondering or wanted to own a little piece of history.
It is on the site of the Rectory where Jane lived with her family from 1775-1801. Although the original rectory no longer exists Steventon house was built by Jane’s older brother Edward Austen. And is believed to be where Austen wrote three out of her seven finished novels – Sense and Sensibility(1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Northanger Abbey (1817).
You can see more of the house and gardens here.
French Blooms
Do you think the Universe sends you signs? I am not sure but this week I felt like something or someone(s) was telling me to take a look at the book, French Blooms!
Two of my favorite bloggers, Sharon Santoni and Bettie Pardee wrote posts this week sharing this beautiful book by Sandra Sigman. In fact many of the photos for the book were taken at Sharons’ house and in her garden in France. She also wrote the forward to the book!
With recommendations from two gardening greats I could not resist and should be receiving my copy soon.
You can see and read more about French Blooms on My Private Newport and on My French Country Home.
Links
I love the look of this nostalgic Easter celebration.
How to make a small closet look amazing with Ikea bookcases
The insider’s guide to an ancient Paris market
The life and work of iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
Women now dominate the book business. Why there and not other creative industries?
Love this! 76-Year-Old Fashion Influencer Defies Expectations by Wearing Whatever She Wants
The Best New Crime Shows Coming Out This Month
Gardening friends, are you using Neem Oil to take care of mildew, etc? It can suffocate pollinators, so please consider alternatives and avoid it outside.
Spring Fashion
I am a dress person, I like to grab one off the hanger, put on a pair of shoes or sandals and I am ready for the day or night. Over the last 2 weeks I purchased a few dresses, including this black and white dress. I love it! It reminds me a little of the Farm Rio dress I shared in this collage. It fits beautifully and is on sale!
Spring Fashion Wish List
Speaking of spring did you check out the wish lists of Cindy, Mary Ann, Annie, Brenda and Eugenia? There are so many beautiful pieces and ideas to add to your Spring and summer wardrobe.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
This week on the blog I shared The Seamstress of Sardinia, my favorites book that I have read in a long, long time. Add it to your summer reading list!
As well as my Easter tablescape, using vintage finds, everyday dishes and Easter candy accents. I also shared two spring outfits.
pants//sweater//shoes//bag//earrings//t-shirt//perfume
blue dress//dark blue wedge shoes//stripe sandals//bag//glasses//nail polish//perfume//bracelet
And last but not least I shared this scrumptious carrot cake, along with a spring pea pasta, homemade crescent rolls, books, links and more on Friday Favorites.
THAT’S IT
I hope that you enjoyed meandering with me this morning. If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
Have a very happy Easter and a lovely weekend.
When you leave here don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
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Elizabeth, I am excited for you to have your circle filled with flowers! You have to share the progress! Hope the weather cooperates. I looked back and a year ago, I had all kind of pretty flowers outside and wisteria blooming and this year it’s awful as we have had so much rain and cold. I was hoping to go get some flowers to just drop in my baskets on the porch and cheer things up. We defiantly aren’t having Easter outdoors as we have done many years. I love your table. So pretty with the mix of vintage and floral things! I need to get some chocolates today too.
The blue Easter eggs are gorgeous. LOVE the tone! I would feel much better about eating them too being all natural. Who knew cabbage could impart the prettiest colors?
Thank you for sharing the Austen House. I adore anything English country homes and especially anything Jane related. I would buy that place in an instant if I could. The views and kitchen are so good! I can imagine being a writer and living there..
I’ve been loving your outfit collages. That black floral dress- well both, are so good. Love the blue sandals too.
Have the best Easter weekend. xo
Hello!
Thank you for all of the work that you put into your blog. In my humble opinion it is the best there is. So many recipes, articles, clothes, gardening, decorating ideas as well as plan old good advice. I appreciate you!
Thank you Shirley, that is very kind of you to say.
We are planting an area with flowers too. I grew up with naturally colored Easter Eggs, so fun! Hope your Resurrection Sunday is filled with all good things.
Happy Easter Sweetie, I hope you have a wonderful day surrounded by love and family!
We had an ice storm this week.
Happy Easter William! The weather has been so strange this year.
Elizabeth … I’m so excited to see your wildflower circle come to life. Nothing could be prettier. The Coronation invitation took me by surprise. So cheerful and colorful … and happy. I’m not sure what I was expecting, I guess something more formal and restrained. This is really fun and it reminded me of the Halcyon Days x Highgrove collaboration. I saw the JANE AUSTEN house too … and thought how magnificent. Wouldn’t a JANE AUSTEN tour (why does this keep capitalizing?!!!) of England be the most fabulous thing? I’m sure there must be such a thing … if not we should spearhead it! Hope you had a wonderful Easter and Masters weekend. It finally felt like spring here … and was quite warm today. Spring has sprung! xo