Easter in England
Happy Easter (one day late!) My mom came into town last week and therefore celebrated Easter with us yesterday. We didn't have church (oddly) because there was an international church conference this weekend. So we spent the day home and in the village.
First the kids got their Easter baskets (mostly books since we have no room for things, but I can always squeeze in more books!) I didn't remember to get a picture until the kids had already opened their baskets, so Justin's is empty. Rest assured, he got a big stack of train books.
After breakfast (crepes, homemade "Nutella", whipped cream, and berries) the kids hunted for eggs in our yard (or garden, as it's called here.) They found all but one of the 53 we hid, and we found that last one later in the day. I thought for sure we'd lose at least half a dozen!
After the backyard egg hunt we rested awhile, and then walked to the village playground since the rain hadn't started yet. The kids' friend P from the village joined us, and showed the kids a secret fort that all the village kids play in when it's warmer. I asked about all the local kids, and P gave me the list of those who live here permanently. When I asked if she knew the kids who come on the weekends (because there is a large contingent in the Cotswolds of wealthy Londoners who own second homes here and come for weekends and holidays), she said, "No, I don't know them because they don't want to have much to do with us from the village. Too posh for us, I guess. And it's funny, b/c even though they aren't here much, all the biggest homes in the village belong to them." I imagine they'd all be friends if they had an extended time to play together, as the village kids are incredibly warm and welcoming, but it was an interesting conversation.
This same friend had invited the kids to an Easter party later in the day so after being introduced to all the secrets of the village fort, the kids came back home for lunch before heading out again to the party.
At the Easter party the kids decorated eggs with pens, and then they all went out to the cricket pitch to do an egg roll. They competed for speed and distance, and eventually everyone just tried to crack their eggs. Some of the eggs proved amazingly resilient, surviving even overhand throws. I think that shows how wet and springy (as in bouncy, not season-y) our ground is here these days.
We then went back to P's house to have a chocolate egg hunt and to have hot cross buns. I brought some apple cider donuts, because when I offered to bring something P said if there was something that was special and American I could bring it. I couldn't think of any particularly American Easter food to bring, so I brought a more general New England treat.
The party was a lovely chance for the kids to meet a few more of the kids from the village (along with a smattering of other kids from local schools.) They had a great time, and there was a mix of ages there.
We also learned that people don't usually dye eggs here. We dyed some on Saturday, and some of the moms at the party said they had done it when they were little, but now it has gone out of style. And egg hunts are typically done with chocolate eggs, rather than hard-boiled or plastic eggs like in America. They sell "egg hunt kits" in all the stores here, which as far as I can tell are just boxes of chocolate eggs, with one "golden egg" in each one that is bigger than the others.
After the party we came back and had dinner (slow cooker Moroccan lamb and couscous) and then drove my mom to the airport hotel so she could catch a morning flight Monday.
(Side note: Monday Muffins today were Apple-Cider-Donut-Muffins using our leftover ingredients from our Easter party donuts. The kids ranked them just below last week's orange-berry-cherry muffins. Aunt T, I recommend trying apple cider donut waffles if you haven't yet--just apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg, basically...)
First the kids got their Easter baskets (mostly books since we have no room for things, but I can always squeeze in more books!) I didn't remember to get a picture until the kids had already opened their baskets, so Justin's is empty. Rest assured, he got a big stack of train books.
After breakfast (crepes, homemade "Nutella", whipped cream, and berries) the kids hunted for eggs in our yard (or garden, as it's called here.) They found all but one of the 53 we hid, and we found that last one later in the day. I thought for sure we'd lose at least half a dozen!
After the backyard egg hunt we rested awhile, and then walked to the village playground since the rain hadn't started yet. The kids' friend P from the village joined us, and showed the kids a secret fort that all the village kids play in when it's warmer. I asked about all the local kids, and P gave me the list of those who live here permanently. When I asked if she knew the kids who come on the weekends (because there is a large contingent in the Cotswolds of wealthy Londoners who own second homes here and come for weekends and holidays), she said, "No, I don't know them because they don't want to have much to do with us from the village. Too posh for us, I guess. And it's funny, b/c even though they aren't here much, all the biggest homes in the village belong to them." I imagine they'd all be friends if they had an extended time to play together, as the village kids are incredibly warm and welcoming, but it was an interesting conversation.
This same friend had invited the kids to an Easter party later in the day so after being introduced to all the secrets of the village fort, the kids came back home for lunch before heading out again to the party.
At the Easter party the kids decorated eggs with pens, and then they all went out to the cricket pitch to do an egg roll. They competed for speed and distance, and eventually everyone just tried to crack their eggs. Some of the eggs proved amazingly resilient, surviving even overhand throws. I think that shows how wet and springy (as in bouncy, not season-y) our ground is here these days.
We then went back to P's house to have a chocolate egg hunt and to have hot cross buns. I brought some apple cider donuts, because when I offered to bring something P said if there was something that was special and American I could bring it. I couldn't think of any particularly American Easter food to bring, so I brought a more general New England treat.
The party was a lovely chance for the kids to meet a few more of the kids from the village (along with a smattering of other kids from local schools.) They had a great time, and there was a mix of ages there.
We also learned that people don't usually dye eggs here. We dyed some on Saturday, and some of the moms at the party said they had done it when they were little, but now it has gone out of style. And egg hunts are typically done with chocolate eggs, rather than hard-boiled or plastic eggs like in America. They sell "egg hunt kits" in all the stores here, which as far as I can tell are just boxes of chocolate eggs, with one "golden egg" in each one that is bigger than the others.
After the party we came back and had dinner (slow cooker Moroccan lamb and couscous) and then drove my mom to the airport hotel so she could catch a morning flight Monday.
(Side note: Monday Muffins today were Apple-Cider-Donut-Muffins using our leftover ingredients from our Easter party donuts. The kids ranked them just below last week's orange-berry-cherry muffins. Aunt T, I recommend trying apple cider donut waffles if you haven't yet--just apple cider, cinnamon and nutmeg, basically...)
Sounds like a fun day!
ReplyDeleteI’ve almost made apple cider waffles except using cut up apples without the cider. 🙂
We did not dye eggs this year but we each colored one egg and hid them for each other.
And we enjoyed grandma Amy’s nutrolls! Some day...on a Christmas or Easter, I’d love to be able to bake nutrolls with some of my sisters and nieces (nephews welcome too). While I like preparing them, I always feel a bit sad that I do it alone, knowing that for Amy and many people preparing holiday treats and meals is a group effort. I like imaging Gram Amy laughing with her sisters as they cooked and baked together. 🙂
Definitely try with cider! Tastes quite different than with cut apples. And use just a splash of nutmeg! And then let me know how it goes. Better yet, wait until I'm there and make them then :) It would be lovely to have a family nutroll-making party. Especially since my kids don't like it too much (although I bet they would with the raspberry filling...) so when I make them it feels like I'm doing a bunch of work for an under-appreciated product.
DeleteOk, will try the cider option.
DeleteYes, I understand how it’s nicer when one’s culinary projects have an appreciative audience. I didn’t like nutroll as a kid either but now I look forward to making and eating it each year.
And yes to someday having a gathering where we prepare sp3cial foods together.
Let me know how the cider waffles turn out!!
Delete