A Mix of Random Items

Daylight savings time starts tonight.  We always change the clocks on Saturday morning so we have the weekend to get used to it.  It's easy when there isn't anywhere special we need to be.  More difficult when we have to be somewhere at a particular time.

I'm writing this at 10:30 and look what the clock on my desk says. 

Just finished a great, engrossing book.  "War Brides" by Helen Bryan.

[I read another book that she wrote after this one that wasn't quite as good: "The Sisterhood".]

If you like historical fiction, you'll like this one.

My husband has started drinking probiotic drinks because he read its good for digestion.  The only one I like so far is mango coconut.  It definitely is an acquired taste because of the fermenting.  We can only find these at Whole Foods.

For Christmas I got a bonsai jade plant.  I have trouble keeping it moist.  The soil has a crust on it so the water rolls off if I pour too fast.  Today I plan to replace the soil with new soil.

With Spring on its way time to pull out the psyanka eggs.  I bought some jumbo sized eggs to make some more decorated ones.  Maybe today.

My husband finished the oil painting he has been working on since we moved to our two bedroom apartment.  He posted about it on his blog this morning.  Check it out and leave him a comment.  He will be thrilled.

Ukrainian Eggs or Pysanky

I promised several internet friends I would post photos of the eggs I have been decorating, called pysanka.  My daughter, Emily (Greens and Jeans) introduced me to them last Easter time.  This year I purchased my own supplies from the Ukrainian Gift Shop and have had some fun.

Above and below are the six I've made so far.  I did have a seventh but when I pumped out the innards the side of the shell gave way.  It must have had a crack I didn't see.

Closeups of some of this year's below.

Here's a bowl of the new ones, last year's and some other decorated eggs.

Three of last year's.  The two on the left were done by daughter, Sarah.

If you've never tried these, it is quite a lot of fun. What you do is paint with wax using tiny tools that you heat and collect the wax in.  Wherever the wax is will stay the color you have waxed over.  So where you see white was the first coating of wax.  You then place it in the color to dye and then wax over whatever you want to be that color. You continue progressing from lightest colors to darkest colors.  Once everything is done you place it in a candle flame and melt the wax off.  It's amazing to see your design appear.  The final step is to pump out the egg so you are just left with the shell.  Even with shaky hands like mine you can make some neat designs!  

Happy Easter in three weeks!