Something Sweet - Garden Cake

Looking at this photograph makes us happy; imagine having a piece of it. And really, if you're pressed for time or not inclined to bake, why not buy a plain cake & decorate it? Because that is the really fun part. Here's another beautiful cake, especially if you have rose petals to spare. (Hint: you can buy them at Whole Foods). Mimi Thorisson's Manger is more than sweets, though; it's just beautiful & you should visit.

ciao/xx

(photograph by Manger)

May Flowers

It's time to pop some flowers into pots again; this is especially important if you don't have a garden. The idea of no flowers on a daily basis...shudder. If you're in Washington, DC, stop by the National Cathedral Flower Mart this Friday or Saturday. It's a lot of fun, you can purchase flowers, herbs, & more & poceeds are used to maintain the beautiful grounds & gardens.

Giulia would love to attend, especially since her nickname derives from this very flower festival. Alas, she is bound to be disappointed (again) this year. However, her obedient servant will purchase some geraniums in her honor; also on the menu: pansies & violas.

If you're helping children make Mother's Day cards or gifts & have a steady supply of pansies from over-wintering, here are some easy pansy projects.

PS: People have asked about the other plants in the photograph. Yes, that's lavender. Here's a nice basket for sale.

ciao/xo

(photograph by Liivia Sirola)

Happy Holiday Weekend

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, whatever you celebrate. If it's spring, that's good enough for us. We dye eggs, light candles, make a more elaborate recipe than usual (often baking, not our strongest suit), walk through blooming DC, watch movies. Who knows? Maybe this year we'll add burning sage & chants to the list in the interest of inter-religious pluralism. Have fun!

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

(The charming Sir Hopsalot available from Forest Blue)

Passover Prep (for Guests)

You're thinking, "It's a little late for that. It starts in a few hours." Calm down, this is for Passover guests, who may not have been to a Passover seder before (or it's been awhile). Not a lot of our fellow bloggers even realized it's Passover week. Everyone has (or will) say, "Happy Easter, if you celebrate." Then, while traipsing about town on pre-Easter errands, GG's editor overheard someone worry about going to his first Passover.

This is last-minute but a search brought up 3 good links:

Passover 101

Top 10 Seder Faux Pas via Gourmet

A Very Shiksa Seder by funny Ellen Snortland

Spiff up, be on time, take some flowers. Smile. Have fun. It's not that hard, peeps.

xoxo/GG

(photograph via Martha Stewart)

Easter Eggs, Naturally

Poke around the fridge & pantry before you replenish egg dyes this year. You just might have everything you need on hand or you can add items to this week's market list.

Here at GG, we're going to try some new-to-us natural dyes. We do use beets & onion skins but Two Men and a Little Farm have inspired us with their terrific chart of multiple possibilities. (TheKitchn also has a good post with concise instructions & photographs.)

It's always fun to hop over to Martha Stewart's site; no one else has such a round-up for holidays & Easter is no exception, including last-minute ideas.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via Two Men and a Little Farm)

Let's Go Fly a Kite

If you're in the DC-area, the Blossom Kite Festival is tomorrow. Whether you plan to fly a kite or watch, we can tell you from experience that it is a beautiful sight (like this photograph).

Wherever you live, perhaps you'd like to make your own kite. And do you remember this song? It's National Kite Month starting tomorrow. Have fun!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Andrew/Cuba Gallery)

Flower Power

Whether you wear flowers on your head or elsewhere, florals are big this season. GG's editor suppresses a giggle, though, at breathless declarations that flowers are making a comeback. Really? Where did they go?

The influence of Mad Men is also everywhere in style & fashion this spring & will continue as the fifth season airs here in the States. There are plenty of beautiful pale lipsticks available for those tired of red lips or who are convinced (incorrectly) that they cannot wear any shade of red. Megan Draper wore Nars Belle de Jour in Sunday's MM premiere. Bella. If that is too expensive, Revlon has some great pale shades. (For those wanting an eyeliner tutorial, here's one. It really is not difficult.) Finally, a short post with thoughtful comments on mod fashions in "A Little Kiss."

ciao-meow/GGCM

(Jean Shrimpton by Bert Stern)

Hatch Hope for Spring

The Easter & Passover holidays will be here before you know it. In fact, they're earlier this year than we thought. This is quite possibly because we forgot to buy 2012 wall calenders & are making do with Sharpie-scrawling over last year's. Oops.

For alternative gifts & cute free Easter cards, visit Heifer International's Hatch Hope campaign. We include Passover, not only in the spirit of inclusion but because eggs are a significant part of the Passover seder plate, too.

No one's saying not to buy chocolate & other gifts for baskets (well, we're not!), but for a little bit extra (or buying a bit less) you can make the gift of a lifetime for a family.

ciao-meow/GG's editor

(vintage illustration via Agence Eureka)

Persian Buttercups

We discovered today that ranunculus are also known as Persian Buttercups. The things you find out when you're supposed to be working:) But it does give us another forum to say Happy Spring, Happy Nowruz*to our Iranian (& those of Iranian descent) friends.

There is nothing quite as intoxicating as walking home with an armload of flowers. While not exactly an everyday luxury, ranunculus are a good value right now. Some ways to arrange them if you want fancier than a jam-jar-on-the-table (though that is really wonderful, too).

ciao-meow/GGCM

*also: Norouz, Norooz, or Noruz

(lovely photograph by Jessica Nichols)

Welcome, Spring

Whether you've had a difficult winter or not, how can you not be happy for spring to arrive? GG & her editor are both sneezing like mad but do we complain? (Why yes, yes we do. Mimph.) Anyway. While we try to get back to a regular schedule, here are some spring things we're up to today (& this week):

For the first time in 15 years (!) defrosted phyllo dough is in our fridge. Time to make something.

Spring poems

Pretty long spring skirts (especially the top photograph)

EarthSky's Tonight remains a favorite visit. Here's the poetic title for Saturday night.

A batch o' foster kittens has finally arrived at Charlene Butterbean's house.

A bald eagle cam (via Jennifer Ehle)

Teddy Bear Toast (for kids of all ages:)

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by i.Anton)

Sweet Paul's Spring

The spring 2012 issue of Sweet Paul is live today. As always, it's photographed beautifully with good ideas, recipes, tips & easy (not tacky, ahem) crafts. Of particular interest for those planning trips to Paris: 5 days, 10 meals by photographer Ellen Silverman.

You can download any (or all) of these 5 pretty computer wallpapers available on Paul's blog.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Alexandra Grablewski for Sweet Paul)

Have a Sweet Passover

A joyous holiday to our Jewish friends around the world. We're going to make this Toffee-Chocolate Matzoh recipe today. Yum.(Here's an article about the origins of "sweet Passover.")

ciao-shalom-meow/GG Central

(photograph via Martha Stewart)