Preparing for Easter

Today, I started preparing for Easter in earnest. I can be forgiven for this because Easter in our house is celebrated according to the Julian calendar, i.e. this coming Sunday. I bought new yeast for Igor's Easter bread because every year he worries about the dough not rising. I was also psyched to find Peeps. I had to go to three pharmacies, but got the last box of chicks; there were tons of bunnies. I was bummed that the Peeps are hot pink, but Peeps are Peeps.

This is really the first time I've looked at Easter paraphenalia, and I'm really shocked (though now surprised) how commercial the holiday is. I could buy a Thomas the Tank Engine Easter basket, complete with candy. I don't need baskets, however. I would've used the baskets we use for gathering mushrooms, but my mom bought the boys cloth Easter baskets this year: Spiderman for Nikita (makes a great helmet), and a Tonka truck for Ivan. Who would've thought of Tonka for Easter? Well, at least the baskets are cloth, and could be used for Halloween.

I was fascinated to see the edible Easter grass from Germany (in pink or green), but think I'll use yarn instead. I even have the right color (Cascade 220 in Lime Heather), thanks to the leftover yarn from my Sophie bag. The plastic eggs were also tempting - I don't remember looking for them in Easter egg hunts. But because I try to avoid plastic, I bought these painted wooden eggs for next year. For now, we'll make do with our naturally dyed eggs, Russian style. I've been collecting onion skins for the past few weeks.

As for candy, we have chocolates my mom bought, and the Peeps I bought. Would like to buy some Cadbury cream eggs, even though I'm sure I'll now find them sickeningly sweet. Still have to get Jelly Belly beans. Maybe next year, I'll consider buying chocolate molds to make my own candies because I don't like the chocolate they use for Easter candy.