spring is here!

Now you can see why I've been lax in my postings lately. We have had absolutely gorgeous weather for spring break. Since we had to stay home for the two weeks off, I couldn't ask for better conditions! Yesterday, after a long walk with the dogs in the woods, we joined our neighbors for an Easter BBQ at their garden spot. This time I remembered my camera. We are dogsitting Biltmore - he belongs to another new couple who went to Barcelona for a few days (sigh).

These garden spaces are all over. People rent spaces from the owner (usually a Garden Club) sometimes for many years. Our neighbors have had their space for 10+ years! When they make improvements, the next person to rent the space must pay for them. A plus or minus, depending on how you look at it - Garden Clubs have many rules or covenents (of course). They dictate things like how many apple trees you must have in your space, how many potatoes you must grow per season, etc. These are nice hobbies/getaways for people who live in apartments all their lives!

All the dogs cluster around Frau Szebesta for their BBQ treat. Herr Szebesta grilled chicken especially for them (no marinate). After it cooled sufficiently, they took turns feeding it to the attentively awaiting crowd. No one pushed, shoved, or growled!! Zizou is on the left, then Yorkie, Mikey, and Biltmore. We were busy eating meat nearby - I told Murilo that Erich would fit in well in Brazil (meat, meat, and more meat).

Sehr schon! Very beautiful!

Interesting facts: The English name for the festival of Easter derives from the Germanic word Eostre. The Saxons had a spring goddess called Eostre, whose feast was held on the Vernal Equinox, around 21 March. Her animal was the spring hare. Pope Gregory the Great ordered his missionaries to use old religious sites and festivals, and absorb them into Christian rituals where possible. The Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Christ was ideally suited to be merged with the Pagan feast of Eostre, and many of the traditions were adopted into the Christian festivities. The egg is seen as symbolic of the grave and life renewed or resurrected by breaking out of it. The egg itself is a symbol of resurrection: while being dormant it contains a new life sealed within it. These lovely egg trees popped up everywhere and looked so nice, especially before the trees began budding.