Well, actually, my plans for Easter include church…and that’s about it. As soon as church is over, we are heading up to Birmingham to prepare for Mom’s surgery, early on Monday morning. We covet your prayers for her, She should do very well and be able to return home in a few days.
I will stay with her Monday and Monday night, but plans are for Pop and I to return home Tuesday evening. Then Joy will stay until she comes home. Of course, this all depends on how well she does. Please pray for travelling safety, and quick healing for Mom!

And this is my handiwork for the day. My friend, Tina, came over this morning and we began phase 2 of ‘Operation Organize Tonja’. Today we completely emptied 2 storage rooms, then, sorted, organized, boxed, taped, labelled, and stacked approximately 150 boxes!…OK, it may have just been 15…but it felt like 150! And I forgot…DISCARDED!!!!! Yes, my friends, I have purged my storage rooms, and now they look soooooo good. And the best part is, everything that is in there now has been sorted and it moving with me. Believe me when I say, my next garage sale should be terrific.

As I shared with you before, it is very hard for me to throw things away. I tend to hold on to all the little pieces and trivia of our lives. And, there is always a good reason for keeping the things I do…at the time, but when I see most of the things again, I wonder why in the world did I keep that!?! I am trying to work on this…and I am getting better. I can really see how I have kept things that were not worth keeping, and only added to the clutter on our home.

Tina, is my task master…and I mean that in the nicest way. It is not an easy job to keep me on task at anything…and especially when it’s something I would rather not be involved in. But, bless her, she gave up her Good Friday vacation day to labor all day at my house. That’s a real friend!

We accomplished much today, even though there are about 6 more boxes I have to go through on my own. Then, after one more work day, much shorter than today…we can mark the sunroom …”DONE!” Only 8 more rooms to go! Good thing I have 9 more months, huh?
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PS. My boxes are double this size…and all contents are neatly labelled. Not that I’m bragging, or anything…I’m just saying……..

Each year over 700 million Peeps are consumed during the Easter season. They are the #1 selling…non-chocolate…candy during this holiday. Peeps were first made in 1924 using a pastry bag. It took 27 hours for them to get to the ‘ready to eat’ stage. Today they are made in 6 minutes. Peeps are sold in 35 countries, and contain 32 calories each…and 0 fat. Like that really matters to a Peeps lover!
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Suppose you don’t like to eat them…are you doomed to a Peepless life? Not at all.
Following are just some of the other ways you can enjoy Peeps.

1. If you coat your Peeps with a spray sealant, and let dry…you will have a lovely pin cushion for your dresser.

2. Take multi colored Peeps and gently stab their little bottoms with a bamboo skewer. Arrange as you would lovely spring flowers…A Peep bouquet…no water needed.

3. If you are a chocolate lover…and who among us isn’t?…fire up the old fondue pot. Dip the Peeps quickly into the hot chocolate…then enjoy. You can hardly taste the Peeps…which, of course, is the point.

4. Peeps which are left out in the open will dry to a hard state and may then be used for home decor. Exciting, isn’t it? Try them as book-ends or even a cute little paperweight for your desk. If you have been looking for a doorstop…you are in luck!

5. Boredom over taking you this Easter season? Well, Peeps to the rescue! Take 2 of the brave little soldiers and insert a toothpick into the chest wall of each. Then place them facing each other on a paper plate and set them into the microwave. Turn it on and watch as they swell with fighting spirit and become mighty jousters. Who will win? WARNING…longer that 1 minute in the microwave with result in an explosion of peepness!

6. If you have been looking for a special piece of art to fill that vacant space in your home…believe it or not….the Peeps Rabbits can help you out. Coat the back of the rabbit with craft paint and stamp it on an appropriate background. Add as many little bunnies as you like, you may even try coordinating colors. Let dry…frame…and hang with pride. A lovely piece of original artwork. Sit back and wait for the compliments to role in!
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Now I will admit to you that I am not a Peep lover. So, I have no preference for color or species. However, my Mom…possibly the wisest woman on the planet, has this to say…”The yellow ones are the best, but if they are not available, the pink ones will do. However, do not come at me with those purple or green ones…they are just wrong, and I may have to hurt you.” Wise words for us all to remember.

Easter Eggs have a long history. Ancient Egyptians and Persians colored eggs during their spring festivals for centuries before Christianity existed. The egg has always been a symbol of rebirth, which is why it was so appropriately tied to the Easter holiday.

In the early days of the church, eggs were forbidden during Lent, which may have spurred the tradition of exchanging them on Easter. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.

Children and adults today have their own special processes for achieving eggs designed to their specifications.. Many differing kits are widely available to suit your artistic desires.

Following, enjoy a variety of Eggs from all over the world. Bet ya can’t guess my favorite!

Yep! You guessed right! And it is NOT hollow! “Death my Chocolate”, indeed!