My husband loves all things lemon! Growing up in California, he had a lemon tree in his yard. His family was lucky enough to have a constant, year-round supply of lemons, fresh from their tree. Years ago, when I was living in California, I too had that privilege. My house in Campbell had both a Lisbon Lemon and a Meyer Lemon tree in the backyard. I quickly learned how much I enjoyed the taste, smell and look of lemons. When we made the decision to move to the east coast, I knew leaving the growing capabilities of the Golden State was going to be challenging, especially for my husband. We were moving to the southeast, where neither one of us had ever lived before. I knew the growing season was longer than that of the northeast, where I grew up and spent most of my life, but the rest we would learn over time. Shortly after we settled in, and I began finding my way around the Charlotte area, I stumbled across a nursery that sold citrus trees. I immediately picked up a Meyer Lemon tree. Our lemon tree has been under our care for over 25 years. On average, we pick about 40 lemons from the tree each year. We recognize that it’s easier than ever to purchase good quality produce at local stores, but there is something special about growing the fruit in your own yard. If you have the opportunity to grow your own food, whether in a container on a balcony, herbs in a sunny window or in a backyard garden, I highly recommend it. There’s something very satisfying about eating food that you have grown. People are always amazed that we can grow citrus trees here in the Carolinas. I joke with them that it is possible, but caution them that lemon trees require quite a bit more care than the average houseplant. With this type of dedication to a fruit, it should be no surprise that I incorporate lemons into many aspects of our home. Lemon is the star of the show in baking/cooking, beverages/cocktails, home décor, tableware, gift giving, cleaning supplies, and DIY potpourii/bath salts. Now that I have reiterated my admiration for lemons, it’s fitting that the project I am creating is another wreath that features lemons. To simplify this project, here is a list of supplies that you will need to make your own wreath: Lemon Wreath Supplies Artificial 18” Boxwood Wreath 12 Medium Artificial Lemons 20 Small Artificial Lemons Floral Wire Arranging Kit (for bow making & attaching to wreath) Glue gun and hot glue (for attaching lemons to wreath) 1.5″ Dusty Baby Blue Chiffon Silk Ribbon OR 2.5” Black & White vertical stripe wired ribbon Wreath Inspiration… Making Lemon Wreaths… My husband loves all things lemon! Growing up in California,… Read More
Projects
Easter Ready…hop to it!
Wow, it’s almost Easter and we have a lot to get done in the next few days! Here’s our step-by-step list to be Easter Ready…hopt to it so the day will be enjoyable for everyone: Day 1: Get Organized – Plan Menu, Gather Items and Make Shopping List: Decide on the Easter menu. We are having a spiral sliced ham, sweet potatoes, roasted vegetables, green beans, pierogi and a strawberry spring salad. For our back porch appetizer, we will prepare an Easter themed charcuterie and fresh pea soup served in mugs topped with crème fraiche and croutons. To help make the day extra festive, we are have a couple of cocktail options – blood orange sparkling cider, strawberry lemonade and berry mules that I will serve in our copper mugs. Dessert this year is a lemon cheesecake with fresh berries. Make a shopping list based on your menu and inventory your kitchen for any necessary items you will need to prepare the food. We always make homemade pierogi and decorate eggs as a family. So, we will add those ingredients to our shopping list and gather the vinyl tablecloth, dying needs, and make the pierogi fillings so the actual dying/making traditions will be easier. Grocery Shopping: Head to the grocery store to purchase ingredients for your Easter menu. Pick up any additional items needed for decorating, cleaning, or guest accommodations (dying eggs, Easter basket essentials, decorations). Clean and Tidy: Wash and iron tablecloth and layout on table. Gather dishes, napkins, and centerpiece items. Wash copper mugs and place them in the freezer. Make and freeze berry ice cubes for cocktails. Start cleaning your house, focusing on common areas like the living room, dining room, and guest bathroom. Refresh towels, linens, snacks and flowers in the guest bath and bedroom. Decorate and Prepare Gifts: Begin decorating your home for Easter. This could include setting up Easter-themed decorations such as bunnies, eggs, and spring flowers. Arrange Easter baskets if you plan to display them as part of your decor. Package and prepare Easter gifts. These can be any type of gift you are giving for the holiday (wine, candy, candles, napkins etc.). Keep it simple and make it pretty! My favorite easy packaging tip is to place your gifts inside a cellophane bag, add a festive sticker and secure the top with a raffia ribbon. Here is everything you need to make these quick and beautiful bags: Download and print Easter stickers Avery Labels Cellophane bags Raffia ribbon Day 2: Finish Cleaning: Complete any remaining cleaning tasks, paying attention to details like windows, mirrors, and light fixtures. I will make sure to check the back porch, set out board games and reset wood for the fireplace if needed. I also ensure the yard is mowed and tidy. Wash floors and vacuum rugs. Set the Table: Lay out your table settings for Easter dinner. This includes plates, silverware, glasses, napkins, and any decorative elements such as place cards and centerpiece elements. I am using a yellow linen tablecloth layered with a pink buffalo check runner, pastel-colored napkins, Easter-themed décor and Spring flowers for the centerpiece. Prepare Easter Baskets and Activities: Put together Easter baskets and decorative Easter jars. I use a few glass storage jars from the pantry and my glass apothecary collection to showcase some playful holiday items I have collected over the years. You can fill jars with candy, small toys, eggs and other treats. Arrange the Easter baskets in a central location, ready for your guests to enjoy. If you have younger children coming, you may want to prepare and egg hunt. Since my guests are all older, I will put out our cornhole boards and create an Easter basket prize for the winning team. Freshen Up Flowers: Arrange fresh flowers for your home. I use a mixture of Spring blooms from my yard and ones that I have purchased – like Lenten roses, tulips, daffodils, or lilies to add a pretty touch. Place flowers in vases. These don’t have to be large formal arrangements, just a few stems in a recycled container will create a festive environment. Prepare Make-Ahead Food Items: Boil eggs and store in refrigerator. Be sure to label egg carton as boiled eggs for dying. Prepare area for dying the eggs. Follow this recipe to make Spring English Pea Soup. Make dessert ahead of time. I am serving cheesecake and will chill overnight in the refrigerator. Gather family to dye eggs and make pierogi together (allow 2 hours for both activities…plus cleanup time). Day 3 (Easter Day): Final Touches: Complete any last-minute tidying tasks so your home is welcoming for guests. Identify serving platters, bowls and utensils for each dish being served. Double-check that all food prep is on track and any dishes that can be made ahead of time are ready to go. Set out appetizer charcuterie and prep drink station for guests to enjoy as they arrive. Welcome Guests: Greet your guests warmly as they arrive and help them get settled. Offer drinks and appetizers while everyone socializes before the meal. Weather permitting, we will gather on our back porch and relax before dinner. Assign someone to take pictures of the house, table and fun if appropriate. If you haven’t already, let everyone know the “schedule” for the day. This allows everyone to organize and prepare accordingly. Our schedules are generally a loose guideline on holidays, since it’s more important to me that everyone has a good time rather than adhere to a strict timetable. Easter Dinner: Plan to serve Easter dinner according to your organized menu and time. Relax and enjoy the meal and the company of your guests. Easter Egg Hunt: If you have children or guests who enjoy Easter egg hunts, organize a fun after dinner activity for them to participate in. Hide Easter eggs around your yard or home and let the hunt begin! Dessert and Socializing: Finish off the meal with dessert, coffee, and tea. Spend time socializing…
