Karen, I'm so sorry for your son! My mother also has problems with one of her eyes and know how your son, you and your family can feel! So I'll pray for him... expecting that someone upon us does something for him. Sometimes, my Dad listens to my prayers :) Regarding your pictures... well, the very first time I bought a mini house, I was on holiday in Canterbury and bought a house box. Each time I went on holiday in England, I bought a new house box. I saw boxes such as the bunny boxes you have and didn't have the opportunity to buy some of them but plan to do when I'll go back in England (with the jet foil not the airplane). Your boxes are splendid, really! Also both your lavender and green dishes are so nice! Your spring wreath is also gorgeous... unfortunately that is the kind of item I can't have in my home: Minute, the dog would make it a mashed wreath in 1 minute (oh yes, it's a jumper dog... half dog and half kangaroo) :-( Well, thanks to you and all of my new friends of this forum, I just converted a friend of mine to holiday decorations, hihihi. So, we'll go shopping for the Spring and Mother's Day within two weeks!!!! By the way, your large rabbit should be gorgeous in her dining room too, lol.

U betcha! Went grocery shopping today...2 hams purchased with all the trimmings and fixings for creamed potatoes, fresh corn, green beans, rolls, coleslaw, buttered rolls and my favorite....carrot cake! Our daughter and her family of three girls and that special SIL are coming from Florida (they will be here sometime Wednesday) and our son, who is not married and lives in a small town nearby will be coming for Easter Dinner on Saturday....then on Sunday I'll fix a quick bite of cereal and milk for the girls before we head out to church.....but the Easter Bunny will have been busy the night before preparing a special brunch to enjoy before they head back to Florida! Probably have a breakfast casserole in the crockpot while we're at church...fresh baked biscuits with ham (if I have any left from Saturday)muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee! Wanna come? It will be great!

Sis, Dad and I just started discussing yesterday... My sister will be hosting, with an assist from DH and I (time to get my little red wagon so we can easily bring our goodies around the corner to Sis' house). -Hor d'oevures... Not sure what we'll be serving for hors d'oeuvres, but already on the menu is: Pizza rustica (I make anywhere from 10-12 depending upon who I feel like giving one to (you have to rate high on my list) -I am thinking of modifying an asparagus dish I saw that calls for wrapping stuff around blanched asparagus (flattened bread, prosciutto, etc) but have to give it more thought as I don't want to compromise the beautiful asparagus I am seeing) We typically have a platter of antipasto, which is really a must have, so perhaps it'll be just that and the pizza rusticas. -First course we were thinking of doing perhaps some fresh ravioli. I saw Giada do a chicken cheese ravioli with a lemon zest sauce, so perhaps we'll play with that, eliminating the chicken. I just got the pasta-roller attachment for my Kitchenaide, which will make prepping the ravioli a breeze. -Second course, perhaps a salad in Parmesan cups. We did this two years ago and it was fantastic. -For dinner, so far we know we are going to make a nice stuffed pork loin. Our local Italian store does a nice job of it, it comes out so moist. Perhaps some simple roasted chicken as a second choice for the kids and whomever doesn't want the pork. I'll make a nice merlot or cabernet-based gravy or perhaps defrost some pork gravy I've been saving and kick it up a bit with some wine and herbs. -Veggies: We agreed on a few veggies, one baked, one roasted, and perhaps a steamed veggie. Will be finalizing that within the next week. -Starch...I'm thinking something potato. Perhaps Ann's Perfect Roasted potatoes will be the way to go. I love, love, love them. (Did I say I love them). -Dessert is left to the experts. One of our guests is master of all things baked and we leave that to her. Dad will want to bring something, so perhaps he'll make a grain pie. That's it so far...not much detail, but it is an iterative process and should be finalized by the end of the week. Sue

We'll have ham because I'm picking up our packaged pig tomorrow, so a whole hog in the freezer, and it'll definitely be ham. I don't like ham, though, or bacon or sausage, particularly, so I'm making turkey because I like it. So, ham AND turkey. I haven't decided on potatoes yet, I love mashed potatoes but I have three family members who won't touch them. I also like the green-green vegetable idea, but I love vegetables. We'll also have a corn pudding, because my youngest daughter loves the stuff. Anyway, I think I'm also going to serve one of my favorite salads, I got the recipe here from Cathy/Mustangs. I use baby spinach in place of the arugula, but everything else is the same. It's so good, I can forget it's salad! Arugula Salad with Figs, Prosciutto, Walnuts, and Parmesan (Mustangs - Cooking Forum) 4 tbls olive oil 2 oz thinly sliced prosciutto cut into strips 1 tbls raspberry jam 3 tbls fig balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup dried figs, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces 1 tbls finely chopped shallot 5 cups baby arugula 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted 2 oz Parmesan, shaved into thin strips 1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 10 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; add prosciutto and fry until crisp, stirring frequently for about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel to drain and cool. 2. Whisk jam and vinegar in medium microwave-safe bowl; stir in figs. Cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents in plastic and microwave on high until figs are plump, about 45 seconds. Whisk in 3 tablespoons oil, shallots, ? tsp salt; toss to combine. Let cool to room temperature. 3. Toss arugula and vinaigrette in large bowl; adjust seasonings with salt. Divide salad among individual plats; top with portion of prosciutto, walnuts, and Parmesan. My girls like this, although they would prefer the traditional 7 layer salad. Too bad for them, I'm making this one, LOL. Definitely devilled eggs... Annie