My parents stayed with us for Easter. I loved the Easter holidays and put as much effort into making them special as I did Christmas.
To decorate the house with fresh greenery and spring flowers was such fun. Parrot Tulips, Hyacinths and Lily of the Valley poured their exquisite scent all over the house. I spent a lovely hour in the kitchen making coloured eggs by boiling them in onion skins whilst I listened to the radio. I looked out of my kitchen window to see all the family sitting under the wisteria covered arbour in the spring sunshine. It felt wonderful to have my parents there with my children.
I spent a day baking and made a traditional Simnel cake with almond paste and then crafted handmade Easter Eggs which were a little wonky but all the better for it.
. In the years when the children were small we usually had a brisk walk round Tarn Hows near Coniston on Good Friday and always took a flask of hot chocolate and homemade hot cross buns with us for sustenance. We alternated between drawing a cross with a butter knife or rolling out pastry for the top.
I discovered early on that small children like to roll out pastry, bigger ones like economy of effort.

Hot cross buns and parrot tulips from The Boomer Generation by Carole McCall