Easter was a bit different this year. We spent it up north in our little cabin enjoying quiet time with family and an Easter lunch on Sunday with friends. Admittedly, we were a tad cooped up in the house as mud season in Vermont has commenced, coupled with the fact that it snowed on and off — those factors can make the idea of outdoor activities a tad lackluster — however it ended up being a restorative few days I find myself reflecting on.
I don’t cook as often as I’d like, but I do enjoy cooking when we are in Vermont as the access to local produce and provisions makes it all the more inspiring. Saturday morning brought a trip to the Woodstock Farmers’ Market for local vegetables and sweets for the table (chocolate caramel eggs, of course!), followed by a trip to The Village Butcher to pick up our leg of lamb roast. I managed to procure some beautiful purple asparagus from Hawes Fine Foods in Providence prior to our road trip, which I am still dreaming about! It had an elegant nutty taste with a perfect simple crunch — an intoxicating taste of spring. My husband cooked the lamb to perfection, and of course, as a nod to my Mother and Grandmother, it was accompanied by mint jelly (the bright green old school variety right from the jar), potato gratin and a spring salad.
For the table, new D’ASCOLI linens brought a casual cheery pep, muscari from Farm & Flora for a little life from the garden and bunny rabbit place card holders from Reed Smythe for some cheeky practicality. The plants of course made their way back to Rhode Island with us, and I’ll plan to snip the pansies and pluck them into ice cube trays for spring sips.
As someone that loves connecting others in my personal and professional lives, I think perhaps that is what I adore about planning for some of these holiday celebrations. They become a result of a creative curation and collaboration, and for me, a chance to continue to build my collections of tableware. From the bounty from various farmers and proprietors, to little details from my favorite retailers, the end result makes me so happy.
And now, a new week begins. I gave myself some time this morning to ease into the work week with a coffee and stroll, and now, it’s time to dive in.
Here’s to spring!