An Easter Tradition

A family tradition that we have always had since the pioneers is coloring easter eggs with mother nature. These are some eggs that I (we) colored this year. The front row are red root eggs, the eggs on the back row are yellow onion eggs.

How to do it? EASY! and FUN!

First you gather up bright flowers.

Some are better than others.

Lilacs are good, iris, dandelions, daisies,

rose leaves, raspberry leaves, wild flowers

from the side of the road can be gorgeous.

Here's my mom wrapping an egg.

Here is a sampling of what they look like when

they're done being wrapped.

We use simple sewing thread to hold the

flowers and leaves in place.

When the pot is simmering, (you don't want it to boil)

then you carefully set your eggs in and set the

timer for 20 minutes

Below is a pot of yellow onion skins.

This pot below is red roots that we get by the

stream up at the golf course.

You have to take a hammer and break the

bark up a bit, then cover with water and boil.

We also added a 1/4 cup of vinegar

to deepen the colors.

After 20 minutes, the real easter egg hunt

begins as we retrieve our orphan eggs out of

the murky caldron.

Believe it or not. . .

we just boiled the life into these eggs!

We run them under some cool water and

let them rest 5 minutes.

Then carefully and gently disrobe them.

Isn't she lovely?

Isn't she wonderful?