Sunday, March 13, 2011

30 days of Ostara; Day 23


Ostara fun for everyone
The games suggested sound fun :-)

About.com has "Countdown to Ostara"

"I will also host a Spring Craft linky party on April 15th for everyone who would like to show off their Easter crafts. To participate in the Spring Craft Linky just grab the button and link up on April 15th."


Perhaps not at Ostara yet, but soon the nettles will be ready to be picked.
"When the nettle is young, its leaf forms an excellent vegetable; when it matures, it has filaments and fibres like hemp and flax. Nettle fabric is as good as canvas. Chopped, the nettle is good for poultry; pounded it is good for cattle. The seed of the nettle mingled with fodder imparts a gloss to the coats of animals; its root mixed with salt produces a beautiful yellow colour. It is besides excellent hay and can be cut twice. And what does the nettle require? Little earth, no attention, no cultivation. Only the seed falls as it ripens, and is difficult to gather. That is all. With a little trouble, the nettle would be useful; it is neglected, and becomes harmful." '
Nettle recipes
You can use it as spinach and make everything you'd use spinach for, like spinach, pine nut and feta cheese pastries or spanakopita.


In the area of Lanark, Scotland, the spring season is welcomed with Whuppity Scoorie, held on March 1. Children assemble in front of a local church at sunrise, and when the sun comes up, they race around the church waving paper balls around their heads. At the end of the third and final lap, the children gather up coins thrown by local assemblymen. According to the Captial Scot, there's a story that this event began ages ago when troublemakers were "scoored" in the Clyde River as punishment for bad behavior. It appears to be unique to Lanark, and does not seem to be observed anywhere else in Scotland.

 For some reason that lamb doesn't look quite as happy as the girl...

One thing that surprised me was that when searching "easter snacks" all I got was sugar, sugar, sugar... cookies, rice crispy treats... don't the kids get more than enough sugar with all the candy and desserts eaten at Holidays?
I found this though: Healthy and fun snacks. I remember coming home from school and being hungry like a bear, and being home alone and capable of cooking and baking already then, I founded a steady base for my obesity. I wish someone had been making a little effort and seeing there was something "healthy and fun" to eat. It would have been nice if there had been just a plate of veggies cut in fingerfood with a bowl of nice dip...
The parents could use this time of the year and make their kids eat "bunny food" (salad) :-D

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