Happy everything, friends!  Happy Easter, happy Passover, happy birthday to Fred and George Weasley, happy new week.  Did you have good weekends?  I did – and I would like to note here that I DID NOT WORK.  Not because I didn’t have work I could’ve done, but it was nothing that couldn’t wait until Monday, and I just can’t keep that pace up forever.  I responded to one work email that came in and that was it.  We had a really low-key day on Saturday; we’d been planning to do a short hike, but instead we walked to the farmers’ market to see about inspiration for Easter dinner, and I ended up picking up a few ingredients (supplemented with a Whole Foods run later).  Came home for some sandbox time and then the normal lunch and nap routine – Nugget and I fell asleep together in his chair, but Steve extricated me and I spent the rest of naptime reading, which was glorious.  Saturday evening was totally relaxed – in fact, I can’t even remember exactly what we did, that’s how relaxed.  I think Steve watched TV and I read.  Sunday involved a lot more running around, but it was all great stuff.  Peanut and Nugget made out like bandits in the morning, because not only did the regular ol’ Easter Bunny visit, but all of their grandparents sent packages, so they ended up with three baskets and a gift bag apiece.  After a very moderate amount of candy, we were out the door early and off to church for Easter Sunday, where the kids surprised me by behaving decently well (we also hedged our bets by attending the family service in the church hall, and not the regular service in the main church).  The family service was a total circus as usual, but the best treat was that Rebecca joined us!  She is the kids’ godmother (a responsibility she takes very seriously) and it was so special for us to have her there.  After lunch the kids partook in the egg hunt in the churchyard, then we headed home.  Rebecca went back to her apartment to pick up her dog, then rejoined us for egg-dying and a naptime cooking extravaganza before our other friends – my high school BFF, Jenn, and her family, who were in town for a weekend getaway – arrived.  It was a total delight to have so many people that I love under my roof to celebrate Easter.  Rebecca and I cooked up an elaborate meal, Jenn and I chatted away as hard as we could in order to catch up, and Peanut and Nugget played for hours with Jenn’s daughter.  Why can’t every Sunday be Easter?

Reading.  I had quite an active reading week, thanks to a couple of very fast reads.  Read African Short Stories earlier in the week, which was okay but not great – the quality of the stories was very uneven.  Some were absolutely marvelous (like Achebe’s own contribution to the collection) and others were so bad they were almost unreadable.  After that, I finished the third volume of the Slightly Foxed quarterly (always even and reliably excellent quality there) and then blew through Love, Hate and Other Filters in about twenty-four hours.  I started the weekend with 1066 and All That on Friday, and by Saturday evening was on to Behind the Lines, A.A. Milne’s collection of poetry written during the first nine months of World War II.  I recently bought a used copy (a first edition, actually, although I didn’t realize that at the time – it does feel cool to have a first edition Milne, though) and have been so excited to dig in.  So far it’s poignant and witty.

Watching.  The big reading week coincides with – I don’t think I watched any TV?  Maybe an episode or two of Rock the Park?  (The show is memorable, but my weeks are such a blur that I can’t remember when I watched anything.)  I can tell you what I didn’t watch – Jesus Christ Superstar Live.  By the time I remembered to record it, it was already thirty minutes in.  But I think it’s going to be on Hulu for at least a little while, so hopefully I will be telling you next Monday that I watched it over the weekend.

Listening.  More podcasts this week.  The best, as always, was the most recent episode of Tea or Books?, in which Rachel and Simon discussed children’s literature (a favorite topic of mine).  My podcatcher is totally out of control, so more podcasts to come this week, I’m sure.

Making.  A huge Easter dinner – Rebecca contributed homemade sourdough bread, mushroom paté, green pancakes, and a fresh salad, and I made asparagus tart and royal potato salad.  And I also made great progress on the hat I was knitting – it’s almost done.  I’m going to have to cover it in Lumberjanes patches to disguise all the holes, but it’s almost done.

Blogging.  It’s National Poetry Month, so lots of poetry coming your way!  On Wednesday I’m sharing a very funny book excerpt on theme, and Fridays in April will be “poetry Friday.”  I can’t tease what the first poem I’ll share will be, because I don’t know yet.  So you’ll have to check back!

Loving.  I’m always loving time with loved ones!  On Friday, I worked from home and Peanut and I snuck away for an early lunch together at Ladurée Georgetown, which was such a treat.  And on Sunday, having Rebecca (with Brandy) and Jenn (with her family) here to celebrate Easter was just what I needed.  I’m so lucky to have such good friends.  I’ve known Rebecca for eighteen years now, amazingly – we met as college freshmen when we were fellow pledges of the same sorority – and Jenn for even longer, since middle school.  Some people don’t have even one soul sister – I have two.

Asking.  What are you reading this week?