Spring Flings and Easter Things ~ Monday Morning Blooms

I'm happy to report that spring has arrived here inAustin with bluebonnets in full bloom, andI'm celebrating with my friends, Lidy, Pam, and Mary for Monday Morning Blooms.

Thank you, Pam, Lidy, and Mary.

Joining you for Monday Morning Blooms is 

always a blooming good time!

Welcome to Hyacinths For The Soul.

Want to join me for a little spring fling and 

celebrate with some favorite Easter things?

Spring in Austin can be the best of times withcrisp sunny days that welcome time in the garden. The Texas Redbuds are some of the first to bloom. 

Monnie's tree has leafed out in spring green leaves, as have our Cedar Elms and Live Oaks.

We are celebrating inside today with 

fresh tulips and some child-like whimsy.

My original plans for an alfresco setting changed abruptly 

when the pollen and oak catkins began to cover everything in sight.

The centerpiece of my table is simply a cabbage leaf pitcher 

filled with a bouquet of orange peony double tulips along

with one of simple white tulips, all from Trader Joe's.

I'm an avid fan of tulips, but am totally smitten 

with peony tulips for their extra layers of ruffled petals. 

When I say child-like whimsy, I refer to these 

adorable petite plates named "Peas and Thank You"

along with Arte Italica Crown Linen Design's latest velvet 

placemats ringed with petal shaped edges, and cute fabric carrot

 gift bags that I picked up at Michaels to hold napkins and flatware. 

For this plate stack, I used pink peony plates by 

Mascara's Spring Collection, dinners from my 

MacKenzie-Childs Taylor Series, and square 

Dotty Black chargers from 222 Fifth.

 

I picked up these darling plates

 at Goodwill in 2013 for 99¢ each.  

The first grade teacher in me could not walk away 

without them, though I rarely use the set of ten.  

You know the old saying, 

"We go together like peas and carrots."

My husband was the chef and food stylist; 

I'm the dishaholic and table stylist.  

We went together like peas and carrots!  

We were also like "Two peas in a pod."

You know carrots offer a healthy option, high in beta-carotene and good for both our immune health and for our vision.  

Peas are a great source of plant-based protein 

with both iron and magnesium.

I grew up with a mom who tended a vegetable garden.  

Fresh carrots are a favorite.  On the other hand, 

shelling peas was not my favorite task.  

When I spied these fabric carrot shaped gift bags at Michaels, I scooped them up immediately, knowing they would be a fun detail for my "Peas and Carrots" table as flatware and napkin holders.

I'm one who loves a layered look, so no surprise that I added my 

MKC Courtly Check runner atop the Arte Italica Crown Linen Designs natural linen runner that pretty much lives on our table.  

I like that the CC checks and stripes pick up the 

black and white detail on the plate stack and flatware.

Once dinner is finished, we can swivel 

around to the buffet for a sweet treat.

A tiered tray is filled 

with sweet Easter treats.

Fancy Pastel French Macarons

I used Old World Christmas ornaments 

to embellish each tier as a hint to what is on the tray.

Yummy Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Foil Wrapped Chocolate Bunnies

Take some of each and fill up one of these darling bunny plates, limited editions from MacKenzie-Childs.

This year's edition is painted in the new Rosy Checks. 

I'm tempted to add another pair.

More tulips and my needlepoint 

bunnies are the center piece.

These Trader Joe's pink tulips are potted plants 

that I transferred to a large oval dish.

I find tulips totally amazing!

I balanced the buffet with a second tiered tray on the right. 

It holds a few Easter things, but nothing edible.

This gorgeous egg is another Old World Christmas ornament.  

I so enjoy using these special glass ornaments

for holidays other than just Christmas.

Did you notice that you also have a 

chocolate bunny at each place setting?

A Trader Joe's Break Apart Bunny filled

with a carrot-shaped gummies

If you are a gummy fan like 

one of my nieces, help yourself to some

Peas and Carrots Sour Gummy Candies.

It's a festive table for four to 

hopefully delight your inner child.

Here's a little Easter take home treat.

These tins of Louis Sherry Chocolates from 

New York are some of my favorites.

Have a nibble as your hop on over to visit my friends'

beautiful flower filled posts for more Easter inspiration.

Pam @ Everyday Living

Lidy @ French Garden House

Mary @ Home Is Where The Boat Is

Thank you for visiting today.  

Please let me know your thoughts on 

spring flings and Easter things.

Happy Easter, Friends,

Also JoiningLove Your Creativity @ Life and Linda  Karin's Cottage Linky Party @ Karin's CottageTablescape Thursday @ Between Naps On The Porch