sketches of my day May 2008 - Nov 2010

February 1, 2009

Creativity

I remember many wonderful things about my wonderful mother. I could probably write a book on the wisdoms she spoke and tried to make my young mind understand, but as most always, her astuteness was untimely, for I was too young and too narcissistic then. Now, years after and after she is gone, I remember and I understand each word and each lesson. I am so thankful she planted those seeds.

 I remember one day and one reoccurring lesson; it happened on Good Friday when my children were little. We had gone to her house to dye Easter eggs. This decision was somewhat impulsive and unplanned. Do you think she made a hasty trip to the store to buy dyes? No, she searched in cupboards, the refrigerator, and in the yard; she used what she found. Resourcefulness. I remember asking her that day, why not go to the store and buy the things you need? She said that took the creativity from the project, the challenge was to create with what you had. I always think of that moment and that lesson.

The eggs turned out beautiful and sat proudly on her kitchen table in a little straw basket that she had found in the living room closet. I can remember she used coffee for the beautiful brown eggs, yellow and red onion skins, and maybe canned spinach for some of the other colors. I do remember their beauty and her display of creativity and resourcefulness.

 I found this list of such suggestions for natural egg dying. Easter is a ways off, but this idea of making do is something for each day of your life. Anyway, maybe you can do something different this Easter and fill up an old basket with creativity, resourcefulness, and naturally dyed eggs.

 

Color	Ingredients
Lavender	Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice Red Zinger Tea
Violet Blue	Violet Blossoms Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Hibiscus Tea Red Wine
Blue	Canned Blueberries Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled) Purple Grape Juice
Green	Spinach Leaves (boiled) Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow	Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow	Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled) Carrot Tops (boiled) Celery Seed (boiled) Ground Cumin (boiled) Ground Turmeric (boiled) Chamomile Tea Green Tea
Golden Brown	Dill Seeds
Brown	Strong Coffee Instant Coffee Black Walnut Shells (boiled) Black Tea
Orange	Yellow Onion Skins (boiled) Cooked Carrots Chili Powder Paprika
Pink	Beets Cranberries or Juice Raspberries Red Grape Juice Juice from Pickled Beets
Red	Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Canned Cherries with Juice Pomegranate Juice Raspberries