What does red cabbage, beets, onion skins, leaves, flowers & herbs have to do with Easter?  Well …. when used in different combinations they become natural dye for Easter eggs.  Apparently this is how it was done long ago before the kits that contain lots of chemicals arrived at the store.  Here are instructions on how to do it. My children are past the age for dying Easter eggs so I won’t be doing this but I am really interested to know how it goes. If you try it, let me know.

On another note, I was wondering how eco friendly the White House Easter egg roll is going to be.  What I found out is that all the goody bags are recyclable and are made from recycled materials, all packaging is made from recyclable paperboard and was designed to minimize waste and environmental impact and all souvenir eggs are made in the US from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – certified US hardwood.  Included in the festivities will be healthy cooking tips and demonstrations by celebrity chefs. Kids will also be given seedlings to take home so they may grow their own veggies.  That all sounds great and totally in line with the First Lady’s’ ‘Let’s Move’ campaign promoting healthier kids.  Given the latter do you think the White House will also be serving jelly beans and chocolate?

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com      William Ravies Real Estate

                                                                        Local, Recycled and Memorable: Michelle Stearns of Fairfield, CT collects wine corks from local wine shops like Mo’s Wine and Spirits and friends and family and turns them into beautiful wreaths. She makes each cork wreath by hand, one cork at a time.  These wreaths are made to order and if you have any corks saved from special occasions, Michelle will include those in the wreath. Green Time Consulting

Fine and Natural:  Unique designer wreaths crafted by hand out of natural materials in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Made from clippings of stems of wreath grade fraser firs, white pine and berries from invasive plants. Solidago Wreaths

Craft a fun gift for dad:  Turn Dad’s old ties into door décor. You’ll need a 14” wire wreath form from a crafts shop and 19 ties. Cut all ties but one into 15” lengths.  Position the narrow end of the first cut tie, front side up, on a section of the wreath.  Wrap tie around form until pointed end is positioned as shown, hiding the rolled tie: secure with pins. Repeat overlapping ties slightly. Flip wreath over; sew rolled up ties to the backs of points. Pin on the uncut bowed tie.  Good Housekeeping 

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com   William Raveis Real Estate