Dear Reader:

Monday Mollie, Rutledge, and I went into the gift shop… Simple to Sublime so I could buy two copies of this book (above) for Rutledge and Eva Cate. I also left their names so the author, Cherri Prince, can sign both stories for the children. (She will be at Simple to Sublime from 5-8 this Thursday February 19.)

I love the idea behind this publication. In a quick nutshell….the Easter Bunny finds out from his grandmother that once…a long time ago…there were seeds for lollipops that the Easter Bunny dropped off before Easter. If all went well…the seeds, once planted, would appear on Easter Sunday.

These special seeds didn’t need sun or water…only kind acts performed by little “planters.” The more kind acts done before Easter Sunday…the better the chance that the lollipops will spring up early Easter morning.

I will get Rutledge and Eva Cate to come over a few days before Easter and the “Boo Boo Easter Egg Garden Hunt“… to read the book to them and send it home to their parents…. Then…each child will plant the seeds and mark them (two packets of seeds and markers come with each book.)

They will, also,be given different ideas of acts of kindness they can do for family, friends, and even strangers. Each time an act of kindness is done…the lollipop seeds grows taller.

(*I will have a special lollipop “patch” added to the garden this year. It will be covered Easter Sunday until the hunt begins.)

This will be a nice addition to the traditional Easter Egg Hunt…a creative and wonderful life lesson idea. Kindness begets kindness begets kindness.

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I discovered another cute story written about a grandfather and his three year old grandson…who, also, plant some unusual seeds. It is called “Buddies.” (Maggie Stuckey)

One day a grandfather and his little three-year-old grandson decided to plant the spring vegetable garden together. At first all went well. The three-year-old’s little fingers were just right for placing the tiny seeds in the ground.

But soon the sun grew hot and the little boy grew bored…especially when he discovered what they were planting.

“What are these seeds?” the little one asked.

“Beets” said Granddad.

“Yuck…I hate beets!”

“Okay…then let’s plant some zucchini instead!”

“Ugh! I really hate zucchini!”

“Then what would you like to plant little buddy?”

“Umm…how about DOUGHNUTS!”

Just before the grandfather spilled the beans that there was no such thing as a doughnut seed…he stopped himself in the nick of time. Looking down at the excited little face…he said:

“Wait a sec. I have to go inside to get just the right seeds.”

Grandfather returned with a handful of cheerios. Grandfather and his little “buddy” planted the “seeds” in a special corner of the garden.

Weeks passed and then the real seeds began breaking through the ground and growing taller each time grandfather’s little “buddy” came to check on the vegetable garden.

The little boy was so excited he forgot his dislike of the different vegetables. For awhile it seemed that he had even forgotten all about the doughnut “seeds.”

But one day little “buddy” remembered and asked, “Granddad, what happened to our doughnuts? How come they didn’t grow?

Granddad paused a moment as if he had given this a lot of serious thought and replied: “Well, you know, doughnuts are tricky. Some years when you plant them, you get lots of doughnuts.” He sighed heavily. “But other years, all that comes up are the holes!”

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So until tomorrow….as adults let us never forget the importance of play and imagination in our children…tempered with kindness and compassion.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

 * The Ya’s and I are off to Pawleys for a true mid-winter (burr!) retreat! No matter the weather, however, inside the beach house, it will be cozy and our friendship even warmer. This year will be a particularly comforting get-together with several health issues behind us. Here’s to 2015 and good health!