A Funky Easter Bonnet and Creole Cream Cheese

My brother Phil and Me on Easter – 1966

Don’t laugh. I know it looks like I have a flying saucer (I just can’t seem to get away from that alien theme) on my head or some such contraption.

Perhaps my husband David thinks it looks more like the decoration that Lady Capulet wore to the ball where Romeo meets Juliet. Oh never mind! It was Easter of 1966 and it was my Easter bonnet.

Yes, almost half a century ago, but you probably already suspected something when you saw the gloves.

I think my brother Phil – isn’t he cute – looks pretty sharp in his dress clothes. Spiffy, except for the shocking white socks. What was my mother thinking?

I suppose they were school socks and it was unnecessary to buy a pair of dark-colored ones. That would be a waste of money.

My mother loved the colors red, white, and blue, not because she was patriotic but because they looked good together and were sailor-ish. There were a number of times she influenced me to pick out red, white, and blue because it was so cute.

That necklace I’m wearing was a watch. They were “in” at the time and I simply adored it. And my red patent leather purse? Oh my gosh, I felt so grown up, even though it looks like something my Granny would wear.

Speaking of my Granny, I’ve been thinking a lot about her this week…with it being Easter week and all.

Granny and my first born.

My Granny with my oldest son Jared.

I know.  She is sitting next to a Christmas tree and not an Easter basket. But this picture was handy and it’s one of the last ones I have of her. Now back to the story.

My Granny loved creole cream cheese. A New Orleans favorite, creole cream cheese is a farmer type cheese made of skim milk, buttermilk, and rennet…kind of a combination of cottage cheese and sour cream.

Granny would sprinkle a bit of sugar on top, take a taste and smack her lips. She always insisted I try it. I never cared for it, but she enjoyed this New Orleans delicacy quite a bit before Easter.

She collected the tubs and turned them into pint-sized Easter baskets for her grandchildren. She would put in shiny green grass and fill the baskets with jelly beans and bird eggs.

It was great fun on Easter Day hunting in flower beds and under trees for treats.

The days of wearing gloves and ornate bonnets for Easter are gone, but not so for the special memories.

I’ve been wanting to try my hand at some homemade cheese since watching Artois the Goat. My mind is made up, Creole Cream Cheese it is!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Marlene