Oh, that sounds fun. I read about traditional basket weaving down here on one of my internet searches. “Show me,” I smile.
We set up at the outdoor table again. All the guys know how to make the baskets, so they help show me, Sue, and Zander how to weave. Our first attempts are a little rough but serviceable. The guys make a basket, each leaving one more to be woven. Bay offers to make the last one, so we head inside tothe kitchen. I never noticed that E had left us and came indoors. “What are you up to?” I smile at E.
“Have a look,” he offers, pointing to the containers on the island. I pop the lid off to see gorgeous, detailed eggs in various colors.
“Did you make all these?” I ask him. They’re exquisite and look like something you’d buy at a high-end store.
“Yeah. I’ve been making them for a few weeks now. They’re all chocolate. Dark, milk, or white chocolate.”
I pick one up and see a rabbit surrounded by swirls on one side and a chick on the other. “You are so talented, E.”
“Not really, they’re just chocolate molds I use,” he shrugs.
Sue comes over beside me, looking at the eggs. “Molds or not, the seams are barely noticeable, Elijah. You are very skilled.”
E blushes with a thank you. Nick and Seb bring in the sweetgrass baskets as Sue and I fill them with the chocolate eggs. “Okay, what time are the little ones coming?” Sue asks.
“Around 3pm,” Alex replies.
“Let’s grab a quick late lunch then,” Sue says as she takes plates of sandwiches from the fridge, a veggie tray, and a fruit tray. We all grab a bite to eat at the table. As we’re cleaning up, a horn beeps from outside.
“They’re here!” Seb says excitedly, jumping up from the table. We all quickly follow out the front door to find a bus pulling up to the house.
A group of adults exits the bus first when it parks. Alex and E greet them warmly as they introduce Zander, Sue and me. Seb enters the bus and comes back out with a line of kids behind him. They’re all different ages, from little toddlers to teens. Everyone looks excited as he leads them to the backyard, and we follow.
“Can I have your attention,” E hollers over the chatter. All the kids turn to look at him. “For those of you who haven’t done this before, welcome to the Easter egg hunt. We have a basket for everyone on the table,” he points. “Please grab one when I’m done talking andline up along the deck. When I yell ‘go’, start hunting for the Easter eggs. They’re hidden all over the backyard. Find as many as you can fit in your basket. Anyone wanting a picture with our bunny cutouts, please let one of your caretakers know, and they’ll help you out. For the older kids, we have sweetgrass basket making on the outdoor table on the deck if you prefer. We will bring out some refreshments when the egg hunt is over. Please stay in the backyard. Everyone ready?”
The younger kids all yell out, cheering and jumping up and down. “Grab your baskets and get ready,” Seb hollers.
All the kids rush and grab a basket and line up along the deck as told.
“Ready. Set. Go!” E yells.
The kids take off, with the caregivers helping the toddlers along and the guys spread out with the kids. Bay grabs my hand and pulls me along, too. We monitor the kids on the left side of the yard by the house. I look around at everything. Even the teens are getting into the hunt. Seb is lifting a small boy up to grab an egg from the live oak tree. Sue and Zander are sitting in two Adirondack chairs on the deck. Nick has a little boy by the hand and a little girl on his shoulders, pointing out eggs for Nick to grab for her. E and Alex are supervising from the middle of the yard.
We all get pulled into the hunt to help, eventually. Dave, one of the caretakers, is taking pictures with the cutout bunny as the kids come by. I end up with a young boy about 10 beside me as we hunt in the trees. Sue has a toddler on her lap on the deck, and Zander is running around with a child on each hip. Alex and E are playing tag with some kids in the middle of the yard. It’s…simply incredible. No wonder Seb has been so excited all week. I can’t believe the guys do this every year.
The Easter egg hunt is an enormous success. All the kids end up with full baskets. Sue and Zander bring out paper cups and pitchers of juice and water to the folding table next. Everyonespreads out, enjoying themselves and the beautiful weather. I join Sue, Zander, and a few of the caretakers at the outdoor table. “Thank you so much for hosting this year, Zander and Summer. We are so grateful,” Mona says.
“Happy to help. This is an amazing thing the boys do,” Zander replies.
“It is. Alex’s mom would be so proud of him for keeping this tradition alive,” Mona smiles.
Suddenly, there’s a commotion off to the side of the house. E walks to the center of the yard, carrying one of the Adirondack chairs and sets it down. Looking back towards the garage, I see the Easter Bunny hopping along, surrounded by most of the kids.
“Oh my word,” Sue exclaims.
Scanning the yard, I see all the guys except Seb. Of course, he would be the one to dress up. “Come help Summer,” E calls.
I get up and head over to the chaos. We wrangle the kids into a line to get their picture taken with the bunny. Alex takes a picture of each child as they sit on the Easter bunny’s knee.
I take the kids to a sitting circle with E and Bay after their photo. The guys entertain the kids as we move through the group.
Once the photos are done and everyone has had a drink and some chocolate, the group loads back onto the bus. I notice all the adults have their sweetgrass baskets with the chocolate eggs E made. We all wave goodbye to the kids and caretakers as they leave.
“A few more pictures with the bunny to go,” E exclaims, so we follow him back to Seb. Alex sets up his phone on the deck, and we all gather around the Easter Bunny, with me ending up on Seb’s knee. Several photos later, Seb heads inside to get out of his costume.
Zander and Sue offer to go pick up dinner for everyone, so the rest of us start to clean up. Bay hands me a tote bag to find any eggs the kids haven’t found. I end up with most of the tote full by the timeI scour the whole yard. Everything else is taken care of when I’m done except the cutout, so I help Nick carry it to Alex’s SUV.
