EASTER CELEBRATIONS

For many years our family has picnicked together on Easter Sunday in a park situated on Lake Tarpon. We thought it was a unique way to celebrate the day. Much to our surprise other people thought the same thing.

The first couple of years, if we got there early, picnic tables were available and we even had Easter egg hunts for the little ones, but in the last several years, tables were no longer available because there are now so many people. We bring folding tables and try to find a little grassy area and set up our base. Everyone is in a very happy mood and kids get to play with others. It’s always a joyful experience.

You see all age groups playing soft ball or football in the grassy fields. There are also many small lakes in the park for the balls to go into. One year, our football ended up in the lake and we couldn’t get it back because the wind blew it into the middle of the water. We all had a big laugh when the wind changed and blew it back to us.

Last year our son brought his boat since he lives in a community off Lake Tarpon and has access. This Sunday we’ll set up next to the water and take boat rides, too. You can also view alligators. We always see groups of people standing together and pointing, so you know an alligator has been spotted. That’s how you know they don’t reside in Florida.

Food wise, we have traditional ham, baked beans, potato salad, deviled eggs and the family tradition for dessert. We all call it Dead Bunny or Dead Rabbit.

When I was a little girl, my brothers and I would each get a large solid chocolate rabbit in our baskets. We nibbled on them and ate the ears off. When we had our fill, my mother would melt all our extra pieces and add a can of Planters Cocktail Peanuts. She would spread it on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper, put it in the fridge to harden then we’d break off chunks to eat.

When my kids became old enough, they all got a solid chocolate rabbit as well as a can of peanuts in their baskets. Now our grandkids get the same thing.

We had a farewell party for friends and I made “Dead Bunny” as a treat. Everyone laughed but couldn’t stop breaking off chunks. Our tradition may spread to others.