The egg has been a symbol of creation for hundreds of years and people have been dyeing them almost just as long. The original tradition of egg dyeing is said to have started in Persia in 3000 BC to celebrate the first day of Spring. In the Middle Ages decorating and coloring eggs became a wide spread custom in England. The wealthy would cover their eggs in gold, while the peasants would use herbs and flowers to decorate their eggs. In the 1700’s the Pennsylvania Dutch were credited with bringing the tradition of egg dyeing to the US. And in the late 1800’s a drug store owner named William Townley from New Jersey created dye tablets in 5 different colors, which then launched the largest manufacturer of egg dyes, known today as PAAS.
When I was a child I remember begging my mom every year to let me get the egg dyeing kit that allowed me to cover all my eggs in glitter. Being young, I obviously didn’t realize the mess that was left behind after all the fun was over; and as reluctant as she was about letting me get the kit with glitter, she usually gave in. The tradition in our household now is to do a different style every year. Last year we attempted the Ukrainian style of decorating named pysanky (also known as pysanka). This method is done in different stages, using beeswax, a stylus and different color dyes. It was a very time consuming and tedious process but fun nonetheless and we created the most beautiful eggs I have ever seen. For more information on pysanky and basic instructions on how to make your own pysanky eggs can be viewed here
Traditional Pysanky Eggs
If you’re looking to do something a little different this year other than the usual way of dipping eggs in dye, check out some of the links below for some fun and creative ideas. I’ve also added a few recipes for what you can do to with all those egg after they have been dyed.
Recently Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS) released data that shows positive growth in the Howard County real estate market for homes priced between $600K-$1M. Here is a video recap outlining the data as of October 31, 2010:
Living in the Mid-Atlantic region, you often find that the construction of new homes are dominated by large, national, publicly traded builders. Naturally, these builders have divisions in several major metro areas across the nation, they consolidate buying power, have a stable of the same plans coast to coast and use building practices that best serve their shareholders. So while this model is critical to the economy, it really makes us appreciate that small, local builder who has become an endangered species. These hidden gems are the perfect match for that first or second time move-up buyer who wants personal flair without breaking the bank. For more than 30 years, Forty West has been doing just that!
Some call it custom, some call it semi-production but at Forty West we call it GETTING PERSONAL. That means offering our buyers an array of floor plans we know are structurally sound and designed for today’s living, and then allowing our customers to personalize these floor plans to meet their desires. This can mean moderate changes like converting a first floor study to private in-laws quarters, wholesale changes like closing in a two-story family room and elevating the master bedroom above it, or it can mean cosmetic personalization like visiting a granite warehouse to pick that perfect slab for your kitchen.
Buying your first home is no doubt an unforgettable experience. . . . but in more ways than one. The progressions from that “happy homeowner” stage to the “if we had known” stage to the “in our next house we will” stage are common. So as you search for your next home, don’t forget about the “all the things you wished for in your next house stage” and find a builder who can make your wishes come true. After all, buying a home is a personal decision so make it personal!
