It just takes one splendid sunny day to evoke visions of springtime and get me thinking about forsythia, daffodils, bluebirds, white patent leather shoes and other harbingers of spring. My earliest memories of springtime go back to Easter and all the joyous commotion and annual rites circling around this special day—pastels, colored eggs, jelly beans, and my much-anticipated outfit for church on Easter morning. Every year my mama would take me shopping for an Easter dress and complete the ensemble with a jaunty little hat, white anklets, and matching white Mary Jane shoes and pocketbook. I would be up at sunrise on Easter eagerly anticipating the ceremonial donning of the new frilly outfit and the annual debut of my pristine new white shoes, sure in the knowledge I would be asked to ride on the hood of the lead convertible in the Easter parade that only took place between my ears.
After the packed-house church service that included rounds of my least favorite musical selections (Low in the Grave He Lay) and most favorite (the Hallelujah chorus) we would enjoy a wonderful home-cooked meal topped off with my mama’s fresh-baked pound cake adorned with the first strawberries of the season. My mama’s pound cake recipe was handed down to her by her mama Fannie Bragg. No holiday was complete without pound cake when I was growing up, and it was a beloved household staple when I was raising my always-hungry boys. This endearing family tradition inspired me to launch Fannie Bragg so I could share lots of pound cake love.
The Easter dress tradition, however, skipped a generation. I enjoyed dressing up my boys in miniature sports coats and ties when they were young and could be swayed. But I missed shopping for lacy frilly dresses and such…until Berkley, my sweet little granddaughter, arrived and captured our hearts last year. The patent-leather shoes are going to have to wait, though. It would be impossible to shove her chubby little feet into shoes. But perhaps we’ll paint her wee toenails Easter-egg pink.
Happy spring and happy Easter, ya’ll.
With gratitude,
Pat Blumer
Fannie Bragg.
P.S.: Just a reminder that Easter is on March 27 this year. So get your orders in by March 22 to ensure Easter delivery to your home and/or to the home of loved ones and friends.
