It's Bill, 4/19/26: Easter 2026

Easter Traditions, Then and Now

During Easter 2025, I wrote 2 blogs about my Easters. I recalled the traditional Easters of my youth in Bolton, CT. Later, married with my young family, I related how I had evolved away from established Easter traditions to a personal celebration of Easter. We stayed home, didn’t go to church or travel, dyed some Easter eggs, had a nice, quiet dinner. After dinner, weather permitting, we’d take a walk in the fresh Spring air. My favorite walks were to old country cemeteries. I’d read the inscriptions, tracing relationships and dates, note the type of stone and the stonecutter’s art. To me, an old cemetery is part of our history and heritage. Cemeteries are parks for both the living and the dead.

Finding History in Lubec

Since buying West Quoddy Station in 2000, I have been visiting Lubec cemeteries. Web searches are good sources for finding cemeteries. I’ve also talked with older residents as well as those who mow cemeteries. Finding the smaller farmhouse graves is a challenge, a fine way to get to know the Lubec roads, local residents and locations. I enjoy my search and have a lot of fun.

Sometime after I first met Patricia, I started babbling to her about how I grew up in an old cemetery and loved walking in them, especially at Easter. There is a very good, old list of North Lubec cemeteries that is online. On Easter 2024, I visited 3 old North Lubec cemeteries and was very pleased with my discoveries, just what I love to find. Later, I called Patricia and told her of my local finds. She became interested in visiting cemeteries, finding history and culture in our own back yards, walking, being out in nature. It wasn’t long after that Patricia would accompany me on my cemetery excursions.

Easter Walks in the Rain

We had our Easter Sunday together in 2025. We had braised lamb shanks with wide noodles, Prosecco, shortcake for our quiet holiday celebration. Easter afternoon, we searched and visited North Lubec cemeteries in the rain. Later, in the Spring, we explored other old Lubec cemeteries. We had fun searching and reading the old stones, even in good weather.

Another Perfect Easter

For Easter 2026, it was basically a given that we continue our new Easter tradition. Teri came by to have some tea with us on Easter morning, bringing some flowers for Patricia. After that, Patricia and I drove to West Quoddy Station to look for daffodils, crocus, and tulips. And more old cemeteries, in the rain, as we drove back to Patricia’s.

Preparing for what’s next—spring work in the garden, one bulb at a time!

Back in North Lubec, we started preparing braised lamb shanks in a Le Creuset, prepping together. Dinner was ready after some reading and a nap. Braised lamb shanks, wide noodles, cake. With Easter colors in mind, we had pink champagne. Another perfect Easter.