Columnist Muriel Stevens: Holiday gives pause for reflection

Wednesday, March 16, 2005 | 8:16 a.m.

Thursday is St. Patrick's Day. If you hurry, the live, blooming shamrock plants that Trader Joe's has been selling will still be available. For less than $3 you'll get a lovely pot of shamrocks that will continue to bloom if you don't overwater it.

Mine was covered with white flowers that closed each evening and opened each morning.

Thursday morning I will place it in a prominent place in the Las Vegas Sun's executive offices as a remembrance of former Nevada Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, who was chairman of the Sun until his death in March 2004, and his dear wife, Carolyn, who died five months after he did.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of the O'Callaghan siblings and their offspring.

Easter Bunny arrives March 26 at The District: The District at Green Valley Ranch will play host to the Easter Bunny from noon to 3 p.m. March 26. The Easter Bunny will welcome all kids and their families.

Parents are advised to bring cameras. The friendly, furry bunny will greet the kids and pose for pictures with them.

Kids can also try their hand at cookie decorating. Assisting the youngsters with their artistic endeavors will be chefs from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Panera Bread is donating one cookie for each kid to decorate.

After they decorate the cookie they can take it home to eat. It's all free and kids of all ages are welcome.

General hours for The District are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Hours vary for some stores and restaurants, so call 564-8595 or visit www.TheDistrictGVR.com for more info.

Outrageously beautiful eggs: McCormick & Company Inc. has added Neon Food Colors and Egg Dye to its ever-growing list of egg decorating products. Just follow the three easy steps included with the jazzy food colors, electric shades of pink, purple, blue and green. This is the first time these hues have been available.

McCormick Neon Food Color and Egg Dye will enliven your favorite baked goods. Just think what you can do with these vibrant colors and your own cookies and cupcakes. Yum. Look for the wide array of Neon and assorted food colors in your grocer's spice aisle.

Sweet veggies and other notable noshes for Easter baskets: Bunnies like carrots. People like carrots. Bunnies and people (of all ages) like carrots. Bunnies and people love carrots "grown" by Ethel M Chocolates.

Ideal to put into any gift basket are Ethel M's orange- and green-tipped foil-wrapped milk chocolate look-alikes. The carrots are wrapped in cellophane and tied with the signature white satin ribbon. Purchase separately for a sweet little gift (1.75 ounces, $5) or splurge on a bunch of carrots.

Or, make up your own egg-stravagant gift. Get a bunny or a ducky with a pouch of foil-wrapped chocolate eggs ($18); add a few butterflies filled with jelly beans (each butterfly, $6); and jelly bean-chocolate eggs ($5 each). Break the egg and find a treasure trove of jellybeans.

Spend $65 or more and a $45 stuffed bunny with super-soft fur is yours for $20. No, you can't eat this loveable rabbit (he's not made of chocolate), but unlike Peter Rabbit, he won't steal your carrots.