President Bush to spend Easter holiday at home on his Texas ranch

Friday, March 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) _ The grass is green, the bluebonnets are making their seasonal appearance and President Bush and his wife, Laura, are settled in for the Easter weekend at the ranch they call home.

The president and first lady were being joined on Friday by his father and mother, former President George Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush. The elder Bushes plan to stay through Easter morning services.

The president began his brief respite away Washington by raising nearly $4 million for three Republican Senate candidates in three states, including Texas. Then he settled in at the ranch for serious rest and relaxation.

``Welcome to Texas. Your day is better for it,'' a smiling Bush said Thursday in Dallas as he walked past reporters. That was just before he helped raise a reported $1.8 million for the campaign of Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, who is seeking election to the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas.

The White House said Bush planned no further public events and was engaged in ``outdoor projects'' at the ranch. On some trips to his Texas spread Bush has spent much time cutting brush in the canyons a short drive from his still-new house.

The president is receiving daily intelligence briefings through a secure video conferencing system connecting him to national security officials in Washington. Aides said he was keeping abreast of events in the Middle East.

The president was joined at the ranch, aides said, by an overnight house guest, former Texas Secretary of State Elton Bomer.

The Bushes are expected to return to Washington Sunday afternoon.