Happy Valentine

I am that -- a happy Valentine. A person who was programmed, probably from birth, to fight hard to ignore the irritants in life and focus on something bigger and better than that. And, too, a person who likes Valentine's Day --all of which makes me a happy Valentine.

Since Ed and I have been together (more than 17 years now!), I have variously treated this holiday. In some years I wanted us to go out to dinner, get flowers, eat candy, write cards. Other years I settled for a box of chocolates. One time I think I cracked open a bottle of champagne. This year, my goal was for us to be together (I'm heading out tomorrow -- the day after Valentine's Day), to eat something outside of my normal cooking repertoire, and to still have some chocolates and flowers left over from when we got them a week ago! 

[With family and friends I mostly let the Valentine current run wild without me. The grandkids get tons of chocolate and sweets from other grandparents and family members -- they dont need more from me. A few cookies before Valentine's Day -- that's it. My girls -- oh, I tell them I love them constantly. I announce it to the world! From the mountaintops! I love my young families so much!! I leave it at that.]

I know Ed and I celebrate love every day of the year too. In some fashion, we acknowledge gratitude at being together in this old house with the warm rooms in winter and the cool porch in the summer, and the land that has allowed for so many flowers, berries and fruit trees to flourish. Watch'y doin' gorgeous? -- he'll ask out of the blue. Or from the couch, in the middle of the day I'll hear -- it's nice being here with you. Nonetheless, on Valentine's Day, we ratchet it up a bit. Just because.

So, a walk to deal with the animals...

And a breakfast: rosy me, with the pink shirted guy (still working through Chicago baked goods)...

And then? Well, not a whole lot of outdoor excitement. There's a threat of rain, so we keep our park walk short.

Afterwards, it's time for me to get my suitcase out and start thinking what to put in it. (I'm heading out tomorrow.)

And in the afternoon, Snowdrop is here. Good thing the girl made class Valentine's cards! An unexpected delight -- a Valentine's Day party in school -- brought in the loot from classmates. Oh, how kids love a chance to collect these small cards, trinkets and candies!

Not much time to spend on studying the spoils from the party though. It's ballet class day. I admit, I'm a little lenient with her pokiness. And predictably, we are a tad late. Hey -- half the kids skipped class altogether! I imagine parents were dealing with one big sugar high after school. Me, I cheat and put on the TV. Doing her hair then is easy. She is distracted by the cute Bluey episodes and she doesn't mind the gazillion pins that I have to stick in her scalp to keep the bun in place.

Class...

And then I drive back home.

An evening with Ed -- our last one together for a while. I broil some small lobster tails left over from Christmas Eve (I had purchased too many). Ed would absolutely give in and watch a rom com tonight with me, but I so love the show we just tuned into several days ago (Clarkson's Farm), that I opt for that instead. Last evening's episode on rising sheep had us laughing so hard that I thought -- wow, comedy never felt so good! 

And so ends another Valentine -- wet and gloppy, warm and muddy, weird and wonderful all at the same time.

(Dance and Snowflake-Unfriendly, the half sisters and BFFs)

With so much love...