Valentines Day
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| Screen shot of a Jacquie Lawson Animated card |
It's Valentines Day-not that I do much to celebrate it. If you do, I hope you enjoy. I liked it as a child and as a parent. The cheesy little cards bought in bundles, then carefully put together with a sucker or mini candy bar. One year I hit a great deal on the conversation heart boxes for both the older kids and those were their give away for the school Valentine's exchange, but we cut out assorted pink, red, and purple hearts to attach as the tag. With the youngest, I think we used fruit chews or fruit by the foot as the treat, though not at all healthier than candy but it felt like it was.
The grandmas got into Valentines action. My mom had a lot of grandchildren, but she'd buy the individually wrapped Russell Stover heart for each of them. The other grandma, not near the numbers of grandkids my mom had, but to this day sends a card with a $5 bill in it. Quite appreciated when the kids were in college. I have no grandchildren and I don't bother with the large number of great nieces and nephews.
My friends who I've known since birth, two who were widowed younger than I was, gave me a bouquet of flowers that first Valentines Day and took me out for dinner earlier in the week. It was very appreciated. I've bought myself flowers the last two years and bought a simple bouquet yesterday as well. It is a real day, but as a holiday, Valentines is made up manufactured nonsense to be honest. It serves as a point of sadness for many who are without much love in their life. While I avoid the romantic side of it, I'll appreciate in spirit that love comes in all shapes and sizes, including trying to love myself.
We never bothered with Valentines stuff- in all our 38 years - or anniversaries - always seemed a waste of money when we were on a tight budget with 3 children and mortgage and wanting a smallholding - and once we had the smallholding, children grown and no mortgage it seemed a bit late to start!
ReplyDeleteI'd rather celebrate our own moments and memories too. Prices are higher yesterday. I bet there's some real bargains today on chocolate but I'm avoiding.
DeleteI decided to be my own Valentine, although I do feel like this is a candy holiday. I took treats to my co-workers and make two burlap bags of treats for my besties. I bought myself a heart charm for my bracelet and made myself a good dinner last night. I probably will not acknowledge it any further than that.
ReplyDeleteThat's a sweet thing for your friends. I think your treat to yourself was deserved.
DeleteHave a nice day.
ReplyDeleteTo you as well.
DeleteTheHub and I kind of celebrate Valentine's Day. We go out to eat but never on the actual holiday. Yesterday we ate lunch at a relatively new place that is getting a lot of buzz. Our actual Valentine's evening will be spent eating soup and watching the Olympics. No cards, no candy, no flowers and it is all fine.
ReplyDeleteYears ago we used to go to a Valentine's lunch with church. No one has organized them for probably 15 years. Like you, I tried to make a nice dinner at home and avoid crowds.
DeleteI used to love it as a kid. When my kids came up I was disappointed in how the cards looked compared to what the boxes of cards we would get at the dime store looked like.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Valentine’s memory with my husband is one morning afterlife, with an elementary aged kid, one in diapers and me pregnant , I sent him out to the store for….something . He came back in with what I sent him out for and bag FULL of chocolate and said “it was all 75% off. I just couldn’t leave it there!”
We are fighting a cold here..I was going to grill steaks and make a ricotta cheesecake but it just doesn’t appeal with this congestion.
-Meg B.
The mail box decorating of shoe boxes or cereal containers was part of the fun. My husband would have done the same if Reeses PB hearts!
DeleteGlad you bought yourself some flowers, and I hope they bring a bit of cheer. Does your kitty like flowers? When mine were kittens, I would find flowers all over the house; I think they thought the flowers were a new cat toy.
ReplyDeleteI still get my kids a few valentine treats. For our son, it is meaty snacks, dil gets chocolates and kettle corn, and daughter gets chocolates and gummies. :D
She's been pretty good about leaving them as there's no ball shape. Then she's a menace. My son was home so he got a delicious dinner...that's the extent I treated my kids.
DeleteI sent texts to those I love most except Hubby; instead of Good Morning we said Happy Valentine's Day. Very low key here and that is fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's the thought of loved ones I try to stay with too.
DeleteTony always buys me a beautiful card but we agreed many years ago not to buy presents. Yesterday he bought me a beautiful bunch of chrysanthemum. I'll take sideshoot cuttings off them to grow on and plant in the garden
ReplyDeleteOh, a years later gift. Your garden is so wonderful.
DeleteI just like cooking something special that we wouldn't have normally. We never go out to eat on Valentine's, it is such a rip-off. I also warned John not to buy flowers as they are too expensive and die too quickly!
ReplyDeleteMy flowers were just the regular small grocery store bundle. No inflated roses.
DeleteI hope you had a lovely day, Sam. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was quiet but nice weather for walks.
DeleteAnd today is National Gum Drop Day. There is something to celebrate every day ...should we want to! And some days just getting up is a celebration!
ReplyDeleteSome days getting up is an achievement. I do like gumdrops.
DeleteD and I made some heart shaped cookies and decorated them yesterday. We all enjoyed eating them. Hubby and I always do cards but that is about it. I'm glad you bought some flowers for yourself, something just for you to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a nice day.
DeleteYes Valentine's Day seems a fun day for the kiddies but not much fun for the adults viz. spending money.
ReplyDeleteNothing but ,$8 for flowers and will avoid the leftovers in the stores.
DeleteOh how lovely of your friends.
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually do anything for valentine's day. I told my husband (years ago) not to buy flowers on that day as the prices are so inflated!
They sure ate. Mine were just a simple grocery store bouquet.
DeleteV-day is a normal day to me. Made up excuse/demand by Hallmark and flower stores with over 29 billion spent this year? I would rather see every child get school breakfast and lunch. I'm not a bah humbug person but for some reason this 'holiday' has always irked me. I know I'm in the minority-I am anything but normal ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a terrific Tuesday! 😊😊
I'm sure there's loads of money spent. People just like to celebrate and it's a good one to push a particular feeling out there. We get to decide to avoid though..
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