Beauty in its purest form.....

Be my Valentine:))

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

And then there was snow...more snow....!!!

Its Saturday morning and the snow is coming down heavely again. I thought we had gotten enough for this winter - but according to the weather report - we are getting another 40 cm! So I guess I wont be going anywhere this weekend, I was out playing in the snow with Sandra and we had a lot of fun! She just loves it and spent most of the time skiing :-) I think that is the most fun thing she can do at the moment when it comes to winter activities!!! I do agree that skiing is a lot of fun - but I dont have any skis. Actually havent been skiing since high school!


She had made a big snow-cave in the snow with tunnels going every way and in every directions. Now I do have just a touch of claustrophobia so I had no big plans on going in there with her! I can just imagine it now! The cave getting smaller and smaller - the snow caving in and I cant move or get out!!!!! Aaaaaah no thats not for me anymore! I know we should keep some of our inner child in us - but hey I too have limits ( even tho some people think I dont!!!!) But that sure didnt stop me from watching her and having a lot of fun - oooh and getting cooooooooooold.... hehehe



Im thinking with all this snow we are gettig this year - I just might have to go on top of my house to shovel snow of my roof!!!! Something im not particulary looking forward too as I also have a tincy winsy problem with hights!!! The problem being I DONT LIKE THEM!!! And I tell you - it sure is a long way down from my roof to the ground - even with all the snow! But it must be better than unexpectantly ending up with my whole roof and all the snow in my lap one evening!



One thing we cant forget in all this snow talk is all the birds!!! We talk about us having a hard time.......... try to imagine their struggles when trying to find some food in snow so deep it takes about 30 of them on top of each other to reach above snow level! Aawwww poor little chirpers!! So some goodies do get hung outside for them to eat. And it also is great to sit and watch them from my couch! They are so cute. There also are a lot of different types of birds - but I dont have time to find the English words for them at the mo - and I guess most of you know them already ;-)

You all keep warm now - you hear!!!! :-)

The joys of winter!

We grownups often moan about winter. Too much snow - too cold - driving conditions are terrible! It seems as if we have forgotten how much fun we had in the snow when we were children! Ok, im not going to talk for everyone here as I do know there are a lot of grownups who do enjoy the winter and all the snow we get. But mostly I tend to hear the moaning and groaning. As I was driving home today after work I started thinking about this - looking out at the magnificent scenery around me (im lucky enough to live in the countryside). It is a wonderful thing having the 4 seasons and being able to follow it every step of the way. There is always something to look forward to.

Summer is a time to relax and enjoy every day out in the sun with friends and family. Either it being at the beach or having a bbq at home. Long days where the sun doesnt set before almost 11 pm. After a long and warm summer - the autumn arrives with its cooler fresh air and all the changes in colouring ranging from pale yellow to deep red! You can take a trip in the woods picking berries during the day or taking a long walk by the lake - and in the evening its great to relax on the couch with a good book!
As we approach christmas so does winter approach us! And every little kid looks forward to the snow and being able to play in it - build snowmen - go sleigh riding and having snowball fights! Grownups start thinking about how much snow they will have to shovel - will the car start in the mornin after spending half an hour scraping it clear of ice - and will we arrive at work without bumping into another car?! But why not take a minute and think about it. What a wonderful change in scenery - again! The landscape all covered in pure white snow which makes everything so much brighter!
And as the snow starts to fall - why not go out and play!!! We too can build snowmen - have snowball fights and go sleighing :-) I know I havent mentioned skiing - but after a near death experiense some years ago (it sure felt like it to me tho...hehehe) im keeping to walking in the snow for now ;-) But just acting like a kid from time to time is a good thing for everyone. We have a lot to learn from these tiny people! Not having any worries in the world - walking along in their own little world and just singing a happy tune! Yes - Sandra sure is a good example on how to enjoy every part of life no matter what time of year it is :-)

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So im putting on my hat and gloves and heading out to sing in the snow!!!!!! Woohooo.... ;-)

Rock Scissors.......huh??

I got a big package in the post today and thought
Yay!!! some exciting new stuff:) And like a kid on Christmas Eve - I opened the box as fast as I could. With a big smile on my face and the anticipation of a dog waiting for its owner to come home after a long day - I got the last layer off and looked inside... My jaw dropped! What the...... huh? My mind was a blur not understanding what this was all about! It contained one stone - one scissors - and a piece of paper made out to be a mobile phone. Oh those phone companies do have their way with marketing gimicks!! Rock Scissors and Mobile...!!! The only thought in my mind was "This is kinda stupid"! Waste of packaging and a waste of my energy getting all excited over nothing!! Not the least thinking of the envirnoment! The worst part is that I didnt even take the time to find out what this gimick was all about! Oh my attention span can be really short at times. Well - messing with peoples mind like that - who wouldnt! Im hoping for a better day opening the post tomorrow;-) See yah !!!