Valentine's Day.....and stuff

• Never been a big fan of Valentine's Day, even when I was a kid.  Even though (back in the day) the teachers always gave us class time to make our boxes (shoe boxes were everyone's raw material) I never had the artistic ability to make it into anything but ordinary.  And then there were those whose parents made sure they had stunning valentines to share, but they didn't always give them to everyone.  And since I've never been cute or popular or well, anything, it was hard to see some kids lugging their overstuffed shoeboxes and mine had only a token few.  So, yeah. I've never been super enamored with the day.

Just For Me - :^) 

And I'm not one of those people who decorates for all the holidays.  I think I have one pumpkin for Halloween that more years than not stays in the cupboard.  It's too much fuss for me (even the one pumpkin) and really, I don't care.  Don't have the either the ambition or talent for all that.

Cute Book

But I have tried over the years (in my own clumsy attempt at creativity) to send valentines to the kids and grandkids.  Did it for years.  This year?  Not.  I think I'm done.

The fun part?  I actually received a valentine this year.  A truly custom valentine made just for me, including a lined envelope!  Thanks, My Love, I'm so grateful we're each other's.

• My morning walk this morning was up the hill to Walgreen's. Was surprised at how many men were in there frantically getting something for their sweethearts.  I guess they didn't know today was the day. (Really?)

Beautiful View.

• Skim-read this cute book the other day.  I really enjoyed his approach and his way of writing.  I enjoyed the hour or so I was able to turn those pages.  Though, I'll say up front that I think he's wrong:  It actually was me that invented potato chips on sandwiches.  :^)

• And this morning was beautiful.  I took this shot from our corner-of the opposite side of the valley. The sky and the sun just reaching those mountains was so pretty.  I had to crop a lot of house-tops off, so it's not quite as good as seeing it in person.  But, it's been just lovely.

• Watched another Hallmark movie the other night that we'd recorded.  (I don't care that I get a bit of gentle grief for watching Hallmark movies.  It's a wonderful relief from all the language and smut and negative things that are going on on other channels.)   The sort-of motto for the movie was "warrior not worrier".  The difficulty is, I think I'm kinda both! Well, I absolutely know I'm a worrier (and no apologies, I've worked hard to reduce the amount of worrying I do, I'm way better than before, and really - that's who I am) but I try really hard to be a warrior, too.  To fight for goodness and kindness and gentleness (sounds weird to fight for something like gentleness, but I try to) and positivity.   Maybe it's really ok to be both?

So today I'm grateful for a valentine from my favorite person.  I'm grateful for my ability to begin each day with a walk, it really is my therapy.  I'm grateful for trips to Costco with The Husband, it helps to have someone along to decide what to spend $$ on. I'm grateful for something to look forward to.  I'm grateful for the public library that lets me read to my heart's content without having to buy or store all those books.  I'm grateful for something fun for dinner tonight that someone else will help prepare.  And I'm grateful for those who reply to texts/emails/letters - helps me feel valued.