Tag Archives: holidays

Miscellany

May Day! May Day!

may_day_card

Happy May Day, my friends!

Any big plans?

None for me, thank you. Oh, you read me.

I’m a little off this year.

It started with the cards–you know, the ones I mail with seeds to family and friends. I happened upon a font that’s quite lovely–with large swirls of leaves gracing the capital letters. Unfortunately, the designer got a little overzealous with the flourish. It looks as though I’ll be wishing loved ones a happy Mpay day.

Also, I had planned to take the day off. But there’s a big project–not one I am working on, mind you, but big all the same. It’s making everyone a little crazy; so I didn’t have the heart to ask for the day off to deliver flowers and otherwise frolic.

Oh, well. You win some; you lose some. Even on May Day.

Of course, that means it’s up to you pick up the slack: make cupcakes with edible flowers; dance a jig; leave a few flowers. Do a little something for someone, and otherwise brighten your patch of the world.  

With that, happy salutations on this first day of May.

Or, you know, happy Mpay day!

Miscellany

Happy Valentine’s Day to you

valentine

Skyping with family in Sweden invitebly ends with love and kisses. Awhile back, as we vollied smooches back and forth, I said to my nephew, “Love you to the moon and back!”

He stopped, thought for second, then said, “Love you many colors.”

Not to rub it in or anything, but the boy’s a genius. Four years old and already he knows how to speak the language of the heart. 

So with that, Happy Valentine’s Day!

May it be bright; may it be happy; may you know just how much you are loved.

With love, from me to you,

amy

Miscellany

To your Valentine

Procrastinators, fret not–you still have two whole days to dispense your love in the grandest of fashion.

To get you started, here are a few downloadable Valentine’s . . .

free_valentines_downloads

A great big thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to those who freely make our Valentine’s Day a bit brighter (top to bottom, left to right):

Owlie Valentine from a Fanciful Twist | Tentacle Hugs from Dabbled | Valentine’s day cards by Samantha Hahn | Crazy for you download from Thank You cards | Printable Valentine tags from Living Locurto | Blind Love card from e.m. papers | Be Mine Valentine freebie by The Rubber Punkin

 P.S.–Don’t forget to check out the Valentine movie ticket from Avery

P.P.S.–Want more? Well, you could check out the free Valentine downloads posted last year.

Miscellany

A heart shaped soapbox

poems_CharlesofOrleans

{Oldest known Valentine: note from Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London–1412; Image courtesy of British Library}

Valentine’s Day is mere weeks away. Warms my heart, it does.

Now, should you be tempted to get all indignant, ranting and railing about how you refuse to celebrate “The Greeting Card Holiday,” just don’t.

Valentine’s Day, you see, has been around long before Hallmark.

Without getting into particulars, let’s just say it’s been in existence roughly, oh, forever. It began as a celebration of two saints–mainly, Valentine of Rome and and Valentine of Terni.

The whole lovely-dovey business? We catch sight of that in Chaucer’s Parlement of Foules (1382):

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

Translation: For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.

And the whole ‘roses are red, violets are blue’ business? Blame not the likes of American Greetings. That little ditty, first published in a collection of English nursery rhymes called the Gammer Gurton’s Garland, dates way back in 1784:

The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou’d be you

See what I mean?

Sure, greeting card companies jumped on the bandwagon–they’d be ridiculous not to–but it is most certainly not their holiday.

It is so much more.

It’s a celebration grounded in self-sacrifice and devotion; it’s a day intended to remind us of our most precious treasures–those we love; a day intended to provide us an excuse to tell them as much in our own special way.

In that, it seems a pity to forgo the festivities–especially if you live in a country where it is allowed.

Still, if you haven’t the stomach for it, as least come up with a plausible explanation: hues of pink and crimson make you queasy, for instance; you quite detest the likes of pretty much every one; you prefer to wallow in self pity; what have you. With that, the rest of us will nod and smile sweetly, while popping chocolate covered cherries, sipping bubbly, and recovering from a long-day handing out goofy little Valentine’s to those we cherish.

Miscellany

No need to thank me

When life style blogs highlight a downloadable something-or-another, it’s always a month prior to the intended holiday. This particular modus operandi serves those currently churning their own butter, whilst preparing to hand pluck the feathers from Mr. Tom Turkey.

Alas, I am not of their number.

Show me something a month before I need it (which is, of course, the last possible moment) and I’ll have forgotten where, exactly, I saw it. Just last month, I mentioned to my mum that I found a delectable recipe for the bird, should she be interested. She asked for said recipe over the weekend; I hadn’t a clue where it might be, though I did vaguely recall holding a magazine when it popped into view. Luckily, there were only ten or so lying around; naturally, it was at the bottom of the pile.

What’s that you say–sounds familiar? Good, panic does love company! Though, these lovely printables/tutorials will make you look as though you’ve had it all together all along . . .

Clockwise:

‘I am Thankful’ chain by Jen of Little Sprout Creations via Pizzazzerie | Cork place card tutorial courtesy of Mint | Thanksgiving print via Lemon Squeezy | Acorn place card by Duk Design | DIY leaf place cards by EAB Designs | Turkey place cards by Martha Stewart | Thanksgiving dessert flags also by Jen of Little Sprout Creations via Pizaazzerie | Leaf/acorn printables by Laura Macchia for The Sweetest Occassion