Be My Valentine

A 1940s vintage valentine.

With Valentine's coming up, I thought back about when I was in elementary school in the late 40s and remembered the kind of valentines we would share with our class mates.  I would usually buy a bag or box full of valentines at Woolworth's and then go through them picking out ones for class mates, and putting them in the little envelopes with their names on them. At school we would put all our valentines in a large box and several students would then hand them out. 

I'm thinking I always made a card for every class mate.  I hope so.  There were probably some kids who didn't get many cards, and that was cruel.  I hope they don't exchange cards like this in school these days.  Anyway here are some old vintage cards very similar to the ones I would send. 

Of course we always had a card for our teacher.

Many of these seem pretty corny now, but it is a bit nostalgic looking back at these old cards.

Wishing all of you a very happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Snowflakes Up Close

Now that it's snowing again, I thought you might enjoy seeing these macrophotographs of snowflakes by Alexey Kljatov of Moscow, Russia.Of course snowflakes are water crystals, and because of the configuration of the water molecule, the crystals are hexagonal in shape. All photos by Alexey Kljatov.

These are truly beautiful.  Nature is the best artist. 

Early Valentine by The Clothes Horse

Rebecca, the Clothes Horse, photo by Thomas. 

I just love this post by Rebecca, the Clothes Horse, and I couldn't resist sharing it with you.
Just click on this link, The Clothes Horse to see the post.  Such a nice early valentine post.

Rebecca, the Clothes Horse.  Photo by Thomas.

Isn't she lovely?

"The Beatles! Let's Bring Them On."

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan Show, February 9, 1964

"Now yesterday and today our theater's been jammed with newspapermen and hundreds of photographers from all over the nation, and these veterans agreed with me that this city never has witnessed the excitement stirred by these youngsters from Liverpool who call themselves The Beatles. Now tonight, you're gonna twice be entertained by them. Right now, and again in the second half of our show. Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles! Let's bring them on."---Ed Sullivan

In 1964 I was teaching science and math at Orange Junior High School in Hillsborough, NC.  All day that Friday the little girls in my 8th grade science class were chattering about "the beatles".  I had no idea what they were talking about---thought it was about insects.  When I asked they told me about this group that was going to be on the Ed Sullivan Show on that next Sunday night.  I told them I would watch.  I admit I was pretty much hooked from the beginning.  I'm still a loyal fan fifty years later.  I would love to touch base with some of those little students of mine who would now be about 62 or 63 years old.  Egads!!!!

Yes little eighth grade girls, you were right.  Great group.  And they have stood the test of time.

Corner Table Out, Counter In

Small table in corner of our kitchen. 

When we renovated our kitchen a few years ago, we saved a corner for a small table at which we could eat if we didn't want to eat in the dining room.  And for a while it served us quite well.  However, I found myself short on counter space.  When my knee surgery was approaching I thought it would be easier to have the option of eating at a counter top height than the small table ( I wouldn't have to bend my knee so much in the early days of recuperating from the knee replacement.)

We arranged for our friend Steve to build in a corner counter in early January so it would be ready when I was recovering from my knee surgery.  In late December I purchased two counter height stools that I liked and that would work with the new counter. 

I found these counter height stools at Pier One Imports.  They are quite comfortable.

Steve built the "foundation' for the counter, and we located a company, Countercraft in Youngsville, NC, that could match our Gibraltar counter tops in the rest of the kitchen.  They did a beautiful job. 

Our new corner counter.

I can use this counter as my baking corner.  I plan to store the mixer, which is quite heavy, on  the counter.  It's difficult for me to carry it back and forth from the shelf in the pantry where it usually "lives".  I've ordered a pretty cover for it, and the mixer will be there when I need it.  As one ages, it is necessary to make adjustments of how things are done.

Mixer stored in corner of counter.

I've ordered this cover for the mixer.

I will use this counter as a baking center.

When not using it as a baking center, it makes a great place to have breakfast, or any meal for that matter.  To get into the dining room, there is one step down.  When I was first recovering it was hard to make that step, so I could just eat in the kitchen.

Counter set for breakfast.

The little table has for now found a new place at the end of the dining room/sunroom.  Eventually we may end up giving it to one of the grands when they move into a place of their own.

Table moved to end of dining room.

Yes, I  believe we are going to enjoy our new corner counter.