to each of you

The heart shape has always held attraction for me. It finds its way into much of what I create, probably because most of what I make is created for someone I love or care about. While cruising snaps in my iPhoto albums I found a few.

Wanting to wish any of you who happen to peek into my window today a very happy Valentines Day, know I care about each of you. And because I do, I'll repeat my annual February women's heart health month wish...

Take the best care of yourself. It will mean a lot to me, and I'm guessing, quite a bit to others as well.

the first Wednesday of February

The ride out of January into February felt a bit like I'd imagine being pulled through a black hole. Heavy snow and howling winds on Sunday night to Monday. Sub, sub zero cold on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. More than 70 degree temperature change and a resultant two days of thawing and dense fog for the week's end. For the first time in my lifetime, the USPS cancelled mail delivery for two days. The clinic in town reduced its hours. Frequent visits to the chicken house required dressing as if for an arctic trek. Keeping feeders for the wild birds the only other reason to leave my own nest.

Continuous mugs of Tazo's Passion tea in the company of cats, doors and windows cloaked by every towel, throw rug and lap blanket we could gather, long hours of reading, sewing, garden planning and delighting in preparing my Handmade Joy Exchange items for the post got me through the days. Oh blessed retirement, not having anywhere to be but home sweet home. And truth be told not wanting to be.

Now on the other side, it's a wintry mix and snow in the forecast. For the moment nothing extreme.  A quick trip to town yesterday to send my Handmade Joy Exchange package on its way, to  the library, and to pick up a few staples from the grocery store, reasons to leave the house  for the first time in ten days. While shopping I gave in to the temptation to bring a bit of spring home with me. 

A sweet lady, perhaps just a wee bit older than me, noticed the tete a tete daffodil planter in my shopping cart and sighed. I told her it was important to treat ones' self from time to time, especially at our age and in the grip of winter. A few moments later she approached me to show me I had influenced her to choose a treat for herself... a carton of cherry chocolate frozen yogurt. She thanked me for the encouragement!

In the spirit of my word for the year, nourish, these little treats of joy go a long way.

And being starved for green and flowers of any kind it's important to be grateful for the little miracles that emerge.

Put them front and center. They deserve full attention for bringing such grace into daily life.