Valentines Day

Hubby and I had a fun time watching the Super Bowl Game. It was only the two of us, but we did our best trying to eat all the food. Still had some leftovers. "Keeping it real" I was happy that the Eagles didn't win.

Here is all the yummy food from the cheese shop in Waco.

Our site until February 25th.

Monday, we ran errands and tried to get our grocery shopping done for the week. I also picked up some pretty flowers for Valentine's Day. They are still looking good.

Purple is my favorite color.

Fun fact: If the origin of Valentine's Day were a Facebook relationship status, it would read, It's complicated. Sure, today the meaning of Valentine's Day is entrenched in love and romance, bringing to mind boxes of chocolate, bouquets of flowers, romantic dinners, and heart-eye emojis. And for kids, it's all about those creative Valentine's Day boxes for collecting cards and heart-shaped treats at school. But when you delve into the history of the holiday, we celebrate on February 14...well, things get a little murky, dark, and decidedly not for the faint of heart.

 

If you have ever wondered who created Valentine's Day, is Valentine's Day a pagan holiday, or who was St. Valentine, anyway? You are not alone, and as it turns out, even historians find themselves arguing the exact details. However, there are some basic facts about Valentine's Day. Also a few legends, about its origins, from Ancient Rome to the Middle Ages, to today’s traditions. The day is named for St. Valentine and according to The New York Times, it is possible that the holiday was based on a combination of two men. There were two Valentines executed on February 14th (different years) by Roman Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. It's believed that the Catholic Church established St. Valentine's Day to honor these men, who they believed to be martyrs. This is only a legend and there is not enough history about the martyrs that in 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed the feast day from its calendar, though St. Valentine is still recognized as a saint.

 

There was a mid-February fertility festival in Ancient Rome called Lupercalia. It was dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture, Faunas, and Roman founders Romulus and Remus, this feast of debauchery involved a ritual where an order of Roman priests ran naked through the streets, "gently slapping" women with the blood-soaked hides of sacrificed animals, which they believed promoted fertility. Later the women would be paired off with men "By lottery." In the late 5th century Pope Gelasius I outlawed Lupercalia. He designated the celebration of St. Valentine's Day on February 14th to replace the pagan holiday.

 

Valentine's Day didn't resemble the romantic holiday we know today until the Middle Ages. Poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote "The Parliament of Fowls” and at the time of Chaucer's writings Britain considered February 14th to be their first day of Spring, because it was the beginning of birds' mating season. A line from "The Parliament of Fowls" reads: "For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, When every fowl comes there his mate to take."  Whether or not Chaucer can be fully credited, it is true that he and fellow writer Shakespeare popularized the amorous associations surrounding the day. 

 

The mid-19th century marked the beginning of many of the commercialized Valentine's Day traditions we know today. Victorian men wooed women with flowers, Richard Cadbury created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates, and the New England Confectionery Company, began stamping out an early version of Conversation Hearts. By the early 1910s, an American company that would one day become Hallmark began distributing its more official "Valentine's Day cards." 

 

It's not all about St. Valentine. Cupid, that winged baby boy often seen on Valentine's Day cards and paraphernalia, is another symbol of this love-filled holiday. In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, goddess of love and beauty. He was known for shooting arrows at both gods and humans, causing them to fall instantly in love with one another. while it's unclear exactly when Cupid was brought into the Valentine's Day story, it's certainly clear why.

 

Wednesday, we had a fun time with Ellen over dinner. Her husband, Bud, was out of town for work, so we got her all to ourselves.

Hubby, myself and Ellen.

Thursday was a cold windy day. Didn't even go for a walk. "Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold. From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen". Job 37:9-10 (NASB). We have started that back up and we are enjoying it. My goal is set at 6000 steps, sadly I don't make that every time. We did go on a walk on Friday, but my step count is just shy of 6000. Guess I need to walk more than just 30 minutes and more often during the day.

Friday night we went out with Bud and Ellen (no picture - boo). We went to a really good Mexican Restaurant. Boy, that was good. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one'". C.S. Lewis.

Saturday, hubby and Bud went to pick up Thor from the airport and we had dinner. I made brownies and brought a salad and jalapeño poppers - yum. Sunday we just all chilled together, although we did go out to eat. 

The guys leave Monday to go on a pig hunt. I do believe Ellen and I will hang out on Monday because she has that day off. Fun fun!

Hubby comes back home on Wednesday and then we only have a few more days until we head out to Arkansas.

If there is something special you would like me to take a picture of, please let me know!
 
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God, the RV & me...