~All for Love~

Thank you so much for all the comments on Benjamin's birthday! He had a really fun day. We rented "Curious George" and ordered pizza for dinner. Then he got to stay up late! February sure was a busy birthday month, the next one isn't until
May. :0)
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I have been reading my February Victoria magazines along with one of my favorite books, "All for Love" by Tasha Tudor.


It is full of beautiful pictures, poems and stories, along with some cute (and silly!) love potions and charms....

You can find out if the person you love loves you by pulling off the petals of a daisy or black-eyed Susan while you say:
He (or she) loves me,
He loves me not,
He loves me,
He loves me...etc.
The last petal will tell you the answer.


Rose leaves and forget-me-nots made into tea are also effective in making your loved one love you.


If you peel an apple so that the peel is all in one long piece, and then throw the peel over your left shoulder onto the floor, it will form the initial of the person you will marry.


When you go to a wedding, take a little piece of the wedding cake home with you and put it under your pillow, you will dream about the person you will marry. This sounds messy to me!


Four-leaved clovers always bring good luck. But if you find four of them, put one beneath each corner of your bedsheet, and you will dream of the person you will marry.


I'm pretty sure none of those potions and charms actually work so let me share with you some things that do! :0)

Love is not confined to Valentine's Day. There are many occasions all through the year to tell people that you love and appreciate them. Actually, the nicest thing of all is the unexpected or spontaneous expression of your affection by a word, a homemade gift or even a small bouquet of flowers. But still, it is pleasant to have a day set apart specifically for celebrating love.

One of my favorite parts of All for Love is when Tasha Tudor shares about her Sparrow Post.



"Valentine's Day in the Tudor home centers on the Sparrow Post. It started out as a grocery carton but has been turned into quite an elaborate establishment with cubbyholes for letters, a counter, a set of scales and many important notices pasted to the walls. There is a back office for Mr. Sparrow where he can work in peace and sort that quantities of mail. There is even miniature mail just the right size for dolls and stuffed animals.

A few years ago I borrowed Tasha's idea and made a "Cardinal Post." The girls and Benjamin have lots of fun leaving notes for each other inside.


I found the mini mailboxes at Michaels and the post office miniatures at Hobby Lobby in the doll house section.


Another great book I've been reading is Sarah Ban Breathnach's "Mrs. Sharp's Traditions." She has some sweet ideas for Valentine's Day...


The Dolls' Valentine Tea Party
Have a Valentine Tea party for all the dolls and stuffed-toy friends who keep your children in such good company throughout the year. Dolls and toys are, as you no doubt realize, very generous to those good children who take such loving care of them! You may have to assisted the dolls and animals in their valentine making without the children's knowledge! ;0)


A Wedding In the Woods
For centuries it has been an old country superstition that on St. Valentine's the birds select their mates. Why not put out a wedding supper for the birds...maybe some sunflower seeds or pinecones covered in peanut butter and birdseed.


Last but not least, if you need something delicious to eat on Valentine's Day I have to recommend Mrs. U's Chocolate Pound Cake. As if pound cake isn't yummy enough, now add some chocolate! :0)


Chocolate Pound Cake
1/2 pound of butter, softened (2 sticks)
1/2 cup of shortening
3 cups of sugar
5 whole eggs
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 cup of cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup milk
3 cups plain flour (all purpose)

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in wet ingredients. Pour into greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let it cool in pan for 5 minutes and then turn onto cooling rack.

I hope you have enjoyed these ideas on making February 14th extra special.

No matter how you plan on celebrating the holiday, I want to wish you a very sweet Valentine's Day tomorrow.


Be my Valentine,
My heart is yours.

Pictures from www.antiqueclipart.com and www.art.com