A Cozy Corner to Call My Own 

Isn't it nice to have just a little spot of your own, to read a favorite book (I have many!), to take a break from the many responsibilities that go with being a happy homemaker, the morning or evening devotions, prayer, bible reading, or just sitting for a time to refresh & relax with a hot cup of tea ..... or a time to chat with a friend. as we are doing. & as much as I love this "cozy corner", I have others too. A rocking chair in my dining room that looks out on the Black Hills that takes on its' own aura at different times of the day. Outside I love the "enclosure" of the oak & giant spruce trees that give me a feeling of peace & solitude. It's like having a big snuggle tree hug.💖 Even in my little red barn that I use for storage,

there is a rocking chair that I love to sit in with a blanket (or two) & read some old magazines that are stored there. Or just listen to the soothing, rhythmic & therapeutic sound of the rockers, "creeeeak, croooak, creeeak, croooak,,,"  ⛄....& this is the view that I get to look at....

very wintry, but very cozy ( I just LOVE that word!) especially with my hands wrapped around a comfy hot mug of tea. (In the winter when I am outside it has to be a mug of tea because it serves a dual purpose of 'hand warmer'!)⛄

For a little background on the origin of the celebration of Valentines Day, you can read about the life of St. Valentine who was martyred because of his love & devotion to Jesus. I am inspired by the sacrificial expressions of love that we celebrate every  February 14th  that was birthed as the result of the life of St. Valentine. Good examples for us to also pattern our lives after, to make a difference for good  & what is true & beautiful in our sphere of influence.

I enjoy doing a bit of decorating for this holiday too. 💖

So does Sidney Snowman!

I love these balloons because they don't lose their air. My youngest daughter got this Piggy for me three years ago! 🐷

I love roses! Ask my kids. Ask my husband! Ask anyone who comes to our house. They are my most favorite (est!) flower in the whole world!

A sweet bouquet of miniature, burgundy roses with a bit of wax flowers sprinkled in. I dry almost all of the roses that I get into very lovely bouquets because almost all have a memory attached to them & I can't bear to just throw them away. I hang them upside down

& dry them & once dried, I spray them with a craft spray in Matte to preserve them.

I have some here hung on the little plastic clothespin clip lights. Perfect for drying roses.

How soft & sweet at night with the tiny lights turned on. So romantic...

I bought several of these little vases at a dollar store & added red hots to hold up the balloons. In other vases I added the small soft heart candies, or the Valentines Day M&M's  in reds, pinks & white, & still others I put in pink, rose scented bath salts.  There are multiple fun ideas that could be used.

"Don we now our Valentines Day apparel.." & since I'm cooking breakfast, that means an apron! Aprons have been a part of my cooking & baking apparel for many years. & I have sewn probably over a hundred aprons over the years for myself, family, friends, my daughters & granddaughters! I remember telling a friend years ago there was nothing like having a new apron! She said, "Boy, you ARE country!" She's right! I am! & I love it!!

Everything is about hearts on Valentines Day right? Sooooo...

Heart-shaped golden biscuits, & heart-shaped chubby sausages.

& of course, tea. 💖

soft in the middle & slightly crunchy on the top & bottom. Scrumptious!

Don't you just love surprises? & this is the day for it! Ding Dong🎶

Wow! Complete with specialty, rich, CHOCOLATE, truffles (my favorite. I love them!) & a handmade, beautiful valentine, all from my sweet husband. Gee, how did I get so blessed?! 💕

There are so many ways to say "I love you" on Valentines Day or any day, to our families & one of the ways is  cooking (& baking!) meals for our families. & it's just the little added extras that turn an ordinary meal into an event, such as....

Voila!! not just an ordinary meat loaf anymore but a gourmet & creative work of art. THIS meatloaf says "I love you. You are so special to me," doesn't it? My youngest daughter made this for us the other evening. It blessed my heart. & it tasted as delicious as it looks! But doesn't everything when it's made with love?

When our youngest two kids were little, they would decorate the living room, we would set up a table complete with tablecloth, my best rose patterned china & crystal & silverware, accented with a vase of roses, drippy candles & soft classical music playing in the background. I would fix a special dinner, either lasagna or swiss steak, oven barbecued pork chops, something that required extra care, complete with a caesar salad & artisan bread, & some kind of a cream pie for dessert. & of course, sparkly & fizzy (non-alcoholic) grape juice, such a pretty violet pink color in the rose patterned goblets. The kids would make a menu, & then became the waiter & hostess, in costumes of their own making. We always wore our best clothes & secured reservations for the very popular "Valentine Room" (named so by the kids) restaurant. It was exquisite & fine dining complete with a floor show & dancing.  My husband flirted with the hostess shamelessly & even swept her off her feet when dancing with her. (she was a good deal shorter than him. "Oh Daddy!" Sometimes she forgot she was the hostess, giggling & thoroughly enjoying the customers attention.) Those little treasures are now eighteen & twenty. (oh my...) so for our Valentines dinner, ( Dad's away on business) they along with my grandchildren want homemade pizza! Which can also be "pizzazzed" up a bit with special touches by Mom & Grandmother to make it a specialty. But I will make the dessert a bit more special.

The strawberry buttercream frosting is from a recipe that I got from the February, 2009 post from "Sugarpie Farmhouse" (my favorite blog. (http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com) .You will LOVE 'Aunt Ruthie'!) & you will love this frosting! It is absolutely deelish! I could just sit down & eat a bowl of it all by itself!

 

I hope that you just take a little extra effort to say "I love you" to your dearest valentines this Valentines Day. & send a valentine prayer heavenward to the greatest Valentine of all... Jesus. 💖

Raintree perk of the day...

Proverbs 3:5 

A blessed & lovely Valentines Day to all. I'm going to my Cozy Spot & enjoy a final cup of tea.....