Every day matters

do you remember

2010-03-05T12:28:59Z

candid camera ?

I used to love this program

Spring !

2010-03-02T10:24:58Z

Spring has sprung at last !!

We just got back from spending a few days with some friends who live on the coast..
on the way back we passed a field with sheep - and they ALL had lambs !!

the mimosa trees were in full bloom - an explosion of golden yellow fringing the borders of the route .. their perfume was exquisite !

We also noticed that the doves and pigeons were busy gathering twigs - the promis of nestlings to come !!

When we went out into the garden we were greeted by the blosoms on our almond trees !
Even up on the cliffside that looms over our garden the almond trees have somehow managed to dig in and cling there - a sort of suspended waterfall of petals !

aaaah isn't nature beautiful eh !

Wee Visitors

2010-02-16T14:02:38Z

Before going up to Paris for Christmas I put out tons of food for the birds ..
was a bit worried that being away for so long they might run out ..
they become so dependant during the winter period.

When I returned I found that nothing had been touched !!
Where were all the birds ? Didn't they like the food ?
Was something scaring them away ?

Turns out that quite simply there aren't all that many birds around the place !
Maybe it's because there are hardly any gardens where we are !

Recently though the birds have appeared ... maybe they've had a good food supply up untill now who knows - maybe they've only just found the bird table LOL

There aren't many of them but they seem to come in pairs !!
Two Robins .. the male is beautifully red !
Two Blue Tits
Two Coal Tits
Two chaffinches .. don't know what they are though
and Two Ringed Doves !!

I'm delighted !
I love seeing them every morning flittering about ... they come back in the evening too just before nightfall !

It's so wonderful to have a wee garden here in the middle of a city !

Happy Valentines Day to all

2010-02-13T10:43:03Z

The History of Valentine's Day

The origins of Valentine's Day trace back to the ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia. Held on February 15, Lupercalia honored the gods Lupercus and Faunus, as well as the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

In addition to a bountiful feast, Lupercalia festivities are purported to have included the pairing of young women and men. Men would draw women's names from a box, and each couple would be paired until next year's celebration.

While this pairing of couples set the tone for today's holiday, it wasn't called "Valentine's Day" until a priest named Valentine came along.
Valentine, a romantic at heart, disobeyed Emperor Claudius II's decree that soldiers remain bachelors. Claudius handed down this decree believing that soldiers would be distracted and unable to concentrate on fighting if they were married or engaged.
Valentine defied the emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies. As a result of his defiance, Valentine was put to death on February 14.

After Valentine's death, he was named a saint. As Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14 and renamed it St. Valentine's Day to honor Saint Valentine.

What's Cupid Got to Do with It?According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Cupid was known to cause people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows. But Cupid didn't just cause others to fall in love - he himself fell deeply in love.

As legend has it, Cupid fell in love with a mortal maiden named Psyche. Cupid married Psyche, but Venus, jealous of Psyche's beauty, forbade her daughter-in-law to look at Cupid. Psyche, of course, couldn't resist temptation and sneaked a peek at her handsome husband. As punishment, Venus demanded that she perform three hard tasks, the last of which caused Psyche's death.

Cupid brought Psyche back to life and the gods, moved by their love, granted Pysche immortality. Cupid thus represents the heart and Psyche the (struggles of the) human soul.

Fun Facts Approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are sent each year.
In order of popularity, Valentine's Day cards are given to: teachers, children, mothers, wives, sweethearts, Koko the gorilla.

The expression "wearing your heart on your sleeve" comes from a Valentine's Day party tradition. Young women would write their names on slips of paper to be drawn by young men. A man would then wear a woman's name on his sleeve to claim her as his valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Roses are Red

2010-02-13T09:24:48Z

Roses Are Red,

Violets are blue,

Sugar is sweet,

And so are you

Joëlle went out early-ish this morning to do a little shopping ..
much to my surprise she came home with a beautiful bouquet of red roses !
It's valentines day tomorrow she smiled !

I was sooo surprised - my lady is a very down to earth feet deepy rooted in the ground Taurus and isn't usually so romantic !
What's more she's taking me out to diner tomorrow too !

It really is the simple things in life that matter eh !

Red roses are the most requested roses and the most popular gift roses. The meaning of red roses is romantic love. A deep red rose is for lovers, a bright red rose signifies passion, while cardinal red roses symbolize desire.
Red roses that are fully opened are thought to mean "I'm still in love with you", while a bouquet of red rose buds is an expression of first true love or a new love.

The meaning of red and white roses mixed in a bouquet, conveys the feeling of love.