Valentines Day

Valentine's Day.  

"Let's make a pact honey.  Let's never go out to eat again on Valentine's Day.  We can go out the week before or the week after."

"But Briz, what about when our kids are grown up?"  

"Ah, who wants to fight the crowds anyway.  I'd rather stay home."

So...

Breakfast consisted of high fiber protein Cranberry Muffins with Struesal Topping, Chilled Stawberry Soup, and Turkey Bacon.  Love notes were waiting for each of my sweeties.   Of course this was done in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep, and the muffins put in the oven on delayed start.

We spread the love with our friends. Two families delivered valentines, hugs, and musical numbers to our local care center  and our two neighborhood widows.  There is nothing like a hug from someone with no family to get you in the giving mood.  

 

We had a simple dinner that felt fancy of Shrimp Bisque, Avacado Salad, Martinellis, and heart shaped ice cream molds with chocolate sauce.  Each darling found a Tiffany style heart locket under their plate.  They feel clever that they can have a "piece of my heart" anywhere they go.

    

I used the loving theme of the evening to present our Family Love Bucket for use throughout the year.

Our family goal for the year is "Love in our hearts, Love in our Home."  The bucket idea is a visual to assist in that goal.  The story available at Amazon, Have You Filled A Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud and David Messing tells how everyone carries a bucket, whether old, young, parent or child.  Everyone is either a bucket filler or a bucket taker.  Yelling, sarcasm, and unkind words dip from people's bucket leaving them weak and listless.  Thoughtful acts, kind words, and smiles fill others buckets.  Once a month we will fill our bucket up for a family member whose bucket is particularly low and share all the nice things we can think of with them.  After I went to bed, my two youngest rearranged my study and Family Room so they could fill my bucket.  LOVE IN OUR HEARTS, LOVE IN OUR HOME!   Valentine's Mission Accomplished. 

Valentine Strawberry Soup

2 pints strawberries, fresh or frozen

2 cups plain yogurt

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar or 1/3 cup agave (we use agave)

1/2 cup water

1/8 tsp. ground cardamom

In a blender, combine the strawberries, yogurt, orange juice, sugar, water, ad cardamom.  Puree until well mixed.  Chill and serve.