It took me a couple weeks to get here.
I always hate the after-the-holidays, clean-sweep vibe and the fact that we lost Bailey right after New Year’s was tough.
We always celebrated his birthday on Valentine’s Day (he was a rescue so we were never sure of his exact birthday) so the thought of an empty nest and a holiday without our birthday buddy has made me feel a little wobbly, but I know that sometimes you just have to go through it — and find whatever joy you can wherever you can.
This past week there’ve been a number of big healthy and yummy lunches like this Roasted Tomato Soup (I like Pacific Brands) and oozy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar.
(It’s hard to beat the classics.)
I also loved the Grilled Tofu Rice Bowls with Mashed Avocado and Marinated Cucumbers.
This past week I also invited some girlfriends over for a Girls’ Night In; it was a simple low-key night in which I served Rice Noodle Bowls with Lemongrass Chicken, Pork Green Onion Meatballs and Fresh Mango and we sat around and sipped wine and got caught up with one another’s lives.
And whenever I’m feeling blue, I find it helps to reach out to those who could use a little love; I find it both therapeutic and distracting.
This time I thought I’d drop off food to all of my son’s teachers at high school, thinking that they often work late hours and rarely get treated to something homemade.
I made three dozen Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (you can find the recipe here)
and five quarts of a Thai Lemongrass Chicken Soup.
I packed it all up and then Oliver and I drove over to his school (I love how he put the seat belt around the picnic basket).
We dropped off all that soup (almost two dozen servings!) to teachers and staff
and all those muffins made their way to new homes, too — with just the last two saved for the kid’s breakfast the next day.
Rummaging through the freezer the next day I found an entire Bittersweet Chocolate Tart (regular readers will remember I shared the recipe with you in early December) and so I distributed these slices to a couple neighbors
and the rest of the tart went to our pediatrician’s office when Charlotte went in for a physical.
And then after days of seemingly endless baking and cooking, I finally found it in me to dig out the few Valentine’s Day decorations I have and put them up.
First on my porch.
I found this little guy at the Goodwill Bins this past week and since he looked Valentine’s Day friendly, he found a home on one of my French cafe chairs.
More items were placed in my living room.
And then I took some retro and actual vintage cards I had in my stash and made them into stand-alone decorations (thanks to the local artist who gave me the idea at Crafty Wonderland!).
I sent some of these to friends and kept the rest for windows and shelves throughout my first floor.
They are so cheery and colorful and I love looking at them as I wash dishes in the sink.
I also took some of those old cards and arranged them in an old wire wreath I had on hand– and it now is on my front door.
And just yesterday I was walking along Division Street (visiting one of my favorite local stores, Collage) when I came across this shop window.
I was really excited to see so many vintage Valentine’s Day cards in one place and I bought two dozen of them.
I think I found the perfect place for them — right next to our fireplace in a cool holder my friend Lisa gave me last week.
These cards are just so sweet with such vivid graphics and colors and I love all the silly puns on so many of them.
Okay, it’s now time to dash — the Super Bowl is coming up and I have a craft I’m working on (I’ll show you next time!) and lots of prep for the big eating weekend ahead.
Speaking of which, check out my favorite new-to-me Valentine’s Day card.
Hut!
With your next bowl of tomato soup a d grilled cheese, here’s something to try…
Sprinkle some good white truffle oil on the bread before grilling or use some truffles cheese. Then add a little crumbled blue cheese to garnish your tomato soup. Oh yum.
Yes. Yes. Yes!
Your happy Valentine hearts, little gingham elephant and all of the thoughtful food offerings has put a smile on my face.
We have had to let our sweet Rosie go. Just over a week ago she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor within her heart. The tumor caused blood to fill the sac surrounding her heart, making every breath painful. Compassionate Care was called.
She was our Princess Pretty Paws, a Scottie who blossomed so much in the seven years she was ours.
I only share this with you because I knew you’d understand.
I so wish they lived longer.
Lacy, I am so so sorry. I can totally understand what you’re dealing with, and the sorrow you feel. I was such a mess those first two weeks, and even now, one month to the day, my heart feels so heavy and the grief just hits me hard out of the blue.
Do you live in Portland? If so, I’d love to drop off something off to you. If so, you can send me your address to my private email– olivebred@aol.com. In the meantime, I send much love.
Hello Sarah,
Unfortunately I live in Oregon City, a half hour from Portland. But I do so appreciate the thoughtfulness and your generosity. Most of all your well wishes & heartfelt love for the loss we have both had this past month.
Hugs & Thank you! ~ Lacy
If you’re ever in my ‘neck of the woods’ please stop by for a cup of tea.
19219 Carmelita Drive, Oregon City OR 97045
I love all the little old valentines, I’ve seen some collections like all valentines with weiner dogs, it was so cute. I’d like to do a cowboy/indian collection. Also phones, I have a old black phone and it would be fun to display that with old phone valentines. Just a thought. You’res are very cute. I’d love to photo copy a few. Also you could do a theme wreath. I found some at an estate sale whose family I went to Fernwood with. I bought his valentines from 5th grade and some are from my friends. Pretty fun !!
Hope to run into you one of these days !!
Hugs to you !!
Cute decorations! I have some old valentines, but they are more Victorian in nature. I like yours with the puns better.
Are the cards glued to dominoes? I might have to steal that idea. Another way to display cards as stand alone decorations is to use floral pin frogs as stands. I have one on my kitchen windowsill that I use to display postcards from friends. They show up at the bins all the time!
you find the tiniest things for rescue from the bins. So precious!
I love how you use the vintage valentines. I wish they still made those. I saw a book of vintage valentines at Chapters, but they were a little too expensive for the kiddos. I think I will get them to make little decorations and we can enjoy them every year!
Hello, Lori! Definitely buy the book! The possibilities are endless — magnets, decorations, wreaths, and photocopied they make the most darling tags/labels. What is Chapters? Sounds like my kind of place!
Thanks for the banana choco muffin recipe. Made them today and the family and friends LOVED them. I will be saving that recipe to use again. Thanks for something different to do with those sad bananas. 🙂
So glad the recipe worked out for you! I’ve made that recipe probably fifty times now and it always always satisfies. Thanks for popping by!
So much deliciousness! I just pinned the Chocolate Tart recipe. I have everything to make it except the raspberries, but I might sub strawberries, which I do have. Those noodle bowls look so good too! Thanks for the food inspiration! I’m super jealous of your vintage Valentine collection, they are so cute.
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Hello Terri! I can’t wait to hear what you think about the Chocolate Tart recipe; I hadn’t made it for a while but my sister and I used to make it often and it never disappoints and it’s ridiculously easy to pull together. I’d imagine strawberries would be good — and how about pomegranate? Thanks for the Valentine love and chiming in!