HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Yes, my friends, it’s that time of the year again. Valentine’s Day.

What does it mean to you? Is it all romantic and rainbows over with you? Or is it more of a kid-centric day of sweets and paper crafting?

Bailey, our beloved golden, died last year and we continue to remember him today, on what would have been his 14th birthday.

In case you are a newer reader here, he and I were very close.

Valentine’s Day was always so much fun because it was always a big celebration for him — and us– and today we have just our memories of him, and a little corner of our living room devoted to him year round.

This year I added Valentine’s decorations to it as tribute to my him.

Unlike last year, though, we have a dog again to love and spoil, and you know we’re going to enjoy that tonight.

Right now he’s sleeping under my chair so he’s oblivious to the meal plan for tonight.

(Doesn’t this picture make him look like the chair leg is impaling him?)

Now that my Detox is pretty much over (I extended it to almost four weeks!),

I’m really forward to tonight’s dinner (I’ll show you next time).

But first, let me show you how Valentine’s is looking around my house.

I was able to find a place for my vintage stove and it looks so sweet on my porch by my front door.

I’ve cleaned up my porch lately so there’s room for more of my favorite things, like vintage enamel (above and below)

and red gingham, always, everywhere.

If you were to walk into my house right now, you’d see something holiday related in nearly every room.

Flowers abound– including these gorgeous tulips and fragrant stock.

And vintage Valentines decorations nearly everywhere.

I found two of these oversized paper cupids last year at the Goodwill Bins and they flank my French doors going out to the garden.

I often put some of my favorite cards in my window sill over the kitchen sink.

This one with the flocked hearts is a particularly fetching one I think.

There’s my living room mantle

because white Pom Poms and plants and old cards make me happy.

And this week I’ve been doing a lot of baking to add to the festivities because all birthday matter too

and I just love my pals so much.

I baked up a massive round of the Dark Chocolate Salted Shortbread I showed you last year at this time — this time in the form of craggy, chocolaty, buttery bombs.

This cookie was the first real sweet I’ve had in nearly a month– and it was so so worth the wait.

So wherever you are, I send you love and remembrances and fragrant flowers

and cookies that will make you weak in the knees.

Happy Valentine’s, lovelies.

Treat yourself!