Roo, great bear story! I shared it on my FB page!

Saint Valentine's Day, commonly known as Valentine's Day,[1][2][3] or the Feast of Saint Valentine,[4] is observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it remains a working day in most of them.

St. Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. The most popular martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her.[5][6] Today, Saint Valentine's Day is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion,[7] as well as in the Lutheran Church.[8] The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Valentine's Day, albeit on July 6th and July 30th, the former date in honor of the Roman presbyter Saint Valentine, and the latter date in honor of Hieromartyr Valentine, the Bishop of Interamna (modern Terni).[9][10]

The day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").[1][3] Valentine's Day symbols that are used today include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.


love this antique valentine image! :)

Thank you ez! Errr....MP!!!

On a less tragic note...love this paper art with a Valentine theme.

that is super cool michi!

what i usually do on valentine's day is go to the drugstore and buy those kids cartoon valentine's that we used to give each other in elementary school and give those to my friends. a couple of year's ago i went with a batman theme! HA!
j, of course gets candy too! he loves chocolate like nobody! he has a sweet tooth that never stops!

I thought I’d posted earlier, so I’d get notifications .. but I guess I didn’t. I wondered why there was so much activity still on 1/30!

That link is: http://www.aarp.org/online-community/groups/index.action?slGroupKey=de25c62b-69a3-48f2-8478-0f20a2989c86

When you get there, it should first prompt you to register for the website, and then you’ve got to actually join the group. Once you’re there, read the post about settings, so you get the e-mail notifications.
It’s very windy here today, and getting colder. Felt like spring yesterday afternoon, and not bad this morning, but we’re heading back into winter temperatures now!

I meant to ask. If we all go to the new private site are we going stop OLLD?
Valentine's day is huge business for florists, candy stores and card shops! I love the florist aspect (being an aspiring florist) but I've never been fond of red roses.
Thanks for getting back to me re the new site ladies. I'll get my it techie right on it!
Roo, hi. Bathroom not done yet, the kid's bedroom took precedence because bunk beds arrived! Never seen a room done so fast mind you.
My divorced aunt emigrated to Oz back in the 70s, ex asked if he could come too - "don't be daft it's not a penal colony anymore!"

LLQ, I think everyone has an interest in keeping OLLD going as long as the powers that be allow it.
The AARP site is just a more secure alternative since it is "members only" private.

I agree with Michi; it's very easy for us to share links about Houzz & other discussions we participate in right here.

I don't know where I got this Zen paragraph, but I find it inspiring:

" Zen masters say that the essence of enlightened meditation is chopping wood and carrying water -in other words, doing ordinary everyday things. The key is to do these things mindfully, with undivided attention and a grateful heart . The most powerful rituals are based on these two components, and adding them to the simplest activities can genuinely transform your everyday experiences."

J22 - New Age philosopher Ram Das tells the story where he was speaking before a large audience years ago, about "meditation". Most of the crowd was very young, but right in front was a woman in her 70s. It just struck him how out-of-place she looked, in this hippy crowd. After his lecture, people came up to speak with him, and this older woman was there. He said to her that he was surprised to see her at a presentation about meditation, and she responded, "I understand all about meditation .. I knit!"

@ ez yes mindfully, & don't forget the "grateful heart". lol.

I'm not a Buddhist, but I feel the philosophies in all religions have something to offer everyone, even atheists.

This am I was doing some things I HATE to do, and when I did them mindfully & with a grateful heart, the tasks went so much better (4 me, anyway). This Zen technique also seems to be against multi-tasking that women R so good at, but many say is not a good thing.

i LOVE blueberries!!!! anytime! but I know what you are saying about ripened fruit, etc. strawberries are so yummy, but they need to be something more than just "wet"!

Eztia - I thought I had to change filters monthly too, but the HVAC guy said that 3 to 6 months was fine .. and frankly they look clean at 3 months, so I’ve gone to 4 months. Those air filters are expensive; no wonder they tell people to replace them every month! Makes a big difference not having pets in the house. Ditto for the refrigerator condenser. When I had a problem with the fridge, I thought it was a dirty condenser .. but it was absolutely clean; the motor had burned out! I was so glad just to replace that little motor .. I thought maybe I needed a new fridge!

J22 – I agree with you about the multi-tasking. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but other times it just means people do everything on automatic pilot! Young people say they’re good at it, but frankly what they’re doing is just not paying attention to people talking to them (LOL).

Question re ripe fruit - does anyone do the paper bag trick? Where you put unripened fruit in a paper bag for a few days, and then magically it ripens? Does it work? And does the fruit taste better, or have any flavor at all? I was thinking about doing this with peaches and strawberries because it's hard to tell without biting into them if they have flavor.

Bobbi...if you put fruit in a bag with an apple it will speed up the ripening; especially plums, and tomatoes. Be careful with peaches or pears as they can go from hard as a rock to mush pretty quick.

It really doesn't affect the taste. Either the fruit is good tastes good or it is as you say, water. I think that depends on the soil it is grown in and at what stage it was picked.

Ez...sounds like you had a mess, but I know you must be pleased with all you have accomplished. Noting like a sparkling clean house to cheer up the day.

I thought the idea of another site was for private discussion - like men. You know men-opause, men- tal breakdown, men-tal anxiety, his-torectomy, guy-nacologist, etc.

God made men first because there is always a rough draft before the masterpeice.

Astraea, my apologies for being so testy yesterday.

Let us not forget HE-MS, ok? Thanks for the fruit tip! I'll give it a try. It's too bad everything has to be picked before it's had a chance to fully ripen, I mean, why even eat it if it doesn't taste good.

I was just doing some mental math the other day and here's what I figured out. I've been making R's lunch everyday (yes, everyday!) for 19 years. He eats 4 lbs of grapes every week, which need to be taken off the vine, washed and bagged. Which means I have de-vined, washed and bagged 3,952 lbs of grapes. Lordy. I do need a life.

Bobbi - A few weeks ago I got stuck buying unripe bananas, and tried the paper bag thing. They didn't ripen any faster, that I could tell. But maybe that's just bananas. Maybe according to Janishill, my bananas were lonely for an apple (LOL). Wow .. 4 lbs of grapes a week?!

Yes, Astraea! 4 lbs of grapes/week, 1 sandwich, 1 drink, 1 bag chips, 1 container of yogurt and whatever sweet thing I can find at 6 o'clock in the morning. Everyday for 19 years. Am I the good wife, or what???? Actually, I'm the one who insists on his bringing lunch because I don't really want him eating fast food everyday, it's so bad for you, and nothing will put the weight on faster than fast food.

I'm not sure bananas follow the same rules because of the thick peel. Probably the same with citrus fruits, but I'm not a fruit expert, only grapes.

bobbi, you need to bring R back to NJ. He can go to the supermarket and buy the grapes. Then all you need to do is wash/bag them. O K 19 years… you were 41 and R was ???

I am sure you have heard of how to sustain the black/red raspberries by washing them with white vinegar. But, I love my fruit in the morning, and i just wash the berries, put them on a paper towel, cover with a paper towel, and the berries are fresh for days. Like celery…wash, trim and wrap in aluminum foil. Lasts for weeks.

The best blueberries (if not local) are from New Jersey. When on sale, I freeze for a winter of delicious blueberry pancakes.

Cut and pasted ez's recommendations to C P. I always worry when we have snow and it covers the dryer vent.

Have been away..anything new on dilemmas? There have been some beauties.

I haven't seen any dilemmas that are too weird today, just one poster that (I think) didn't really want help, or didn't really know what to do with the help. Just plodding along here! I love blueberries, they are def my favorite fruit. In a bowl with milk and sugar just yum!!!

I don't each much in the way of black/red raspberries, don't like the seeds. I do love peaches, especially white ones, no plums and sometimes nectarines. Never apricots!!! I had an apricot tree once which I used to make jam, and after all the worms I found inside I just can't do apricots :))

Grapes are good!

Bananas ripen best when hung and the back ones ripen before the ones in front. The reason is we are looking at them in reverse. lol The way they grow is hanging down turned toward the tree, so what we perceive as the back is actually the front and is higher on the stem, so they ripen first. Anyway, an apple makes all the difference...even with bananas! :-)

Bobbi, you should have an award from the Grape Growers Association or some such something. After 19 years I think it's time to give the man a surprise or two in his lunch. Maybe throw in an apple or a pear sometime.

Janis, funny!!! If only.....

Thanks ez! Oh, I almost forgot, I also make his sandwich bread e-v-e-r-y w-e-e-k.

Maybe I should think about a hobby!

ez, is there nothing you do not know about? I want your feedback on what supplements we should be taking. I have given up on everything. Omega fish oil, Vitamin D-3, Vitamin E, on and on. What do you think is important?

Janis, a wild night last night and a beautiful afternoon? What an amazing change in weather. Norwood/Orleans?

Astraea, do you agree about NJ blueberries? Delicious.

Judy...I slept through a Cat.5 hurricane and I slept through a tornado that took out trees in my back yard (yes, I really did sleep through both events), but the wind woke me lastnight/this morning. Today turned out to be a beautiful day. As you said, amazing change.

Sorry if I came across as a know it all on th efruit thing. My background is horticulture - ornamental plants and shrubs, but it all ties in together.

Bobbi...wanna start packing my lunch too? I love homemade bread. Do you use a bread machine or do it all by hand?

The new credenza came into. Now to move everything from one place to the other.

EZ I googled it. How beautiful! What a lovely gift and sweet memory. Perhaps you can grow one as a house plant.

Good afternoon all, off to a bad start today, for some weird reason didn't sleep a wink all night, then dozed off around 6am to be woken at 6.30 by a thunderstorm that just went on and on. No rain, no lightning (that I could see) just wind and thunder, plus it was damn cold so I had to scurry for the doona again. Just dozed all morning - too thick headed to get up and too awake to sleep with all the noise. Hopefully it will mean I get a good sleep tonight.

On the subject of fruit - I let all mine ripen naturally and once it is ripe I put it in the fridge if I am not going to eat it immediately. If I am buying a reasonable amount of fruit I try to vary the ripeness of what I buy. Fruit goes off very quickly in the heat here, especially bananas, I only ever buy 3 or 4 at a time as they can ripen up just in the car going home. I have read about putting bananas in a paper bag to ripen things but I have a feeling that is for avocados. The flavour of fruit is definitely in the growing and how it is handled after picking, so much of our fruit is gassed.

Bobbi, do you really have grape vines - that would be amazing. Grapes are supposed to be very good for internal cleansing and to have some each day is very good for you. A lot of people say bad because of the sugar content but I was always taught that the sugar in fruit is fructose and the body burns that differently to sugar. I think the jury is still out on all that, so I just eat what I enjoy.

Yes, we do have Valentine's Day here. It isn't a holiday or anything, just knocks all the florists out. No one took much notice of it when I was young - certainly not BH, he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body. The younger generation goes for it now but it is really just uber expensive overcommercialised hype. Charge $100 or more for a few red roses that have no guarantee of how long they will last. I agree with someone else on the red roses - lots of other colours I love before red. Chocolates are usually given too but also soft cutesy toys with love hearts are very big

Lisa your aunt would have fitting in very well here with her sense of humour - loved it. Glad you got the bedroom done, another room off your list. Amazing what can spur you on.

Thanks ez, the thunderstorm is back with lightning and heavy rain now and it is so dark and cold. Probably a good day to have stayed in bed.

I did a lovely detailed reply to Judy's question about vitamins and the damned thing got lost!!!! This is happening a bit lately, I think I will have to do a copy before I hit submit in future.

Judy, I am very into vitamins and supplements and my niece is a nutritionalist and she helps me a lot.

As we age we do need extra help to keep ourselves in tip-top condition. Weight bearing exercise is also important too and one compliments the other.

I have low thyroid, which was picked up totally by accident as I had no symptoms other than unexplained weight gain, but as a result of this I have to have a blood test every 6 months. This is really a bonus as blood tests can show up many other problems before they have a chance to become major issues, so I always recommend to older people the benefits of having regular tests done........ and ensuring the doctor reads ALL the results too.

The fish oil is supposed to be very good for healthy heart and cardiac function and also for arthritis. The jury seems to still be out on the amount to take daily, especially for arthritic relief. Some brands of fish oil will recommend taking up to 12 tabs a day (12,000mg), especially for the arthritis but my doctor hesitates with that as it could cause damage to the kidneys. There is now a product being very touted called Wild Krill Oil that interests me, but I have yet to discuss it with my doctor. I am due for another blood test this month so will take it up with her then.

Vitamin E - a lot has been written and nothing seems to be totally conclusive. I like this website, it seems to spell everything out well with no hype. I guess family history would come into any decision to take it or not, you just never quite know what may or may not help.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219486.php

As far as Vitamin D3 is concerned, I really believe it is mandatory as we age. Again a blood test will show your present levels, and regular tests will show stability or whether it is falling. Deficiency in D3 is rising here because of our high levels of UV rays and resulting skin cancers, massive campainging was done to educate people on the dangers of sun exposure, but it went too far and now people aren't getting enough sun or are covering up too much when out in it. During your winter months it would be an issue too. Absorbtion of D3 can be a problem for some people, if this is the case then a liquid supplement should be taken over a tablet. Not unusual for doctors to overlook this factor.

Iron levels are also important to maintain, but this does not necessarily entail taking Iron but taking Vitamin C as the body will not absorb iron without the presence of Vit C.

Two other deficiencies I have unknowingly had are Vitamin K which is good for healthy blood and strong bones, and Potassium which is vital for reducing high blood pressure.

I generally take a multivitamin each day, just as a top up thing - (fresh fruit and veges may not be as fresh as you think once you come to eat them and they start to lose their goodness from the moment they are picked) - and I do find I feel a lot better when I take a supplement. Frozen fruits and veges are actually supposed to be better for you in terms of nutrients unless you grow your own or know you are buying really fresh and eat it immediately, with minimum cooking.

So my advice, based on experience, to all OLLDs is to have regular blood tests done, your doctor will know exactly what to order, I even have my liver function checked as a precautionary thing, and take it from there. Prevention is better than cure. Oh, and where possible take a natural vitamin medication over a chemically produced one. Lesser gunk in the body and with natural vitamins, if you take more than your body needs, it just pees it out.

That's my soapbox for the day.

I know I should do that ez, I'm too trusting.

Roo- Testing 4 Vitamin D is big here, now. i was borderline low and DH was uber-low.

j22 - the last thing we need are broken hips. I am above the borderline, just, but dr wants me to build it up. I am trying to do more walking and get more sun on me too, have been guilty of being inside too much with all the renovations - just need this rain to go away for a while. Trouble is with me, I am the absolute worst at taking pills.

Is DH taking tabs or liquid?

Roo, that is some good info.

Just to add a little more; molasses is a natural food use if you have low potassium. My body doesn't hold potassium well. I have prescription supplements, however I also have GERD and potassium tablets causes it to flare up, so organic molasses helps to bridge that gap.

Q10 is highly recommended. I have vascular disease and this is the one supplement my vascular surgeon said yes to taking. As for fish oil or krill oil he said ask my primary. I do take it though for the Omega 3.

I, too take vit D - with added zinc, vit k and magnesium. I also take a multi vit. Vits A, D, E and K are all fat soluable...which means they can build up in your system if you take too much.

In the summer I grow the bulk of our produce organically. We always try to purchase organic food as well.

At this stage of life we have to use every means available to stay healthy. Eating organic seems to make both of us feel better.

Janis, that is interesting about the GERD (called GORD) here, as I suffer that too. Haven't had molasses for years, I think someone in my family used to take it in hot water each morning waaaaaay too long ago for my feeble brain to remember why but that would have been back when Old Wives Tales abounded. Haven't seen much of Q10, only in cosmetics. I eat a lot of salmon but I am more interested in fish oil for arthritis, it is starting to bug me. Vitamin A is supposed to be very good for ageing generally but I haven't seen any straight A tabs and the multi is very low compared to recommended dosage for it to do any good.

Honestly I go to the Health Food Shop and could come out with a semi-trailer load of stuff, so much sounds so good and I would rattle all day if I took half of it. Luckily it costs so much to keep me under control. There is a lot of new product coming out now for healthy eyesight might investigate and give that a 6 month trial.

I know that blueberries are very good for you, but I’m just not a big fan. If I go to the farm market & see very nice ones, I enjoy them once .. but then lose interest.

Further north of me they had high winds Wednesday night, with trees down & more power outages. Thankfully, we had wind, but not that bad. When I went out before on errands, there were snow flurries .. but they haven’t gotten down to my town .. go figure! They’re predicting more snow on Sunday. I have brunches out Saturday & Sunday, so I hope the weather’s not too bad. Tomorrow it’s for the county park system, and Sunday for the SPCA. Within a week we had single-digit temperatures, up to the low 60s, and now we’re back around the freezing point.

Roo – Just came back from the health food store; that’s where I buy my eggs, which come from a local farm with free-range chickens. I could buy a little of everything too, but that’s not really healthy either (LOL). I do love their little squares of mint dark chocolate .. and it’s supposed to be good for you!

Astraea, you keep very busy, don't you? That's so great! You have meetings and classes and fund-raisers and brunches, you're always on the go! No time to get bored I guess.

Lately I've been really lethargic, no energy. I have to push myself to do normal things. I don't know if it's age, or the shingles, I don't know! Any suggestions from anyone? Help!

Too busy; ready to be a hermit! I find that if I schedule things to do, I'll do them. But if I just wait so see if I feel like it, on a particular day, I probably wouldn't do half as much.

@ roo DH takes a gel cap of Vitamin D. I think 2,000 mg. It was not prescription & was from Costco (not sure if U have Costco over there).

Don't know what you lot are doing with the weather but it is freezing here. Yesterday was so wet and windy and it was back to winter nightie, blanket and doona last night and I was still cold. At least I got a great 7 hours sleep. Still raining and windy today and am in a winter trackie - IN FEBRUARY!!!! Our hottest month!!!! One weather report I have says it is 21 and the other says 16 - go figure - definitely not 21 if I need a trackie.

Astraea - dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you if it is above a certain % but I can't remember what. Little squares sound good ........... if you can stop at one little square. Sadly I was born into a family of feral chocaholics so I have to really restrain myself. Blueberries are high in antioxidants, but like you I can take them or leave them. Not that readily available here, they come in punnets and you can't always see what you are getting.

You sound like me - if I have 10 mins to do something, it gets done, if I have all day to do it, it takes all day.

Bobbi, a lot of my friends are saying they are having trouble firing up after Christmas and we are putting it down to trying to do too much and not properly acknowledging our age. You have been doing so much around the house too plus your sleep deprivation, it is no wonder things are catching up with you. Maybe R needs to tie you to the bed and not let you out till 5am!!!

If you did get the shingles back then that is a sign your immune system is low and you need a full on boost. Do you take a general multivitamin? If not, maybe you need it, even just for a month or two to build you up. I don't know the full effect of shingles but you could also be low in iron. I wouldn't rush into iron tabs but just try to eat food rich in iron and take a Vitamin C tab to ensure your system is absorbing it. If you don't see any difference in a few weeks, see your doctor and have a blood test done to see exactly where you are at.

j22 - did DH's doctor make any recommendation on the amount of D3 he is to take? We do have one Costco here so far but it is too far away from me for regular trips so I don't know what brands they stock. Brands of vitamins are not all equal, some have inconsistent dosages from tablet to tablet, so it is always good to buy a really reputable brand. If his level was really low, from what I know, 2000 is quite a low dose - more just a maintenance dose. I am on 4,000 but my niece tells me I really should be taking 6000 at least over the winter months, so I really feel he should be on that at least. Check back with his doctor and see what he says.

The gel caps are different to the liquid - the liquid comes with a measured dropper and you just drop the amount onto your tongue. Tastes weird but I'm getting used to it.

@roo-he says this 2,000 is his Vit D maintenance dose. He used to take more. When his Vitamin D level returned to normal levels, he started with the 2,000 and his levels have been OK. I think we look for USP on the label..supposed to indicate quality. Who knows? lol. http://www.ehow.com/list_7391524_vitamin-companies-gmp-certified_.html

j22 - oh ok, that is great he is back up to normal, I thought he was still down. From what I have heard 2,000 is the average maintenance dose.

We had some scares with vitamins here some years back and heaps were pulled off shelves for ages. Only a few companies were doing the right thing and rode through it, which of course enhanced their reputation. My doctor is pretty up on it all and fortunately she prefers natural to chemical where possible, so is a great help.

Roo – It’s back around freezing here, after our 60-degree day on Wednesday. Water dish is frozen outside. The dark chocolate I get is a ½ oz square at the health food store; just enough for 2 bites! I know how little willpower I have, once stuff is in the house! If I got a bar of chocolate, I’d keep going back for “a little square” every time I was in the kitchen! Ditto for nuts; I love them!!

Speaking of “doing too much”, I’m surrounded by women in politics who seem to go 24/7! Just got invited to a Reagan Day event 80 miles away; I can do without attending everything .. but some people just love to be seen. That same weekend a gal pal & I have tickets for a show locally & are going to dinner first, and the next day is the event for the SPCA.

Astraea, I can understand the relativity of things, it is around your 60 deg here now and that is damned cold. We very rarely get a frost here, let alone water freezing.

You're very lucky not going below freezing! Sometimes the water isn't totally frozen, and I can just "pop it out" off the deck .. otherwise I've got to bring it in & turn it upside down in the sink, with the hot water on it. I don't know how the birdies can bathe in water just above freezing, but if it's sunny, they actually do .. wish I had heated towels for them (LOL)