1) Bears: In recent years I’ve received a Valentine Bear most every Valentine’s Day. This year I decided to move the Valentine Bears from our bedroom settee to a living room sofa, to celebrate their day. Well, you should have heard the hullaballoo coming from the Other Occasion Bears who were left in the bedroom. “Unfair! Discriminatory! We are Entitled!”
So I promptly moved the Others to the sofa to join their Valentine friends, thinking they could all spend the day there and I’d move them back to the bedroom at bedtime. Then Joe and I went out for a Valentine dinner. When we returned home, we were greeted with a petition. It seems the bears had a secret meeting while we were gone. They unanimously decided to Occupy Sofa through next Thursday when a young man named Lucas is coming for wiener roll-ups, pop, and an afternoon of art. Wisely, the bear contingent choose Senior Paddington Bear to present the request to me, as they know I love British accents. And of course I caved in. After all, that sofa is an extra. We have plenty of additional places for people to sit. And Lucas will definitely enjoy the bears.
Now, Dear Readers I know exactly what you are thinking: “This woman is eighty years old, and the February Blaaaas have pushed her over the edge.” Sorry, but I have news for you. I’ve always been this way.
2) A GOOD YARN: My fellow Knitwits will love this one. The stats always soar when I post a yarn and needles bit. Above you will find a just off the needles shawl. Who says old dogs (or people) can’t learn new tricks? Up until a year ago I had Circular Needle Phobia. But I have overcome, and now I can’t quit making shawls. This one will go to our local Vince Lombardi Cancer Center, as my family members and friends are by now completely shawled, scarfed, and hatted out. Note the colors. They give you a clue as to what is frequently on my mind as I gaze out on our garden buried in snow.
3) FRESH DECOR: It’s fun to greet a new season with a few changes. For years we went to Colorado and New Mexico—often at this time of the year. We love our old comfy couch (not the bears’ sofa, but the one Joe and I normally hang out on). New fabric on the couch brings the Southwest right into our living room.
4) THE BEST BLAAA CHASER OF ALL—A CHILD: This is our littlest sweetheart. A week ago last Thursday, Tuks came for an entire day. She is eight months old, and has begun stepping between close furniture rather than dropping to her knees. We had so much fun with Tuks. She took good naps for us, and maintained her sunny personality throughout the eight hours. She loves to eat, loves people, loves dogs, loves life! Who can ever have the blaaaas with someone like that around?!!!
And here’s a parting thought to cheer you on: In three weeks, DAYLIGHT SAVING! 🙂
Margaret L. Been, February 2014
Northern Reflections--glimpses of gold by Margaret L. Been 