Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all make it a happy one in some way or other  ....

Today I read ..if you don't have huge expectations for it ...you will be happier.  That sounds good.

I always think too much is made of certain days of the year ...mostly to generate sales of anything and everything... and we fall for it ..of course.

Days like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.... hmmm.... we should make those days special all year 'round.  Well, that's how I feel about it anyway.

Here are a couple little furry guys to wish you all a Happy Heart Day.

Tuffy, Posie and Scruffy... playing with the heart cookie cutters.  Think they are lobbying for cookies? .... oh, yeh....

And.... here are some chocolate dipped strawberries....... yummmmmmmm

Little Darla says please have one.... "they're luvly"....
                                                                                 


... and, some chocolate covered cherries....... why not?

I'm giving them all to you ... because... right now I am on a chocolate, wine and coffee hiatus..... sigh...
My gut is giving me grief and I am trying to figure out what is causing it.  And, I definitely am not giving up breads and cookies or thinking gluten right away  ...forget that !!  I'll give up the other three before I give up bread.
I love breads...as a matter of fact...today I am baking pretzels... a first time for me but had to give it a go after seeing some my neighbour guy baked ... Trevor, the Renaissance man.... baking and cooking and .... well, he does it.... so why can't I? ....

three sixes and a four....

I keep threatening to buy my next pair of black slacks at a men's wear store.... at least the men have a size system that works. They buy clothes that say... 32 waist... if your waist is 32...wow...what a concept! Why can't women's clothing be so simple?

And...in men's wear... if an article of clothing does't quite fit .. according to a knowledgeable salesperson.. because that's who they hire for staff.... it is altered... FREE of charge! HUH? Mr. BV bought a shirt last year... too large for him.. and baggy almost everywhere... but, he liked the fabric... their tailor totally remade the shirt into a slim fitting beautiful shirt. We actually felt guilty picking it up and almost wanted to pay the tailor something extra... almost...

In a women's shop? ... nada..zippo..nothing. It is $12 to $17 to have slacks hemmed... and they don't even offer..you have to ask. They look shocked if you wonder if they could take in the hips a bit or let out the waist...etc... and...the answer is ... Would you like to see this in another size ma'am? or... we have nothing in the store to fit you...or last year's fav.... you should buy some padded panties or pantyhose and buy a larger size pair of slacks.... what? .... and the sizes... well, I have no idea what size I am anymore and even if I did... none of them fit the same anyway so how to choose which fifty pairs to gather from the racks. Forget about a salesperson or "assistant", as they like to call themselves, helping you. They are hopeless... lazy,.... tell you they look great even if they hike up the crevices... ridiculous... who hired these people anyway? oh, yeh..I remember now ..nobody really wants to work anymore... most of the girls work in clothing shops so they get a few things for themselves 40% off.... At 40% off I don't even want to buy the stuff. I've worked in clothing stores too..and know the markup..

Each year I am a different size...not my actual body you understand; that has pretty much been the same for too many years to mention...with the exception of a few pounds or inches here and there depending on what time of year it is and how much I have (or haven't been) working out. As a matter of fact... I'm sure I'm the same size I used to be years ago, when I was buying 10's or 12's .. but, a different size in somebody's crazed measuring mind....where 4 is now the new 6 ...6 is the new 8...just a minute...is it the other way 'round? .... yep, that's it... 8 is the new 6 .... I'm so confused! My size 4, which were the most expensive pair I have ever bought ... hence the right to put a smaller size on it. .. or so it seems to me ... is closest to fitting if none of the others did. A bit tight... but could do in a pinch. I could wear my Bridget Jones panties to hold things in a bit.

The cheapest pair .. which were Bianca Nygaard.. on sale for $38 last year ... a six... well, a 10 to look at from my point of view... they fit beautifully everywhere... no hiking, puckering or riding up where they shouldn't... but, a size 6.. and a lovely pair of pants. I'm even going to wear sexy panties under them... They are still a perfect fit this year even if I have been up and down like a yo yo in weight and measurements... the other two 6's...?? hmmmm don't fit this year.... I wonder what size they really are? .... I'll keep 'em all ...who knows what next year will bring?

Of course, if I keep up this festive baking ... and the more than occasional taste testing .... I could be looking at a different size altogether next Christmas....

a few festive pics....

In case you haven't seen the special chocolate cherries yet..
recipe on my other blog.













Santa Sven ... he was my first attempt at sculpting with polymer clay a few years ago.. (just his face and head area) .. the rest is other materials...

he is actually a candy container...and separates in the center... just under his fur ruff on his parka.

Some of the guys like to sit on the big wooden sleigh that Santa pulls.










The guys hanging out on the table... and a beautiful card from my sister.