Sue is hoping to escape to warmer weather for a few days. She will be leaving Sunday after church and driving with Sandy to The Cottages at Maderia Beach FL. They will spend Sunday night at a B&B in Walterboro and drive the rest of the way on Monday. They will start their return back on Saturday February 28th and arrive back home late on March 1st. They are looking forward to some warmth and hopefully some sunshine.
Plans are to visit Sandy's uncle and take some things of her mother's to him along with a dvd made of her mother's life. Sandy will get to visit and catch up with him a little. They will rest and relax and enjoy the warmth of the south. For those not familiar with where Maderia Beach it is near St. Pete's. Sue and Sandy have never stayed there before so this will be a new adventure. They normally go to Anna Maria but did not have reservations there and you usually have to have them at least a year in advance. They will be staying in a studio and this trip will be a "shoe string trip" so it is just as well. Sue and Sandy manage to have a great time and plans are to just R&R and work on crafts and read and relax!
Hopefully they will miss some of the cold weather back home also! Roger will be at home plugging away as usual. He enjoys his time at home putzing around and doing what he wants when he wants and enjoys knowing Sue is enjoying the sun and warm weather. Plus he gets the added bonus of watching all the TV shows he likes and eating all the grilled cheese sandwiches he wants!!!! LOL
Hopefully when Sue gets back she will have some exciting blog info to fill everyone in on. Check back and see..........Luv and hugs till then!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
The History of St. Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day - the popular festival of love and romances traces its origin to ancient Roman festival and has not been created by card companies as some people believe it to be. There are various legends associated with the festival along with the belief that birds began to mate from this day. Popularity of the Valentine's Day festival stems from the combined effects of all these legends, beliefs and of course the wish to glorify the unparalleled feeling of love.
Feast of Lupercalia
Historians trace the origin of Valentine's Day to ancient Roman Empire. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regarded Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage. On the following day, February 15th began the fertility festival called 'Feast of Lupercalia'. The festival of Lupercalia was celebrated to honor the Gods Lupercus and Faunus - the Roman God of Agriculture besides the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
An interesting custom was followed in the Feast of Lupercalia to bring together young boys and girls who otherwise were strictly separated. On the eve of the festival names of young Roman girls were written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew out a girl's name from the jar and was paired with the girl for the duration of Lupercalia. Sometime pairing lasted for a year until next year's celebration. Quite often, the couple would fall in love with each other and later marry. The custom lasted for a long time until people felt that the custom was un-Christian and that mates should be chosen by sight, not luck.
Defiance by Saint Valentine
The pairing of young boys and girls did set the mood of the Valentine's Day Festival as we know today. But it was actually due to the efforts and daring of a priest St Valentine that the festival got its name and clearer meaning. The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart priest of Rome Saint Valentine defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint.
According to another version of legend Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there. Yet another popular version of the legend states that while in prison Valentine or Valentinus fell in love with jailer's daughter who visited him during confinement. Before his death Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed ‘From your Valentine'. The expression became quite popular amongst love struck and is still very much in vogue.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine assumed the image of heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration.
Beginning of Birds Mating Season
During the Middle Ages, people in England and France held a belief that birds started to look for their mate from February 14. This popular notion further helped to link Valentine's Day - celebrated in the middle of the February, with love and romance. Over the period of time, St Valentine became the patron saint of lovers and they began to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of romance by exchanging love notes and simple gifts such as flower.
Popularity of St Valentines Day
Valentine's Day festival gradually grew in popularity amongst the masses due to the combined effect of all the above said reasons. To mark the day lovers began to exchange love notes called ‘Valentines' with their sweethearts. In the beginning the trend was to send handmade cards but this was changed in the beginning of 19th century and mass-produced greeting cards caught the fancy of the people. In the course of time, Valentine's day came to be regarded as the festival that celebrates love and not just romantic love. Today, Valentine's Day cards are gifted to teachers, parents, friends, siblings and sweethearts. Popularity of Valentine's Day has spread in countries across the seven continents and is still increasing by the year.
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Hope you are spending it with someone you love!
Feast of Lupercalia
Historians trace the origin of Valentine's Day to ancient Roman Empire. It is said that in the Rome of ancient times people observed a holiday on February 14th to honor Juno - the Queen of Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also regarded Juno as the Goddess of Women and Marriage. On the following day, February 15th began the fertility festival called 'Feast of Lupercalia'. The festival of Lupercalia was celebrated to honor the Gods Lupercus and Faunus - the Roman God of Agriculture besides the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.
An interesting custom was followed in the Feast of Lupercalia to bring together young boys and girls who otherwise were strictly separated. On the eve of the festival names of young Roman girls were written on a slip of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew out a girl's name from the jar and was paired with the girl for the duration of Lupercalia. Sometime pairing lasted for a year until next year's celebration. Quite often, the couple would fall in love with each other and later marry. The custom lasted for a long time until people felt that the custom was un-Christian and that mates should be chosen by sight, not luck.
Defiance by Saint Valentine
The pairing of young boys and girls did set the mood of the Valentine's Day Festival as we know today. But it was actually due to the efforts and daring of a priest St Valentine that the festival got its name and clearer meaning. The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart priest of Rome Saint Valentine defied Claudius's unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, St Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint.
According to another version of legend Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there. Yet another popular version of the legend states that while in prison Valentine or Valentinus fell in love with jailer's daughter who visited him during confinement. Before his death Valentine wrote a farewell letter to his sweetheart from the jail and signed ‘From your Valentine'. The expression became quite popular amongst love struck and is still very much in vogue.
By the Middle Ages, Valentine assumed the image of heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration.
Beginning of Birds Mating Season
During the Middle Ages, people in England and France held a belief that birds started to look for their mate from February 14. This popular notion further helped to link Valentine's Day - celebrated in the middle of the February, with love and romance. Over the period of time, St Valentine became the patron saint of lovers and they began to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of romance by exchanging love notes and simple gifts such as flower.
Popularity of St Valentines Day
Valentine's Day festival gradually grew in popularity amongst the masses due to the combined effect of all the above said reasons. To mark the day lovers began to exchange love notes called ‘Valentines' with their sweethearts. In the beginning the trend was to send handmade cards but this was changed in the beginning of 19th century and mass-produced greeting cards caught the fancy of the people. In the course of time, Valentine's day came to be regarded as the festival that celebrates love and not just romantic love. Today, Valentine's Day cards are gifted to teachers, parents, friends, siblings and sweethearts. Popularity of Valentine's Day has spread in countries across the seven continents and is still increasing by the year.
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Hope you are spending it with someone you love!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
25 Random Things About Me
I was tagged by my niece Denise and decided to participate if I could come up with 25things so here goes:
1. When I was a child I was on a television show called "Big Brother Bob". It was a show in Massachusetts and I sat on his lap during the entire show.
2. My friend Sandy & I earned the nickname "Mud Buds" when we were on a VIM(Volunteers in Mission) trip in Des Moines, Iowa after the floods 1993. The men in our team saw a recipe on the back of Crispix Cereal called Mud Buds and said,"That's what you two are, Mud Bud's!" Part of our work consisted of shoveling up mud and sewage, along with demolishing a porch, installing insulation, learning to rewire a house and other various jobs. The nickname has stuck all these years. We really got to know each other on this trip and have become life long friends. What a true blessing this VIM trip was both to the recipients of our work and to all who went to give of their time and talents!
3. I taught horseback riding as a Junior Counselor at Camp Adelawan Claysville PA.
4. In my chemisty class I got the "Hairy Canary Award" for growing the best crystal.
5. I use to figure skate. I now couldn't even stand on a pair of ice skates!
6. I was pretty good on the uneven parallel bars in gymnastics!
7. I was a student assistant occupational therapist at New England Medical Center through Tufts University.
8. I worked for the Credit Bureau of Dayton, Ohio as a credit reporter.
9. I was a Fuller Brush Saleswoman as a youngster! I went door to door selling Fuller Brush products and loved doing it!
10. I killed my sisters goldfish! Yes, I did! I admit it! We shared a room. She never cleaned her fish bowl. I couldn't stand it any more. So I purposely put something in the water to make the fish die. I have prayed for her forgiveness and confessed many times! The water was so green you couldn't even see the fish in it! It was so gross! I know I am a horrible person. You all know the truth now!
11. My mother would get so tickled cause I always would get fed up and say "Ann go out and do something, I need to do something" & Ann would go I would spend hours cleaning the room immaculate and surprise Ann. Mom said Ann always knew I would eventually do it cause I couldn't stand it. Ann & I loved each other so much. We were exact opposites in so many ways too. I was so blessed to spend that last week of her life with her. I still miss her to this day and wonder what it would be like if she were here.
12. When I went to my future husband's home town and stayed at a relatives home overnight, because it wasn't proper to stay in the same home as my boyfriend, I woke up to a pig walking through the bedroom. Yes, I said a pig. It was a baby pig,
and yes, I felt like I was on an episode of "Green Acres".
13. When I was accepted at Ohio State University my father was so excited! He told me, "That's where you are going!" I thought, ok? He then said, "They have a great football team!" Of course it might have had something to do with the fact he had just moved to Dayton and managed to get me in as "in state" somehow! I didn't even know they had a football team...and who cares about football?
14. My favorite vegetable is fresh asparagus - very thin and not overcooked! Oh man, I love spinach too...I guess actually it is a toss up between the two.
15. My idea of a wonderful evening is being at home on a summer's night, sitting on the front porch with my grandchildren watching the sun set over the mountain and saying "going going,gone." They all have done that since they were tiny and still ask to do it when they are here in the summer.
16. If I could go anywhere in the world I would love to visit Australia.
17. If I could have any job in the world, it would be my current one.
18. I was part of a United Methodist Show Choir called "Celebration" for quiet a few
years.
19. I am The Staunton District United Methodist Women Secretary
Secretary of Marquis Memorial United Methodist Church
Secretary of St. Mark's United Methodist Women
Also Do Volunteer Secretarial work for St. Mark's
Was volunteer Secretary of Church Council of Marquis Memorial.
Was Secretary of TOPS at one time.
and have been Secretary of International Order of King's Daughters and Sons
I think I am SECRETARY OF ENOUGH THINGS!!!!!! Might try doing something else...I might be in a rut? Think?
20. I like orange juice with lots of pulp...ok I know I am running
out of things now!
21. I have two tattoos...I know I was nuts! And regret getting the one on my hand! I love my lighthouse tattoo on my shoulder.
22. I don't like my toes!
23. I have a freckle on my lip, have had it all my life, and no amount of lipstick will cover it up. I even have had a special make up artist say she could make it so I could wear lipstick with camouflage makeup ...ha! Even she couldn't make it work. You put lipstick on and it blares right through. It looks worse. Roger loves my freckle. One time my mother when I was an adult said,"Sue, you have and ink mark on your lip." I said, "Mom, it is a freckle I have had all my life." I couldn't believe she forgot.
24. I also have a bigger one on my hiney! Ops Too much info~
25.I always wondered what it would be like to live in one place all my life. Now I am so happy I have moved lots. I have lived in 5 states. It is a blessing as I have been able to aquire such wonderful friends and have still kept in contact with them over all these years. I still email friends in MA, OH, NC and PA and of course VA. Friendships are something that I treasure! Where would we be without our friends?
This has actually been lots of fun! I tag anyone who would like to try it. Hope you have learned somethings you didn't know about me. And...don't think less of me about one thing (the fish, remember we are all forgiven when we repent). Have a great day!
1. When I was a child I was on a television show called "Big Brother Bob". It was a show in Massachusetts and I sat on his lap during the entire show.
2. My friend Sandy & I earned the nickname "Mud Buds" when we were on a VIM(Volunteers in Mission) trip in Des Moines, Iowa after the floods 1993. The men in our team saw a recipe on the back of Crispix Cereal called Mud Buds and said,"That's what you two are, Mud Bud's!" Part of our work consisted of shoveling up mud and sewage, along with demolishing a porch, installing insulation, learning to rewire a house and other various jobs. The nickname has stuck all these years. We really got to know each other on this trip and have become life long friends. What a true blessing this VIM trip was both to the recipients of our work and to all who went to give of their time and talents!
3. I taught horseback riding as a Junior Counselor at Camp Adelawan Claysville PA.
4. In my chemisty class I got the "Hairy Canary Award" for growing the best crystal.
5. I use to figure skate. I now couldn't even stand on a pair of ice skates!
6. I was pretty good on the uneven parallel bars in gymnastics!
7. I was a student assistant occupational therapist at New England Medical Center through Tufts University.
8. I worked for the Credit Bureau of Dayton, Ohio as a credit reporter.
9. I was a Fuller Brush Saleswoman as a youngster! I went door to door selling Fuller Brush products and loved doing it!
10. I killed my sisters goldfish! Yes, I did! I admit it! We shared a room. She never cleaned her fish bowl. I couldn't stand it any more. So I purposely put something in the water to make the fish die. I have prayed for her forgiveness and confessed many times! The water was so green you couldn't even see the fish in it! It was so gross! I know I am a horrible person. You all know the truth now!
11. My mother would get so tickled cause I always would get fed up and say "Ann go out and do something, I need to do something" & Ann would go I would spend hours cleaning the room immaculate and surprise Ann. Mom said Ann always knew I would eventually do it cause I couldn't stand it. Ann & I loved each other so much. We were exact opposites in so many ways too. I was so blessed to spend that last week of her life with her. I still miss her to this day and wonder what it would be like if she were here.
12. When I went to my future husband's home town and stayed at a relatives home overnight, because it wasn't proper to stay in the same home as my boyfriend, I woke up to a pig walking through the bedroom. Yes, I said a pig. It was a baby pig,
and yes, I felt like I was on an episode of "Green Acres".
13. When I was accepted at Ohio State University my father was so excited! He told me, "That's where you are going!" I thought, ok? He then said, "They have a great football team!" Of course it might have had something to do with the fact he had just moved to Dayton and managed to get me in as "in state" somehow! I didn't even know they had a football team...and who cares about football?
14. My favorite vegetable is fresh asparagus - very thin and not overcooked! Oh man, I love spinach too...I guess actually it is a toss up between the two.
15. My idea of a wonderful evening is being at home on a summer's night, sitting on the front porch with my grandchildren watching the sun set over the mountain and saying "going going,gone." They all have done that since they were tiny and still ask to do it when they are here in the summer.
16. If I could go anywhere in the world I would love to visit Australia.
17. If I could have any job in the world, it would be my current one.
18. I was part of a United Methodist Show Choir called "Celebration" for quiet a few
years.
19. I am The Staunton District United Methodist Women Secretary
Secretary of Marquis Memorial United Methodist Church
Secretary of St. Mark's United Methodist Women
Also Do Volunteer Secretarial work for St. Mark's
Was volunteer Secretary of Church Council of Marquis Memorial.
Was Secretary of TOPS at one time.
and have been Secretary of International Order of King's Daughters and Sons
I think I am SECRETARY OF ENOUGH THINGS!!!!!! Might try doing something else...I might be in a rut? Think?
20. I like orange juice with lots of pulp...ok I know I am running
out of things now!
21. I have two tattoos...I know I was nuts! And regret getting the one on my hand! I love my lighthouse tattoo on my shoulder.
22. I don't like my toes!
23. I have a freckle on my lip, have had it all my life, and no amount of lipstick will cover it up. I even have had a special make up artist say she could make it so I could wear lipstick with camouflage makeup ...ha! Even she couldn't make it work. You put lipstick on and it blares right through. It looks worse. Roger loves my freckle. One time my mother when I was an adult said,"Sue, you have and ink mark on your lip." I said, "Mom, it is a freckle I have had all my life." I couldn't believe she forgot.
24. I also have a bigger one on my hiney! Ops Too much info~
25.I always wondered what it would be like to live in one place all my life. Now I am so happy I have moved lots. I have lived in 5 states. It is a blessing as I have been able to aquire such wonderful friends and have still kept in contact with them over all these years. I still email friends in MA, OH, NC and PA and of course VA. Friendships are something that I treasure! Where would we be without our friends?
This has actually been lots of fun! I tag anyone who would like to try it. Hope you have learned somethings you didn't know about me. And...don't think less of me about one thing (the fish, remember we are all forgiven when we repent). Have a great day!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A Special Weekend for Ne-Ne
Lee & Tara are away in Gatlinburg celebrating their 1st Anniversary. Actually it was a week ago Friday they actually wed. However with their work schedules this is the first they could manage a little get-away. Sydney is with her dad, and Ne-Ne picked up Trinity from after school care on Friday. So let the fun begin!
Friday evening Trinity and Ne-Ne went to the Cheese Shop (a Mennonite shop) and got some snacks for Trinity (which consisted of raspberry gummies and a box of cheese straws). Then on to the Blockbuster to try and find "Pollyanna" to watch. Trinity read the book and it just happens to be one of Ne-Ne's favorite movies. Alas, they didn't have the movie. (Never fear, Ne-Ne found it on ebay and ordered it! We will watch it another time.) Next on to the grocery store to get some non junk food and then home to fix dinner. Pa-Paw, Ne-Ne and Trinity ate dinner then headed down to the family room and watched television for awhile. Then it was time to read and go to bed in the red hat room.
Saturday, we had a leisure morning. Pa-Paw went to a lady's house to start installing a boiler. Trinity and Ne-Ne went to find some jeans to fit Trinity better! Mission accomplished! However they also managed to find a few other things too! Then a trip to the "dollar tree" to get a few necessities to put in the new purse Trinity got! Like an new hairbrush, and some antibacterial hand gel, which is always a good thing to keep in a young ladies hand bag according to Trinity. After a quick trip to Ci-Ci's (one of Trinity's favorite lunch spots)Ne-Ne was ready to head home. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent shortening the pants they bought for Trinity and relaxing. Soon it was bathtime and reading time again.
Pa-Paw finally came home and headed down to watch the "Bud Shootout", the start of the NASCAR racing on tv. Ne-Ne decided it was time to stretch out and relax and Trinity bathed and decided to read more before going to sleep so she was rested for church in the morning.
Tomorrow will be church and United Methodist Women, and then who knows what we will find to do! Then Monday Ne-Ne will take Trinity to school and after school Trinity will go to Creative Wonders (child care) where Tara's parents will pick her up and keep her over night and on Tuesday dad and Mama Tara will be back from their trip.
Their anniversary get-away is our "joy"! While they are having some much needed one on one time together! We are enjoying some wonderful time with our sweet granddaughter! It is such a blessing to get one on one time with our grandchildren.
Hopefully soon we will get to spend time with each of our other grandchildren when school is out this summer. It is fun having them all together but individual time gives each time to feel special and time for us to get to know them as individuals. What a blessing to have this "special" time with them. Time they will each remember and we hold dear in our hearts!
Friday evening Trinity and Ne-Ne went to the Cheese Shop (a Mennonite shop) and got some snacks for Trinity (which consisted of raspberry gummies and a box of cheese straws). Then on to the Blockbuster to try and find "Pollyanna" to watch. Trinity read the book and it just happens to be one of Ne-Ne's favorite movies. Alas, they didn't have the movie. (Never fear, Ne-Ne found it on ebay and ordered it! We will watch it another time.) Next on to the grocery store to get some non junk food and then home to fix dinner. Pa-Paw, Ne-Ne and Trinity ate dinner then headed down to the family room and watched television for awhile. Then it was time to read and go to bed in the red hat room.
Saturday, we had a leisure morning. Pa-Paw went to a lady's house to start installing a boiler. Trinity and Ne-Ne went to find some jeans to fit Trinity better! Mission accomplished! However they also managed to find a few other things too! Then a trip to the "dollar tree" to get a few necessities to put in the new purse Trinity got! Like an new hairbrush, and some antibacterial hand gel, which is always a good thing to keep in a young ladies hand bag according to Trinity. After a quick trip to Ci-Ci's (one of Trinity's favorite lunch spots)Ne-Ne was ready to head home. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent shortening the pants they bought for Trinity and relaxing. Soon it was bathtime and reading time again.
Pa-Paw finally came home and headed down to watch the "Bud Shootout", the start of the NASCAR racing on tv. Ne-Ne decided it was time to stretch out and relax and Trinity bathed and decided to read more before going to sleep so she was rested for church in the morning.
Tomorrow will be church and United Methodist Women, and then who knows what we will find to do! Then Monday Ne-Ne will take Trinity to school and after school Trinity will go to Creative Wonders (child care) where Tara's parents will pick her up and keep her over night and on Tuesday dad and Mama Tara will be back from their trip.
Their anniversary get-away is our "joy"! While they are having some much needed one on one time together! We are enjoying some wonderful time with our sweet granddaughter! It is such a blessing to get one on one time with our grandchildren.
Hopefully soon we will get to spend time with each of our other grandchildren when school is out this summer. It is fun having them all together but individual time gives each time to feel special and time for us to get to know them as individuals. What a blessing to have this "special" time with them. Time they will each remember and we hold dear in our hearts!
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