Wednesday, February 12, 2014

A VALENTINE


In our own simple way, we celebrate Valentine's Day 
here in the Red Cardinal Nest...


Back in the days of long ago, we were a classic office romance -
knew each other slightly, from a distance, then Valentine's Day came around.

Young Mr C surprised and charmed me with the sweetest little heart-shaped Valentine card...expressing his interest and hopes....


It worked!!!


I like to decorate the house a little romantically...




Yes, the day is over-commercialised, and yes, the shops sell a heap of trashy products in very poor taste...

but you don't have to buy into that side of it.


This heart dish belonged to my mother, and I have had the earrings for many years...


I make us some sweet treats:  raspberry coconut squares..


and always a sponge cake in my Very Old heart tins.


The uncomfortable hot weather continues, and I made this cool top from white linen and floral left-over fabric.  From my latest bundle of new patterns, it is Vogue V8798.  I'll wear it when we go our for a little Romantic Dinner..


Friday morning I'll amuse myself wearing this el cheapo top from K Mart to choir rehearsal.


And one more thing, Malouf Pharmacies are giving away free samples of my first ever French Perfume, the delicious Joy by Patou...
shown here with my ruby heart earrings a gift from wonderful Mr C on our 40th wedding anniversary.

Happy Valentine's Day, readers one and all...

XXXXX




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31 comments:

  1. RosemaryFebruary 13, 2014 at 12:40 AM

    You look adorable on your wedding picture Patricia - the white lined top with the floral overlay is very smart - enjoy your romantic meal, and Happy Valentines Day to you.

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 2:51 AM

      Thank you Rosemary, and Happy Valentines Day to you, too. We can't believe what children we were when that photo was taken!

      Delete
  2. JudithFebruary 13, 2014 at 1:24 AM

    Enjoy your romantic dinner ~ somewhere air-conditioned, I hope! And here's to many, many more special dinners out with Mr C for you ... J

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 2:52 AM

      Oh yes Judith, definitely air-con. The heatwave has sneakily returned without fanfare. Thank you for your wishes and Happy Valentines Day to you, too!

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  3. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 2:50 AM

    Thank you Valerie, we look so young, don't we...and we were! Many more valentines would be wonderful. x

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  4. Amy at love made my homeFebruary 13, 2014 at 3:33 AM

    How adorable! I hope that you have a wonderful time - and lovely sing at choir practice in your appropriate new top!! xx

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 9:57 PM

      Valentine's is great, and choir is always enjoyable! Heart top was perfect in the heat. x

      Delete
  5. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 3:42 AM

    I'm like you Patricia - not liking all the rubbish they sell in the shops - I prefer my own take on it too. I wonder if we married in the same year? Mine was 1970. Hope you enjoy your St Valentine's day - we are going for a romantic meal out (booked by me though as Mr M doesn't think ahead) but looking forward to it all the same. I like your top, very pretty.
    Patricia x

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 9:59 PM

      Nice to do our own thing, which personalises the day, P. 1971 was our year, just a little later. Enjoy your romantic meal! x

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  6. Jenny WoolfFebruary 13, 2014 at 5:16 PM

    well, what do you know, I'm going to bake a cake in a heart shaped tin tomorrow too. Not particularly original but I am always happy when I bake in that tin! Hope you have a lovely day Patricia!

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 10:01 PM

      Nothing wrong with tradition, Jenny. I've been making the heart cake every year, and it's still something we enjoy. We just cut our cake - very enjoyable. Yours will be likewise!

      Delete
  7. Debra TurnerFebruary 13, 2014 at 9:38 PM

    Congratulations to you and Mr. C, Patricia, for both knowing a good thing when it came along and cherishing a good thing after 40 years together. Happy Valentine's Day!

    (Here in America we just had our 12 showfall ... with more show to come. No one in the world is happy at the moment. :)

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 13, 2014 at 10:02 PM

      Thanks Debra, we were both children! ha ha
      So much snow over there, and so much heat here - bring on Spring/Autumn - asap!

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  8. DarlaFebruary 14, 2014 at 5:32 AM

    Happy Valentine's Day to you and your mister. I enjoyed seeing your wedding photo. Congratulations for keeping those vows for so long. Hope you have somewhere special in mind to wear that pretty blouse.

    Darla

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 14, 2014 at 4:17 PM

      Thank you Darla, I was a bit unsure about showing the wedding photo, but as I like it, I thought it was nice to share. Yes, I wore the new top out to dinner for Valentines Day and found it cool and comfortable. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too!

      Delete
  9. BerylFebruary 14, 2014 at 5:43 AM

    What a lovely story! My husband had much the same beard and glasses in our wedding picture - so adorable, And love those perfect ruby earrings!

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 14, 2014 at 4:19 PM

      Thanks, Beryl. Aw, matching wedding photos, cute..
      Mr C retains the beard but it is now quite grey, though still adorable.
      I always wanted to get to 40 years and get me some rubies :)

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  10. sandaFebruary 14, 2014 at 8:53 AM

    Happy Valentine's Day, although for you it's finished by the time you read this! Love all your Valentine touches throughout the house. Joy was my first expensive perfume to wear. Loved it. I hear the formulation has been changed so wondering if it still smells like it did in the 1970s when I wore it. After I knew it was Jacqueline Kennedy's favorite, I had to own it!

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 14, 2014 at 4:22 PM

      Happy Valentines' Day Sanda. That's interesting about Jackie Kennedy; I am wondering if I knew that back in the day and have forgotten over the years, because Joy was my first good perfume also, and I was always a great fan of JBK. Haven't worn it for about 30 years, but to me it still smells the same: gorgeous!

      Delete
  11. greenthumbFebruary 14, 2014 at 3:16 PM

    I really like the look of your new top.

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 14, 2014 at 4:23 PM

      Thank you! Cool and sleeveless is the only way to go in this unrelenting heat, isn't it?

      Delete
  12. metteFebruary 15, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    Thank you for your Valentine´s post.
    You received ruby earrings for your 40th wedding anniversary. Smashing!
    You have many interesting pictures here: Your wedding picture - gee- the young ones!
    Your sponge cake looks too beautiful to eat.
    I remember my mother having the JOY perfume, a classic. It was in a tiny yellow/ white striped string bag and she only wore it on special occasions, sparingly.
    Yes, the weather, I just am not able to understand the differences around the world.
    This winter, so far, has been extra mild up here. I am not complaining a bit.
    Have a lovely w/e Patricia!

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  13. PatriciaFebruary 15, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    Hello Mette, When I look at that wedding photo, all I can think is: Old enough to vote = old enough to wed! That is how it was back in the day.
    Love the idea of a tiny bag to hold the Joy perfume - it was very popular. I am enjoying it all over again with my little sample. Mr C says he remembers the fragrance from the past, which is pretty good for a guy :)
    A mild winter is very good for Finland, and I think all the cold has moved to Canada this year. Happy weekend, Mette!

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  14. Red Rose AlleyFebruary 15, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    Patricia,
    40 years, that's amazing! You look so lovely here on your wedding day - what a cute couple you are. I absolutely LOVE the pink heart earrings, and your blue treasures caught my eye. I have always thought that blue china was the prettiest - not sure why, but my wedding china was even in blue. The raspberry coconut squares look delicious too.

    What a nice Valentine's post this is (one of my favorites so far). Have a nice Sunday Patricia.

    Love,
    ~Sheri

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 16, 2014 at 2:24 AM

      Sheri, Thank you, it was fun to show our wedding picture. I'm glad you like my heart earring which I have owned for over 20 years. They only get one outing per year! The blue collection is relatively new but I do like the effect, too. I also collect milk glass, which is also in the picture. Valentine posts are fun - I like yours very much too! x

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  15. Red Rose AlleyFebruary 15, 2014 at 6:41 PM

    Oh Patricia, I just wanted to tell you that I just put your blog on our side bar as "lovely blogs." I don't have too many up there, but your blog is filled with simplicity and beauty, which I appreciate very much. Your comments are also so sincere and sweet and I love them.

    ~Sheri

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 16, 2014 at 2:25 AM

      Wow, thank you Sheri, I will do my best to live up to the label "lovely blogs". It will be my new challenge :))

      Delete
  16. Roses, Lace and BrocanteFebruary 18, 2014 at 12:33 AM

    Oh how lovely Patricia - you both look wonderful and soo young!!
    That takes me back! We celebrate 44 years in a couple of months!
    A very sweet valentine post with all your hearts.
    The white linen and floral top is so attractive and cool looking which is what you need in your heat.
    I've probably told you before my oldest friend lives in Brisbane in fact she and her husband moved there just before our wedding and she came back to be my matron of honour!

    Hugs
    Shane

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 18, 2014 at 1:52 AM

      Yes, young newly-weds were the norm back then, weren't they? 44 years = very impressive! So your friend has lived in Brisbane a very long time - she must like the place :)

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  17. KathyFebruary 22, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    That is such a lovely photo of you both on your wedding day, Patricia. It's so sweet that your romance started with a Valentine. I can quite see why February 14th will always be important to you. :-)

    I'm afraid DH and I are very dull nowadays and don't mark Valentine's Day other than in words. We prefer to have special moments as the fancy strikes us. :-)

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    1. PatriciaFebruary 22, 2014 at 3:28 PM

      We were so unworldly back then, Perpetua, but I wonder is that such a bad thing? We have just worked away at life and living and grown up together! I rather like the idea of special moments as the fancy strikes - I'll work on that one..

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