The month of love

Thinking of Valentine's Day

(quick sketch of a Valentine Heart)

Acrylic on bond paper

Barbara Muir © 2011

(I spent part of the afternoon drawing

a very careful Valentine and painting

it with watercolour.  At the end of

a couple of hours I had a weak red,

not super Valentine.  So I dashed this

off in acrylic on the bond paper

I use for drawing and my palette,

and I like it a lot better.  I'll be

doing more on the theme, because

I have to get my cards together for the big day.)

I have to admit it -- I love Valentine's Day.  There are so many
reasons for my affection for the day of the heart.  The first is
that I've been blessed with a loving husband, loving family and
friends.  I believe that for a loving person, love is readily
available, and that has been my experience.  Plus I love the
colour red, I love a day that sanctions soppy expressions of
love, and the simplicity and beauty of the heart shape -- that
says it all.  February without Valentine's Day wouldn't have a
chance.  Outside storms are brewing.  Dire warnings fill
the radio and TV airwaves.  Take cover, snow squalls, high winds,
blizzards.  Oh my.

But the stores are filled with silly, cheerful, goofy, gorgeous cards,
gifts, decorations, cupids, everything for the hopeless romantic
and simply loving person to buy to express that depth of warmth
which makes life worthwhile.  I love that contrast.  Outside freezing
cold air, and in the stores big, red, furry heart pillows.

Luckily for me -- somewhere in the darkest reaches of the aptly
named cold room in the basement, is a box filled with decorations
for the hearty. That would be me and by extension my family.  You
don't have to be in love with a special someone to give, or even get
love. Love is everywhere.

Have a planning-to-have-a-loving-month day.