The Dragonflies'Lair ~Thread XVIII~ Valentine's Day 2008

Poets of The Dragonflies' Lair | February 13, 2008 | Soaring Feather

[Soaring Feather]

Origin of Valentine's Day

Find out how this special day originated way back in the 3rd century


Valentine's Day originated way back in the 3rd century. Saint Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. It seems the Emperor was having trouble recruiting members for his army because the men didn't want to leave their wives and children for the long military expeditions which would last for months and even years. Claudius then decided that banning marriages in Rome would solve this problem. The Emperor had Valentine condemned to death for defying his order and marrying couples in secret.


As Valentine awaited execution, his admirers would come to the jail bearing notes of support and flowers. As luck would have it, his most ardent admirer turned out to be the daughter of the prison guard. She would visit him for hours. The day of his execution, February 14 in the year 269 AD, Valentine wrote her a note expressing his gratitude for her love, support, and friendship and signed it "Love from our Valentine".


As it turned, out, the festival of Lupercalia (an ode to the god of fertility and a celebratoin of sensual pleasure) followed close after Valentine was executed.



During the festival, boys would draw the names of girls and they would pair up for the festivities. The name Valentine was linked to this romantic festival.

In 496, Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honor Valentine as a saint.

I gave my love a cherry
That has no stone,

I gave my love a chicken
That has no bone,

I gave my love a baby
That's no cryin'.

How can there be a cherry
That has no stone?

How can there be a chicken
That has no bone?

How can there be a baby
That's no cryin'?

A cherry when it's buddin',
It has no stone.

A chicken in the eggshell
It has no bone.

A baby when it's sleepin'
Is no cryin'.


Old Appalachian song

The Apple Dumplings and a King

"Very astonishing indeed! strange thing!"

(Turning the Dumpling round, rejoined the King)

"'Tis most extraordinary, then, all this is;

It beats Penetti's conjuring all to pieces;

Strange I should never of a Dumpling dream!

But, Goody, tell me where, where, where's the Seam?"

"Sire, there's no Seam," quoth she; "I never knew

That folks did Apple-Dumplings sew."

"No!" cried the staring Monarch with a grin;

"How, how the devil got the Apple in?"

Dr. John Wolcot


The Cow

The friendly cow all red and white,

I love with all my heart:

She gives me cream with all her might,

To eat with apple-tart.

She wanders lowing here and there,

And yet she cannot stray,

All in the pleasant open air,

The pleasant light of day;

And blown by all the winds that pass

And wet with all the showers,

She walks among the meadow grass

And eats the meadow flowers.

Robert Louis Stevenson

[Soaring Feather]

Oh terrific! LOL

[NY Attitude]

I do believe that “Schmaltz” is a spread that is made with lard and garlic. I believe that it was created during WWII by the Germans. It is unique and quite tasty.

[NY Attitude]

Love it. LOL.

[Lady Jag]

If he doesn’t want a DimDem prez, Bush has to endorse MJM if he wants Pubbies to vote GOP this November.

Putin IMHO is sphincter-like.

[Lady Jag]

Schmaltz must have been tasty because I looked it up in Wikipedia and it says it became popular in other countries and Jews made a kosher Schmaltz, too.

Thanks, another new thing learned today.

[Soaring Feather]

Well, that stuff we ate after WWII was lard that color was worked into, they called it margarine.

[Lady Jag]

I heard about the beginning of margarine. Mom tried it and rejected it. Luckily we lived in dairy country and I have only tasted margarine a couple time in my life.

They cooked with lard a lot back then. I use it to condition my BBQ grills.

[Lady Jag]

Allegra’s coming home?!!

[Lady Jag]

[MEG33]

Snow On The Beach
Lake Erie ~ Presque Isle ~ Erie, Pensylvania

~Happy TGIF To The Lair~
Beautiful poetry and graphic, Soaring Feather

[Allegra]

Allegra’s coming home?!!

In early April.

For a little while, at least. Gotta re-establish my roots. :-)

[NY Attitude]

I remember that. The lard was wrapped seperately and a little package of red dye was supplied to be worked into the lard.

[Lady Jag]

One more year, hey girl?

The States will be very happy to see you, Traveler.

[Lady Jag]

Red not yellow?

[NY Attitude]

A very dark yellow that looked red.

[Soaring Feather]

Well, FWIW, lard makes the very best pie crust. Very flaky and delicious.

For many years we had home churned butter, later on mom bought some of the lard with coloring, we did use it cause we were so darned poor and no longer had a cow.

[Soaring Feather]

Lovely scene Meg, thank you.

How goes it with you, have you seen your favorite female raccoon lately, some foxes maybe? And your lovely birds. I am so jealous of your birds. Kidding, just kidding. ;0)

[NY Attitude]

Wanna race. Doya, do ya, do ya????????

[NY Attitude]

Wanna race. Doya, do ya, do ya????????

[NY Attitude]

Wanna race. Doya, do ya, do ya????????