A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-14-05...Sweet Hearts (A Valentine Story)

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Dansangel, Aquamarine ~

Happy Sweet Hearts Day!

I found the following story in the February 2005 issue of "Better Homes and Gardens" and thought it would be a sweet Valentine thread for the Finest. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

by Helen St. Marie

"Love is free, but oh, how it costs," was a favorite saying of my mother's. And every Valentine's Day our love, whether for friends, relatives, or a secret someone, cost plenty of time and effort.

As children, we made our own cards, elaborate projects of lace, ribbons, and more. If we wanted to add something and we couldn't find it at home, we had to pay for it at the stationery store. It made you think twice about who to give your heart to.

When it came o sweets, we made those too: cookies, brownies, and two kinds of fudge.

As good as it was, you always want what you don't have, and we coveted those gorgeous heart-shape boxes of candy and other packaged goodies that appeared in the window of the five-and-dime store every February. Yet for most of my childhood I can't recall a single time that we ever got a piece of store-bought Valentine's Day candy.

And then one year, we did.

Hidden in our napkins at suppertime on February 14, each of us found a little bundle of candy hearts, the ones with the little message on each: Kiss me, Be Mine, Cutie Pie, and so many others.

I later learned that the New England Confectionary Company (NECCO, home of the famous wafer) had been making their candied messages by the millions since 1902, but this was the first time anyone had given them to me. They must have come from Mother, although she never said anything about them and never would. But every Valentine's Day thereafter, it became a tradition, one that has surprised and delighted my children and now their kids.

At NECCO, I learned, they have a tradition too: Every year they add new messages to the hundred or so that already exist. Last Valentine's Day, "Fax Me" and "Awesome" were among the messages my grandchildren found in their napkins. The words have changed through the years, but the hearts remain constant.

Of course, making your own Valentines and baking your own treats are still two of the best ways I know to show someone you love them. But if those sweet candy hearts have taught me anything, it's the importance of indulging the impulsive side of love, the side that makes us do foolish or unexpected things, whether it's stealing a kiss, serenading a sweetheart, or wrapping a message of love in a child's napkin.

by Helen St. Marie
for Better Homes and Gardens

THIS WEEKEND'S THREAD 02-11,12,13-05 T.G.I.F. at the Finest

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45Man
at
danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

12-29-04 ~ Hall of Fame #10

[Mama_Bear]

MamaBear and JK say thank you to Lady Maggie who brings love to this Finest place each day.

[Mama_Bear]

Maybe we can lure him here with chocolate.....I hear he has a sweet tooth for truffles. ;-)

[Mama_Bear]

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your valentine!

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you. :^D

[Pippin]

Happy Valentines Day, Luv W!

[Billie]

Hi, there, and Welcome to FR and to the Finest! Love that patriotic heart. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Hi, Calpernia. Long time no see!

Thanks for the link to your Valentine's post. Have a sweet day!

[Billie]

Billie!!! You're Back!!!! Welcome Home!!!!

THANK YOU!!! A frustrating week it's been, but hopefully, 'puter is all well now. Is there chicken soup for the pc? :)

Happy Valentine's Day, Dave!

[Billie]

Sigh. 
I need a girlfriend. 

Signed,
Single and solitary in San Jose 

(snags a couple of hearts from the basket)

Awwwwww! This one HAS to have a Valentine graphic. :) (gets one from server) :)

Here go, sweetie - just feed her chocolates and she's all yours. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Something to sweeten your day!

[Pippin]

CHOCOLATE!!!!!

THANKS!

[Calpernia]

[Billie]

I enjoyed that article, and I LOVE those little candy hearts.

Hi, Lori. Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours, and here's to candy hearts with cute li'l love notes. :)

[Billie]

I ate all the Necco Candy hearts. Thanks for the refill.

Sure thing! Here's some more in case you run out again. :)

Shhhhhh! I borrowed this from Amy, but no one would ever know - don't tell. :)

[Billie]

Guess I'm just a sentimental fool. :-)

OH, MY GOSH! I think I may ~~~~~~~faint~~~~~~~~! A Valentine from T Man. What a BIG heart you have! :) Here's yours. :)

[JustAmy]

JA's is on her way here now ......
Hey, I didn't tell her you stole borrowed her valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day from

[Aquamarine]

Just stopping by to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day.

[tuliptree76]

Thanks, (((((JohnHuang2))))!

Happy Valentine's Day!

[JustAmy]

Heh Heh Heh
I made it back before she caught me.

[Billie]

BTW, I forgot to mention, I like your presentation today. Don't know quite how you did it, but it is very nice. You keep setting the bar ever higher - and I am having a heck of a time keeping up with you. LOL

:) Thanks, Lori!

Darn it! I MEANT to use this graphic for today's ping post..... I forgot about it last night. :(

I'll be back - lunchtime!