You know how I am about seasons and celebrations – right now the house is full of both St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day – red and green, but not together.
And I’m wearing the jewelry that’s shown up over the years for Valentine’s Day (the St. Paddy’s jewelry will be worn after the 15th!) The biggest piece is a carved wood heart in three pieces, lime, orange and gold. Then there’s a small heart like Valentine’s candy, shiny and sparkly. Plus a pair of malachite (deep green with black streaks, from the Congo) earrings with 2 hearts for each ear.
I also have a beautifully beaded jet black and shiny heart a friend gave me a long time ago. It’s always reminded me of my teenage years. Mother taught me to embroider when I was very young – it’s always been great therapy and calming for me, though I don’t do it much any more. When I was 14 or so, she bought me some pillowcases designed with hearts on them, and the appropriate colors of thread, I’m sure intended for my hope chest (which I never had). I, of course, immediately went out and bought the colors I wanted – black for the hearts, lots of green, white, not sure what else.
Mother always knew when I was ready to change boy friends, even before I did. When they started to get tedious, or too pushy – out would come the embroidery and I’d start working on those black hearts again.
So all these pieces will be rotated over the next few days, through Valentine’s. And maybe I’ll get another one or two!