In the 1800’s bonnets were all the fashion rave and big business. Every town, big or small, had a milliners shop lined with hats and filled with bins with flowers, ribbons and other haberdashery.  While the hat fad has died out here in the US, Easter still creates a boom in bonnet sales, and you can find Easter Bonnet decorating contests all over the states.  It’s a fun tradition for welcoming in a new spring, but there is more to Easter bonnets than ribbons and frills.  

Easter is a time of spiritual rebirth for the devote, and a turning of the seasons, when new growth immerges from the dormant winter soil, flowers blooming, nature bursting to new life.  The Easter bonnet symbolizes this cycle, its usually rounded shape representing the sun, and the colorful trimmings of flowers, leaves and ribbons a symbol of the fresh new life of the new season.    

A website I visited (couldn’t find the link) stated that after the Civil War ended Easter was declared the “Sunday of Joy” and mothers and daughters who’d been in mourning for so long, shed their dark attire and celebrated in bright dresses and colorful bonnets, and competitions were held for the most festive bonnets.  

Growing up I always looked forward to a new Easter outfit, and sometimes a bonnet. My childhood outfits were usually white with bright pinks, oranges, greens and yellows—I’m recalling quite a bit of plaid.  Living in California, a new swimsuit was always in my basket—and Easter meant our first jump into the pool—and our teeth were usually chattering after ten minutes or so. This year I won’t be jumping into any pools (my boys have already been asking—ah, the thick skin of youth!), but I have a straw bonnet with a pink flower on the back. 

How about you?  Any bonnet traditions in your home growing up? 

In the spirit of Easter, this spring butterfly bunny will personally deliver a signed copy of BRIDE OF SHADOW CANYON to one lucky poster, along with a GUNSLINGER’S UNTAMED BRIDE beaded bookmark and postcard.  Three runner-up winners will receive a GUNSLINGER beaded bookmark and postcard. 

Wishing everyone a Joyous Spring and Happy Easter! 

I couldn’t let this day pass without a word about Leap Day!

It it said that in the past, women had the option of chosing their mate during a leap year, but the MENFOLK decided that wouldn’t do.  Afraid of being trapped into a marriage not to their liking, they changed the tradition to one day, February 29th, every fourth year!   Babies born on leap day, have few birthdays. Most opt to celebrate their birthdays either on February 28th or March 1st, depending on what calendar they used and how close their birth was to one or another day. So ladies, today is the day … hone up your wedding proposals!

Hello darlings! Love is in the air all around Wildflower Junction today. I spotted cupid trying to sneak around and sling his arrows. Ah’m doing my best to stay out of the way. The birds are singing and doing what birds do and the horses are acting downright frisky. I wish you could see ‘em. Anyway, I hope y’all are celebrating the day in style with the love of your life and remembering that matters of the heart is a permanent condition.

The Fillies are sending our heartfelt thanks to each one of you who make Petticoats and Pistols a success. We hope you enjoy the best Valentine’s Day ever!

Not a great picture-fuzzy-but I’ve talked about how Clay in Petticoat Ranch wasn’t used to being around women and I modeled Clay just a bit after my husband, from a family of seven boys and now we’ve got four daughters.

This is the Valentine’s Day of 1984. My three oldest daughters–Josie 5, Wendy 3, Shelly 3 months. My husband would bring me and each of the girls flowers. I’d get three roses and they’d each get one or I’d get a floral arrangement and they’d each get a tiny one, like in this picture.

One year he went to pick the girls up from a neighbor who was babysitting them and he took the BABYSITTER a single rose.

That wasn’t so good though as she told me later that her brat husband hadn’t given her anything so my husband’s Valentine was the best she got. Not exactly good news for her husband!

Anyway, though my husband sometimes struggles to understand women, he did okay a lot of the time.

Here’s my absolute favorite chocolate cake recipe in the whole world.  It’s rich, chocolatey, and easy to make.   And since Valentine’s Day is known for giving your lover chocolate as a sign of your affection, you still have time to make this!

Chocolate Fudge Cake

1 box chocolate fudge cake mix

1 box instant chocolate fudge pudding

1/2 cup sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup water

1 tsp. vanilla

8 oz. mini-chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare either 13 x 9 pan or two 9 inch rounds with shortening, dusted with flour.

Mix together first 7 ingredients until smooth.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Pour into pan.  Bake 25-35 minutes.

Now, it’s preferable to cool the cake before frosting.  But if you’re really anxious to show your love, you can frost the cake with a can of chocolate fudge frosting while it’s still warm, then cut a large piece and serve it dripping. 

No telling what your lover will do to show his appreciation, eh?

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our Petticoats & Pistols friends.

We love you!

HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

I love both Charlene’s and Cheryl’s posts.  Love all those statistics. I want each and every one of our bloggers to know that we all send you much love on this very special day.  You are a part of our family, and whether you know it or not, you are each one loved!

My heart belongs to my husband, Paul, whom I love with all my heart.  Happy Valentine’s Day, Paul!

Please consider yourself hugged.  May your day be filled with nothing but love and hugs & kisses.

It’s a day for romance!

Did you know:

 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.

73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine’s Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.

About 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year. That’s the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.

About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.

 Cupid, another symbol of Valentines Day, became associated with it because he was the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Cupid often appears on Valentine cards holding a bow and arrows because he is believed to use magical arrows to inspire feelings of love.

During the late 1800s, postage rates around the world dropped, and the obscene St. Valentine’s Day card became popular, despite the Victorian era being otherwise very prudish. As the numbers of racy valentines grew, several countries banned the practice of exchanging Valentine’s Days cards. During this period, Chicago’s post office rejected more than 25,000 cards on the grounds that they were so indecent, they were not fit to be carried through the U.S. mail.

During the Middle Ages, the belief that birds chose their mates on St. Valentine’s Day led to the idea that boys and girls would do the same. Up through the early 1900s, the Ozark hill people in the eastern United States thought that birds and rabbits started mating on February 14, a day for them which was not only Valentine’s Day but Groundhog Day as well.

Hallmark has over 1330 different cards specifically for Valentine’s Day.

Humorous valentines of the 19th century were called “Vinegar Valentines” or “Penny Dreadfuls.” Vinegar Valentines were introduced in 1858 by John McLaughin, a Scotsman with a New York City Publishing Business. Penny Dreadfuls with comic designs drawn in 1870 by American cartoonists Charles Howard became known as Penny Dreadfuls.

In 1929 in Chicago, gunmen in the suspected employment of organized-crime boss Al Capone murder seven members of the George “Bugs” Moran North Siders gang in a garage on North Clark Street. The so-called St. Valentine’s Day Massacre stirred a media storm centered on Capone and his illegal Prohibition-era activities and motivated federal authorities to redouble their efforts to find evidence incriminating enough to take him off the streets.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling.

In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.

In Wales, wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, “You unlock my heart!”

It wasn’t until 1537 that St. Valentine’s Day was declared an official holiday. England’s King Henry VIII declared February 14th a holiday.

One single perfect red rose framed with baby’s breath is referred to by some florists as a “signature rose,” and is the preferred choice for many for giving on Valentine’s Day, anniversary, or birthday.

Only the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the U.K. celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.

Teachers will receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine’s cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.

 The 17th century a hopeful maiden ate a hard-boiled egg and pinned five bay leaves to her pillow before going to sleep on Valentine’s eve. It was believed this would make her dream of her future husband.

The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses on February 14. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage.

The Empire State Building in New York City played a prominent role in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. This year 15 couples will take (or renew) their vows on the 80th floor of this famous landmark.

The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotion and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man’s truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Eros, known as Cupid to the Romans. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid’s arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, it’s red colour is thought to be the most romantic.

The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, who died in childbirth. Work on the Taj began in 1634 and continued for almost 22 years. required the labor of 20,000 workers from all over India and Central Asia.

The oldest known Valentines were sent in 1415 A.D. by the Duke of Orleans to his French wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It is still on display in a museum in England.

The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red stands for strong feelings which is why a red rose is a flower of love.

Wearing a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that the vein of love ran from this finger directly to the heart.

In America, the pilgrims sent confections, such as sugar wafers, marzipan, sweetmeats and sugar plums, to their betrothed. Great value was placed on these gifts because they included what was then a rare commodity, sugar. After the late 1800’s, beet sugar became widely used and more available, and sweet gifts continued to be valued and enjoyed.

What was your favorite Valentine to give or receive?  (Mine was a homemade video from dear hubby to the tune, “You are so beautiful to me”)  

Tomorrow’s Blog with Charlene: Romancing the Classic Movies and win a chance for an autographed book!

After seeing Music and Lyrics I sang that silly ”I’ve been living with a clown above my bed” line to myself for days.  Don’t you hate it when a really irritating song gets stuck in your head?  I love sound tracks and have several I listen to for inspiration.  Notting Hill is one of my favorites, as are Lonesome Dove and Hope Floats.

What are your favorite unforgettably romantic songs from the movies? Here are ten I came up with, but there are a jillion more that I love. Are any of these on your favorites list? Which movie songs are stuck in your head for life?

* No Matter What, Boyzone, Notting Hill
* Take My Breath Away, Berlin, Top Gun
* Unchained Melody, Righteous Brothers, Ghost
* You’ve Got A Way, Shania Twain, Notting Hill
* To Make You Feel My Love, Tricia Yearwood, Hope Floats
* Summer Nights, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Grease
* Under the Boardwalk, Bette Midler, Beaches
* My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion, Titanic
* The Time of My Life, Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley, Dirty Dancing
* Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison, Pretty Woman

Filly # 9 - Karen Kay

Filly # 8 - Elizabeth Lane

Filly # 7 - Pam Crooks

Filly # 6 - Geralyn Dawson

Filly # 5  - Charlene Sands

Filly # 4 - Mary Connealy

Filly # 3 - Linda Broday

Filly # 2 - Cheryl St.John

 Filly # 1 - Stacey Kayne

Someone got herself a little kitty cat. Bet she got it for Christmas. She’s cuter than a Junebug on a watermelon vine and a whole lot nicer.

Wonder which Filly this is?

Pam Crooks, Karen Kay, or Elizabeth Lane??

This is the final one. Good luck to all of you!

We’ll announce the winner this weekend.   Stay tuned!