Last year I totally forgot to send out Christmas cards, so I made valentines for my loved ones instead.  This year, I had the pleasure of attending a “Make Victorian Valentines” fundraiser — what fun!

Making Valentines

In addition to a refreshment table with coffee, hot chocolate, and lots of cookies, organizers set out lots of fun stuff to use in our valentines, much of it purchased from thrift-stores or at deep discount the year before. 

Our choices ranged from vintageladies’ handkerchiefs to doilies; from beads and sequins to bits of lace. I loved what everyone made, but secretly loved the children’s valentines the best– big, lopsided construction paper confections with childish hand writing, “I lovE you mommY”. 

Victorian Valentines

I thought it was a WONDERFUL idea, and how many of us get valentines anymore, much less home-made ones, glue and real handwriting and all?

Hand-made valentines

There’s still time.  Go get your scissors and paper and make someone you love an old-fashioned valentine, too!

Be mine

But they also had first to know the basic properties of both duct tape and socks.  E.G:

Today’s Problem: tiny bathroom, two messy cats, lack of child’s interest in litter box clean-up. Cat litter all over the floor.  GROSS.

Solution using what we have on hand: one unused bathtub and one rubber door mat.  

Final verdict: Not at all elegant, but it works.

Yesterday I suggested that playing around with stuff won’t solve any specific problems, but that’s not what babies or toddlers are concerned about when they bang and suck on things, carry them around, or drop them off the edge of their high chairs. They aren’t solving any specific problems, but they are conducting valid scientific research all the same.

Sometimes problem-solving is the way to go, and sometimes playing is.

I’ve been playing. In the past few weeks, I’ve rearranged nearly every room in our house. I’ve been cleaning and getting rid of as many things as I can, and everything else I’ve either turned around, turned over, or turned into something else.

Yesterday’s problem: tiny bedroom without enough wall space

Solution: turn bed diagonally and fill corner with thrift-store screen that has been taking up space elsewhere.  And can you find the cat in this picture?

I’ve been thinking of it as an intensive audit, a re-nesting, a way of getting traction.  It’s very weird, and I don’t know where I’m going with any of this, but it seems important so I’ve decided to stick with it for the time being.

Interesting and possibly pointless things to do with excess firewood and old Christmas lights…