Sunday 14 February 2021

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Hello friends,

Valentine's has long been an excuse in Blubell Oaks, not for Cedric Walnut in the Village Store to sell bulk chocolates and wine (although that does occur), not for the Cottontail's flower stall to sell about half their year's worth of stock and make a huge profit (although again, it is a very good time for the Cottontails), but for celebrating and showing appreciation for loved ones. Family members, children, friends, and of course spouses and sweethearts are gifted with presents, cards, or just simple acts of love.


Christopher and Jane Appleblossom don't really get alot of time to themselves. They own the Watermill Bakery, and from the time Christopher's alarm goes off before dawn to the moment they shut the bakery door in the afternoon, they are busy in a flurry of activity. Shaping dough, baking, serving customers...the days are always busy. However, when the last customer leaves the bakery Christopher and Jane can close the shop for the evening and stroll back through the woods to their home. The routine is the same every day; regardless of Valentine's or not, it is their special time together.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take you out for a fancy dinner tonight, my love." Christopher said.

"Never mind Chris, I've got you-and Jasmine-and that's enough for me." Jane smiled, thinking about their daughter who would be on her way home too now, from school.


While some couples celebrate many years of love and devotion...

...for others it is just the beginning of a new journey. For Eddy and Cassie Splashy, today is their first Valentine's Day as a married couple. They are actually quite new to the village, having moved here a couple of months ago after their wedding this summer. Eddy once visited Bluebell Oaks on holiday as a child, and when he got engaged to Cassie (short for Cascade) he brought her here for a visit too, hoping that his fiancee would be smitten with the village too. Needless to say, they both agreed that it was the perfect place for them to settle down and begin their life together.

Eddy has taken a job as village plumber, and at the moment Cassie has been enjoying setting up their home and being a housewife. They have settled into the village as if they have lived here all their lives. 

Valentine's Day is especially special for Holly and Fred Golightly, because it is also their wedding anniversary. Tonight their three children are at a friend's house so Fred and Holly can enjoy some time alone together. After a lovely dinner out, they are taking a stroll through the village gardens. The evenings are long and warm at the moment, so twilight is just beginning to fall. Fred bought Holly a bunch of roses from the Cottontail's Flower Stall as they passed. 

"Do you remember when we met, Fred?" Holly asked as the strolled through an archway. 

He smiled. Fred and Holly met at a ballroom dancing class-in fact, it was one where young Fred was the teacher. Holly, attending the new class for the first time, was without a partner and so the kind teacher offered to dance with her. Holly would remember that dance all her life. Fred just about swept her off her feet-literally. Turned out, Holly would never need another dancing partner again. They were inseparable and Fred proposed six months later. 

That was many years ago now. Today is their fourteenth wedding anniversary.


"To many more years, Holly!" Fred said.


Happy Valentine's to you all! Have a great week!

7 comments:

  1. Hi Kelsie!

    Another sweet story. The contrast between the different couples was a great idea. The Mulberry grandparents and the newly married Splashys, the hardworking Appleblossoms and the nostalgic Golightlys - all made for a satisfying Valentine celebration.

    The backgrounds are very effective, as is the grass where the Mulberrys are having their picnic. In another story, that groundcover would make a great distant cornfield too.

    I hope you're keeping well!

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    1. Hi Jackson!
      Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! I had originally hoped to include some more couples, however I ran out of time when taking photos.
      Thanks for your idea about the cornfield-I hadn't thought of that. I shall have to remember it!
      I am well thank you; I hope that you too are safe and well!
      Have a great week!

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  2. Hi Kelsie!

    What a lovely story for Valentine's Day! I enjoyed reading about all the different couples, each with their different circumstances. I'm sure they all had a wonderful day together. :)

    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you for your comment Ayrell! I'm very pleased to hear that you enjoyed reading about the couples! They definitely did enjoy spending some quality time together on Valentine's.
      Have a lovely week!

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  4. Hi Kelsie,

    At last I found the time to read this delightful and sweet story!

    I very much enjoyed how you featured different couples and how they all seem to be in love no matter for how long they have been together.
    It obvious for the Splashys, who are a newly-married couple, to be very much in love but isn´t it great the Mulberries are still celebrating this special day despite being together for such a long time?

    The pictures are gorgeous too. The field with the Mulberries and their motorbike at the back and the scene of the Splashys with the sunset look amazing.

    This is a perfect story for Valentine´s Day and heartwarming and sweet for any other day!

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Hugs!
    (I deleted the previous comment because when I read it I realized I left a sentece half done and it didn´t make sense)

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    1. Hi Cutata! Thank you so much for reading and for your lovely words!
      I agree with you about the Mulberries! Of course young love is great but I think there is something special about old love that still remains strong after standing the test of time.
      I was pleasantly suprised with how the photos came out, and I'm so pleased you liked them! I used pictures from an English calendar for all the backgrounds.
      I realised that I'd never introduced the Splashys before, even though I've had them for nearly two years, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share a bit about them!
      Have a great rest of the week!

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