Snow fell large as leaves and blanketed the yard with somber stillness. Each ordinary object, once outlined with white, became a discovery. I tramped through deepening drifts and felt buoyantly pulled into winter’s most glittering spell. Here is my home.
I’m not a big fan of making a big production out of Valentine’s Day, not that I haven't been there and done that a gazillion times, so if you are young and still relatively unjaded, go ahead and buy the perfect dress and pressure your lover to find the perfect restaurant, or even better, the perfect romantic weekend getaway. And good luck with that!
I’ve found that it’s pretty easy to just create a bit of magic and enchantment at home, with simple objects, whimsical plating of food, candlelight, wine (optional) and a decadent dessert (essential).
For example, here is a salad Ken and I enjoy, made with roasted butternut squash, strawberries, shitake mushrooms and greens with a balsamic vinegar dressing. On the left, I cut a heart from the squash, and on the right, I arranged the salad in a heart. It’s a simple way to make him smile.
My poppy bowls are great for evoking romantic flair without being predictably Valentine-y:
On the left, layers of patterns in table linens and textured plates set off a whimsical arrow. On the right, a simple Modern Lace bowl with a single strawberry heart are a prelude to a romantic meal.
Love lives in the moments when two people are present to each other. If you have that, it only takes small gestures to celebrate Valentine’s Day. And some of my best VD days were spent with a wonderful friend, or my child, or one time when I set the table for myself, ate a nice meal, drank for 2, sang You’re So Vain while channeling Mick Jagger more times than I care to recall. I am glad to not be in my 20’s anymore. Because love before you get at least halfway jaded is exhausting.
All pottery pieces are available from Lee Wolfe Pottery.
