What's not to like about the day? Its a celebration of love, family and friendship that brightens us all and distracts us from our winter woes. I may be fifty four years old, but I can find no fault with any holiday devoted to love and of course chocolate.
Those who can ( and some who can't) spend quite a bit on their Valentine's now. When I was a girl it was more of a box of chocolates and flowers or a plant for Mom. The scale has certainly stepped up quite a bit .... and its possible to spend a limitless amount on the day.
Charitable groups around the world have come to recognize the fundraising potential of the Christmas holiday season and the really clever ones have made it very easy to give 'gifts of the heart' From goats and chickens to helping build a village well or school to funding endangered species, there are plenty of user friendly opportunities for donor gifts.
These are difficult days for many and that of course always affects the animals. Here in Nova Scotia there are many who will (of sad necessity) be celebrating a more frugal Valentines Day
For those of you with animal loving sweethearts, this would be a splendid time to consider celebrating the day by either making a donation to their favourite rescue or picking up one of the fundraising tidbits offered by rescues around NS:
- CAPS Store, http://www.caps-annapolis.org/shop.php, has great mugs, t-shirts, ball caps and calendars and I can assure you first hand that they are of very good quality because i used them for stocking stuffers .... the mugs almost a bag of hershey's kisses and that ... ahem... leaves something for the person who is giving the treat : )))
- ARC has a great store with an incredible array of things, from jewelry http://www.animalrescuecoalitions.com/153482.html to t-shirts and mugs, http://www.animalrescuecoalitions.com/7501.html ( they also have a great online auction that will be starting back up soon too, although that won't help you out for next Saturday.) Their travel mugs, btw, hold almost a full bag of either hershey's hugs or kisses : )))
- SHAID is running its annual "Have a Heart' membership drive and is doing so from the platform of its lovely new website http://www.shaid.ca/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=6 And of course on any of SHAID's petfinder listings for its adoptables, one has the chance now to sponsor individual pets. ( a new petfinder feature that many groups are using )
- TLC in Digby is running a sponsorship program for its adoptables http://www.tlcshelter.com/help_us.html, which is of course a great idea for those who want to help but can't adopt
- Those who wish to help can also sponsor pets at the the Yarmouth SPCA http://www.yarmouthspca.com/help.php?page=Sponsor%20a%20Needy%20Pet!
- Pet Projects is having a February long adoption incentive for its kitties and will underwrite the cost of the spay or neuter for any that are adopted in February! http://members.petfinder.com/~NS29/
- The LA Shelter has a very cool catnip toy, t- shirts and their very own pet cookbook "Paws on the Table" http://www.laanimalshelter.ca/forsale.html
- HART is holding a Valentine's Day Dance at the Nictaux Lions Hall, http://www.valleyhart.com/events.htm
Short of cash? Don't forget that every group around the province can use Canadian Tire money. And ask if your favourite group is set up to take Club Z point donations.
You'll notice that I didn't suggest that you give a pet for Valentine's day. I still think that when it comes to 'giving' a pet to somebody, especially someone outside of your own household, the better option is to give the Pet Promise Certificate that is on the Petfinder site. That way they, and the rescue, can work together to find the very best fit that will last for life. If however, you are hoping to adopt your family's new pet in time for Valentine's Day I heartily suggest you get that ball rolling today!
And of course, last but very definitely not least, please don't forget about the very special Loving Lizards for Luke which is being held next Saturday from 12:00 pm until 4:00 pm
They now have a locationfor this event, it will be held at Fire Station 9, 1 Metropolitan Boulevard, Lower Sackville beside Sackville High School, between First Lake Dr. and Glendale Ave.)
For driving directions, please refer to: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Lower+Sackville&state=NS&address=1+Metropolitan+Avenue&zipcode=B4C&country=CA&latitude=44.77635&longitude=-63.67754&geocode=ADDRESS#a/maps/m::13:44.77635:-63.677537:0:::::/e
And as my own little valentine for all of you chocolate loving folks .... here is my very own recipe for brownies, which of course need to be kept well out of the reach of the furkids, especially the dawgs.
- 1 cup melted margarine
- 2 cups white sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla or vanilla extract
- 1 cup All purpose flour ( I use unbleached flour and so take out an extra tbsp as unbleached is 'heavier')
- 2/3 cup of cocoa
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Melt margarine. When cool, stir in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Sift flour with cocoa, baking powder and salt and add to egg mixture. Combine well and pour into a lightly greased 9 by 12 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until cooked. Hint .. the difference between great brownies and ho hum ones is usually only a matter of a couple of minutes. If you can smell them cooking its probably already past time to take them out : (((( Depending on your dish and your oven it shouldn't take much longer than ten minutes.
When the brownies have cooled to lukewarm ice them with:
- 1 cup icing sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 1 heaping tbsp soft margarine
- Hot coffee ... add only a few drops at a time so as to have icing and not drizzle
And of course if you are wondering what to get your pets, never forget that their very favourite thing is the time you make to spend with them doing anything at all : )))
Who, being loved, is poor? Oscar Wilde
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