Anita, The most touching memory I have of Valentine's Day is one when I was in the local supermarket and saw the men in the checkout line--this was in the evening right after work--each prosaic, workaday figure holding a bouquet of flowers to take to his sweety. THIS is what it's all about. In spite of my laments about our garden in February, today it's tolerably sunny and warm, and my husband is working on a pergola in our shade garden, one of the numberless projects he has done for me. The pergola is to keep 'Treasure Trove' off our heads as we descend the path: we obviously planted this rose in the perfect spot, as it is completely happy while we do absolutely nothing to take care of it. But it's impossible to train up the locust tree as we had planned, as our ladders are too short, the slope too steep, and our bones too brittle; so he's putting together a rebar-and-wood pergola that 'Treasure Trove' can sprawl over while we walk beneath. The pergola, plain though it is, has magically transformed its area into a GARDEN--it's amazing what can be accomplished by a structure--and meanwhile I'm with my husband, enjoying his company, investigating the late-winter woodland, checking and mulching our plants, and feeling that this really is our day of love. Melissa

Thank You ALL for your lovely comments. Sorry I took so long to reply... DH & I spent the day down in NY our DD needed us babysit. We had to be there for when the Gkids came home from school. We ended up taking them to their favorite place to eat - Nathans. Geeeesh..you can drop a bundle just going out for Hot Dogs!! We ended up taking our oldest DGson home with us for the weekend....we love it as much as he does. magpie...keep checking your surrounding areas for CTS shops. They have been cropping up all over. Originally they were only in Cape Cod, Ma..but now are all over the place. They do have great deals. milosmom...you still have time before V-Day to do a table. I know what you mean about enjoying everyone else's. This table came by pretty quick..working around the 'Special Couple'! DD...you're right, I find you have to think of clever ways to 'fill in' with a large table to make it intimate for just two. This one seemed kind of easy with the bears towards the end, as a focal point. Glad you liked the look. jeanne...I'm sorry about the 'CTS'..I forgot that not everyone knows what that stands for. Glad you figured out the 'mystery' though! lol. Too bad they don't sell online..that would make lots of happy campers here!! karen...what a cute description of this table 'A Sweet Box of Chocolates'...that would make me smile too! Glad you enjoyed it. OA...those little 'Valentine Balloons'..are actually little heart picks that I bought last year, and kind of just propped them up on either side of the bears. I thought they looked cute and do look like balloons. As far as the bows on the glasses...Hey...go for it. I saw this idea on someone's table once, and liked it..and I 'stole' err borrowed the idea myself!! lol Lynn...seems like everyone is so impressed with those heart napkins. Yes they came from $ General, and I'm sorry I didn't buy more. They are so cute and the fabric is a nice pique and look even nicer in person. kathleen...that would be GREAT..borrowing each others things to add to what we have in common. I'm sure you were able to buy more of those plates than I. I hear ya on the 'stay warm'... It's been brutally cold, especially with that nasty ole 'wind chill factor' whipping around. You do the same... I'm sure your making nice hot soup or some other great comfort food to chase away the cold...lol Luvs... I guess you're right, better to have the two plates than none! The red flatware is a great look for the price. I wouldn't usually buy red, but it was too tempting. dream...seems the flatware and those napkins are the big hit of this table! If I added up what I spent for everything...it comes out to cheap..cheap...cheap!! Thanks again everyone. jane

Thank you Westsider. Rice ice cream may sound a little strange to some, but rice ice cream is not new, The Japanese has it, the Chinese has it and the Italian has it. Here is a recipe for Italian rice cream, I used wild rice instead of Arborio rice. The taste was just as you said, "Luscious, smooth, creamy, rich, wild rice ice cream. ---------- I imagine that tastes creamy and vanilla-ish and wild rice nutty. Vanilla and pecans or walnuts or wild rice" GELATO DI RISO (RICE ICE CREAM) Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Ice Cream Italian Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 1/2 c Arborio rice -- uncooked 3 c Milk 3 tb Granulated sugar 1 sm Piece vanilla bean 1 pn Salt -----CUSTARD CREAM----- 3 Extra-large egg yolks 6 tb Granulated sugar 1/2 c Milk -----PLUS----- 2 c Heavy cream 3 ts Confectioners' sugar 2 lb Rock salt The rice is quite crunchy and gives an interesting texture to the gelato. This ice cream is very popular in Italy now. Put the rice in a saucepan. Add the milk, vanilla bean, sugar, and salt and brig to a boil over medium heat, stirring costantly. Then simmer for about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the rice cool completely (about 2 hours). Pour the contents of the pan through a colander and drain off the excess liquid. Let the rice sit in the colander for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the custard cream with the ingredients listed above, following standard directions. Transfer the rice to a large bowl and remove the vanilla bean. Then add the cooled custard cream to the rice and combine well. Add the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar and mix again. Prepare the gelato, following ice-cream maker's directions. Source: Guiliano Bugialli's Classic Techniques of Italian Cooking -----------------------------------------------------------

Back at ya'! BTW LindaC--I went by your friend's house in Sarasota this afternoon. The sky is beautiful but the temp only reached 59 degrees so pack a jacket.