My Valentine this Year

 Every year I make a homemade valentine and remail it from Loveland, Colorado.  I have been doing this for a very long time. My hometown is Loveland.  This year they are celebrating the 80th year of Valentine Remailing Program.  I was lucky enough to drop off my valentine's there in Loveland.

I usually just mail them in a giant envelope to the Loveland Postmaster. There the volunteers stamp the outside with a special cachet, and the post office cancels with the Loveland postmark. 

Usually, I have a new idea for next year's valentine after I have mailed this year's valentine. I usually go through a few drafts before I settle on an idea. 

1st draft

2nd draft - mainly work with the Cricut

I got a Crayola marker air brush for Christmas.  I was influenced by Kristan at Friendsartlab.  

It is such a blast to play with so below is my design for 2026.

52 Ancestors - Favorite Photo

Favorite photo was last week's prompt, but I thought in honor of Nonna I would post it this week. This lovely and talented lady turned 77 this week. Happiest of Birthdays to you Nonna. Nonna was a competitive roller-skater.

Wordy Wednesday

 

Superbowl Weekly Roll

 Ready for the BIG game?  Are you not a fan of sports ball? (LOL) Regardless I have some interesting links below for all.

How to Watch the Super Bowl - I decided to subscribe to Peacock for a month, so I get the Olympics as well. It was worth the 10.99 for me.  I could have changed my subscription included with my Walmart + from Paramount + to Peacock but I really like my Paramount.

Superbowl Games to play while you watch the big game. I have commercial bingo, but the commercial scavenger hunt sounds fun (#22)

Pregame Show from Alcatraz

Olympics More your speed - This ice dancing documentary on Netflix - Glitter and Gold. There is quite a bit of real life drama in the ice dancing world.

Jeffery Epstein and 23 Me DNA Tests - Weird crossover between Epstein Files and Genealogy

Inappropriate Thoughts

My Bestie and Me at my first NFL game

If you have any questions on who I will be rooting for in the Superbowl.  I think these photos will help.

What is saving me

 We have reached the middle of winter. Modern Mrs Darcy hosts a "What is Saving You".  It is funny that it always seems like the little things that are saving us. My list is below.  Check out what is saving others.

Buy Good Gloves - I live in a place that hardly ever gets much snow, but I was glad my husband bought me some good gloves.  I was going to cheap out, but when we had Snow and Ice Armegedon in Southeast New Mexico last week I was glad I didn't cheap out. I am a person who always has cold hands.  

Lighted Dog Collars - We started walking our dogs after supper and it is dark.  We got red and blue lighted collars. We are the neighborhood paw patrol.  They are rechargeable and have several light modes.

Book Club - I belong to the Sharon Says So book club.  I enjoy reading books I normally wouldn't attempt or pick. we read mainly nonfiction. I learn something every time. There is something so satisfying about sharing ideas about a book.  Also, in this turbulent time I find Sharon McMahon's knowledge and advice a welcome breath of fresh air. You can find Sharon on Instagram - SharonSaysSo

Postcard from Zazzle

Sending and Receiving Postcards - I joined postcrossing last year and it is a lot of fun to send and receive cards from all over. People always ask what I write.  I always write a little message tailored to their profile. Since I live close to Roswell, New Mexico. I send lots of alien postcards. I ask, "Do you believe?".

Weekly Roll

Donuts are Love

Linky Love

 Floret flowers came out with their seed/bulb guide.  This is an incredible resource.

Watched Eleanor the Great with my Mom. This one will make you cry. It is on Netflix.

Things I googled

Player with the Longest Name in NBA History This is important sport trivia - LOL

What does POUR mean as a medical Acronym. Hey medical professionals do the patients a favor and avoid acronyms in surgical instructions.

His Eye is on the Sparrow - gospel hymn that my father remembered his mother singing.

National Thank a Mailman Day -Wednesday February 4

Deep Thoughts

I am in my hometown while my mom recovers from surgery. We always have a lot of laughs at my parents' house. My mom and dad like to laugh. I think I get my whacky humor from them.

Wordy Wednesday

 

The Widow and The Widower

by Todd Connor

Before Christmas, we visited the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio. The man in the picture reminds me of an old coworker of my husband. The quote was above the painting.  

Weekly Roll

 

Sunday Morning View

Did you survive the storm/snow Armageddon? Yep, Southeast New Mexico got hit.  I am not sure our town even owns plows.  

This what it looked like Saturday Morning

Inappropriate Thoughts

Snow makes me feel lazy.  I have no excuse for not posting this at its regular time.  I literally did nothing of importance yesterday.  I crafted a tiny bit, watched a dumb movie, did a bit of puzzle and took a 2-hour nap. There were probably less than 10 cars that drove up our street. I think mail delivery was canceled. 

52 ancestors- Theory in Progress

The prompt was for 52 Ancestor in 52 Days was Theory in Progress.

One of my brick walls involves Jane Marie Devault Hoyt, my great great grandmother.  So, I was looking at my great grandfather's name of Reason Teagard Hoyt, Jane's son.  Teagard is unusual middle name unless it referred to a mother maiden last name being Teagard or Jane's mother's maiden name. My brick wall is that I don't know who Jane's parents are. I think Teagard is the shortened version of Teegarden or Teagarden. 

I am related to Teagarden's, but I can find no connection between Devaults (Devolts) and the Teagarden's so far. 

my great grandfather Reason Hoyt

was Rachel Teagarden Virgin great great grandson

I don't know if this "theory" holds water because Jane's guardian was George Teagarden Virgin. His mother was a Teagarden. Is that why she chose Tegard as a middle name? I think Reason was after Rezin Virgin who was a son of Rachel Teagarden Virgin.

It is interesting to see what names are repeated. Frequently you see names used over and over. I know my own son has a nickname for Reason for his middle name. We specifically chose it to honor Reason.

It appears that Jane's sons and daughters carry some family names

Hiram - Jane's brother Hiram

Alanson - after William's father

James Mitchell - after William's brother James Mitchell, Civil War POW

Sarah - after Williams's mother Sarah

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

very small hint about my valentine card

Linky Love

Lion Mountain Attack - I am late to share this. It happened in Colorado. I have driven by this trail head so many times. After hiking in the Pacific Northwest, I am most afraid of cougars.

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Tabithasewer mentioned how sad she is sad JoAnn's is gone. I share that sentiment as well.  You betcha in 2016 I was hitting JoAnn's. Nothing quite hits like the smell of JoAnn's despite my husband calling it the smell of crafty desperation.

Deep Thoughts

There were a lot of notable deaths this past week with Scott Adams. But also, a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement, Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on the bus.  She was only 15 years old and gave up her seat 9 months before Rosa Parks. She died at 86.  Claudette is featured in Sharon McMahon's book, "The Small and Mighty". 

52 Ancestors - Records that add color/Genealogy Meeting Tale

The 52 ancestors in 52 weeks prompt was Records that Add Color.

 Well, I had picked out my own ancestor but then I went to genealogy meeting, and I thought I would share a tale I heard there. Oral history provides something that regular records don't. They bring color.

I meet once a month with other people who are researching their family history. We have our meetings at a local library. Well, this time the internet was down so we couldn't research because basically most of our research is done on the internet.  (this is really annoying) 

In walked a guy I am going to call Will.  He is a lifelong New Mexican.   He had been researching his family. Will had lost his dad when he was 8 and then his mother when he was 18.  He also suffered an injury in 2023 that made his memory not as reliable.  So, he was researching his family to put the pieces of memory and history back together. His family came from Otero County New Mexico.  This is near where the Lincoln County War happened and Billy the Kid and lots of stories of the wild west.

He asked me if I wanted to hear an old western story.  I am always up for a genealogy story. He said his Uncle Shorty was a purveyor of meat and also a teller of tales. Uncle Shorty had a very wide definition of meat could be beef, horse, chicken, or wild game. Well, Uncle Shorty was out of meat to sell. So, he went out in the hills basically poaching for meat.  He had a wagon of deer when he was caught by Fish and Game.  The Fish and Game agent was on a horse.  So, he ran but he got his revenge by shooting off the horn of the saddle. Will said his Uncle Shorty had a lot of stories many including this one which he didn't believe were true. However, years later when working a late shift at the refinery when guys spill yarns. He told this story, and it was confirmed by someone else to be true. A lot of family tales can't be proven true especially the more colorful ones, but Will got unofficial confirmation that his uncle's tale had kernel of truth.

Favorite Postcards 2025

 I received over 60 postcards last year!  I have them hanging EVERYWHERE! I have them on the refrigerator hanging as a banner in the oasis. 

I did have a few favorites and far too many to show but a few are below.

But more than the fronts of the cards, I enjoyed reading each post card.  Many of the post cards told me the places that I should visit.  They told me of places that were on their bucket travel list.  Many had visited New Mexico.  Post cards allow us to visit places through the mail.

I received post cards from all over the world

see below

Yearly Valentine Remailing PSA

My 2025 Valentine

Every year I come on to remind you to SEND GOOD MAIL and remind you that the deadlines to have your Valentine's remailed from Loveland, Colorado are coming up quick.  Loveland is celebrating its 80th year of remailing Valentine's all over the globe. Directions and deadlines below and can also be found here

Weekly Roll

 

first postcard received this year

Linky Love

Book Club Picks for Jan 2026 - I haven't started my book club book yet -true confession

Inappropriate Thoughts

I am pretty sure Google was watching me clean up Christmas the other day.  When I got it, all put way I still had trees hanging around. It of course recommended a product to me.  They are always listening.

I feel so seen! I probably misplace this as well.

Wordy Wednesday

 

I recently heard the lighthouse theory. The basics are we attract the right people when we just shine. We don't have to chase or rescue the people we need in our lives. 

Light House Theory

Weekly Roll - New Year

 

Linky Love

7 Reasons to Take Up Bird Watching - I downloaded ebird and registered for a New Mexico Big Year. 

How to use ebird

Rediscovering Creativity through Analog Hobbies - Analog activities seem to be coming up more and more among influencers

Scrap a day trend

Inappropriate Thoughts

 

You think with this kind of marketing this Tighty Whitey wine would be flying off the shelf. Am I right? This is a New Mexico wine

Deep Thoughts

It seems to be the season for resolutions. For many years, I chose a word of the year. Last year I believe was easy. I don't know if that was a good choice. I did consistently ask myself am I making this harder than necessary. I am not sure if I will have one little word this year. It hasn't come to me yet. I do find it somewhat helpful.

52 Ancestors - Year in Review

 I participated in Amy Johnson Crows writing about 52 ancestors in 52 weeks. Every week there is a very open-ended writing prompt. I thought I would highlight a few that you the audience liked.

Below are the top 3 most viewed blog posts in this category. I wrote 12 total 52 ancestor posts this year.

I covered a ghost story I heard at a genealogy meeting -Genealogy Meeting Tales

There was two people who met through their love of shorthand - Surprising Shorthand Love Story (highest views)

A woman who refused to obey - Wedding

I will be participating again this year. Check out Amy Johnson Crow. Who knows what stories I will stumble on this year.