Will you be my Valentine?
Is February the month of love? Well, it certainly is if you count the chocolates, the cards, the roses and the special dinners all centered around one day, Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.Valentine’s Day is a holiday set aside each February to celebrate our fondest affections for our loved ones. Traditionally, that includes cards, candy and flowers, or even a piece of jewelry.
Valentine’s isn’t just the day of “love.” It’s also the day for couples to recapture their relationship, for the time that they’ve been together.
There are many theories and myths surrounding the origin of the modern Valentine’s Day celebrations. Some adore Valentine’s Day, while others dread it. However, whatever your inclinations are, I hope everyone will have a nice Valentine’s Day and that the ladies will receive their red roses — the traditional Valentine’s flower.
Remember love doesn’t make the world go round — it is what makes the ride worthwhile for everyone.
Show your sweetheart (or entire family) your romantic side by treating them on Friday, Feb. 14.
As William Shakespeare said: “Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love.”
VALENTINE COUPLES
Wedding anniversary wishes go out to my brother Wayne and his wife, Ruth Burke of Front Royal, and to Danny and Hope Huff of Washington, all of whom will celebrate their special day on Valentine’s Day.
PLANETS VIEWING
Beside the weather being a roller coaster ride so far this winter February happens to be a great month for planet viewing. We can watch Venus, Mars and Jupiter pop out at nightfall. Venus is the brightest of all planets, and third-brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon — and puts on a spectacular show with Mars this month.
According to EarthSky, Venus and Saturn are not truly close together in space, but reside on nearly the same line of sight. Venus is an inferior planet — orbiting the sun inside
Earth’s orbit. Saturn, on the other hand, is a superior planet — orbiting the sun outside of Earth’s orbit.
Saturn, the 6th planet from the sun, is the farthest world that we can easily see with the unaided eye.
Venus ranks as the 3rd-brightest celestial body to light up the heavens, after the sun and moon. Venus presently outshines Saturn by about 80 times. In fact, Venus is so dazzlingly bright that some sharpsighted people can even see this world in a daytime sky.
But let us not forget the king planet Jupiter, which is the 4thbrightest celestial body to adorn the heavens, after the sun, moon and Venus. All these planets — Venus, Jupiter and Saturn — will continue to light up the morning sky for many months to come. Jupiter and Saturn will climb upward, away from sunrise, while Venus will sink in the other direction, toward sunrise.
So get out your binoculars, or your telescope and take a look at the marvelous views in these dark Rappahannock skies.
PRAYER REQUEST
Let’s keep Mike Beahn in our daily prayers each day. He has been under the weather.
INSTALL BLUEBIRD BOXES
Rappahannock County Recreational Facilities Authority (RCRFA) will install Bluebird boxes for the Bluebird Trail on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Rappahannock County Park. Kid friendly (with accompanying adults). Supplies and tools will be provided.
BARN COOKBOOKS
Come by the Book Barn on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and take a look at the beautiful cookbooks on sale. Buy one, get one free!
They also have a good selection of large print fiction books, Civil War and other history books, travel, art, science and animal books for adults and children at great prices. All proceeds go to the Rappahannock County Library.
BURNING LAWS
The 4 p.m. Burning Law is a restriction on open air burning before 4 o'clock in the afternoon if a fire is within 300 feet of woods or dry grass which can carry the fire to the woods. The law goes into effect on Feb. 15 until April 30.
IN CLOSING
I close with this quote from Charles Dickens: “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
Have a wonderful week!