Greetings to all folks near and far.

Here my latest article from the Appalachia site at BellaOnline.com.

Turkey Soup Recipe
Winter is the best time for homemade soups and a good old fashioned turkey soup will warm up the kitchen and put smiles on faces.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art7988.asp

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Valentine's Day, that special day set aside on February 14 each year for true love, when young lovers and even the elderly loves give each other flowers, special gifts, cards, candy and promises. The roots of Valentines Day were planted by ancient Pagan belief. This was a fertility celebration usually performed around February 15. Lupercalis or Lupercalia is what the ancient peoples of Rome called this festival. Although the history of this holiday is obscure and has numerous legends and lore surrounding it, Valentine's Day, as we now know it, contains both Christian and Pagan traditions.

By the Middle Ages, Valentine's day was even more associated with romance and courtship, in spite of the Christian church's efforts to sanctify the holiday. The traditions of the holiday eventually evolved to gift giving and the exchange of cards. The cards were made by loving hands with ribbons, laces, dried flowers and would have cupids, lovebirds and hearts on them. This tradition remains to this day - although the younger generations will sometimes prefer cartoon figures or action heroes on the cards rather than the lace and ribbons! Regardless of what is on the cards, the intent remains the same - love, romance and courtship.

0, my love is like a red, red rose,
that's newly sprung in June.
0, my love is like a melody,
that's sweetly play'd in tune.
Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796
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Till next time, may your home be filled with laughter and may it ring from floor to rafter.

Blessings and may you walk in peace and harmony.
Phyllis
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Phyllis Doyle Burns, Appalachia Editor
http://appalachia.bellaonline.com

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