Happy Leap Year/Day

I was curious about the history of Leap Year/Day and according to the History Channel website I found the following:

History of Leap Year

The Roman dictator Julius Caesar is considered the “father” of leap year. Caesar consulted with the top astronomers of the day, and in 46 B.C. decided to add one day (known as an intercalary day, or leap day) every four years to make up the discrepancy between the lunar and solar calendars. The leap year tradition took effect in 45 B.C., after a transition year that contained three extra months to make up for the difference that had accumulated over the centuries.

A solar year is actually 11 minutes short of 365¼ days: It’s actually closer to 365.2425 days long (365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds). Astronomers figured this out around the second century A.D., but the calendar system didn’t change, and by the 16th century it was nearly 10 days off-track, even with the leap year system. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII made his own reforms to the Julian Calendar, restoring the vernal equinox to March 21 from March 11, and producing the calendar system most of us use today.

Leap Year Trivia

According to the Gregorian calendar, leap year doesn’t occur exactly every four years? That’s right—Gregory was even more precise than that, and made leap year occur in years divisible by four, except for those divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400. Confusing enough for you? In effect, that means that 97 out of every 400 years are leap years, including the century years 1600 and 2000 but NOT 1700, 1800 and 1900.

According to British tradition, a leap day is the only day of the year a woman can propose marriage to a man. As legend has it, in fifth century Ireland, St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about the fact that women had to wait for men to propose. So Patrick allowed women one day every four years to take the initiative. The tradition became the basis for Sadie Hawkins Day in the United States, first dreamed up by Al Capp in his cartoon serial “L’il Abner” and celebrated either on February 29 or November 15, the day the first L’il Abner comic appeared.

Because Greek superstition holds that marrying in a leap year brings bad luck, as many as one of every five Greek couples avoid planning their weddings in a leap year.

The first warrants for arrests in the Salem witchcraft trials were issued on February 29, 1692.

So Happy Leaping Ya’ll!

Blissdom Says: What Do You Blog About?

Sometime during 2011 I received an email/link/announcement, or something of the sort, about a blogging event in February 2012. I clicked over to the website for Blissdom, signed up for the newsletter then quickly forgot about it. Later on I received notice about ticket sales and thought, why not? Hey, it’s going to be at the Gaylord Opryland and who, in their right mind, doesn’t want to stay there, plus I can see what they have to say about this thing I sometimes do called blogging.

So, I placed my order, made reservations, then proceeded to forget about it, once again. As conference time approached there were more newsletters about speakers, schedules, classes, sponsors and events. I nonchalantly glanced through them, then once again forgot about it. I know you see a theme here and it’s not that I didn’t take it seriously, I just didn’t know what it was all about.

February 23 approached and I was excited to finally see what I had gotten myself into. Plus my sweet husband would be joining me for the weekend as well. Conference, husband, Opryland Hotel, delicious food, beautiful surroundings, education opportunity, etc. Nice way to spend a few days. don’t you think?

I arrived before my sweet husband to attend the Newcomer’s Meetup and Handmade Marketplace. The only word I have to describe this meetup was overwhelming. I don’t mean this negatively toward the Blissdom folks, it’s just that the room was packed full, I was at the back and didn’t know a soul (just like the majority of the room). As everyone was saying their howdies, I just stood there, smiled at few folks then had a couple of ladies turn and introduced themselves. One of the first few questions they asked, while looking at my name badge, was, “So what do you blog about?” Huh? What do I blog about? Ummmm, I don’t know. Stuff. Nothing in particular. I don’t know. Oh my gosh, am I suppose to know that? Am I suppose to blog about something in particular? I glanced at other name badges and noticed that under their blog website was a description. Holy cow! I didn’t have a description. And on top of that, I didn’t know what I blogged about. Boy, was I in for it. I felt like that one person in the middle of the Occupy Movement who didn’t know what the Occupy Movement was all about.

So I did the only thing I knew to do. I fled. I ran. I got outta Dodge real quick. I went back to my room, sent texts out to my daughters, then proceeded to go through my piled-high-with-goodies tote bag (compliments of the wonderful Blissdom sponsors). Wow! What a goodie bag! Inside this mound of awesomeness what a little box from Lisa Leonard. Lisa designs beautiful, handcrafted jewelry, of which I am the proud owner of a little piece. Her exclusive design for Blissdom ‘12 is fabulous and I immediately put it on.

After some quiet time I headed to the reception and opening keynote address. Oh my golly, are you kidding me? I saw tables. Tables for 4. What’s wrong with that? I didn’t know anyone and I was going to sit at a table with ladies who probably knew each other or worse, I would be sitting alone. And worse that all of that, I would have to answer that horrid question, “So, what do you blog about?” I just sort of froze, sent a panic-filled text to daughter #2 and thought about fleeing, once again.

And then….

As I was holding up the railing, that was holding me up, I saw a person approach me. Oh gosh, here it comes. “Hi. Hi. I’m Sara. I’m Donna. What do you blog about?” Heart sinks. Sara calls person #2 over. Hi, I’m Robyn (Robyn is part of a great new blog about fundraising made easy). And ‘round we go again. But you know what? They stuck with me. They said, “Hey, we just met and we’re roomies. Come sit with us. You are okay.” So, maybe not those exact words, but they made me feel that, yeah, I was okay. I was going to be okay. We sat, we ate, we got to know each other a little bit and best of all, we exchanged cell phone numbers and said we would keep in touch via text while we were at the conference. And, I knew we would and we did. Throughout the 3 days we met up for breakfast, lunch, breaks and a night of Rascal Flatts music. Sara and Robyn listened, encouraged, laughed with me, offered suggestions and most importantly, became wonderful new friends.

In addition to meeting these lovely ladies, here are other highlights for me:

*Opening and Closing Keynote Speakers: Jon Acuff, Rufus Griscom (co-founder of Babble, who filled in for his wife), and Catherine Connors (whose blog I follow). All three were inspiring and empowering!

*Awesome sponsors with lots of freebies!

*Delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack foods furnished by Gaylord Opryland, along with their thoughtful and courteous staff.

*Photography Sessions with: Me Ra Koh (one word – amazing), Diane Ch (inspiring), Kristin Luna (motivating, love her work), Ryan Marshall and Jason Hudson (Instagram aficionados and totally awesome photographers) and Aimee Giese (informative).

*Joe Jonas, Rascal Flatts and Chris Mann (our awesome entertainment for the conference)

*Blissdom Team: Allison Worthington, Paula Bruno and Barbara Jones (talented and caring ladies who worked tirelessly to make this event a huge success)

*Meeting other bloggers/photographers and exchanging business cards

*Meeting Michelle, who was sweet and lovely to talk to and has so much information to share on her blog – Thanks Michelle!

*Two yummilicious, cozy dinner with my sweet husband (okay, not conference related)

*Eating and visiting with Catherine and Trone (love the soon-to-be-new-house)

*Time spent walking through Opryland Hotel with beautiful light streaming in and nourishing all the green plants

By the end of the conference I felt new direction, inspiration and most important, I didn’t really dread that question anymore. In fact I even developed a response.

So, what do I blog about?

Life. My life.

Not-So-Pretty Finds

I spent last weekend with my parents and we took, what has become, a repeat antique browsing trip down to Monroe, Georgia. We visited Cherry Hill at the Mall in the former Monroe Cotton Mill. This place is under new management as the previous owner has vacated and is actually moving across the street to open an even larger antique mall. I can’t wait to make a future visit!

While browsing the aisles, I noticed a certain section that seemed to have, shall we say, uniquely designed items. Let me just lay in on the line here…..they were U.G.L.Y. and some were a bit scary!! Take a look at these beauties!

This is a cat…..ummm…..okay. If you say so!           Sailor and blue cow????

Gypsy/Mammie/Gardener/??????                             Just what I want in my room!

Ahoy Matey! Love the British peg-leg guy!

Now these beauties were the crown jewel. I almost got them, I really did!

Capping off our day we dined at the Redd House Restaurant in Jefferson, Georgia. They offer an awesome seafood buffet which includes catfish, shrimp, crawfish, bbq and all the fixings. Yummilicious!

That crawfish guy completely demolished that little fried catfish!

I always treasure the time with my parents and I look forward to the next go-round!!!!

Say What? Valentine’s Day?

Hey Cupcake Girl, did you know that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day?

Say what? Valentine’s Day?

Yes, Valentine’s Day. Are you excited?

Did you get me a Valentine’s present?

A present? Why would I get you a present?

’Cause you love me and I can make this cute-little-pouty-face and you love how my little brow wrinkles up and ‘cause I’m your little Cupcake Girl with sprinkles on top!

Oh, I see. Those the pretty good reasons. Anything else?

I can also scare you. Raaawwwrrrr!

Oh my, that is scary!! But the only present I got you was a hug and a kiss.

Say what? But Nunu, it’s gonna be Valentine’s Day!

I’m just kidding my little Cupcake Girl. Of course I got you a little present.

Oh Nunu! I love you!

I love you too my sweet girl!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!!

It’s Been Too Long!

Yes, it has been too long and I’ve been so neglectful. So what have I been up to?

Some of this….

And a little bit of this….

 

But a great deal of this….

Light is my One Little Word this year and I am seeing it everywhere! It’s something I have always noticed, but seems to be intensely surrounding me lately. Or maybe, I’m just intensely looking for it!

I have a post coming soon about light and what it means both personally and literally. Now though, this is just a small portion of what it means to me. Exquisite afternoon light streaming in through our bedroom window. I just stood and basked in its soul-filling glory!

One little note: the composer of the quote below was an interesting fellow. Little is know about him other than he was a Roman encyclopedist. He is best known for his only surviving work "De Medicinia" which is a primarily a encyclopedia on diet, pharmacy and surgery. I do love this quote!