New Year's Dance with Bob Turcola

Last Sunday, on January 2, 2011, SNPJ Lodge 778 in Spring Hill hosted the New Year's Dance with Bob Turcola for the second time in a row. The five-piece band sounded great and so did the jammers who took the stage twice. The attendance was decent and everyone had fun. Here are some photos I took at this first successful event of the season at the Slovenian-American Club's Spring Hill Hall.

Bob Turcola with his band

Bob Turcola on piano accordion

Happy dancers

... and more happy dancers

... and musicians' wives, the most important members of the band

Independence Day lyrics

Photo "American Flag on Independence Day - July 4, 2008" - courtesy of agdenza

Independence Day Lyrics
Artist: Martina McBride

Well she seemed all right by dawn's early light
Though she looked a little worried and weak
She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again
But daddy left the proof on her cheek
and I was only eight years old that summer
And I always seemed to be in the way
So I took myself down to the fair in town
On Independence Day

Well word gets around in a small, small town
They said he was a dangerous man
Mama was proud and she stood her ground
she knew she was on the losin' end
Some folks whispered some folks talked
but everybody looked the other way
when time ran out there was no one about
On Independence Day

CHORUS:
Let Freedom ring,let the white dove sing
Let the whole world know that today is a
Day of reckoning
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay, it's
Independence Day

Well she lit up the sky that fourth of July
By the time that the firemen come
They just put out the flames,
and took down some names
And sent me to the county home
Now I ain’t sayin' it's right or it's wrong
but maybe it's the only way
Talk about your revolution
It's Independence Day

Repeat Chorus

Roll the stone away
It's Independence Day

Unique and historical celebrations of Independence Day:

(Source)

• Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
• Since 1912, the Rebild Society, a Danish-American friendship organization, has held a July 4th weekend festival that serves as a homecoming for Danish-Americans in the Rebild section of Denmark.
• Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.
• Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.
• Numerous major and minor league baseball games are played on Independence Day.
• The famous Macy's fireworks display usually held over the East River in New York City has been televised nationwide on NBC since 1976. In 2009, the fireworks display was returned to the Hudson River for the first time since 2000 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of that river.
• Since 1970, the annual 10 kilometer Peachtree Road Race is held in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The Boston Pops Orchestra has hosted a music and fireworks show over the Charles River Esplanade called the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" annually since 1973. The event has been broadcast nationally since 2003 on CBS.
• On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth,” a free concert, precedes the fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually.

Photo courtesy of urtica

Happy Independence Day everyone!

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.

~Albert Camus

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• Windsor-Detroit fireworks illuminate friendship (cbc.ca)
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• Fourth of July Food and Dessert Ideas (holiday-entertaining.suite101.com)

Happy Father's Day

Image by Te55  - M♥R1E via Flickr

On this special day I'd like to share with you two famous quotes. I looked through many, some even brought tears to my eyes - but the following two touched my heart most deeply.

I sure wish I could see my dad (I call him "oči") today and give him a hug...

He didn't tell me how to live;

he lived,

and let me watch him do it.

~Clarence Budington Kelland

It is not flesh and blood

but the heart

which makes us fathers and sons.

~Johann Schiller

Happy Father's Day 

to all the loving fathers, 

stepfathers 

and grandfathers out there!! :)

And the video I made for dads, with a little sneak-peak into my childhood:

Related articles by Zemanta

• Barbara Biziou on the History of Father's Day (beliefnet.com)
• Happy Father's Day: Images of love of the family (chicagonow.com)

Happy Mother's Day

Photo Mother's Day Bouquet - courtesy of Ko&Ka

Mothers hold their children's hands 

for a short while, 

but their hearts forever. 

 ~Author Unknown

Happy Mother's day

to all the moms out there!! :)

And especially for all the mommies today, a very heartfelt song by Majda Sepe - "Poj, kitara mojega srca" (Sing, My Heart's Guitar).



Lyrics in Slovenian (partial):

Prelep je dan,
sonce se smehlja kot mati.
Obljublja nam,
da poletje je pred vrati.
In kdor je sam
našel bo morda ljubezen...


Lyrics in English (partial):

It's a beautiful day,
the sun is smiling like mother
with promises of
summer just around the corner.
And those who are alone
might find love...



***

Happy Easter

Nothing says "spring" for me as loud and clear and cheerful as Narcissus - daffodil flower.

Every time I see that happy, bright yellow bloom, the memories of my grandmother's backyard take me to another space and time, to the days of my carefree childhood in idyllic Slovenia.

There I spent many hours observing all kinds of beautiful wildflowers or blooms in my granny's garden, sunbathing on the roof of one of the farm buildings or climbing the plum tree, munching on fresh fruit and admiring the nature around.

In spring, when countless of little daffodil islands were dominating the backyard scenery, my grandfather would carefully mow the grass around daffodils, to make sure their beauty stayed intact and they come back again next year, with even more blooms and beauty than the year before.



Photo courtesy of Mundilfari*

I'm not much into poetry but in my high school, when I was taking "Old British and American Literature" as an elective class, there was this one poem that I really
enjoyed - and through which I've learned this English word (the daffodil) for the first time:

"Daffodils" (1804)
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Happy Easter and Happy Spring everyone, 

look for things that make you happy, 

no matter if that's a bloom, 

a smile of someone dear to you 

or heavily loaded dinner table... 

May your heart be filled with love,

today and always!

***

Happy Valentine's Day

It takes more then lace and ribbons
And lovely verses too,
To make a Valentine
Thats nice enough for you
It takes a world of special thoughts
Tucked into every line
And that's exactly what you'll find
Inside this Valentine.
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Photo above: "Gingerbread hearts piled-up" (lectovi srčki na kupu) - courtesy of http://www.slovenian-alps.com
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These are the kind of hearts (see photo above) that men and boys in Slovenia traditionally gave to their Valentines - sweethearts  - throughout the year.

They are made of gingerbread, richly decorated and usually carry a meaningful message on a piece of paper, attached in the middle.

In the past these "lectova srca" (gingerbread hearts) were mostly available at the fairs on holidays and they were hand made by craftsmen making bee/honey/bees-wax related products. This craft has a long tradition in Slovenia. It is called "medičarstvo."

And - in case you're wondering, when received from the right person, these gingerbreads weren't eaten but saved and cherished for years... :)

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***

Happy New Year

Photo "Happy 2010" - courtesy of H.Ue
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I don't know who is the author of the verses below. I received them in one forwarded email and knew right away that this is the one I will share with all of you.
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My Wish for You 

in 2010

May peace break into your home 
and may thieves come 
to steal your debts. 

May the pockets of your jeans 
become a magnet for $100 bills. 

May love stick to your face like Vaseline 
and may laughter assault your lips!

May happiness slap you across the face 
and may your tears be that of joy

May the problems you had, 
forget your home address! 

In simple words ............

May 2010 be 

the best year 

of your life!!!
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***

Waltz Christmas songs

While most of the waltz Christmas songs I've been listening to for the past couple of weeks, came from the Home for Christmas CD by (well known to all of us) Canada's Polka King and 3 time Grammy winner Walter Ostanek - I've also been on a mission, searching Internet for some waltz Christmas songs to share with you. I have to say, polka Christmas tunes were much easier to find, though... :)

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♪♫ The Christmas Waltz ♪♫.

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We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Waltz Version.

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Alpski Kvintet - Sveta Noč - Silent Night.

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Alpski Kvintet - Bel Božič - White Christmas.

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Polka Christmas utube

This morning I asked mine and Nick's good friend Phillip from Australia to play a cheerful Christmas Polka for all of us - and this is what he came up with... enjoy!! :)

German Christmas song: "Kling Kling Glockchen Klingelingeling" or in Slovenian: "Zvončki na saneh" 

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Then I discovered "The Merry Christmas Polka" by Freddy Martin and information that This classic 3-part CD set From the 1984 Reader's Digest collection, "Christmas Through the Years" - is no longer sold anywhere and used copies from Amazon or eBay can fetch up to $100 or more. But of course you're more than welcome to enjoy this one song below for free... :)

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The Merry Christmas Polka by Freddy Martin - from "Christmas Through the Years" album.

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Let me wrap this post up with another Christmas classic in polka version, played on accordion by Phillip.

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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Instrumental - One of the most well known Christmas songs out there..

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***

Merry Christmas

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Photo courtesy of Chobopop

"Good friends are hard to find,
harder to leave, and impossible to forget." 
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With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas,
all the Happiest Holidays
and all the luck the New Year
could possibly bring to you.  

***

Done shopping?

If you're now done shopping for all the last minute gifts, it's time to relax and start planning some fun things to do in the next few days - and until everything goes "back to normal"

• after Santa delivers all of his gifts, 
• after all the delicious and calorie-rich Christmas goodies are consumed, 
• after returning the unwanted or unfitted presents to the customer services around the country, 
• after staying up all night, and all the cheering, toasting and kissing on New Year's Eve

it will be a perfect time to join the New Year's Day Dinner Dance at the Suncoast Dance and Party Center - or SNPJ Lodge 778 Hall on County Line in Spring Hill.

When?
January 1st, 2010

Live music by:
Bob Turcola, Youngstown - Ohio
and
Line dancing on CD music when the band takes a break

Dinner choices:

• pork and sauerkraut
• roast beef
• kielbasa

Admission (affordable as always!):

• dinner & dance: $15
• dance only: $10

Time:

• food served from 12 to 1:30 PM
• dance from 2 to 5 PM

RSVP:
For dinner choices and reservations call Mary Ann Hiltz at: 727-376-8486
or
Contact Daria by leaving comment underneath this post.

And - by the way - in case you need a gift for someone and don't have time to shop - or you simply have no idea what to get them, Amazon gift card will make everyone happy. It can be e-mailed (for recipient's instant access) or mailed to anyone's address. I know I would be thankful to get one! :)

See you all on the first day of January 2010.

Friday snow

As I'm sitting at my desk in my Central Florida home, sipping jasmine green tea and looking at my laptop screen while thinking about my Cleveland trip, the memory of that early Friday morning in Northfield, Ohio makes me smile.

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Photo above: Friday snow and sunrise in Northfield, Ohio

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When I first woke up that morning I instinctively knew there had to be snow outside. The next thing I remember was the sound of the automobile tires, making their way through the snow slush on the asphalt. Being born in the coldest town in Slovenia, I sure heard a lot of that "song." Some things just seem to stick in one's memory for ever...

I got up and opened the blinds. Everything was white - and after I haven't seen snow in five years the snow covered outdoors looked simply magical to me! :)

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Photo above: Friday snow in Northfield, Ohio

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Thank you, Dave - for taking both of the beautiful photos above!! :)



***

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a beautiful Thanksgiving Day, no matter where you are and who you're celebrating with - with some quotes and uplifting music videos.

French Proverb:
Gratitude is the heart's memory.

For today's occasion I chose an older group that has been around for decades: Štajerskih sedem. Below is their polka about the happy dancing.

They have always been very popular, their music and performance of high quality and singer Rudi Šantl's voice very distinctive.

He toured Canada and U.S. a few months ago as a vocal with Slovenian group Tramontana. Rudi since received more invitations from this side of Atlantic to come back and sing for Slovenian Clubs again. In an interview (after his return to Slovenia) he stated that he'd be more than happy to do so.

Jackie Windspear:
Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.

And a waltz by the same polka band, Štajerskih sedem and Rudi Šantl singing. The lyrics are about one's broken heart - but don't let that bother you. They end with the following verse: "At the end you have to admit, it was beautiful..." (Na koncu si le priznaš, bilo je lepo...)

Both of today's videos are from their live performances in 1995. Rudi is not a member of Štajerskih sedem any more. He is now singing with many different ensembles.

***

SNPJ 778 temporary schedule of events for the coming 2009/2010 season

2009 - 2010 Activities/Dance Schedule

Here's the list of events scheduled so far for Slovene-American Club (SNPJ 778 Hall or Suncoast Dance and Party Center on County Line Road in Spring Hill):

Thanksgiving Dinner Dance
Date: Sunday, November 22 of 2009
Music by: Steve Juricic and the Tropical Squeeze
Schedule: 

• dinner: 12 - 1:30 PM
• dance:   2 - 5 PM                  

Admission:

• dinner & dance $12.00
• dance only $7.00

Dinner information:

• Dinner will only be served from 12 (noon) to 1:30 p.m.
• RSVP for dinner by November 17 - call Eileen Harfmann at 352-799-6616
  

Member Christmas Party at the Lodge Hall
Date: Wednesday, December 9 of 2009
Time: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Music by: CDs
Admission:

• members $5.00
• guests $15.00

Dinner information:

• Dinner choices:
  
  
  
  • turkey
  • roast beef
  • ham
  • beverage of choice
    
  
  
  
  
• RSVP for dinner by December 2 - call Eileen Harfmann at 352-799-6616

New Year's Day Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner Dance
Date: Friday, January 1 of 2010 
Music by: Bob Turcola (Youngstown, Ohio - Enon Valley, PA)
Schedule: 

• dinner: 12 - 2 PM 
• dance:   2 - 5 PM              

Admission:

• dinner and dance $15.00
• dance only $10.00

Dinner information:

• Dinner choices:
  
  
  
  • pork and sauerkraut
    
  • roast beef
  • kielbasa
    
  
  
  
  
• To reserve a choice of dinner, a table and for more information - call Maryann Hiltz at 727-376-8486

Dance
Date: Saturday, January 23 of 2010
Music by: Frank Moravcik
Time: 7- 10 PM


Dance 
Date: Sunday, January 24 of 2010
Music by: Frank Moravcik
Time: 2 - 6 PM  

March Days - Slovene Days (dancing and golf)
Date: March 5, 6 and 7 of 2010
Music by:

•  Friday: Mahoning Valley Button Box
•  Saturday: Mahoning Valley Button Box
•  Saturday: Polka Quads
• Sunday: Polka Quads
  

Dance
Date: Sunday, March 21 of 2010
Music by: Virgil Baker

Events at other clubs:

• Saturday, January 16, 2010 - Holiday Polish Club ACCORDION FEST
• February 19, 20 and 21, 2010 - Samsula SNPJ Slovene Days 
  

Information for out-of-town SNPJ 778 events guests:

Quality Inn Weeki Wachee   will give you a discount if you mention 
"SNPJ POLKA PARTY DANCE"

6172 Commercial Way , Spring Hill, FL, US, 34606

Phone: (352) 596-2007  
Fax: (352) 596-0667

Supports Green Practices

Click on the name of the hotel above to access Quality Inn website for more information.

***

Meaning of Fourth of July

U.S. national holiday, Independence Day or commonly known as the Fourth of July, is commemorating the adoption of Declaration of Independence that happened on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

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Fourth of July is commonly celebrated with fireworks,carnivals and parades, picnics and barbecues, concerts, baseball games, ceremonies and political speeches, and other private and public events that honor U.S. traditions, government and history.


Photo courtesy of zxgirl

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Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?

During the American Revolutionary War, the formal separation of the American Colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain happened on July 2, 1776. That's when the Second Continental Congress voted for approval of a resolution of independence that had been proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia about a month before, in June.


Royal Irish Artilllery - American Independence Festival - Exeter, New Hampshire
Photo and comment above - courtesy of sskennel

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After choosing the independence, Congress placed its attention to the Declaration of Independence, an allegation explaining this agreement. Declaration of Independence had been put together by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, and approved it on July 4.


Photo of Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. - courtesy of Stuck in Customs

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Only one day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.


Fourth of July in San Diego! These fireworks were launched from one of 4 barges placed in the bay and they were all launching simultaneously.
Photo courtesy of TallCJ

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Adams' forecast was off by two days because from the very beginning, Americans celebrated their independence on July 4, and not July 2 - the date when the resolution of independence was approved.


Photo courtesy of birder7

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There's a myth about Independence Day - that Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It had become so deep-rooted that, decades after the event, toward the end of their lives, even the elderly Thomas Jefferson and John Adams accepted that they had all signed the Declaration on July 4. In reality, most delegates signed it on August 2, 1776.


Photo FOURTH OF JULY, ALASKAN STYLE - courtesy of hegarveys3

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The two founding fathers of the United States - and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence and became presidents, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, passed away on the same day: July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary of the United States.

Five years later, on July 4, 1831, president James Monroe died. He was not one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence.


Photo "Happy 4th of July! The American Flag in Fireworks" - courtesy of BL1961

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Happy fourth of July!
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To take a peak at how other nations celebrate their Independence Day, click on the link below:

  Independence Day around the world

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***

Easter around the world

Happy Easter
everyone
&
enjoy the photo story about Easter around the world below! :) 


Finland

Photo "Easter moon in Vantaa, Finland" - courtesy of Nina_999
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Ukraine

Ukrainian Eggs, Pysanky, created by me for 2008.

Photo "Happy Easter!" and comment above - courtesy of Tanya Zivkovic

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Norway

In my part of the world Easter has meant snow and minus degrees....Today it was sunny though! Hope you all have had a happy Easter :-)

Photo "My kind of Easter" and comment above - courtesy of umjens
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Italy

Photo "Easter is Coming ..." - courtesy of krisdecurtis
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Australia

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is the largest event held in Australia, and the sixth largest in the world. The first Easter Show was held in 1823 by the newly formed Agricultural Society of New South Wales, with the aim of encouraging the colony's rural industries. (Wikipedia)

I'm a little skeptical about the "sixth largest in the world" claim but anyway, that's what the Wikipedia entry states.

Photo "Royal Easter Show Fireworks" - courtesy of Christopher Chan
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United States

Easter sugar cookies with royal icing.

Photo "Easter Cookies" and comment above - courtesy of Fingers In The Frosting
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Russia

St. Petersburg's weather is really strange thing! This March the weather was very warm for this season — about +14ºC. But this Easter — here it is! — it's snowing and the temperature is about 0ºC!

Anyway, I wish to all of you very happy and nice Easter!

Photo "Snowy Easter" and comment above - courtesy of Victor Radziun
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France

I had a great fun making this "quick" cake. I made it for a teatime with my friends and our children. It's a chocolate mud cake (my first one, I wanted to try it!) with coffee buttercream. Yummy!!! I was also very excited with the idea of decorating a chocolate Easter egg, and now I want to do other ones!!

Photo "Easter Egg Cake" and comment above - courtesy of Fantasticakes
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Slovenia

Photo "Sopek" - courtesy of Francelj.
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Photo "Pirhi oblečeni v vrečevino" - courtesy of OŠ Mirna Peč (Students of primary school in Mirna Peč.
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Photo "Drsanke" - courtesy of OŠ Mirna Peč (Students of primary school in Mirna Peč.
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Photo "Pirhi od tašče" (Mother in-law's Easter eggs) - courtesy of nelit


***

This day is Valentine's

"We can do no great things; 
only small things with great love."
- Mother Teresa

Photo courtesy of Thai Jasmine

"Love is something eternal,
the aspect may change, 
but not the essence."
- Vincent van Gogh

"Love is a canvas
furnished by Nature
and embroidered by imagination."
~Voltaire

Happy 

Valentine's Day!!!

***