Hearts and Pigs

6 Par Farmer is visiting! He flew in on Valentine's Day. I think Valentine's Day is fun. Whether you're in love, lust, or hate with the opposite (or same) sex, I think a holiday that is based on loving people is cool. Many people think Valentine's day (and many other holidays) is over commercialized and a Hallmark holiday. I don't think gift giving has to be a dilluted, commercial act. It can be very thoughtful, regardless of the gift. My dad has always made us homemade, heartfelt gifts. My mom has always purchased us thoughtful gifts, and I have always thought both were equally meaningful, because they both required thought and preparation. In my opinion, thought and effort are the essence of gift giving.. (Check out the wood heart my dad carved for me and the rocks he painted a couple of years ago. Love.)

I have always tried to mix it up. Some handmade things and some material goods that scream the recipient's name. Don't get me wrong, if you don't love someone, sending them a box of chocolates or a diamond bracelet doesn't mean much, but I love excuses to find cute little things that remind me of people. My parents love See's chocolates. For Valentine's Day, I bought them a 3 lb box. Not because that is what you do on Valentine's Day, but because I knew they would really love them. Sister and Brother like shots. (Shot. Shot. Shot, shot, shot.) So, I got them some fun shot glasses. Maebel likes clothes. (Well, she doesn't know what she likes yet, but she is bound to be a fashion plate with Sister as a mama.) So Maebel got a cute little seersucker romper. I don't think this means I have bought into the commercialization of holidays, I think it means I had an excuse to pick out some fun things for the people I love.

6 Par Farmer once told me he wasn't a good gift giver. Last year for Valentine's Day, he gave me a silver fortune cookie engraved with my initials that held a fortune from one of our first dinners together. Poor gift giver, huh? I think he was sandbagging. This year, he asked me what I wanted, and (as per usual) I said I wanted a pig and a goat.

And what does 6 Par Farmer come up with? Salt and pepper shaker pigs that have magnetic snouts so they look like they are kissing. Are you kidding me? Kissing pigs! Cute! 6 Par Farmer is giving Dad a run for his money. The Evans ladies have always been good gift givers, but I think the men in our lives might have us beat.