Happy Blogoversary Ollie and Mike and a Bit of Black History

Our oldest blogger is Olive and she is 108 years old. That in itself is amazing, but what is even more amazing is that Olive is celebrating her first blogoversary.

Mike is Olive's helper and he does a wonderful job. So in celebration of this wonderful milestone, I 'd like to present them with a little gift.

I hope you enjoy it, Olive and Mike. I wish you many more happy times together and Olive, you can still sing wonderfully. I wish I could sing so well. Have a wonderful day. Please drop over to Olive's blog and wish you a Happy Blogoversary.

As you all know February is Black History Month and I've been posting a few things about Canadian Black History. Many of you have commented that you are enjoying it and Anni, at Hootin' Annis especially enjoys these little tidbits of information. So Anni, this one is for you.

In 1849, fifteen former slaves, led by Reverand William King, came to a section of land near where Chatham, Ontario is located today. The Elgin Settlement, also known as the Buxton Settlement was established there the same year.

The newly arrived black settlers were given the opportunity to buy 50 acre plots of land at the reasonable price of $2.50 per acre. Payment was to be made in 10 equal installments at the rate of 6% interest. In order to keep the land, the settlers had to abide by certain conditions. The land had to be lived on for at least ten years and it had to be cleared. A house had to be built that met the minimum requirements of four rooms. The house had to be set back from the road 33 feet and have a flower garden in the front and a white pickett fence. The settlers who purchased land also had to help build roads and dig drainage ditches.

As the settlement grew, a school was built and it opened in 1850. Both black and white students from the surrounding countryside attended there and several graduated in the school's first years and then attended university in Toronto. In the evening the school was alive with adults who wished to learn to read. The school was one of the best in Canada West, which is now known as Ontario.

Reverand King set and enforced strict rules for the Elgin Settlement.

* The land within the boundaries of the Elgin Settlement could only be sold to blacks.

* Land had to be purchased and couldn't be leased.

* The cabins had to be a minimum of 12 x 18 x 24 feet and a front porch had to be built across the front.

* Cabins had to be erected 33 feet from the road and have a flower bed in the front yard with a white pickett fence.

* Prizes were given for the most attractive properties.

* There was no liquor allowed within the boundaries of the Settlement.

These rules were made to give the settlers pride in their community. They were expected to work hard and provide for their families. Reverand King felt that with community pride the Settlement would be successful and he was right. The Elgin Settlement was the only Canadian black settlement to be successful.

The Elgin Settlement grew and prospered until after the American Civil War. Many of the men living in the Settlement signed up to fight for the Union during that turbulent time. After the war, there was a great exodus to the US. However, many of the inhabitants remained and their ancestors still live in that area today.

If you are ever in the area of Chatham, Ontario, be sure to stop by this historical site. It's like stepping back in time to another era.

So with that bit of history, I'll leave you. Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe and remember to do a random act of kindness for someone. Kindness gives hope. ~Blessings, Mary~

And the Winner is... Show and Tell Friday and a Random Act of Valentine Kindness

Thank you all for entering my Valentine's Giveaway. And the winner is...

Drum roll please...

Karen at Karen's Korner.

Congratulations Karen. Please pick out your cards from either my giveaway post, the previous post or my ebay store. Please let me know what cards you would like and who they are for so I can personalize them. Thanks so much for being part of the fun.

This week for Show and Tell Friday, I'd like to show you some of the beautiful Valentines that I received as I strolled around blogland yesterday. If you would like to participate in Show and Tell Friday, follow the link to Kelli's at There is No Place Like Home. If you scroll down to yesterday's post, you will see others. Thank you to all my friends for the beautiful cards. They are all very special.

The Valentine below was given to me by Sharon at Rose of Sharon. Thank you so much. It reminds me of the Valentines I used to get from my classmates at school.
I received this one from Deena of Can I Be Pretty in Pink? I just love it. This reminds me so much of the Valentine's postcards in my collection. Thank you, Deena.

Brandy from Mommy's Quiet Spot handed out this adorable card for Valentine's Day. Thank you, Brandy. I love the little white bear and the pink accessories.

The beautiful Valentine's Wreath below was made by Karen H. It's beautiful, Karen. Thank you so much.

All of these lovely Valentine Gifts and my other awards and gifts can be found on my Awards and Gifts page.

My regular readers will know that I often end my posts by urging them to do a random act of kindness because it can make a big difference in someone's life. I had an opportunity today to do a random act of Valentine kindness. I'm not telling you this to brag or make you think I'm special. I'm telling you to let you know how big a difference you can make in someone's life.

I was on my way to take my grandsons their Valentine day cards and I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some Valentine cupcakes. When I walked into the store, a mother stood there hugging her son who was about 10 years old. I heard her say,

"Are you sad because no one sent you a candy gram?"

He nodded his head while hugging her tight.

I walked a few steps and stopped. I could make a difference here. This young boy was devastated because not one of his classmates had send him a candy gram. So, I reached into my pocket and took out a Toonie. (that is the Canadian $2.00 coin.) I went up to the little boy and his mother and handed him the Toonie. I said, "Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetie. Buy yourself a treat."

That little boy's face lit up like a sunbeam and his smile reached from one ear to the other, as did his mother's. She mouthed the words, "Thank you." The boy's eyes were sparkling and he was turning the Toonie this way and that, examining it.

I went and picked up the cupcakes and headed toward the checkout. They were only a few steps from where they'd been earlier. She thanked me and so did the boy. Then he said, "We're going on a date tonight. Mom and I are going to have a candlelight dinner."

I told him that was wonderful and his mother added that when he was four, he'd asked her to have a candlelight dinner with him and they have done that on Valentine's Day ever since. He was so proud of this date with his Mom. I congratulated him on creating a wonderful tradition with his mother.

As I left, his mother said, "Thank you. You made his day."

My reply, "You're welcome. His beautiful smile was the best Valentine's Day gift I could have received."

I don't know who the mother and child were or anything about them. I do know that a random act of kindness can make a big difference in a person's life. Please do a random act of kindness for someone today. Not only will it make their life brighter, but yours as well. ~Blessings, Mary~

Valentine Gifties

I have some Valentine gifties for my friends. I've been honored to receive some beautiful gifts in the last few days. Today I want to share them with my friends. Happy Valentine's Day to each of you.

Hootin' Anni shared some of her beautiful creations with all her blogging friends. I picked up all three of them and would like to share two of them with everyone who comes to visit today. Thank you, Anni for your generosity and caring.


The next two were presented to me by Denise at Samaritan Women. Thank you, Denise. The friendship one is lovely and the kittens are adorable.

This is National Friendship Week and to celebrate, I would like to give the following Friendship Award to all my friends who visit here on a regular basis. I've formed some great friendships since I started blogging here. I love each of you.

The one below was also given to me by Denise of Samaritan Women. I would like to pass it on to:

BJ at Sweet Nothings

Joan at Erstwhile Librarian

Susan at Pawley Farm Seaasons

Paula at On a Rainy Night

Denise's Dad at The Poet, The Artist

This is an award that I am initiating. I would like to give this to a few people who have touched my heart in a special way. In no specific order, here are the recipients.

Anni at Hootin' Anni's

Karen at Karen's Corner

Carolyn at Talk to Grams

Diane at Diane's Place

Renie at Renie Burghardt's World

Tina at Tina's Odds and Ends

Betty at Country Charm

Deena at Can I Be Pretty in Pink?

Mary at Isabella's Closet

Lady Di at Kitty Justice

Pea at Pea's Corner

Lori at Pink Faded Roses

Sharon at Sit With Me Awhile

Sharon at Rose of Sharon

Denise at Samaritan Women

Denise at Shortybear's Place

Virginia at Small Reflections

Katherine at Yellow Rose Arbor

Thanks to all of you Ladies for making a difference in my life. You are all treasured.

Sorry Ladies. I don't have time to link to all of you, but will make sure you know the award is here.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'd like to wish all my friends and readers a very Happy Valentine's Day. Enjoy this time with that special someone and if you are alone, treat yourself to a box of chocolates or a similar treat. Another idea is to take a friend to lunch or dinner.

Now, everyone's been wondering about the Valentines I've been making for the boys. These are very simple to make but I know the boys will love them. I made them so they could hang on the wall in their bedrooms and they could enjoy them. I will also give them a package of Stick-E-Tak so they can put them up without damaging the walls. If you have never used Stick-E-Tak, try it. It has a variety of uses and is fantastic.

Below is Brandon's Valentine. In the upper right hand corner is a 1950s Valentine with a Panda. I was given this Valentine by someone when I went to elementary school. Brandon loves Pandas and this was perfect for him. On the upper left is a photo of Brandon and I at his birthday last year and at the bottom is a photo of the boys, Grandpa and I that was taken at Sea World. I have written on the back "Brandon, with love from Grandma Mary 2008.

Jordan's Valentine is exactly the same size and shape as Brandon's. It has a 1950s vintage Valentine in the upper right corner - another that was given to me in elementary school. On the upper left is a photo of Jordan and I at his birthday last year and at the bottom, the same Sea World photo that I put on Brandon's. Jordan loves all animals, so he will love the cool cats.

These are very easily made. First I cut out a heart from a cardboard box and covered it with red Bristol board. I used the glue gun to attach the cotton lace around the edge. Once that was dry, I used scrapbook sticky picture tabs to fasten everything to the Valentine.

When Pea at Pea's Corner was selling her Beanie Babies on ebay, I saw these two little precious bears. They are Cracker Barrel bears and since the boys love Cracker Barrel, I thought they were perfect. The boys take very good care of their things, so Pea, these fellows will have a new loving home where they will be well cared for. Thank you so much!
Besides that, I will buy (don't have time to bake) the boys some Valentine cupcakes or another treat that the entire family can enjoy. (Yes, I know they're spoiled.) I've made their Mom and Dad a card and of course you saw the fan that I made for my mother. That is it for Valentine's Day this year. Hubby and I aren't exchanging gifts or doing anything for that matter. We've decided to instead put the money toward sprucing the place up a bit. We are badly in need of new windows and this house has 14 of them that need to be replaced. We replaced the other two last year. So, we will just get a kiss and a Happy Valentine Day wish, which is quite acceptable.

In honor of Black History Month, I have written about Harriet Tubman on my Treasures to Me blog. I do hope you will stop over and find out where in Ontario, Canada Harriet Tubman had a home. She is an interesting woman of history and I'm sure you will enjoy learning more about her.

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day and please remember to do an act of kindness for someone today. Kindness gives hope. ~Blessings, Mary~

PS. Don't forget to enter my Valentine giveaway below. The deadline is midnight EST tonight. I will announce the winner tomorrow.