Friday Five: FAB FEB(ruary)

With Valentine's Day around the corner, it seems appropriate to write about February holidays. However, I'd never heard of "Waitangi Day" before: Feb. 6 is a holiday in New Zealand to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding of New Zealand, in 1840. I'll avoid Fur Rondy, as it is connected with Sarah Palin's home state.

1. When February comes along, how do you feel about the coming month?
It feels like the end of Winter in south Texas. The seasons in Texas are basically: winter, summer, summer, and summer.

2. What memories do you have about Valentine's Day? Are you doing anything to observe it this year?
I remember that my grandmother (father's mother) would always send me very ornate, glittery, and beautiful Valentine cards. Perhaps she's the reason I like to send Valentines. I also remember the overly decorated boxes the teachers made for their classes in first and second grade. It was so exciting to put cards in the slots.

Not much is going on here, except church. I've already sent out some cards, though with the extreme weather systems in the USA, who knows when they will arrive (especially as Monday is a holiday).

3. It is interesting that Monday's "Presidents Day" is not officially called that in every state. It is a U.S. federal holiday entitled "Washington's Birthday." Which is your favorite president and why?
I always knew and remembered that February 12 was Abraham Lincoln's birthday, because I read everything I could find about him when I was in elementary school.

As a side note:
When husband CB was starting graduate school at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, I went with my mother to interview for teaching jobs. She sat outside one large building in Newport, OR and told me later that she knew I would be hired because it was LINCOLN County School District. (I was hired and taught in that school district for four years until CB earned his PhD in organic chemistry.)

4. Will you be celebrating Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras? How?
We'll probably go to the pancake supper sponsored by our church's youth group, which is trying to raise money for their J2A pilgrimage to Iona this summer.

5. Any other ways to celebrate in February?
Several friends have birthdays this month, as does my husband's youngest sister, who lives in Bellingham, WA.

We're also excited that DC and AA are coming to visit from Austin with their bulldog Sampson this weekend (IF we get better from our colds!).

Bonus: A Lenten book or website you recommend.
ExploreFaith.org's Lenten "Sorting it Out" Toolbox calendar, to click on each day of Lent: