Valentine’s Day 2024

Happy Valentine’s Day from Hattingdon & Co. As you can see, Hattingdon is wearing her Aimee hat in pure red with white x’s and o’s representing hugs and kisses.

Aimee Hattingdon Red

X’s and O’s

Brides’ Magazine writes:

Rounded Open Quote in Gray

“It’s pretty common knowledge that XOXO means ‘hugs and kisses.’ As Dictionary.com defines it, the phrase is generally thought of as a “lighthearted way of expressing affection, sincerity, or deep friendship.”

The X represents a kiss, while the O represents a hug. This is most likely because the X is a stylized way of showing two mouths kissing, and the O looks like two pairs of arms connecting for a hug.

While XOXO is a symbol of love, it’s not always meant to be taken as a symbol of undying passion. XOXO is just as appropriate to use as an email sign-off to a friend as it is to use to sign an anniversary card to a significant other.

How about a bit of verse? Most of us are familiar with the following. Short and sweet and you know from whence it came, right?

Roses are red
Violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet
And so are you.

A rhyme similar to the modern standard version can be found in Gammer Gurton’s Garland, a 1784 collection of English nursery rhymes published in London by Joseph Johnson:

The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The honey’s sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I knew,
That Fortune said it shou’d be you.

Have a loving day.

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Post updated: 2:20 pm.

©Vivian J Grant. All Rights Reserved.

January’s Promise

Winter snow featured image by HuffPo via Facebook.

A Reflection

by Poet, CATHERINE PULSIFER

In the depths of winter’s icy reign,
January comes, fresh and untamed.
A new year begins, a chance to renew,
Leaving behind the old for the new.

With hearts warm, we gather near,
Welcoming the day with hope and cheer.
Through frost and chill, we take the time,
To treasure moments and lessons find.

Resolutions form from looking within,
Goals to strive for, dreams to begin.
With pen in hand, our plans take shape,
Fueling our hearts to celebrate.

January’s a time to start anew,
A chance to build, a chance to pursue.
With hope as our guide, we boldly face,
The triumphs ahead, each step embraced.

So, let us cherish this special day,
In January’s light, let hope stay.
The past is behind, the future is clear,
In January, we find strength for the year.

Each morning brings promise, each day a gift,
Through trials and triumphs, our spirits lift.
With courage and faith, we pave the way,
Creating a year of joy each day.


Hattingdon H white logo in brown circle..

7 hats of Christmas

Hattingdon Christmas gift header.

We thought it might be fun to revisit the 7 hats of Christmas that Vivian put together last year. She was inspired by everything from jingle bells to plum pudding to the “jolly old elf”.

1. Carol Classic

Carol Hattingdon featured image Christmas Carol classic hat with jingle bells.
Carol Hattingdon.

2. Rudy

Rudy Hattingdon.

3. Chrissie

Chrissie Hattingdon Poinsettia Christmas hat.

Chrissie Hattingdon.


4. Peppermint Classic

Peppermint Hattingdon.

5. Plum Pudding

Hattingdon Plum Pudding Christmas hat.
Plum Pudding.

More about the famous dessert at end of post.

6. Kris

Kris Hattingdon.

As much as we love all the others, this has to be the pièce de ré·sis·tance.

7. Noelle

Noelle Hattingdon.

About ‘Plum Pudding’

There is a popular myth that plum pudding’s association with Christmas goes back to a custom in medieval England that the “pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, that it be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles, and that every family member stir it in turn from east to west to honour the Magi and their journey in that direction”.

Recipes for plum puddings appear mainly, if not entirely, in the 17th century and later. One of the earliest plum pudding recipes is given by Mary Kettilby in her 1714 book, “A Collection of above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick and Surgery.” Learn more » »

P.S. In my part of England recipes are called receipts. Vivian.

Sleigh Bells

If you love sleigh bells we recommend Ten Fun Facts About Sleigh Bells by ClausNet. It is really cool.

Happy Holidays

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Updated Dec. 19, 2023.


Hattingdon Red Logo Banner

Grey Belle

Grey Belle blog post header.

Vivian writes: “I got a big kick out of doing this. I am happy with the result too. What sort of reception it might get, I have no idea.”

“What am I going on about? A ‘grey’ version of Hattingdon’s most beloved hat of all time — Belle. Yes. You read that right. Take a look. Grey always looks so lovely with brown. Isn’t she cute?”

Belle Hattingdon Grey

Most of us here at Hattingdon pretty much love it. Why would anyone be upset or unhappy about it? People get attached to certain looks. They do not want anything changed. We are guessing here.

Let the games begin. Wink!

Blog header artwork source.

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