Western Hearths: Sweet Winter Treats

February makes us long for the comforts of home.

The cold February winds make us yearn for the warmth of hearth and home. Throw in a sweet treat shared with loved ones and life is good. Wild West settlers appreciated these comforts too. Sugar would set a person back a pretty penny, but molasses, honey, and dried fruits could sweeten dishes for less. Molasses cake shared around the stove, fruit compote spooned over hot biscuits, or a pastry baked in a Dutch oven brought families together after a long day of work or comforted neighbors or weary travelers stopping by.

Sweetness Despite Scarcity

Typical western pioneer kitchen.

Pioneer cooks relied on modest equipment—a cast-iron skillet, a Dutch oven, or a simple pot over the fire. They transformed flour, lard or butter, a drizzle of molasses or a little sugar measured from the prized store, dried fruit, and maybe some eggs into welcome treats.

Settlers most often sweetened food with molasses, a staple that traveled well and stretched further than sugar. They treasured dried fruits, like apples, peaches, or berries, and used them sparingly. Supplies weren’t easy to come by, and a humble dessert could prove the highlight of a week. Sweets reminded families and guests of the comforts they’d left behind for the harsh life in the West.

Apple Brown Betty: A Winter Staple

Root cellars were often built into the side of a hill.

Fresh fruit was scarce during winter, but stored apples remained a reliable and cherished ingredient. Apple Brown Betty was a common Wild West dessert—simple, economical, and baked slowly to warm both hearth and hearts.

Ingredients

• 4 cups dried or stored apples, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup coarse bread crumbs or crumbled day-old bread
• ⅓ cup brown sugar or molasses sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional but period-appropriate)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅓ cup butter, lard, or rendered animal fat, melted
• ½ cup water or apple cider

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish or cast-iron pan.
• If using dried apples, soak them in warm water for 20–30 minutes until softened, then drain.
• In a bowl, mix bread crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• Layer half of the apples in the baking dish, followed by half of the bread mixture. Drizzle with half of the melted fat.
• Repeat layers with remaining apples, bread mixture, and fat.
• Pour water or cider evenly over the top.
• Cover loosely and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15–20 minutes, until the top is browned and the apples are tender.
• Let rest briefly before serving. Best eaten warm, plain or with a splash of milk or cream if available.

The History Behind the Recipe

Apple Brown Betty is a classic baked apple dessert with roots in early American kitchens, likely dating from the colonial era or the 18th century when apples and pantry ingredients like breadcrumbs, butter, and sugar were available. The dish embodies pioneer thrift and practicality. Spiced apples are layered with seasoned crumbs (often of bread or crackers) and baked until tender and bubbling. By the 19th century, the dish appeared in American cookbooks and household newspapers. 

Apple Brown Betty evolved with regional twists, including variations that used cornmeal crumbles for a sturdier texture. In the era of westward expansion and frontier homesteads, Brown Betty became a staple comfort food in taverns and farm kitchens, pairing with whipped cream or custard and serving as a simple, sturdy dessert for families and settlers alike.

Such desserts brought comfort and celebration, marking special occasions, holidays, or just the end of a long day of work. Families gathered around the table, sharing stories and enjoyment. A neighbor or traveler passing through might be offered a slice as a token of hospitality and kindness. The dish shows the ingenuity of the era. People made the most of what they had, improvising to create something joyous.

That lesson still resonates.

Bringing Pioneer Sweetness to Your Home

As you bake this dessert, picture hearth fires glowing, families wrapped in warmth and laughter or young couples savoring a quiet moment together. The "Western Hearths" blog series connects us with history through meals that nourish not only the body but also the heart and soul. Stop by on the 20th of each month for a new history-inspired recipe.

February is a month for sweetness, for reflection, and for love. People living in the Wild West cherished those moments too. Apple Brown Betty gives us a taste of the resourcefulness and heart of those who came before us.

Pull up a chair to your own hearth, and enjoy a slice of history—sweet, humble, and full of love.

About Janalyn Voigt 

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head. Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. Romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy appear in all her novels in proportions dictated by their genre. Janalyn Voigt is represented by Wordserve Literary.

Learn more about Janalyn, read the first chapters of her books, subscribe to her e-letter, and join her reader clubs at http://janalynvoigt.com.

Discover Montana Gold 

Based on actual historical events during a time of unrest in America, the Montana Gold series explores faith, love, and courage in the wild west. 

Sealed With Love

 by Kimberly Keagan

 
A Victorian Couple
Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Valentine’s Day is devoted to expressions of love and affection—and one of its most enduring traditions is the exchange of Valentine’s cards. But how did this custom begin?

The practice of sending messages of love on Valentine’s Day has surprisingly ancient roots. Some historians trace it back to Roman festivals in which young men drew the names of women from a jar and were paired together for the duration of the celebration—pairings that sometimes led to marriage. While far removed from the lace-trimmed cards we know today, these rituals laid early groundwork for the idea of romance tied to the season.

By the 18th century, Valentine’s Day had taken on a more familiar form. The first commercially produced Valentine cards appeared in England in the late 1700s. These early cards were often handmade or printed in small batches, decorated with ribbons, lace, and colorful illustrations, and accompanied by sentimental—or poetic—verses meant to be treasured.

Photo: Victorian Valentine from Kimberly's collection

The Victorian era ushered in a true Valentine’s Day boom. Advances in printing technology and expanding postal services made it possible to produce and deliver cards on a massive scale. A February 14, 1888 edition of The Grand Island Daily Independent of Grand Island, Nebraska, captured the scope of the phenomenon: 

It is in England and America that St. Valentine’s Day is most observed, and on that day the postman’s labors are generally more than doubled by missives which have been sent as an outward sign. The skill and labor required in getting ready for market all those missives, which come under the general head of valentines, is far greater than the majority of people imagine. There are five or six large establishments in the United States whose sole business it is to prepare Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and Valentine’s Day cards, and they number among their paid list some 10,000 persons, ranging from packers and porters to the artists who design the often very beautiful pictures which adorn the cards. 

The article went on to note how dramatically Valentine cards had evolved: 

The valentine of a few years ago was a cheap and tawdry affair… From those silly and garish things has come a beautiful artistic sense, and it is now often mounted and prepared in sumptuous style.

By the late 19th century, the finest valentines were works of art—painted on satin or printed from lithographic plates, adorned with silk fringe, tiny bows of ribbon, or even silver and gold cord with tassels. Each card was carefully wrapped in soft cotton, placed in a box, and sent off to its proud recipient. 

Though today’s Valentines may arrive by text message or email, the heart of the tradition remains unchanged. Whether lavish or simple, handwritten or printed, Valentine’s cards continue to serve the same purpose they have for centuries: a tangible reminder that someone, somewhere, is thinking of you. 

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

 

 

 

Kimberly Keagan is a former corporate financial writer (not very romantic) who now crafts historical romances filled with strong heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, faith, and a touch of humor. Her debut novel, Perfect, released in May 2025. Go to KimberlyKeagan.com and download her free Christmas novelette!

 

Table for Two, Please - Romance Through the Ages

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Photo By: Anh Nguyen
Pexels CC

Happy February, Everyone! This is the month of love and I've come prepared. With Valentine's Day approaching, the most common way to celebrate is with a romantic dinner for two at a nice restaurant. But was that always the romantic gesture it is today?

No. In fact, even the idea of romancing one's spouse is a relatively new one.

First, the idea of romance in marriage wasn't always a given. In many societies, marriage was more about political connections, wealth, or convenience than it was about love and romance. People needed a workmate, someone to help provide daily needs and partner together to raise a family. It wasn't until the 1700's that the idea of marrying for love rose to the forefront, and not until 1850 when love became a primary consideration. The Victorian era was truly a revolution on that front. But even during this era, Valentine's Day was a time of romantic cards, poems and even gifts, but not dinner at a restaurant.

In the 19th Century, dinner at a restaurant was something taboo and scandalous. Mostly because "French restaurants" with romantic dinners were synonymous with brothels at that time. Emily Post advised in 1923 that “It is not good form for an engaged couple to dine together in a restaurant, but it is all right for them to lunch, or have afternoon tea . . . They should take a chaperon if they motor to road-houses for meals.”

Most culinary historians agree that it was around the 1930's that taking a lady out to dinner became an acceptable way to celebrate. That's when restaurant ads and menus start to mention doing so. Culinary historian Charles Perry believes "The tradition probably arose during the Depression, when any meal out was a special occasion. Popular restaurants like Sardi's had some tables with curtains so that couples could choose to see and be seen or have an intimate meal while still enjoying the sounds of the orchestra."

Couple Dining circa 1910
Art by Lester Ralph

At some restaurants, the heavy curtains and low light in private dining areas still lent themselves to questionable conduct. Especially if the restaurant also had a back entrance where people could enter and exit discreetly, making secret affairs easier to execute.

However, by the 1960's, it seems to have become common for husbands to take their wives to dinner in order to give them a respite from their homemaking duties. And what is more romantic than that?

Today, while our gender roles are less strict than they were in the 1960's, dining out still seems to be the way to go. However, for many, the idea is less about the restaurant itself as it is a return to the place where they first met, kissed or had a realization that they wanted to marry their date. It may not be the fancy place, or expensive place. Indeed, their friends might not understand why they spend the holiday of love in such modest surroundings. Maybe they choose to explain why...or maybe they don't. After all, shared secrets are a thing of romance too.

Do you like to dine out with your partner on Valentine's Day? What makes the day special for you and your significant other? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

The Real History of Valentine's Day

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

Valentine’s Day…leading up to every February 14, you almost can’t enter a store without being ambushed by banners and signs, “Don’t forget Valentine’s Day!” Store aisles are stuffed with heart-shaped candy samplers, boxes of cheesy Valentine’s cards for school kids, and even teddy bears and other plushies to commemorate another “day of love!” So…do you love this holiday, or hate it? I’ve been in both camps at various points in my life. 

·      Single, while most of my friends were in dating relationships—“Maybe I’ll have someone to celebrate it with next year…”

·      Dating my college sweetheart—“I LOVE IT! I love him! I love LOVE…”

·      Married, but not happily—“Meh…”

·      Single after a divorce—“Why the hey-hey do we even celebrate this stupid, over-commercialized “holiday…? It’s only meant to line the greedy greeting card and candy-makers’ pockets, am I right?”

·      Dating the man of my dreams—“Whoop whoop! The magic of February 14 has returned!”

·      Married to the man of my dreams— “Who needs to wait for February 14? Every day is a reason to celebrate our love…”

 

That said, do you know the history behind Valentine’s Day? It’s more than a random date chosen by greeting card companies, chocolatiers, or florists to sell their products. There are multiple St. Valentines in Christian church history, and there’s some question of whether their stories have been morphed into one. But while the details may be a bit muddled due to records being destroyed or lost to antiquity, the general consensus is that the origin of Valentine’s Day dates back to around A.D. 270 in Rome. 

 

Two years earlier, in A.D. 268, the Roman Empire covered much of the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, and Rome had many enemies. The Goths were invading, and at the same time, the Alamanni were crossing the Alps with evil intentions. The newly ascended Emperor, Claudius II—a pagan man also known as “Claudius the Cruel”—was ready and willing to defend the homeland, but he needed to have a strong, resilient army at his disposal to fight the threats.

 

A coin with image of
Emperor Claudius II, aka
"Claudius the Cruel"

But he had a problem. Roman men weren’t willing to join him as soldiers to fight. After some deliberation, Claudius concluded that these men were not joining 

him because they didn’t want to leave their wives and children. So to combat this obstacle, he made the decision to ban weddings in Rome (whether it was a blanket ban for all citizens or only for the men of fighting age is unclear).

 

A Christian priest of the time, Valentinus (the Roman way of spelling Valentine), saw that the emperor’s ruling went against God’s law. After all, God had created marriage when he brought Adam and Eve together in Genesis, and He’d called that union good. So how could this man, Emperor Claudius, later ban the institution as evil. So Valentinus would meet couples in the woods and perform Christian marriage ceremonies for them.

 

As news of this reached those in power, calls came for Valentinus to be imprisoned, which he was. But Judge Asterius listened to the priest’s discussions of Jesus Christ, and he put Valentinus on the spot. The judge’s daughter was blind, so he brought the girl to his prisoner and told him to pray for her healing. Valentinus did, and she was healed that day. Three days later, the judge and his household were baptized, and afterward, Asterius released all the Christian prisoners.

 

Valentinus,
aka St. Valentine

With his freedom restored, Valentinus continued to preach of Jesus, but he was again imprisoned, this time being taken to Emperor Claudius himself. Claudius took a quick liking to Valentinus—until the priest encouraged him to believe in Jesus. Claudius staunchly refused and gave the order that Valentinus must either renounce his faith in Christ or he would be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Valentinus would not recant. So on February 14 in the year A.D. 270 (some sources say A.D. 269), the punishment was carried out. Valentinus was taken to the Flaminian Gate and beaten then beheaded.

 

Whether true or not, I am unsure, but there is an addendum to the above history
that says prior to his execution, Valentinus wrote to Judge Asterius’s daughter whom he’d prayed for and saw her blindness healed—and supposedly, he signed the letter, “From your Valentine.”

 

It is easy to see how this man was someone the Catholic church chose to celebrate. Sometime after his death (and after Emperor Claudius II’s death—which came in A.D. 270 also), a feast in honor of Valentinus was called every February 14^th. And over the years, his continued performing of weddings despite the Emperor’s ban, the apocryphal bit about his unusual signature line on a letter to a young girl, and more, morphed into the celebration of love we now know as Valentine’s Day. 

 

It's Your Turn: What are your feelings about this holiday? Does learning the history of its origin change your opinion of the day? If so, how?

 

Award-winning, best-selling novelist Jennifer Uhlarik has loved the western genre since she read her first Louis L’Amour novel. She penned her first western while earning a writing degree from University of Tampa. Jennifer lives near Tampa with her husband, son, and furbabies. www.jenniferuhlarik.com

 

AVAILABLE NOW

 

Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

 

A Friendship From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

 

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. There, she finds a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek museum curator Brad Osgood’s help to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it another forgery?

 

Brad Osgood longs to provide his four-year-old niece, Brynn, the safe home she desperately deserves. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

 

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians reach St. Augustine, God changes their plans. However, when Sally Jo’s friendship with Broken Bow leads to false accusations, it could cost them their lives.

 

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

 

Arizona, a Valentine's Day Birthday

by Nancy J. Farrier

Photo by Wing-Chi Poon, Wikimedia Commons

Arizona is one of two States accepted into the union on Valentine’s Day, February 14^th. Oregon joined in 1859, and Arizona in 1912. Since this is Valentine’s month, and Arizona is my home State, I thought it would be fun to see some of the wonderful benefits gained when we became part of the United States of America.

In 1528, the land mass that includes modern day Arizona, came under Spanish rule, or conquest. Then in 1821, Mexico gained control of the territory including Arizona. That is the same time period when the first trappers and traders came west from the United States of America. 

Lavender Pit: Bisbee
Wikimedia Commons

Then in 1848, the USA won the Mexican-American War, taking possession of all the country in Arizona north of the Gila River. That means where I live and Tucson, which is south of me, still belonged to Mexico. Then in 185,4 the Gadsden Purchase claimed all of modern day Arizona. Arizona became a territory of the United States of America in 1863.

In 1854, copper was first discovered in Arizona. Copper has been a major industry of the State and continues to be important today. Copper is extracted and exported and is one of three major exports we are known for: copper, cattle, and cotton. There are several productive mines still active and viable, though not as many as there used to be.

Grand Canyon: by Murray Foubister, Wikimedia Commons

In 1869 John Wesley Powell did the first trip through the Grand Canyon by boat. Powell lost an arm during the Civil War, but still had the heart of an explorer. He traveled from Green River, Wyoming, through Utah and through the Grand Canyon, mapping the way. The Grand Canyon became a National Park in 1919 and in 1940, Arizona became the Grand Canyon State.

Interesting fact: There have been almost 700 deaths at the Grand Canyon. Some of them have been accidental falls from the rim of the canyon. Several have been men jumping from one rock to another to get the best spot for a picture.

Meteor Crater by Tsaiproject, Wikimedia Commons

In Northern Arizona, you can find a geographical treat if you visit Meteor Crater. The crater is almost 4,000 feet across and over 550 feet deep. The enormous crater was first named Canyon Diablo crater when discovered in the 19th century. Scientists call it Barringer Crater after the man who first suggested a meteor impact caused the formation. The Barringer family owns the crater, which you can visit.

Wyatt Earp
Wikimedia Commons

Arizona added to the western gunfighter appeal when in 1881 Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday took on the Clanton gang who had been rustling cattle. The shootout has been written about and made into movies many times. The town of Tombstone, where the shootout took place, is a major tourist attraction. You can still visit that alley and see where the gunfight happened. Although this is the most famous old west gunfight, the actual fight only lasted thirty seconds.

Another legend of Arizona was the reign of Geronimo and the Chiricahua Apaches he led. They fought hard to

Geronimo (far right) and warriors
Wikimedia Commons

maintain their way of life, but on September 4, 1868, Geronimo surrendered and the fighting ceased. In 1905, Geronimo published his autobiography. He also met with President Theodore Roosevelt and tried in vain to convince him to allow the Apaches to return to their land. He was an incredible warrior who grieved the loss of his land and way of life.

Hoover Dam 1941 by Ansel Adams
Wikimedia Commons

Arizona is home to some famous dams. Roosevelt Dam, Coolidge Dam and Bartlett Dam were very important, but Hoover Dam was a major feat of engineering. At the time, Hoover Dam was the tallest in the world. The concrete used in the construction would have stretched across the country. The first summer of construction was extremely hot and they needed the poured concrete to cool quickly, so the engineers designed the world's largest refrigerator to put out enough ice to cool the freshly laid concrete and help speed the building process. 

The name of the dam was very controversial. After being named, Hoover Dam, after President Hoover, there was opposition. For years, the name was changed to Boulder Dam, until President Truman made the Hoover Dam the official name.

There are so many unique features in Arizona. From the mountains in the north to the deserts in the south, Arizona is a beautiful State and a wonderful addition to our country. Happy Birthday, Arizona.

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

Roses are Red and Other Love Idioms

By Kathy Kovach

Ah, February! That little month in the dead of winter where outside the blustery wind chases snow into impossible drifts, (at least here in Colorado,) but inside, words of love are warming hearts. Words that are spoken, written, or stamped on candy. Have you ever wondered where these sayings come from...or from whence they came, if I may wax poetic?

ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE

The origins of this well-known poem can be traced back to 1590 in a book called The Faerie Queene by Sir Edmund Spenser. Two lines of that poem are what sparked generations of dewy-eyed lovers to declare their affections.

She bath'd with roses red, and violets blew,
And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forrest grew.

Then came a little poem in a collection of nursery rhymes originally published in 1784 entitled Gammer Gurton’s Garland. The verse goes as follows:

The rose is red, the violet’s blue,

The honey’s sweet, and so are you.
Thou are my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou’d be you.

 The first two lines ended up in a 1901 Mother Goose book, replacing honey with sugar, and it was eventually pared down into the rhyme we know today:

Roses are red, violets are blue,
Sugar is sweet, and so are you.

I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU

How did such a negative word become an endearing one? Back in the early 1800s, a British social gathering or dance was called a “crush.” It was termed thus because of the crowded rooms and the women’s full gowns. It’s not difficult to envision two people engaging in conversation as they try to get to know one another, and squeezing their way through the party. The term evolved into a desire to get to know someone better, crushing on them as they wish to get closer.

WEAR ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE

If you have teenagers, you know their vulnerability when they openly confess their adoration for someone. The connotation of this phrase today means just 

that, to be vulnerable when open to someone, something, or an ideal. It comes from a bold act practiced in the Middle Ages, when a knight would wear a colored ribbon on his arm to represent the lady he loves and for whom he is fighting.

SEALED WITH A KISS

It is said when Saint Andrew, the first called Apostle, was set to be crucified, he asked for his cross to resemble an X because he didn’t feel himself worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord. In the Middle Ages, a person who was illiterate would sign their name with an X to represent Saint Andrew. Then they would kiss the X to express their sincerity. Today, when we place an X on a love note, we are sealing it with kiss.

With Valentine’s Day upon us, will you let your Crush see your vulnerability as you wear your heart on your sleeve? Or will you write a love poem to your significant other in the manner of Roses are Red and seal it with a kiss? Perhaps the day is simply a great excuse to buy yourself a big box of chocolates. Whatever your plans, remember God’s love letter to us, where He declares, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3, NIV.

MissAdventure Brides Romance Collection
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures? Includes:
"Riders of the Painted Star" by Kathleen E. Kovach
1936 Arizona
Zadie Fitzpatrick, an artist from New York, is commissioned to go on location in Arizona to paint illustrations for an author of western novels and falls for the male model.

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband Jim raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado she's a grandmother, though much too young for that. Kathleen is a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

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Unique Valentine Ephemera and a Giveaway

by Anita Mae Draper

Ephemera refers to paper material like tickets, coupons, pamphlets, calling cards, and others that were printed for an event or purpose that was meant to be short-lived, but were often kept as mementos and souvenirs. Personal bank notes fall into this category and it was a delight to find one from the BANK OF TRUE LOVE printed in Philadelphia c1852.

Valentine in form of a bank note. Philadelphia c. 1852. Library of Congress, Public Domain

Along with exquisite artistry, the bank note is, "Secured by the whole stock of Truth, Honour, and Affection." It offers, "The Token of Friendship" as well as the "State of Matrimony." And promises, "...to pay to _____ on demand the homage and never failing devotion of sincere affection." It is signed by "Cash'r, Cupid, Prest (the cashier, Cupid, President). 

Other unique Valentine ephemera fall into the illustrated letter category of which rebus is one form. Rebus is the representation of a word or phrase using suggested pictures, symbols, etc. and was also known as hieroglyphics around the turn of the 19th into the 20th century due to the Egyptian discoveries being made at that time. This type of puzzle has been around for centuries although it didn't reach it's usage peak until greeting cards and postcards became a normal part of life.

A Farmer's Love Letter, Mrs. Stella Gilbert, 1909

Another type of Valentine greeting card used words or letters arranged in a puzzle to profess their love, if only the receiver could decipher the message. This one, entitled, The Old Fancy, took me several minutes before I caught a phrase that gave me the key to unlock it.

The Old Fancy, Jessie Shepherd, artist, c1888. Library of Congress, Public Domain

Today, most valentine gifts are flowers, stuffed animals, candy and chocolate. Although these are precious to receive, they can't always be kept as mementos. The interest in sending Valentine's Day cards is waning, yet they are the easiest ephemera to keep because they don't require much space...unless, of course, you're an ephemera collector. 

Giveaway of one new signed copy of the printed book, The Secret Admirer Romance Collection, to one person who leaves their email address in the comments of this post. Deadline to enter is Feb 5, 2020 at midnight PST.

Rebus decipher: Do you carrot all for me, my heart beets for you and my love is as soft as a squash, but as strong as an onion. For you are a peach, with your radish hair and your turnip nose. You are the apple of my eye and if we cantaloupe then lettuce marry anyhow, for I know we would make a happy pear

The Old Fancy decipher:  I am in love as thou mayst see, I love but one and that is thee. Read down and up and thou shall't find the way to read thy valentine.

Anita Mae Draper lives on the Canadian prairies where she uses her experience and love of history to enhance her stories of yesteryear's romance with realism and faith. Readers can enrich their story experience with visual references by checking Anita's Pinterest boards. All links available on her website at www.anitamaedraper.com