A Time For Love
I don’t know how it is where you live 
but everyone in Shady Pines Story Town is seeing red.
Of course that’s because Valentines’s Day will be here before we know it.
Friday, February 14, the day dedicated to love, is a favorite in our small Southern town.
That shoudn’t surprise you since our tight knit community is all about caring for one another.
And I gotta tell ya. Some of our neighbors go all out with their decorations both outside and inside their homes.
Naturally the stores are filled with hearts, flowers and candy.
Remember When
If you wouldn’t mind dear readers, I’d like to take you down Memory Lane for just a minute.
I want to share with you a loving gesture that happened just a few short years ago. It’s a story I think will warm your heart. I’ll drop you off at the Sanders’ home.
Edna can take it from here.
Cooking Up Something Special
Hi everyone! It’s me, Edna Sanders. Welcome to Edna’s Kitchen. In honor of Valentine’s Day I want to tell you about the time my wonderful husband, Harold, did something to show his love for me.
As a result of his efforts, my kitchen blender has become famous in Shady Pines Story Town. You can see the blender on the counter near the refrigertor.
You see, my blender, Gertie, is always blowing her top. No matter where I go in town, people like to tease me. They’ll say things like:
“Hey Edna, I hear NASA is tracking that blender of yours across several galaxies.”
“Chop, chop, Edna. That blender of yours is about to blow!”
“Edna, has the Ford Motor Company called you yet about your blender? I hear they’re looking for ways to rev up the engines in their new cars!”
Anyway, you get the drift. My blender has become a joke with lot of punch lines. And, I haven’t even made punch in it yet! So, I want to let you in on the 
secret behind my super-duper kitchen device.
A Loving Experiment
My dear husband, Harold, knows how I like to experiment with all sorts of new recipes. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I’m doing that I lose track of time. Oh, that’s another good story. I’ll tell you that one later.
So, there I am stirring and adding a pinch of this and that, and I don’t realize how late it’s getting.
Harold comes home from work thinking that I’m making dinner.
But I was really making appetizers for a get-together the next day at the Community Center where I volunteer.
Our dog, Boomerang 
was lying on the floor under the kitchen table, and our cat, Halley’s Comet, was snoozing on her window seat.
They like to keep me company when 
I cook.
“Hi Honey. What’s for dinner?”
“Oh, Harold. You startled me.”
“Sorry. Guess you couldn’t hear me over that noisy blender of yours.”
Gertie The Legend
“Be kind to Gertie. She may be getting on in years, but she can still get the job done.”
“Why don’t you let me take that thing and give it a tune-up?”
“Well, I will be busy at the Center tomorrow afternoon. I guess that’ll be all right.”
“Sure. And here’s the best news. Once the ‘ole gal is back to running full force, you’ll be able to make more recipes in less time.”
You know Harold means well. He likes to tinker with things. When you own the Nuts ‘N Bolts hardware store on Main Street, that’s what you do.
He left for work the next morning with Gertie tucked under one arm. I was a little anxious, but what can you say?
Harold returned home that evening and proudly placed Gertie back on the kitchen counter.
“Edna, it’s time for a test drive.”
“I’ll just pull a few ingredients together and…”
“No, no. Let’s make your chicken soup that I like so much. With the vegetables and everything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
All Revved Up
So, Harold helped me chop and dice and pour. Now, for the moment of truth. I turned Gertie on low. She hummed. Sounds good.
But Harold wanted me to see what, “this baby can really do.”
The last thing I remember was Harold’s hand cranking the dial to Full Speed.
In a split second, Gertie blew her lid and launched. You heard me. That blender came unplugged and flew off the counter tossing the contents of tonight’s dinner all over the place.
Some part of her must have hit me because I was down.
I could hear Boomer barking and Halley howling. I still can’t remember how Harold caught Gertie and turned her off.
Harold helped me up, Halley hopped over me, and Boomer licked my face.
All the while my industrious husband was saying something about “turbo-charging the engine” of the blender.
Everyone’s Safe
I mumbled, “Oh, for crying in the soup.”
And that’s how the legend of Gertie, my blender, was born. Surprisingly, Gertie survived her frantic flight.
And since that night, I have found ways to better control her speed and power.
Harold was right. The new, and improved Gertie has cut down on the time it takes me to whip something up.
I must tell you there are still times, when, well, we have our little mis-adventures.
It doesn’t matter. What matters is that Gertie helps me create meals for people to enjoy.
Only, now, she’s able to do it in record time, due to Harold’s loving gesture. He was just trying to help make things easier for me.
A Heartfelt Gesture
In Edna’s Kitchen kindness and caring are the best 
ingredients of all.
And the same can be said for the loving folks who live in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.
Happy Valentine’s Day from our family to yours!
***Please Leave a Comment Below***
Cooking with love. A great story for Valentine’s Day❤️
Thank you Tricia!
Such wonderful story telling about such a wonderful town! Even the the appliances come to life in SP. You’re the best Mary Jane!
That is so kind. Thank you Jerry!
Thank you for the smile Shady Pines. I thoroughly enjoyed the story
This is just wonderful
Thank you for this story. It was fun and heartwarming at the same time
I’m happy you liked it Sharon
Someone once told me that cooking for and with your friends and family is how they show love. I totally agree! And who hasn’t had a kitchen mishap or two? I’ve had plenty!! I loved the story.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Sharon and could relate!
Hubbies love “improving “ things. Perhaps not always an improvement but nice that they care.
It’s so true and so kind. But helpful? Only you can be he judge. Thank you Elaine!
Happy Valentines Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too Tammy!
I really enjoyed the story. You are so creative.
Thank you Susan. So glad you enjoyed the story!
Your creativity brightened a gloomy day! Thank you for inviting me to join in the happenings in Shady Pines. Looking forward to future stories. Happy Valentine’s Day 💝
So glad you enjoyed it Anne. Thank you!
“Kindness and Caring are the best ingredients.” That is so true. Great story
Thank you for picking up on that Jim!
I get such a kick out of Edna. This was a lovely and loving post
What a fun and tender story. Very touching
Love how you used your sense of humor to relay the message of caring for others!
Thank you so much Merridy. That’s really nice!
Started my day with a smile! Thanks! Hugs to you this Valentines Day! 💕
I’m so glad it made you smile Kathy. Happy Valentine’s to you too!
A reminder to not take life too seriously – thank you
I’m happy if it made you smile Joanne with all you’re going through
What a creative story! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. Who needs a Vitamix when you have Gertie?
That’s funny Sheri. Happy you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the heartwarming Valentines story! Edna and Gertie cooking up something special.
So glad you liked it Robin!
This story was the pick me up I needed today. Thank you Shady Pines
What a lovely story. I’ve got to send this to my daughter and her kids
This post is beyond cute. I loved it
This was truly a heart warming story!
Thank you for sharing it.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
You are so welcome Teresa. Glad you liked it!
I absolutely love the “blender tale”
How an act of kindness can be a total disaster. Yet with that one ingredient LOVE , it turns out a
hilarious repeated story in Shady
Pines ❤️
The blender tale. I like that Jane!