Birds and Butterflies

Patience - the one element more important than the right equipment for capturing the beauty of nature.

For city-dwellers the best place to find butterflies and learn about them is the nearest Butterfly Pavilion. For those lucky enough to be blessed with a backyard or patio to attract butterflies host a garden designed for the butterfly's pleasure.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, nectar producing plants with multiple florets will attract visitors.

Make butterfly watching a couples adventure.

     Hold hands while walking through the garden and even better share that meaningful look or sneak a quick kiss in a secluded spot.

     Choose flowers or seeds and plant them together. 

     Share the use of the camera and have a contest to see who takes the best picture of the day.

     Research the secrets of gardening without pesticides.

Patience -an important element that two people need for capturing the beauty of a wonderful relationship.

Is that Love in the Air Contagious?

With Valentine's Day people and especially marketing professionals focus on LOVE. Often thought to be an exclusive holiday for couples, it is a wonderful time to visit family and friends.

I purchased a pack of recycled paper Valentines, though I could have made my own from scraps of craft paper and fabric. I splurged on good quality chocolate. To be more eco-friendly give local treats.

My honey and I made a list of people who weren't as likely to be remembered on Valentine's Day and set out with our goodies and cards. Everyone we visited gave us surprised smiles and had a romantic story to share with us. Their reminiscences made us feel more romantic too and glad we'd taken the time. Sharing love sparks more love. And isn't that what life is all about?

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Romantic Use of Time

My honey and I tried an experiment to determine how much time we spend together or doing things for each other because we often hear one complaint from people. “We’d be able to have romance if it wasn’t for children, jobs etc.” True enough sometimes I think we take for granted some of the things we do like daily chores as benefiting our selves and others too.

Here’s how our typical day breaks down.
My honey – 51.8% of time with me or for me, 25% chores and work
Me – 40.6% time with my honey, 16.1% cooking, 37.5% working

Our times don’t add up to 100% because of incidentals like grooming, exercise, email, taking breaks and personal time. Surprise! My honey spent more time for my benefit than I though. We each recorded three intentional hugs throughout the day, multiple quick kisses and numerous ‘thank yous” We also eat our meals together. Despite varying schedules day to day we appreciate every moment we spend together and we discovered even though we have tasks and outside responsibilities the majority of our time is spent on our relationship. Even work can be considered for us because we both enjoy the results.

Try keeping a record and you might be surprised as we were how many romantic or necessary things we do for each other.

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Shuffle, Forfeit and Dare

Popularity of televised high stakes card games allows for vicarious enjoyment of betting and winning. Perhaps not the greenest activity with a new deck used for each hand, but some casinos donate used decks to nursing home and there is recycling.

On a more personal level, my honey and I are using a 20-year-old deck of cards to enjoy card games combining skill, competition and winning. Numerous books written on the subject of card games provide standard rules of play. When playing as a couple, we negotiate and agree on rules before a game.

This last time we chose draw poker with the wild card determined by the non-dealer cutting the deck. Winner of each hand could claim a forfeit (truth answer, a kiss or touch and articles of clothing were fair game). Winner’s choice of pleasures or titillations. My honey insisted on a handicap to keep eyeglasses; seeing seems so important to a visual game.

If you are like us, winning is about more than who gets there first. Grab a deck of cards, (an old kid’s game works), a book of rules and imagination. Staying in for a chilly evening could be the most environmentally and romantically friendly activity of all.

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Card from Anonymous Lover

Finding the right words may require someone else to write them. Greeting cards have become the easy way to meet that need; like being a patron of a love poet. Of course the intent is for the giver to sign the card. What would happen if people didn’t? Would we just not realize who gave us the card?

My honey found a blank card in a bedside stand, no envelope. He read the card and handed it to me. “Someone’s sentimental, but the words go for me too.”

I read the card. Romantic thoughts of joy over shared time and the desire to know him/her better. We dreamed up possible circumstances of the ‘other’ couple who shared the card and tucked it back in for the next finder. We felt honored for the glimpse into other romances.

Recycled cards provide just as much romance. One couple mentioned to us they save every card they receive and when the mood or occasion calls for a card, they rummage through to pick the right one to put out for the other person.
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A Visit to the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)

The visitors’ center at NREL South Table Mountain Facility in Golden, CO is an excellent starting point for an introduction to renewable energy. Research at this facility has won numerous scientific awards. The interactive exhibits and models provide easily understandable application of principles.

Our visit was educational, but romance is what individuals add to an experience. My honey and I made our experience a real date by talking about each exhibit and discussing what take-back-to-our-lives messages we learned. Whenever an exhibit was hands-on, we took turns and then pitted our brains against each other’s for the quiz at the end. We admit the questions could be answered by attentive elementary school students. We each got one wrong, because we over-thought our answers. We returned to the exhibits to make sure we understood.

Romance is more than snuggles and love; it’s shared experience and learning new things together too. For a similar experience in any area, check local listings for companies specializing in renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen, biomass, ocean and hydropower). Ask if the company offers tours or workshops. Remember options through the electrical energy supplier as well.

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