A Story of Three Rings.....

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
Oh no! It is an ever fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Times's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved....

As I cannot play you the music of Mozart that runs in my head (although if I could it would, today, be 'Dove Sono' from The Marriage of Figaro) I wanted to give you a gift for Valentine's Day from the Wolfgang of Words - the incomparable William Shakespeare. His Sonnet No. 116 is so wonderful that a lump comes to my throat whenever I think about it! And if I need further illustration of it's beauty, I watch the fragile & lovelorn Marianne Dashwood - so beautifully played by Kate Winslet - reciting it in the cold, driving rain while looking down the hillside at the house of her lost love Willoughby in Ang Lee's 'Sense & Sensibility'. Pure magic.
But I like to think that Valentines are not just for those we love romantically...I always send my niece and three young nephews a card each - handwriting suitably disguised, of course! And I remember the joy of receiving a card from my Grandfather each year (signed from 'Snowy', which was the colour of his hair!) and, once, my Dad. It made us feel so special and loved.
The rings above are the three that I always wear, come what may. As you can see, I'm a silver girl! The one on the left is engraved with the words 'Come back, come back to me' and was handmade by the wonderful Kathryn Riechert. My sister & I both wear the same one. The quote is from one of our favourite movies, Atonement, and it symbolises our love for each other & the fact we're apart in body but always together in spirit. The one on the right is engraved with my motto 'Carpe Diem' and was a birthday gift from one of my very best friends. Looking at it reminds me to try & live by it's sentiment and also brings her close to me each day. The middle one is my wedding ring - no further explanation necessary, but so so dear to me. I didn't have an engagement ring as we decided to get married only 3 weeks before the ceremony...so the little diamond stands for that too.

My very favourite rings may not be the most expensive or even the most beautiful that I possess. But they are the dearest to me. For they represent the three types of love that I want to always have close: marriage, family & friendship.

Wishing every one of you love and happiness this St Valentine's Day & always xox

Comments

  1. I find it beautiful that you wear your heart on your fingers.
    xo

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  2. Oh rachel...this made my heart sing...i just love it..come back...come back to me.....

    i am so looking forward to seeing you and alice and china on valentines...and what you are bringing sounds perfect..especially looking forward to seeing that little strawberry jam...Tiptree..ahhhhh

    you room is ready...now all we need is you..

    sending love to you and alice and china, my sweet friend,
    kary and buddy
    xxx

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  3. The Sense & Sensibility scene you mentioned is probably one of my favorite movie scenes of all-time. So beautiful♥
    Valentines Day does get a little lonely when you don't have a significant other, but you're right when you say that it should be about all of our loved ones.
    I hope you have a wonderful holiday :)

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  4. Simply beautiful Rachel, reading your gorgeous post has just brought a tear to my eye. Thank you for reminding me of one of my favourite sonnets and for sharing your beautiful rings.
    Love to you and Paul on this lovely romantic Valentines day
    Morwenna xoxo

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  5. Dearest Rachel,
    Beautiful rings, lovely reasons to wear them. You are right, Valentines should be about the people and things that are most special in our heart and I send Valentines love to you and echo the sentiments of Mr Shakespeare xxxxxx

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  6. Rachel..saw you over at dawn's today and wanted to stop by and wish you and Alice and China all a Happy Valentines Day...

    sending love to you all...

    kary and buddy
    xxx

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  7. Rachel....just stopping by to thank you for coming to the Valentines day party...

    Buddy sure enjoyed everyone....

    let's do it again soon :-)

    sending love,
    kary and buddy

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  8. hi rachel...the french laundry...i don't know how you can get into that place..heard it is over a year in advance.geezzzz

    we just looked in the window and caught a glimpse of Thomas in the garden...and we we THRILLED with that....guess that's as far as i'll ever get....love the cookbook too...but it sure isn't ever day...actually, i don't think i've made one thing out of there..have you tried anything?

    clipping roses today..with buddy...and planting sweet peas....

    hugs to alice and china if she's there

    sending love,
    kary and buddy
    xxx

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  9. Hey, really cool blog. I found you through October Farm. I am also a big admirer of Mozart, so it's nice to see other "believers" out there.

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  10. Stopping by to say "Hi", I love your website. Hope you are able to stay warm and well today!

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  11. Rachel, the symbolism of the three rings is incredible!! I shall share a similar story in the future....how special!!

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