Written by Today’s prompt of “chocolate” coincides with a rather special occasion known as Sweetest Day. Back in 1921, The Sweetest Day In The Year committee, consisting of 12 confectioners in Ohio got together to plan an event. With the help of some of the top movie stars of the day, they delivered over 20,000 boxes of candy to “newsboys, orphans, old folks, and the poor” throughout Cleveland. Since then, Sweetest Day has been observed on the third Saturday in October in apparently just 11 states, including my home state of Missouri. Though essentially a marketing ploy concocted by candy manufacturers, the idea of the day is rather well… sweet. It’s like a Valentine’s Day for everyone, heart-shaped boxes and all, without the horrible feelings of inadequacy if you happen to be single. You can even chose to treat yourself to something sweet and use the day as a perfectly good excuse.
I have to admit that although I am familiar with this day, I’ve never actually celebrated it intentionally. For example, we had lunch with our friend Aesha today and gave her a box of caramel candies we brought back from Paris. This had absolutely nothing to do with this wonderful holiday and was just a simple coincidence. But the concept of giving something sweet to the people you love is never a bad thing. Even made up days like this one created simply to sell more candy are nice reminders to do something nice for the people you care about most. I’d love to say that I’m always doing this, but I often get lost in my own little world and forget how much time has passed. But the little things people do for you are often the most memorable of all.
Back in April of 2012, I arrived in Paris on my birthday to visit Philippe who was still living there at the time. We didn’t have time to stop for a proper cake, so he bought me a musical candle at the grocery which we stuck in the only cake-shaped thing we had, a plastic tub of mousse d’aubergine. The little blue candle sticking out of a pool of light brown goo looked ridiculous and rather unappetizing so we dubbed it “poop cake.” It was by far the most memorable birthday cake I’ve ever received and one of my favorite memories. After feeling like we were always running out of time, for that one evening, time stood still. And even though there were no chocolates or ice cream, everything was perfect. A little thing, given to me by someone I loved, was all I really needed. And looking back, I can honestly say that it was truly the sweetest day in the year.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Perylene Maroon, Burnt Sienna, and Ultramarine Deep. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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Your sketches make me want all the foods, especially the sweets!!
Awww thanks, Jessica! 😃💕 Hehe… I think I could dedicate an entire month to sweets!! Love them!!
That looks glorious – such naughty textures in chocolate and filling! I like the sound of Sweetest Day very much. Definitely more inclusive than the rather cruel Valentine’s Day.
Te ‘Poop cake’ fiasco sounds a very sweet memory indeed! Lovely stuff.
Hehe… Thanks Jacob! 😃💕 I think Sweetest Day is a cool idea… but poop cake is not something I’d actually recommend of course! Lol But did make for great memories!
Sublime 😊 My mouth is watering.
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
Looks scrumptious Charlie! Chocolate covered cherries are among my faves.
Yay! Glad you liked this one Bill! 😃💕 I have to admit to liking them best when the cherries are soaked in alcohol. But that’s just to cut the sweet a bit, of course! hehe
This is an incredible painting Charlie!!!! A real stunner! And you make all of our days the sweetest days with your wonderful posts 🙂
Awww thanks so much, Jodi! 😃💕 I really appreciate that!
Wow, beautiful rendering of that filling! Looks delicious! 🙂
Thanks so much, Annie! Glad ya liked this one! 😃💕
What a wonderful idea, to do something sweet for someone just because you want to. Think I’ll adopt this – and that slurpy chocolate cherry looks sinfully delectable!
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah… it’s a cool thought, right? I’ll have to remember it sooner next year and celebrate it properly! hehe
Charlie you are such a sweetheart – sometimes I literally cry reading your little stories!
awww… thanks, Edda! 😃💕 I’m so pleased you enjoy my stories.
Yum! That looks like you could pick it up and eat it! Great sketch!
Aww thanks, Annie! 😃💕 So happy you liked it!
Mouthwatering 🎨 well done friend!
Thanks, Snehal!! 😃💕 Appreciate that!
Your Doodlewash looks super sweet like you, Charlie! ❤️🎨💕 I’m enjoying a slice of Key Lime cheesecake with my hubby as I’m reading your post! Always wonderful to share a sweet treat with your sweet! 💖😍
Thanks, Jill! 😃💕 Ooooooooo I’m so jealous!! Key lime is my FAVE!! yum!! Next time call first and I’ll be right over!!! 👍🏻😃
Lol! 😍
That’s beautiful! I love the commentaries that accompany each doodlewash.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 I’m so happy you do… thanks for letting me know. It means so much!
Your cherry chocolate looks pretty but so full of sugar ;)))
hehe… I agree! 😃💕 I don’t actually like these unless they’re made at home with dark chocolate and the cherries are soaked in whiskey first. Then they’re not sweet… just a little boozy! Lol
Oh! I make it for Christmas each year ! My sour cherries come from my garden and I’ve some jars full of them with “eau de vie”, a vanillia bean and a little sugar, !n the cellar. My chocolate is 70% cacao and so like yours, my cherry-chocolate are not too sweet. Happy start of the week !
70% or higher is always find by me!! hehe Happy start of the week to you, Laurence! 😃💕
Perfect chocolate painting! 🙂
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕
Definitely a mouth-watering painting! Yum! I love your story of the little musical candle. Little meaningful things really do make the best memories.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 Yeah… it was a really fun evening. I still remember it so vividly thanks to that funny little candle and the questionable cake. 😊
Nice desert and lovely story Charlie! I thought you were on a diet though 😉 (kidding)
I thought I was too!!! 😳😥haha! Then Philippe had to go and have a birthday and so there was cake and chocolate. Diet starts officially on Monday though! 😊
Ah ah ah. As usual, lovely illustration you did there. Happy diet!
hehe… thanks!
Mmmmm, look at that ooze …..well painted, I would grab it but it looks like someone has already started on it 😀
Thanks, Rebecca! 😃💕 I never thought “well-painted ooze” would be a compliment I would ever receive! Haha! Love that I did! Thank you!
Oh my gosh Charlie, you have solved a mystery for me. I’m originally from Maine and when I first got married, my husband took me to Detroit to live. One day out of the blue he brought me home this beautiful wooden box filled with chocolates and a beautiful crystal blue brush and comb set. He said it was to celebrate Sweetest Day. I had never heard of this day before, and never have since until now. The brush and comb set is long gone, but I still have my beautiful wooden box and I keep all my love letters in that box, and it always brings back memories of those days long ago. Thank you Charlie for letting me know what Sweetest Day is celebrated for and how it all started. It’s something I’ve always wondered about. The story about you and Philippe is so touching, especially the part about the ‘cake’. Happy Sweetest Day Charlie!
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 And yay! So glad you liked this post and found out a little more about the day. And how cool that your husband gave you something you could still treasure as a keepsake! I Love that story!! Thanks for sharing it!
Mouth watering sketch!
Thanks so much Teri! 😃💕
Gorgeous pantings!!!!!awesome,outstandig😃😃😃😃😃
awww thanks so much!! 😃💕
Sorry it was outstanding!!!
Love the Chocolate Covered Cherries!
Dwight
Thanks so much, Dwight!! 😃😃
Oh, Charlie, in this case your word painting outdid your candy painting, lovely though it is. The vision of a ‘poop cake’ and the cherished memory it gives you, truly highlights the fact that it IS the thought that counts.
haha! Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one!!