Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby over 8 years you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
How time has flown by, it’s that time of year again when people tell their loved ones how much they love them. They buy them cards, flowers, jewelry, chocolates and other things. That’s right, it’s Valentine’s Day. Did you know that Valentine’s Day comes in second of selling the most cards Christmas comes in first with a whopping 1.6 billion cards, Valentine’s Day 151 million, followed by Mother’s Day at 141 million, Then Father’s Day at 93 million, Easter 57 million, Halloween sells 13 million and Thanksgiving at 13 million, that’s a lot of money in cards alone. While of course Chocolate comes in number 1 on Valentine’s Day followed by World Chocolate Day on July 7.
Chocolate has been around for a very very long time, dating back to about 1150 BC, in about 1631 chocolate drink recipes were being published, some claimed that chocolate had health benefits that could help with curing a cough, or sickness, and help with conception.
Chocolate comes in many forms, and prices, artists have made statues out of chocolate.
A Truffle made by Sweet Shoppe in the US weighed 2,368 lbs, and 8 oz.
In 2012 on November 19, at the Brussels South railroad station 111 ft and 8 inches long a master chocolatier by the name of Andrew Farrugia presented this chocolate train for the Brussels Chocolate week, with a jazz band and even the grand piano was made of delicious chocolate!
In China on September 15 2015 a building was created out of chocolate, it weighed 22,458 lbs and 7 oz.
In January 2013 the world’s largest hot chocolate was made in Tampa about 800 US gallons
In Slovenia April 2016 they made a chocolate bar that was 1,531.9 sq ft
On January 29 2016 made in Tokyo Japan showed a box of chocolates that weighed 4,506 lb and 3.9 oz.
Some chocolate can be fairly cheap, especially if shopping at a dollar store, but there are some chocolates out there that you have to be very rich to buy.
There is a frozen chocolate sundae dessert that in 2007 cost $25,00 in New York. This expensive dessert was made in a partnership with a jeweller, the mixture included 28 types of cocoa, 14 of which were the most expensive chocolates to get. The chocolate has a decoration of 23- carat gold that you can eat then served in a goblet that is lined with gold that you can eat as well. At the base of the goblet is a bracelet made out of 18 carat gold and 1 carat of white diamonds on it. The dessert comes with a gold and diamond spoon that you can take home.
There have been chocolate bars that have sold for the amount of $1,600.
Simon Jewellers tops it all with 1.5 million chocolate, yellow and blue diamonds, emeralds and sapphires in bracelets, rings, and earrings. You can no longer get this luxury chocolate, but you never know when someone will make another million dollar chocolate, you could buy it then.
Whatever you choose to do or buy for Valentine’s Day, enjoy it. And remember it doesn’t have to be a special day to tell someone you love them, or give them gifts.
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!
