Of Birds and Love and Other Things...

How do the birds know? Today is Valentine's Day and they're busy building nests in preparation for a new generation. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The popular customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day undoubtedly had their origin in a conventional belief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on 14 February, i.e. half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair. Thus in Chaucer's Parliament of Foules we read:
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day 
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate."
In any case...it's been a busy few days, which is my excuse for no postings! First, the announcement of the tomb discovered in the Valley of the Kings (KV 63) by our friends from University of Memphis; next, the final game of the African Cup of Nations on Friday night where the "Pharaohs" beat the team from Côte d'Ivoire in overtime; third, a big party here for the KV 63 team on Saturday night (I've included a picture of some of the team - Betty, Heather, Roxie, Alistair and Sharon - and one of the cake - "Mabruk" means "Congratulations");
and finally, a Sunday morning expedition to the West Bank to visit some of the tombs of the nobles (Sennefer, Rekhmire, and Ramose). You can find out more about Sennefer's tomb, called "The Tomb of the Vineyards" because of its marvelous painted ceiling, by clicking on the title of this post.
Whew! Just writing about all this excitement wears me out...