Dear Subscriber,

Leap Year
In case you haven't heard by now, today is Leap Year Day. This means there is an extra day in February.

In the Gregorian calendar, the calendar used by most modern countries, the following three criteria determine which years will be leap years:
1. Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year;
2. of those years, if it can be divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless
3. the year is divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.

In the Julian calendar–introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and patterned after the Roman calendar–there was only one rule: any year divisible by four would be a leap year. This calendar was used before the Gregorian calendar was adopted.

Why are leap years needed?
Leap years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth's revolutions around the sun.

A calendar similar to the Julian calendar, with every fourth year earmarked as a leap year, was first introduced by King Ptolemy III of Egypt in 238 BC.

When I was a kid, this day was known as Sadie Hawkins Day. Girls were able to ask boys out on a date. In earlier times, men did all the asking, for dates and marriage.

I'm glad to have an extra day of life. Grateful that tomorrow I can sleep an hour later and maybe 2 hours on Sunday.
Support the American Cancer Society
In March and April, I'll be donating a percentage of my store proceeds to the American Cancer Society in memory of my mom and my aunt. I opened a store on etsy at www.lindab142.etsy.com. Please let me know what you think of it.

Feedback and comments are welcome.

Peace,
Linda Blatchford
Etailer, Jewelry Designer www.LinorStore.com