gifts — Page 12

Flowers and Friends

December 11, 2015 at 7:59 am by Claudia

12-11 instagrammy picture of LR

This is another Instagram photo that I’d also like to share here in this space. Real Life, my friends. Lots of little rugs for Scout, Don’s guitar on the loveseat, Scout snoozing, air conditioner still in the window, assorted clutter on the kitchen table.

But I love the golden light. When the sun pours in the windows here, it’s truly lovely.

And look at this!

12-11 geranium

The geranium plant that was hanging on the porch is still blooming! I brought it indoors and it’s gorgeous red blossoms are really adding some cheer around here.

12-11 geranium2

This is the time of year when I can no longer garden, when I can’t take a quick picture of whatever is blooming at the moment, so I hunker down and concentrate on the inside of the cottage. I start to nest in earnest; gathering, collecting, rearranging. I think we all do – at least those of us who live in wintery areas of the country.

But I haven’t done one bit of Christmas decorating yet. Not one. We’ve barely talked about presents. It’s the way it is this year.

Speaking of presents, Don has a great friend who is a fellow musician. His name is Fran. I also know Fran and he’s a great guy. Remember those donuts I love so much that are made fresh every day in our neighboring town? Well, Don and Fran often meet at the donut shop for coffee and donuts and talk. I benefit from these meetings because Don brings me a chocolate glazed donut. Heaven.

Anyway, yesterday Don came home with a donut and little bag and said that Fran had sent me something – something that was on his mantel that he thought I would like. (Don told me that Fran occasionally reads my blog, which surprised and delighted me.) Fran knows I love pottery, and this was what was wrapped up inside of that bag:

12-11 gift from Fran

This beautiful little piece of cobalt blue pottery. It looks like it might be a cruet of sorts. Isn’t it lovely? There’s no mark on the bottom. I love the graceful curves and the elegance of the design.

I was so taken by this wonderful surprise. Thank you, Fran, for thinking of me and sharing this little treasure. I will think of you every time I look at it.

Aren’t people wonderful?

Book Review of two books by M. J. Arlidge on Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

On Two Gifts

November 14, 2015 at 9:32 am by Claudia

Gifts. That’s the subject of today’s post. The first, a gift that came in the mail and the other, a gift that came through a stranger’s words.

First, the mail. My longtime blogging friend Mary of A Breath of Fresh Air sent me a package that arrived yesterday. Mary was born in England, grew up in Devon, and eventually married an American. She’s lived in the States for many years. She’s a world traveler, her home is beautiful and, most importantly, she’s a beautiful person.

11-14 torkay egg cup 1

This is what I unwrapped. It’s a beautiful vintage egg cup from Devon – Torquay/Devon Motto Ware. Gorgeous. Heavy. Would you like to see the motto?

11-14 torkay egg cup 2

Love it. Fresh eggs! This is so, so charming.

Mary went back to Devon recently and brought home some pieces of vintage pottery. And she decided I should have this piece. I’m so honored.

11-14 torkay egg cup marking

The mark shows a ship on the sea. The name of the pottery is obscured, but according to my research, it might be Dartmouth Pottery Devon.

Also included in the package:

11-14 egg cup cozy

Lovely crochet, isn’t it?

11-14 egg cup cozy on cup

It’s an egg cozy! Isn’t that wonderful? After all, we have to keep that egg warm until it’s ready to eat.

Thank you, dear Mary. Her note said she hoped the gift would bring a smile. It sure did. I am blessed.

Gift Two. Meredith and I have been trying to get in contact with the financial company that handles my Dad’s stock investments. We found a business card on his desk and Meredith left several messages. No return call. So I volunteered to go online and find an email address and I wrote to them. We probably had the wrong phone number or something, because I received a response right away from the gentleman who had handled Dad’s account. He expressed his sympathy on Dad’s passing and I passed on Meredith’s phone number. We emailed back and forth a few times, but the gift came in the final email.

I had written about the suddenness of Dad’s illness and death and that Meredith and I had held his hands as he passed away.

He wrote this: “Gordon went from holding your hands to holding Shirley’s in a blink.”

That was such a gift to me. I called Meredith and read it to her and we both were struck by the beauty and profound truth expressed in those words. I find it enormously comforting.

From a man I’ve never met, words that I will hold close to my heart. A gift.

11-14 obsession scarf soft blue blog

I’ve just listed this scarf in the Etsy Shop. It’s the Obsession Scarf in Summer Sky Heather. I crocheted it in Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Wool. It is the softest wool and completely machine washable. There is a link to my Etsy shop on my sidebar – some of you have asked for it. I’ll also link to it here.

I was tempted to keep this one! I really love it. Hope you do, too.

Gosh darn it! I just lost out on the Snow White egg cup for the second time! I almost had it. Very, very disappointing.

I cannot close without saying my heart is with Paris today. Words are inadequate in the face of such horrific and despicable actions.

Heartsick.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Gifts, Etsy, and a Salute to a Veteran

November 11, 2015 at 9:36 am by Claudia

Don came in the house the other day after running some errands and said “Merry Christmas!” He was carrying two boxes addressed to me. They were from Kathy and Barbara, two readers of this blog.

I needed some cheering up and who doesn’t love opening a present?

Kathy sent a lovely sympathy card with a poem that made Don and me cry. She sent an additional copy for me to send to Meredith. Kathy’s present was all about comfort food – for all three members of our family.

11-11 comfort food

The Ghirardelli chocolates are almost gone. Don will polish off those Corn Nuts in no time. And Milo’s Chicken Meatballs are Scout’s favorite treat. We add them to her food because she loves them so much.

Thank you, Kathy.

Barbara sent a beautiful sympathy card and a box full of goodies.

11-11 books

Two books and a bookmark. I almost bought The Miniaturist when I was in NYC, but held off. So I’m excited to now have a copy. The other book I’ve not heard of, but it’s subtitled: Pride and Prejudice: The Servants’ Story, which sounds very interesting, indeed. And you know how I feel about cupcakes.

11-11 minis 1

Minis! That mini canvas is fabulous and is going to go over the sofa in the TSP. There are two more record albums and a NYC sign.

11-11 minis 2

Lovely tins. Don’t you want some of these in your real-life home? And a cup of coffee/tea.

11-11 minis 3

A keyboard for the TSP. I discovered this keyboard online and had it bookmarked for a future purchase, but Barbara beat me to it. Love, love it.

11-11 eggcup

And an adorable doggie egg cup. Actually, two of them, the other was downstairs when I took this picture.

Thank you so much, Kathy and Barbara. You brightened my day. What lovely presents!

11-11 obsessionscarf

In other news, I added my finished Obsession Scarf to the Etsy Shop, which has been on a two-year hiatus. I’m almost done with the turquoise scarf and I’ll list that, too. Since crocheting provides some comfort at the moment, I will most likely make a few more. The widget for the Etsy shop is on my sidebar.

Edited to add: Sold. Thank you! I’ll add another scarf in the next couple of days…

I’m stealing this next photo from my sister’s blog. I have a copy, too, but it’s packed away.

1-November 8 2015 006

That’s my dad and my grandfather. Dad was a decorated veteran of WWII. Like so many at that time, he joined the Air Force when he was very young – eighteen – and served for four years. He never glorified war. He barely spoke of it when I was growing up. He wasn’t into all of the rah-rah, go get ’em, kill the bastards crap that we’ve all heard. He saw firsthand the horrors of war and he never forgot them. In his final years, he was tortured by nightmares of that time in his life. It came back to haunt him.

I admire the fact that my dad never bragged about his time in the war. Meredith and I never even knew he was decorated until we found that paperwork in my parents’ safe deposit box during my August visit to Florida. He was a gentle and kind man, my dad. But the war made a mark on him and he was forever changed by it. We think that some of what we saw in him – the tension, the nervous problems, the mood swings – may have been the result of what he went through as a very young soldier seeing things no one should ever see.

On this Veteran’s Day, I honor my dad. And I fervently hope for an end to all wars.

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Flowers and Friends

On Two Gifts

Gifts, Etsy, and a Salute to a Veteran

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives