gifts — Page 25

Elizabeth and Bob

March 17, 2012 at 10:15 am by Claudia

A reader wrote me recently and said she had something she wanted to send me and I passed along my address. The other day, I was at the Post Office mailing some Etsy packages and decided to check my fairly new post office box. Because it’s new to me, I often forget to check it. There was a note inside stating I had a package. It had been there for 4 or 5 days.

I opened it up in the car. This was inside:

It was carefully packed in a little box. Tina, from North Carolina, sent it to me along with a beautiful note that immediately brought tears to my eyes. Yep. I sat there in the car and cried.

I won’t disclose all the words in Tina’s lovely letter but I will tell you that Tina’s grandmother, who lived to be 97 years old, was a collector. She was worried that her treasures would end up in a yard sale after her death. Tina, bless her heart, held on to them, occasionally selling them to treasure lovers via Etsy. No yard sales for Tina.

Because I collect Bride and Groom Cake Toppers, Tina sent this to me because “I know you will treasure this item.”

Tina says this bride and groom have names: Elizabeth and Bob, married in 1926 and “deeply committed to each other.”

They are very small, only 2 1/2″ high.

Here they are in front of my dad’s childhood toy – a Model T. Sort of perfect, don’t you think?

Where do I find the words to say how much this gift means to me? Something so precious that belonged to a dearly loved grandmother has been passed on to me simply because I write this blog. This loving gesture stopped me in my tracks. I was amazed and humbled.

Tina, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will treasure Elizabeth and Bob. They will be proudly displayed with my other brides and grooms. You may rest assured that their home here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage is a perfect fit. I sent you a thank you note, which should arrive in your mailbox shortly. I looked and looked for your email address but couldn’t find it. But now that I think of it, a handwritten thank you note is a rarity in this world of emails and you deserve that.

In the midst of so much that is disheartening about our world, a heartfelt gesture can turn my day around. Thank you.

Smooth Sailing

December 2, 2011 at 9:31 am by Claudia

During this time that my Mom has been in rehab and, soon, a nursing home, my Dad and I have talked on the phone several times a day. Mom will never be back in the house she and Dad shared. That this is terribly sad is an understatement. My Dad is heartbroken. So our calls cover everything: the good, the bad, the sad, the heartbreak.

Dad worked for Michigan Bell Telephone Company for over 40 years. That probably accounts for the fact that he hates to talk on the phone. If Mom was home and well, these phone calls would not be happening. One nugget of good that has come from all of this is our talks. We’ve come to know each other on a deeper level. I’ve shared things with Dad that normally wouldn’t come up in the course of a one minute “Hi Dad, how are you?” conversation. And he’s done the same with me.

The other day, he told me a box was coming in the mail. Yesterday, it arrived. Packed carefully inside was this:

A beautiful wooden boat with cloth sails. Maybe a schooner? Here’s the story he shared with me. When Mom and Dad retired to their beautiful home in Northern Michigan after living downstate in Dearborn for nearly 40 years, they visited Mackinaw Island. This move ‘up north’ had been a dream of theirs for a long, long time. They had finally done it. When Mom saw this boat, she bought it for my Dad and gave it to him with the words, “There will be only smooth sailing ahead.”

That was 25 or so years ago. Dad gave this to Don and me with the wish that there be only “smooth sailing” ahead for us. I cannot put into words how deeply this touches me.

I really love this little ship. Welcome to Mockingbird Hill Cottage.

Thanks, Dad.

By the way, the whole time I have been taking pictures of the boat, I have been straddling this:

When Riley sprawls, he sprawls. He has yet to get up for the day. Typical boy; he likes to sleep in.

Have a lovely Friday.

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

September 9, 2011 at 10:40 am by Claudia

Part of a robin’s egg, found on the patio a few weeks ago, clearly needed to be back in a nest. This particular nest is being carried on the back of one of my McCoy singing birds.

A few months back, my friend Jill of Little Nest Studio had a giveaway. Jill is a longtime blogging friend. She is one of the nicest people I know and very talented. And she loves miniatures. I was lucky enough to be one of the winners (I seem to remember there was more than one.) Jill wanted to make something special with the winner in mind. Oh my gosh…she did.

Yesterday, in the midst of the rain, I saw a package down at the mailbox. You’d better believe I skedaddled right on down there. The box had the prettiest hand-addressed label and may I say that Jill has the coolest handwriting in the world? I’m jealous. She writes in a style that immediately says ‘Artist.’

I couldn’t wait to see what she had created.

Yes, there are wrapped presents there (check out the sweet rick rack and flowers), but first…what do I see on the right?

Oh, happiness! Some of my favorite coffee! That darn Jill knows me very well, indeed. I let out a little cry of delight when I saw this unexpected goodie. Just ask Don. He was right there. (See what I mean about the handwriting?)

Here’s what Jill created for me. Get ready to swoon.

Oh my goodness! It is absolutely perfect. Jill’s embroidery skills leave mine in the dust. When we were both part of 39 Squares, her work was consistently beautiful. A close-up of her stitches:

I’m fiddling with Picnik – no sunshine for several days makes for difficult picture taking. The blue is more vivid than this photo indicates, it’s more like the previous photo. But back to the stitching…isn’t it beautiful? I love the rick rack trim she added, as well. Frankly, this is too pretty for my kitchen. Don would forget that he wasn’t to touch it and within seconds, there would be some sort of stain on it. Have I ever told you about the mess he made of my wedding dress? Just think about spare ribs and sauce and you’ll get the picture. I will have to find a better place. Hmmm. My thinking cap is on.

What else was in the package?

For my dollhouse: this charming table (made and signed by Jill) in my favorite colors. Won’t it look sweet in my dollhouse – perhaps in the kitchen? She also sent the vase, which looks very much like the McCoy pottery I collect and display here at MHC.

Oh, that’s not all.

She also sent the tote bag and flip-flops. Adorable. Do you think Jill knows my favorite colors?

Every single treasure in this package was made with me in mind. That blows me away. Seeing all this beauty, this precise and heart-felt handwork, touches my heart. I am surely blessed by knowing Jill and I’m so grateful to call her my friend.

Thank you, dear Jill.

The sun just came out. Do I have Jill to thank for that? I rather suspect I do.

Elizabeth and Bob

Smooth Sailing

Birdies, Nests, Dollhouse Miniatures; Presents in the Mail

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives