First of all, this arrived yesterday:
Since this is a selfie, the writing is reversed, but you get the idea, right?
I’ll try to take some photos of the article for you. I’m thrilled that Hummingbird Cottage is the lead feature and a photo of the fireplace gets a full page at the beginning of the article. Don hadn’t seen the article yet, so he read the whole thing and was quite chuffed! As am I.
Again, on a tough day, something lovely lightened my mood. Very grateful.
My ankle is much, much better. I still wear an ace bandage for some mild support and, more importantly, to remind myself that I have to be careful. The bruising has faded a great deal and, as I’m at the two week mark, I’m very pleased.
I hung the lights on the porch railing yesterday. They were modified by necessity as one of the strings wasn’t working and I wasn’t about to go in the shed and look through bins for some more. It’s just fine as is.
No little white tree yet, but maybe today. Or maybe not.
Barbara sent me a package that arrived earlier this week. It was full of lots of goodies. I didn’t take a picture of the lovely Christmas napkins and mints that come in a guitar-shaped tin and winter gloves meant to be used with an iPhone (huzzah!) but I did manage some pictures of the other treasures inside that box.
Yay! I finally have my own copy of All the Light We Cannot See! If you remember, I had it on reserve at my library and didn’t get a chance to read it before it’s due date. The second book is mystery that takes place in Canada (Barbara is from Canada) and I’m excited to read a new-to-me author.
An incredible robot ornament – isn’t it neat? We’re calling it Mr. Robot, in honor of Don’s appearances on that series.
A bag full of Peppermint Bark from Ghirardelli. Oh. my. goodness. As you might imagine, we’ve already had several. I love peppermint bark.
Eeek! For the Top Secret Project! This is perfect, Barbara! I haven’t done any work on the TSP since Dad’s death. I haven’t been in the right frame of mind. I am thinking about it, however, and I plan on getting back in gear when I have my little office/studio space set up.
By the way, the house that I’m using for the TSP was designed for the HBS Creatin’ Contest. I never had any plans on entering that contest, but many incredible miniaturists have entered their projects and I am blown away by their creativity. The deadline to enter was just the other day. I’m going to try to gather some links to their finished projects so that you can see them for yourselves. You won’t believe what they have created!
And this was in the package. Roseville Pottery in the Clematis pattern. Barbara wasn’t exactly sure what it was, but I knew because I’d been watching one of these on eBay. It’s a flower frog. It was designed to sit in a matching console bowl, like the one I showed you the other day.
The rear view.
See? There are holes in the bottom.
It’s gorgeous. Thank you, Barbara. I am blessed by your generous spirit.
I am blessed by every one of you who read this blog. Thank you.
I’m clearly celebrating Christmas a bit early this year.
Happy Thursday.
Sometimes in the darkness comes a speck of light to beckon us to keep moving….I am glad you had a good day yesterday.
Thank you, Cindy. It was difficult, but also lovely.
Oh my goodness, what an incredible box of gifts! Barbara is amazing and sent you some lovely, lovely items. It’s obvious that she knows you well isn’t it? I’m horrible with packages like this. I’m not creative with gifts and end up with a mish-mash of things to send that I’m not happy with. This however, this is wonderful. Yay Barbara and yippee for you Claudia! :-)
Blessings,
Betsy
I’m not good at this sort of thing, either, Betsy – so I’m always envious of people who are. It’s a real talent!
How fun to have your mini cottage featured. Congrats! Barbara’s gifts are wonderful and so very you. The robot ornament is adorable. One of our local used bookstores just posted the book All the Light We Cannot See. It sounded familiar to me for some reason. Perhaps because you mentioned it before. Glad to hear your ankle is better — just don’t be planning anymore day trips for a while. :) Best wishes, Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. Everyone says All the Light… is terrific, but I’m late to the game. Maybe I can read it over the holidays.
Claudia, I love the way I can see you smiling behind the magazine – your eyes are smiling, too. Congrats – what an accomplishment. And, Barbara – you’re a sensitive friend. I have a friend like that – she always thinks of the perfect gift for the people in her life.
I hope every day is a little better.
Gail
Some days are good, some days are bad – I guess it’s just the way it is right now, Gail.
Positive post, Claudia….celebrate creativity, generosity, and thankfulness…
Always, Wendy. In the midst of sorrow and a world that seems to have gone crazy, it helps to remember the good.
Chuffed , you say? There ‘s a word we don’t hear everyday.
I am very pleased, too ! Great mail day for you.
I like to mix it up, Karen. The same old words get boring! Thanks!
Claudia, it’s so good that surprises keep coming to you. It does lighten the heart. Love the Mr Robot ornament!! I gasped at the Roseville and I also knew what it was as I had seen it on Ebay…OH Ebay I love/hate you. My last purchase of McCoy arrived and I love it. I need to get some photos of my new pieces of McCoy for the blog. Charlie laying by me sleeping!
hugs, Linda
Love/hate here as well!! It draws me in, but then I try to stay away! What to do?
Can’t wait to see your new McCoy. Give Charlie a big kiss from Scout.
Don’t you just LOVE getting packages? Especially in December. Unlike “regular” mail, getting a package is almost invariably good news, and the sight of that big brown UPS truck in our neighborhood always created a lot of excitement among the kids in our neighborhood [of course it was somewhat more unusual then than it is now]. Opening a package to find all kinds of special treats? Even better! ?
I do! I never get tired of getting packages, even if I know what’s in them!
How fantastic to be featured in such a great way!! That is wonderful, congratulations! I am sure that Caroline will be pleased too. xx
I haven’t told her yet, Amy, but when the time is right, I will. Thank you!
That is a package full of joy I would say…Love Mr Robot…the ornament and the show…that tiny stereo is awesome…that is such a cute Roseville frog…You have very good taste Barbara…Enjoy everything Claudia and Don!
We will. That Mr. Robot is perfect, don’t you think? xo
What a fun package that must have been to open yesterday! Very thoughtful gifts! ;)
Lovely gifts. Barbara’s arrived on Monday, I believe. And the magazine came in yesterday’s mail.
I hope you upped your home owner’s insurance to cover all these lovelies. Many are probably irreplaceable. What a collection.
Probably not irreplaceable. Or all that expensive. Just precious to me and very collectible.
I’m glad the parcel arrived intact after your not-so-happy shipping experiences of late. Mystery solved – thank you! And here I thought I’d found the first and only Roseville pencil holder.
Congratulations again on the magazine feature – so well deserved!
Well, it would actually make a great pencil holder, Barbara! Hmmmm…..
I’m so happy for you. Wonderful news!
S
xo
Thank you, Sue!