I was the lucky recipient of a package from Barbara. Inside were presents for Caroline and Mini Don and a couple for me, as well.
For Caroline: two Petite Princess chairs, a lovely wooden tray (looks like tole!), three pieces of china in a sweet bird motif, a pillow and a Maxfield Parrish!
A clearer shot of the Maxfield Parrish.
Also in the package for Caroline:
Three Nancy Drews with cover illustrations by Russell H. Tandy. It took me a while before I realized that they actually open.
The famous orange silhouettes inside the cover.
More illustrations and text. Amazing.
Mini Don received some treats as well:
British-themed pottery (perfect for a Beatles fan) and a metronome.
And two beautiful Swarovski Crystal bunny rabbits for me. Aren’t they sweet?
It ain’t easy taking a good photo of faceted crystal!
Thank you so much, Barbara! We are thrilled with our gifts and humbled by your generosity.
I finally got a shot of the violets that grow under my sedum. It’s actually larger than this, but this is all I could capture without trying to lift the sedum branches and handle the camera at the same time:
Today, I’m buying mulch, more potting soil, impatiens and maybe some other plants. Then weeding and mulching, which will continue through tomorrow, potting and planting.
Happy Thursday.
Awww, violets always melt my heart. What treasures those sweet gifts are! Good luck with your garden work. We’ll be working to set up camp today…hope we find the energy. It’s a mess here!
Oh, you’re back home? (In New York, I mean!)
Yes, we’re here! Hubby’s doing things like going to the spring for drinking water and trying to repair the broken water hose for lake water for the taps, so cleanup can begin. (Mice made quite a mess this winter.) Thank goodness we brought enough water to make coffee this morning. Now, if only we can have running water (and working toilets!) soon. Roughing it is quite a challenge for this city girl!
But the good news is: the lilacs and bleeding hearts haven’t bloomed yet!
Yay! You’ll get to see them bloom!
As wonderful as the other minis are, the rabbits capture my heart. Violets were my mother’s favorite flowers. It is wet here. Suppose to be like this til Saturday. With all the rain we have had, my rose bush is just loaded with roses. They are Don Juan roses.
Trina
We’re getting heavy rains this Saturday and Sunday, Trina. Your rose bush sounds like it’s thriving!
sweet presents; know you already enjoy them!
kathy in iowa
I do!
Hooray for new treasures! :D
Love new minis, Brae!
The birds or the wind has transported beautiful viola’s to our front yard…perfectly placed I might add! I’m a little sore from planting and hauling yesterday…must have used some ‘not so used’ muscles. Lovely gifts from Barbara…very thoughtful indeed! ;).
I’m sore, as well! And today I weeded and mulched – lots of bending from the waist. Ah well!
Oh my GOODNESS, Claudia. What an incredible package you received from Barbara. Every item was a heart-stopper. But those crystal bunnies. Oh my GRACIOUS. They were the most adorable of all. Thanks for sharing your treasures. Susan
The crystal bunnies are so beautiful, Susan!
Oh, those bunnies!!!! Wouldn’t they be fantastic actually running through a field in the sunshine. Imagine the images they would cast with all of those facets! I need to just sit here and picture that as a bit of a mind soother this morning. All of those gifts are true treasures!
Beautiful day here today. And 70’s and sunshine for the weekend. May I just yell “YAHOO” after all of the cold and rain we have endured. I’m sure it is coming your way. Have fun plant and mulch shopping today. I am putting my hanging baskets out today and I know they will be so happy to escape the garage!
Yes, rain on Saturday – weather report says “Heavy at times.” Yuck. And more on Sunday.
Very very cute items you have there. How sweet to send these lovely gifts.
I hope you are doing well, Claudia. I tried to order a Julian pie but oh dear, the final costs was near 40 bucks..I practically cried. I know they are worth it but i am on a fixed income earlier than normally and well, it sucks. Just a pie but a special looking one!
I have made myself a promise; if I ever get to travel anywhere out that way in CA, as age gets a foothold…I am buying me two.
I hope all is good.. (but I know you miss Don)…I am continuing to enjoy your daily blog…Claudia, it is lovely,` lovely lovely .
I appreciate you.
Katheryn
Yes, it isn’t cheap! That’s why we hadn’t ordered one through the mail for several years. With Don working we can afford a little indulgence.
Thank you, Katheryn!
Beautiful gifts from Barbara…she is great at finding perfect little presents…raining and chilly here again and I have a sore throat and laryngitis…
Oh, feel better soon, Nancy!
Oh my goodness, those are the sweetest gifts. :)
They really are. I’m very grateful.
Good Morning!
I love your gifts, how do people fine these wonderful items. Just perfect for you. I am a little late in this comment, I felt so bad for you yesterday. Hugs!. I was weed whacking the side of my house and I was just so busy weeding that I did not look up ahead of where I was. I looked up and not a few feet I saw something white, it was a kitten. I felt my heart drop, I had to double check where I had just weeded. Thank God, no kittens there. I was so shook up I had to go inside. What if I had not looked up. I went back after an hour and there was mama cat. Man, I was a nervous wreck.
Oh, Rose! Thank goodness you looked up! I’m glad all kittens and mama were safe! That reminds me to be careful, as well!
Have fun setting up the furniture in the cottage and music studio! The bunnies are sweet. Have fun with the gardening.
Mulched a lot today. More tomorrow. But I accomplished a lot!
What lovely gifts! Have fun potting, I will be going off the mountain on Tuesday and hitting up the garden center for TONS of flowers, can’t wait!
Oh, I know you can’t wait, Debbie! Have fun!
I love all the mini’s! That Barbara finds the best things for you and Don. I love those books! The little bunnies made me smile. I hope you had a good day! Hugs!
The books are incredible. I’m glad I thought to check them or I would have assumed they didn’t open!
What beautiful, generous gifts! I can’t wait to start planting more in earnest…still cold here. Though a big warm-up on the way. Shooting up to 85 on Tuesday, which seems so foreign to me when it’s still down into the 30’s and 40’s and night right now. Brian’s off work this weekend, so I’m hoping on Mother’s Day to just stay at home and he can help me work in the yard, since I can’t kneel or crouch down.
It’s starting to warm up here. I haven’t planted anything but seeds and a few pots – the danger of frost is past now – but next week, I’ll add some more. I keep forgetting you’re still healing, Melanie! That would be a wonderful Mother’s Day gift, help from Brian in the yard!
Wow what special gifts from Barbara. I wanted to tell you I have 2 friends from the LA area who are in LaJolla tonight to see Escape to Margaritaville. I told them to look for Don and let me know what they think of the show. One of them is a Parrott Head and it’s her Birthday
I hope they had a good time! Don says the audiences are great, especially the ones filled with Buffett fans!
Those Violets are lovely. Barbara sure sent a lot of goodies. I like the Nancy Drew mini books. Don is going to love his gifts also. Enjoy.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn!
I used to have that same miniature blue chair for the dollhouse my father built, long ago! Thanks for the memory! I still hold a place in my heart for miniatures!
You’re welcome, Ann!