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.

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?

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.

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:

Lovely crochet, isn’t it?

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.

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.