I have several favorites, but two came to mind right away. One is a professional photograph. A portrait of my daughter, Irene. When she was just a mere babe. It’s so special ’cause she looked so regal sitting there on the photographer’s bench. And I was so proud of her, being all mine, y’know? It was her birthday. The outfit, green is one of my favorite colors and with her Irish red-colored hair, I figured this was a perfect outfit for our ‘Colleen’ -our Irish Lass- and I labored over it, sewing it myself for the special day. I do remember, way back then, you had to wait for ‘proofs’ of the photo shoot. Wait for weeks. Well, maybe a week at the most, but it seemed like that week was long, extra long. When all I wanted was to be able to choose the best of the best shots. And once I saw them, it took me OVER a week to make up my mind which one I wanted blown up for a portrait. This, of course, is the one I chose…..
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Then, the other photo I thought of first off when I read the assignment is one I took. It was our grandson’s first birthday. At the age of five months he had open heart surgery, and on his 1st birthday [which surgeon and physicians and pediatricians alike said he'd never see---], he had need of oxygen still – hence the oxygen tube, we were all aglow with the fact we could actually be with him, away from the hospital setting and he’d be at our side! Grandpa Bud [hubby] was holding him ever so gently, on his lap, like he’d break….and Grandpa’s pride along with his tears that day ’cause our Clint survived to his first birthday just melted my heart……
Next week’s hostess?
~…end Fun Monday
scroll below my weekend of receiving gifts in the mail 4 comment link The following is LONG, but it means a great deal to me
Don’t wanna read it? Then-click HERE 4 COMMENT LINK
“You’ve Got Mail”
Those words have a certain ring to it, don’t they?
When I got back home from the grocery store Saturday morning, Bud met me at the door to help unload the sacks from the car. As he walked past the car, I was hanging my car keys up on the handy dandy key holder at the back door on the kitchen wall, he said: “You got a package today just now. And your Jury Duty check arrived. Then, you got an envelope from Germany.” Whoa!!! Taken aback here!! I rushed to get the groceries in and unpack them and get them put away. So I could have my full attention on the good stuff! [Times TWO...not one online friend, but two!! And then, a bit of joke with a county check arriving...]
This was the package. All the way from up North, in Canada! An online buddy [she's become more than that to me...we have connected through snail mail also!] Mary had a post on her blog and she had us guess her secret. She mentioned something that she did for herself. And anyone who commented in her comments would be in the drawing for a personalized gift. Ho boy…gifts!! I do love gifts. And Mary makes hers so personal for the recipient, it is amazing. She’s the sweetest ever.
I open the package “Open – open!” and find this well wrapped something inside the bubble wrap. And the Canadian tape is so tough, trust me…I had to get scissors. I slowly trim away the tape, making sure I’m not cutting into anything, you know…just in case. I heard a ‘tinkling’ and the excitement grew…the inner child came through. It was like Christmas morn. But, did I mention the tape? Okay…so I got part of it cut enough to get it started being unwrapped…
…and as I pulled the bubble wrap away from the object I could see red! A very familiar red…and a well known shape too I might add. She had emailed me to let me know the package was on it’s way to me last week and when to expect it. She also told me it was something that she knows I like a lot. I can now see that she’s right. But still the elation and getting it out of the wrap was priority number one. Did I mention excitement? By that time Bud was standing over me with just as much curiosity as I had, and said: “Mary knows you pretty well, doesn’t she?” And he smiled…grabbing the camera —
Finally, I removed Mary’s gift from the wrapping and was just left speechless. What a prize. Both with the gift and with Mary’s friendship. This just so made me happy. And it’s beautiful. Atop the ceramic bell is perched a beautiful red cardinal. Cardinals I collect, and this special one is just awesome…and the beautiful sound emitted from the bell’s clapper reminds me of a faint breeze and a chime from a distant bell tower. The bell itself has a gorgeous embossing…of leaves, holly leaves. It’s beautiful.
And of course, I made a side trip to the master bedroom…this room is where I have all my cardinals. [Except for the holiday season. I bring them all out for decorating for Christmas] I placed the beautiful cardinal bell by my grandmother’s antique clock. And there it will sit. Daily, as I spend time in the room, I will think of my friend Mary!! Thank you so much dear lady. It’s a treasure. One that will remain forever in my heart and I hold much appreciation for your thoughtfulness and generosity!!
~ ~ ~ Thank You Mary! ~ ~ ~
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But wait…don’t leave yet! There’s more excitement for me here! Anita. She is my ultimate hero! She gardens. And boy howdy…let me reiterate, she gardens. And how!! Her blog is filled with more beauty than you can imagine. Her photos of all the stunning and the wonderful work she does is like perusing a Home and Garden Show! Each and every time I go to visit with her, I’m just literally blown away with all the splendor. And all the stupendous showing of her crafts…not to mention the symmetry of flower and plant placement! It’s a show case, I tell you – plain and simple. [She sews too, and believe me, her skills with the needle will floor you too!] –It’s all pure radiance.
A few Fridays ago, on her Show N Tell blog, she had once again, some stupendous photographs of her gardening. This particular week, she had sweet peas. Some like I’ve never seen before. And pink poppies! Bud loves sweet peas. We used to have them vining along our fences in Colorado…but none so fine as Anita’s. Well, she also was gracious enough to have a drawing for seeds from that strain of pea. And you guessed, Anita pulled out my name! And along with this, she sent other seeds to me as a bonus!!
I am just so thrilled beyond words Anita!! Inside the envelope were three packets of seeds. The sweet peas that were up for drawing names, and she added some of the pink poppy seeds. And then, to my ultimate surprise she also added a packet of blue Lupine seeds. [I have to add that that is one of my father's favorite flowers] Now, I am very anxious to start planting. I can’t wait. I must prepare a space for my ‘German’ seedling garden…of which when they become beauties like Anita’s, I will always think of how they came across the ocean, heading to Texas, just for me!!
Along with the seed packets, she sent along a sweet note of encouragement and good luck!! It states “Dear Anni – Good luck with the German seeds from my garden.” Once again, I am a happy gardener!
~ ~ ~Thank You Anita! ~ ~ ~
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One more, then I’ll let you go. This is just a riot! Two days total…one morning – Monday and then called back on Tuesday morning…and from the county, what do I receive? This —
That’s what I call a ripoff! Approximately 10 hours total of my time. Two and a half days of sitting on my duff, waiting, doing nothing worth while. Not to mention burning about three or four gallons of gas [worth about $13 or so] driving back and forth to the courthouse. Buying my own lunch one day for about $7 at the cafeteria there [which I think we should get a voucher as jurors - but what do I know?] This is ONE reason I don’t want jury duty. Just one of the many. You’ll have to embiggen the image to see what we received for our services. rofl Civic duty or not….it’s a waste of my time in my opinion. And if, god forbid, I needed my peers on the jury, I wouldn’t want someone like me that would NOT want to be there.
So this all sums it up for my weekend gifts.
I appreciate very much so the top two.
But, the last one…why bother? Did I mention I don’t like jury duty? If I want to be ‘involved’ in an enticing courtroom drama, and make nothing for my time and effort, I’d much rather turn on the news from my own living room chair, or even consider watching Judge Judy, or cable’s Court TV.
The doorbell rang Wednesday afternoon, and when I opened the door, the postal carrier left me a box at the doorstep. From the previous email last week, I knew to expect the delivery!
As I pulled out the bubble wrap and the surrounding stuffing, was I surprised or what? A sweet little card from Sherry…with a wonderful note from her to me. Then, I continued to take out some extra special items she included in my prize box.
Along with the Yellow Rose of Texas china cup and saucer, Sherry added to the gift box some assorted teas, crackers, a silver spoon and a butter knife!!! What a treasure I received!! All in one giveaway! And….
It’s so beautiful. It’s so fragile, it’s so perfect! I love it. And I will cherish it. In fact, the very next morning I was having a cup of soothing tea for my breakfast! Thank you so much Sherry!!
Then, this past week, I received a wonderful surprise award from Kitten! She left in my comments that I’d been awarded this special gift. Thank you so much! It truly made my day. But of course I feel a need to apologize for not getting it up any sooner. The days went by so quickly this past week, I got so far behind. Needless to say your thought was much appreciated! Truly!!! It says “Your Blog is Out of This World”.
…”The Life and Trial of An American Slave Trader” Inside the dust cover, it states: “On a frosty day in late February 1862, hundreds gathered to watch the execution of Nathaniel Gordon. Hanging Captain Gordon explores the many compelling issues and circumstances that came together for this one man to pay the price for a crime committed by many; it also portrays the government that turned a blind eye to the horrific enterprise of human trafficking….”
