Thanks and Wishes

I have come to love my mailbox.  It seems each time I open it lately there's a surprise waiting inside.  It all began recently when the lovely Christina sent me a package full of treasures that were utterly and completely me, including one of her own original photographs and a little ticket with the word WISH printed on it.  I'm saving that ticket for a very special and particular wish.   I can't tell you what yet, but you'll be the first to know if & when it comes true.  

And do you remember my friend Eric , the amazing graphic designer?  He and his wife Carolyn sent me a copy of the Where the Wild Things Are film storybook, which you know I'll be using in my Children's Literature class this coming spring when I teach the book and, now, the movie, too.  Plus, Eric made me a card that I adore.  Art made by friends--sigh.

More recently, Kim from the wonderful blog A Box of Chocolates , knowing that I collect sea glass, sent me a tin of sea glass that she'd collected on the shores of Queensland, Australia.  So now my sea glass collection's gone global.  So cool.

This week I received a gorgeous box of goodies from my blogging pal Colette .  I'd won her giveaway , and what a giveaway it was, complete with some of her own beautiful photocards, a handmade Christmas ornament, a puzzle, and even a copy of Pippi Longstocking!!  She is one of my all-time favorite characters.  In fact, I dressed up as Pippi for Halloween in first grade, complete with coat hanger wires in my braids to make them stick out.

And my brilliant and creative friend Marlowe, who, like me, is a magpie of the most adamant kind, salvaged skeins and skeins of beautiful chenille yarn for me that someone was giving away at her dump's trade center.  She popped them all into a box and shipped them to me.  Free yarn that was just going to end up in a landfill--now that, I love.  I can't use it for the Knit-a-Square project, because they need wool yarn since it's more fire resistant, but you can bet I'll be whipping up some pretty, lacy, curly scarves for Christmas gifts!

I also received--well, this one Todd & I both received--the three lovely vases pictured above from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Jen, and her husband Ed.  The vases are handmade by Heath Ceramics in Sausalito, California, and they are completely and utterly us.  

I'm thinking of the day I opened up Christina's box of treasures.  My husband said, "Wow, she really gets you, doesn't she?"  Yes, indeed.  I have friends who notice the little things--a favorite color, a loved author, a collecting habit, or a hobby.  That kind of attention is a gift in itself.  In fact, if wishes are friends, then nearly all of my wishes have come true.

Just one more thing: thanks to blogging friends, old and new, for stopping by this week!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend!  xo