SNAIL MAIL AND A STINGING TALE...

Friends are kisses blown to us by angels.

-Author Unknown-

Thank you all so much for all the sweet consolation over not being able to attend Karen's party. I have been slowly visiting the links and there are some really amazing spaces and creative souls listed. I am finding party hopping pretty fun!

In an age where all forms of communication are instant, email, tweeting, texting, etc. it is sheer delight to receive good old fashioned snail mail as it is now called. In the past few weeks I received two such packages from dear blog friends.The first came from a precious new blog friend, Peggy, who had just dipped her toe into the blogging world with a brand new blog, Tuckaway Hearts. Peggy read this post and felt led to ask if I would be receptive to her sending me a little something that she thought I might enjoy and would offer encouragement. Now, I am a most cheerful giver but to be on the receiving end always feels very uncomfortable to me.My first reaction was to figure out how to politely say no, but, then I remembered something my grandmother said to me once when she witnessed me refuse a kindness. She told me that I had just become a robber of someones joy, the joy they would have gotten from extending a kindness. That lesson has stuck with me and even though I find it very hard to be on the receiving end I try to be gracious about it. So, I told Peggy about what my grandmother said and agreed to the gift. Little did I know at the time that I would have been snubbing Peggy's ministry by refusing, a ministry she feels called to, spreading a little love.Peggy promptly mailed her gift but it did not arrive at my doorstep until almost two weeks later! It had accidentally been bundled in with my neighbors mail and placed in their mailbox. They were on vacation and their son was picking up the mail for them. When it finally arrived it could not have been more perfect timing, it arrived on my Birthday!The package contained three beautifully stitched hearts made from striped ticking, each bearing a special hand stamped message and a tiny little angel holding a dove, bearing the message of peace on the back of her wings. Peggy meant one heart for me and the two others for gifts from my sweet grands but as I sat and looked at each one a message so loud and clear came to me that I emailed her and asked if she would mind if I keep them all.
Here is what I saw in the package of love that Peggy sent - That " My Daddy" (God the Father) "XOXOX" (Loves me), "Trans-farm-ation" (He desires to see my life transformed. He desires to see my difficulties bring me to a place of " Peace". ) He is constantly at work in my life to change me into who He created me to be whether the situation is a good one or a bad one. While losing my grandmother was certainly a bad situation He has finally brought me to a place of peace.
The first cutting of hay is being done at the farm right now and next trip up I intend to gather a handful of the sweet smelling cuttings and put a nest of it in one of my grandmothers canning jars. I want to arrange the hearts and tiny angel inside, canning the precious love of not only the Father above but of my new friend Peggy. I will proudly display this perfect accent at the farm. Peggy thank you so much for ministering to my heart with your special brand of love.

Next I got a package from my sweet dear friend, Vee of A Haven for Vee. She said to watch my mail box, well it looks like I should have watched it a little closer. When I got Vee's package, it had been opened! Yes, it along with some other mail in my box. Who would do such a thing? Anyway, after contacting Vee, I think the contents were in tact. But someone had begun to remove the ribbons from the packaging, so, I tied them back up before taking the photos...

First there was the most precious note with a beautiful bookmark and just look at these precious words of truth inscribed on the back...I put this in my current devotional read...I unwrapped wonderful wallpaper clips embellished with buttons - those went straight onto my chicken wire to hold art tags...A bevy of beautiful buttons were in the next package...The clothes pin ones I want to use on an art piece by making an old style sampler with a tiny doll dress I have to hang in the laundry at the farm...The tiny shiny ones will be displayed in the studio...

And the sail boat ones I will incorporate into something in the writing cottage...There were pretty pink satin roses and seam binding...And last but certainly not least a handmade needle keep...I love the pretty glass button on the front. I love that it is not only practical but pretty too!

Vee got a kick out of the fact that I did not have one. My poor needles lived in those dreadful paper packages. As soon as I got this I put them in their new home and they are quite happy and so I am, so blessed with such sweet friendship that Vee and I have shared for a couple of years now. Thank you sweet Vee!

Now, if you have been wondering why I have once again fallen off the face of blog land, it is all because of a pair of vintage drapes. Drapes are dangerous! Monday morning I was determined to get crackin' on that studio of mine, I so want to be settled in and back to business. I decided over the weekend that those huge closet doors that swing out into the room had to go and I would just put curtains up.

I remembered that I had a pair of vintage drapes out in storage that maybe were large enough or could be altered to make due without having to purchase something. I retrieved them and was shutting the storage shed door when a particularly nasty red wasp came in for the kill! He zapped me on the inside of my forearm and tried to make a second pass when I flung the drapes at him and ran. By the time I got to my front door and looked down at my arm I thought, " Huston, we have a problem!"

Long stinging story short, I just found out that I highly allergic to wasp stings. I have spent the last couple of days with my new BFF's, Ben (benadryl) and Epi (epinephrine), in utter misery with crazy itching hives and wheezing, PLUS, I still have the bronchitis. Handy Hubby said that he was sure if anyone was going to have a weird reaction to something it was sure to be me and I agree. So, that is where I have been.

I do sincerely hope that each of you are enjoying summer to its fullest!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy