Bloggin' Friends

In the almost four years since I’ve been blogging, I’ve met so many “blogging” friends, some with blogs and some that don’t necessarily blog, but are avid blog readers! And they are wonderful!

I love the comments and the emails. And you might not believe it, but I talk about you folks to my family by name so my family feels like that they know you too! We pray for many of you too!

Today’s post is just one example of this kindness.

Eve of Lee Hill Primitives, after seeing the post where Joy was learning to sew, sent her a wonderful package!

It was such a thoughtful encouraging gift too. Not only is it a fun and challenging project for Joy, but she noted that it would be a treasure for her prim loving mama when she finished it. Wasn’t that sweet? Thank you so much, Eve!

And being the kind person she is, she also included something for Luke. He was excited to see there was something in there for him! He loves his books! Besides “reading” his books, he has other uses for them too. I guess he thought these four books made a perfect train. He said he had an engine with coaches.

And she sent something for me too……..a prim heart mold! I already have it displayed in my kitchen! Thank you, Eve!

Besides thanking Eve for her very sweet and thoughtful gifts, I also wanted to just take time to let all my readers and blogging friends know that I truly appreciate each one of you! Your comments brighten my day as well! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to visit my blog!  :)

******************************************************************************************

And speaking of my blogging friends, I decided to offer a giveaway for you!  It's coming soon.......so stay tuned.........

Have a great day!

Bloggin' Buddies (Surprise Gifts & A Meeting)

Wow! This weekend was just full of bloggin' blessings! One of them was a surprise to me and the other has been a surprise that I've been waiting to share after it happened!

First of all, this past Saturday, Joy and I came home from a busy day....a birthday party and some grocery shopping. As I brought my groceries into the kitchen, I spied a box on my kitchen counter (mail brought in by Jason). I didn't waste any time checking it out. Sure enough...it was addressed to me....from Donna (Never So Simple). I tore into it (with help from Joy), and imagine Joy's surprise to find goodies labeled with her name too! I have to admit, though, that I fussed a little bit at Donna when I saw that it was from her. If you have followed Donna's blog, you know that they're going through some tough times right now, and she shouldn't have done this! It's obvious that Donna is such a sweet, giving person!

Well here's what she sent me........a longaberger basket with more prim goodies tucked inside! There was a prim star, a pumpkie pie tart, a pipberry wreath, and prim fixins'! I was so excited! I know the basket is probably supposed to be a bread basket, but I'm thinking it will look really nice (and just the right size) for the back of my toilet in the newly remodeled bathroom. I haven't made up my mind for sure if that's where it's permanent home will be, as I'm still tweaking. But wasn't this the nicest gift, especially knowing the heart with which she gave it? Thank you so much, Donna! I treasure your friendship!



And as if that wasn't enough, she had a stash of goodies for Joy too! Included in her goodies was the coolest mechanical pencils, colorful fashionable erasers, a journal, "Joy" letters, and a jewelry kit. All of these things fit Joy perfectly. She always has paper and pencil in hand, writing something and she loves crafty things! Donna made her a very happy little girl! Thank you again, Donna!



The second thing I'd like to share with you was my very first meeting with a fellow bloggin' buddy! Can you believe it? I know many of you have done this, but it's a first for me! Not long ago I had my 200th post giveaway and first year blogging anniversary. Well the winner of the giveaway was Susan (Penless Writer). After receiving the goodies in the mail and seeing my address, she got in touch with me and told me that she and her husband were traveling my way to see relatives and asked if I would like to meet with them. I was so excited! We worked out the details and met them Sunday afternoon at a local restaurant in town after church! It was just the neatest thing and Susan and her husband, Mickey, are the sweetest couple! They are a very genuine Christian couple, very active in their church, and we had a wonderful conversation and time together....the five of us......Susan, Mickey, Jason, Joy and me. I wish Colt could have been there, but he was in an afternoon church service playing and leading music.

Joy showed Mr. Mickey how to hold chopsticks and they practiced on the french fries! (That would have made a good picture). I feel like I've known them much longer! I really enjoyed our meeting and like Susan said, I don't think it was an accident at all that she was the winner of my giveaway right before they were going to be traveling my direction!

Here's a picture taken by the cashier at the restaurant. I have to admit that I do not like this picture of me at all (I know everybody says it, but it honestly looks like it added 10 lbs!) Anyway, it's the only one the girl took, so I wanted you to see us all together!



And when we went back out to our cars, Susan gave me some honey which came from the bees they raise! And look closely at that bottle.......I didn't notice it until the way home, but usually you see a honey bear bottle......but this one is an angel! Isn't that the cutest thing? I learned that Susan collects angels and I wish I had known it because I sure would have taken her an angel. However, I did take her a Blessings stitchery......I guess that goes with angels though, right?



And Susan said as she drove off that I would get to blog about our meeting before she would. I think they won't return for ten days. I told her that I would wait, but she told me to go ahead. She didn't have to twist my arm too much, because I've been anxiously waiting this meeting and wanting to post that I was meeting a blogger and make a mystery blogger....but I restrained myself! lol! So, I'm glad to finally be able to tell it! (Thanks, Susan)!

This was just an wonderful weekend of bloggin' blessings. I am amazed at the bond I've come to share with many bloggin' buddies out there, and with the kindness as well. When you count your blessings today, don't forget to include your bloggin' buddies! :)

Faithful Fridays, the Sweetest Sunshine(y) Surprise, & a Give Away Coming!

It's hard to believe that it's already Friday again! Whew! Time flies! Well here I am again reflecting on what God has done for me this week as I post for Faithful Fridays with Joy. I have seen answers to several prayers. Connor, Molly's grandson, received a good report at the doctor. I'm so happy about that! Joy is well enough that she's back at all of her normal activities, at full pace, I might add. We are approaching a very busy month for us with her dance recital at the end of the month....many, many practices for the dances and the ballet play she will perform in also, Sleeping Beauty. This week I'm just so thankful for the health of my family! Let's all remember in prayer those affected by the swine flu and pray for protection against it as well.

And take a look at what arrived in the mail for me yesterday! My dad stopped by with my mail and Dawn of Backdoor Primitives had sent me this "Be Surprised" gift!



Dawn, this absolutely made my day! Sunflowers are my favorite flowers and make me smile! They're so happy and cheerful to me. And of course, her sunflower ornies had a primitive touch to them, which I love! You already know I'm having difficulties with decisions this week, so it's no surprise that I haven't decided for sure where these will stay.



Right now, they're on my dining room table in one of my GW bowl makeovers along with some prim green pears.



However, I also think they would look great on my kitchen table as well as my sunporch! That's a nice problem to have though because tweaking is always fun, right? Thank you so much, Dawn! You're so sweet and I appreciate them so much! My whole family has just been impressed with the kindess of blogging friends and little surprise gifts. You all amaze me!

And last of all today I wanted to tell you that I have a giveaway coming soon! This is my 197th post, which leaves three more posts until my 200th post. (I guessyou all could have done that math on your own, couldn't you?) :) In addition to that, my blogging anniversary is around the corner too! If I'm not mistaken, May 14th was my first post last year, so I figure that a giveaway is in order! Stay tuned as I will announce it real soon...probably on my 200th post, then the name will be drawn on my blogging anniversary. This giveaway will involve creations from both Jason and me. Since this is still in the works, I'm not even exactly sure what it will include, but stay tuned! Here's how it will work. I really appreciate all the faithful readers, including followers and non-blogging readers. Therefore, I would like to include everyone. Followers will definitely be included though with extra entries, so if you're not a follower, I'd love for you to follow along! :)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to everyone that reads my blog. It is really an enjoyment for me and it's amazing how many people I've met through it. I love getting emails, as well as comments. Thank you all so much!

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope you all have a fun-filled weekend with your family or get those weekend projects accomplished! :)

Blessings,
~ Tammy ~

When Our Mail Lady Honks

We have the nicest mail lady. Her name is Mrs. Pat. She goes above and beyond the call of duty, I'm sure! If we have a package too big for our mailbox, all she is really required to do is leave us a card in the mailbox letting us know that we have a package at the post office to pick up that was too big for the box. She never does that though! She pulls in the drive, honks her horn, and waits for Miss Anxious (Joy) to run out there and pick it up. I always stand at the door and hold it open for Joy and wave at Mrs. Pat. She always smiles and waves back! (And we always try to remember Mrs. Pat at Christmas with a little surprise in the mailbox for her kindness all year)!

Well...Wednesday, Joy and I were in the kitchen, and we heard the honk. Joy wasted no time getting out there to retrieve the package from Mrs. Pat. I was very excited to see that it was my goodies that I won in Colleen's fall giveaway! I'm telling you that I was as excited as a kid at Christmas! We started to tear into the box and pull things out when I remembered..."Wait, we can't open anything yet...we've got to get a picture!"



Joy helped me get everything out so we could pose them for a picture! Everything was packaged so inviting! I just love anything tied up with homespun and I tell you that my very favorite way to wrap a package is with brown craft paper and decorate it from there and that's exactly what Colleen did! She also had the cutest brown paper bag tied with raffia....everything just perfect for fall goodies! Doesn't it just look great?



And then the fun part...opening everything up....of course, Joy helped! We oohed and aahhed over everything! I've been playing around with where everything will go, so no pictures of that yet, but I am leaning very heavy to using my fall arrangement (which smelled so good by the way) out on my sunporch window coffee table and the plaque out there on my potting bench or on a shelf. The dishtowels have already found a home on my stove and hanging bar of my telephone table. Joy immediately put the soap in HER bathroom! (By the way, as I was typing this, Joy came and put her arm around me and I told her how good she smelled and she said...that's the soap!) Thanks Colleen for brightening my day! You are a sweetheart and I'm SO glad you picked my name! I love everything!



And this past Tuesday, as Joy and I were leaving for dance class, we stopped by the mailbox (not expecting a package) because Mrs. Pat didn't honk! Well....this little package fit in there....that's why! I wasn't expecting this one at all! This was lavender from Heather's own garden!



She recently did a custom order for my mom. She offered to put some lavender in my mom's order, but my mom is very sensitive to smells, so I explained that to Heather, but made the comment that had I ordered it, I would definitely have loved it...and that we appreciated her kindness and all! Well a few days (or maybe a week later) after my mom received her angel pillow (which she loved by the way), I got the lavender in the mail.......also tied with homespun! I want you to know Heather, that it just made my day! Joy started begging from that moment to have it for her room because it smelled so good...but I haven't given in....I keep telling her that it's going in my kitchen! lol! Thank you SO much, Heather! :)

So now you see why I get excited.......when our mail lady honks?