arrivals and departures

This last week has seen some interesting and beautiful arrivals in the mailbox, and mostly they have been very unexpected. Thankyous are well overdue but my excuse has been the landscaping work which is now finished.Above are 2 delightful creations from Ulla in Finland, she says they are traditional christmas decorations and gifts, and to me they are very refreshing and quite amazing. Thankyou Ulla for my pony and christmas cuckoo, tho i still think it is a rooster.
Mary Anne in Ontario, Canada sent me this fabulous magazine about recycling for your craft work, its ideas are unique and often very amusing. Mary Anne also made me a notions holder which will be very handy for when i take my work to classes or workshops. Mum thought it also doubled as a wrist warmer, but that's just because she's still focussed on her arthritic wrist. MA also sent a small bag of pearl shell buttons which are very pretty and a little Santa gift card. Thankyou Mary Anne.

This morning i received something very precious from grace, a small handwritten note, thankyou grace for such a personal gift, you are a treasure.

In the departures lounge we have a wee gift or 2 going over to Canada, the annual exchange of calendars and something else, whooshing off to AMD in TO today.

And speaking of departures, here are half the mob who have given me so much grief over this last week. Outside my back gate, in the paddock where they have acres to roam but they found my little pile of granite and did their best to destroy it. In its wake they left their calling cards.

I'd like them to depart but they are keeping the grass down which is important in this upcoming fire season. Bye for now friends, have a kind and gentle year.