Fantastic Friday

Yesterday morning I had to get myself and Brian up and going so we could cover Rick's office for a few hours, so I didn't have time to go jogging. But as I headed to the barn to do chores, I was treated to an "electric baby blanket" sunrise, all vibrant pinks and blues. And as I stopped to give Valentine a parting scratch on my way back up to the house, Brava stepped up for some attention. Ah, the joy of being the instrument of bliss for TWO sweet chocolate sheep!

After Rick's secretary arrived, Brian and I left the clinic and sped through some errands (including dropping off all our tax stuff at the accountant's - YAY!) so we could be home by noon. That's when a cabinetmaker friend of ours was showing up to install laundry room cabinets. Finally - after more than five years in this house, I have some storage in this little space! The need was getting critical, too. We use the laundry room as Jackson's kennel, and he's getting tall enough to reach things atop the washing machine when he stands on his hind legs. Below are before (taken when Jackson could still fit in a crate) and after photos showing the transformation from bare walls to bountiful, beautiful wood. (See the gorgeous grain in the doors?) If you look closely at the last photo, it shows the short rod between the two big cabinets below the header beam where I can hang up shirts as I take them out of the dryer. (And yes, a door is missing; it should be on by Sunday.)
But wait – that's not all! On my way home I stopped by the post office since Adrienne said she mailed me a package. I learned about the "homemade gift Pay It Forward" challenge on her blog, and I took her up on it. Now, waiting for me at the post office, was a package from Illinois. It was so hard to wait until after I got home and after I helped hang cabinets to see what Adrienne had made for me! When you don't have any idea what has been sent, it is delicious anticipation. But the realization was even better! The first tissue-wrapped bundle contained these wristwarmers. Not only is the colorway and pattern stunning, they are incredibly soft, too.And see, Adrienne? They fit!The next tissue-wrapped bundle revealed a second pair of wristwarmers, this time in thick dark chocolate yarn.They fit perfectly, too - although I had to wrestle them from Brian to try them on!A THIRD parcel contained a scrumptious scarf to match the first wristwarmers!When a fourth bundle came out of the box, it felt suspiciously hard, unlike something homemade. I was right; Adrienne "cheated" on the homemade part and included this gift pack of Cedar Mountain products because I had said I like the smell of cedar.
On the back of this beautiful Border Collie postcard, Adrienne told me that the scarf and wristwarmers were knit from Fiesta Boomerang yarn (the Alaska colorway) in the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, and the brown wristwarmers were made from her very first handspun. Knowing how I feel about MY first handspun yarn, I was even more deeply touched by her gift.

My Mary Engelbreit calendar page for February 13 contained the following quote from Barbara De Angelis: "Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver." I have experienced both ends of this truth, most recently through the Pay It Forward homemade gift exchanges. Thank-you, Adrienne, for giving me the chance to get involved!

That's it for now from . . .