YOU LIFT ME UP

(Photo from Annie's blog)

I must admit, I have been feeling really down in the dumps lately. The short winter days and the biting cold weather have played a large part, to be sure, but I have been dealing with some difficult personal issues as well.

Just when I thought there was no light at the end of the tunnel, along came a train. And that's a good thing! Annie Elf, from "Scenes From a Slow Moving Train," sent me these wonderful hand warmers because she knows that my hands have been hurting from carpal tunnel syndrome and frigid temperatures at my office.

Annie, I'm wearing them right now and they feel great. It's always chilly near my home computer whenever the temps are low and the winds are high. The only unfortunate thing, Annie, is that Gracie is way too interested in the yarn flowers. I'm keeping them at work so Gracie can't wreck them.

Annie told me she's thinking of opening an Etsy shop and selling these hand warmers. What do you think? Would you buy a pair if she did?

"Lady Unveiled" - Annie's handmade card.

After the train pulled out of the station, a little sparrow swooped by with a delicate package all the way from Australia. Thank you, Miss Robyn ("Tales From Inglewood"), for the Magikal Faery Opals, found at Lightning Ridge - New South Wales, Australia. If you can't read the tag, it says, "Just pop them into some water and the faery colors will shimmer." Okay, I will do that!

But wait, the U. S. Mail truck just pulled up and look what the mailman brought me - a truly lovely handmade Valentine card from Kelli at "There's No Place Like Home." Thank you so much, Kelli.

Hmm - the river's frozen over so I won't get a delivery by boat. Do you think the modes of transportation have been exhausted? No way, you forget about the wonders of cyberspace.

First, I received Make My Day Awards from Imelda in Ireland ("Greenish Lady") and Kate ("Meanderings"). Thank you ladies, YOU made MY day. I've already passed this award on to six other people after previously receiving this award.

And last, but certainly not least, dear Janet of "The Lavender Loft" has given me "A Roar for Powerful Words." After receiving the award herself, she was instructed to pass it along to five other blogs "that exemplify good and powerful writing."

Janet was asked to share three things that she believes make for well-written blogs. Her answer: "The things that I look for in a writer are do they keep my attention....are they entertaining. Are they "real" as in truthful and honest and do they cause me to make changes in the way I think about things. And are they witty or humorous. "

Janet wrote that she chose me because "She is wise and powerful. She teaches me so much in a gentle, easy way."

Because I was once a writer by profession I am especially proud to have received this award. I have a couple of people in mind to pass the award along to but am going to need a little more time to think on it.

Thanks to all of you. You have really lifted my spirits.

That reminds me, I have a couple of packages to post by snail mail and one by birdie mail.