February is the month of love, and with the New Year, good fortune, too. I think I'm feeling them both today.
The glow of birthday candles appears to still be shining, on into the month of love - it's no wonder with 50 candles lit, I'm surprised we didn't set off the smoke alarm around here. Hmm, maybe there isn't a smoke detector on this blog, I should look into that...
At any rate, my mailbox is overflowing with goodness, and I'm loving it...
Look at all the love that flew out of the mailbox! Woo-hoo!! The neighbors must think I won the lottery. I feel like I did...so lucky to have such friends. Their artwork is so detailed and they are just beautiful, as are the artists who made them, and their words touch my heart.
Thank you so much, Gemma for the treasures on the left and Kai for the love on the right.
An extra boon - can you see whose self-portrait ATC was part of the abundant Artella goodness that Gemma sent? Another blog friend is right smack dab in the middle. I love serendipitous synchronicity!
Then a gift to myself - that was only made possible by blogging, arrived in the mailbox, as well. I have been looking for the children's book, 'The Diamond In the Window," by Jane Langton, for nearly 40 years. Ever since reading it in the fifth grade. I remember asking for it for my birthday - books were one thing we usually could count on for gifts, but she couldn't find it - since it was long, long ago, in the days before B&N and Amazon.
I read 'The Diamond In the Window,' just before reading Madeline L'Engles' book, 'A Wrinkle In Time.' In the way that books can sometimes do - the one seemed to prepare me to enjoy the other, at least in my mind. So when I had my own children, and wanted to find these two books for them, I couldn't find 'The Diamond In the Window,' though they enjoyed 'A Wrinkle In Time,' none the less. But I've been looking for it in used bookstores ever since. Then, Tara had a post about a children's book that she's been looking for, and in her comments, I mentioned I had been looking for this one. Wonders of the blogworld - another commenter (commentor? commentator? any ideas?) took the time to pass on the word to me through Tara, that it was available here (thank you Nancy! I'm sorry I don't have a bloglink for you - if you're out there, please let us know where to find you).
It arrived today, in wonderful condition, and I feel once again as though I've won the lottery - or at the very least, gotten one of my most wanted presents 40 years later ~still waiting for the pony~ I can't wait to read it. Though I'm a little nervous - what if it's not as good as I remember? But I'm excited just to have the opportunity to read it again.
As if that weren't enough, my e-mail box held some love, too - Artzy Judie gifted me with one of these:
For which I feel so humbly honored and grateful, especially coming from Judie, whose blog and writing I always enjoy reading. I'm posting the badge here, because I can't seem to get the hang of the whole sidebar thing on this mixed media template. When I try, it gives me fits. Also, I'm realizing now, I forgot to copy and paste the wordage, so I'll have to come back later and do that. I'm supposed to pass it on - and I'll have to do that later, too, since I don't have the rules with me.* I have hamster head today - all this good luck has my head spinning. Deciding who to pass it on to is so hard, because there are so many really, really good writers on the web. How do I choose? I just have difficulty leaving anyone out, too - though I think this award has been around for a bit, so I'm not sure who might already have it, either. *OK - here, I'll just jump in and do it, otherwise it will never get done - I'm passing it on to Leah at CreativeEveryday, because she is one of the writers on the internet who has been inspiring me the longest, for at least two years now, challenging me and so many others, to go forth and create; to Laini, the writer (and soon-to-be mama) extraordinaire - between Sunday Scribblings, her tips for writers at Not For Robots, and her own book(s), all her writing inspiration just spills out onto the page, and overflows across the web; and to Patry, whose writing always makes me think a little more deeply and paints pictures with her words in my heart; and Caroline, because her writing makes me think, feel and laugh. If you haven't already received this elsewhere, ladies, grab the badge and pass it on to some other writers who inspire you. Darn - forgot the rules again, but I think (hope?) it's fairly clear...
As you might have noticed, I haven't been keeping up with things very well around here lately - has anyone seen my keys, btw? They could be on this blog, or somewhere at the Polar Festival. I might have even left them on one of your blogs when visiting - if you see them, let me know, they have a little purple wrist loop thingy on them...
If I can find them, I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket - since this seems to be my lucky day :)
I hope it's your lucky day, too. Lots of opportunites are abounding in the blogworld right now - thanks to Lisa's wonderful One World-One Heart event with so many people giving away many, many awesome prizes. Since I've been under the weather and out of the loop for so long, I don't have anything prepared - but if you haven't already, go check out the many links and opportunities she has over there.
It is beautiful here this week - 70 to 80 degrees - it looks and feels like spring has sprung - no matter what this furry guy had to say. Perhaps he really only covers the weather in his own territory?
Wish I could share all this love, good luck and this lovely weather here, with all of you. Wishing you a lovely and lucky week full of love ~
Oh dear, how I love your sense of humor and silliness. It's such a wonderful thing. :-)
Thank you so much for the award! I especially love the picture of that roaring lion. hehe. Reminds me of my Tabbers cat.
I do hope you find your keys. I'll look around on my blog. The hubster looses his keys all the time, so perhaps I'll find both pairs?
xoxox
Posted by: leah | February 12, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Oh dear, how I love your sense of humor and silliness. It's such a wonderful thing. :-)
Thank you so much for the award! I especially love the picture of that roaring lion. hehe. Reminds me of my Tabbers cat.
I do hope you find your keys. I'll look around on my blog. The hubster looses his keys all the time, so perhaps I'll find both pairs?
xoxox
Posted by: leah | February 12, 2008 at 05:17 PM
lol. and now i've somehow double commented on your blog. oy.
Posted by: leah | February 12, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Hi Tink, it was Nancy Sotham who kindly provided the info about the childhood books. She doesn't have a blog, but she and her husband were in Paris last year and we had lunch with them. A lovely, lovely couple.
So glad you're feeling all the love, not only for your birthday, but for your writing skills and art - and just for being the special woman that you are! xoxox
Posted by: Paris Parfait | February 12, 2008 at 05:50 PM
I am glad I found you again. Great posts!
Posted by: inlandempiregirl | February 12, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Dear Tink the Tinkling Tinker... you have such a way with abundance (if anyone can make a bun dance with words it would be you)...
Getting a book you've always wanted is a wonderful treat too.
If your pony ever turns up what will you do with it? (Since moving to the city I've often been rather glad that my wish for an elephant wasn't granted - can you imagine him tromping around the streets, reaching into people's front gardens looking buns... ah that's the connection... elephants like a bun dance...
See what a silly mood I'm in and all because you've given me an award!
Thank you!
xxxx
Posted by: Caroline | February 13, 2008 at 12:38 AM
So cool that Tammy's self-portrait was in the Artella mag....congrats on your writing award. You are one of my favs....
Hope 'Diamond in the Window' took you back to your sweet inner child.
:-)
Posted by: gemma | February 13, 2008 at 09:18 AM
you deserve all the good things that come your way. I hope you enjoy your book! It's so wonderful to have a childhood want fulfilled like that! Hooray! I recall finally buying myself a Spirograph set as an adult. Loved it!
Posted by: Imelda / GreenishLady | February 13, 2008 at 10:19 AM
In a million years I could never come up with a name for a magazine as good as 'Artella'.
Posted by: Pacian | February 13, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Aloha Tink,
Just happy knowing you are feeling the love :)
You deserve it..
PEace and love, Kai xx00xx
Posted by: Kai | February 13, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I hope you know that I miss you because you are one of my favorite bloggers. I love the new butterfly every detail rocks!
I have to go and keep checking all of your past posts now!
Posted by: Carmen | February 15, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Happy, happy, HAPPY Birthday!!!
Posted by: Marilyn | February 16, 2008 at 04:08 PM
kiya hai meray liyay
Posted by: musharraf hussain | March 24, 2008 at 01:19 AM