Within the past weeks I received not one but two lovely parcels ['packages' for you yanks] from some very sweet British friends who took pity on me. Boy was I chuffed [excited]!! Especially because as a mum [mom] you rarely get surprises at Christmas time. (Unless you count the broken tooth and new crown (tooth replacement) that I'm getting for Christmas this year!)
These surprises were SO much more fun! The first was from Wendy in Chorley. Look at the adorable little bundles. The picture is terrible because I took it with my little camera right as the battery was about to die. But I couldn't wait for it to recharge - I couldn't resist opening all of those little bundles!
And check-out this haul of Cath Kidston goodness. Oh my heavens. I was giddy as I opened each treasure. The Buttons tin included some sweet Christmas buttons too. And as I'm posting this, I'm realizing that I don't have pictured the sweet heart ornament filled with lavender that my daughter insisted on 'borrowing.' Thank you again, Wendy! Wendy is an amazing mum with four kids, two of them with very special needs that she calls her angels.
(who happens to be making my favorite spider web quilt yet!)
I am going to have the most chic shopping bags in Utah!
But she didn't stop there.
She said she'd even seen a quilt made from these cloths!
(How handy would that be!)
I can't wait to use mine.
It must have called to Katy on my behalf.
because I've been collecting bits and bobs to make an homage to Cath quilt.
Many thanks again to my new British friends for their sweetness and generosity to a girl who is homesick for England. Especially at this time of year.
My favorite Christmas carol is "In the Bleak Midwinter", which I think is played much more commonly in the UK. It brings back sweet memories of the two Christmas seasons I spent in England. (Christmas really is extra magic there for some reason. Maybe it has something to do with Charles Dickens, Christmas Crackers, and the title "Father Christmas" which is so much more charming than "Santa Claus.")
The first Christmas season was at the end of my time as a student living in London about 14 years ago. On the day before I went home I walked by myself from the British Museum through Covent Garden to the Houses of Parliment. As I made my way through the festivities at Leicester Square, a brass quartet was playing Christmas carols and started to play "In the Bleak Midwinter." It was one of those sublimely Christmas-y moments compounded with the sadness of leaving this city that I'd fallen in love with. The second was two years later and in much-less glamourous [glamorous] Liverpool. Being away from my family for the first time ever on Christmas Day, I was given the gifts of love and kindness by many endearingly cheeky Scousers [Liverpudlians], in many cases at a sacrifice to themselves.
Can you tell I got a strong dose of the Christmas Spirit today (could be the giant piles of snow outside our door) and that it's making me wax nostalgic? Thanks for indulging me. Hope you're enjoying some cozy, nostalgic Christmas Spirit of your own. As well as some hearty Christmas goodies. And no surprise dental work.
angela
What a wonderful pile! Those were two super fun packages. I should remember to wrap little things seperately like that - makes it all the more fun!
Gari
Your gifts and rememberances made me smile, all the way through your post. And it made this dark, rainy day seem much more cheery. Thanks.
Sherri
What wonderful gifts...and what a fun post...I definitely felt the Christmas Spirit while reading this!
live a colorful life
My CK catalog came in the mail last week. Wow, what a lot of goodies you have received. How fun!
Steffi´s Candy Quilts
Wow, so nice gifts! :-)<br />And I totally understand you because of the paper bag. That is beautiful!
DeeRoo
Did you see this on my blog...guess whose going to England next Fall!:)<br /><br />https://deeroodesigns.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-officialshes-going-to-oxford.html<br /><br />And for Christmas this year I'm getting my car fix. Ugh!:)<br /><br />We had 6" of snow on Sat and supposidly there is an ice storm on the way for tonight and tomorrow....have fun at the dentist!:)
Nanette Merrill and daughters
How sweet that you got the little care packages. Lovely people. I have met the most wonderful women. They really care, too.<br /><br />Oh on the dental work - ick. I lost a crown and I'm waiting until next year to get it on the new medical spending $. My daughter had a front tooth fall out a few months ago while she was at Disneyland. She bit into something and it came out. She had a
americanfamily
I just love you! You are my one of a kind, dear dear friend. And I hear you are leaving me. Sob. Please let's still be friends though. Or I won't be able to bear it.
Heckety
Kath Kidson!You lucky duck!I'. drooling with envy-oops better wipe the slobber off the keyboard!<br /><br />I'm sorry you are homesick- been there and it's hard at Christmas.Indulge yourself, give yourself time to think of home and then do something you like which you can only do where you are now. I found that sort of worked for me.
Aunt Spicy
YAHOO! I am so excited for you...what fabulous lovely gifts! Now I want to go back!
Kim Walus
Wow! So very generous and kind of your British bloggers to send you such wonderful gifts.
Terresa
Drats, I completely missed those lovely cleaning cloths when I was in the UK the other month. <br /><br />Enjoyed hearing about your Christmases in England. Beautiful post, full of the Christmas spirit.
Wendy K
Hi Amy, Sooo glad you enjoyed your gifties, sorry to hear about the dental work...Oouch! Enjoyed your Christmas thoughts...put me in the mood..lol!<br />Love Wendy x
Dizzy Little Kingdom
Gorgeous fabrics! Please post what you do with them!!<br /><br />Dee<br />Dizzy Little Kingdom
Katy
TWO packages of British goodies - that should keep you stocked up for a little while...but just holler when the next catalogue arrives, ok?!!!
Anonymous
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!