HGG's to Cheer Me Up

I've had the absolute worst weekend.  My little pet bird passed away and I'm working hard on making her memory good here.  I haven't had the best time getting over her, but I'm getting there.
Today, though, I walked to the post office in the cool breezes - taking my time - and found I had two HGG's waiting for me in the little black space I've rented for my mail.  Anyway, I grabbed them and the mail for my folks (as they're on holidays and their mail is coming to my address and not theirs) and I came home.
On opening the first one, I found a wonderful snowman card with a cool pressed penny inside it!  I love these things.  This came from nmugirl.  Thank you so much for cheering up my week; I honestly needed this.  And Rudolph looks great on the penny; there was a label inside it too.   And, yes, I took the penny out and put it back... that's why it looks like it's torn.
Then, there was another card from another bookcrosser too.  On opening this one, I found postcard and a Christmas card from JmsMom.  The postcard was of Geronimo's grave site.  Very cool!  I love the Great Spirit and North American Indian Laws... and this just made my day.  

Thank you both for cheering me up.  I have enjoyed receiving your cards greatly.      

A HGG From Calgary

Today, it's been very hot and muggy.  So, I was up nice and early to get in and do some housework before it became too hot to do anything but hang out on the computer.  I was also at the post office at around 9am as well to pick up the mail.  And there was some mail for Mum and Dad there and also a HGG from Herchelle in Canada.  She sent me a Christmas Card with Polar Bears on it.  Inside it is two tea bags in a zip-lock bag - of 'Yorkshire Tea' - and a postcard of the Olympic Flame from the Calgary Olympics.  Very cool!  I love it!  Thank you so much Herchelle.

Ornament Exchange Arrives!

As I said below, I received a full PO Box.  In with the postcards from Lithuania was my Ornament Exchange from my buddy.  So, I opened it and have found it just lovely!  There's the hand-made garland of trees and stars.  Then, there's a bookmark made with cardboard and buttons with a little saying on it; so cute!  And then, I found a retro book too!  It's been registered too.  It's a book of a Christmas story about a puppy who tries to find a family for Christmas; but fails as he gets into more and more trouble.  Poor little pup!  Anyway, it's a good book.  I'd like to thank Lightlybenthalo for sending me my Ornament Exchange this year!  I love it how it's hand-made and very retro.  Thank you so much!

Belated Secret Santa Present

Earlier this month, there was a big concern about whether I'd receive a gift from my Australian Secret Santa.  You see, an Australia Post mail truck caught fire and the whole lot burnt to the ground!  And the whole truck was heading from Western Australia to here in Queensland.  A lot of people were not going to receive their presents over Christmas.  

When I heard about this, I filled out a form immediately online to Australia Post - however, they didn't keep track of the item I was looking for.  This was unfortunate.  To my amazement, I checked the mail yesterday and I found a blue parcel pick-up card... and what do you know?  It was my parcel from my Secret Santa!  Thank you so much Romy86 for sending this off to me... and now it's here where it belongs, I'm not letting it out of my sight!

Two HGG's From Across the Miles!

Today has been cold and wet; and so when I went and checked the mail, I was pleasantly surprised to find not only mail for Mum and Dad had arrived, but also mail for me for Christmas.  

There was a gorgeous scenic postcard of the Sleeping Bear Dunes at Frankfort, Michigin where it's snowing and cold and mnugirl made a snowman in her front yard the other day; and she's making sugar cookies from her Grandma's recipe soon too.  I'd love to have a white Christmas some day; it'd be so much fun!

The other item which showed up in the mail was a European Christmas card.  These are usually a single card front with gorgeously painted fronts and you write on the back; like postcards.  Anuluni1975, from Finland,sent one to me with two Robins flying and feeding off some flowering wheat.  Enclosed in the envelope were two teabags - in envelopes - of Rooibos and Vanilla tea.  Just lovely for cool days like today.  Thank you both for your lovely HGG's.  I'll display them around the house this year. 

A Christmas Card From the USA.

Today, I got out and checked the mail early... well okay, it was my normal time, but I made sure I didn't stuff around out in the heat as it was hotter on my way home than it was when I headed out.  Strange but true!  Well, when I opened the PO Box today, I had a phone bill and a large envelope from the USA awaiting me.  On opening it, I found it was a gorgeous Christmas card from phantomreader42 from Georgia in the USA. 

Thank you so much for sending this to me!  I love the wolves on the front; they are just gorgeous!  I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.  I'll post one off to you in the next day or so in return.

Ornament Exchange 2011!

This year, TexasWren couldn't do the Bookcrossing Ornament Exchange; so she hired two wonderful people to take her place.  And they've done a great job in matching us all up!  I sent off my ornament to a Bookcrosser in Canada about a week and a half ago; and it should arrive there soon.

Today, though, I picked up a small box from the post office (that's what the blue pick-up parcel card was for) and I found inside it a gorgeous ornament for my tree!  Thank you so much heartthumper!  I will definitely put this on my tree once I put it up next week.

HGG from Heartthumper

It's coming around to that time of year again!  Yep, Christmas time; and this means, I'll be receiving some gifts from my friends from across the miles on Bookcrossing.

Today was the first day for one to arrive!  I opened my PO Box and there was a blue parcel pick-up card waiting for me.  When I opened the parcel, I found this cute little coin purse sock and lovely Christmas card.  Inside the card were these beautiful book labels; some of them were made just for the Christmas season!  How lovely is that?  Thank you so much Heartthumper!  I love this beautiful little gift; and it was all wrapped up in Christmas paper too... just lovely.  

Belated Christmas Cards

In the last week, I've been very busy with family commitments; and so when I received two cards in this week, I completely forgot to put them up here and thank the wonderful people who have gone to the trouble of sending them; no matter how late they arrived.

The first that arrived was last Wednesday from Shemchin and her family of a family photo on a postcard and a newsletter about what's been going on in 2010.  How lovely and wonderful it felt to receive this in the mail after all that's been happening around Brisbane; to finally hear about other people's fortune and happiness.

Then, just today, I just received a gorgeous Christmas card from AsianWaterfall.  I love the simplicity of this card and how it looks like it's snowing on it; with glitter on it.  Just lovely.  Thank you both for sending these lovely, thoughtful cards; no matter how late they arrived.  Our mail has been put off a little because of the floods around Brisbane and Queensland anyway; so don't feel bad about how long it takes to get things here for now.  We're still getting back on our feet.  Thank you again for these lovely cards.

Better Late Than Never

Last week,I checked the mail and found there was a little mail and a late Christmas Card from Germany; a Bookcrosser had sent it.  Isn't it just lovely?  Well, I added it to my collection on the piano and meant to thank you very much for sending it to me, but I went out later that morning and completely forgot to until now.

So, thank you so much for sending this lovely - and very festive - card to me.  It's really made my Christmas.  I love it.  I have loved all the presents and cards I've received over the last few weeks from all my friends across the miles at this time of the year.  You are all very special to me at this time of the year.

Christmas Card Exchange

The other day, I received a lovely Christmas card from another Bookcrosser; this time it's from Finland.  The verse that's printed inside the card - as well as the wording on the front is in Finnish.  What a lovely card!  I love cards which are written in other languages; they are so beautiful... and show how diverse our world really is.

Thank you again heelinae for this lovely Christmas Card; it will join the others on the piano this year.

Ornament Swap Arrives... but...

Today, my Ornament Swap for Bookcrossing arrived in the mail.  However, it wasn't really meant for me.  It was supposed to be on its way to oi-reader who is Twynnie's partner this year; and oi-reader was the person who was supposed to send something to me.  TexasWren fixed this sad dilemma and asked Twynnie to sent oi-reader's ornament to me instead.  And I thought it was such a true and touching gesture.  I love it; as oi-reader would have too.

Thank you, Twynnie for sending me this gift.  It will take pride of place on the tree; and your card will be one my piano as well with the others that are arriving as well.  

Another Lot of Labels Arrive.

It's been very wet for the last few days; and so I'm happy I've gotten the PO Box because anything that arrives is always dry; no matter what it is.  Today, there was only an envelope in the PO Box and it was of a Label Exchange; and the BCer put in a Christmas card which I'll be adding to my little collection on the piano.

And aren't they lovely?  I'll most definitely use them all at some point in the next year or so.  And the ones I don't get to use will be swapped or added into parcels.  Thank you so much for sending these to me Heaven150, I really appreciate it.

A Big Bag of Goodies!

Wow!  It's been such a long time since I received something... a month or so!  And this morning, I felt really down as I have new neighbours who are making me feel very depressed because of their attitude toward me.  So, it was a total surprise to find a parcel pick-up card in my PO Box when I arrived at the Post Office; and an even bigger one when I found out it came from Julie2007!  

Thank you so much for all the great goodies inside this one from your desk clean out!  There's ear-rings, rings, post-it notes, joke American $1 note and Australian stuff.  I found all kind of bracelets and a tiny deck of cards along with dozens of others cute things too.  Just have a look at the photos!  I couldn't fit all the things into one photo and had to take two separate ones to make it all fit!  Wow!  And Julie2007, you gave me some great stuff to put into the Surprise Parcel I'm giving away soon.  Thank you so much for this!  

A 6th Bookiversary Prize from Herchelle

Last night was very hot and today turned out horrible too. So, I've been determined to get as much done before 11am as possible; and I've succeeded! I went to the chemist, checked the mail and got all the laundry on the line (all three loads!). And when I checked the mail, I was expecting letters, junkmail or bills; but I had a collection card instead. Just a blue one. So, I grabbed it and went inside and was handed a heavy brown paper-wrapped parcel with a very-well-drawn Ballycumber on the front. But before I left, the lady gave me another parcel, saying she hadn't gotten to writing it up. I have Herchelle to thank for this lovely book!

At first, I didn't know who the book was for as there were two cards with it; one for Loey (my Mum) and one for me. When I opened my card, it was a lovely Christmas card with a hand-made, personalised bookmark and an ornament inside! Aren't they just lovely? I'm not sure what's in Loey's card, we'll just have to wait and see. And seeing, both cards were inside the parcel with the book, I had to journal the book to find out who to give the book to. Thank you again, I will most definitely peruse this one carefully.

From The Netherlands.

I'm always amazed what comes in the post this close to Christmas. And seeing Loey and Dad's mail is being sent to my address while their on holidays, I'm astounded they're getting so many cards! Anyway, this little beauty came in the mail today from Dettie in The Netherlands. What a wonderful surprise! I love receiving surprises in the mail; no matter the size.

Thank you so much for this beautiful Christmas Card, Dettie. I'll be adding it to the rest of them on the top of the piano. Merry Christmas to you and I hope it's not snowing too much where you are.

The Secret Santa Strikes Again!

Wow! Today, the PO Box was crammed full of letters, Christmas cards and bills (of course, they have to make life less fun at this time of year and keep our feet on the ground by slapping us with electricity and gas bills just before Christmas Day!). But, in amongst it all, I saw a blue parcel pick-up card. So, inside I went and there was a 3kg bag for me from Juli2007! I opened it before I went home and it was full of wrapped up books and goodies!

However, once home, I pulled them all out and was too excited to wait for the Big Day (seeing it's only a few days away; and I'm going to the coast on that day as well. I'll be very busily packing last minute things), I decided to open them now and show my appreciation for the gifts now. Also, if there was anything that could melt in it, I didn't want that to happen either - like chocolate or other foods. Thank you so much for the gaily-wrapped gifts and soaps, Juli2007! I love them very much! The only big decision now is: which one to read first!

A Surprise Card from Tasmania!

Today has been a dreadfully wet day - as has the last two days. And when I checked the PO Box it was full of Loey and Dad's redirected mail and my own. So, there I was sorting out my mail and theirs at the wall of PO Boxes and found two cards for me. One was from a couple who have known me since I was little and holidayed with me at Brunswick; and they now live in Toowoomba, unable to make the long trek to New South Wales. The other one was from Glenytasmania.

Both of the cards really made my day a lot brighter; if not dryer because of their arrival. I really appreciate the thoughtful gesture of the small things that arrive in the mail; as any mail is good mail from you guys.

From Heartthumper.

All this week, I haven't received any parcels or cards from anyone in the mail; just bank statements and junk mail. Then, today, I received this beautiful card with Bookcrossing postcards enclosed. This really made my day after all the running around I've been doing this week; and it's absolutely gorgeous too, making me wish I was having a white Christmas like some of you are having in the Northern Hemisphere.

Thank you very much heartthumper for sending this beautiful card to me. It made it before Christmas; and just as Australia Post is going through pay disputes and strike action too. How fortunate it squeezed through when it did!

From Texas-Wren!

Today is another hot day; and so, I went off to the post office to get everything done and picked up early at 9am. On opening my PO Box, I was greeted by a red envelope and a blue parcel pick-up card. At this time of year, I receive more of these blue cards than any other time; and so I look forward to this time of year; it's a lot of fun too! While standing in line, I opened the card and found it is a gorgeous Christmas card from Texas-Wren!
Now, here in Australia, we don't get snow at Christmas; and I only dream of seeing through a White Christmas at least once in my life (seriously I do!). And receiving all of these cards with snow on them is just wonderful! Thank you so much, Texas-Wren for posting this card to me. It'll be joining the growing collection on the piano.