Gifts for Me, Awards and Art

I found a little package in my mailbox yesterday. It touched my heart. Inside I found a small metal woodpecker/toothpick holder. The thing is, my Grandma, who I loved dearly and who passed away a few years ago - she had one. If I had to pick only one thing from her house which stood out in my mind, it would be this woodpecker/toothpick holder. Countless hours were spent by us children (and there were eight of us!) playing with the woodpecker - smashing its little head down into the toothpicks, then taking them off and doing it again. I'm sure some toothpicks were broken before they ever made it into anyone's mouth. It had to be a pretty sturdy item with all of us children banging on its head!

I never did take a photo - nor have seen one of the shelf above Grandma's kitchen table with this ornament on it. There was a big mirror there and I could watch Grandma cooking from the front room - she spent a LOT of time in her kitchen. There were all sorts of knick knacks and photos on the shelf. Another funny thing was a clear glass thermometer, shaped like a bird, with a feather stuck on it's head and some for little wings. It was supported on a plastic stand. She would fill up a glass of warm water and then tip it's 'beak' into it. I don't quite remember how it worked but after a while it would swing on it's own dip, dip, dipping into the water as if sipping.

I don't know where Grandma's ornament wound up when she passed on, and I'd not seen one since. So imagine my surprise when I saw this one on Shirley's blog a few months ago. I commented on it right away, I was so excited for her and told her my memories of this item. And then - I find this in my 'real' mailbox! Shirley you have really touched my heart. I don't know how to properly thank you - but I will find some way! I fully expect little children will be playing with this here and I'll think fondly of YOU and Grandma!

*****

And speaking of gifts I still have two people to thank for gifts. One is dear DEAR AmyW - who, on her own birthday - which I FORGOT {I'm a bad friend!} - Amy sent ME some little gifts, including a fairy kit which I helped with in a small way a lonnnng time ago. She sent me her 'Lil Fishes Kit. Its so fun and pretty and ... THANKS Amy!

And now its the time that I want to say thank you to someone who has waited an awful long time to hear this... but THANK YOU to KIMB - for the beautiful package you sent me a while ago.

KimB sent me a package chock full of goodies - from chocolate to ornaments, cookbooks and all sorts of things - and a note that felt like a big hug from across the world. Why didn't I blog a thank you back then?

Well, Kim's package arrived at the time when the economy was taking a severe downturn, and a friend of mine was facing a very difficult time. Her husband had lost his job - one he'd held for many years and their entire future was financially uncertain. Kim and I talked about it and I simply could not feel right about crowing about my good fortune when my other friend was hurting. But Kim knew how I felt and so we were good with that. My other friend has since then had their financial picture turn to the positive so I feel good to say THANK YOU KIM - for your gift, for waiting and for our friendship. My blog friends ROCK - and I'm not talking about 'stuff' I receive, its far far more than this.

*****

My dear friend Penny Buhr Johnson, who I've featured here before is hosting a concert at our church at the end of this month. Penny is a recording artist and has just been to the Country Gospel Music Association Convention in High River, Alberta where she received the following awards:

CGMA 2009 Bilingual, Silver Heart Award
CGMA 2009 Instrumental, Silver Heart Award
CGMA 2009 Female Full-time Vocalist, Silver Heart Award
CGMA 2009 Songwriter Full-time, Silver Heart Award

Congratulations Penny - we feel honored to have you come and perform for us! We hope our little church does you proud!

*****

I have an ipod touch. Actually, this is my second one, Mr. has inherited my first. He bought me one when they first came out and I happily packed it around to listen to music on. I did not know what else it did.

About 6 months ago, I discovered "Apps" ... and began to experiment and download them. There are so many very cool and amazing and useful {and usless) ones. My faves are some of the book reader ones, one that tracks my wieght and food and... any ones that do art. In particular I downloaded one that does vector art {vector drawing does not get 'jaggy' or pixelated when you blow it up to larger sizes} and I have been playing with it. I was blown away by what I could create - and the following is a sample of a work I did, I took 'snapshots' in stages as I worked. I also found out there is whole communities of people who create 'ipod art' and galleries too.

Have you ever done any digital art? On the computer or on your phone or ipod? I'd love to know.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!