Bless you Firefox; I did it without you

Sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed by friend's thoughtfulness. In the course of their everyday lives, filled with busy living, problems and their own maintaining of some kind of balance; they leave a message and say, "Hey, I'm sending you something I thought you would like."

Jan Ely of Little Pink Houses took a trip back to see her sister in the southern states. She was in Louisiana and New Orleans. While she was there she sent me a baby gourd that rattles. It's the cutest little gourd you ever saw. It's completely dry and has lots of seeds in it. I'm not sure if I will decorate it as is, or make a hole in it and retrieve the seeds so I can try to plant more of these cute little guys. I will do a post on it when I decide what to do. Thanks Jan. With all your coming and going... this was very sweet that you sent me a gourd.
Then I received a package from Helen, the Reddirt Woman from Oklahoma. She sent Guniea Hen feathers for The Bean and I. They are really beautiful. I had no idea what a Guniea Fowl looked like so I "googled" this bird and learned something new. They are meat fowl and provide an excellent income for some breeders. They are plump little birds( I like them already!) and have these amazingly beautiful feathers.

Wait until The Bean (my oldest grandson) sees these. He will probably want to hang them on the wall over his bed or paint with them. He will be 5 yrs. old on Friday. I will take some to him for his birthday. Thank you Helen. You're a sweetie.

My friend "C", who had the knee replacement a few weeks back, is really doing well. In fact she is coming up to see us tomorrow. Her daughter is here again for a while so they are going to drive up and see the beautiful spring foothills..., and the PUPPIES.., and us...., and the PUPPIES. So, to thank me for keeping her company during her recuperation and because we watched a PBS program on Dolly Madison and I said I was sorely lacking in my American history facts, she sent me a wonderful book on called A People's History of the United States..., and a new Aerolatte frother for my lattes. Oh, yes! She had one of these at her house and I went crazy for it. It makes the best foam for lattes ..ever.

The Howard Zinn book is really great. It makes HISTORY very interesting and keeps me turning the pages, which is sometimes hard to do. All of this was not necessary but, gosh darn girl, it sure was nice of you.

Then, as if this giving would never end, I get a package from my Uncle, in Susanville. He sent The Prospector and I some packs of seeds that he dried from last year: Some Zucchini seed that he has dried every year for a very long time. They were growing on the ranch, in Napa, where he and my Mom grew up. Also a package of Roma pole beans from the ranch. Can you imagine?.., propagating seeds for over 70 or 80 years, or more. He also sent instructions and a small packet of sun gold cherry tomatos. Wow! We are set for the summer.
I went up to visit him a few years ago and you should see his garden. It's big and beautiful..., and all natural. He's 85 and he does all the work himself. I think I will see him this summer. My cousin, who lives in the Bay Area, and I are planning a trip up there. I haven't seen him since Mom's funeral and it's time for a visit.
Thanks Uncle Jimmy. See you soon.

So you can see why I'm a bit overwhelmed. I just don't get things in the mail a lot but this has been a banner week or two.
The last photo collage was added because these are three things that I'm also thankful for. I not sure who to thank.., Nature? God? Our knowledge of how to live within the constructs of our life here?..., or just the existence of small creatures that do great and wonderful things here on Three Dog Farm. Whomever it is that I should thank... I'm, again, overwhelmed. I am in a constant state of joy for all the good in my life. Whether it's the first Ladybug that has came to eat the aphid on the roses, or the worms that made my household leftovers into "black gold" for our garden, or the sleepy puppy that has found a happy, trusting home with us and will never be hurt again..., I am touched by the caring people in my life and the beauty of my existence.

Monkeyshine Friendship

On Saturday, there was a package in the mailbox from my friend Jan of Little Pink Houses fame. She and her friends in the Bay Area have the store Room With A Past in Walnut Creek that's open three days and one evening a month. We found out( through our blogs) that we grew up together in Pleasant Hill, Ca. and that our parents knew each other..., AND that our dads knew each other in Napa, Ca. where they grew up together. Sometimes it really is a very small world, isn't it?
Well, at some point in our blogging life together MONKEYS became an issue. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say, we have had an on-going battle of wits about monkeys, which has become so funny at times that I would miss it if it just went away. So..., that is why I'm now the owner of a cute pair of "monkey" slippers which ( be sure you don't tell her this ) I think are just adorable and as long as they don't bite me, I will wear them forever. Look at them! They are so cute.

She also sent me a plethora of goodies for my collage work , including a dictionary page out of the "M's" for, what else, MONKEYS. She sent some beautiful old buttons, sheet music, old photos, tags, dominoes, and my name in Scrabble pieces. Very cool things!!

This is my first name in Navajo. ( Isn't it beautiful? Do you believe me?) It's only 8 points. Guess I should try another language.
Thanks Jan. I don't know what to say except that monkeys are growing on me and you have given me some of the best laughs I have had in years. See you in a couple of weeks when I just happen to be in town on the days that Room With a Past is open..., or sooner, depending on how Mom is doing. Love ya....