Goodness

I bought myself a friend. Her name is Wildflower Annie. I bought her on Etsy, at The Button Patch. Dear Marlene sent her from her crafty home in Honolulu! Aren't the Etsy sellers so personal, so kind? I have purchased just three things from Etsy shops: a knitted baby bonnet from my friend Tina in Scotland, a bird silk screen from my friend Kerri in New Zealand, and now Annie from Hawaii, made by Marlene. I love shopping in this very fresh, very real way.

Isn't she precious? I ADORE her and I really needed a dolly to smile at me. I hope Marlene doesn't mind that I'm changing her name to Florence.

Look what Marlene put in the box as an extra! I am going to apply a pin and wear this cutie as a brooch.

Hawaiians are VERY sweet, so hospitable!

Many weeks ago, Kelli called a family friend who had just moved into a loft downtown and asked about this table she had admired. Our friend wasn't using it in her new home so Kelli asked if she could buy it. Our friend said, "You can have it!" Wow! Well, Kelli didn't realize how much space it would take and until she can find a safe place in her house, it's going to park here for a while. Lucky me! Isn't it cute?

Oh my goodness, I have been in booky heaven lately. I found this book by accident as I browsed around Amazon reading reviews and recommendations. It's self published. It features a "way of thinking" that I am VERY attracted to. It's a philosophical take on the concept of home. Written in workbook form, the author leads the reader into the interior of one's own interpretation of home, what it means and what it reveals.

I judge books by their covers. I do. The cover drew me in and reminded me of this picture Jeff took in Belarus last year. Can you believe the match? Oh, there are no accidents. The Creator of the universe orchestrates even my little intellectual wanderings. He loves me so much, attends to my leanings.

Gretchen Joanna wrote about this book on her blog, Gladsome Lights. Her review intrigued me and I found a copy from a used book store on Amazon. Can't wait to read it aloud to myself when I have the perfect moment in time to do so.

Yesterday between parent/teacher conferences, I visited the book fair. FUN!

Melanie over at Cosy Living told me about this book. WHAT a delight. I like the pictures because they are very personal. I wish Kirstie was on television here. I must admit, I really don't know what's on television here.

I thought you might like to see Bat Grandma.

Finally, a glimpse of November night. The clouds were stunningly pink yesterday evening. Isn't it humbling the way we stick to this earth thanks to gravity and we don't go flying all over into outer space where we couldn't settle in with one another or even find each other? We walk this earthy ground with a stunning backdrop of month by month loveliness.

Somehow, I want to bless my students with the Spirit of the holiday season. It may be a chocolate kiss placed on their desks when they walk into the classroom, a special note of affirmation, the smell of cinnamon, the ring of a holiday bell - small reminders of love and warmth. I want to bless them because my Redeemer blesses Me with a family that cherishes me and desires my company. Thankfulness feels good.

Thank you for popping by today, looking at my pictures, and considering my ideas and thoughts for a moment. I like our connection. I like you.