I love getting packages

It seems like last week the UPS man rang the doorbell more than usual, and even our postlady had to make a trip to deliver something.

I love surprises, and some of these were. Other things I was expecting.

The one that got the most wondering about was this one.


I was expecting a package from Sherry, but this was Shari's Berries, and we're not all about fruits except on quilts. I saw that it was to me, so I started to open it, and then I noticed Mama's name there too, so we both got to make predictions about what it was. The first things we encountered were melting ice bags. Hmm. Must mean food. We kind of missed the words "perishable" and "fragile" on the box.

Then there was this. Fan-cee.

At first glance, it looked like huge pieces of candy, but then looking closer we saw strawberry stems and realized that's what was inside. We're kind of slow.
But such a fun and different gift from our son/grandson) and daughter-in-law for Mother's Day. And delicious. We can't let them sit long because the strawberries need to be eaten SOON. Or that's our story. And strawberries are good for you.

Oh, this was on the outside of the box.


Right after that, I received this.


It's 4 free K-cups from Green Mountain Coffee, the Barista Prima Coffeehouse selections. Thank goodness! I was getting tired of Rain Forest Nut and Breakfast Blend. Notice the hole in the top of the Italian Roast. That means I've already tried this, and it was good. I wonder if it was that good or if it was because I knew I was drinking "a deep roasted delight, done right." Now I won't have to bother with those that are done wrong. Can't wait to try the French Roast "a sweet smoky love song to the cafes of Paris." It kind of seems wrong to have a cup of that on my dusty front porch (but I am).

And then this came!

Kind of exciting, huh? Quite a contrast to the latest trend for everything to be smaller and sleeker. This is a 90s dinosaur. But I'm looking for anything to make me enjoy my job better the last few years (make me faster/make more money.

When I first started doing transcription 16 years ago in-house in Atlanta, we would all rush to get the "best" keyboards, meaning the clickiest and fastest. When I went home to work, I got the tech guys to give me a couple of the old ones from the storage room. One after another they died, and for a year or so, I've been using a modern IBM one with a soft touch. And it really made a difference in speed - or so it seemed to me. Or maybe it was boredom and my rather-be-sewing attitude. Who knows? You can't buy them just anywhere, but I found a company who sells them and ordered one. I now have this one plugged in, and it's truly clicky and LOUD. It offended the cats, so they won't stay in the room with me. But I expect to double my earnings this month.

My last surprise was from Sherry. I knew it was coming but didn't expect such a treasure chest of goodies. She works at a beautiful quilt shop in TN that is closing, sadly, and since I can't be there for the big sale, she chose for me. She knows me well.

There was this cute little suitcase just packed with goodies.


There is an American Jane pattern and all the fabrics to make the quilt. Every one of them. No making decisions and wondering about colors. It's all right there ready to go.


I love every one of the fabrics.


Next is a panel and borders for another cute quilt. You can cut up the pieces and arrange them any way you want to. Looks like fun too.


And there is this old-fashioned apron panel with the instructions printed right there on the fabric. How can you go wrong with this? I love it. Something tells me this might get cut out and worked on soon.

Thanks again, Sherry.

My new plants look right at home on the front porch, dust and all.



The ferns look too low in the picture, but I think they're about right.

Every year there is a nest of baby birds at the top of the last brick column. There is obviously a hollow there because I've never seen the babies. I just see the mother flying in and out bringing bugs. It's so sweet to hear those first little tiny peep-peeps and then hear them get louder as the days go by. Right now, they're actually a little raucous in there and might be getting ready to take off. I try to keep the cats off the front porch, but they're very interested in the mother's comings and going from behind the living room window.

I'm going to take my French Roast coffee out there in a minute and see if I feel like I'm in a smoky Paris cafe.

--------------

So sad. I went to the little box to pick out my French Roast coffee, and it was GONE. In the coffeemaker with the hole in it. Mama took it. I told her to help herself, and she did! I guess I'll have to order the whole box next month to find out how it tastes. I tried the Columbian, and it's good too, not as good as the Italian but better than usual.