Season's Greetings!

Life here at my house has been hectic during the last several days, and while I ran in and out, attending holiday events and gatherings, mail stacked up on the kitchen table. Tonight I finally had time to relax and look through the holiday gifts and greetings from friends--besides GIVING gifts, I love getting things from my friends, but it's not so much the "getting" part that pleases me so much as it is just hearing from people and knowing that I'm in their thoughts too.

Sometimes I receive gifts from friends and bloggers, and I'm always a little hesitant about whether to show what I've received here on my blog. I don't want to make a big deal of my own good fortune, but at the same time, I DO want to publicly thank these thoughtful people because in may cases, I think they are people you know too, and I want everyone to know how kind they are.

On Friday night, Gran and I went to Manteca for PMS night and there we exchanged holiday gifts. Gran gave me this great bag--it was designed to hold knitting but it will hold stitchery just as well. You may be able to see the ornament hanging on the hook--it's now on the tree in the Sweat Shop. She also gave me some sparkly red floss. What a sweetie Gran is to think of me and pick such a thoughtful gift!

I've known Carol of Carol's Crafty Creations online for several years through a Thimbleberries Yahoo group--I'd love to meet her one of these days, but so far that hasn't happened. Still, I know from meeting other online friends that the friendships we form online are just as strong as those we form with the people we see in person. Carol knows me well enough to know of my lust for all things peppermint this year, and she sent me these salt and pepper shakers and a Christmas towel.

What Carol didn't know is that I nearly bought these twice but reined myself in, and I ALMOST got to steal a pair at one of the gift exchanges, but they'd been stolen several times already by the time my turn came around. The towel is hanging on my peg rack in the kitchen and the salt and pepper shakers are on the shelf over my stove. Thank you Carol!

Another friend from the Thimbleberries group is Eileen of My Quilting Porch. Eileen and I HAVE met in person several times and we email each other a few times a day. Eileen sent me this roll of Buggy Barn star fabric and two charm packs of 1800 reproduction fabrics--all excellent choices! She was even sweet enough to include a gift for Hubby--a metal rod that extends, is magnetic, and lights up at the tip to find objects in dark places so he can pick them up.

Besides gifts, I received several Christmas cards from friends I haven't seen lately. I truly treasure these. My friend Liz moved to Colorado in August and I miss seeing her at the quilt shop and classes--Hey Liz! Maybe I can find a hot air balloon and come visit! I also received a card and gift card from a student and fellow teacher I've known for several years--what a happy surprise to know she's thinking of me this holiday season!

I believe the biggest gift of the holiday season lies in knowing we've made an impression on and touched others' lives in a positive way. And so I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have left thoughtful comments on my blog this past year, because you've touched my life too!