Mail~ Coming and Going

At this time of year we never know if we are going to have sunshine, rowdy Santa Ana winds or rain...or maybe all three in one week! It rained today, but winds are in the forecast for tomorrow.

A package arrived today from Cathi in Ireland~ she sent me some delicious tea and a wonderful cup. Thank you, Cathi! I love what you sent, and will think of you every time I use them. I immediately steeped up a pot of tea and put the cup to good use!

Today is also the give away day for the recipe cards~ Lisa won them. Lisa wrote,

I love turkey dinners but treasure the tradition of making peanut butter balls. This has been something I have done for several years with my mom and cousin but over the last few years, it has mostly been with my little girls. My mom is included when she can, we live about 1 1/2hrs away from each other. My "family tradition" book shows the recipe and pictures withing the first few pages. Fun to have connected with you,
Blessings,
 Lisa
Lisa, send me your addy so I can pop those cards in the mail to you. Thanks, ladies, for sharing what culinary treats you enjoy during the holidays. 

And today I took some photos...told you I would!...of the mantle where we display some of our toy soldiers and nutcrackers.

Our walls are a soft millet gold, which does not show up in the flash.

 I sewed the handsome guy sitting atop the box, then detailed him with fabric paint.

Nesting soldiers~

The soldier on the left holds a small soldier bowling pin set; small soldier 'pins' and a wooden ball. The center soldier is a metal candlestick, and the nutcracker on the right is a clock maker.

Last, but not least, this petite soldier hangs inside a glass and makes a lovely sound when you gently ring the bell.

In The Pink~

Happy Pink Saturday! My daughter has spent the summer learning to drive while I sit in the passenger seat keeping a civil tone in my voice and offering 'helpful tidbits', as my husband likes to call them. I've even managed not to gasp, although she did catch me gripping the seat and asked me if I was ok! She is now venturing further from home, and today I suggested a trip to Wootens so we did not simply drive around without a purpose. Of course, just because Wootens is one of the most fully stocked scrapbook stores had nothing to do with the choice of destination! ~lol~ You believe me, right? I figured I deserve a little incentive for being such a good driving coach!  I purchased some pretty paper and a nifty Smash stick from K & Company. The Smash stick is a pen on one side and a glue stick on the other...perfect for keeping odds and ends in a journal. (more about that later)

The paper with the stacked teacups is by Webster's and is called Ladies & Gents Teatime. It has lush looking roses on it. The center paper is a design by Renae Lindgren for Creative Imaginations. It has has tiny roses and pretty hats on the reverse side. The sheet on the left is Through The Looking Glass by Reminisce and has tiny pink teacups and teapots on the backside. Each of these were new to me so I had to add them to my tea themed paper collection!! I was really good though, honest! I also bought a sticker sheet by Echo Park called Apothecary Emporium~

Then I walked back out to the car ready to brave the roads again. I did not even look at the stamps, inks, ribbons, etc!

It is almost that time of the month when ....stop that, you don't even know what I am going to write! ~lol~ It is almost that time of the month to change the flowers on my mail basket. One of my dearest friends created it for me. It is made of tin and has different flowers for each month of the year that attatch magnetically. I love the four seasons and enjoy decorating for various holidays. It just is so fun to mark the changing months, and she couldn't have chosen a more perfect gift for me to keep in my scraproom!

Isn't it delightful? I keep all my cards, letters and notes from her as well as cards from scrappy and blog friends. Each month I change the flowers and I keep it where I can see it every day. Isn't this big pink bloom gorgeous? September's flowers are black and yellow sunflowers~

Sharing this post with How Sweet The Sound~ Pink Saturday~