They were tears of joy

It's hard to surprise a control freak like me. When it comes to knowing what's coming next, I'm pretty on top of things. But every once in a while something totally sideswipes me, and I love it.

I came home yesterday and expected nothing in my mail box but the usual bills and catalogs. I was surprised to find something larger, something sort of mushy. Had I ordered something I forgot about? After all, it happens around here.

But no. It wasn't anything I ordered or expected. But it was something I really wanted. As in really wanted.




Goddamned if it wasn't one of the pin cushiones from Lisagh's blog give-away I had lusted after, enough to shamelessly enter her contest four times.

Her note revealed her motivation.

Her generosity warms my heart and causes me to pause a moment to think about this amazing thing we bloggers have going here. How I rush back from a weekend away from internet access to find out if someone's had her baby, how someone's doing on her chemo. course, how somone's sick cat or kid is doing, or how someone's handling a relationship that's crapped out on her. Or just to find out what someone has cooked, sewed, knitted, or bought. Most of these women I've never laid eyes on, but I care about them enormously in ways I never could have predicted when I embarked on what I thought was just a way to record a few things going on in my life.

And the love goes on. Trish (who had never won anything before) was the person who won the pin cushion giveaway square and fair, and so she had to host her own giveaway, which I won (picture posted when my prize arrives—I can't wait!!). So now I have host my own giveaway. I have a little shopping to do. Since the pin cushion comes with a promise on my part to sign up for a sewing class, some day I'll be able to host a giveaway featuring aprons, pillows, and other clever crafts, but for now I'm going to stick with what I know: bounty from my garden, recipes, and cocktail equipment. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, Sophie was delighted with the pin cushion as well, which she thinks can serve another purpose later this summer when this guy shows up at our house later this summer on his excellent tour.\

A sweet place for Monkey to rest his head, particularly when he is missing his mommy.

To keep current on Monkey's travels this summer, check his his very own blog. And look at his mommy ON THE RADIO. She's kicking this blog thing to a whole new level. It's going to be quite a summer.

Thanks, Leesie!!