A great big smile!

(JUST A NOTE: THIS POST IS ACTUALLY FROM AUGUST 20TH '09, BUT TYPEPAD HAVE BEEN MESSING ME AROUND, AND NOW I'VE HAD TO POST THIS TODAY). It's a funny old world, the world of Typepad.

Hello dear friends! And a very happy hello to you, plus a very big thank you for voting for me on the Dorset Cereals little blogs awards site. Just had a little peek to see how many votes I've received so far, and found that 94 lovely people have voted for me! 94!!!!!!!!!!!! Makes me feel ever so happy you know!

(If you haven't voted yet, and you feel you'd like to, just pop over here, and cast a vote for me, I'd be ever so thrilled to get more votes than I already have!)

I've only allowed myself to look at the ratings twice today. (Self-control expert, me, don't you think?!) Each time I've looked, the numbers have jumped upwards quite a bit. And you've been telling me in your comments what number vote you are, so I've been getting an idea of how things are going that way. The excitement! I feel like I'm in some sort of game, where I'm the main player, but my moves all depend on you dear readers! It's fun, and it goes on till the end of the month. This is the closest I'll ever get to running in an election.

Shall I move on to what I really wanted to tell you all about then? The subject of having a penpal.

I have a penpal. (Don't think I ever had one when I was a young girl, so I'm coming to this a bit late on in life). My penpal is Hen, at Hen House. We've just started a little correspondence, accompanied by gifts.

Hen got the ball rolling, and was the first to send a parcel.

The postman rang the door bell, (just after I'd waved off my sister and her family on Monday), and handed me a pink package. And in that package were more packages, lots of them. And a letter inside a card, and magazine clippings. And, well, it was a very, very, very, very, nice thing to receive and open. Each gift was wrapped in candy pink tissue paper, (gorgeous). Hen must be one of an entirely new breed of penpals, which I thoroughly approve of, utterly!

Perhaps the new breed of penpals should be named pen-and-gift pals?

My pen-and-gift pal knows my tastes exactly. Or should that be, we have exactly the same taste? I love everything Hen has sent me, it's all spot on. I'm a very fortunate and privileged person.

There were some extra special gifts in the parcel, handmade by Hen. Hen knows I'm partial to wearing an apron, and so she gave me this fabulous apron she made (the one in the photo above). The coasters in the first photo, the one's with the lovely big blooms on them? She made those too, I love them, they're beautiful.  Unexpected gifts these, a complete surprise, I'm absolutely thrilled with them, and I love, love, love them! 

Every gift was a pleasure to receive, from the spotty pink nail file, to the beautiful notebook, the little flower candles (which it's going to be almost impossible to light), and the lovely cup cake cases. Opening the handmade gifts was special, partly because I'm a huge fan of receiving handmade gifts, and partly because I think they're beautiful.

Receiving a hand written letter felt special too, it's not so common these days is it? I love a hand written card, whether it's me sending, or receiving, I love both. Seeing someone's actual handwriting, after only communicating by e-mail is rather wonderful, and a very human experience. I wonder if having a penpal will make a 'return', and be more widely practised, like crafting is getting to be?

I shall be sending Hen her package next month, exciting to get that together! I have already started, but naturally it's all top secret, sorry about that.

I really must take the doggies for a walk, and stretch their tiny little Miniature Dachshund legs, even if they do look like they're not really up to it, snuggled up on the sofa as they are. Maybe I'll give Hugo a call at work, and organise to walk the dogs to his office, and collect him, then we can all have a leg stretch together. Better get moving then, hadn't I? Well, lovely to see you, nice to chat, and hopefully, see you tomorrow.  Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Isabelle (France)]

Hi Vanessa! What wonderful presents you got, this is such a lovely idea. I feel exactly like you when I receive a handwritten card or letter and I also love the idea of having a penpal, it does not matter how old you are, does it? I might actually look into that, that'd be fun.
Good luck with the blog award, I was vote 59 this morning :-) xx

[Jacqueline]

What a lot of lovely stuff you have received. I used to have a penpal in Australia, but unfortunately, we have lost touch. I also like getting hand written cards and letters, it's so much more personal than email. I think it would be nice to have a penpal again, especially one who sent lovely gifts!

[Gerry Hook]

What a lovely penpal Hen is. Couldn't have happened to a sweeter gal than you.
BTW, I voted for your blog, TODAY I am #99
Have fun with your wonderful pink gifts.
Gerry in mid-Missouri

[Beth P]

What wonderful gifts from your very special pen pal. I love the coasters and apron, especially. You are indeed fortunate and I'm sure she feels the same way!

[Menopausalmusing]

Just think how many smiles you have generated by publishing this post. Wonderful gifts.... I especially love the pinny. So unusual. x

[Lynne]

Hi Vanessa,
I've just been catching up on your week. And what a week, or more like the after effects of the weekend!
I've just voted for you on the Dorset cereals, number 100!! Well done.
A favourite place of mine is Beamish. I must take my grandson when I'm in the UK, I'm sure he'd love it. We had a lovely time at Alston last year at the railway there, and the shop and the museum. Lovely times with little ones!

[lucy]

What a lovely idea, sounds like lots of fun x

[carrie]

i just have to tell you that i love all the colors in your posts!! your home looks like a very fun, colorful place to live, work and play in!!

[Emma]

Now THAT is an enviable package. Those dear little candles! The coasters are exquisite. The pinny though. Oh the pinny. You lucky lucky thing. Your correspondence has got off to a very beautiful start.

[Kate Bruning]

That is the best parcel ever!!! Those cupcake cases are the most gorgeous ones I have ever seen. There is nothing like a parcel in the mail. Our postie always laughs at me because we always get big packages for the farm in the mail and he loves to see my face crumple when I realise the parcel contains ear tags for the calves (he really is very nice and not at all sadistic).

[Lorraine]

How wonderful! I used to have penpals when I was young, but sadly over the years they stopped writing. Those were the days when you received a hand written letter. How much more special when you also receive handmade gifts.

[Becky]

Oh, Henhouse! I love her! Gorgeous apron!

I have a special place in my heart for Dachshunds. I love seeing them run, (glide) they look like they have a couple extra legs and their ears float!

PS Beautiful studio!

[Hen]

Oooh Vanessa, you've actually made everything in the parcel look better than they actually are, you closet photographer/interiors stylist, you! I can't tell you how nice it is to think that someone has liked the gifts I've given them because lots of (insane!) people just don't get the handemade thingy at all. I've really enjoyed looking out for little bits for you on my (many and varied) travels. I'm already thinking about the next one. It's almost like when you first have a boyfriend and you're a bit obsessed. Golly, now I'm sounding like a closet stalker!
Tooooo excited about next month, of course!
Love Hen xxx

[Hen]

P.S. You're the only person I know whom I thought might appreciate that yellow/turquoise edged ribbony thing (VV Rouleaux) which I've been hoarding, so I'm really glad it's made it into a photo .
Hen x

[helen]

What a wonderful idea, I would love a pen pal I had one once as a child ...I love writing and recieving letters too...and lovely gifts as well...what a great idea...lucky you...Hen makes such wonderful things...have a lovely weekend...love H

[celia]

Oh God, I can't resist saying anything about those CK fabric bolts near your cupboard!!!!!!!!
Lovely!!!! That's my dream!!! lol

[Martha]

Oh, my! This is all so much fun!! Amazing photos, Vanessa, of such incredible gifts from a wonderful pen/gift pal!!! WOW!
Hey! I am #112! Isn't that a lovely number? I think so...
☺
Give your doggies a smooch from me. ♥

[Charlene]

HI Vanessa..

I have been penpalling for over 14 years - its such a lovely joy to receive a lovely handwritten letter in the mail and even more a joy to give some lovely gifts :) Its always fun to go shopping with your friend in mind :)

If you would like a penpal in Australia - be sure to let me know :)

You received a very special parcel from Hen :) Thankyou for sharing it :)

[Lesley]

I was no. 113

[sue]

love the pictures,the apron is amazing and the fairy cake cases.Voted this morning I was 115,well done,hope you get a lot more votes

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Love the presents! It's lovely to have pen pals!
When I was younger, I had so many pen pals. I still look for nice notepapers, then I remember that I haven't got pen pals any longer :(

Hope you win!
Anna-Karin xxxxxxx

[sarah london]

I was #124! pen pals are the best!

[maggie]

Where do people find all these lovely things, like the paper bun cases - or sorry, is that too old-fashioned a title, 'buncases', should I say 'fairy cake cases'?
I had penfriends when I was 15, a girl in Cupertino, California, the same age as me but that was where the similarity ended.. she living on the sunny coast me on the Irish Sea coast which can be chilly at times! The other was a Radio Caroline DJ... but I am not saying who as he is quite well known now, but we stopped writing when I hit 17 and REAL life and boys entered my life. I then took up writing letters again when I was 21, and still write to these two, by now very dear old friends! And have about half a dozen others... I love the feeling of selecting which pen to use, which coloured ink and stationery, though have to admit that most of the time this is confined to notes and short letters only, usually I write tomes, as you can see. I love receiving letters, but not many people want to be bothered with the writing... any like-minded souls out there?

[The Curious Cat]

Wow -I follow Hen House's blog -she's a cool lady. I love those coasters and apron - how did she make the coasters?! They are wicked - did she paint on the flowers herself or sew them on?! You are a very lucky penpal! xxxx

[jane smallcombe]

Hi Vanessa

I've just voted for you. I decided to check my e-mails whilst on holiday and couldn't resist catching up with you via your blog. Hugs, Jane x

[debbie]

What a lucky pen pal you are :D. I love the cupcake holders and that apron is incredible.

[Louise]

I had penpals as a kid until my teenage years got in the way. For the past 2 years I have been exchanging the most lovely letters with fellow knitters I met on Ravelry (also receiving some fabbie gifts!!).Mail thats not bills or junkmail brings big smiles..dont you agree?

[Cath W]

Hello Vanessa! Just back from an amazing week at the Green Man Festival in Wales, and catching up on my blog reading! I'm vote number 206 (is there no hash key on my Mac keyboard??!!) so good luck with the award !
Cath W
: )

[Erica K]

It's all so wonderful! I'm so glad you gals are blogging about your pen-pal adventures and sharing the fun with us! :D

[Elizabeth D]

Scrolling through, post by post, desperately searching for your tutorial on invisibly sewing crochet squares together. Will I find it? Or is it still on your to-do list? Must return to work right now (it's just 11:30 a.m. here in the eastern U.S.), so can't keep looking. . .