Hi everyone,
I won’t really know how well my pictures look until I get them loaded into my blog library and check them out, but I’m REALLY hoping they look as good on here as they do on my new phone. I think I’ll just croak if they look blurry! :o(
One of my Sofa Sisters sent me a box before Christmas that was chock full of all kinds of different goodies. They weren’t “Christmasy” but things she had collected throughout the year. I was so blessed when I started to open the box, but decided to wait for Christmas to really take a look at what was in the box. I thought I’d share it with you using my new phone camera to see how it goes.
I will probably make this a 2 day event as there was a LOT packed in this box… and it’s easily separated into 2 different themes.
I’ll just start sharing some of the things…
First, a picture of “most” everything that was in the box…
Isn’t this going to be fun? It sure was for me…
First, I’ll show you the sewing bag… it’s so cute…
…and see that little adorable felted rooster/hen… He/she is an ornament sent for my hubby!
Some very pretty bookmarks…I love those colors!
I now have my very own Sewing Mug… complete with tape measure handle! :o)
…and this fun clock. It reminds me of Mary Englebreit but it’s actually from Allen Designs. It is REALLY cute!
There was a roll of tape measure ribbon in cream, a small tin covered with sewing designs, and a little glass Robin Christmas ornament.
I’ll show that first picture again so you can see them.
Have you ever put together a miniature puzzle cut so accurately it was as if it has been cut out with a razor blade. This tiny puzzle WAS something I found in the box when I first opened it up and, of course, I had to see if I could put it together… It had 40 pieces and it took me about 45 minutes to put it together… It was about 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ and was just the sweetest thing.
I can tell I should have used the Macro setting for these close-up shots… trouble is, I don’t know where it is… but I’ll find out for next time.
First, I found the flat corner pieces…
Then I started trying to put the edges all the way around.
There were 5 shaped pieces in this tiny little puzzle… here was the thimble.
I’ll show you the back so you can see the pictures of the shaped pieces…
You can see the shaped pieces in this picture, (I hope!)
Here it is put together…
It was harder than it looked but VERY pretty when I was done. I highly recommend this for a gift for someone you know. It was fun to do and fun to look at when you were done!
If you’d like to take a look at what else Aimee Stewart has in the way of puzzles, you can click HERE…
Aimee Stewart was the artist who did this puzzle I have… but you can see ALL the artists work HERE.
I had to look back at the first picture to see what I had missed…. a Sarah Young devotional book, which I think I’ll start the new year with! Also, the sweetest card! Thank you SEW much, sweet friend!
There was more in the box, but I think I’ll share it tomorrow… it ALL goes together… but you’ll have to come back to see what it is! I’ll give you a hint… it’s one of my favorite things!
I hope you are warm tonight. It was 69 or 70 degrees today and people were wearing short sleeves… but this evening the temperature has plummeted to 30 degrees with 20-25 mph winds right now and it feels like 18. It’s supposed to get down to 19 degrees tonight with tomorrow’s high only getting to 30! BRRR! Trade in those short sleeves for coats!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh, what thoughtful and delightful gifts! How wonderful. I love that clock, but I think my favorite thing is the puzzle. I do adore puzzles, and the tiny ones can be challenging even though there aren’t very many pieces. Plus they don’t take a huge amount of space to put together.
Your pictures look great tonight, Jeanne. I think the new phone/camera is just the ticket–your pictures look really quite clear.
We have to leave early this am for an appointment at the hospital. Two months ago I hurt my right arm moving a chair. I thought it would go away but….no. They are going to do an ultrasound to see what happened.
Jeanne, I love every thing this dear sofa friend sent you. How sweet she is!
I have to run, catch Y’all later.
Best wishes dear Sissy. I hope they can find the trouble maker and fix it in a jiffy.
Be thinking of you. Hope you can let us know how it goes.
Oh Jeanne, how fun to get a box of surprises! Whoever sent this to you knows you very well! What a darling clock, and yes, it does remind me of Mary Englebreit!
The little roll of tape measure ribbon would be cute on a sewing dress for a Ruby Red doll! The mug is darling, and so different. This year each of my granddaughters got a cute gingerbread themed mug with samples of different chocolate flavorings, which they loved! And even if you don’t use it for drinking, you can store pencils, pens, and things like that in it.
That puzzle looks like a fun thing to do! I never was fond of puzzles until now and am having a ball doing the Jacquie Lawson Advent calendar puzzles! I never had the time to sit down and do them, but now I find it them irresistible! In fact, a big puzzle and tasty treats while doing them were another gift for our children as a family activity! We have a puzzle warehouse here in St. Louis with all kinds of puzzles and it is such a fun place to shop!
George’s rooster and the robin ornament are so cute, and by the way, those pictures show uo very well for me! Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings for us to see!
Brrr! It is just 15 degrees as I write this and feels like 2 below zero! And to think that we hit a high of 78 degrees yesterday! What a difference!
Dear Linda, I love the Advent Calendar as well. Each year, a friend sends it to me and I have so much fun with the games, as you do.
I was able to keep the 2024 calendar until October of 2025 when it didn’t work any longer. I sure had fun with the games.
I wish that the company would create a year-round game program.
Now I will think about you when I am playing and imagine that you are playing too!
Linda and Dorothy, I get the Advent calendar, too; I leave all my previous ones (I have several) loaded on my computer, and have no trouble at all accessing the various games on any of them. My favorite one is the “jewel” one, where you try to fit different shapes of jewels into the frame so the rows/columns fill up and then empty out for more.
If you like jigsaw puzzles, try jigsawplanet. com They have a huge variety of pictures, and many different configurations as to shapes and numbers of pieces!
Such a fun sewing box! Neat felted rooster. I like the ruler for the cup’s handle. Lovely puzzle! I like the cut out of the lady. Last night some of the girls and J were playing a game involving beautiful cats, quilting pieces and buttons. The game is called “Calico”. Enjoy your new treasures!
Dear Karen, I was thinking of you and your family recently. I hope you all are doing well.
Thank you, Dear Dorothy in PA and the World, for your sweet comment. We are doing alright and are enjoying the kids’ Christmas vacation from school. Yesterday I think it was 65, and so they played outside a long time, but today was very cold and it snowed.
I hope you are doing well, too. <3
Jeanne and all of you, happy Monday!
I hope everyone is feeling good.
I hope everyone had a nice week-end.
Jeanne, your photos look terrific! Very sharp.
Oh you received such a wonderful package surprise of goodies. I love all of these special gifts just for you! I especially love that little cardinal ornament. I love things like that, so precious. I love the devotional book and the clock too.
Karen from Kentucky, speaking of games, yesterday I played a very wild fun game with my grand girls Sarah and Lauren, called Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. It was hilarious fun.
That sounds great! 😁
We bought our granddaughter a game called “Gibberish” for Christmas. Didn’t have a chance to play it that day but I’m going to ask her to bring it the next time she comes. It looks like fun. They did a family Advent calendar this year where you had to read something that was funny but the object was not to laugh. My grandkids all have an amazing sense of humor so it was really difficult for them not to laugh. Wish I could have been there.
Playing games is the best! 🙂
So nice Jeanne, received a gift and then shared it with all of us. Fun seeing everything. I immediately thought that the mini puzzle might work for some of the Ruby Red girls. Might make a cute pic of them working a puzzle. 🙂
Yesterday, we spent the morning blowing off the roof and raking wet leaves at the other house. Still have a bit more to do, but we had the big can stuffed until pick up. It was cold, but raking warmed me up. So nice to get a break from the rain we’ve been having.
This morning, it’s 36, but was probably a bit lower. Looks like I’ll have to start covering my porch plants if it frosts.
I managed to give our neighbor a birdhouse with seed glued to it, but I couldn’t get her to take the strange box with pieces to make a face on a tree. It was also a sort of bird feeder. Just some random gifts we received. I still haven’t tried the crow caller. Maybe today. Ha ha.
We are home but have to wait to find what can to for my arm. Someone else at the hospital has to look at the ultrasound, then send that info to my pain doc. I will let y’all know when I find out. Thank you for caring.
Jeanne, want an adorable bag of loot! We can really tell that this giver knows you well. Thank you for sharing it! I am looking for seeing the rest of it. I hope you and George are well and little Reuben is getting better.
Dear Sissy, I will be praying for you.
Dear Dorothy, thank you so much, I really appreciate your kindness!
As they say, no news is good news. Hope it stays that way.
Jeanne….what a thoughtful collection of sewing related items to receive! That little puzzle is doll-size! A sewing mug is perfect for a person who loves sewing!
I would like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who sent such nice comments about my Santas and the Siblie doll schoolroom I made for my Great Granddaughter. I have not been on my computer for several days or I would have responded sooner. My Great Granddaughter Delilah, loved the room and all the school accessories that came with the 18″ Our Generation school desk. Delilah’s aunt gave her the Our Generation teachers school storage cabinet set which also came loaded with tiny school supplies. It was such a laid-back Christmas Day at my daughter’s home and unfortunately I didn’t take photos as I didn’t have my phone nearby. But the memories are still fresh!
My daughter and I had the AC on this past week, but a cold front has moved thru the Austin area….we had been in the 70’s but today it is 42 degrees outside and windy. We had turned off the AC recently and it was a chilly 66 inside when I woke up today. Brrrr! Heat setting is back on…just enough to take the chill out! In Texas, 42 feels really cold when were so used to being in the 80’s -90’s.
Oh, I’m so glad the schoolroom was a big hit! I knew it would have to be–there was so much detail in ti! And so many things to look at!
What a wonderful surprise to receive a package so chock full of goodies. Loved your showing them off. Can’t wait to see the rest.
It’s cold here too. I’m going to have to go turn on the heat. We’ve had the A/C on for days now and it was 81 when we were coming home from church yesterday. Before I went to bed I opened the front door and yup the front was finally here. I don’t know what it got down to last night but it was 49 when I got up. It takes awhile for things to cool down here so tonight will most likely be colder. This will last for a few days and then back up. I haven’t switched my clothes because the weather keeps changing. I just go pick something to wear based on the temp for the day.
I didn’t get a Christmas present from hubby this year. He was surprised I hadn’t ordered a doll. So was I but for some reason I don’t have dolly fever at the moment. I’ve even gone doll searching but nothing strikes my fancy. I always have one doll or another I can’t live without and I still have a few inches of room on the shelf. But it’s good to know Hubby is on board with me adding to our doll family. Actually he says he doesn’t know what to get me so he’s more than happy to see I have – usually – taken matters into my own hands.
Grandson Skyy is out here today gathering up all my boxes, etc., for recycling. Going up and down the back steps lately hasn’t worked for me. But I am feeling better today it seems. Maybe I’m out from under some of the stress I’ve experienced lately. My daughter-in-law, Dionne, has hopefully finally found help for what has caused her problems and she seemed pretty much back to normal on Christmas. She even looked much better. She had a concussion a few months ago and something happened that shook something loose from memories of her childhood that caused her great upset. We know a lot of what went on but only she knows it all. We’re praying that she can bring it all out and find a way to deal with it. Her therapist was recommended by a woman at her church who had a traumatic childhood and so not only is she getting help from the therapist but she has the support of the woman at church that she confides in. Looks like the win-win she needs.
We will be hosting New Year’s Day fondue at our place again this year. I can’t remember how many years we have done this only missing one or two along the way when family members had other plans. I wish I had thought to take pictures each year. The ebb and flow of people over the years is something I wish I could look back on.
So, I was looking at Dept 56 last evening. Which toy shop did you get? I didn’t see any new ones from Snow Village, but one from some years past. Then, I found that set of two girls with their dolls that is Snow Village I think. So which year is your toy shop? and what village? I haven’t looked at SV in some time, but a toy shop sounds fun.
Hi, Joy. Mostly I buy the Dicken’s Village pieces because that was what David started me on years ago. The new shop I bought is a doll shop. I will be taking pictures of my Village this week and will do a close-up of the doll shop and the two little girls standing outside holding their new dolls.
Barbara, Ron didn’t often know what to get me, either, so I made a list, including the store to get it in and where in the store to find it! 😂 For jewelry, we had a favorite clerk in the jewelry store and I would go in and find 2 or 3 things I liked, she’d write them down on a card, I’d hand it to him and he would make a choice from those! The last two years of his life, it was hard for him to shop, so, after talking it over with him, I ordered something for myself (the Missouri Star Countdown to Christmas box) and all he had to do was go and buy a card and my See’s lemon truffles!
I’m so glad to hear that Dionne is doing better; a concussion can definitely cause issues at times. And thankful she has found a therapist who will be able to help her maybe on a continuing basis. Prayers are answered!
Dear Jeanne and Sofa Sisters,
Today I am sitting and pondering. It is the last week of the last year of the first quarter of the 21st Century. I am thinking of all of the discoveries and revelations we (many of us Baby Boomers) have experienced.
Party lines to cell phones
Encyclopedias to Google
Easy Bake ovens to microwaves
Station wagons to cars that drive themselves
I am remembering drawing pictures in kindergarten and learning how to play chess in Mr. Hershey’s sixth grade class. I am remembering ninth grade prom when my date was supposed to be Warren but his brother Teddy showed up instead.
I am reflecting on graduations and colleges and first jobs and not being hired to work in a donut shop because I was “too short.”
I am reliving moments with family and friends (some still here some long gone) and cherishing the memories.
As this week and this quarter end, I am feeling an enormous amount of gratitude for the time I have been given. I embrace the happy moments and hold them close to my heart like a salve that comforts me. I fold in the sad moments, as well, for they are part of my life’s experience.
I am honored to share Jeanne’s Sofa with you, my Sisters. I am looking forward to continuing to read your stories and insights as we walk into 2026 together.
Loved your reflections. My grandmother was born in 1894, and died at age 101, Lived in two centuries. Now, she really saw a lot of changes. From horses to cars and planes. From outdoor privies to modern indoor plumbing and more. She actually drove a jeep around a base out here chauffeuring officers during WWII. I have a photo of her celebrating the end of WWI. Hopefully, I won’t live to see another world war. PEACE is comforting.
Dear Joy, thanks for your kind words. My maternal Grandmother was born around the same time. I echo your thoughts about PEACE and I pray for this world.
Amen to all you said Dorothy. So well put.
My maternal grandfather was born in 1892 so he remembered the turn of the century but my grandmother born in 1896 not so much. But I always marveled at how much they had experienced living the bulk of their lives in the 20th century. I often wish they were still here so I could get their take on all the newfangled gadgets we have today.
Dorothy what an inspiring message you posted today. I received an email today from my sister who told me that our ex-sister-in-law had passed away at age 101. Imagine all the innovations and revelations she experienced. I am so glad I was able to see her when I went to UK this year.
Jeanne your parcel was amazing. I received one of those little sewing tins from my friend, it is just the right size for a small pair of scissors, thread, needles and thimble. Everything is just great, I am sure you will enjoy it all. I love jigsaws but we never seem to have the time to do them (and the table is never clear long enough to put one out). I have never seen one that small but we have done a couple of normal sized ones of the same type. We say every year that we will start doing some of the very many we have piling up but never get around to it. Maybe we should try some the size of yours.
The North Island and north of the South Island (not very innovative those early settlers!) are having torrential rain which is spoiling lots of people’s holidays. Always seems to happen, the weather is much more settled in Feb/March just as the children go back to school! Here in the east the weather has been great and I have had to keep watering my pots of tomatoes. It is supposed to be heavy rain all day here but it hasn’t started yet! They have been telling us it will rain for the last few days but the best we got was one afternoon for about 30 mins so I still had to water.
Have a great day everyone. See you tomorrow
Sorry that you aren’t getting enough rain which makes watering required. Sounds like here in the summer except that we have zero rain most of the time. Here we have another sunny day which is so appreciated. We about have both houses cleaned up from leaves and other things the recent storms knocked down. Looks like frost tonight so I’ll be covering porch plants. Take care.
Ha Ha Jeanne!
My son and his wife, who live in Mokena, are here visiting, but I regularly check the weather for that part of the country (since I’m originally from the Midwest, and most of my siblings ALSO still live there). What I noted was that it was going to be very cold for Christmas!! BRRR!! I’ve lived in the warm southwest too long to fathom those temps any more!!!
That puzzle is very cool!