The empty nest flies across the ocean

After my exciting day yesterday, which you can read about here, I also had an exciting homecoming - all in all it was a bit of a day for a quiet country mouse, and I felt overcome by it all - and I think you might have done, too, if you had come home to this.

It's a bit difficult to see quite how large it is from the photo - if I were the sensible sort I would have put a pound coin in for scale, but I think you have all realized now that I am not nearly sensible enough, and if you haven't noticed, why thank you most kindly.

Ginormous parcel

I was sitting most quietly in front of Hermione's sister, tip tapping away about the excitement of spending part of yesterday afternoon on a sofa next to a famous gardener, when the Head Chef staggered in under the weight of the most enormous air mail parcel that I have ever received.

(It was so gigantic that Posty Wayne had to leave a little note on a smaller envelope saying that a very big package was hiding in the blue wheely bin, awaiting my innocent return.)

Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw this - but you can see that I truly sensed its magnificence by the fact that I stopped to take a photo. It was so beautifully wrapped that I felt that I must record such a parcel for posterity.

And what treasures did that ginormous parcel hold? you may be asking - and well may you ask. Just sit yourself down, or hold onto something quite stable first, while I explain all.

My beautiful new summer bag

The lovely Janet at The Empty Nest emailed me recently to say that I had won her giveaway of a bag and some fabric.

This is the bag - which is just the loveliest thing (I had been looking for a summer bag, and lo and behold! a most beautiful one turns up in the post) - and this is the fabric.

Heaps ...

I opened that bag and the cornucopia of fabric gorgeousness which came tumbling out in yards and half yards quite took my breath away (yes, again - it was a very overcoming day). I was so touched by Janet's generosity and kindness in sending this huge bundle of textile goodness across the seas that really words failed me (and you probably have realized by now, even if you are still under the impression that I am sensible, that I am rarely lost for words).

and heaps ...

So once again a most ginormous thank you to Janet from the very bottom of my welly boots, and I also recommend that you go and look at her lovely blog, where she makes things and restores and repaints furniture as well, all recorded in beautifully photographed detail - and maybe you can also tell her what a kind and generous person she is, too.

... and heaps of lovely fabric