
I picked up a box of presents sent by my Mom and Pop today. I gave my Mom the bum wrap by telling her to mail it to the P.O. Box, not asking how she would be sending it. UPS doesn't ship to P.O. Boxes. But they were nice and held the box for me. Safe and sound.
and the box is just chock full...

I decided to open the presents as a blogging event, so that my folks could have an experience too. If anything is too personal, I won't share it. But I figured I would open and upload as I went. So far...
Mom and Pop are encouraging my new found, rekindled even, foodie roots. I received my first issue of Gourmet magazine (which I love) last Friday. And made the crackers in the last post, promptly. Now I find that they have also gotten me the subscription to Vegetarian Times. I look forward to my first issue! Yeeeah!

I love that my mom calls me Sweetie.
My mom sent a copy of the review of her book. I haven't read it yet but her proud smile and beautiful photograph brings tears.
Ok, I read it. Mom, keep having the balls to contact and put your name and work out there. I am very proud.

My dad went to the local Quilt store and bought me a stash of fabrics. I love the bright colors he chooses. It is just the way he is and I get him. He loves to wear fuschia, purple, turquoise, it is all bright for my Pop.
And you can't really read it, I didn't want it to be read, really. But there is a note from my Pop. I have always been really fond of both my parents handwriting. I can't explain it really, suffice it to say that when I was a child, I used to study it.

The scarf? It is one of those, I would have pined over it in the store and walked away to regret not purchasing it later. And it is my favorite color with sequins...

Never another cold winter. My folks know how I love warm feet, even if today it is too darned hot to do more than model them, it won't be this hot forever.

And a purse, or is it a backpack? And it fits my journal perfectly. My mom knows that really, I want my stuff on my back, I want my hands free and I need decent pockets.

So this bag by Le Donne, small but just big enough, has a strap that unzips to become shoulder straps, and has a nifty pocket that is hidden from those who might have nefarious intent.
((I just got sorta Lemony Snicket there, didn't I? I didn't really get that series of kids books until I saw the author perform at a reading. He was fantastic.))

And the great thing is, I have been using a really fun plastic tote, which I have been needing a break from. The tote is open and the bummer part of it is that it tips over in the car, spilling my junk all over.
I am going to need to keep my head about my beautiful, new leather bag and allow it to age. The leather is so pretty that as soon as I started to check it out, I worried that the straps would get stained with handling. Well, they are and it will look even prettier soon, right?

And my Pop specifically gave me this thistle bird feeder. Pop started feeding birds when I was a teen. We even had a little budgie who so wanted to land on our first feeder. Poor little guy.
Pop got the Peterson's guide and started to identify the little feathered friends. And I caught the addiction.
And tucked into the feeder was a special little fortune.
Thank you both so very much. I miss you too. Miss, miss, miss you too. I love you like meat sauce over ziti with Coca-Cola in big slurps. I love you like salted peasant bread. Like ricotta cheese and sugar on white bread. I just l-o-v-e, love you both.
And thanks to everyone, everyone who left comments and sent emails. Lisa, JJ, Ang. You all make living so much better.
oh my gosh, what delightful and thoughtful and personal and sweet gifts! And your POP went to the fabric store! how sweet is that. You are very lucky, dear Melly, and clearly very loved. thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jane LaFazio at August 5, 2007 09:39 PMHi Melly
Happy belated birthday! If you were closer, we could share a fabulous meal together to celebrate, my birthday is today! Your parents are terrific to send all the goodies. Enjoy!
And I thought you were waiting until Saturday to open it! This post is so much fun, almost as much fun as being there. I love you more.
Posted by: mom at August 3, 2007 06:08 AM