World travel and being blessed

My son and his wife are off to tour China today. On Thursday, my youngest daughter comes home from London, England for 10 days. Then my brother, who lives in British Columbia and who turns 60 today, arrived on Sunday and is visiting with his daughters - two of whom gave birth not long ago.

I am truly blessed and have received some wonderful things in the mail lately.

My friend over at Magpie's Mumblings is de-cluttering in preparation to moving and all I had to do is be the first one to say I wanted this and also to make a donation to an animal shelter. It is an embroidered cushion cover but I plan on framing it because...

I have this one and to me, it feels like I now have a positive and a negative which I will hang side by side when I frame the black one. This one was embroidered by my mother's uncle's second wife (his first wife was my mom's aunt.) I loved this as soon as I saw it and my mom framed it one year and gave it to me either at Christmas or my birthday. It has been hanging on one wall or another ever since.

I won this book Inspired by Tradition by Kay Mackenzie (with a CD that gives you the blocks in various sizes so you don't have to make a trip to a photocopier) from Chatterbox Quilts Chit Chat while I was making the rounds of the blog book tour. It's full of wonderful applique patterns and explanations on various applique techniques.

 And these cute little penguin buttons were a giveaway win from Button Mad all the way from South Africa.

This gorgeous bag with a needlebook came from Norway. They are so well made by Laila at Stofftausa and I was so surprised when I opened the package. I signed up for her Pay It Foward last year and now it's my turn to make something for those who signed up. Thank you Laila. I have started on a couple of things but since baby stuff is taking over my time right now, it will be a little while before I get back to finishing.

And lastly, this is what I was presented with last night. I have wanted to go see this musical even before it arrived in Toronto. With a little hint to the family on a suggestion for an early Mother's Day gift and voila, they listened. It's tonight and it's early - 7:00 p.m. so I have to get stuff done before I go.

I am very blessed. I hope you all have a great day and a great week.