Wednesday, February 04, 2009

The blessing of a friend!

One thing I love in Holland is the fact that there are mail slots in the front doors. Your mail falls right onto your doormat. I love the old fashioned feel of hearing it plop onto the doormat. In this modern age, it is often bills or bank statements as handwritten cards and letters are scarce. So imagine my thrill just now as I heard the mail fall and went to pick it up where to my surprise I found a package for me.

It was from my blogging friend Mary who sent me a sweet gift and good thoughts over my health. I am so touched by this!

As many of your know, I love and collect vintage books. Mary sent me a book she found at her favorite antique shop.

This books is from 1917 and is a school primer. I love the fact that it is about the Dutch twins Kit and Kat. The pencil drawings in the books are so adorable.


Thank you so much dear Mary. I will treasure this book which I add to my collection but even more I treasure the caring and loving thought behind you sending it. I am glad to call you friend!


17 comments:

Nancy said...

That is just about the cutest old book find I have ever seen. It is darling and soooo fitting for you.
I know you, and you will treasure this book like it is a piece of Gold. That was a great find. Mary, even I thank you for doing this for Heidi, you are very thoughtful. Have fun reading now Heidi.
Love Mom

Mary said...

So glad it was a pleasant surprise Heidi - I just thought it was a perfect book for your collection, and I loved the pencil drawings too!
Thanks for your generous words - I do consider you my friend and hope SO MUCH we can meet in person (with your Mom) some day in the future - in England or Holland!

Hope today is a good one for you. We had just a dusting of snow last evening but this morning it's bright and sunny, though freezing cold! My painter is working diligently - luckily the dining room faces South and the sunlight is streaming in through the big window - so hopefully he doesn't miss any spots!!!

Sending hugs - Mary.

LissyLou said...

Oh that is lovely, and the book looks great too. xx

Carolien said...

What a lovely, sweet gift!

Take care & hugs, Carolien

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Oh those illustrations are lovely. Looks like they are done in charcoal pencil maybe? Rather than pen and ink. Charming!

The whole book is charming, I'm sure. As must be the lady who sent it to you. And such lovely penmanship she has too!

I like to try to write letters. But my penmanship always lets me down. -sigh-

Continued good wishes for your health.

Aunt Amelia
"To shorten winter, borrow some money due in spring."
~W.J. Vogel

Tammy said...

What a lovely book and beautiful friend you have. I too have a thyroid condition although not the same as yours but know the worries that can go with "not knowing" what is wrong and visiting doctors...Heidi you are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope you are healthy again very soon.

HAWTHORN HALL said...

That is a really lovely gift - I love old books also. Beside the look of the pictures, I like the idea that someone else owned them and hopefully enjoyed them also. I really like the music you have playing today.

Gillian

Tone said...

How wonderful getting such a nice greeting at daytime.... - and you deserve it! Hope you ll get well soon!!
I remember this sound of the mailman coming when I was an aupair in London..........and one time, through the door...I got a golden ring from my boyfriend in Norway - he was in the navy at that time. And he did not have very much money. The ring appeared early in the morning, and I remember I sat down on the stairs and cried. hehe - 25 years and a few more goldrings later, this boyfriend is now my husband! -
have a good night sleep! - I am sitting here doing some work...hate that so late in the evening... - would rather knit or paint or something...
Wondering about getting a new job, I think its time, this year sometime...
Tone

Barbara said...

What a lovely gift.

Hugs,
Barbara

Linda said...

What a sweet book....lovely addtion to your collection. Hugs, Linda

Anonymous said...

Hallo Heidie,
Wat een lief kado heb je gekregen ! Ben zo blij voor je dat de uitslag uit het ziekenhuis betekent dat je niet geopereerd hoeft te worden. Kan me heel goed voorstellen dat je altijd bange vermoedens hebt bij al die onderzoeken ! Als je nu maar snel met medicatie kunt gaan beginnen dan voel je je straks vast stukken beter :)
Sanne stuurt je vandaag of morgen een mail ! Zij heeft al foto's gemaakt van haar "werkstuk"!!
Gaan jullie nog geregeld naar Cranberrie Cottage ? Misschien kunnen we een keer afspreken, ik zou toch graag nog een keertje naar het dorpje Moddergat willen gaan, en dan zijn we niet zo ver bij jullie uit de buurt :)
Groetjes, Janneke.

Pondside said...

What a lovely surprise - and how thoughtful. I enjoyed looking at the photos from the book - so simple and joyful.

le ciel flamand said...

Die tekeningen zijn prachtig. Ik heb van die oude onderzetters voor kookpotten met van die Hollandse figuurtjes erop, maar ik ben er heel voorzichtig mee, je komt ze bijna niet meer tegen op rommelmarkten.
Groetjes, Annelies

Tone said...

Just passing by to wish you a pleasant weekend!!
Here in Ås the snow keep on coming from the sky....kids on ski (mom as well I hope, during this weekend!) - but I cant stand driving the car in this terrible weather...

Take care!! Tone

angelasweby said...

Oh heidi,
What a beautiful and really thoughtful gift from Mary. She is such a caring person. The little book is so so sweet. I love the illustrations and the little extract has definitely whetted my appetite.

I love the postman popping letters and fat envelopes through the letter box. It's a real joy. We didn't have that in Cyprus and I really missed it.
Enjoy your gifts.
Hugs, Angela

Barbara Allen Moore said...

What a great book! Those drawings would make great embroidery paterns! Recently I was shopping the local Goodwill store and found a 1919 Edgar Rice Burroughs novel "The Warlord of Mars". Inside was an inscription wishing best wishes to someone that was ill from a boy scout troop. The wishes were dated June 1, 1929. I love finding those lovely sentiments in books. Once I even found a bank note for a loan dated in the 1800's. I hope it was paid. That book was filled with wonderful calligraphy capital letters and woodcut prints. Thanks for sharing. Barb in Nebraska

American Homemaker said...

What a sweet book!