Thursday 11 October 2018

50th Birthday Gifts

My birthday was at the beginning of September and I received some really lovely gifts. In fact, I received one or two belated gifts too, one of which was from my lovely blog friend, Susan. She lives a very long way away over in Australia, though I have met her a few times when she's been over in the UK. She blogs at Granny Smith's Quilting.

A parcel arrived towards the end of September and as I hadn't ordered anything, I wondered what it could be. There was a card enclosed with the gift which had the most lovely words.


Oh my word, I wasn't expecting what I found inside the wrapping, the most wonderful portrait of Archie which has been painted on slate. Isn't it fabulous? And unusual too.


It was painted by one of Susan's friends, Kate. You can find her website here. Kate really has got such a good likeness of Archie in the painting, right down to the little brown patch on his cheek. It deserves pride of place so I must find the most perfect place to hang it. Thank you, Susan, it's such a lovely, and unusual, gift.

My lovely friend, Maggie, who blogs at BlackCountry Wench bought me a bumper gift of knitting goodies.


She knows me so well as I love everything in this package. Beautiful Craft House Magic yarn in the Time After Time colourway, Regia Pairfect yarn which I've been wanting to try for ages, and Wrapture wool wash which has a gorgeous scent, my woolens will smell fabulous. She also bought me a project bible and WIP cards, which will come in very handy as I usually jot things down on bits of paper and end up losing them. I'm a bit of a stationery geek so these are right up my street. I've got to admit that the Toffifees which were also in the parcel have long gone. Yum yum!

Thank you so much, Maggie, such a thoughtful gift, I shall enjoy using everything.

Lisa, my oldest blog friend who blogs at Jumble and Jelly, celebrated her 50th birthday just six weeks before I celebrated mine. She knows I love my garden so she bought me a National Garden gift card so that I can choose something myself.


Isn't that hedgehog the cutest? Thank you, Lisa. I think I'll buy a lovely plant which will remind me of our friendship whenever I look at it. I'm enjoying doing a bit of research to find something I really love.

I'm so lucky to have made such fabulous friends through this wonderful world of blogging.

54 comments:

  1. Really Happy Post there and all so lovely. your giftees put a great deal of thought into the parcels.

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    1. They've all picked out my most favourite things, they know me so well.

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  2. Lovely gifts all well thought out, you have wonderful friends.

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    1. I really do. All so generous, such lovely gifts.

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  3. Many happy returns for the day :) You got some lovely gifts. I especially love the slate painting of Archie :) I have 2 canvas pictures of our old dogs Taffy and Harlow. I still miss them, they were great little characters. Enjoy your day :)

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    1. Thank you. I think pet portraits are a lovely thing to have, especially when our furry friends are no longer with us.

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  4. Blogging is great, isn't it. You have no idea who is going to pick up on your thoughts. Glad the birthday has been so good.

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    1. It's amazing how we connect with people whilst writing our blogs, some from so very far away. Treasured friendships.

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  5. Oh wow Jo all your gifts are wonderful. I especially like the portrait of Archie and will definitely have to hang in pride of place. We had portraits done of the four boys which is lovely especially now that Monty is no longer with us. I still can't believe he's gone and still tell people I have four cavaliers.

    Mitzi

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    1. It's such a sad time when we lose one of our precious friends and the grief can last a long time. The portrait of Monty will be even more special now. I'm thrilled with Archie's portrait, it's so like him.

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  6. Glad you liked everything Jo, I enjoyed choosing gifts for you :-)
    I love the drawing of Archie that Susan sent you, what a great personalized gift and great idea to use your garden voucher to buy a special plant. Enjoy being 50!

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    1. Thank you, again, I loved every part of the gift you gave me. I shall choose a very special project to use the yarn on. I still can't believe I'm 50, I still feel about 25 in my head.

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  7. Nice post and lovely presents. xx

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    1. I'm so lucky to have such generous friends who know me so well.

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  8. Happy Belated Birthday Jo!!! What lovely kind friends you have. The picture of Archie is adorable!

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    1. Thank you. I have, they've picked out the most perfect gifts for me.

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  9. All those gifts are lovely and obviously given with thought, consideration and love. Lucky lady. X

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    1. Very lucky indeed. I was thrilled with all the gifts, they're things I'd have chosen myself.

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  10. Happy belated Birthday wishes, the portrait of Archie is wonderful.

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    1. Thank you. It is, it's so like him, I love it.

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  11. Such wonderful gifts! It's obvious that your bloggy friends know you very well - it truly is the thought behind the gifts that is so touching :)

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    1. I agree, they've all thought about the things I love and that means a great deal to me. I'm lucky to have such wonderful friends.

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  12. Happy belated birthday!!! Your gifts were a lovely way to celebrate turning 50.

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    1. Thank you. I was very spoilt for my 50th birthday, I'm so lucky.

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  13. Lovely, lovely, lovely gifts!!!!!

    Such sweet blogging friends.

    Oh that portrait of Archie. :-))))

    ✨🍁✨🔥✨🍁✨

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    1. They're such lovely friends, I'm very blessed to have met them through this blogging world.

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  14. What lovely and very thoughtful gifts. Your Archie is a handsome chap isn’t he. Sounds like it was a lovely birthday xx

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    1. Archie's been to the groomers this week so he looks even more handsome now. I had a lovely birthday and being remembered by so many lovely friends made it even more special.

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  15. Such thoughtful and generous gifts. Blogging is certainly a blessing.

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    1. I've loved every minute of blogging, I've made some very good friends which truly is a blessing.

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  16. Happy belated 50th! What fab, thoughtful gifts you've received. Lovely!

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    1. Thank you. I received some wonderful gifts, I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful friends.

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  17. I follow Kate's blog, she's very talented. Wonderful likeness of Archie, such a stunning and special gift.

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    1. I'm thrilled to bits with the portrait of Archie, it's so like him. Kate's very talented.

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  18. What fun gifts. I ;ll have to try that wool wash

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    1. The scent of the Wrapture wool wash is gorgeous, my woolens have never smelt so good.

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  19. What lovely gifts. It's always a treat to receive a surprise parcel! x

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    1. All these gifts were complete surprises which made them even better, if that's possible. I've been thoroughly spoilt.

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  20. Such a lovely post.
    You certainly received some very nice and thoughtful gifts.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I was thrilled with all my gifts, I have some very thoughtful friends.

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  21. Thanks for the kind words Jo. You certainly received some lovely gifts for the big 0. Have a great weekend & take care.

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    1. I'm still getting over the fact that I've turned 50, I still don't feel it. Thanks again for the gift, I really love it.

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  22. Such lovely and thoughtful gifts for you. Especially love Archie´s portrait and I´m sure you will be putting the yarns to good use soon enough. Have a good weekend xcx

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    1. I'm looking for a lovely project to use the yarn on, it's a gorgeous colourway so I want to use it on something special. I've got such lovely friends treating me in this way.

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  23. Wishing you a very belated Happy Birthday!
    Blogging does bring some lovely people into your life. And how thoughtful and kind they are!
    I was given some garden vouchers for my birthday too, I'm going to buy some large shrubs, as I usually buy small ones and wait for them to grow.
    xx

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    1. Thank you. I'm so lucky to have such lovely blog friends. I love receiving vouchers, a nice way to be able to treat yourself to something you'd really like.

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  24. All the very best to you Jo. What marvelous gifts, especially that fabulous painting of dear Archie, that is just delightful. Bloggers are great aren't they....xxx

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    1. Thank you. I received some wonderful gifts, and they were all such a surprise. We have such a wonderful community in the blog world.

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  25. Hi Jo - I'm kate (Sue's friend) - just wanted to say thank you for such lovely words about Archie's painting. I should have said something sooner but I've rather busy with our annual art festival. Today I am catching up with all my blog comments :)
    Glad you like the slate x

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    1. You're welcome. I really love the slate and how you've got such a great likeness of Archie. I've been perusing your website and I'm taken with the hares you paint, absolutely beautiful.

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  26. Just look at that portrait of Archie, what a wonderful gift it was! Love the colours of the yarn you were given, all of those things will be so useful with your new projects.
    Lisa x

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    1. Thank you again for the voucher, I shall make a purchase for the garden once I've made a decision about a plant I'd like to buy. I was thrilled with all my gifts, so thoughtful.

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  27. Very interesting post! Your friends are very nice. They have given you really wonderful gifts. I also ordered a beautiful jar from KindNotes for my best friend for her birthday. It is totally surprise for her. Hope she will also like my gift as you liked your friend’s gifts.

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    1. I'm very blessed with such wonderful friends. I'm sure your friend will be thrilled to bits with her gift, you sound like such a thoughtful friend.

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