Sometimes the mail delivery is not worth the walk to the mailbox, but this morning was different.  This morning there were TWO parcels!!!  O happy day!  Here's the group shot -

The Signature circulars have been on my mind for a long time, so I treated myself.  They are seriously awesome stilettos! The cable is so smooth and straight - the needles themselves are pointy and have 'lace' written all over them!  

Look at that pose - they seem to heart me back!  There were other needles that arrived earlier in the week - these are about as sensuous as needles can get - just a peek ...

  

If you go to The Panopticon you can read all about these DPN's.  Everything that Franklin says is true, and then some.  Back to the packages ...

I follow Katherine's blog religiously.  She is an artist, a farmer, a gardener, a baker, an apron maker!  Mostly, she is a power of example to me of how a person might live a meaningful life.  She rescues old donkeys and goats.  She provides a safe and comforting environment for them to live out their last days.  I made a tiny contribution and she sent a lovely bag of lavender buds - so fragrant, evoking high summer afternoon thoughts of the garden, with the bees at one's elbow - her reverence for life, for ALL life, inspires.

When I think of the good work that she is doing, this George Bernard Shaw poem comes to mind, and I hope that she is reading me - I'd like for her to know how much of a treasure she is, how much she and her work means to me.


This is the true joy of life
The being used for a purpose
Recognized by yourself as a mighty one.
The being a force of nature
Instead of a feverish, selfish 
Little clod of ailments and grievances
Complaining that the world will not
Devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life
Belongs to the whole community
And as long as I live,
It is my privilege to do for it
Whatever I can.
I want to be thoroughly
Used up when I die,
For the harder I work the more I live.
I rejoice in life for its own sake.
Life is no brief candle to me.
It is a sort of splendid torch
Which I've got hold of
For the moment
And I want to make it burn
As brightly as possible before
Handing it on to future generations.


You are a Mighty One, Katherine!  Thank you for your kind and compassionate heart.  Thank you for your lavender pouch, I'll treasure it!
Before I go, I want to leave you with this guy ...

This is our old dog, Jack.  He has good days and not-so-good days.  Today he seemed to sense imminent spring in the air- he jumped and hopped like a youngster.  His needs are different now, slower and more measured movements, sometimes confusion in the middle of the night and disconnected barking.  But - he is loved and pampered and we moderate our steps to match his - we watch his diet, his weight, his intake, output.  And he always gets to ride in the truck to the deli on Sunday mornings with his beloved Scott.  When I think about the increased effort that one small dog requires, my mind reels at what Katherine at Apifera deals with on any given day.  Don't waste another moment - go read about Apifera Farm!