(to be read in a sweet Southern accent..) "I depend on the kindness of strangers.."

I don't know if it was Vivian Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire who first uttered the words..

"I depend on the kindness of strangers.."

.. but lately I have been so overwhelmed by.. the kindness of strangers..

..no, actually, not really strangers..

Definition of 'stranger'

• • - unfamiliar person: somebody whom somebody else does not know
• • - newcomer: somebody who is new to a place
• • - outsider: somebody who does not belong to a specific organization or group

I have received some sweet and thoughtful gifts this week..from what some people might dub as ..total strangers..

But I don't feel that they are strangers.....at least not in the true sense of the word.

One is a friend of my sister Kathy's..she knows Kathy well..and she reads my blog.

( Pauline reads..and well Kathy does too, reads..my blog..they both know how to read..)

But I have never met her.

(Pauline..I've met Kathy..she's my sister.....)

But I know her. Pauline..and Kathy. And Betty (another friend of my sisters that I was lucky enough to meet in person) speak very highly of Pauline..

They all walk together and all are in a group of friends that support each other, care for each other and, it seems, adopt little sisters... heehee :-)

So I reap the benefits of Kathy's out-going personality by having her share her friends with me..long distance...

(they are all in Lake Havasu Arizona and I'm, well, not........in Lake Havasu....actually, they'e not in Lake Havasu..that's be silly! They live in the city of Lake Havasu..) spell check is having a heck of a time with Lake Havasu...

Anyway..Pauline read where I have started a love affair with fabric..and she just happened to know I use scraps and tid-bits in my newest hobby of fabric collage.

And just look what she sent me..

oh, Cath Kidston called...she wants her fabric back :-)

Can you even believe this fun and exciting box being delivered to YOUR doorstep??!! I was like a kid on Christmas morning...opening and digging and squealing with delight..

ribbons and trims and lace and strips and squares...

..and hankies!!

Be still my heart! ..well, not really..keep beating so I can play with all of this :-)

oh..and not to forget Mr. B...
oh..and not to forget all of you..

And then there's Laurie from http://lauriescharmingdesigns.blogspot.com/

I won her blog giveaway (!) and she sent this too too darling spoon easel with a double-sided hand painted charm..

may I present..side one:
..and with equal gusto, side two:

..and then there's the side view:

..and let's not forget the view from above:

..The End...the tail end...um.....view:

..she even decorated the envelope with hand painted roses ♥....

So, as you can see, these ladies are not strangers at all...just good friends I haven't met...YET.

But when I do, it will be more like a reunion that a first time meeting. Of that I'm certain..

Have a friendly, sweet, charming Saturday and know I am sooo very thankful to these women and to all of you who read and laugh and cry right along with me...

-me