Returning ...

... after a break always feels a little strange, like first opening the door to home after a holiday: curiously quiet but hopefully not for long. Hello! and thank-you for popping in :). Himself is recovering now and was very touched by your messages wishing him well ... Determined though I am to contribute at some point to Julie's wonderful Month in Numbers, in the meantime, as a quick catch-up, will A Dozen Days In Digits do?

• almost 800 miles driven, 4 hospitals visited for 3 poorly loved ones (now in various stages of recovery), and 8 medical appointments attended (as a companion). Phew!
• 3 glorious pieces of post plopped onto the doormat (for more, see below). Wow!
• 15 pounds sterling to replace the work parking permit which I carefully remembered to take off the window of my car when it went for a service, but subsequently forgot to remove from the hire car. Bummer!
• 4 online classes in which I enrolled some time ago, and which I realise now are happening at more or less the same time. Arrgh!
• 5 days of Ali Edward's A Week in The Life which are still languishing in a folder on my desktop and may well never come to state of legible fruition. Sigh!

In the midst of all this, covering much greater distances than I was, a glorious trio of creative kindness was winging its way: a World Book Night present from Jemma at Just JimJams, and very happy mail art from Lisa of Recklinghausen Musings and from Amy who is Over At Our Place, who are taking part in Ginger's inventive Mail Art Exchange. Like a peek?

See that intriguing card full of printed pattern top right? Lisa's stunning work gently unwound to reveal a length of delicately cut and threaded butterflies which is taller than me, and which you can see fluttering down the unit in my workroom in the long thin photo left. They're just lovely! As is the thoughfully-put-together envelope: dance being my word of the year, and Ich werde es nicht vergessen (I will not forget) being so very appropriate for a scrapbooker with family in Germany. And Amy's simply elegant white butterfly is proudly gracing my noticeboard, with Jemma's present happily ensconced on my bedside table. It's been a delight to receive them, and thank-you. :). Oh, I nearly forgot ...

• from the small scrap of card peeking out from under a pile of still-to-do paperwork, I can see that it's less than 72 hours until Ali Edward's 31 Days which starts on the 17th of May. Panic!
• most serendipitously - and which I realised only a few moments ago when popping into Julie's blog for her URL - Julie is Going Postal again this week from the 14th to the 19th. (Does this post count, I wonder?) Do join in: such fun!

I am hoping to catch up with more of you very soon - see you over at yours? :)

Comments

[Lynn]

Nice to see you back Alexa and hope everyone is recovering well - medical matters have certainly dominated. What lovely post to receive!

[Paul B]

Glad to hear everyone is on the road to recovery in your fold. It must be a small slice of joy each time, when in amongst your hectic days, there is waiting for you, a beautiful creative piece of mail art. Moments to treasure :) And isn't it always the way that online classes are like the proverbial buses. I have several self-paced ones which are still awaiting my attention. Have a good week Alexa. Pxx

[Jimjams]

Your buses are certainly all arriving at once Alexa - welcome home, hope all are recovering!

[Amy]

I am starting to worry about the amount of writing that is ahead for Ali's class, but, I think it will be worth it in the end!

It's great to see you pop up in my reader today Alexa, you have been missed! I hope all the patients continue to make a recovery and that you manage to carve out some time for yourself amongst all of the caregiving!

[Julie Kirk]

such a lovely post Alexa - the fact that you take time to honour things like this speaks volumes about you, I'm sure.

I didn't know where to pin you today - I was spoilt for choice! In the end I've popped you on the Going Postal board: http://pinterest.com/notesonpaper/going-postal/

I hope oyu get somethign from each of those classes - I need to go back and pay more attention to the latest one I took - before the content vanishes for good!

Have a lovely week ahead.

Julie x

[Julie Jeavons]

Oh the first mail art exchange post I have read (and mine is still on my desk waiting to be finished (shame on me!))
Glad Himself and the other patients are all on the mend.

[Cheri]

Welcome back Alexa! What a lovely collage you created of all the beautiful things you have been receiving in the mail. Love that string of butterflies! Will be seeing you in class - I'm excited for 31 Things!

[Irene]

So happy to see you back on line. I have been thinking of you and the patients but haven't wanted to intrude. Good news on the recovery fronts. A lovely post of the mail you have received, thank you for sharing. Can't wait for updates on your new courses but do manage to rest in-between. You deserve it!

[Sian]

Much loveliness among all the other things you have been dealing with!

[Bernice]

My first visit via Going Postal. I will be back.

[Jen Hart]

Hello Alexa and so glad to hear everything is going ok. I am sorely tempted by Ali's class, I haven't done one of hers before.

I love all your gifts, wonderful xx Take care of yourself too.

[Debs14]

Those butterflies are just exquisite, what a great idea. So pretty and delicate. Hope that the patient makes a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing back in blogland again very soon.

[Jacky S]

How lovely to receive such 'happy mail'.....and the butterflies are just wonderful.

[Amanda]

Wow that's lots of happy mail lucky you. 4 online classes Alexa? Good luck :)

[Louise]

you're going to be busy for quite some time yet - enjoy your classes.
Love your college of happy mail.

[Alexa]

Hoping you'll decide to join in, Jen - it would be lovely to see you there!

[Alexa]

Hello and welcome, Bernice! Looking forward to getting to know you :).

[Alexa]

Wey-hey, Cheri! Looking forward to seeing you too! Are you all ready?

[Alexa]

Thank-you, Julie - that's lovely of you. :)

[Lisa H]

Hi Alexa. So happy my happy mail arrived in one piece and you've found a home for the banner. And I'm glad that I hit the mark with a few of the words and phrases. I have to say that I struck lucky with "dance" - I must admit that it was just fluke on my part. But it's nice that it worked for you. I knew you would appreciate the German phrases though :-)

[Alexa]

Yes, I understand the 'beginning to worry', Amy. I'm having to think realistically about it too.

[Alexa]

Thank-you, Lynn! Yes, recovery good on two out of three ... and touched you were the first one to post this morning. :)

[Annette]

Oh, happy mail is just the best!

[Karen]

I'm very tempted by Ali's class, but also worried about how I might be able to keep up. On the other hand, it's the kind of class that would get me back into scrapping again which has definitely taken a back seat to cards and photography the last couple of months. You've had a very busy spell. I hope Himself and the others are recovering nicely, and like many others, that you will find some time for your creative endeavors.

[Ginger]

hello Alexa :) Welcome back! I love your collage of items, how wonderful for you :) I will be taking 31 Things too and have done NO preparation. I printed the handouts last week and have not had a chance yet to look them thru, I will likely pick a few topics to write about, you never know, perhaps I will do more than I think ;)

[Gail]

So great to get such lovely happy mail while going through all that you've had going on. Love those butterflies.

[Honoré]

Delighted to read that Himself is doing well and you, too. Always good to return home...as I'm doing and penning this aboard an airplane @ 30,000 feet . Seeing tops of clouds. Thanx for the postal stamp ...what fun and welcome home!
Cheers~

[Missus Wookie]

Glad that everyone is in stages of recovery. Aren't those butterflies a pretty sight as is the envelope. Mail art is such a nice thing.