Saturday, October 2, 2010

A postal employee, a full mailbox, then Bleubeard gets nipped

This tale begins quite sad. It is about a postal employee who couldn't keep up with her route. Our regular postman, the one I often complain about who has the "attitude," was on vacation for three days this week, and the gal who took his place couldn't do both her route and his (which is mine) in the same day. So she left the mail at the post office. I learned this on Thursday when another postal employee came up with a stack of mail, including two packages. Yesterday I got a mailbox full of mail. I just happened to be walking outside as the gal was stuffing the mail in my box. I asked her again what happened, since she was the same person I had talked to on Thursday. Thursday I learned that the gal had been fired for leaving the mail. According to the postal employee, that same day postal inspectors had gone to her home and retrieved bag after bag of mail that she had taken home, all unopened, but never delivered. Apparently, if she couldn't deliver the mail, she took it home so no one would be the wiser. I guess I won't complain too much about my regular mail carrier anymore, although I haven't seen him through this whole debacle.

Now I admit, this photo is staged (and very poorly lit, too). My box was much fuller on both Thursday and Friday. The large box from Melinda at Melinda's Fabric Fancies, and white envelope from Jo at JoZart, I received on Thursday, the green one from Tess at The HeART of Words on Friday. Tess lives about two hours from me, yet her gift took over two weeks to reach me. I could have walked to her house to get it, had I known.

So what about all the thoughtful gifts in the packages? Well, there were two gorgeous ATCs handmade by Tess in the Tyvek painted envelope. Behind that is a stunning dimensional card from Jo, along with these darling, adorable, wonderful Rocking Horses on clothes pins that she brought all the way from Germany to the UK, then sent them to me. Also, there are two chocolate bars from the UK. And finally a gift from Melinda that I won. Truthfully, I don't even remember entering the giveaway, but I'm sure glad I won it!!

I thought I would use my WOYWW easel sent to me by Julia and her talented Mr. Dunnit to show off these lovely ATCs.

However, the lighting was not right and I ended up having to hold this one so you could see its beauty. Tess really made my day with these very personal gifts. And that handpainted and decorated Tyvek envelope was the perfect thing to make my "green" heart sing. A very belated thank you goes to Tess, who probably thought I spaced her thoughtful gift off.

Next are the lovely and oh-so-personal gifts I received from Jo. One of the horses freed itself from a clothes pin, but that is nothing a little glue can't cure. After all, who knows where those poor babies have been and how long they've been cooped up in that envelope. I'm surprised they didn't eat the chocolate while they waited to be rescued.

You can also see the stunning card that Jo made and included in the gift. Her thoughtful words touched me deeply and I am so grateful I "met" her through WOYWW. And I am so happy and thankful for such a sweet and thoughtful gesture. A big thank you to Jo.

Finally, I won Melinda's giveaway and this is what she made me. The beautiful heart is filled with lavender and it smelled so wonderful when I opened the box. Not only that, it is a beautiful piece of handmade goodness, too. She also sent me some Raspberry cookies, some Lavender Earl Grey Tea (which I promise to use one of these Tuesdays) and a package of mints I didn't notice were left in the bag until I was cleaning up and putting things away.

Also as part of the gift, Melinda made Bleubeard a catnip toy. Now I must admit, he has never, EVER cared for catnip. I bought some at the Spice Merchant and he wouldn't touch it. Marlynn from Honeysuckle Breeze sent cat toys with catnip in them and he walked away uninterested. So, when I read Melinda's cat was impressed, I thought I would hate to be an ingrate and have Mr. Spoiled, aka Bleubeard, turn his nose up to the thoughtful gift. As an aside, Miss Kitty and Egmont are trying to get me to start a Bleubeard blog (say that three times fast), even though he is camera phobic. So I've also been trying to get him used to the camera. If only he would act grateful, I would not have to slink away with a silent apology.

I no sooner set the toy on the floor in the living room where he was waiting patiently for me, when he was up sniffing the toy.

All of a sudden, he made these mewing noises

and began rolling around and rubbing his face on the toy.

After about 100 out-of-focus photos, he was in a playful mood,

and began lifting the toy.

More out of focus rolling and mewing ensued. Look at that back leg in relation to the front ones. This was one moving cat!

And now he had the toy in his mouth and flipped it over. Of course, that was one or more of the next 60 or so shots that were too out of focus to share.

A rare time he was still at the exact time I took the photo

didn't last long because he was once again rolling all over the living room floor.

Finally, he was quiet enough I was able to get a half way decent shot of him. I hope Melinda is happy because I was thrilled. Not sure where she got her catnip, but he's never, ever acted like a crazed kitten on drugs before. Thank you again, Melinda for providing a very happy ending to today's tale (or tail)!

Today's blog will appeal to about half of my readers. It is one that, according to their site, is for "painter, sculptor, photographer, graphic artist, . . . ." Passion 4 Art provides resources for visual artists and also shows their art. There are many artists' works on this site. When you get to the home page, click on "Gallery" on the top menu and you will be taken to more artists than you can visit in a weekend. Each artist has several works in his/her portfolio, too. Unless you do nothing more than click on artists, you won't get through all of them in one setting. So if you are tired of looking at a nipped cat and a blogger whose art has dried up, you will be in for a real treat at Passion 4 Art. Have a great weekend and please find my mojo/muse/or whatever you call it, and return it to me.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Victoria said...

Yay....Such lovely gifts..wonderful!! and such a cute lkittle kitty...awww!! have a super wkd!
Victoria~

Lovey said...

Wow, bad postal x-employee!
Glad you got ALL your mail!

Diane said...

Oh would you look at all of these--wonderful!! That mail story is a horror story--I gasped--nobody better be doing that to my mail--it's my only connection to the outside world ;)
P.S. I got to to see the other post (photos)--love what you've done with the cabinet with all of those cool dresses--such fun!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Well just look at Bleubeard! That's what cats usually do with catnip toys but obviously he's only just got the message LOL What a lot of wonderful things Elizabeth and how kind of Jo to think of you when she spotted the pegs with rocking horses on ;-)
It was shocking that the postal worker took sacks of mail home to hide but how can they expect someone to do the work of 2 people? If they really thought she could do that then do they think they employ too many people?
I'd forgotten actually I could use the garden kneeler pads - I ahve tried it befor. I bought one for £1 just to cut a piece off to use as a background stamp as it has a small pattern in it, have also cut up small pieces to make another stampe with. But haven't found a suitabel adhesive to stick the pieces down that will allow my to wash it under the tap (faucet to you ;-))
Anne xx

Halle said...

Bluebeard is too funny! Drunken kitty. Awesome goodies for you too!! Lucky gal.

Dianne said...

Beautiful gifties! And Bleubeard looks like he's having fun!

Dianne said...

wow, that is a very interesting story about the mail carriers...I guess they are under a lot of pressure, but I would never guess that someone would hoard it!! glad you finally got your goodies & we got to see them! woohoo for Bluebeard! what a hoot...

Pia said...

hi. i am the friend of lanie whose niece died of brain cancer just recently. thank you for praying. it is very much appreciated. things are done differently here in the philippines unfortunately. but God made a way. i posted an update regarding rulaine's situation. thank you very much for praying.

God bless you and yours.

Marfi-topia said...

what great gifts!
thank goodness you got your packages!
and thank you for the pictures of Bleubeard...they are adorable!!!

Terri Kahrs said...

Oh, my goodness! The truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction, Elizabeth! My mom had a mail carrier a few years ago who did exactly the same thing!!!! There were days and days of 'no mail', and then she'd got a few pieces here and there. Unbelievable!!!! Heh, heh, heh, on a different note . . . . I really got a kick hearing how Bleubeard got 'nipped'!!! Goes to show, you can't ever predict anything when it comes to animals and children!!!! Hugs, Terri xoxoxo

JoZart Designs said...

That is an amazing story but the outcome proved that good will reign supreme. You were meant to get that mail and it just made it all more of a treasure. I'm so happy the little horses made it in the end and thanks for letting me know.
Thanks for telling me that my posting on Wednesday never happened. I think when I posted really early , after getting up at 6 am with my little grandee, that I was No 13..... now I've just reposted and I am last at 144!!!
I sent you 3 comments last week and it all went into cyberspace.
Such a lovely story about Bleubeard too!
Hugs JoZarty x

Cynthia Schelzig said...

Well you had me laughing ...good post:)...what a story about the mail person,,,what a great day for mail even though it was alll a week or two late:) and most of all Mr. Beautiful...I was laughing...as my cat, Benny...is a NUT for nip and acts like a fool with his toy...so I know what your cutie was acting like...Have a great weekend,

Healing Woman said...

Be patient Elizabeth, your muse is out having a good time somewhere~

Cat said...

Hello Bluebeard and Elizabeth, I wanted to thank you for leaving a comment on my blog when Molly died. We're trying to drop by to visit everyone who offered us such comfort :-)

Sunshine Girl said...

Hope all your mail issues get sorted soon and so glad that you did actually receive all those lovely gifts too! - thanks for the inspiration that your blog always provides me - I have just left you an award for having such a lovely blog on my blog - its at http://www.sunshinegirlnicola.blogspot.com/ - Nicki (aka Sunshine Girl)

Unknown said...

I am so glad you got your gift.....
Bluebeard made me laugh...he definitely was liking it and here is the secret....I grew it! maybe the stuff you buy isnt as strong. I know I had to hide the package wrapped to mail in the closet because Bobbins kept trying to open it.......funny!

Teresa aka Tess said...

What a disgruntled postal tale that was. So glad they thoughtt o show up at her home. I'm pleased you like your gift and glad it made it through the mail. I wondered about the envelope but just had to gice it a try. bluebeard was cute playing in catnip land. Sweet!

Anonymous said...

That was a fun post, I enjoyed it. I Love getting mail, so I must get thrilled vicariously when someone else gets cool packages!
A

Seth said...

Wow...what a story about the mail. But in the end it looks like a whole bunch of treasures were delivered!

Mary S. Hunt said...

i think the snippets of photos is better than the whole thing actually
it looks like you cropped them artfully
and makes a person click it to get the whole scene
pretty clever if you ask me!