T Stands For Almond Nog Holiday with Gifts

 

  Today is a Federal holiday in the states, although I understand not every state honors it.  This is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.  I suspect other blogs will mention him, too!

Let's start the day bright and early with some Almond Nog in my PBS Kansas mug.

It was, however, time to clear my Christmas vignettes and decorations.

Then it was time to bring out the fabulous cards and gifts I have received this past couple of weeks.  OK, I am NOT George Santos, so I can't tell a lie to make these two photos look like they were taken at the same time as the top two.  If you are an international visitor/T participant and don't know who Santos is, a quick internet search using your favorite search engine will get you up to speed.

I was hoping the sun would come out, but no such luck.  Instead, you will have to put up with my dark dining room table.  

 

Does anyone buy eggnog?  It is wonderful and I only bought it once this year, since it is only available in stores between Thanksgiving and New Year.  Boy was it expensive!!  I paid over $5.00 (USD) for a quart. Imagine my surprise, when right before Christmas I found Almond Nog and it was (WAIT FOR IT) $1.44 (USD) a quart on clearance.  I purchased five quarts, all that were left, and have been drinking binging on it ever since.   I paid about 3 1/3 times less than for a quart of real eggnog.

In all fairness to eggnog, this Almond Nog was not as creamy and thick.  I even added a bit of spices to the nog, too.  However, for the price, I'm loving it.  Now let's open the cards and gifts I received.

 

This stamp was on my friend Patty's envelope.  It is one in a series of National Marine Sanctuaries. Per the USPS web site, this is one of 16 stamps on a sheet of Forever stamps.

 

 

I'm not sure why I didn't remove the letter opener before I took this photo, because nearly everyone knows I love cardinals.

 

There was another bird on the back of the envelope where Patty normally attaches her return address label.

Inside was a card and an insert made from Patty's famous eco-dyed papers.  Aren't they amazing?

A closeup and a note explaining the variables that are possible with this eco-dyeing process.  

These are just as beautiful on the inside.

 

The details are impressive.  Did you notice the lace?  Masterful and gorgeous.  Thank you ever so much for thinking of me, Patty.  Such a beautiful gift.

This is a Brain Coral (paired with a spotty moray eel) postcard postage stamp.  It is also a Forever stamp.  There are four different designs on the sheet of 20 stamps.  Other stamps in the series include the elkhorn coral along with two French angelfish, staghorn coral with blue striped grunts, and a pillar coral paired with a coney grouper and neon gobies.

This lovely quote was by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight who I knew nothing about until I looked him up.  Knights of the round table and all.  Makes a great end of the year quote, though.  In case you didn't know this postcard was sent by dear Kathy in Ozarks.

I was blown away by the beauty of the front of this card.  I adore the little lady bug and the berries that will feed the bird and butterfly through the winter.  Thank you beyond belief, Kathy.  It's adorable.

I was promised some lovely stamps and here they are.  I'm not sure if Elle, who gave me this gift, knew that I had the great fortune of seeing the King Tut exhibit in Los Angeles in 1979, which was part of a school trip.  A highlight of my first, but certainly not last, trip to Los Angeles.  These stamps have a great amount of meaning to me, Elle.  Thank you. 

 

Although this color corrected envelope showed this message, I knew Elle had shown us it was on her envelopes.

 

No matter how many photos I took of this beautiful card, I never got it right.  I hope you can tell it's a deer and the word is Christmas.

I loved the sentiment and Squiggles was SO happy to be included.

Even the reverse was adorable.  LOVE the stretched cat.  And I am loving the fact that Elle thought of me and sent this adorable card and stamps my way. Thanks so very much, Elle.

Who do we know matches her postage stamps to match the cancellation mark?  Our friend and T participant CJ, of course.  The multiple stamp set is called Holiday Elves.

 

  This is the four stamp set.    

 

It took time (and part of the reason I am running late today) to smudge out my address without smudging out our names.  

I hope no one else had that problem because CJ's calligraphy and fancy lettering is gorgeous.

CJ chose a clever card for this cat lover.

I love that CJ also included Calli and Quill, too.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, CJ.  What a beautiful envelope and a darling and fun card.

My final package came from Caty in Spain.  I felt like this was overwhelming when I removed everything and set it on the table.

There were beautiful double sided cards, washi tapes, wooden embellishments, metal embellishments, crocheted roses, and an entire sheet of acrylic stamps.  I felt guilty because I have never sent a single thing to Caty and she often remembers me, like she did this year

with this amazing holiday card.  Again, you are TOO KIND!!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now I've monopolized your time this week, please share your own drink related post.  It can be gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, catalogs, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, handmade cards, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, a favorite mug, cup and saucer, teapot, coffee pot, or even a wine glass. Regardless, please join us by linking below.  Bleubeard and I will gladly visit, as will other T participants.  Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year, as this post proves.  Please remember to visit your fellow T participants.

 

 

 

My internet (or maybe blogger) is very slow.  I have been working on this post since about 9:30 a.m. today.  Sorry to be so late.  I sincerely hope you don't have the same problems I've had all day.