Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Happy mail, painted for me and mystery plant

So many good things happened over the weekend, I don't even know where to start.  We'll stick to three though.  I helped out at a children's carnival on Saturday for the kids at my church's preschool, which was fun, and had a wedding to look forward to Saturday evening.  When I was getting ready for the wedding, there was a knock on the door.  Neighbor Mike had gotten a package in his mailbox meant for me, and he handed it over:

- It was my copy of String and Bones, written by my friend Kim.  Kim Talon's first book is available here, from Amazon.com, where I ordered it, and here, directly from the publisher.  And read a Goodreads review here, from someone who couldn't put it down.  I am savoring the thought of reading it this weekend, but may sneak in some reading before.  Happy mail!

- The wedding was the marriage of two friends, who have already been together for 25 years.  It was wonderful to be a part of this event with 140 carefully chosen guests.  Ronnie has always packed lunch for Stephen, which includes a boiled egg.  At some point, Ronnie began writing a message on the egg each day with a Sharpie.  Stephen always photographs them and has made coffee table books from the photos.  So for this event, a year in the planning, Stephen (a talented artist), painted 140 eggs for the 140 guests invited to the wedding.  He says each egg was painted with each wedding guest in mind.  An egg was included in a gift bag that could be picked up as we were leaving.  Stephen announced that you would likely not get the egg meant for you, but to remember that one was painted with you in mind.  Just before I left, he wanted to see the egg I got from the bag I had picked up.  When I lifted the lid of its box, he looked startled and said slowly, "This is the egg I painted for you."  And it has a butterfly and beautiful words.  Click to enlarge.

- When neighbor Rhonda's parents passed away (within a week of each other), she brought some plantings from their home in North Carolina, and transplanted them here at the condos.  My building is the happy recipient of all this beauty.  This planting started out small and I thought it was a weed.  She said, "No!  It's going to be beautiful, you'll see."   It grew and grew over the summer, but astoundingly, it bloomed on Saturday.  When I got home from the wedding around 11pm, I spotted this gorgeous blossom.  I still don't know what this gangly plant with big leaves and pink blossoms is, but it sure is beautiful and made for a peaceful Sunday morning photo shoot.  AND promises more blooms!

15 comments:

Joanne said...

I love that wedding gift idea!! And how perfect that you actually did get the egg meant for you. What are the odds!?

Granny Annie said...

Your friends spoil you and deservedly so.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Lynn - what a great idea .. gosh talented Stephen. Amazing the plant flowered ... I'd love to know what it is .. but can't think ... and then Kim's book - which will be a great read ...

Cheers Hilary

Chatty Crone said...

I too think that is a great idea!!! And I love that egg - it was beautiful.

TALON said...

I love the egg and the story behind it. How they included all their friends in a part of their lives that celebrates their union. Very cool! I love that you got the egg he painted for you. :)

That bloom is gorgeous! Unexpected beauty is always welcome.

I'm so thrilled you will be reading "Strings and Bones" I hope you enjoy it as much as I did in writing it, Lynn. Thank you for your amazing support.

Elephant's Child said...

Good things happened? Most EXCELLENT things happened.
Love them all, and they landed where they were deserved.

Lee said...

What a happy post...one full of love, beauty and joy. Thanks for sharing, Lynn. :)

G. B. Miller said...

Nice.

A great way to start and complete a weekend. I plan on getting a copy of Kim's book as soon as I get my act together.

Major props for being all you can possibly be, 'cause playing it forward sure is good. :D

Sara said...

It's nice to have a weekend filled with "good things happened."

It's great about Talon's book! I'm looking forward to getting my copy. I know she'll appreciate the links!

The surprise about the egg is wonderful. It's amazing how magic things can happen. What's the chance, you'd get the egg he painted for YOU, but you did:~)

A late bloomer,eh? But well worth the wait. It is amazing how things straggly and not so pretty can surprise with sudden beauty!

Happy day, Lynn

Jannie Funster said...

Wow, wow and wow. The name of Kim's book is really intriguing, and I can't wait to have my copy in hand too.

Precious eggs! What a unique idea!

And to think the mystery bloom greeted you after the wedding, cool!!

xoxoxo

Cloudia said...

Glad you enjoyed such a treasures time!




ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3

Anonymous said...

What a lovely egg!

Leonora said...

Your days are chock-full of good things!
Thanks for linking your friend's book- I need to pop over and see about it.

Sparkling Red said...

I have never seen such a beautiful egg. What a lovely idea. En Francais, no less!

Riot Kitty said...

What a lovely gift idea! And so neat that they finally get to get married.