What the mail brought

Well that was the whole pack and I have already shown you some of these...

...like the birthday card and cross stitch magazines from Brigitte in France....

...the letter and birthday card from Maria Jose in the Acores....

What I didn't show you is the parcel with lovely card and handmade gifts I received from Joanne
aka Nini makes in return for some sea glass I sent her.
Thank you I loved everything!

Spoonful I had shown you, you can read about it  here. And you can order it here.Thanks once again Anthea!

And here is a puchase of a lovely ornament which was on sale from this shop on etsy.Isn't the detail fantastic?

Irene in Italy makes great things!

What the mail brought...

...in December!
Of course December mail was Christmas mail and maybe it is too late to show it but I want all my friends to know that I really appreciated all the things I received, wishes, letters, Christmas cards and presents. I have answered by e-mail to say that I received the parcels but I still owe letters, I know!And there are some people I never sent a Christmas card even but this year I really tried to send as less as possible as postage has gone so high that at times it isn't affordable.
So here are...

Gaby's card and gift from Scotland.Doesn't the Scottish flag look like the Greek one?My school keys are on this now.

 Johanna's Christmas card from Finland,

 Juliana's parcel from Scotland(I have worn this scarf so much this winter J&J)

And there are some great but very difficult patterns in this!

 J&J you sent so much thank you!

  I loved those dishes that you can see in the dark under UV light and filled with beach finds from Kos island.

 Juliana's Xmas card.

Juliana made lovely sea glass ornaments and I use this keyring for my home keys every day.

 Tua's card and driftwood reindeer from Finland,

 Christine's card from France,

 Ruth's card and vintage cross stitch book from Israel. (the book has lovely simple designs. I will use some when I start stitching again when Barca allows it!)

and a parcel from dear Marabeth.

which included this amazing vintage thrift store find. A cross stitch piece that shows the landmark of my city the White Tower and the Greek and American flag. This was probably stitched as a commemorative piece from a Greek lady and given as a gift or kept till not wanted any more. I am so glad Marabeth has an eye for great cross stitch pieces and she got me this!Thanks Marabeth!

 And this lovely cross stitched bag for my sea glass walks.

 Also another find of Marabeth's, a crochet bell for my tree. This year my tree was all cross stitch and crochet ornaments.

 And this lovely heart brooch.

 Cathy's card and letter.

 I loved those stamps.

 Kim's card and calendar.

 Andria's card, calendar and sea glass ornament.You can find similar ornaments and lovely jewelry at Andriasserendipity etsy shop.

 Brigitte's gifts and card. Go to objectifseychelles  if you want to organise yout holidays to the beautiful Seychelles.

 Again thank you all for thinking so warmly of me!

It was my birthday!

On the 28th.
I went to school in the morning.
It was fun playing a recycling game with my 5th graders.

I treated my fellow teachers with this orange pie. Every one loved it.You can find the recipe here.

Coming home I was met with a happy family. Hubby,son, Barca!
I cleaned after Barca, ate fish soup made by hubby, unfortunately not very successful one, and spent the rest of the day with school preparartion and answering e-mails, phone calls and saying thank you to facebook Happy Birthdays! Ok.I would prefer a more lively one, but hubby was under the weather, son was at after school tutoring and Barca was restless!
Anyway here are my gifts.
Hubby updated my computer so now it is much much faster!Great I can blog faster! He also got me a SonyExperia White with his mobile contract for a very good reduced price. But he had given me that weeks ago!I am not yet used to it!Smartphones, my....!What does the name mean? That you should be extra smart to use them?Those touch screen tactile features are beyond me!Anyway I will get used to it!

(photo from the Internet)
Have I told you that the day I got my new mobile I found a Samsung Galaxy in the street? Fortunately I found the owner as well and returned it!
My mum brought me lovely roses.

"She is taking photos! I can go out!"

 "Are they edible?"

Another gift was the blooming of my Christmas cactus.

Finally I received some birthday cards and gifts.
Birthday cards from Brigitte in France, Maria Jose from the Acores, Carolyn and Cathy in England.

" I won't eat those they belong to you!"

And gifts.

Cross stitch magazines from Brigitte.

 Tea cards and Cottage Gardens booklet from Cathy.

Thank you every one for the lovely wishes, gifts, cards, warm thoughts for me!