My weekly exercise in gratitude – three things that are making me smile – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog [or Twitter account or Facebook page or diary or life in general] with happiness.
First, things arriving in the post. I love to receive letters and cards and parcels, especially when they have been sent by friends. The post this week has yielded two of these things – a card from Cathy and a parcel from Ann. Both made me smile a lot.

lovely arrivals

I think I can spare some!
Second, sending things in the post. Although I don’t ‘do’ Christmas, I decided this year to participate in Sewchet’s Crafty Secret Santa event… Stitching Santa. Basically, you are allocated a person to send a little gift parcel to and you receive one from someone else; there’s a budget but you can add extra bits and bobs that you have from your stash. I’m taking part in the knitting/crochet version, but there’s a sewing version too. I’m having fun reading my recipient’s blog and trying to decide what to include in her parcel. I really think I must send some Cambrian Mountains wool and some vintage buttons and some of my spare stitch markers, plus I’d like to make something… I have so many ideas! The suggestion is that everyone opens their parcel on Christmas day, but I may keep mine until my birthday a week later since I rarely receive presents because everyone is so busy with Christmas/New Year that they either forget or just don’t bother. I’m sure my gifter won’t mind a little delay in getting thanks. Oh and I have a parcel to pack up and send to the Beasties too.
Third, 100 swims. Yes, that’s right; so far in 2017 I have been swimming 100 times. That must be a cause for celebration, and must mean that I’m getting fitter.
So, that’s some of what’s making me happy this week. How about you?
-oOo-
Emily of Nerd in the Brain originally created Three Things Thursday, but it’s now being hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.
katechiconi
/ November 9, 2017My three things are a new embroidery project, fresh bread and butter, and finishing a set of curtains I’ve been making for the caravan – at last!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 9, 2017So it sound’s like your digestive system is happy… it really is hard to beat a good piece of bread and butter.
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katechiconi
/ November 9, 2017Especially when it’s home made and fresh out of the oven 🙂
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quietwatercraft
/ November 9, 2017Wow well done on 100 swims! I’m still trying to decide what to send to my stitchingsanta partner – there’s just too much choice.
This week I’m grateful for the NHS (again!), a brilliant manager who lets me have time off work when I need it, and lovely people who check up on me 🙂
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Ann Pole
/ November 9, 2017Enjoy your read!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ November 9, 2017I do like receiving letters. Real mail with little inclusions is just so happy making! Well done on the swimming – do you feel better for it? And you must be toning up which is always good. I don’t like the chlorine in public pools, so I can only swim in the sea (Brrrrrrrr!) or my big long private pool 😀 I’m doing Secret Santa too for the first time and reading through the recipients blog is fascinating – hunting for clues is a whole new way of reading posts.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 10, 2017I’m finding it a bit difficult to pinpoint my recipient’s particular interests… she seems so busy with all sorts of things. As you say, it’s like hunting for clues.
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nanacathy2
/ November 9, 2017100 swims, 100 swims, ONE HUNDRED SWIMS! I salute you!
I have spent the morning on family history and have made progress, so I am grateful to myself for making progress finally. Then it was poetry group so I am grateful for poetry. And it’s my youngests birthday this week and I am grateful that I am his Mum.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 10, 2017Yes, I was very excited to realise I’d got to triple figures, but it’s habit now so it’s part of my life. I didn’t go this morning, though, as I wanted to stock up on veg and the veg man only has his stall on Friday.
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Shirley
/ November 9, 2017Wow, well done on the 100 swims 🙂
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anne54
/ November 9, 2017One of the lovely things about the Stitching Santa (which I did last year) is making connections with new people. That’s always good, and now there are so many different ways to keep in touch via various social media. But I must send some real mail too…..
Top of my three things this week is the birth of my great-nephew Archie! We now have four generations in our family, and that’s pretty special. Second thing, having a birthday morning tea for my good friend Denise. Third, planting tomatoes; that’s a sign of summer coming.
Enjoy your week!
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Laurie Graves
/ November 9, 2017Nice!
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Born To Organize
/ November 13, 2017100 swims! Well done, well done. That stitching Santa seems like so much fun, but I find myself feeling overwhelmed each year. I have a great time clicking through to all the blogs posts though. It’s really a lot of fun.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 13, 2017Because I generally don’t ‘do’ Christmas, choosing a project like Stitching Santa is just a joy. I really like giving gifts and this allows me to be generous to someone I don’t know.
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Born To Organize
/ November 14, 2017Now that my boys are adults, our Christmas is fairly subdued as well. I do give gifts to a handful of friends, mostly food or a donation in their honor. Giving, on any level, can be a joyful experience. Surprise-giving is especially fun. I’m looking forward to seeing all the fun gifts that exchange hands…and countries.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ November 17, 2017My biggest joy this week was being surprised by the lovely parcel you mentioned in this post! Thanks again! 😀 And congratulations on your 100 swims – I’ve had to let my swimming slide lately because I’m so busy, but I might treat myself to a dip in the coming week if I get all my urgent commissions finished!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ November 17, 2017No commissions for me at the moment… I’ve been keeping very quiet about the possibility. I’m so glad that you enjoyed the parcel.
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