A short while ago I signed up for a valentine swap.

Then we had buckets and buckets of snow, ate fondue, made blizzard cakes, posted videos of our laundry room, and all manner of other things that led to the collapse of the Postal Service. I was without mail for a whole week which makes me more than a little cranky – you see, I had important things to send and delightful things to expect.

Fortunately this morning the dozers appeared on our street and with them – our mail. My swap arrived safely, goodies in tact, despite all the odds.

I think only of the song “My Favorite Things” when I see this picture -

It is a paper package tied up with string, after all.

My swap buddy does such beautiful things with a crochet hook and sewing machine. You’d better believe I want to make a pair of these for myself.  Until then, I will be content to gaze at this:

Darling.

My valentine, however, captured my heart entirely:

First of all, the stitched lettering. Second, the ruffled edges. Third, the pushpins. Yes, my valentine sent me pushpins – on a cardboard heart. So edgy, but so adorable. Be still my punk rock heart! You see, Mrs Bobbin read about my woes with the paper chain and knew I needed the pushpins.

Securely fastened, still counting down (only 34 links remaining).

Lovely.

But, as though it weren’t enough, there was more in my little box

I was most pleased to find that they survived the trip through mail and blizzard. Not even one of these delicious cookies was broken! They were still soft and yummy when they reached my mouth.

Thank you, sweet Mrs Bobbin, for your wonderful valentine swap goodies. Yes, it is hilarious that we both made cookies, and our valentines have something in common as well – you’ll see it when I know my swap buddy has gotten it.

Also a thank you to first milk maid for organizing this whole thing.