Happy Birthday to Me!

Another birthday, another year older. Sure beats the alternative! This year, I decided to do things a little differently. As usual, I shopped online several weeks ago, selecting the birthday gifts I wanted. But this year, instead of opening the packages as they arrived, I turned them over to the girls saying, "Give these to me on my birthday. They will be your gifts to me." Pretty slick, no?

This morning, this is the bounty that awaited me! The sock yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company, check. The arty, stamping-type goodies from Sunday International, check. The birthday cards from my sister and my friend Beverly, both of which arrived yesterday and sat waiting to be opened today, check.

But wait! What else do we have here? A lovely handmade card from Meital! And what else?
Oh my! A lovely beaded necklace made by Liat! A beautiful pair of earrings, purchased by Meital! Wow. Just when I thought I'd made things easy for the girls, gift-giving-wise, they surprise me like this. In truth, the best gift I have in my life is these two wonderful, thoughtful, and lovely girls.

Okay, I'll stop gushing. For now. Because I also need to show you what I picked up at the post office today:
Books! Even better, knitting books! I've been eager to get my hands on A History of Hand Knitting. I mean, what could be better than a book about the history of one of my favorite things?! (After all, I was a history major in college). But even that pales next to the wonder that is Alison's book. I searched high and low for Wrapped in Comfort while we were in the U.S. this past summer. I am beyond thrilled and delighted to have this beautiful volume in my knitting library. I am not only eager to pick out a pattern and start knitting, but I am so looking forward to reading all the touching, superbly written stories in the book, told as only Alison can tell them. If you're a knitter and don't yet have this book, do yourself a favor and go get it! You won't be sorry.

But wait, there's more! I took the girls with me to the community center this afternoon, where we handed out candy to the kids while I explained to them that today was my birthday and I wanted them to celebrate it, too. It was great to see them, and I even got to see Ortal, a fifth grader I know from last year who wasn't there when I visited last week. And so, I got to add another gift to my birthday bounty.

Right now, Avi is making my specially-requested birthday dinner (and let me tell you, it smells heavenly!). And after dinner, I will finish up the last of the toe decreases on the cursed Conwy socks, and have them, at long last, off my needles.

And tomorrow, I'll tell you all about my experiences with these socks, and show you photos.