Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday-8:45am: Secret Santa Mystery

Exciting Christmas mystery!
I still can't believe it!  :) :)
****
Monday night about 8:30 I am settled in with Karma watching TV and I get buzzed by the front door.  It was a young man from Cashwise saying that he had a gift delivery for me.  Huh?  A gift?...from the grocery store?
****
The young man shrugged his shoulders and almost giggled at my bafflement as I read the envelope.  "That's all I know"--he grinned ear to ear--"Merry Christmas!"
****
On the outside of the delivery envelope on one side it said--"gift card enclosed"--and on the other side--"Christmas present from a friend that called in to the store".  
???
****
I open the little gift card envelope inside and it was for $107.49!!  OMG!!  Talk about speechless!  I was absolutely stunned!  I look at the receipt and see that originally it was $114.98 but they deducted $7.49 for delivery charge and taxes.  So--whoever my Secret Santa is they were kind enough to even include extra for their delivery fee and my own delivery fee, too!!  Do you believe it?! 
****
Called in?  Probably from out of town?  Not a surprise as I really only know Dagan and Leah up here and a few people I rarely hear from anymore from my days at Concordia College and MSUM (1999-2004).  I called Leah right away to tell her and Dagan about this amazing mystery gift.
****
The funny thing is...I had just been thinking about how I might have to cut back even more on groceries in December because (besides already planning to order Christmas and birthday cards to be printed at Office Max, stamps, and my desk calendar)...Karma's pooper scooper handle snapped off a couple weeks ago.  I thought I could easily endure getting that up close and personal with her waste products until January, but--honestly--it was grossing me out touching everything with my thumb and had most definitely become highly debatable that I wanted to continue for another whole month.             
So...TRUTH?  The very first thing I thought of when I saw the gift card was cat poop!  ROFL!  That now I could make an Amazon order in December (already have a scooper picked out, of course) and pretty soon I wouldn't have to touch Karma's pee and poop anymore!  I actually did a little happy dance next to my desk!!  LOL! 
****
Anyways, I checked with my only possible suspect (my BFF) the next day--nope!  None of us could figure out who would have done such a wonderful thing??  I decided to call Cashwise and see if I could find out who sent the gift card.  
****
The news of my good fortune had obviously gotten around over there at the store because I asked for Cashwise Delivery and got another young man on the phone.  I said I had a kind of odd request.  Told him I had gotten a gift card the night before and was wondering if it was possible to find out who sent it to me.  With much enthusiasm he told me that it had already gone down before he got to work last night (mind you, I hadn't even told him my name) and that they had to go through the manager so I'd have to ask him...but he was off for a few days and wouldn't be back to work till Friday.  The happy young man even went and checked the schedule to tell me to call between noon and 9pm on Friday.  I said, this is just so mysterious.  I know! he said--this young guy was really enjoying the who-done-it.
****
So, I shall call this afternoon.  But, being as they didn't give their name in the first place, they may have told them not to tell if I call.  I don't know anyone close to me who would have done this.
****
My BFF, Ruby, suggested that it could have been a blogger friend!  Yes, I do mention my monthly grocery delivery from Cashwise on here--just part of my life, you know.  But I find that so hard to believe, though.  That somebody who only knows me through my silly blog babbling might have done something so marvelously monumental...???  That blows my mind even more!
**** 
Anyways, I will call the manager this afternoon.  Not sure I'll find anything out, but I will tell you what happens.  
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Whoever you are...I am showering you with gratitude and I will testify loudly on your behalf at the pearly gates if there is a single moment's hesitation on St. Peter's part.  
Bless you!  :):):)
****
Meanwhile (back to my regular old life), I went over with Dagan and Leah to their old townhouse to go through some footlocker type chests Leah had gotten from her mother before Leah gave them away on freecycle...because there was some fabric in them.  I wanted to look for anything that might be good for either making bookcovers, cloth journal covers, or for use with mixed media.  Came home with some musty smelling hunks of fabric (that blue thing Karma is lying on is a shoulder tote bag I used to carry home part of this stash)...    
...and a couple of handmade throw pillows of her mom's (that smell so much that they are outside under one of the chair covers on the porch to air out--maybe all winter--LOL!).
I did grab one old Butterick pattern to use with mixed media.  Shows you how old all this material was--from the 80s.  We even found some shoulder pads that could have been for this jacket pattern.  
I am doing laundry today and going to add some vinegar in the washing of the fabric to try to remove the smell of being stored for a couple of decades.  ;)
****
All I got done this week so far was to try an idea I had for making a cardinal on a branch for the front of a Christmas card.  I didn't use paint, though.  I got out the colored pens--Triplus fineliners, Sharpie pens, and LePens.
Needing my outline, of course, I used a branch from one photo I found online and the cardinal from another photo--taped them together--and then outlined the basic shape with copy paper against the window. 
Then I used tracing paper (old and faint now) to get the basic shape onto my watercolor Moleskine journal.  I used the various pens to color in the bird and branch with pinecones...leaving spaces for snow. 
Then I wanted to do a watercolor background...and the plan began to falter.  I discovered that the Triplus and LePens bleed all over the place--so I had to try like heck to avoid touching them with the wet brush. 
I used some Glossy Accents for the eye... 
...and, after drying overnight, I added some white caulking for snow on the branch... 
...which did not turn out the way I envisioned, either.  Not sure if this would even copy well, but I will throw it in the pot as another choice.  I probably should have used paints.  I don't know what possessed me to try pens?  LOL!  Oh well.  Another one of those projects that are fun in the process no matter how they actually turn out.  :)
****
Caroline was here to clean on Wednesday.  Dagan and Leah had their walk-through inspection and turned in their keys to the old place yesterday.  I had computer issues this week with extreme slowness and losing connection over and over, but then it seems to have righted itself by yesterday (knock on wood).  Sun spots...cyber gremlins?  ;)
****
Today--well, I've got my white vinegar ready to combat the musty stench and my dialing finger ready for the manager.  It's a cold, grey day.  I'll continue playing with something for Christmas cards this weekend...and try not to pick something so time consuming--LOL!  And I'll leave you with a picture of why Karma wanted her blue bed back up on the loveseat.  (I flashed her while she was sleeping.)  The squishy sides allow her to be half out of the bed and have her head up on the throw pillow which puts her in the perfect position for a belly rub--you can see my thumb--LOL!
Happy dancing in Fargo!!
****
"Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us."
Boris Pasternak
***
And to my generous Secret Santa:
"The value of a man (or woman) resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving."
Albert Einstein

23 comments:

Shelly said...

What a beautifully wonderful surprise! I love stories like that. I hope you are able to find out the name of the kind person- we need more people like that one.

Karma makes me smile all the way down here in Texas. I think she's got a thing for blue. Her blue bed, the blue flowers on the tub, and now the blue tote bag. She's got the blues, but in a good way~

TexWisGirl said...

oh, that is a sweet surprise! i do hope you can find out who it is so you can thank them personally!

love the cardinal card! very nice!

Friko said...

What a wonderful surprise. Even if you never find out who the giver is, I know you are truly grateful. And blessed.

I know enough about you to say that you deserve it.

Anonymous said...

My bet is that they asked not to have their name revealed. They know you appreciate it!!

Dana said...

How exciting! What a wonderful blessing. I hope you find out who it is. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Furry Bottoms said...

I have my suspicions, but nothing has ever been voiced so I really don't know who sent it... only who possibly could. And the funny thing to me is the amount they gave. Most people give an even amount... like 110 or 20 or 50, something rounded to a zero ending, you know? I think I remember you mentioning that same amount in a post a while ago, so that strengthens my feeling that it was a blogger friend. I didn't know where you shopped from though, so this person obviously knows you well. Hmmm I love mysteries like this!! :) I hope you find out who did it because that person really deserves kudos!

Far Side of Fifty said...

What a wonderful gift! ..what a good feeling to know you have a friend that cares enough about you to send $ to Cashwise!
You will skate on through the holidays now.
My bet is that it was an anonymous donor:)

Hilary said...

Such a kind and thoughtful gift. Aside from the monetary value, it sure has earned its $107.49 worth of joy.

Janie Junebug said...

The only gift I love more than a surprise for me is a surprise for someone I love! I'm so glad you can get a new scoop. I realize you want to know whodunnit, but I hope you don't find out. Obviously, the person wanted to remain anonymous. And your cardinal is beautiful.

Love,
Janie

AliceKay said...

You have an awesome Secret Santa! What a wonderful gift.

I love your cardinal. I think you did a fantastic job.

Have a great weekend!

betty said...

Great job on the cardinal Rita! How sweet with the Secret Santa; what a great surprise indeed! I do hope you can find out who sent it so you can properly thank them. I bet Dagan and Leah were glad to get out of their old place so now they can concentrate on getting their own place settled in!

betty

DJan said...

What a wonderful gift! And just in time for the holidays, it's so exciting! I hope you let us know whodunit when you find out, IF you find out. And I think the cardinal is beautiful. :-)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Now I'm as curious as you. What a thoughtful gift. Such an odd amount, too. I hope you don't keep us waiting until Monday to learn the secret Santa.

I've never used pens, so I learned something about bleeding. Thanks for explaining that.

Felicia said...

(claps hands) I LOVE a mystery!!! Cant wait to see if you solve it!! Hope you have a SUPER weekend! *HUGS* =0)

Anonymous said...

Wow - what a generous gift from your Secret Santa!

GrandmaG said...

How wonderful! And you're so deserving. Your blog is so uplifting!

Queenie Jeannie said...

So mysterious!!! I wonder if you've found out by now! HUGS! You deserve it!

Love your cardinal. So much work, but it looks beautiful!

Karma, what a sweetie she is!

Dee said...

Dear Rita, I'm so happy for you! What a wonderful, surprising gift. Maybe it's from Saint Nicholas whose feast day is Thursday, December 6! Peace.

Serena Lewis said...

What a lovely surprise! Your Secret Santa is obviously very kind and giving...I hope you find out who it is but then again, maybe they don't want you to know.

Love your cardinal! :)

Victoria said...

Wow..I love your enchanting bird..so visually stunning..vibrant and magical..gorgeous art! Sweet Kitty sleeping...I love that! Animals are so peaceful when they are snoozing!
And Yay..how wonderful..your secret Santa is a wonderful story!
Hooray!
Hugs and happiness
Victoria

Karen Smithey said...

What a wonderful surprise! My guess is that they'll want to remain anonymous, but I hope you can find out who it is and thank them. Makes me smile just to think about someone being so thoughtful--

I love your pictures of Karma, as always! She is one lucky kitty, to live with you! (This from the women whose dogs lie on my couches with their heads on pillows--even the 90-pounder!)

Can't wait to hear what you find out! I love it that the young man was so excited about your secret gift!

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

yikes rita!! i can't believe i was THIS far behind!! my whole life feels out of whack!!

what a generous gift!! what a nice surprise!! i wonder if this person will eventually make themselves known!! probably not...they just want to be your Secret Santa or they would have included a note with the card in the first place!!

i like your cardinal card! especially the 3D snow! at least it looks 3D!!

tummy rub for karma from me too!! have a great day!

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

I love your cardinal! But, of course, you must know that I have a special place in my heart for cardinals because of my Dad.

What a wonderful surprise you received from your Secret Santa! That's such a generous gift. I can see why you're so happy!! :)