Houseguests and other goodies

I've discovered that, apparently, I am not a multitasker. I can handle only one major thing at a time -- and at the moment, that one major thing is houseguests. My mom and two of my sisters are here at the moment, and their being here has taken up most of my time.

Which is the best excuse I can make for not sharing these goodies sooner:Oooo, a package from Down Under! What could it be?

Why, it's a lovely SOSF parcel from Jo, of course! The contents included three Dilmah tea bags (peach), a beautiful handmade card, a recipe book featuring some delightfully decadent desserts (mmmm) and Jo's own recipe for chocolate and coconut crackles. Oh yes, I am quite pleased. And Australia's best cakes and tarts will soon be mine!

As if that weren't riches enough, within days I also received a parcel from the lovely and talented Gretel. It included some luscious stem ginger cookies, a packet of Red Flannel Elephant cards, some love hearts, some fruit-flavored farm animal gummies, a sherbet fountain and two beautiful handmade scherenschnitte cards (if you haven't already, I highly recommend you go buy some of your own, plug plug). Not shown: the four Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate bars that were immediately and gluttonously snarfed by hubby, niece and me. Also not shown: the three of us looking poised and dignified with yummy British chocolate smeared all over our faces.

And now it's nearly time for dinner. Navajo tacos tonight. Partially created and consumed by an authentic Navajo, no less (Miss V). Off to eat dinner, enjoy company, and revel in goodies from the post box!

*teeny squeaky voice* hi

If this post sounds funny, it's because I have laryngitis. We went to a family reunion and I guess somebody there shared the gift that keeps on giving, because now I have some sort of upper respiratory infection with lots of coughing. Alas, my health has gone on vacation and my voice seems to have eloped with it. I sound like a rusty old screen door today.

That, or I have one of these guys lodged in my throat.

The good news is that lovely Gretel, who celebrated a birthday not long ago, sent a bundle of goodies in the post! I'll try to post pictures later (assuming I can stop Captain Midnight and Miss V from nibbling it away). Meanwhile, off to the doctor to see whether this grunge is bacterial or viral.