My friends showered me with presents as I recovered from endometrial cancer surgery this summer. Thank you all again!
At the top of the post, homemade cookies with the world’s most delicious icing. They’re too beautiful to eat, but I gobbled them up faster than I’ll ever admit.
An angel to watch over me, the Tree Angel of Good Health
Earrings made of Italian glass by artist Chris Trienens
Hand cream that smells like heaven
Delicious fruit
Soap in a box so lovely I’m displaying it in my powder room
A bee ornament in honor of my childhood nickname, Buzz. She hangs in my kitchen, where she keeps me company with her merry buzzing.
Tea. A balm for body and soul
The Madwoman in the Volvo: My Year of Raging Hormones. What a perfect present for a menopause blogger! Alas, I’d already reviewed Sandra Loh’s book on Friend for the Ride. I’m glad to mail this copy to the first person who requests it. My email is on the right.
Cake! One of my true reasons for living (which my friend knew oh so well)
Roses in a lovely shade of pink
The world’s most elegant chocolates from Matthew’s Chocolates here in Hillsborough
A gift card with instructions to purchase reading material for the days I’d spend recovering
A clever tote bag in an Old World print
A blue nightgown, more fit for a princess than this menopausal lady
A novel that helped me pass hours enmeshed in the jungle of the Amazon (and made me very happy to be stuck on my own couch)
Italian Windows by artist Bill Gramley. When Cliff gave me the picture, he said,”This is in hopes you’ll be fine, and we’ll take that trip to Italy.” I’m ready!
What touched me most about the gifts is that they’re so different, so creative, and so personal. They gave me lots of ideas for ways to cheer up a sick friend.
Anyone else have a favorite gift you received when you were recovering from illness or injury?
What about a gift you like to give?
Friend For The Ride 
Beautiful gifts! You have many special friends. Cheers to your health and to friendship! 🙂
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Yep. Great presents! Such fun and each was true surprise.
On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 9:09 AM, Friend For The Ride wrote:
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Such thoughtful gifts! I had a friend tell me she appreciated a hand embroidered pillow case she was given that she took with her for chemo after breast surgery. I knit a prayer shawl for a cousin a while back, but in retrospect that seems too depressing…
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I don’t think a prayer shawl is depressing. Lots of upbeat prayers!
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Oh good! It’s just me, I need some lessons in prayer that’s for sure!
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What a great assortment! Love the bee.
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She is adorable!
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I love the bee, too! What an interesting and fun-sounding childhood nickname!
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Love the nightgown. When is middle age a disqualifier for being a princess? If we are iin Charlotte
North Carolina, I’ll have to check out Matthew’s Chocolates. Good reason for visiting CharlotteN.C.
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Matthew’s is in my home town of Hillsborough, but Charlotte is fun too (although lots bigger)
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I got some sunny yellow, flowered reading glasses from Barbara Younger after surgery in 2008 (haven’t forgotten!). A cheerful, practical gift since I had some extra time for reading. 🙂
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I just don’t remember those glasses but glad I gave them to you!
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James brought a stuffed cat to me in the recovery room after surgery last year. He said that he knew I’d be missing a kitty sleeping with me that night and that one could keep me company. It is still my favorite gift he has ever given me and I keep it on my bedside table. He also was determined that I would be the first to see the gift and wouldn’t show what it was to mom or Steph in the waiting room.
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Ah. That man is a keeper. So is the kitty, of course!
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You have wonderful friends to give you such thoughtful gifts! Thanks for sharing them with all of us.
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I love seeing other people’s presents too. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Great gifts. I liked food when I was ill. I like to give sleepwear of course but also if I have any friends going through chemo, beautiful handkerchiefs is the gift I give because when you lose your nasal hairs you can drip in cold weather.
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Ah. Sweet. Love handkerchiefs! I have a collection of vintage ones.
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What lovely gifts! But the cookies. OMG. The cookies.
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The cookies are fab! She’s going to bake some for her daughter’s wedding in April.
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Oh how wonderful! It does my heart good when I see someone surrounded by so much love.
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I was so touched by the presents. Loved the cards too but the presents really blew me away. Not something I expected.
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What a lovely assortment of gifts. 😀
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Thanks! BTW, I had a big time looking at the moon with grandson Mazen this weekend. No howling yet just “Hi Moon!”
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Oh my golly these gifts are wonderfully sweet and thoughtful. (I’m a kerf reader who happened to click over from her blog today. glad I did!)
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Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet comment!
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Barbara, the gifts are all lovely and are a tribute to the fact that you’ve touched the lives of so many people. We all wanted to envelop you in love! And I’m sure everyone else is as happy as I am that you are doing so well.
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Lisa, Thanks so much! Still not all the way happy about the ending of the novel though…
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Hi Barbara, another Kerf reader so I knew of your recent surgery and wonderful recovery! Such thoughtful beautiful gifts, I’m sure they must of helped lift your spirits at a time you needed them lifted. Here’s to a full recovery and a fabulous trip to Italy for you and your hubby. Best Wishes from Perth Western Australia
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Sandra,
How wonderful to receive a lovely message from a KERF reader in Perth! When Kath was born, I never would have imagined the Internet or blogs. I’m so proud of her blog and so pleased she has such enthusiastic readers. Thank you!
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I am so glad you’re doing better and that people showered you with beautiful gifts. You deserve it.
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Thanks! I am now having fun thinking about presents for others. I always do cards or flowers or balloons. I think that’s why I got such a kick out of such a variety of presents.
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