All kinds of wahooey goodness from book pals

Just a warning . . . if you get envious easily, have a nice little coffee or tea and one of those anti-anxiety pills because you are going to be so green with envy that someone's going to have to pry you off the ceiling. I'm just saying . . .

Now, on to all the wonderful wahooey goodness that I've recently received. This is so uber cool, I'm making myself giddy.

First, I must share what the lovely Bellezza bought me for my Secret Santa Blog Swap gift. I don't think the enlarging feature works, anymore, so I'll tell you what's in the photo and crop a second photo to give you a closer view so you can drool all over your keyboard. Bellezza gave me a gift card for one Persephone book (!!!!!!!!), two Persephone catalogs (one is not shown because I hauled it off to read it), a Starbucks gift card, a journal in my favorite color (apple green, 'cause she knows me well) and some unbelievably amazing chocolate mints. Her new kitty, Samantha, gave me the little magnetic paper clips with kitties on them! Wow, what a box full of awesome bookish yummy joy!!! Thank you, Bellezza and Samantha!!!!

Bellezza also sent me a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for my birthday (which was very, very much appreciated because I was especially feeling my mom's absence on my birthday). I actually carry that book from room to room, now and then, which I know is weird but I'm kind of just saving it for when I desperately need something I know is going to be wonderful to read. And, in the meantime, I admire it daily.

Anyway, here's the closer view of the Secret Santa loot:

The mints are seriously to die for.

Carrie K. bought me all this wonderful stuff below just because. She said it's not a Christmas gift; she's just bought me some little things, here and there, this year. Well, if that doesn't make a chick feel all warm and loved, I don't know what does. She sent me a box of peanut brittle, a little woolen bag (hard to see, so I've got a separate photo of the bag, lightened up a bit, along with the socks she sent), a bookmark with a terrific quote and the face of John Steinbeck looking all weathered and gruff in a friendly way (my opinion), Famous Battles of the Civil War card game, a little wooden "dream box" with my name on it, and the cutest darned pelican socks you ever did see.

That beach card at the back even has a perforated fold with a removable bookmark!! In case you can't read it, here's the quote on that black and white bookmark:

It is the duty of the writer to lift up, to extend, to encourage -- John Steinbeck

You said it, Johnny! And, here's a better photo of the bag and the socks:

Thank you, Carrie!!!!!

And, now a thought. I've been setting aside books I've finished and don't plan to keep (which seems to be most of them, lately). I was thinking I might have a 100,000-hit celebration and give a few of them away, soon. What do you think? Hankering for a free book or two? Or should I donate? I do a lot of donating and swapping, but I've won so many books from blogs that I feel like it's time to share the love.