A Wonderful Blogging By Mail Box from a Special Blogger

Blogging By Mail is a wonderful event hosted a couple of times a year by Stephanie at Dispensing Happiness. You sign up, are given a blogger to pack and ship a package of goodies to and another blogger gets your name and info and packs and ships goodies to you. This time round the theme was "10 Items or Less"; 10 or fewer of your small, favorite, must have things. I shipped my package out to Malaysia a couple weeks ago and found out it made it there (I always worry about that) and I was really excited to get the package pick up slip on Friday telling me mine had arrived from Australia. I have never visited Australia but I since I have always wanted to, getting a package filled with fun stuff from there is great.

My BBM box came from Barbara at Winos and Foodies. I didn't know much about Barbara before this but had heard of her blog through events like Hay, Hay, It's Donna Day and A Taste of Yellow. I have to say that I feel somewhat foolish in sharing the wonderful things in my box because I discovered last night in reading her blog, that Barbara, the beautiful woman who sent it, starts another round of chemotherapy for her cancer tomorrow and her health matters so much more than the objects in a box do. When I emailed her on Saturday to thank her, I had no idea what she was currently going through and told her I was going to post about it on Monday. Since she replied she was looking forward to the post, I am going ahead with it because I know the box was packed with care and a generous and loving spirit and I want to honor that. I hope as I share it with you, you will join me in putting Barbara and her family in our thoughts and prayers. From what I can tell, she is a very strong and very courageous woman and will get through this next battle as she has in the past, but sometimes we all need a little help and love to give us the strength to get through the tough times.

Here is what Barbara so thoughtfully included:

The first thing I saw was a beautiful red and blue woven scarf. Blue is my favorite color and red a close second so this is perfect. (Barbara said it was to wear or use for a prop for my photos--I may just do both!)

The most special thing in the box was a handwritten note, explaining each item and including a picture of Barbara and her family. (They look like a great and loving group!)
Barbara thoughtfully set me up for some holiday baking with some wonderful things; fun chocolate molds (I was just telling my friend Nat I wanted to start making chocolates), some great holiday cookie cutters, a little sifter (perfect Barbara said for sifting powdered sugar or cocoa on things), a pair of mini tongs (very handy) and some cute candy-striped cupcake liners (peppermint cupcakes maybe?). Someone wants to change my NOT A BAKER ways which is just the push I need!

TimTams! I love TimTams! I have not had them in ages since a group I worked with from Australia brought them to Seattle. These are the pink filled ones, only available in October to support breast cancer research so they are all the more special. (These will not last long I am afraid).

Also included were a couple other "iconic" Australian snacks according to Barbara --Twisties, a cheese snack (similar to an American Cheeto but seem to taste a lot cheesier. OK I have eaten 1/2 the bag already while typing this!) and a Cherry Ripe candy bar from Cadbury (an interesting combo of dark chocolate, cherry and coconut I can't wait to try).

Finally, some Murray River Gourmet Grinder Salt that is Barbara's favorite and she says as good as Maldon (I love salts of all kinds so this is a great addition to my "collection"), and a container of Quince Paste from an Australian food writer, TV host and chef named Maggie Beer. (I love quince paste, especially with some Manchego cheese. The box says to pair it with Cheddar and I am willing to try that too!)

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Thank you so much Barbara! What a wonderful box, filled with a great variety of fun things. I feel truly special and spoiled to have received it and to get to know you. Again, you are in my thoughts and my prayers, as I see from the comments on your blog that you are in so many peoples' minds. Be strong and take care of yourself and know that someone in Hawaii is thinking about you. I wish you Aloha, which although it can mean hello or goodbye, also has a deeper meaning of affection, mercy, compassion, love and peace. I wish you all of them.

Deb