On the First Day of Christmas....

My blogger friends rescued me...

Can one be rescued by presents? Well, not exactly. But one can be rescued by a wave of love and friendship, and that's what I needed. Its one of those things where you know people care, but they are far away and here you are feeling all alone by your circumstances and then somebody reaches out across geographic distances and shakes you by the shoulders and says "You are NOT alone, you are loved! And we are here for you!"

And that's what you guys did for me, you made me stronger when I wasn't feeling very strong. :-( I needed that strength to get through the holiday with Hubby being kinda really depressed, and me trying to make him feel better.

Completely unsuspecting I started coming home to boxes! Now one box and I was thinking "Awww how sweet is that! Someone sent me Christmas presents!" But then more boxes showed up and I was thinking - "Hmmm I suspect a plan." Though I don't really know what or how they planned I know several of you got together and decided to be me angles this holiday season. And I cannot thank you enough.

Because of you I was strong for Christmas.

Because of you the doggies had full stocking hanging on the wall.

Because of you we had presents under the tree.

Because of you we could afford a nice Christmas dinner (BECG -Thank you so much).

Because of you we did not have the Christmas I was prepared for.

You guys were my heros.....sniff.....thanks.....(((HUGS))). Yes I did cry, but it was later after I had gotten everything out and under the tree...

This is how it started... 2 boxes on them said "On the First day of Christmas my Blogger friends gave to me...."

It was just so amazing I can't even begin to describe how wonder and mysterious it felt to open these up at the same time.

These soaps are beautiful - and while they are made by Aunt Krissy from Transplanted Alaskan Blog (hope i got that right?) they are from Oregon Sunshine or at Adventures of Life blog. They smell wonderful and are all natural, the ingredients are all listed right on them, which is really handy for sensitive skinned people like me. You know, I have recently found out that most Celiac Disease folks have sensitive skin - just and interesting side note. My Hubby even liked the soaps!

And then this box come from AK Pony Girl- from AK Pony Girl's Riding Log Blog as a joint effort with Oregon Sunshine.

They are responsible for filling my doggie's stocking nearly full with all of the treats and toys from Alaska.

Also they outfitted me with that wonderful box of smoked salmon which I love eating multiple ways. I Love to make a pasta with it. I Love to eat it on a gluten free cracker with a touch of cream cheese then topped with a bread and butter pickle - that's right I said a pickle - you HAVE to try it sometime its just wonderful. Its does something to the fish, like it brings out the flavor or something, its good! I also make "smoked salmon cream cheese balls with it - which is what I did in this case so it was a snack on Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day.

Not one, not two, but 3 books! I am not familiar with the author but I really haven't met a book I didn't like so of course I will read them! I like mysteries - like the way they keep you hooked, flipping pages till the wee hours of the morning. So I am looking forward to starting these.

They also sent me some wonderful ALASKA coffee blends! I am still working on the first one, so can't report on them all but the first one is excellent! I can't imagine these others are any less.

More doggie treats - that Buffalo bone was devoured on Christmas Day by Diesel - who now thinks Christmas is the best Holiday ever Ever EVER, and why can't it be every day mom?

The mints and Greenies dental chew went to Roper who frankly needed them. LOL!

There was also a cute Christmas mug for the new coffee AND two keychain lights that look like they are solar powered. I LOVE and use them on all my hiking gear so I can get in and out of my bags and pack in the dark without hunting down a flash light or flipping on the tent light.

Kaiser really enjoyed the fuzzy moon - it was strange he usually doesn't like toys very much but as soon as I pulled that moon out of the box he was ALL OVER it.

At least he shares though - as soon as Diesel came in the house and saw the new toy he of course stole it and claimed it for his own. German Shepherds!

And then two days went by and I received another couple of boxes that said "On the Second and Third day of Christmas my Blogger friend gave to me...!"

These was from "Squirrelgirl" over at "Notes From The Squirrel Nest" Blog, in a joint effort with  Laura, CDN, Mrs Mom, SG and Oregon Sunshine. Squirrelgirl gets a special thank you from me and the group for doing the shopping, packing and mailing!

They were cram packed with Gluten Free goodies like GF Sugar Wafers (oh I am so in heaven - I love sugar wafers!) bread mix, cake mix, frosting mix and other wonderful stuff!


Also she has in there 3 bags of doggie treats made by a friend of hers. These treats came with the pups pictures on them and I thought it was just so FREAKIN CUTE! The treats are all natural, gluten free, the dogs LOVE THEM and they don't give them gas! Hooray for gas free dog treats! Also since they aren't dog junk food I don't have to be the bad mom for denying them treats and i don't feel bad for giving them the treats.

Behold! I would not drink wine on Christmas from a box - it would be nice wine, from a bottle! Thank you so much!

There was also more heavenly coffee, Starbucks VIA, tea, cocoa and a lotion set from Bath and Body Works!

She also hooked my Hubby up with a present. And proclaimed her blog the best! LOL! Sorry guys what can I say, he's easily bought! LOL!

Oh - these jammies are soooo nice and comfy. I had to wear them for Christmas morning. You don't even want to know how long its been since I gotten new jammies. A LONG TIME. Mine are all worn out and thrown away - so I usually sleep in old T-Shirts. These felt so....luxurious!


I cannot thank  you all enough....

And then I received this card from BrownEyedCowgirls over at her Blog.
THANK YOU SO MUCH
This came the day I was sitting at the table adding up what I had spent and was thinking about what I could sell to make the bills for next month. Literally, right then Hubby walked inside and handed me the mail - more tears.

My Doggie Pack on Christmas Morning

Suspicious, at first of the Stockings, Diesel thought he detected treats inside.

Interested enough he pulled it in his crate for closer inspection.

Yes. Definitely Treats!

The buffalo bone

The older two dogs - tuckered out from treats, bones and playing...
Yes that is duct-tape on his collar but not because I am too poor to buy a proper collar, its because Diesel has been chewing on it. Has ruined one already, and this one under the duct-tape, so rather than offer up another collar to destroy I just wrapped this one up in duct-tape and am going to wait out the chewing behavior before switching the collar out.... either that or soak it in bitter apple - gonna wait a little bit first.


Thanks again! Some day I hope to be able to repay the favor, though I don't wish my situation on any of you.