Back!

Dear friends,

I'm finally back online! I am sorry if some of you were concerned on my account... I am touched that you were concerned - thank you! - but the reason has simply been work. I've been working like a maniac those past few weeks. I was giving a presentation yesterday and the subject was - a monster subject. Up till the very morning I never thought I'd be able to fully master it - but I finally did! Still don't know how I did it, but it really went well.

What didn't help making things less hectic was that I had to attend another colloquium on Modernism last Friday - it was hugely interesting, but it took a day off from my own work! Besides, my students are more and more numerous -I don't know where they come from, but more keep coming to my classes every week; and the more they are, the more work for me obviously...

All this explains for my being so silent lately - on my blog, on yours, and with my emails as well... I apologize for being so silent. I really have been working from 7.30 am to 10 pm, everyday, including weekends! Yep, I was about to go crazy... But this is all behind me now! Obviously it's not as if I wasn't busy anymore - the translation panel I take part in is this afternoon, and I still haven't worked on the chunk we're gonna translate today! I also have almost 100 long papers to grade. Besides, I obviously must go back to my own research now. But I won't be working 7/7 from 7.30 am to 10 pm, that's for sure.

And I have a wonderful day to look forward to: Annemiek is coming to Paris and we'll be meeting this Sunday!! How thrilling is that?

There was also a package from my Adopt-a-Stitcher sender - who is no other than my friend Becky! - waiting for me after the colloquium - I received it on Monday, but asked Becky whether I could wait till Wednesday evening to open it: I wanted to be able to fully enjoy it! So here are the delightful goodies I opened when I came back at 8 pm last night:

Lots of different stationery - now I'm beginning to wonder if Becky can peep inside my head: I was precisely running out of stationery and had started to look for some! No need to anymore... I have ample choice now! This is all so cute and so much my taste - Becky, you've been so careful once again to choose just the right themes to please me!

And a breathtaking gift - I literally caught my breath when I opened it:

Needlebook, open - back and inside.
(yep, the needles were included - this is typical Becky-thoughtfulness!)

Isn't this exquisite? Such a delightful design, in lovely subtle hues. And Becky's craftsmanship is as ever immaculate. Even the fabric's checks line up inside the case, between the upper and lower sections.
Thank you so much, dear Becky!! This is such a treasure... You always show such love and thoughtfulness through your gifts!!

What's funny is that my Adopt a Stitcher sendee, Annemiek, also opened a package from me yesterday! I'll blog about it later... I feel that Becky's gifts and especially her gorgeous needlebook deserved an entry of their own!!

((((Hugs)))) everyone. I've missed you so much, and I look forward to catching up on your blogs!
Soon, very soon, I promise an update on the Petal Fairy (which I worked on from 10 to 11.30 pm every night); and a look at Annemiek's gifties.