The unexpected package that I actually managed to leave wrapped until Christmas was from Mary at Quilt Hollow. I remember seeing the photo of this adorable pillow sham on Mary’s blog here and falling in love with it. I was totally surprised when I opened it and oh, so grateful!! The two kitties she quilted make me smile every time I look at it! If you click on the picture to “embiggen” it, you will see the gorgeous quilting she did on this. As soon as I get a pillow form for it, it’s getting pride of place on the sofa. Thank you, Mary!
With the pillow sham came a card in which there was a package of hot cinnamon spice tea. Cinnamon is one of my favourite flavours. We’re supposed to have a real cold snap this week, so when that hits, I’ll be making some of this tea.
The day before Christmas I took a huge step and went from shoulder length hair to a very short, almost pixie, cut. I still am taken aback each time I look in the mirror. Because I have a lot of natural curl in my hair, it’s taking some getting used to as far as styling it when I dry it goes. Sometimes I think I look like I have an enormous cotton puff on steroids on my head. Other times, Mr. Q.O. is making noises about Shirley Temple! Of course, when I left the hairdresser’s it looked great. I never seem to be able to duplicate how my hairdresser dries my hair.
One of our friends gave me a gift bag with a number of things for baking. But there’s one thing from that gift bag that has me stymied. I have no idea what it is and neither does she! She told me it was in the baking area of a kitchen store and she figured I’d know what it was. I haven’t got a clue other than thinking perhaps it’s a really tiny melon baller. If anyone knows what this is, please let me know.
Smudge, practicing for the alert lounging competition:
While Lester is practicing for the bird imitation event:
Quilt Obsession 
The kitchen tool you are trying to identify is a huller. It can be used to remove the stem area of a tomato or the top of a strawberry (if the strawberry is big enough or the huller is small enough). I used to work in a kitchen ware store and we carried some of the strangest things, most of which no one but a verifiable foodie would know about.Happy New Year!!
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Good thing Karen knew what it was, I hadn't a clue either. Love the pillow sham!!Crispy
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Oh Fun….Olympic competition titles to go with kitties! Enjoy your sham and tea.
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Mary is the best, isn't she, Cathi? I don't know how you had the will power to wait until Christmas to open Mary's package. I certainly couldn't wait to open mine! (Thanks again, Mary!)What a gorgeously appropriate gift from Mary. Smudge and Lester immortalized on a pillow sham!Thanks for sharing and I too had no clue what the little kitchen tool was for. Thanks, Karen.
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How nice of Mary, there certainly are some very generous people out there and she is one of them.
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Beautiful pillow cover and I too thought the tool was a huller…for strawberries or fruit.Love the kitties as usual…I am kind of missing mine but not all the kitty box cleaning and the fur removal from furniture LOLAnd I hope you post a pic of your new do!
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a huller! just what everyone needs? hahah –one never knows.
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Huller for strawberries. They have them at the farm store. A melon baller would have smooth edges.
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Sweet pillow sham from Mary. The PURRfect gift for you! I like the sounds of your new hairdo. I'm a pixie girl. Just wash and go!
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What a lovely kitty gift! I hadn't seen the kitchen gadget before, but if other folk say it's a huller then I'll believe them.Your new haircut sounds cute…you can always grow it out again if you want to.
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Your hair will be faster to fix in the mornings now. I have short hair with moderate curl and I use a styling lotion and comb it into the shape I want and let it air dry. then I comb it out and my hair has body and most days stays the way I want it. the problem is figuring out what makes the style you want. Trial and error!
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Cathi,That's a lovely pillow sham. I got a chuckle out of your hair episode…. same here, my hair always looks LOVELY at the hairdresser! I have purposed to splurge and have a live-in hairdresser if I ever become a millionaire! 😉
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Oh Cathi, that's such a lovely pillow sham. I know you're feeling so wonderful having received that, too. Warm and loved, *karendianne.
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Well, I'll bet you end up loving that haircut soon–sounds much easier to care for.Love the kitty photos and the competitions!
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Lovely pillow sham! Looks like the guys have their winter coats all fluffed out.
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Love the pillow sham and the boys, as always look adorableLove and hugs Gina xxx
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