Butterfly and Cloud

One of our neighbors is a very quiet single woman in her 40s. She works during the day, so we usually see her in the mornings on her way to work and at the end of the day when she comes home. She also orders a ton of things online (I think that's how she does all of her shopping) because there are always packages on her doorstep. We usually gather her packages when she is out of town for her. And when it snowed last year, we shoveled her sidewalk.

When she moved in a couple of years ago, the first thing she told Matt was that she was very reserved. She wasn't kidding, she keeps to herself most of the time. But she's learned Ellie and Annie's names and I've noticed that she has done little things for them. For instance, last spring she planted tulips that were pink and she said she did it because Ellie likes pink and she thought Ellie would like them. Is that sweet or what?

Anyway, the sweetest thing she's done is present the girls with homemade bears this year for Christmas. Can you believe it? She actually made these darling bears by herself (this kind of sewing is a lost art, I swear!) And wasn't that the nicest thing to make these bears for our girls? I was so touched and felt that our earlier gift of a Christmas goodie plate paled in comparison to her generous gift.

Here is a picture of Ellie with Butterfly and Cloud (she named them herself). Butterfly is Ellie's and Cloud is Annie's and yes, they both sleep with their bear every night.