Dear Mail Lady: We have to figure out a way for you to get my packages to me . . especially the ones from Eat, Sleep, Knit and The Loopy Ewe. Putting those little “you have a package at the post office because it won’t fit in your mail box” notes in my box is creating a rather large problem at my house!
Edited to add: Our mail lady is a very nice lady and she does always call me ahead of time. Since we live along a state highway, there are size limits as to what we can put out there and we have the largest mail box we can have. Also, anything we put out there has to be something that will break away and shatter if hit and hopefully not cause injuries to whoever hits it. The highway department has to install everything we put out there and they have to approve it so we’re doing about the best we can do as far as the box.
Seriously, my mail lady doesn’t come through the gate. She has my cell phone and she’ll call me a few minutes before she gets to my stop. Only problem is that my cell phone doesn’t work in the sewing room so I’m not getting her calls. Yesterday I left a note in the mail box and gave her the number to the sewing room and asked her to try that number first.
In the meantime, Vince went to the post office and picked up a package from Eat, Sleep, Knit. Are you wondering how this yarn managed to end up at my house when I wasn’t going to buy any yarn this year? Do you want the story I was prepared to give Vince or do you want the real story? OK. The real story is good enough.
The Eat, Sleep, Knit lady sent out a note about having this new yarn coming in. Skein. Apparently it’s another of those much-sought-after-hard-to-get yarns so I ordered some. Not a clue what I’ll make with it but since when did that stop me from ordering yarn? The three on the left are Skein Merino Silk Sport in the color Rouge. The one on the end looks like it might be a different dye lot and that doesn’t make me real happy but since I don’t know what I’ll use it for, I’m not going to get real fired up about it. The fourth one from the left is the same yarn and the color is Tuscany. The next three are Tosh Sock and the colors are Ruby Slipper, Cobalt and Copper Penny. On the right is Tosh Sport in Citrus. I have a plan for that one. I’m making socks for a gift for a lady and I was thinking of using the Ruby Slipper and the BFF pattern.
There’s a package coming from Loopy Ewe too. I can’t even remember . . oh, yes! I do remember. They had some of the Regia yarn in the Kaffe Fassett colors. Hopefully the mail lady and I can meet at the gate and receiving that box will not involve Vince making a trip to the post office!
Donna Barker says
I hate to go to the post office too. Maybe put a larger package receiving box by your mailbox for the mail lady?
Becky R says
My husband put up a mail box that is pretty large – just so he can save himself from having to go to the post office. We don’t live in the country as you do but surely you could do something like this so you’re not dependent on the phone call – that you may or may not receive!
Kathy Alden says
Judy, this is about the cell and no signal. We live in the desert outside of Boise, ID, just below the Snake River Bench. We have such spotty cell service here. Maybe 1 bar if lucky in out house. When we talk on the cell the calls are always dropped. We found a cell booster that really works. Its Wilson Electronics 841263 with a yagi antenna. My husband installed it and now we can talk on the cell phone and no more dropped calls. Amazon has the system on their site. This may solve your problem with cell signal. Several of the engineers in our neighborhood got this set up and recommended it to us. Now all of the neighbors are getting it since Verizon won’t put up a tower for us.
Kathy Alden in windy SW Idaho
Cindy B says
Come and get your package was a big hassle for me too. DH bought the biggest mail box he could find and so far every package and box fits! We have a bigger drop box for UPS. We are semi isolated on a dead end cove at the very end with a long driveway so the box is not locked. I like it because no big truck to come down our have to repair ourselves drive.
Leo says
well at elast she brings the parcels – when I enquierd why the Post Lady didn’t even try and ring the bell to see if I was home but instead just left a note. The response was “the person delivering the mail is not required to take along anything that she thinks might not fit in a postbox, and she therfore might have to take back if noone was able to recieve it”. So I regularly visit the post office (which has not the most customer oriented opening times).
Alma says
I live in a city and the Post Office has our group (of about 10) boxes but also a 2 compartment box for packages. When we get a package that won’t fit in our small box, the mailman puts it in the larger one and puts key in our box.
So I did a quick check on the internet and found this for you. NOT
CHEAP, but saves a trip to post office!
http://www.steelmailbox.com/html/fort_knox_package_box.html
Since you found the house and land of your dreams this could be a permanent solution. There are probably other models you can seach out. How much is it worth to get your packages?
Angie says
“Charlie”, our mail-man won’t deliver packages back to our house in boonie either. If it does not fit in the “package box” (a larger mailbox just for packages)—Bill installed, then we are left a pick-up-at-the-post office message. I don’t mind really as we do make errand trips to town about once a week and I pick up any waiting packages then. What does annoy me as that “Charlies” substitute driver does drive back to our house with any oversize packages. I hope when “Charlie” retires, the sub gets our route! :o) Living in the country and getting packages can be a challenge at times. We have a locking mailbox for regular mail, and a larger package box. You may need to put up a the ‘package box’.
Cheryl says
Bribery might work too! Knit her a pair of socks and maybe she will deliver right to your sewing room.
Johanna says
Yeah, it is kinda hard to sneak yarn into the house if you have to send Vince to pick it up!
Judy D in WA says
Why does this make me giggle??? Silly woman!!! I’m not giggling over the mail lady, that I understand, I’m giggling over the I’m not buying any more yarn……. 🙂
I have a great arrangement with my mail lady and the little store. If it doesn’t fit in my mailbox, she leaves it at the store. So far that’s working out great. Good luck getting a system that works for you.
Linda S says
This really made me smile this morning, Judy. “I avoid temptation, unless I can’t resist it.” (Mae West) came to mind. I’ve been very good lately. I’m a sucker for Moda pre-cuts, as not only are they gorgeous fabric, but with half the work done already, they make for quick quilts. I’ve seen some fabulous deals at greenfairyquilts.com lately, but I’ve been very good at resisting. I’m glad I’m not the only one who succumbs to temptation every now and then! Gorgeous yarn, by the way!
paula.thequilter says
I was in the Loopy Ewe shop the other day. I wonder if they were packaging your order as I cruised the aisles? It is a wonderful shop. I can order online and then go pick it up.
Denise ~ Justquiltin says
Where do I start?? LOL You KNEW you’d be hearing from me. First no buying yarn, then only buying “new yarn” you haven’t tried before that you were going to knit up right away (as a public service to tell us about). (have we seen that yarn knit up yet??) I’m pretty sure there must be some Tosh sock in your stash already. ROFLOL Is the Regia the “hand dyed effects” ones or one of the other Regia lines?
Linda in NE says
As someone commented earlier, I think the booster antenna and amplifier might be the answer to cell phone issues in your sewing room. I’ve read about them on RVer’s blogs. Those folks live in tin boxes and stay in some out of the way places where the antennas/amplifiers keep them in touch with the world.
Yarn is about a irresistible as fabric, isn’t it?
Terri says
oh I like the bribery idea! I bet she would love a nice pair of warm comfy socks for next winter. hehe
Bon says
Any reason you can’t put up a big parcel box by the gate? Just an idea.
Leslie says
Hi! You have an extra vehicle or farm vehicle, I think. could you leave it at the end of the driveway for the mail lady?
Just post a note on the mail box, asking her to put in the vehicle, toot the horn, lock the door and then you will pick up?
She could toot the horn when she puts the parcel in and locks the door (not the farm vehicle) and then when you hear the horn toot, you could go get the vehicle and the package?
Hope this or the cell phone booster works!
Take care, Leslie
Eve in GA says
Sorry, Judy, but this made me giggle. Especially since i was just at Eat, Slip, Knit yesterday morning. I keep getting winning ‘yarn lotto’ tickets from them, so have to keep going back to shop and redeem the lotto tickets. LOL!! Don definitely thinks they ‘have my number’. LOL!
Oh, and LOVE the yarns! I have a pair of lace socks in the works using the Tosh sock, “Mica” colorway. LOVE it! And I made a friend a lace cowl using the Tosh sock, “Light Amber Trinket” colorway. My eyes go into ‘overload’ everytime I walk into their shop. So, I can understand the purchases. Eve
carol c says
can you put up a box inside your gate to one side, that all she has to do is lift the lid and place the box into it, then you can check it when you go get your mail? Have you checked with your cell phone people to see what it would take to get cell service in a metal building? I can get it in Walmart and it is a metal building. just thinking what if. Hope you can get it to work out, unless you get a box at thepost office JUST for your shipments.
Mary says
I hate those notes too although there are two larger boxes they can put packages in AND the post office is just 4 blocks if we have to go pick one up.
Beth says
As a former mail lady, I can see both sides of the problem. You might want to check with your post office, but if a house is less than half a mile from the main road, in rural Virginia, carriers HAVE to deliver to the house. My mail lady calls and leaves a message on the answering machine if I’m not home and then leaves my packages behind a convenient tree. Or as previously suggested, put up a huge box, away from the road, that she can leave packages in.
Beth