Last week I did a special Thursday post about Andrea’s beautiful kitty sofa bed and her commissioned work – all to benefit Winnie’s Wish! The announcement had been made as to who won the raffle.

The next morning I saw a comment that Andrea left on that post. Here’s what it said: I'm thrilled with how well the raffle for that bed went! There is more to that story, too, but it won’t be revealed until next week! Oh boy is even Chrystal gonna be surprised! So I really didn’t know what any of that meant. But I was having a very busy couple of days and I figured I would write to Andrea soon and ask what she was talking about. Then on Friday when I got home from being at my parents’ house, there was a package waiting for me. I opened it . . .

I think I nearly had a stroke. I was totally shocked. Even after reading Andrea’s comment, I did not one single time think of something like this. That beautiful Fancy Crocheted Velvet Sofa was somehow in my house. Also inside the package were two of Andrea’s round crocheted kitty beds.

And there was a letter. Here (in part) is what the letter said:
Dear Chrystal, As you know, June C won the Fancy Crocheted Velvet Sofa in the raffle. When I informed her that she won, she said – Yay! Send it to Chrystal!
Then Andrea went on to say that the sofa was for MY own personal cats. The money from the raffle went to the Wishers, but the prize was to go to MY cats so that both groups got something. Andrea said that she thought this was a great idea and that she was going to add TWO of her round crocheted beds for the Wishers! She said that way everybody got something. Andrea even copied & pasted from what June had written:
Chrystal deserves all the happiness that her heart can hold! I thought giving her the sofa for her personal cats was important so people clearly understand there are two cat groups close to her heart and one actually lives in her home.
HOW SWEET!!
I wrote to both June and Andrea and told them that I had secretly coveted the Fancy Crocheted Velvet Sofa. I knew I'd never have one but I thought it was absolutely beautiful. Then Andrea did the drawing and paypal'd the raffle money to me. Getting that money for the Wishers was such a gift! I told June - Without your explicit directions, this sofa bed would have gone to the Wishers. Anything that is donated goes automatically to the Wishers. Anything my own personal cats get is purchased by me with my own money. I never mix the two. My Winnie's Wish cathouse is a big roomy three-room house for the Wishers. I get the occasional paypal gift or Wish List donation, and there are the big things like Andrea's auctions. Obviously, with over 30 kitties to care for, tons of my own money goes to caring for the Wishers. Every bit of help I get is so needed and so appreciated. Then we also have several of our own cats. These are cats who, for one reason or another, have ended up living in our home with us. I consider these cats just like anybody else would. They are mine so I am responsible to pay for everything they need out of my own money. So when I receive donations - funds or items - for the Wishers, it goes for the Wishers only. That's why getting this sofa bed with your explicit instructions that it be for MY OWN cats is so exciting. It's so much fun to have such a beautiful bed in my home for my own kitties. I then thanked June for her long-time support and for the very special gift of the sofa!
Now this beautiful (secretly coveted) sofa bed is in my family room. Several cats have tried it out, but most haven't stayed when I've gotten up to snap a picture. Evers, on the other hand, had no problem with me getting his picture (several times actually). And Trudi was so sound asleep that she never knew I took the pic.




June – THANK YOU.
Andrea – THANK YOU.
And again to everyone who helps Winnie’s Wish by bidding at Andrea’s auctions, having her do commissioned work, and by buying raffle tickets for this sofa – THANK YOU.