Such a good day!

Its been a doubly good day in my world. I got spoiled and I got a job. A girl can't ask for anything more!

Thanks to Leah, who lives just over the bridge from me, who sent me a fabulous package. I'm totally coming to visit and have a cup of coffee with you - I've been searching for local coffee since the friends I had in Vegas closed their roastery.

I love everything....



Local - Fresh roasted coffee for a place in her neighborhood
T - a fabulous tote that will be perfect for getting my heels to my new job or my knitting around
Green - great stitch markers in both green and blue green (did you make these yourself?)
Round - a great note/sketch pad
Funny - the cutest worm crawling out of an apple - which made me laugh out loud when I opened it.
Hard - new knitting needles
Spoilers choice - two skeins of cashmere silk blend in my favorite color - I can't wait to figure out what to make with it, and a skein of noro in complementing colors
And an extra gift of yummy smelling soap and cream and some Italian lozenges

And an update... The coffee is fabulous. I'm making a trip across the river to buy some as soon as this runs out. Its been so long since I had such a good cup of joe. And now back to my cup... :)

Thank you, Carly!

Isn't this pretty! Carly had written me to say I would have an Etsy package coming to me after I received my Scavenger Hunt package. It came yesterday afternoon and is a beautiful coffee cup with an aster painted on it. Carly explained that the birth month flower for my birth month was not one of her favorite flowers, so she had September's aster painted on the cup because September is the month I joined Ravelry! I also collect coffee mugs. I love the shape and size of this mug. I've enjoyed 2 cups of coffee with this mug so far. I would have taken a picture of the mug with coffee, except I drank it up before I could do so. Thank you for the beautiful mug, Carly!

16 Down, 31 To Go!

Yay for packages rolling in! I can't wait to get mine. . . .I've been so good about not peeking at who is spoiling me (which is hard, since I log all the packages received in the spreadsheet!). I have heard from some of you about a few packages that may be late. If you are going to be late and haven't contacted me yet, please do so ASAP. Otherwise, I will expect that everyone's packages will be received this week.

Unfortunately, it appears that I will need at least one angel, as one participant has gone radio silent. If you told me you would be willing to be an angel, I will be in touch with you later this week.

It arrived! It arrived!!

I got my pack from Michelle! Whoopie!
Come visit my blog for all of the juicy details of how seriously spoiled I am!
http://kileigh7.wordpress.com

Kitchener to Connecticut! Thank you Jenn!

Thank you JENN!  What a great package!  As you can see she wrapped and labeled all of my goodies. 

Something round -Yellow flowered stitch markers - so pretty!

Something hard - Hot Cocoa Mug stitch markers - very cute!

Something related to "T" - Candle Tin - vanilla -  smells great!

Something funny - Cute wooden mouse - for grandkids and cat to chase!

Something green - Caron Simply Soft - very soft!

Spoilers choice - purple Cascade yarn - awesome color!

Something local - Helping hand soap /lavender - smells wonderful!

                                Dishcloth with moose design hand knitted by Jenn from Bernat yarn

Thank you Jenn for a wonderful package!  I love all of my goodies!  You really did your homework on me - everything is perfect!

Thanks, Heather (F)

My package was waiting for me when I got home from work. You did a really great job finding items I would like.
1. The Local (at least it's from Utah) Fat Virgin Soap - smells delightful
2. The Round Freedom Spirit Yarn - in colors I love.
3. The Green Araucania Yarn - in my favorite color.
4. The T Tara Yarn - perfect for a little something for a baby.
5. The Funny At Knit's End - of course, I enjoy The Harlot.
6. The Hard Sudoku Puzzles - just don't ask me to attempt them until after Tax Season is over.
7. The Spoiler's Choice Candy - how could you go wrong with chocolate? And notebook - always handy for someone absent minded.

Thank you so much, Heather and Carly. You made my experience very enjoyable.

Pull out the Snow-Shoes - I'm Lovin' Alaska!

Do you happen to remember this? It was a wonderful Posh Yarn surprise from my pal, Diane. Category = Green

Well, there was more from Diane today! Just look at what she's sent to my all the way from North Pole, Alaska (how cool would it be to have that address? Okay, I'm so wimpy that I'd be crying my eyes out after 2 days; but in theory...)

Alaskan Tea (blueberry and raspberry) = Something beginning with "T"
North Pole coffee = Something Local
Sock-size dpns = Part II of Something Hard (we aren't usually friends)
Great Sock yarn = Spoiler's Choice (so there temptress sock-knitting teacher!)
Difficult Sock pattern = Something Hard
Fun post-it notes = Something Fun
and candy! = Just because it's the right thing to do : )

Diane, I can't thank you enough!

Something funny

Yeah!!! I am pretty happy right now. I found the something funny from an Etsy site. Thankfully its only in Vancouver, WA so it doesn't have that far to get to me. It just has to cross the border since I am in the Portland, Oregon area. Then I can mail out the package this week.

On its Way!

If you look slightly south-west of Toronto, you will see Kitchener, Ontario. This is where your package is coming from, if you are my secret pal!

I'm not telling you the exact day of when it went out, or you might go and check your blog/email for my comments and figure out if it was me.

I had a lot of fun putting this together!

Sorry, my package is the best!

My swap package from Carly came today. It's the best so far, at least for me. I had such a good time opening it. Categories are as follows:

Something local: Julia scarf pattern from a designer in Virginia Beach. It's wonderful and I'm going to use some of my handspun alpaca to make a scarf using the pattern.

Something hard: A yummy E. Wedel Polish chocolate and hazelnut bar. I'm trying to rush through this to grab a bite. I bet it doesn't last the weekend, much less the day.

Something round: A pendant yarn cutter (which I've really been wanting).

Something green: This is very special. I remember admiring this when Carly posted a picture earlier on the blog. It's a lavender shopping bag she crocheted. Husband and I are both thrilled.

Something T: Scrabble tile stitch markers that spell Swap. I love these!

Something funny: A cup with the front of the sheep on one side, the hind part of the sheep on the other. She found it at RiteAid, which is also hilarious.

Spoiler choice: Light teal Alpaca silk. I have plans already to use it to make a hat a friend of my designed for this fiber. I also have some alpaca lace in the same color to match the hat.

Carly also included treats for the dogs, cats, and seeds for the vegetable and flower gardens in our yard, and a cute amigurumi-like animal note pad.

I feel very lucky that I had the swap hostess herself to surprise me. I loved my package, Carly. Thank you!

More details on my blog

Something Buffy the Vampire Slayer Could Use

I got my final item from Christy last Saturday!! It was her "Spoiler's Choice" Category, named in the title of this post. Unfortunately, I had a stomach bug that day and could barely move from the bed. In fact, I felt so awful, I didn't even open the package, knowing it was there, until Sunday! Now THAT is sick. Then it went thru the rest of the household, so I've been busy.

Anyway, without further ado, here is Something Buffy the Vampire Slayer Could Use....


In Christy's words: "Just some cheerful wood knitting needles which also could be used to stake a vampire if needed."

Thanks, Christy! I love them!!

Blogged with Flock

Thank you Karrie!

Yesterday after a craptastic day which began with an argument with my boss, I slept most of the day due to a migraine. Before picking the little one up from daycare, I ask my big one to get the mail. She came in, the mail wet from having been dropped in the snow, bearing a big box. I knew immediately what it was! I couldn't wait to open it! With the big one hovering over me, I opened my box.



It was so pretty I *almost* didn't want to ruin the pretty packages! But... it had to be opened sometime! Each item was labeled with a hand-stamped ticket.



I took photos of each one, a little too hastily though, and they didn't turn out very good. Here's the summary, however:


Something Local: a tie-dyed project bag
Something Hard: handmade stitch markers and yarn needles
Something Related to the Letter "T": Black Chai tea (YUM!)
Something Funny: easter egg bubbles
Something Round: a round tape measure (I am FOREVER losing these!!)
Something Green: a tote to keep it in
Something Smooshy: Two skeins of yarn, Tahiki Imports mercanized cotton, and Ironstone Chunky yarn - in pretty blues and purples
Extra: Gifts for the girls Tweety Bird Pen for Sophie and a wittle cloth book for Rosie that she kept forcing Sophie to read to her last night, LOL!
All was topped off with a bendy flower.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this swap. I am about to wrap up and send off my own package on Monday. Thanks again Karrie!

BEST PACKAGE EVER!

My wonderful, delightful, sweet and funny swap pal, Lisa, sent me what I can in total honesty tell you is the best swap package I've ever received. This package is so gigantically chock-a-block with thoughtful gifts that it took two pictures to capture them all:





Will you look at that!!! Here's the breakdown:

Something local: Persephone Bag pattern (designed by a Texan) along with enough yarn to make it!!! Four skeins of lush and gorgeous Rowan big wool in a beautiful butterscotchy-orangey color that I love.

Something round: lovely freshwater pearl stitch markers.

Something Green: 2 skeins of Rowan Cotton Glace in fresh, springy green, "The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time" (which I have wanted to own and look forward to reading with my daughter),  and divine-smelling Green Tea soap.

4. Something "T": "Thank Ewe" thank you cards.  

5. Something Funny: I laughed out loud at this one--a pattern for "Bob Marley's Grandma's Footies"--and Lisa's comment that sent me over the edge was "How could anyone possibly know if his grandma would have ever made this pattern?" Lisa, you are a riot.  She also sent along four skeins (yes, four skeins!!!) total of Cotton Glace to make these--the green, and a plum color.  Wow.  Cotton Glace is my all-time fave yarn.

6. Something hard: Kenya Coffee Beans (for the coffee fanatic that I am!)

7. Spoiler's Choice--Texas Theme: "Quotable Texas Women" book, fabulous black bean and corn salsa and black-eyed pea dip, and a Texas key ring.  I love the Texas theme, because I have a special connection to Texas through my husband, so this was perfect for me.

WAIT--it's not over yet--she sent extras for me: Ghirardelli squares, the dark collection (daughter Ella and I love 'em), Citrus soak for my hand-knits, a gorgeous, delicate lavender sachet, and a white tea soap.

KEEP READING--and, last but not least, Lisa included treats for my Ella--a rubber duckie in a bunny suit (we collect funny rubber duckies, Lisa), an egg-shaped bath fizzie, and a decorated egg-shaped lolly.  Ella was so happy to be included!

The best part of this whole experience was meeting Lisa.  It's funny, but after awhile the Anonymous comments stopped coming on my blog, and this wonderful lady started visiting me--but I never guessed that she was my secret pal!!! It has been so great getting to know you, Lisa.  Thank you for such a thoughtful and incredibly generous package.  Might I say one more time, BEST PACKAGE EVER!

Package!

Sent out my package yesterday - so keep an eye out for a box from Japan!

My Package is coming together...

I got my order from The Sweet Sheep today, which means my package should be in the mail soon.