Little Known Fact

In 2011, my friend and I decided it might be *fun* to walk a 5k every month.  However, we were unable to make it happen in 2011.  So we committed to doing so in 2012.  We participated in the Resolution Run on New Year's Day and didn't miss a month.  In fact, we even threw a 10k into the mix in November.

 

We collected all the tees and my friend actually wears some of hers in public.  I have saved mine to make a quilt from.  Most of the shirts are jersey but some are technical fabric and I'm not sure about putting them in the quilt. 

The best part - I am not overly active.  My hobbies are sedentary and so is my job.  My biggest form of exercise is walking the hound dogs.  We finished each and every race with a time of under a 15 minute mile - including the 10k!  And we WALK!  We tried running one race in 2011 and I tripped, fell, skinned both of my knees and my palms and my friend twisted her ankle!  So we stick to walking.

 

As 2012 ended, we wondered what we would do in 2013.  We decided to do a 10k every month.  We have completed our first race in January with a pace of 14:05 - I'm pretty impressed with that.  And we've crazily signed up to participate in a 15k in just about 7 weeks.  What were we thinking on that one?????

Photo Meme

I was tagged and being the trouper that I am, I decided to play along.

The rules, go to your 5 folder in your Pictures directory, and then post the 5th photo.

Amazingly enough the 5 folder was labelled Christmas 2007 and the 5th photo was of Lucy.

Next it says to tag 5 people, but I won't do that.

I will be in Canada until Tuesday, so while there will be knitting there will be no sewing.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

Autumn Coffee Swap Part 4

This week the topic is to take a virtual walk through the other participants blog and find someone you have something in common with. Well I can do that without blog surfing, for example: Channon and I both love all things pumpkin - sweet, savory, or liquid (pumpkin latte, anyone?) - it's all great! We have shared many pumpkin recipes of the last couple of Falls. Nicole and I are all about the dogs. She's just much better and selfless about it than I am. She volunteers regularly with various dog groups to help make dogs' lives better. Occasionally, I make dog beds to donate. The Princess is actually my daughter. If you used to follow along on her adventures as a Nanny in New England - let me tell you she's blogging regularly again - apparently she got tired of mom nagging her about not updating :) Finally Cami ~~ hmmm, I don't know what we have in common. She can knit, I can't. She owns her own business, I work for others. She has 5 kids, 1 dog & a cat, I have 2 kids and 4 dogs. But I can tell you I have talked to her numerous times - at least once a week. We would be fabulously inseparable friends if we didn't live thousands of miles apart. Oh I know - we both love our husbands after being together for lots of years. Okay - so you really want to know about people I don't know? Fine, I'll go check out some more blogs - don't go away. Angie, who blogs as Cycling Knitter, lives in England. I lived there for enough time in the 80s that I can't give blood (dormant mad cow, ya know). She just bought her first Amy Butler book and is thinking of crossing the line and participating in multiple crafts - knitting and sewing! Jill seems to knit a lot of socks (me too!) and she belongs to a couple of sock clubs. I've always wanted to do that, but I've been scared. She has a fabulous collection of sock yarns. kniteurope also knits and sews. She has a Handmade Holidays list that is longer than my arm. Stop by and wish her well. Prairie Girl has lost her knitting mojo. Go wish her well - we've all been there and it's no fun. Plus I was reading along and she makes knitting mistakes and announces them to the world too. I like to think I'm keeping someone else from being a bonehead by announcing my mistakes.

Happy Baby

So I belong to a couple of groups on Ravelry. One of them is fairly active and there is always lots of fun things going on. There was a Swap over the summer and an upcoming holiday swap. Well one of the ladies is expecting baby number two and we are having a virtual baby shower. Several of us have made gifts and we are mailing everything to one person who lives fairly close. Not really sure of what baby items to make, I went through Baby Mama's queue to come up with something. She had the modern cabled baby bib in her queue. So I knit it up. What a quick, easy and fun knit. I added the train button. I'm planning on making a burp cloth to match (if I have enough time).

I also made a snow baby - because what little winter baby doesn't need a personal snowbaby?

Coffee Swap

Since I'm doing the joining thing and playing along with the Amazing Autumn Coffee Swap, we have a weekly topic. This week's topic is: This morning I sit here sipping a fresh cup with a bit of cream and some sweetener . . . . and the first sip makes the morning seem just a bit better than it was before. I love the smell, the warm feel of the cup in my hand, the taste - just everything! What is it that you love about your first cup of the day? Are you a daily drinker? How do you take yours? Tell us how you love to enjoy your first cup!

The last time I bought coffee, I bought whole bean. That meant I had to go buy a coffee grinder. So, while my morning are generally rushed - getting JB out the door with dog woofing all around me - dumping some beans into the grinder. Taking just a few seconds to stop, slow down and grind the beans. The smell is wonderful.

My first cup of coffee is poured by JB when he pours his go cup. I then walk him outside as he heads off and I get dog food. So my first cup is generally cooled and it means that the house has slowed for a minute. JB is gone to work, the dogs have been fed and are laying on their beds quietly, I have the laptop and I'm surfing blogs. It's all good. However you do it - enjoy your first warm beverage of the day.

Because I'm Too Lazy to Find Old Holiday Photos

The meme : 4 Things I Did Today: ::Stopped at 2 cups of coffee, even though I really wanted more ::Kissed JB ::Remembered to eat before my workout ::Worked out 4 Things on My To-Do List: ::Laundry - there's not much this week ::Fix this for dinner

::Sort old photographs and organize

::Send an email to the Neighborhood ASG 4 of My Guiltiest Pleasures:

::Adding Baileys to my coffee

::JB's homemade cheesecake

::Sneaking Dudley onto the couch for a cuddle

::Taking only one dog for a solo walk

4 Random Facts About Me:

::I once hit myself in the mouth with a baseball bat

::Because I was very overweight in my life, I see myself that way when I look in the mirror

::I swore I wouldn't blog without photos during 2008 - so far I've lived up to it.

::I went to school to be a paralegal and I'm currently working as a bookkeeper in a law office and I don't enjoy it at all

Great Pumpkin

It's time for another Amazing Autumn Coffee Swap topic. This week's question: With Halloween coming up this Friday, tell us what you think of when you think Halloween! Do you love it? Hate it? See it as a sign of Fall? Are you a total sucker for candy and little kids in cute costumes? I love It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It's one of my favorite holiday cartoons. Tonight I was very happy when my trainer called and asked if we could move my workout ahead an hour. That meant I would be done in time to watch it. Yea! As for the little kids in costume - you betcha, I'm a huge sucker. We live on a dark dead-end street so we don't get many trick or treaters. My favorite was the year the neighbors dressed up as us. Their oldest daughter A was Beau, the young one E was Lucy, Mom was me - walked Beau & Dad was JB walking Lucy. It was super cute and nobody took a photo! I'm just curious, are there any other parents out there who think that Halloween is totally contradictory? As parents we spend years telling our kids not to talk to stranger and never ever take candy from strangers. Then one day a year we dress our kids up, take them to stranger's house and they beg for candy! Wrong? Also - how did everyone know it was Charlie Brown with all the holes and how rude that everyone gave him rocks! Happy Halloween everyone. Don't eat all your candy at once.

Weekly Topics

I did it again, I joined another swap - this time it's the Amazing Autumn Coffee Swap This week's topic:

What makes a "Fall day" for you? How do you know it's here, and what do you love about the weather, the scenery, or something else that makes Autumn lovely?

Yesterday, I took Beau out for a walk all by himself. Just me, Beau & the camera. A few of the things I love about Fall days - clear, sunny weather. The kind where you can drive around with the top down and the radio cranked - thanks to heat and heated seats. I also love the colors of the trees. Everyone thinks of New England for fall color and I've visited and everyone is right - breathtaking. However, we have fall color in the Pacific Northwest, it is just in much smaller quantities because I do live in the Evergreen State, after all.

Another Fall reminder - the Birthday/Holiday season starts in October. Today is my birthday, apparently I've crossed an invisible line into "old" today (according to JB), then his birthday is Saturday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, our Anniversary/New Year's Eve, ending with The Princess' birthday in January. It's gonna get busy. Thanks so much for all the well wishes - I appreciate them all.

Neat!

How cute is this picture? My friend Yvonne awarded me with the Dog Lover Blog 2008 award. There are no rules, the only requirement (according to me) is that you love dogs - especially your own, and you share your blog with them. I know this frustrates my friends to stop by for the sewing (remember when the header said "GMarie Sews?") or knitting. But I love my furkids and they get lots of days too. I am sharing the award with a few of my dog loving friends, but leaving some so they can share too :) So, in no particular order, I would like to present the following friends and their furbabies with the award: Chan, Nicole, Sharon, Marji, and The Princess.

Knitting for Others

For some reason lately, I have no desire to knit for myself. I would much rather knit for others. A couple of weeks ago now, JB came home and told me one of the girls that works at the latte stand he frequents regularly found out her mom had a terminal illness. In his next breath he said, I don't know what to say or do to help. That's the problem, really, isn't it. None of us know what is appropriate to say or do. Thankfully - most of us haven't been in a similar situation. Being the little joiner that I am, I had agreed to knit along with a knitters garden (ravelry link) to make a super easy triangular shawl. I cast on for this on Monday night, using Cascade 220 in a very soft, light pink and US 13 needles (a size smaller than called for). I finished it on Tuesday night while watching Monday's episode of The Closer. I will say that it's a little bit smaller than I anticipated, but I'm taking it to knitting tonight to see if it will block bigger. I might also pick up a drapier yarn in a light green to make another. Then the green would go to the mom and the pink to the daughter. I hope these shawls will bring them comfort as they deal with what's ahead.

Dish Rag Tag, The Sequel

Again this year, Emily is hosting dish rag tag. This year the rules are slightly different, the teams slightly larger, and the boxes slightly smaller. The race started on August 15th, with Emily mailing out all the boxes. They went first to the team captains, who opened the box, found a ball of cotton, the "official pattern," and a treat of some sort. After knitting the official cloth - you restuff the box with a new ball of cotton (which must be used by the recipient to knit the cloth) and treat. The object is to get the box through the team, each person knitting the official cloth from the ball of kitchen cotton in the box and back to Emily fastest!

Have I ever shown you all my mailbox? I swear JB is from white trash stock! He has a small collection of old wood stoves around the yard doing various jobs - this one happens to hold the mailbox. Our mailman loves it - he says there is nothing else like it. In a good year, that flat part holds a pot of flowers - this year one never got placed there.

Anyway - yesterday, I saw Keith pull up to the mail stove. After he drove off, I grabbed the camera and went to check the mail. Yep - there's the little box, right there. Mail check at 11:50 am.

I put the box on the kitchen table, unloaded everything, took a really dark photo (sorry). That's the box, with the cloth knit by my captain, a new ball of kitchen cotton, a food treat and a cute little sock blocker wearing a cute little sock.

I then sat down on the sofa and knit my heart out. I used the worst possible needles - there was so much drag between the yarn and needles I'm not sure how I got it done, but I did. It took me less than 90 minutes to knit the cloth, print the new label, stuff the box, and tape it closed again.

Last night I have 2 couples over for dinner - Prime Rib, crash potatoes, roasted cauliflower and broccoli. I had a loaf of rustic bread that I threw in the oven to warm when I took the roast out, but I forgot about it. After a quick house cleaning and a jump in the shower, I ran to the post office and got the box sent off to Angela. I hope she likes the cloth and treats.

For the Love of Luke

Michelle sent out an urgent request to her knitting friends far and wide. If you click on her name, you can read Luke's story. I agreed to knit a square or two, and I shamelessly ripped off her title.

The first block is an "L." The yarn is Vanna's Choice acrylic. The color is silver blue. I knit this block last night. This morning I started another. I still have 20 rows left. My plan is to knit at least one more at Stitch and Pitch tonight and then get these into the mail tomorrow.

Gifted Moth

If you remember, when I posted about how blessed I was by all the goodness that Chan sent in my 9-5 package. I had also promised a separate post about the hand knit item. Although I was corrected by Chan that her Miss Sissy was really good, but not good enough to knit the wee little sock that was in my package and was also hand knit - but I think y'all know what I meant. Well, Chan sent me the Wings of a Moth that she knit. It is a beautiful soft pink and is to die for! You can see better photos of it on Chan's blog, here (scroll down) and here.

Chan gives all the yarn, pattern and needle details on the second link to her. It's fabulous!

She's so right, it's light as a feather, yet warm. I have worn this several times. But I can never get JB to snap a photo - so finally resorted to posing it around the house and taking a couple of close up shots. I think I'm getting a little bit better playing around with JB's camera - these are all straight out of the camera - so far I have progressed into playing around in photoshop of the camera's software. I have issues about crossing too far into the spouse's hobby.

I think the funniest thing about this little beauty. . . well I have been reading and emailing with Chan since sometime late last year (October/November). Anyway, she's very very good about emailing people who leave comments and then we email back and forth a bit. Well, when she finished the Moth and showed photos I told her it was beautiful, but was she actually going to keep it for herself? She asked why she wouldn't and I told her that since she started knitting lace, everything she had made she had gifted. I believe she told me she was keeping it - Imagine my surprise when it showed up in my box. My dogs wanted to sniff every inch of it and Lucy tried to eat it - but I'm keeping it safe. Thanks Chan - I love it! It is a wonderful bit of friendship and warmth.

Friday the 13th

Marji tagged me for the current version of the game blog hopping. This is interesting when reading about others, I'm pretty sure I'm not that interesting. By the way - if you don't already stop by Marji's blog occasionally - do it. She is a works from home mom with 9 children and a big dog! She cooks, sews, home schools and loves her husband - now isn't that refreshing. Anyway -- 1. What was I doing five years ago? Hmm, I can't readily recall. I believe I was in the process of changing jobs - leaving my thought I loved it job (working for the sewing machine dealer) and going back to law. Getting ready for the girls to graduate and go onto college. 2. Five things I must do today: a- get my nails done; b - vacuum the floors; c - prepare for ASG Meeting tomorrow including notify everyone, find the pattern, and cut the community service projects out; d - plan menu for upcoming week; and e - do something I want to and enjoy - sewing and/or knitting, possibly walking a dog. 3. Five snacks I enjoy: a - popcorn; b - chips; c - brownies; d - ice cream; and e - JB's homemade cheesecake. 4. Five things I'd do if I were a billionaire: This truly is a hard question. I would like to think that other than giving up my paying gig my life wouldn't change much. I would pay off my house and then go for the next life - purchasing a B&B and living rather than working. I wish I could be like Chan but who knows really. 5. Five bad habits: a - definitely OCD, all the light switches have to be in the same direction; b - freakin' out when I'm home alone; c - long, hot showers in a time when we should be conserving everything; d - letting food go bad in the garden; e - refusing to eat leftovers. 6. Five places I've lived: a - Seattle, Washington; b - Missoula, Montana; c - San Diego, California; d - Some tiny little town in Texas; and e- Omaha, Nebraska. We also lived in England. 7. Five jobs I've had: a - mushroom picker; b - waitress at a truck stop; c - Mom; d - retail sales for a sewing machine dealer; and e - office manager Now, I'm suppose to tag 5 people. Most people I know have already played, but how about VeeDogKnits (formerly known as blogfree Jess); GoldenTracks; and The Princess

Spring Fling Coffee SWAP

In my need to belong - I'm joining another Swap. This really is fun, if you've never Swapped, you should try it. This time I'm doing the Coffee & Yarn Swap

Coffee

1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground? Whole beans, but just because I don't have a grinder. 2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Leaded or non? Leaded, because otherwise what's the point. I like a light, fresh coffee. 3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up? I just bought Peet's house roast and an organic light roast for the house 4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both? Mostly for pleasure. 5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers? I love flavored coffee, vanilla being my all time favorite. I also really enjoy the sugar free syrups in my coffee 6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup? A big ol'mug. 7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it! My perfect cup of coffee - the house is quiet, hubby is still sleeping, the tv is off and all the dogs are settled on their beds - snoring! I have some knitting and my coffee - the only thing that makes that better is lights on the Christmas tree twinkling. 8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee? A sweet, rich brownie, or something more healthy? How about a salty treat? What goes best with that great cup and company? Snickerdoodles! Yarn 1. Do you knit or crochet? Knit 2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? Sock yarn of all types, marinos, cashmere - blends. 3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? 2 pairs of socks, 1 hat, a lace wrap, a twin set, and a baby blanket. 4. What are your favorite colors in yarns? What about those that you'd never find in your stash? Pinks, reds, blues. I don't know that there is any color I wouldn't purchase. 5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest? Wood, Addi Turbos regular & Lace. I'm not fond of plastic needles. 6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan? 7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going..The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated..a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and sproingy in your hands.. a soft, worsted weight wool like malabrigo.. and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with? I would probably fire up the credit card and bring them all home - but if I could really only choose 1 - the sock yarn. Spring 1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are? The weather is pretending to be Spring one day and more Fall like the next. 2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one? Daisies 3. What do you most look forward to about springtime? Being able to sit outside by the pond, knitting and drinking (coffee, beer, whatever) 4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day? First I run my errands with the top down on my car and get that out of the way, then I come home and get a nice glass of water and sit by the pond to knit. 5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? what helps cheer you up? I live in Western Washington - are you kidding - this happens all the time. I knit under a blanket on the couch! Odds n Ends 1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles? Stove shaped cookie jars 2. Are you allergic to anything? Nope 3. Do you have pets? 4 dogs 4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in? Knit Tea was my first; then the DOT Holiday 5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them. DiaryofaSewingFanatic, Carolyn inspired me to start sewing and she always encourages me to take my time and do my best; Chan Knits, Chan is funny and supportive and she gets life with hounds; and camillaknits, Camilla just cracks me up and is fast become a true friend.

I Got a Package!

Yesterday, the mailman rang twice! And I missed him both times. But I saw him at the mailbox and went out to say hi. Upon opening the door I tripped over the package he put right there. I wish I could thank whoever sent it, but there was no name on the label. So thank you - whoever you are! Yep! It's my Sassy Apron Swap package. What fun. The Apron is Yellow and orange - not that anyone can tell in this photo. Also included in the package was a spoon and several recipes. It was taken in the front yard. We are having a glorious day. Already walked the dogs and it was too warm for a coat. Anyway, when we got home, I made some yummy french toast and wore the apron while I was cooking. Hubby didn't get any "in the wild" shots, but it was in there! I did my best to smile when he was taking these pictures. Yesterday I got my hair cut and colored. It's really fine although there's plenty of it. But it's also really static-y and has tons of fly-aways this year. What causes that? Now, it's time to get off the computer and finished the never ending curtain project so I can complete my SAS partner's package and get it in the mail on time :) Happy Sewing everyone (or knitting outside in the sunshine if you're so inclined).

Ravelry

Have you joined yet? Ravelry is awesome. I would love to see my friends Blogfree Jessica and D join. Since they are choosing to remain blogfree - this would be a great way to know what they are up to.

I love the Notebook feature. You can see my projects as well as my stash which I spent the morning photographing and cateloging. You can make stuff for trade/sell. There is a wonderful inventory for needles and hooks as well as a library.

And now - after 3 posts in one day - I'm going to make a cup of tea and work on the last of the curtain panels!

Stunt Stitcher - Part 1 - The Goods

Well yesterday when I got home, I found this small but very heavy box leaning against my front door. I'm sure that Keith (our mailman) was grumbling about it the whole time he was bringing it up. Anywho - being the good blogger (HA!) that I am, I ran to get the camera before I even looked for the rip strip that would open that box.

Just look at all the loot that she managed to fold and pack into that box. Amazing isn't it? Along with great fabrics shown in a previous post over at CamillaKnits, she included amy butler's barcelona skirts pattern. You might ask why Miss C sent me all this fabric. I'll tell you - I volunteered to sew some samples of non-quilts using quilting cottons. A few of my favorite things were made from quilting cottons and I don't make quilts. Anyway, I digress.

At first glance my thought were to take this grouping and make a Kimono Needle Roll using that fabulous daisy print as the main fabric and the pink and plaid as the accent fabrics. I also want to design a smaller, double needle needle roll. I emailed the original creator and while her instructions are very loose, she is thrilled that I want to make more and share the project and instructions. I love the crafting community. The link to the original post will take you to the rest of the information about the needle roll - just in case you want to make your own. Next I'm thinking that from the beautiful pink and green paisley for a short version of the A-line skirt in the barcelona skirt. I know that Miss C really likes the look of the apron over skirt, so I'm going to have to measure and figure out what she had in mind. I may also take a look at taking that beautiful peony fabric and making it into the layered skirt.

Next there were a few more AB fabrics. These are large prints with bold, bright colors. They would be fun to wear in the winter. How could you be down in the dumps when you are wearing a skirt out of something this bright? I'm really going to have to pre-wash (yes, I'm one of those), iron and measure these fabrics before I decide what they will be fabulous for. Of course if Miss C would just return my email and tell me what she was thinking while she was cutting! She also included 2 pieces of white muslin for lining the skirts - so there must be enough fabric for at least 2 skirts, right?

Finally, on a totally different subject. I made the orange ginger scones from my Knit One, Tea Too swap partner last night. I have an addiction to dishes - it's very sick I know. I'll post details later. Anyway breaky

this morning was 2 of those little ginger orange scones (I have to share with slobbery dogs - you see they are under the impression that my breakfast is theirs) a banana and nice cup of tea. Yes, I am a coffee drinker, but lately I have been having issues with my tummy and coffee really upsets it while tea doesn't. So thanks again Bethany, because of you ~ the dogs and I had a great breakfast this morning. Hope the move is going well ~ I hate moving.

Rockin' It

Well I have been very neglectful in getting to this. Sharon nominated me way back when. And then Bonnie nominated me a couple of weeks ago. I have been neglectful in updated and posting this because I don't know who to nominate. Nominate for what, Rockin' Girl Blogger. I'm thrilled and honored.

I'm going to nominate the following blogs:

Claire. Claire is a personal friend. I find her determination to get a doctor to give a shit refreshing. She's showing woman everywhere that they can stand up and be heard!

The Princess - well because she is The Princess. I would nominate The Musical One if she blogged, but she doesn't. I miss The Princess but it's not like she's gone. She started blogging to let me know what she is up to way over on the other coast. I am so appreciative of blogging friends who have gone to "visit" her blog, leave comments and make her feel welcome.

Camilla. She has become a real friend. She approaches life with humor and grace and isn't afraid to have people laughing with her. She is incredibly brave for home-schooling and then starting up her own quilting/yarn store with (from what I understand) no help from a bank. Rock on!!

Leslie is A Friend to Knit With. Her blog is great, I love her completed projects. Her absolute delight in her children and spouse. She (along with many of the others I have nominated) makes an effort to reply to each comment I have ever posted on her blog and takes the time to answer questions. Keep any eye on her, during the school year, her Cookie of the Week is worth checking out!

Cass has a very dry sense of humor. She is a talented knitter, designing patterns and creating as she goes along. This is remarkable to me as she is also a fairly new knitter - afraid of nothing. She has a very cute UbberDog. You know me I'm a sucker for a hound.

Since I am limited to 5 and I know that the others I would like to nominate have already been nominated, I'll stop here. But let me say - given unlimited nominations - I would also include: Carolyn; Beki; Shannon; Linda; Teri; Nora; and Nicole.

Now Bonnie, will you tell me how to add the cute little button?

Knit One, Tea Too

Bethany was my "Super-cool Tea Swap Partner" to quote her. And she's right. I can't remember if it was Thursday or Friday when I came home and found this little box on my doorstep. Last week, the days all ran together.

I was trying to get a good photo of the return address - where Bethany sharpied through her name and wrote "Your Tea Swap Partner." Inside that box were these fabulous goodies. Everything was nicely wrapped and the yarn (which I wouldn't unwrap until I had the camera handy) was even tied with the bow!

It's hard to see everything but, there is a super cool hand-made teacup stitch marker, some Constant Comment tea (which always reminds me of my Grandmother), a wonderful peppermint soap.

The yarn which I couldn't unwrap until later was this fabulous Seacoast Handpainted sock/lace yarn in the color Raspberries. I can't wait to wind it and start making something.

Today - after getting home from the most horrible day at work ever. I found another box on my kitchen table. I squealed! I was so freakin' excited! I cut the box open, found the card, then went to find the camera before I could continue! Ya know you're a blogger when . . . In no particular order - a fabulous Jasmine Tea Infuser. The top is a green tea cup. I have wanted a tea strainer for a long, long time!

Next the cutest little honey pot I have ever seen. I'm pretty sure that Winnie the Pooh would be jealous. I tried to sneak in a picture of the stitch marker from the earlier package.

There were - tons of teas! Lemon, Holiday Spice and Tangerine and Peach tea bags - all from the English Tea Store. Currently I have Tangerine & Peach in my mug while I type! I'm quite enjoying it.

There was also Orange Spice loose leaf tea. This will give me a reason to use that infuser! Finally - Ivy Cottage ginger orange scone mix, a great shaped mug from The English Tea Store and On-line Supersocke in the color Summer. Here's a picture of all the goodies and the mess I made on the kitchen table. When JB asked why I got all this stuff, I explained about the SWAP. He said, "that's really nice, what did you send her."

My heartfelt thanks Bethany. You have made participation in my first SWAP ever magical. Thank you :)