Mindy - WOW! - thank you so much!

First of all - look at the BONANZA of books! I have glanced thru them and I do not think I have read the majority of them! Yee Haw!

And a beautiful crocheted cowl and hat - yarn - popping corn (I love popcorn) and can you see the trail mix has candy corn and pumpkins in it?

I forgot to put a trick in my box - but Mindy was a little devil and included one!!

Awesome swap - thank you so very very much!!

Halloween Swap

Rush on over to the Whoduknit? yahoo group to see all the info for the upcoming Halloween Swap :)

Thank you Martha!

Came home from errands (including the library where I bought some books I really dont need! LOL) to find a very heavy package on my doorstep.

Look why it was so heavy! Look at all those books! BONANZA!

And a beautiful scarf - and a gorgeous green ball of yarn - how did you know hubby and I love (probably to the consternation of our neighbors!) wind chimes! A lovely green butterfly (how much more springlike can you get? Add in the tussy mussy and it is definitely spring time!!!) windchime......a decadent sounding bar of chocolate....wow!!!!

Spring 2012 Swap Package from Nate

So, I was very surprised to get a box . . . I looked at the label and it said Nathan Lamirand.  Isn't it funny that when you are so used to think of someone using their nickname that when they use their full name, it causes you (or at least me) to go "who?"

Then it clicked in and I was very excited.  I opened the box and it was bright . . . really, really bright.  This is a perfect bag to carry my knitting or for shopping or taking on vacation with the summer reading that was also included.

Nate also included books by some of my most favorite authors.  Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, Robert Ludlum.  I have to admit that I have already read two of the books BUT the cool thing is that I can share them with my swappee . . . since I haven't finished to put the package together yet . . . I not only have the box to send the stuff in but I have some books to include . . . and they are awesome reads.  Really, really good.

Nate also included two skeins of yarn.  The yarn is very soft.  I like to make hats for our Christmas hat/mitten/scarf tree and these yarns are perfect for that project.  The yarns are soft and the colors are lovely.

And here is the box unpacked . . . six books, two skeins of yarn and the incredible bag.  I really love the colors in the bag.  

Thanks so much, Nate.  It is a great box.

The Christmas/New Year package from Maureen

 I want to post the pics from my wonderful package that I received from Maureen.  The box was packed with goodies (I am really impressed with all that she managed to get in there!).

The big reveal

Maureen added great notes to the packaging . . . "fun with socks, shawls and ?????."  

Two books, which I have not yet read (The Scull Beneath the Skin by PD James and Playing for the Ashes by Elizabeth George).  I am looking forward to reading both.

A bag of walnut brittle.  A box of peanut brittle.  A box of mixed candies (the white box in the front on the pic below . . . ummmm, I would show you what was inside but what was there isn't anymore . . . ).  A Sacramento coffee cup.  A skein of On Your Toes bamboo yarn.  A "sock purse" with stitch markers . . . very clever ones that are supposed to remind you that this is a decrease or increase row.  A packet of 10 Bamboo Marking Pins that might just work in my hair.  A book of Knitting Flowers.  

and the goodies revealed . . . and enjoyed

And the timing was perfect.  We have had a very very mild winter so far.  A remarkable thing for Cleveland, Ohio.  I've only worn my winter coat a handful of times.  Usually, we are knee deep in snow by this time.  Yesterday morning, when I left the house it was 40.  When I got home, it was 42.  I went to deep water aerobics at 7:30 and it was 35.  When I got home at 9:15, it was 27.  This morning, it was 17, with a wind-chill that brought the temp to -2.  Oh, and it was snowing.

From my office, I look over a park, Cleveland City Hall, the Amtrak station and the Browns' Stadium.  This is what I could see this morning.

Cleveland, in winter

Okay, so the trees block some of it, but really and truly, the Browns have bright orange seats which just yesterday, I could see from my window.  Today, it is just that grayish/white blob to the right (I have to tell you though that those same trees and the park are just loverly in the summer.)

In any event, Maureen's package arrived just in the nick of time.  I will have a wonderful time, snuggled up either knitting or reading, munching away on my peanut brittle.  Thanks so much and Happy New Year!!!

12 Days of Christmas Swap Package

Well I am finally getting around to posting photos of a most wonderful package I received from Mindy in the 12 Days of Christmas Swap.

I will start with a photo of all my goodies together.

Since I am having a terrible time trying to get these photos on here.  I can find them and get them but can't get them on the blog or actually can't close the box after I find them and load them so I am going to have to post this on the group site.  Sorry folks.