Doing the SP Thing Again

I got a box in the mail.  The very best kind of box--one from a secret pal.

 Everything was wrapped in great penguin wrapping paper.

 There was a slug from Flushed Away for Wiz

 and one for Game Boy.  (A favorite movie of theirs--they used to sing the songs from it in harmony together.)

 Left over yarn bits for more ornaments, including a pattern for wonderful tiny mittens,

 with one even knitted up for me.  (Aren't they adorable?  There's something about small things that are just fabulous.)

 A great hat pattern with the perfect yarn (sorry for the color--it just won't come out properly).  I want to knit it and wear it and call it my own.

And a can of Cincinnati chili, which I put on the table at the Collar's place.  He picked it up, and started drooling.  I think he'll be having it for lunch soon.

All in all, a fabulous package from my Secret Pal, Michelle.  Hopefully my downstream will like her package, too.

Happy Valentine's Day

and Chinese New Year!

Valentine's isn't my favorite holiday most years, and this year it's even more so. I'm not feeling all that celebratory this year. Last week was really busy, Friday's the Wiz's birthday and we're still in waiting mode. The boys received chocolate from G&G, and all three of the males in my life gave me chocolate. I made them meatloaf. (See above picture--they thought it was funny.)

But I do love secret pal sorts of things, and Valentine's is a great excuse for one of those. My secret pal was sent gifts in those bags that I made last week (yarn, cocoa and candy, natch!), and yesterday I came home from my meeting in Spokane to a package from my spoiler, Sandykins.

She sent me two knitted gifts: an illusion heart washcloth made of the softest yarnsoap in a knitted cover that will felt as I use the soap (the soap smells really nice, too).Of course, it's a knitty swap, so there will always be unknitted yarn too. Sandykins sent me a stranded mitten kit from Sweden (the instructions are in 4 languages, none of them English. However, one is German, so I have a chance to translate it. ) in grey and white. I love knitting mittens and socks. Almost everyone needs them, and they are pretty fast. This pair will be beautiful when I am finished.

Thanks again, Sandykins! I haven't sampled the chocolate, but it is hidden from the horde. It made my weekend.

Summer Swapping

happens so fast!

Every time I do one of these, I think I have the best upstream ever. (All of them have been fabulous!) Summer Trails has been amazing.A very full box!

We're supposed to be tourists for our downstream pals. You can probably guess the themes that I sent. (Wine, onions, and outdoor activities--all of which you can walk to from our house.)

My spoiler is from Iowa. She sent me things that are representative of her community. She definitely put a lot of thought into this.

She knit me fingerless mitts in a yarn made locally. They have a cable up the sides. I don't know if she designed the pattern or not, but they fit me, and I'll wear them a lot this winter when I'm working. (Why does typing make my fingers cold?)

Then there are the stitch markers. The blue ones are to represent Delft pottery and the others are tulips, which are representative of her town.And then there's this yarn, which matches one of the colors in my new dress. Maybe there's enough for a shrug! (It's Therapi in a coral color.)

And a gluten free cookie, which I'm saving for after the birthday cake is finished. Yum. A cookie I didn't have to make.

Ooh, Pretty!

My secret pal manxomeKal sent me this:
A very cool project bag, completely lined.
full of Reese's hearts,
A giant cup and saucer, to drink some nice strong Sumatran coffee,some beautiful stitch markers (my knitting wears more jewelry than I do!),
Jitterbug sock yarn, which I've never used before,

and some chunky Manos de Uruguay in a colors that remind me of water.

There are also some bite sized Heath bars, which I've stuck in the freezer, hiding from everyone else!

Thank you! The yarn is pettable, the coffee will be strong, and I can hide inside and not freeze quite happily. :)

A Halloween Gift

Thank you, caflygrl. It was a great package to open, and I'll (we'll) have lots of fun with it.

New Things

Today I'm posting about new things. For instance, I have a new avatar. The Collar took it while we were on vacation. It's my favorite look--geeky cyclist!

It's also a new school year. I have a new schedule. The old one didn't seem to work out. I now have to write/adapt/prepare a syllabus for an 8:00 am class that begins tomorrow. Luckily, I have taught that class before, so I am prepared mostly. I will also be setting up another online class that will begin in October.


My Secret Pal sent me a new package, which arrived just in time to celebrate being back in school.

She sent me a box with some really neat things
yarn, dpns, a pony tail holder (handy to make it look a bit more professional, since I'm riding in 3X a week), a book of short stories,
buttons for my next sweater (as in one I'm going to wear)

and a better shot *my* favorite, a tiny red bicycle. Red is the only proper color for a bike, you know. They go much faster!

Thanks, SP!

In knitting news: I'm working on a dream swatch from left over Bearfoot (the purple yarn that I knit fingerless mittens for my sister and me), and I have a baby hat, one thumbless mitten, and a second one started for the SDS auction. When I'm finished, then I'll give you details and pictures of both of those. The Collar's sweater is still growing.

Mail Call!

Yesterday was a good day--The Baseball Fanatics came down and we all went to Berea for their craft festival. The boys always find things they want--Game Boy is becoming quite an art connoisseur. He chose a photograph for his wall, while The Wiz picked a stuffed mouse named Swiss. Game Boy has a better art collection than we do! The Wiz is always fascinated by artists/craftsmen and chats them up. Yesterday was no exception. (I bought a pottery colander. I am trying to make/have things that are functional, AND beautiful. IOW, I want to believe my "stuff" is worth moving!)

The other Good Thing about yesterday was I received a package from my Secret Pal (and the one I send made it to the person I'm spoiling). She knows what my life is about! It was a combination knitting/gardening package with some of the best toys. See?
Basil seeds, yarn for boot socks, a lady bug measuring tape (you can't have too many of those!), and post-its. I <3 post-its for knitting. I use them for notes and keeping track of charts. Oh, and a bee pin, that now is living on my Tilley hat.

The farmer is magnetic, and will stick very well to my work table (the vintage table I liberated from my parents house in December. I had their permission.) I like his pitchfork. The green hedgehog is also magnetic. It is supposed to be for paperclips, but I think that I'll use if for straight pins, since I use a lot more of those. The Collar likes him the best.Happy Saturday! I need to go to work. I must do laundry so that I can pack up Game Boy for his week at camp. We're going to be parents of an only for a week, and then we'll go on vacation. Hooray!