Want to see what was in my mailbox today?

A while back I showed you the first apron in a series of aprons I have been making. That (pink and green) one was for a "Vintage Apron Swap" where the idea was to make (or buy) an apron from "vintage linens and/or pattern." The one I made was from an old tablecloth and some napkins that I had found at a consignment shop. Well, something happened to either the person that was making mine, or the package after it was mailed (which and what is unknown to me). All I know is that one day I had a message from the hostess that I had been assigned an "Apron Angel" and my package would be coming soon. Well, soon has turned into today, and I had a wonderful apron and matching hot pad from Solidia today. It is really wonderful and I love it! (Chan, you might want to look away. Why? Well, because it is, well, that color you don't like very well. It is an awesome apron though!)

She also sent a couple of recipes and one of them is for some cookies that remind her of ones her grandmother used to make, even though the recipe for those were lost when she passed away. I know how much I value family recipes and how hard it would be if a favorite was lost. I am so glad she was able to find this and then shared it with me.

 

I used it right away to unpack this week's CSA. This week we have Curly Endive, Arugula, fennel, French Breakfast Radishes, (the last week of) asparagus, and peppermint. It's a good thing they include some recipes every week; I have never had fennel before, either for cooking or to eat. I don't know if Hubband has, but unfortunately he will be missing out this week. I am sure there will be a chance to make it up to him latter.
I did make some Mint Water last night from some of last week's spearmint and will make some tonight from the peppermint to see if I notice a big difference. It is pretty yummy and refreshing, almost as good as ice tea! (Though I may well use mint water to make some ice tea for Sunday.)

Mint Water
2 quarts (filtered) water
about 20 clean mint leaves, chopped or torn coarsely
Combine water and mint in container and refrigerate overnight. Strain mint leaves and store water in fridge.

Meet "Meadow Bag"

My downstream partner for the Dumpling Bag Swap has received her bag safely, So I can now introduce you to the one I made. My partner's name means “meadow where the beaver dwells,” so I was inspired to make her a Meadow Bag. Here it is in its pre-felted state,

 

with a close up of some of the cattails that seem to love growing near ponds and meadows.

 

This is what it looked like after it was all felted and dry.

 

It wasn't until after I was back inside and had it all packaged up to mail off that I realized I had forgotten a picture of the felted pond as well as the small stuffed beaver that had happily taken up residence inside his new meadow home. Oh well, the important thing is that PoMOGolightly loves it! Which she has told me she does and I am guessing she will put up a post about it soon. (She is busy teaching college freshman all about Freshman Composition, which is not an easy job.)

Random life stuff, again

Don't you just love hearing about our random life around here? (I guess if you don't, you know how to move on to another page/window of your computer.)
Some of you may have been hanging out here at Casa Coffee Yarn to remember me telling you about Oribel's love of bubble wrap. (If not, you might want to go read it, but only if you like stories about her.) Anyway, she also happens to like playing with tissue paper. Balled up tissue paper is really great for batting across the room and chasing, and of course flat tissue paper is one of the best things for pouncing on and hiding underneath, not to mention biting and ripping. Saturday I got a package in the mail and as usual, Miss O laid claim to the tissue paper that was used for protection and stuffing in the package. No, no pictures of her and her precious tissue paper, but I can show you what I got in the mail.
I had signed up for a Dumpling Bag Swap and mine came, complete with tissue. (What is a Dumpling Bag? See here and here.)
(Bloggless) DiverJan was my upstream partner and has a great sounding day job as marine biologist/ecologist and I told her I loved the Squid bags she had made and would be more than thrilled with whatever she decided she wanted to make.
Well, I got a super-cool Squid Bag of my very own! I love how the squid wraps all the way around the bag and has cool beads in select spots.

 

She also sent along some treats from Florida, even though no extras were expected or required! (I'll show you the one I made after my downstream partner gets it, if you all have any desire to see what it looks like.)

 

I have been doing some sewing lately, but haven't taken any pictures of that. Maybe I'll try to remember to get some later this week. I have had this weird desire to make aprons, and fortunately DTE has been rather accommodating in that regard. She asked me if I could make one for a friend of hers, and of course I was happy to say yes. She also was wondering if I would be willing to make a different one for her and again, "Yes" was the happy answer. I should really make a couple for myself I think. I don't usually wear an apron when I cook (DTE pretty much always wears one when cooking is involved), and it becomes rather obvious when flour has been involved with a quick look at my jeans. Several aprons around to wear and throw in the laundry would make more sense than having to hunt up a clean pair of jeans to go out. 'Cause maybe I cook a lot, and it often involves flour or other messy stuff.
My car started making a funny noise a few weeks back, so today we dropped it off to be looked at. For some weird reason it needs a new wheel bearing; I say weird because it had two new wheel bearings in January of 2008. The guys at the shop are going to submit the info to the proper place, even though the warranty was for 12mo/12,000 miles and it has (obviously) been over 12 months and I have at least 20,000 miles since they were put in. He said they might give a partial refund and it never hurts to ask. (Yes, that is 20K in about 14 or 15 months. What can I say? We live miles out of town, drive 400+ miles north and back several times a year, to the Big Cities 90 miles north, and such.Yes my car gets to do most of the driving, rather than the truck. Well, and the truck didn't get used last winter at all since it didn't get its snowshoes out of the shed in time. But there is a reason we have an all-wheel drive car. Because we knew we needed to drive a lot in the snow/winter/ick. It has a job to do and it does it well, what more can I ask? OK, maybe to have a wheel bearing last a little longer, but oh well.

FYI, for you non-sewers out there; sewing patterns are quite often printed on tissue paper.

I should be knitting,

but I wanted a break. The Shawl I am working on is over half done and Hubband and I will be spending two or three hours in the car tomorrow, so I figured I could take a bit of a break. (It might actually be done if I hadn't been been distracted with cooking yesterday and errands and cleaning the porch today, but hey....) Plus I missed you guys and had swap reports to deliver.
So, as I said, on Tuesday I got my WhoDuKnit Trick or Treat package from Patty, who did a great job with the cute wrapping thing.
(I fear that my wrapping jobs may leave something to be desired some days!)

 

She sent treats that included chocolates, warm and fuzzy socks, Halloween music, and some autumn candles.

 

Of course there was yarn and books as well, since this is an online Knit and Read group! Three great sounding books, at least one of which Hubband will probably read when he is done with his latest Terry Pratchett. There is some really pretty Peaches and Cream dishcloth cotton with a pattern I haven't seen before, and some great looking fall colored sock yarn with a pattern as well.
Thank you Patty! This was a great treat and I am looking forward to making the dishcloth as soon as my shawl is done (which means it will be going on our trip tomorrow just in case).

 

Then on Thursday, My All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Swap box came from Brenda,which of course was another cute wrapping job.

 

She sent a great Halloween glass (which I have used twice for dinner already), beautiful "Strawberry-Banana" sock yarn, chocolate covered raisins and cocktail peanuts. She also sent that cute witch, who is still guarding my peanuts in the pantry.

 

Since this is a dishcloth swap and all, she went above the call of duty and sent not just one, but two great Halloween dishcloths. The bat one is one I have been wanting to make for over a year, so it is great to have one without having to wait any longer, and the ghost one is really great too. There is some goat's milk soap and the Chibi was inside the spider bag. It is wonderful to have a second one as I don't always remember to move the one I had from bag to bag. Thank you so much for such a great package!
We had two groups of Trick-or-Treaters tonight. The fist one was the twins from down the street around six, and the second one was their neigh or and two of his friends around seven. Hubband thinks since we get so few every year we should give out something more exotic than candy. Something like a canned ham. I am thinking if he wants to do that next year, he is on his own.
Well I guess I shall go back to the knitting.....

All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Swap

Questionnaire
Knotting Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? For how long?
Knit, since 1998.
2. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using the most? Are there some you've been dying to try out and haven't?
I love my Harmony DPs, Harmony circulars, and my clover bamboo circulars.... I have kind of been eyeing the new Harmony straights; I am thinking they may just be pointy enough to make me happy, and no matter what, they are pretty!
3. What kind of projects do you most enjoy? Small things you can take with you, or big complex ones that are just gorgeous when they're done?
I always have several projects going at once. I have small portable things for taking with me; larger things for working on at home; easy, mindless, no-thinking-involved projects; something complicated that takes paying attention to. Yes, there is a certain amount of cross-over, but sometimes there is more than one item per category too.
4. List one pattern for a dishcloth that you love to make, or just tell us about one you've made or received that you loved.
I really like making the Ball Band or DW.
5. What are your 'must have' notions? Are there any notions you need or can never have enough of? Any that might make you cry if you owned more?
I use my fold up scissors and Chibi needles on pretty much every project.... Well, except when I forget to move them from knitting project bag to the next and to the next. So they really are my "must haves" and I get frustrated with myself when I forget them.
Petting Yarn
6. What are your favorite yarns to work with? Any you hate or are allergic to?
Soft yarn, pretty colors. I don't like scratchy or squeaky yarn very much.
7. What colors do you like to use in projects? Any we'd never catch on your needles?
I am open to most any color or combination there of. I love to stretch the color envelope, even if it is mine.
8. Any cottons you'd like to try you can't find by you, or just haven't gotten around to getting?
I just learned that Malibrigo makes a 100% cotton, but I can't get that around here. (Which I guess makes sense in a sad, sad way, since I can't get any Malibrigo in town.) I have also never tried Pattons DK cotton
Halloween, Fall, and General Stuff
9. Do you like to use bar soap or shower gel more? What kinds of scents do you love? What kind do you hate?
I mostly use Cetaphil in the shower, but occasionally use a vanilla or lemon gel.
10. What's more 'Halloweeny' - Ghosts, Pumpkins, or Witches?
Witches
11. What's your favorite Treat to get? Sweet or Salty? Anything you're allergic to or just hate?
I don't particularly care for licorice at all. I like chocolate covered raisins mixed with salted peanuts.
12. What was your favorite Halloween Costume as a kid? As an adult??
My favorite costumes all fall into the "As an adult" category. That is because they would be the ones I made for my kids. I think my top three would be a pile of leaves, a loaf of bread, and a Pixie on a toadstool.
13. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID?
CoffeeYarn everywhere I go.....
14. Anything else you'd like to be sure your pal knows?
Not that I can think of.

A little of this and a little of that

Yesterday afternoon the bird bath was all nice and level, when these creatures came along and unrevealed it. (That seems to happen on a fairly regular basis.) I took this picture from inside the kitchen as they tend to get a bit excited and run off when we open the door. "Off" being to the edge of the yard and into the forest.

 

It turns out that Anita had forgotten to put some things in my KCSD swap box, so she sent me a second one. She sent some of my favorite things in it! Raspberry preserves, Earl Grey tea, a pottery mug, a North Carolina cookbook ('cause that is where she lives), Gingerbread men, and flowers from her garden for mine! She has white iris that she was so kind to share with me, so I planted them this evening near my purple ones. It will be fun to see them bloom in the spring and know that she is seeing them as well. I forgot to mention the other day that she has an Etsy shop and makes very cool clay items. You really should go look.

 

This is the latest picture of the TdF sweater progress. It is ready to have the pocket started, but I decided to wait until tomorrow to do that sine the light will be much better then. Well, and my eyes won't be quite as tired as they were at eight tonight. Black yarn and old eyes, you know.

 

Just for the heck of it I thought I'd give you a Sadie picture. This is what she is leaving behind without too much work these days. Only a few minutes of brushing and only one side produced that pile.

 

 

I will leave you with a picture of that which was making strange noises in our neighborhood tonight. This was taken right over the trees in our yard, so you can tell it was pretty close. It came from somewhere across our street, across our yard and over the forest/field right behind us and then we think it ma have put down on the hill just past that. (Which would make a lot more sense to you if you have been to our house, or know how to look us up on Google maps I am sure.) Trust me on the "It was really close and low."

Swap box in the my mail today!

I got my Keepin' Cool in Summer Dishcloth Swap box today. Anita sent some wonderful things; some for me and some for me to share. She did a great job of keeping herself secret, even when posting as her real self for Whiskers on Wednesday. She has Jasmine, who for all the world looks like she could be Oribel's sister or something! Of course they both think they are Queen of the World, so I am not sure they would want to share space in the same house!

 

She sent treats for the dogs and toys for Oribel. (Who has carried one of them off and hidden it away already.)

She also sent some hand wash, "I'd rather be knitting" pencils, and a notepad. It seems like we can never have too many of those!

 

She also sent some awesome knitting treats! KnitPicks CotLin (two balls each of two beautiful colors),stitch markers, a cute sheep tape measure, and some Harmony needles with appropriate cables! Very cool! The beginnings of circulars to match my favorite sock needles!

 

Last, but not least, there were two beautiful dishcloths! I love them both and am thinking I could work on lace this way. Miss Oribel is still running away with my yarn too much for me to trust her with lace-weight yarn just yet!

One Skein Swap, Part 2

Well, Sharon has received her WhoDuKnit One Skein Swap package, so I can reveal what the "Mystery Knit" was. I made her a pair of Knucks. She lives in a part of California that doesn't seem to need full fingered mittens or gloves, but had mentioned that sometimes her hands do get a bit cold. She says they fit perfectly and will come in handy. (Hubband really liked them and would have loved it if they were for him, so I will be making another pair or two this fall.)
They did get to hang out with the chair a fair amount, both while they were being made, and after they were done.

 

This was really great yarn to work with, but unfortunately it isn't available at this time. I will be figuring out something else to make these with, because I think I really want at least one pair for myself!

One Skein Swap

The other day when I got home from errands and such, Hubband informed me that a box had arrived for me in the mail. It was full of wonderful surprises from Sharon, my partner for the WhoDuKnit One Skein Mystery Swap. She sent some fun books (of course, we are a book group after all!), yarn, a ladybug muscle massager, some potato pops (already consumed-very yummy!), and some (not pictured) very nice Neutrogena products.

 

But best of all was what she had made with the Fiesta La Luz I had sent her to work with. Sharon made the most beautiful scarf for me and included a wonderful scarf pin to wear with it!

 

Thank you so much Sharon for such a wonderful swap package and beautiful scarf. I will enjoy wearing it!

How do you know summer is here?

Well, how do I know summer has arrived where ever I am? Well, usually by the need to turn on the air conditioner. That has hasn't happened here yet. Oh, wait, there was one day we turned it on because it was 73° and about 95% humidity. We didn't need the house to be any cooler than it was, but I get kind of fussy and cranky when the humidity is that high. The best way of knowing summer is here? Well our anniversery would fall on the "First Day of Summer" so that tends to help.
The whole "School's out" thing helps too, especiall since it now involves people being home from college!

Keepin' Cool in Summer Dischloth Exchange

It's that time again, just in case you are wanting to join in the fun and are wondering where to find it. Registration is open now through June 6th.

The Questionnaire
1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I knit and having been doing so for about ten years.
2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook?
I usually use bamboo circulars for my dishcloths and either metal or wood circulars for most everything else. Except socks, for those I love my Harmony double points (not that I have tried Harmony anything else, I might be converted...).
3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand?
It is easiest to say what I don't like. Scratchy yarn, squeaky yarn, stuff like that.
4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't?
I keep hearing about Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton and have never used that, so that would be fun to try. Or CotLin.
5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts?
Both! I use them, Hubband gave some to his poker buddies for Christmas, and I have given them to several other folks.
6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike?
I really like most any and all colors. There aren't any that I can think of that I really don't like. There are some that I don't use or buy very often but I love to stretch my "zone" so am always open to different ones than I normally get myself.
7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in?
My kitchen has black counters and a black and white tile floor, so we use a lot of color in it. Our bath is dusty rose, grey, and sage green.
8. What are your favorite scents around the house?
Clean. Well, I like lemon, mint, and vanilla.
9. What is your very favorite thing about summer?
Sunshine, knitting on the deck before it gets to hot, and homegrown tomatoes.
10. What is your least favorite thing about summer?
Humidity. Tornadoes.
11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower?
I use Cetaphil cleanser.
12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath?
Very few.
13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern?
I really enjoy the interplay of colors in the ballband and how color works in the slipped stitches of the DW. But there are other ones I like as well.
14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty?
Both. I actually love chocolate covered raisins mixed with salted peanuts.I think it is a great contrast of sweet and salt as well as textures.
15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather?
Go camping in the high mountains (think over 6, 000 feet).
16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting?
Cooking, baking, reading, beading, sewing, weaving,gardening.
17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!)
Some hand thrown pottery, some cookbooks.
18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID!
Yes, CoffeeYarn.
19. Do you have any allergies?
Yes, strong perfumes/scented items, dust.
20. Do you have any pets?
Yes. Two bassets and one cat.

An amazing second Spring Fling Coffee Box

showed up on my doorstep today! Gaylen sent me a wrap-up/reveal box and it was loaded with a lot of fun goodies; some just for me and some to share!

Someone got a bit impatient for hers, stole it out of the box, and off it went to do battle. (I am not sure that the cow had been intended for Orebel, but she claimed it right away!)
I did get it back long enough to get it in the picture with the stuff she sent for the dogs. Boy does she know what to get them! She should though; she has two basset hounds and a set of bloodhound twins! (The red ball with legs makes a loud noise when squeezed, and I think Simon will enjoy figuring out how to run it.)
There are yummy food treats that could be consumed while knitting



or drinking yummy coffee,

 

or partaking of the new reading materials she sent; which is loaded with fun things to solve



and inspire.

 

She made a set of knitting note cards and sent some knitting accessories.






I never seem to be able to find a tape measure, so having ones on carabiners to hang on my bag will be great! The stitch markers and basset key chain will also come in handy.

 

She also sent some really wonderful yarn! Hacho, which I haven't seen before but am really excited to learn about. I am so looking forward to knitting with it, it feels wonderful and the colors are beautiful!
In addition to all of this, and the box she sent in April, she also sent some Panda Cotton! I feel overwhelmed at her incredible gifts to me! Thank you Gaylen, so much for everything!