A Little Sisterly Love

My Sister didn't have a whole lot of faith in me, and rightfully so when it came to her birthday present. I didn't follow through last year with her book, that I called on her Birthday and told her I was reading it. Well, I have heard for weeks, that she would not get her present until Christmas. I hate to be doubted and second guess. It makes me want to prove you wrong that much more. So, while induring comments that I would not make up there before Christmas and she wouldn't get her Birthday present til Christmas. I held my plane ticket in the palm of my hand, while crocheting thousands of stitches for her Christmas present. I couldn't let her down this year, so what did I do? I showed up 4 days before her birthday unannounced. I love my sister more than she will ever know and I wouldn't let her down for anything.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

Here is my questionaire to the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. Anne and I are excited about this one.


Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!) I like Starbucks expresso lattes, Barneys has some really good holiday flavors and O'Henrys has a flavored roast that I like as well.

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee? I don't have a grinder so it is grounds for me.

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Do you enjoy special blends? I love Barney's Santas White Christmas, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice and it is now holiday flavor but O'Henry's Jamaca me Crazy is so good.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf? I like lots of milk and foam. Splenda or flavored syrup. Half caf and half decaf.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer? I like mugs or my travel mugs from Starbucks (season themed) and my pink travel mug from Barney's (thanks Lacey)

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

What is your favorite part of Winter? I like for it to get cold enough to wear my sweaters and a dusting of snow is nice.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday? I celebrate Christmas very traditional. Love traditions, old and new.

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree? Yes I put up a tree. It has alot of what the boys have made and their Hallmark collector ornaments and lots of Santas and Snowmen. The boys get their trees put up after Thanksgiving by Cameron (our elf) who lives with us starting the week after Thanksgiving.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package? I am flexible and love surprises. Holiday or Winter is great for me.

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect? I have Santas in my den, and Snowmen in my kitchen.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats? I do wear scarves and gloves when it is cold enough. I want to cast on soon for some fingerless gloves.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat? I like tea, but I could do Starbucks it is my treat and sometimes my meal, how healthy is that (not).

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory. There is so many. We had great Christmas's growing up. We always had great food, two Christmas trees, and couldn't wait until Christmas morning. Now on Christmas Eve, Eve the girls get together (Grandmother, Mom, Aunt June, Sister, and the three cousins. We have a good dinner and then we play dirty Santa with good decorating gifts. That is so fun. Then Christmas Eve is spent with my mom and then Santa comes. Santa takes the elf back home with him on Christmas eve. Cameron, our elf has made quiet a few memories already. He is a mess.

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long? I have knit and Crochet going on 11 months.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight? I use bamboo needles. Straights or circulars, just started the DPN's. I use metal hooks.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making? I make dishcloths, bags, teacozies, baby booties and hats. I am ready to try my hand at fingerless gloves, socks and sweaters.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with? I like Cotton for clothes, baby stuff. I use wool or wool blends for others. I want to try some Cash merino by Debbie Bliss. It feels so soft.

Do you spin or dye? I have the Kool-Aid in my cabinet, ready to dye some yarn. The only thing spinning is my head from time to time.

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? I smock which is needle point for kids clothes. I use to cross stitch. Last time I scrap booked I finished my boys first years in both of their books.

General

When is your birthday? July 26th

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!) I have 2 boys. The boys want a dog. I like it when swap partners include my boys. I love doing swaps, but when I open a box or the boys do, I love it when they are included. They are my world.

What are your favorite colors? I like pink, and turquoise. I like just about any color.

Do you have any allergies? Not to yarn, just to bees.

T.O.W. #5 (I didn't do number 4)

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

Now that it is getting cooler here, it makes me think of apple picking and hay rides. Are you the type that likes to go to participate in all the fall festivities like apple picking, pumpkins, decorating for the fall, hay rides, baking fall goodies, etc. or do you just sit and count the days till Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah

I love fall, and take in what little changing of trees there is here in the South. I did love the year I was in New York in October. I got to go to the Apple Farm and picked Apples by the pounds. There is nothing like a Nothern Apple. I have been to pumpkin patches and they are lots of fun too. We do put out the Scare crow, and a lit up pumpkin. We will be decorating my mother in laws house for my youngest son's Halloween Birthday Party. I get to head up North the end of the month, so maybe there will still be some color on the trees.

Catching Up

Ok, I started this Whimsy Flower Dishcloth, this was my first time to use DPN's. I started on circulars and moved it over cause I just couldn't get my magic loop to work. So it became this.

It was for a very special swap partner who has been patient. It has some imperfections if you look at the lines that look like pinwheels. I guess I got off count. So, here is my new Dishcloth. It is the Springtime Dishcloth from here She has several free patterns and some good recipes. I ripped it once because I forgot to knit my border at the bottom. I really like how this pattern is turning out. It is the twisted purl. Its not easy to knit or it might be that I knit to tight. The yarn is so soft and squishy. It is TLC pure cotton. I love the sheen it has to it.









I have been tagged for a MEME 8 Random Things About Me:
1. I am messy at home. It comes honestly.

2. I am a clean freak at work. I like my desk to be clean. I wipe down with santiwipes and there is a guy who puts crumbs on my desk just to aggrivate me. It works.

3. I like to talk to people. When I was little my mom would give me Benadryl to make me quit talking when we would go on trips. My nephew must take after me, he just talks louder than I do, but nonstop.

4. I have to finish RN school at some point. I just can not take away from my kids right now.

5. I am terrified of bees. I am highly allergic to them.

6. When it comes to family gifts, I can't keep the surprise. I have to give hints and it just eats at me until I have to go ahead and let them know. Except for the one I have been keeping for a month.

7. I am very attention deficit. I got that from my dad. I go from one thing to another.

8. I could be a night owl. I love to stay up late. If only I didn't have to get up early.

Well, now to name someone else to be MEME. I have to pass the duties to Donna, Stephanie, and Lacey my dear sister (just think, now you have something else to blog about)

After being tag for meme I remember I forgot to nominate someone for this award



I nominate
1.Stephanie: she produces some of the cutest clothes by knitting, crocheting or sewing.

2.Then there is Marcie She has a cute style and is very creative. Go check out her Etsy shop.

3. Then there is my sister. She has been very busy moving to Seattle and taking over meetings and heading up coffees. She is very talented sewing and knitting. She is a great sister and couldn't ask for anyone better. We kinda lead eachother into creative areas. I started smocking and then she did. She started knitting and introduced me last Christmas with my first book (that she swears I never refer to).

Well, caught up for the moment. Back to knitting and writing my son's invitations for his Halloween Birthday Party next weekend.

OH, one more thing Registration will be opening soon for the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap I am hosting with Anne. Head on over to here and enter the contest we are hosting before the swap. Contest ends October 23rd. Registration opens October 24th.

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

I bet Anne is wondering what kind of host I am going to be if I haven't mentioned the swap I am hosting with her. Sorry Anne, I am now with my head abouve water. My son and I came down with Strep this week and we have been sick. I got my meds and now I am on a up hill swing.

I am hosting my first swap with Anne. She rocks at hostessing so, we put our heads together a couple of months ago and decide to do a Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. What swap package could be better than that of Coffee and Yarn. Throw in some Holiday goodies and that will be a great package. Notice when I say Holiday, I don't mean just Christmas, Hanukkah or whatever you celebrate during the months of winter. You have snowflakes, snowmen, mittens and hats. Whatever you enjoy during winter. We are so excited about this one.

We are having a contest over at the blog to kinda start things out on a good track through the snow. Its starting to get colder already just talking about it (even if it is 85 degrees here). Go on over here and check it out.

The Contest
Make a post on your blog, telling folks about this swap, and letting them know registration opens on October 24th

Comment here and let us know that you posted!

Contest Ends October 23rd


EASY, to win some swap goodies. We'll draw a random winner of some yarn and goodies! And if you join the swap, it certainly won't be your last chance at a contest!

And if anyone cares to make buttons - Anne and I are more than open since neither of us knows how! We'll post em up in the sidebar - all are welcome! Lastly - if you have links for Coffee sites, knit or crochet patterns for Winter, Christmas, Hanukkah, or any holiday we might have missed - please send them along!

Can not wait for registration to start.

T.O.W. #4

How about you? Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy?

My family likes the Chili with the first cool breeze of fall. I on the other hand am not a big fan of Chili. I do eat more soups. One of my favorite is from a package. Bear Creek makes a great tortilla soup. I add a can of tomatoes and corn. Top with some cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Serve it with some tortilla chips and it is soooooo good. I like soup weekly as it gets cooler.

Fred went over The Rainbow Bridge

My friend Chan lost her baby. Please keep her, Mark and Mugsy in your thoughts and prayers. They need them as they grieve the loss of their Fred.

The Rainbow Bridge

Oh, when we get to Heaven
We hope that we will find
The souls that once we loved
Who left us all behind.

Some left us at the right time
They left this world in peace
Others left too sudden
Without the chance to say Goodbye,
They were gone before we had
The chance to even cry.

There's a special place for grownups
A special place for kids
Me? I'll be on the other side
The side called Rainbow Bridge.

Across the dark green meadow
A'top the hills I'll run
Where the colors from the rainbow
Glitter from the sun.

And there I'll find my sweetheart
Running fast toward me
In my arms where he belongs
for all eternity.

Jean McColgan

Come Join Me As I Get Ready For My Tea Party

First let me let you know I have been gone due to a virus on the computer that would not let me do anything. It got some tender loving care and now we are back in business. I got my computer back just in time for you to know I got a great package from my "Knit 1 Tea 2" pal. Here it is but there is time for that package later. I gotta get ready for my tea party. You are all invited to see what it takes to prepare first hand for this tea party. So, get comfortable and grab a cup of tea.


I always start my party with a list. I have many things to gather and prepare. First the invitations. I got these invitations and they say "Tea Time", PERFECT! Next I will need the stuff for some special treats for my guest to enjoy, so I got some King Arthur Scone Mix, Dried cranberries to add, and some apricot and rasberry jam. YUM!

I figured I need a few more goodies so I got some Tolberone Chocolate and some Purely Maple Vermont Button Cookies.


So, now on for the tea to consider. Did I want loose, bag, decaf or regular. So, I got some Tazo Earl Grey, Trader Joes Blackberry Fruit Fusion, and some decaf Teaeluxe Apricot Arebesque, and Highland Chai. I got a tea strainer for the decaf loose teas and measuring spoon, so it would make the perfect cup of tea not to strong or to weak. Just PERFECT!


On to the last things I ALWAYS do to prepare for my tea parties. RELAX with Liz Claiborne Chamomille and Lavender bath salts, some lit candles, and some Hands On Natural Soap from the Boston Tea Party.


After all my preparation the "tea party" is always a success. Beyond cleaning up and fun I always need to enjoy a bit of quiet. The boys are usually still out and my husband at work, so I put my feet up and take a few moments for myself with some more tea (never have too much) and sit down and read stories from A Cup of Comfort for Nurses.


When the family gets home I am refreshed and ready to enjoy some family time with the boys playing UNO. It is always fun with the boys. That is the preparation and recovery of all the work for MY Tea Party.


Here is my package from Devon my tea swap pal. I have loved chatting with her week to week. She took everything I told her into consideration. She made some pot hand holders so I can take the hot goodies out of the oven or to hold my hot tea pot. She wrapped those in what I can use to wrap up my goodies to stay warm. She also sent me some Cotton yarn in Apricot color and Creme to go with my tea flavors. She wrote it out and was all numbered how to open it while reading "Holly's Parties" the boys were taking turns opening piece by piece. She was so sweet, she didn't take just me into consideration, she took my boys into consideration, she sent them Nestle Crunch bars and gummy bears and then the UNO game. That means so much, I always feel a little bad when I open packages and they are just hoping there is something in that box for them. Thanks Devon! You rock at spoiling. Also, along with Devon I want to thank Chan and Mary for being great hostesses of this Tea Swap. It was so much fun and worth it. Can not wait for the next one.