Package from Charity for Crochetoholic Nov Swap

It is here! Charity sent this package last month but due to postal issues it was delayed. Worth the wait!
She made me this cute apron! Just in time for the holiday cooking.
Aren't these buttons adorable! The pumpkin scarecrow is the cutest! Can't wait to find a project to put him on!
Look at all these goodies! There are 2 candles in wonderful fall scents, cute drinking cups with turkeys on them, a big mug for my soup or hot chocolate, some pretty fall decorations, a holiday hand towel, holiday cupcake/cookie stencils, and 5 skeins of yarn in the warmest fall colors. Great package!
Thank you very much Charity! Can't wait to use my new apron and all the other goodies you sent!

Mom's Overture by Anita Renfroe

This is great! So true!

Still under the tree!

Just a quick post to let my secret Santa from Jane's Designs's Secret Santa Swap that the gift is still UNOPENED and under the Christmas tree. My granddaughter tried to convince my BF that it was for her and it was ok to open but he said he didn't think Grandma would think so. Nice try!
Also I stashed the Godiva candy bar from my Christmas Around the World secret pal so I can enjoy it. I had to hide it from the kids!
Hope everyones holiday shopping is going well! Have done most of mine online this year. Am finished buying for my children and grandchildren! Yes! Now I can relax and knit. Just have 1 more major gift to get - for my BF. Will get that next week and then I only have a few more little gifts to pick up. I think everything is under control! (for the moment!)

Hot Cocoa Swap!

MICHELE AND LESLEY ARE HOSTING A HOT COCOA SWAP!
SIGNUPS START DEC 16TH.
THE SWAP ITSELF DOESN'T START UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
CHECK IT OUT AT THEIR WEBSITE! SOUNDS YUMMY!

Sorry

I NOTICED THE FIRST HOLIDAY PARTY POST WAS MISSING ALL 4 PICTURES SO I WILL TRY AGAIN. THESE PICTURES AND THE 2 PREVIOUS HOLIDAY PARTY POSTS SHOW PICTURES OF THE GINGERBREAD HOUSES AND CHRISTMAS TREE CAKES MY GRANDCHILDREN AND NIECES AND NEPHEWS MADE LAST SUNDAY. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE WORK THEY PUT IN TO IT!
THEY EAT AS MUCH CANDY AS THEY USE TO DECORATE!
THEN THEY ALL GO HOME IN TIME FOR SUGAR SHOCK TO SET IN!
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN!

Christmas Around The World Swap Package Arrives!

WOW, AM I SPOILED! I RECEIVED THIS GREAT SECRET SWAP PACKAGE FROM DEBRA FROM SAN JOSE, CA TODAY. 2 OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE HERE TO HELP AND I AM NOT SURE WHO WAS MORE EXCITED!
THE FIRST 2 PICTURES SHOW ALL THE GREAT PACKAGES AND HOW BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED THEY WERE. THE GREEN VELVET STOCKING WAS FULL OF PRESENTS AND RECIPES.
THE 2 LITTLE ONES CONCENTRATING ON OPENING THE MANY GIFTS!
HERE IS A PICTURE OF ALL THE GREAT GOODIES I RECEIVED!
I RECEIVED NOT 1 BUT 2 BEAUTIFUL BAGS. THE LITTLE ONE IS HOLDING THE FELTED PURPLE BAG THAT IS AWESOME! THE SECOND BAG IS BETWEEN THEM AND IS AN FANTASTIC SHOPPING BAG MY PAL KNITTED FOR ME. CAN'T WAIT TO GO DO SOME SHOPPING!

THE LITTLE ONE IS ALSO HOLDING THE GODIVA CHOCOLATE AND YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES WHICH I RECEIVED. SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE HERS! GRANDMA SHARES SOME THINGS BUT NOT MY GODIVA! I OFFERED HER SOME M&M'S ( FAIR TRADE)

THERE IS A BLUE CONTAINER FOR NOTIONS WITH A GREAT SET OF STITCH MARKERS IN IT. I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THE SOFT YARN THAT I RECEIVED. THE PINK YARN IS A WOOL/SILK BLENDS AND SOOOO SOFT.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS VERY IMPRESSED THAT THE PERSON SENDING IT KNEW SHE LOVES PINK!

THE OTHER IS A LAVENDER/TURQUOISE MIX THAT IS VERY PRETTY. MY OLDER GRANDDAUGHTER IS ALREADY PICKING OUT THINGS FOR ME TO MAKE!

THE BOOK IS THE BEST XMAS PAGEANT EVER AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CUP OF THE GREAT TEA I RECEIVED AND READ THIS BOOK.

I(we) ALSO RECEIVED A NUTCRACKER ORNAMENT WHICH IS PERFECT BECAUSE I HAVE MANY ON MY TREE ALREADY BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE ORNAMENTS!

I ALSO RECEIVED SOME GREAT RECIPES WHICH I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY SECRET PARTNER FROM THE CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD SWAP! YOU DEFINITELY BRIGHTENED OUR HOLIDAY!

Last but not least! Holiday Party Part 3

Blogger would only let me post 4 pictures at a time - so this is the last gingerbread house. Didn't they all do a great job!
Thanks kids for making the holiday season a lot of fun!

Holiday Party Part 2

More of the great cakes and gingerbread houses the kids made!

Thank you Secret Santa!

Thank you very much to my Secret Santa from Jane's Design group!
I received this great package today. The first picture shows how it was beautifully wrapped. It is so pretty. The silver package is not to be opened until 12/24 so will be the first present under my tree!
As you can see, I have opened the green package which was marked "open me now!". It contained some very pretty ornaments for my tree - which I will be putting up tomorrow! There is also some Christmas scented hand soap, a candle- yummy white chocolate mint scented - a cute lighthouse to add to my collection, and a beautiful knitted dishcloth! What a great job she did on the dishcloth. It will be out on my sink for all to see!
I can't wait for 12/24 to open my other present! Shook it gently but no clue yet! Will just have to be patient. Will try to shake it only a couple times a day!
Thank you very much to my Secret Santa! Will have my package to pal in the mail by weekend!

Contest at Grammieknits

Go check out a fun contest at Grammieknits ! Just have to answer a question about something you do that is weird!
Jane is celebrating her 300th post! YEAH! She is also celebrating the Red Sox resigning Mike Lowell ( and not signing A ROD!)

FALL FELTED BAG SENT

FALL FELTED BAG PARTNER 'S CAMERA NOT WORKING SO I AM POSTING A PICTURE FOR HER. THIS IS THE BAG I SENT TO JENEAN. SORRY THE PICTURE IS SO DARK. THE YARN IS FROM KNIT PICKS AND THE COLOR IS "CAPE COD" EASY CHOICE FOR ME!
I HAD SOME TROUBLE DECIDING ON THE HANDLES. I RECEIVED THE PATTERN FROM JUNE WHO MADE ME THIS SAME BAG FOR ANOTHER EXCHANGE. SHE MADE MINE RED WITH BLACK TRIM AND WITH PRETTY BLACK HANDLES AND LINED IT WITH BEAUTIFUL RED FABRIC. I TRIED BAMBOO HANDLES BUT THEY DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT AND I DIDN'T WANT KNITTED ONES THIS TIME SO USED DRAPERY CORDING. WORKED OUT WELL. THE LINING FABRIC REMINDED ME OF THE BEACH SO SINCE THE YARN WAS CALLED CAPE COD I THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF A BEAUTIFUL NEW ENGLAND MAPLE TREE IN FULL AUTUMN COLOR! JUST THOUGHT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE MISSING THE NEW ENGLAND FALL COLORS WOULD ENJOY!
I PROMISE TO POST SOME WIP TOMORROW!

Fall Felted Bag Final Question of the week

Fall Felted Bag exchange is coming to and end and here are the final week's questions:
How was your experience in the exchange?
Exchange was well organized and I had a great upstream partner - Suzy - who made me a fantastic bag and sent a great package of goodies. I enjoyed the topic of the week questions.
I sent my downstream package out a little late - did let my partner know it was going to be late. She should have it today or tomorrow. Sorry Jenean!

Did you enjoy the folks you met?
Very much!

Thoughts or criticisms and things you loved.
I enjoyed the questions of the week and loved my bag. Suzy did a great job and the hostesses were great.
Criticism is for all the people who do not send or acknowledge packages. I feel bad that some people join and then don't follow thru. I had a great exchange but have read that some people haven't heard from their partners. I hope their next experience is better and that the problems they may have had don't make them stop exchanging. The hostesses do a great job of finding angels and making sure everyone gets spoiled.
Can't wait for the next exchange.

Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Package from Jen C.

Thank you very much Jen C. It feels like Christmas here this week! What a great package! This is a picture of the cute dishcloth and stitch markers Jen made me sitting on the pretty pumpkin dish she sent me. Aren't they great!
She did a great job on the dishcloth - I love the colors and pattern! The dish is already on my sofa table filled with sweets.
These pictures show the goodies when the arrived and after I opened them. They were wrapped so pretty - but I couldn't wait to open them!
Jen sent me lots of fun things! In addition to the great dishcloth there were patterns for 2 more plus the yarn(Peaches and Cream and Sugar and Cream) to make them. Also a booklet with even more patterns. There was a notions bag, a memo pad, wonderfully scented pumpkin candles in great fall colors, citrus hand cream, and kitty treats for my fresh kitty! You can see a yellow bag that was filled with more goodies - post its, lollipops that grandkids will love, and a great selection of cider packets. Can't wait o try them!
Thank you very much Jen for a wonderful package! It was a great way to start my weekend!

October Sawp Package from Dorothy!

I received this great swap package from Dorothy today for the Crochetoholic October Swap. Isn't the Patons wool beautiful! I have been wanting this color for awhile but always needed to get other colors for swaps. Now thanks to Dorothy I can make a great hat and scarf from this yarn with the pattern and circular needles she sent me. She also sent me a cute loaf pan, Goobers and Tic Tacs, a memo pad, Sugar and Cream cotton yarn, candles, and yummy recipes.
She also sent me these great stitch markers which she made, aren't they pretty!
Thank you Dorothy for a great swap package!

More Maine and Glouster MA

This is a sunset shot of Schoodic Point. Very beautiful area. The waves were amazing! Will try to upload video of some of the waves (if I can figure it out).
This was a huge cruise ship in Bar Harbor. They said they get 60-70 cruise ships in from Labor Day until the end of October. We saw 2 while we were there. They come in during the night, spend the day and then leave the next night. It was fun watching the little boats take the tourists from the cruise ship to the dock. The shops love all the people!
My World Series knitting after the first 2 games! It would have been easier to knit if the games had been earlier - tough to knit when it gets past 11pm. Maybe next year they will move the games up earlier so everyone can watch the end.
We spent only 1 night in Gloucester, MA. We got there late because we got lost. My directions weren't the best and I miscalculated how close to the highway we would be. Still, it was a great motel. Right on the water. I managed to get a walk in in the morning before the downpour started. Would like to visit this motel again. They have a knitting seminar in March but it is my weekend to work. Will just have to come up with a reason for a long weekend there!

Visit to Maine

This was my favorite scarecrow at the Ogunquit Scarecrow Festival. We stayed there for 2 nights on our way to bar Harbor. Very nice town. Great walk called The Marginal Way along the ocean.
This was the sunrise our first morning in Bar Harbor. I took this from the little porch of our hotel room. BEAUTIFUL! What a nice way to start the day!
This was my knitting project when we arrived at Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park. Isn't it pretty. It is on a bench with a picture of Portland Head Light carved in it. I had to put this project away and start a scarf out of red and white yarn that evening because the World Series started and I just couldn't work with yarn with purple because it would look like I was rooting for the Rockies:(.
Bass Harbor Light was our next stop. Very pretty but not that easy to see. You have to down a lot of stairs and across the rocks. Worth the hike!
Will post more pics from Maine next blog. Could only get these pictures to load.

Yarn buys and knittingfrom Maine

These are some of my yarn purchases from Maine. You can also see the patterns, book and needles I bought. A few skeins of the Velvet Touch are with another project and missing from the picture. The Cherry Tree Hill is called Birches and is very pretty! I also bought a pattern for a small entrelac bag, hope to make it after Christmas!
I did buy the red and white Cascade 220 to make this scarf at the Lilac Lily. I started it during the World Series but it was over so fast I didn't get to finish! Have to decide whether to save it for next year or finish now!
I found 3 yarn stores, The Yarn Sellar in York, Central Yarn in Portland, and The Lilac Lily in Southwest Harbor. All very nice and friendly. Wasn't able to visit some others, will save them for next year!

Dog Days of Summer Package from Angel!

I received this wonderful package from an angel! Holly from Alabama stepped in as an angel for me. She sent me a wonderful package! As you can see, she wrapped the items in my favorite color tissue paper!
She sent me some delicious mango/passion fruit tea, a journal, some great sugar free chocolates and some wonderful yarns. Don't you just love the colors! They are great! I can't wait to start using the Christmas yarn to start my Christmas gifts. I am already so far behind! Of course the cotton chenille looks so pretty and feels so soft! I love the Sugar and Cream - I use it for so many things! Of course you can see the beautiful dishcloth she sent me. One of my granddaughters kept taking it and rubbing her face with it and telling me "it is so soft" I checked her pockets on her way out because she was going to take it! She kept telling me it was for her! She knows nice things when she sees them! I will have to make her one for Christmas - just one more thing for my list!
That ice cream cone at the bottom of the picture is actually a bar of soap - isn't that the cutest soap! I hid that from the grandkids for now so I can enjoy it for awhile! They love to be here when I get my exchange packages. They check out everything. They love to hold the yarn and check out the other things that come. I just have to check them out as they leave to make sure the don't take away my goodies! I do share with them(sometimes).
Thank you very much Holly for a fantastic package. I love the dishcloth and everything else. You are a very special angel! This package was definitely worth the wait!