It's alot

Hold onto your hats. This is a big one. First I even though I have personally emailed her I must thank Wendy for my wonderfully thoughtful package that arrived from Royal Mail. I was Wendy's secret pal for the Yarn snobs swap. First layer in the package were some very lovely Pony needles. I have never tried the Pony so I can do so soon. Second layer I spied some tea.

Wendy sent some lovely echinacea and raspberry tea, to help keep me healthy during this winter. Next I found a delightfully sinful package of Chooca Mocca chocolates. The flavor is Real Strawberries with cream. I slowly untiled the little black ribbon, and opened the paper containing the delights. First the aroma of strawberries and cream wafts from out of the package. I popped one into my mouth, and closed my eyes. My mouth was an explosion of summer tasting fresh strawberries and the sweetest squishie cream. No, it can't be, what did I just bite into? I had to have another, this time I bit one in half, there it was without any doubt, there were real dried strawberries in the creamy white chocolate. This is really exquisite chocolate.

In a gray plastic package I felt the yarn, carefully I ripped the plastic package open, in it was the softest yarn, I thought surely this must be alpaca. Reading the card that Wendy included I found out that this is 100% wool from Blue Face Leicester sheep.The yarn comes from The Natural Dye Studio, now before you go and get excited they are located in the Suffolk Country side in the UK. They use historical plant dyes & avoid using chemicals ensuring their yarns are safer for our skin & for the environment. The colorway is called Golden Poesy, she chose it because the colors reminded her of the flowers in her garden.

Attached to the yarn was a cell phone charm, it is a pink ribbon charm. Wendy is selling these to help her raise funds for the Brest Cancer walk she is doing. I have been thinking about getting a charm for my phone for a long time, just couldn't decide. What Wendy doesn't know is that my mom is a survivor of breast cancer, she's had both breasts removed and she has been free and clean for over 20 years. Also I lost both my older sisters to breast cancer, so it it in honor of them and my mom that I wear the ribbon.

Wendy had been reading my blog and knew I was looking for a pattern for fingerless gloves, she bought me this kit again made from the Blue Face Leicester sheep. I believe this colorway is Apple Blossom, Wendy says that this colorway reminded her of the Apple tree she has in her yard. I have seen a similar colorway and have always loved it.

Lastly she had included a cd that she burned for me, it has many of her favorites and coincidentally I like them too. Wendy spends allot of thought and time into her swaps, anyone that has her is very lucky.

And finally we have Two turtle doves. The second square for the 12 days of Yule blanket that I am going to make.

So far I have A partridge in a pear tree and two turtle doves. If I want the turtle doves to be placed horizontally then vertically, I will have to add to the border. Just like Scarlet O'Hara, I will worry about that tomorrow. Right now, knit a verse (square) a month.

One more thing, I want to thank all of you that responded to my plea for help on DH's sweater. I have ripped the existing collar out and am attempting to put in just a straight single knit stitich. I'll let you know how it comes out.