Spoiled ROTTEN

Warning: picture-laden post. I just couldn't help myself!

Where to begin?! I guess I'll backtrack first and show you the lovely, large granny square Anne's mom made for me with the yarn from my Knitter's Treat pal, Barb. I'd wanted to do something special with the brightly colored ball of cotton, and Ingrid's offer to whip up a granny square for me was too good to refuse, even if my mother inlaw might claim it. Thank you so very much, Ingrid! What a very special treasure that will be. (She stopped by and met my mother inlaw today at work, so I can honestly say that no matter where it finds a home, it will be a treasure!)

I knew sweet Michelle was sending Anne a surprise care package, but imagine my complete and utter SHOCK upon returning home from work to find not one, not, two but THREE packages on the front porch, two of which were addressed to me! One held the treats on the right, presented in that darling little hearts "take out" style box: a cute, cute tea dishcloth in a perfect rose, a Harry Potter bookmark, Bernie Bott's Everyflavor Beans (aka: HP jellybeans), pink polkadot tissues in a purse pack, and a perfect little tin of mints that appears to be custom-made to match my little Sidekick purse! All of this, just for the privilege of getting to know Michelle while agreeing to help surprise Anne with a package. The world is full of incredible people, and the best of them can be found in the online knitting and swapping community!

That tea dishcloth is too cute, too perfect (I have the pattern too), not to share: You must especially admire the perfect mini bobbles in the top portion of the teacup. Michelle must tell me her bobble technique, because mine is grossly lacking in comparison!

While that was an incredible surprise, there were two more grand boxes on my porch. One was Michelle's box to Anne, which was indeed a COMPLETE surprise. I worried all day that Anne would be at my house when the box arrived, but as luck would have it, she and Ingrid were still out and about when I got home, so I hustled the boxes inside. Here's Anne trying to figure out why she's getting a package at my house:

I have several pictures of Anne pouring over the contents, but you can see her blog for complete details on the very special package she received from Michelle.

Last, but most hardly least, was the package from my Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap pal, which was so much more than I could have EVER hoped for! Obviously, she did some research. Anne and I both oohed and ahhhed through each and every little wrapped item, and then repeated the process as we moved outside after it was obvious the threatening thunderstorm had passed us by. Good grief!! I have been truly blessed with great pals thus far, along with the bonus of some new, great friends too! If the HSKS has a contest for best spoiler, I'm nominating mine, just as soon as I confirm who she is. No, it's not an anonymous swap, but I'm still guessing, as she signed the card "your pal". Kit the commenter from way back seems to be none other than Prefect Kirstin, and I'm guessing she's the exceptionally generous upstream pal o' mine... Either way, I hope my spoiler will speak up so I can really thank her, because I truly feel spoiled!

Here's a better look at what's inside:

There's two skeins of yarn, both in a bamboo blend, two Addi turbos in size 1, tea, tea soap, tea trays, Cat Bordhi's book Socks Soar..., chocolate treats, tip protectors (Mugsy thanks you. Truly. There's nothing that ruins a pup's nap quite like finding Mom's needles in his side when he moves into the spot she's recently vacated.), and a card with a picture of Colonial Williamsburg. That's special, because I'm not sure we'll do more than pass by it on the little tour van on Thursday, if we venture into Colonial Williamsburg proper at all. Ingrid is most interested in Jamestown, and Anne, in shopping. As I visit Colonial Williamsburg just about every year, it will be okay if we miss it this time, but it did tug at my heart to see that picture!

Well, Mugsy would like some lap time, and I do hope to finish up my cloth for my pal in the dishcloth swap tonight, so one more grand thank you to Michelle and Kirstin (I presume?). It will be hard to decide what to knit next!