I Have the Best Scarf Pal!

I am the luckiest knitter alive, because I have the BEST, BEST scarf pal! A few months ago I joined the International Scarf Exchange for my first time. You sign up, and receive a secret pal, and will also have a secret pal of your own to knit a scarf for. I had never knit a scarf before, but I've been knitting awhile, so I wasn't too worried.

I think I lucked out in getting the best secret pal, ever. For my birthday in March, she sent me beautiful stitch markers (my very first!). Then, just to be sweet, and because she must have seen a comment I had left on someone else's scarf blog, she sent me THREE skeins of malabrigo (I'm still flipping out over that).

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, because it had been a long day and Breanna was still not feeling well. However, what a wonderful day to receive such a cheering package! I couldn't wait to open it, but I wanted to savor the surprise, so I waited TWENTY MINUTES to open the box, during which time I put the kids to bed so I could thoroughly enjoy the moment of revealing . . . . (twenty minutes is a long time for me, because I'm terrible about waiting for surprises).

Inside this huge box, were the most beautifully wrapped goodies. Of course, the first thing I saw was my scarf; a gorgeous, luscious cabled creation in my favorite yarn of all time, Malabrigo. My sweet pal also gave me the leftover yarn, so maybe I'll be able to knit a matching scarf for Breanna! Wouldn't that be cute!

The scarf alone is something to go wild over, but I just couldn't believe it, when I saw what was in the bottom of the box - Vogue Stitchionary, books 1, 2, AND 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Book 2 is upstairs; I feel asleep last night drooling over the patterns).

I love to try designing my own patterns, but it's a little difficult to come up with interesting stuff when the only knitting books one has access to is through the local library. Oh, our library can get just about anything, but of course one has to return the books eventually. I put these books under my "Things I'd Like to Own Someday" list in the sidebar, as a reminder to myself of which stitch dictionaries I like best. I never dreamed anyone else would ever notice! (I tend to use my blog as my daily planner/keep track of knitting things place).

Also included in this box of treasures were yummy candies and some dark chocolate treats (which I think Andy has already sampled; that's why they're not in the picture). Then, to top off the whole oh-my-goodness-will-this-wonder-never-end experience, is some of the coolest sock yarn, TOFUtsies. I've never seen the stuff before, but it says on the label it's made from chitin, a fiber from shrimp and crab shells that's naturally antibacterial. How cool is that?

Wow, wow, wow, wow.

I actually got this package yesterday, but I was so stunned with wonder and amazement, I just couldn't even blog about it! For once, I was speechless! (No snide comments from family members :)

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, Laverna. You have been such a blessing to me, and I thank God for your kindness and generosity!