Goodies Galore!

Yesterday was a little rough for me, because I had another migraine. Still, considering my lack of mental concentration (which was no great loss, I assure you!), the day went fairly well.

We found a new playground nearby, which the kids really like to go to. Now we have two playgrounds within close walking distance, so the kids don't get too bored at home.

Also, my dear friend Elise and her two boys drove down from Wisconsin to spend a couple of hours with us. Peter had so much fun playing with his buddy Henry. (Hmmm, I just noticed Henry's not in any of the photos I took. He really was there!)

I got some wonderful surprises in the mail this week, too! I just love getting stuff in the mail!

Andy orders a lot of stuff that he re-sells on Ebay, so there are usually four or five large packages on my porch every day. I always feel a bit of smugness when one of the packages is for me (hee hee, evil laugh!).

I got the nicest package from Cat's Fiber Adventures for commenting on her 500th post. (See, it does pay to leave comments!) She gave me some beautiful tweedy lace weight yarn (which I believe I'll use to knit one of the patterns from Victorian Lace Today), along with a bunch of other goodies like cards and books. Also included was a beautiful shawl pattern that she wrote herself. What a talented lady! (She's got some absolutely gorgeous patterns, so you should check them out.) Thanks so much, Mary!

I seem to be winning things left and right, because my good blogger friend Danielle sent me some beautiful hand-made stitch markers for her blogiversary contest. This is the first time she made stitch markers, and aren't they good? I can't believe how many she sent me, too! I think it must be like 15! (They'll really come in handy when I get the gumption up to finish the Bee Fields Shawl). I really like the colors, because I've been craving citrus fruits lately! (Sorry, Danielle for stealing your photo. I took a great picture of the stitch markers, but I can't find where I saved it on the computer, *doh*!)

Then, I got another goody package from the very sweet Alisha. I sent her some stitch markers for winning my blogiversary contest, and lo-and-behold, she sent me some right back, lol! I suddenly have gone from five stitch markers to about twenty!

My final treat was from my Cattleya Orchid, the only survivor of my orchid collection (okay, about five orchids.) My Oma and Opa had a greenhouse full of orchids when I was growing up, so I have a deep-seated love of orchids. Unfortunately, I don't quite seem to have the knack of keeping them alive *sigh*. I can't figure out what I'm doing right with this one, but it's the second time it's bloomed for me (twice in the same year!), without my killing it! Ohhhh, the smell from the flowers is simply divine! Let's keep our fingers crossed that it won't kick the bucket after this blooming season!

We Have Winners!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my first year blogiversary contest. You really made it fun for me, and I enjoyed reading all the interesting blog titles! So, would you like to see who won?

Alisha, from Tales of a Self-Taught Knitter won the blue glass bead stitch markers,

Amy (sadly, still blogless) won the blue bead stitch markers, and

Janet from Jani22 won the copper stitch markers.

I've sent an email off to the three winners, so once I get their addresses, the stitch markers will be in the mail!

CONTESTS!!!!

Well, I'm getting close to my 1 year blogiversary (is it really that short a time?) and I couldn't resist having a contest. Actually, my blogiversary is in October, but I'm just too impatient to wait.

Unfortunately, as I have two little money-sapping kids, I can't give away posh yarn, but I do have three sets of handmade stitch markers (designed by moi). If you are not a knitter, and would like the stitch markers converted to earrings, just let me know in your comment.

Okay, here's the rules:
1. Give me your blog title and why you named it that. If you are (sadly) blogless, then give me a title you might name your blog.
2. If you publish this contest on your own blog, let me know in the comment, and I'll enter your name twice.
3. Let me know which stitch markers you prefer (ordering from 1 - 3; as in "photo 3 is my favorite, then photo 2, then photo 1, etc. And no, Peter is not part of the giveaway, Grammy!)

Yeah, yeah, I know, enough with rules, you want to see the loot. Okay, here it is:

Photo 1 (Blue Beads): 6 stitch markers - will fit up to size 9 or 10 needles

Photo 2 (Copper Beads): 6 stitch markers, and should fit up to a 7 or 8 sized needle.

Photo 3 (Blue Mirror Beads): 5 stitch markers, with one marker being different to differentiate rows, or whatever. Should fit up to a 9 or 10 sized needle.

The contest will be open till September 2, and then three names will be drawn randomly by Peter and Banna posing as Vanna White. Check back then to see if you've won, and to read the interesting titles!