Overdue Thank Yous

This is a long overdue post! I apologize for taking so long to get this post up, but between the holiday, the unstopping wretched snow and my laziness having to download the photos, the time just kept slipping away. Then today, as I was about to sit and type this post, we friggin lost power for 2 long, long hours! Ugh. Yes folks, its snowing here... again. We got about 6" of new white crap yesterday and its been snowing all day today. Of course, the snowblower broke again yesterday... luckily we were bailed out by a friend with a plow. Matt's been at it all day - trekking out to buy parts, hammering broken parts out, cursing at the evil machine and now that we have lights again, he's back to putting it back together before he can go and clean the driveway for what seems like the 50th friggin time this month. Anyway, on to my great thanks...

First up, my wonderful Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap package. My spoiler really kept me guessing with her emails and hints and even though we've been reading each other's blogs for awhile now, she was able to keep the surprise until the end! I had no idea it was Alana until my box arrived! And boy did she ever spoil me... lookie here, all of these wonderful things came spilling out of my box...

There was yarn - 2 skeins of Classic Elite Paintbox (which I hear is great for those little felted bowls!) and a skein of Sugar 'n Cream. There were yummies - Chippers, which are chocolate covered potato chips from a local shop and oh so yummy, a chocolate lollipop, delicious chocolate bar, Biscotti, M&Ms and some new Hershey Kisses flavors that I had not seen before (oh my... you must try the candy cane ones if you haven't already... yum-o!). There were fun things - a "my blood type is coffee" post it pad that I adore (so true!), a cute winter magnet, a yummy smelling winter snowflake candle and a wonderful Starbucks mug that I love. There was coffee - not 1, but 2 delicious kinds from another local spot... Christmas Blend and Fireside Spice. Both are absolutely delicious and we've been enjoying them heavily in our house!

Check out the Chippers...

The coolest thing Alana sent (besides the super yummy coffee to feed my caffeine addiction), was the most perfect DPN holder that I had been longing for! Look at what she made for me (she even sent the extra button and left over fabric... so thoughtful, and now to decide what to do with it... perhaps line a basket to match). All of the pockets gradually increase in width as you go from left to right... did I say how perfect this is?

My kids think the coolest thing she sent was this...

Insider were homemade cookies for my furbabies, from Alana's furbabies... they loved them, as you can clearly see here.

Don't you just love my gentle giant? He waits so patiently and usually gets his cookies last in line...

Thank you Alana... everything was absolutely wonderful! The kids thank you too - they love the cookies! You did a great job keeping me in suspense and not letting on to who you were too... I love when we get to spoil friends in the swaps! So much fun!

The other swappy goodness I received was my Dogs on Thursday Ornament Swap package from the lovely, multi-talented, The Queen... Gaylen. My kids were gathered around quite closely, sniffing all over the box even before I could get to opening it. They definitely knew it was for them...

When I did open it, all I could think was

oh my gosh... how Auntie Gaylen spoiled you!

Seriously, this box was jammed packed to the brim with some of the most special and precious items I've ever received! There was a personalized bone shaped stocking and ornament for each dog... and keep in mind that this box was sent and received before I announced (or we were even sure) Sophie was officially joining our family (I think it was an extra "sign"... and well, if I ever regret becoming a 4 doggy household, I'll always have Gaylen to blame... ha ha ha!).

There were also a set of the cutest coasters ever, a pair of handknit mitten ornaments (which hang off the sconce in my little knitting corner), an adorable doggy mug (a nice, big mug!) with coffee & biscotti and a cute little doggy ornament.

As if that weren't enough,

there were doggy toys galore!

Thank you Gaylen... you sure know how to spoil! The little stockings (which I'm going to use year round for multiple holidays) and ornaments are so very special to me. I feel like my box fell short in comparision, but hope the furbabies did love my homemade treats ... you are just so amazing (and to have done all of this on bed rest... you are The Queen!)! The kids absolutely love their toys... the blue bone is one their favorites... and bobos are very popular in our house!

The "monkey ball" is adorable and so perfect for my new little monkey!

Thank you both... I promise to have more bloggy catch up soon! In the meantime, I did amend Jasper's post with some photos. He was truly a one-in-a-million dog... Thank you to everyone who's left great messages for JJ and Eddie.

Happy New Year... here's to a much brighter 2008!

Lucky 13 and 0!

So Coach Belichick said our guys were a little tired last Monday night... apparently, they woke up in a big, big way for yesterday's game! We are now 13 and 0!!!!!

Did you see that play? Yea, the one everyone's talking about... Brady throws to Moss, who throws back to Brady who throws a 56-yard pass in to the end zone in the 3rd quarter!?!?! We love our Brady...

What everyone's talking about today...

Moss passes it back to Brady...

Brady hurls it 56 yards to Gaffney...

The end result...

Stay tunned for the well overdue announcement of my contest winners & their prizes, as well as Sophie's birthday photos and heck, maybe even some knitting content this week! I'm still playing catch up, but am proud that I got my Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap package mailed off to my pal today!

Winter Wonderland Week 4

This week's Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap topic is...

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

I would have to say two ideal settings... The first, sharing a good cup of java while sitting and catching up with friends. It doesn't matter the time of day, but with the dropping temps inside would be key! Food is fine, but not necessary. With all the hustle and bustle of not just the holiday season, but life in general, it seems these times are too few and far between these days. The second setting, would be a nice morning sitting on the couch, hanging out with the dogs and sipping a nice cup of coffee while knitting or even just doing nothing. Again, with all the hustle and bustle, these relaxing times can sometimes be too few and far between as well!

Winter Wonderland Week 3

This week's Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap topic is:

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

Thanksgiving had always been my most favorite of the holidays... up until we lost my Nana, whom I was extremely close to, on November 23, 2003. Suddenly Thanksgiving got a huge black cloud over it....

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that during the summer my family went through some stressful times with my Mom's sudden hospitalization, which turned in to a Stage IIB Colon Cancer diagnosis. She underwent surgery and was told all of the lymph nodes were clean, however they put her on a radiation and chemo pill schedule to be certain. She finished up her radiation treatments a couple weeks ago, however will continue on the chemo pill for another 4 months and recently found out she will not be able to return to her job (she had planned for retiring next fall at the age of 62).

I don't think the sadness of losing Nana will ever become "unattached" to Thanksgiving, however I think the black cloud has lifted. I realize that the holiday still means getting together with family & friends and being thankful for everything you have. I realize that its okay to be happy during that time again and I have fond memories of many Thanksgiving dinners at Nana's house with the family.

I'm most thankful for good health, family and good friends, esp those good friends who've been there during Mom's cancer. I'm also thankful for having started this blog and being able to vent through it... and for meeting so many new and amazing friends through it in the past year!

Winter Wonderland Week 2

This week's Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap topic is:

I love the holidays, it turning colder here, and I love coffee. As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

Well, by the "nature of the beast" - meaning the temps are cooler and there's less playing outside and more lounging inside, I do tend to knit more often now. I also tend to pick up those heavier wools that kept sticking to my fingers during the hot sticky months. I'm currently knitting away on items to sell at A Knitter's Garden Open House on Dec 1 & 2 and as soon as those are finished, I'm diving in to some very optimistic gift knitting.... optimistic that it'll be done in time for Christmas, that is! Wish me luck. After that, I hope to spend a wonderful winter working on some of the hundreds many projects I have stashed for myself, including a couple of sweaters and many, many pairs of socks! Heck, maybe I'll even get a jump on next year's holiday knitting!

Winter Wonderland Week 1

Well, its certainly not winter yet in New England, although we are experiencing a "November Nor'easter" today with high winds and rain, remnants from Noel. The winds don't seem all that bad right now, but the rain has begun. The kind Fed Ex man just came running up the driveway to drop a package while being pelted with side sweeping rain....

But back to the Winter Wonderlnad.... coffee swap, that is. Its time to answer the first Topic of the Week question.... When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell?

Well, to be honest, I don't really recall but I'm guessing I was around 16 when I was bitten by the addiction started taking part in a New England ritual... daily visits to Dunkin Donuts! And yes, the myths are all reality... you really can not go more than a couple miles without finding a Dunkin' Donuts around here! Some of my earliest "coffee memories" were going out for a drive in the evenings with my brother, stopping for a medium coffee at Dunkins and driving around. Good times... chatting, hanging with my bro... I do miss that time and closeness with him. He's 8 years older than me, so the time we really spent the closest was from when I was about 18 - 21. We'd hang out at the same clubs (some of which I, ah-hum, might not have exactly been legally old enough to enter.... ah, the perks of doing PR work for local bands and going in to the bars/clubs at soundcheck and "blending in"... I won't mention the time I actually worked the door and was checking IDs of people coming in when I wasn't even old enough to be there myself... ah, fun times, fun times...), have a lot of the same friends and interests. Big bro even became a bouncer at my favorite hang out for a bit. The club was one I was old enough to get in to, an 18+ club. Of course, once bro was on staff I never waited or paid admission to get in again (break in to song momemnt: At the door we don't wait cause we know them... love Pink!) and gained a half dozen new, very protective "big brothers." How Matt never ran the other way screaming, I don't know...

So anyway, back to the coffee. My name is Nichole and I'm an addict since the tender age of 16-ish. I'm now an average of 2 cups a day, sometimes more... depends on the work stress! Its all about the caffeine, taste and smell... and in the winter, the warmth & comfort... in the summer, the iced cold & refreshment! I've even crossed the line to lattes!

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Questionnaire

Here it is... my Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Q&A! I must have my daily coffee or you won't like me very much am a huge coffee addict lover so I'm really excited about this swap!

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)
I love mild to medium roasts, breakfast blends and flavored coffees. Winter blends are wonderful too. One of my favorite brands/roasters is local, The Village Bean. I also like Kevin's Coffee Roasters (out of CT), Dunkin Donuts, Green Mountain Coffee, Coffee AM, etc. I'm not against Starbucks, but I don't enjoy dark roasts.

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?
Either is fine.

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee?
Yes, yes, yes! I love flavored coffee (just nothing with raspberry please) and holiday blends. I found a winter/holiday blend last year at the Yankee Candle store that was absolutely fantastic, but I can't remember the brand.

Do you enjoy special blends?
Yes, I just don't like anything that's super strong or dark roast.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?
With 1 splenda and either flavored coffee creamer or milk. NO decaf (isn't that one of those "why bother?" things in life??) - I need the caffine!

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?
Nice big mugs!

Winter and Holidays

What is your favorite part of Winter?
Getting to wear comfy sweaters, pretty scarves and of course, handknit socks! The holidays are nice and I love the snow days that fall on the weekends when I can stay at home, hanging out with the dogs, curled up on the couch with blankets, a nice mug of coffee and some knitting.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?
Yes, my honey's birthday, Christmas and New Year's Eve!

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?
Yes.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?
I would enjoy both.

Do you collect anything?
Besides yarn??!! I have started a collection of "nicer" and unique knitting needles. I also collect dog related items, Willow Tree Angels and Snow Babies. I used to collect a lot of NASCAR items (Tony Stewart, Scott Wimmer), but not so much anymore.

Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snowflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?
See above - my Mom started me a collection of Snow Babies awhile back. I also collect dog theme holiday ornaments and also the S'mores holiday ornaments.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?
Yes to scarves & mittens... I'm trying to be better about wearing hats. I just need one that doesn't make me look like a total dork and also doesn't flatten or static zap my hair.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?
Christmas cookies, peanut butter balls (not really a holiday treat, but sometimes people make them with the cookies), hot apple cider and the holiday meals in general. Especially the Lobster Bisque at Dad C. & Mom-Sue's on Christmas Day... the Perogies and Dark & Stormies at Mom-Mancini & Tony's on Christmas Eve (though I miss having my D&S partner Roz there!). My Mom's homemade Kahlua is wonderful too and maybe she'll make a batch for Christmas this year (hint, hint... Mom are you reading this??)

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.
I miss the holiday gatherings at Nana's house with the whole family... when I was a child, we spent almost all holidays at Nana's. As we've gotten older, it seems to be much more about the hussle & bustle and trying to get everywhere and please everyone... we spend much of our holiday time traveling in the car these days and its not always as relaxing and carefree.

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I've been back knitting for about 4 years now. Mom tried to teach me as a child, but I never stuck with it back then.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?
It totally depends on the project. I do love bamboo for straights & DPNs and I love Addi Turbos & Knit Picks for circulars.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?
Socks, hats, mittens. I'm currently venturing in to my first couple of shawls, including my first big lace project. I also love making small "gifty" items for friends & family... I'm currently making some coffee cozies & felted coasters.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?
I love super wash wools, soft wools & handspun and alpaca. I love to try "new" and fun fibers & blends. I've recently seen some camel yarn around and would love to try that.

Do you spin or dye?
I've attempted to spin on a spindle, but think I need to get a better spindle to truly get the hang of it and actually enjoy it...

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?
I used to do nearly every craft as a child with my Mom... but now its mainly knitting. I just got back in to beading and am doing some stitch markers now. Every once in awhile (read: couple years), I take out the 'ole latch hook rug kits. I've been working on the same one for about 8 years now...

General

When is your birthday?
October 7th

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)
3 furbabies; Zeus, Lola & Teutul (you'll read plenty about them on my blog!) and we often have a foster furbaby staying with us also (currently its Sophie)

What are your favorite colors?
Shades of purple, blue, red, pink ... jewel tones, also fall/winter tones & shades

Do you have any allergies?
No cigarette smoke please. No penicillin either... :)

Autumn dishcloth topic of the week

This week's Question/Topic of the Week for the Fall into Autumn Dishcloth Swap is:

Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy? Feel free to share recipes with us too!

I love getting some hot apple cider out at a fair! Cider donuts & warm apple crisp are good too. At home there's nothing better than setting the slow cooker with a yummy stew (even if it does come from a bag in the freezer - those crock pot meals in a bag aren't so bad in a pinch!), heading off to work and coming home later to a delicious smelling house! Add some warm fresh bread and you're good to go! I also love pumpkin... pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin beer (Shipyard!)... anything really, but especially pumpkin ice cream! mmm....

Speaking of swaps, head on over and check out the details for the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap! Okay people... seriously... Winter. Yarn. COFFEE. What better swap could you ask for? I can't wait to sign up ... Oct 24th!