Many Thanks

The pain of returning from vacation was made better by picking up my gift at RK today. Are you sure that you weren't in my suitcase on vacation? I was just introduced to the wonder of mead while in Vermont. It was such a pleasant thing that I wanted to find out more about where I can find mead in this area. It is perfect! The other gifts will be used with delight. Did someone share that in my other life I am a hammered dulcimer player? I love hearing other players...it inspires me to practice! Many thanks for the great gift. Debbie

Thanks Pal! You are so good!

Well, I must say that I am so happy with my first ever secret pal exchange. Despite the fact that I never went to river knits and filled out a wish list, my pal did a great job of spoiling me with everything that I love. The brown worsted malabrigo is to die for! I have some lace weight malabrigo in my stash, but I have yet to knit anything with this wonderfully soft yarn.
My pal must have gotten some clues about me and what I like from ravelry, because I do really want to knit that irish hiking scarf. Thanks for the pattern!
The dark chocolate truffles are delicious. One a day is enough for me, and I still have some left... yum! I also love the dr. bonner's lavender soap and orange handmade washcloth. I keep forgetting to take them with me to the shower, but I am looking forward to trying out both the soap and the washcloth. I love dr. bonner's liquid peppermint soap, but I have not tried the bar soap or the lavender scent. The malabrigo yarn now smells like lavender. I hope that it stays that way for a while! Maybe I will just keep the soap with my stash for a bit to make all of my yarn smell as nice!
Thanks again for everything! I can't wait to meet you soon!

Mmmmmm, Aaaaahhhh, Oooohhhhh

No, it's not Poppin' Fresh Dough. It's better. :)

One of the perks of having a key to RK is that I can stop by whenever I want. (This can also be a bad thing....sort of like giving an alcholic the key to a liquor store, but I digress.) Yesterday afternoon, while out running a few errands, I stopped by RK to pick up my gift. I had been warned in advance that part of the gift was in the freezer, so made sure it was my last stop on the way home.

Mmmmm.....creme brulee! I can't wait until the kids go to bed tonight so Tim and I can each enjoy one. Yes, I'm going to share. But only with him. Not the kids. :)

Aaaaahhhhh.....Red Raspberry Wine! This falls in the "after the kids go to bed" category too. I have never had raspberry wine before, and I can't wait to try it!

Ooooohhhh......Atacama Alpaca yarn, so soft and wonderful! And the candles and soap smell heavenly! In fact, I have one of the candles burning on my desk as I type.

Thank you so much! I was just thinking, between the creme brulee, the wine, and the candles, Tim and I are all set to have a nice, romantic evening tonight. ;-)

Bad Knitter

In spite of all the "knitting etiquette" discussions on Ravelry, I've spent most of the weekend rubbing yarn against my face.

I can't help it. The Alpaca Sox from my Secret Pal is so luxurious that I don't want to put it down. I'm going to have to carry it around to pet until I can make it into something. When I combine it with my new rosewood needles (all safely protected by the dog-proof sock jar!) I'll feel more than pampered.

Thanks, Secret Pal!

Thanks, secret pal

Thank you pal for the delicious chocolate covered cherries, Cascade 220, bath fizzy ball and lavendar eye pillow.
The candy is gone. The yarn may become part of the Pirate Queen's Booty Bag. I will use the eye pillow and fizz ball tonight.
Thanks again.

I Love My Pal!

Clearly my pal knows me well! I got a smoked almond and grey sea salt chocolate bar from Vosges (my VERY FAVORITE), rosewood needles, and 4 balls of baby alpaca silk in lavender that I think is wanting to be a little baby kimono.

I showed more restraint than I ever thought I had and didn't open the chocolate last night, but I know that there is no way that it is going to stay that way today!

I am dying to know who this pal is who is either good at guessing my favorite chocolate flavors or listens really well! Thanks Pal!

Great Pal!

I don't know who by pal is but she must know me pretty well. That being said, a lot of you could fit that description, so I don't know who you are yet!

I found the best package waiting for me this week. I have a Jones Soda (creme soda type) getting cold for me at RK just waiting for the right moment to savor it. It had some ABCD stitch markers tied to it, so I guess I'm all ready for some Cat Bordhi style socks now. There is Bob's Red Mill Scone mix, which I'm looking forward to trying this weekend, great smelling soap from Colonial Williamsburg (who has been to Williamsburg lately??), a terrific Celtic CD that I've been enjoying in the car AND that's not all. I even got my very own skein of Socks that Rock in a colorway called Loch Ness. That is just about perfect!

Whoever you are, thanks!

Thank you!

Usually I don't manage to get in and get my package until the end of the week, but today I ran by on Tuesday and it was already there.

Woo!

Thanks pal for the patterns and the candles (What scent are they? Elizabeth, Heather, and I all smelled them and couldn't decide)

And mmm, chocolate covered pretzels. Also Godiva! I am trying to be good and not stuff them all in my face at one time.

Mmmmmm.

Thank You! Thank You! I Am Soooooo LATE!

I am sorry that I did not get here to the blog and thank you sooner for the perfect secret pal gifts that really made my day and week!! I picked up my package on Friday the 5th... after my dog whacked me in the mouth with her hard head and before I lost my keys (which I have yet to find). The gifts made me so happy as I prepared to go camping for the night
Thank you for the yummy cookies and hot cocoa... how did you know that I would be camping the night I picked up my gift? I shared the cookies (they were a hit), but the cocoa was all mine... yum.
I considered picking up one of the swtc soy/wool hat/mitten kits on the day I got the kit from you! How did you know? I was looking at brown or green, but the orange is perfect... it will be fun to wear on gray Indiana winter days. I recently realized that I do not have a hat that I really like anymore, and it is time to knit one before it gets too cold.
Thank you for the emergency sock kit holder and the stitch markers as well. I am in the process of re-organizing, and the needle holder will definitely come in handy.
The best is the dpn needle holder! I have been using it every day since I picked up my package, and I like it so much better than the tube style holders. My sock is happy too! No more dropped stitches!
I hope that I am not forgetting anything... you gave me so much great stuff!! Again... sorry this is late... thank you so much!!

Wow what a surprise!

I wasn't expecting my gift to be at River Knits when I went by there. What a nice surprise. I am thankful for all the goodies. The yarn, candy, and coffee has been very enjoyable. Thank you very much Secret Pal. Can't wait to find out who you are.

Wish List

I've done one, too (although I wound up crossing something off as I checked out!)

wish list

Mine is ready to go!

RK Wish List

OK, I'm guilty of not having my wish list updated. I will come in on Friday to do that!

Debbie

River Knits Wish List Request!

I have been asked by people who shall remain nameless, to remind all Secret Pals that YOUR Secret Pals would be really grateful if you would fill out a River Knits wish list if you have not already! And think of the other possibilties--after the Secret Pal cycle is complete, you can tell everyone who loves you that you have a wishlist on file at River Knits. Think of the great things you might get this year for your birthday...

Thank you!

I finally got a chance to get in and pick up my surprises over the weekend.

I had more yummy chocolates (Godiva,aren't you jealous?), a simple (I hope!) sweater pattern, and my big wish, the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book! Yay! I'm already planning at least 3 pairs of socks to try it out. Those kids dragon socks are just the cutest thing EVER!

Thanks again pal!

Thank you! Thank you!! (from Amanda)

Dear Pal,

I love the wonderful fabric tray and its contents: Indiana-made candy and maple sugar, a pocket light, candles, notecards, and Socka! My kids tried to make off with the mini deck of playing cards, but I put the brakes on that. :) The sock yarn is a gorgeous color. Perfect for fall. I also really like the snakey clip used on the outside of the gift to hold the card. I have it coiled on my desk holding a picture of me and my sisters. The tray is really cool, too. I think it will look great on my bookshelf/end table next to my chair in the front room. Perfect for holding my knitting essentials.

Thanks again!!!!
Amanda

Thanks Pal (from Sam)

Want to talk about practical? My pal gave me a great red and black project bag (it looks a lot like an old dr.'s bag) filled with knitting notions like stitch markers, needle gauges, swatch gauges (it has a needle gauge too and it may make me prone to swatching *snicker*), and highlighters and post-it notes (to contribute to my office supply addiction). There was a note in the bag to tell me to check all of the pockets and upon doing so I learned that each pocket that did not have a notion stuck in it was filled with Dove chocolates. Now that is practical! And the timing was perfect since I picked my gift up on my way to doing a teaching observation. The chocolates really came in handy for getting me through the afternoon.

I don't know who my pal is but with project bags, office supplies, and chocolate you are right on! Plus, a new bag means that I can cast on a new project!

ROTFLMAO!

I giggled my way through the day after picking up my Secret Pal gift - it's a "Very Bad Dog Proof Sock Jar"! Clearly, my pal has heard me curse every now and then about my canine knitting troubles.

Things may be looking up....yesterday Oscar ate Aaron's belt. I know I should be sad about this, but maybe if they develop a taste for leather they'll leave the wool alone. Poor Aaron's pretty unhappy, because apparently it's nearly impossible to find a size 30 belt.

The sock jar is so good that it's almost Laura-Proof too; I had trouble figuring out how to open it. And I KNOW it's practical, because inside there was a lovely set of Lantern Moon needles - my first ever! - so it definitely has something to protect. Tomorrow (when there's light for photographs) I'll test it out and see how confused the dogs get.

Thanks, Secret Pal, for the laugh and the lovely gifts!

Wonderful

What a cheery package and wonderful lot of goodies. My children and I were blown away by the little hand made sock kit. I just love little knitted things like that. They feel so good in your hands when your holding them. The needles and markers will be useful. The chocolates are definitely useful any time any day. Thank you so much secret pal.

Practical and Pleasant

Many thanks to my secret pal. I consider alpaca to be most pleasant. I think that now though, I like the idea of thinking of it as practical as well. That means that future stash acquisitions are a matter of practical purchases instead of luxury! I was busy in the summer making Harry Potter book marks for the family in anticipation of the new book...now I have my own! The light is very cool. I know exactly the spot that I need it, too. And finally, chocolate, mmm. Need I say more about that. I think that is one of the things that most of us can agree upon. We can just say "chocolate" and nothing more needs to be said. Thanks a bunch!

Debbie

Heather Thanks You!

So...I strolled into RK with Curtis last night, to get some yarn for the Lickety Split (tabi) socks he's wanting...completely forgetting that it was the first day of the second secret pal exchange. Fortunately, Amanda was there to let me know I had a gift waiting.

And what a great gift! Secret Pal, thanks for finally getting me off the fence and giving me Vogue's Weekend Knits. I've been looking at this book for months now...just never committed to buying it. Now it's mine. Hurray!

The handspun is lovely, as was the last batch. It's deciding what it wants to be...

And I'm all hopped up on the delightful (and child-theft-proof) chocolate covered espresso beans. Love 'em!

Pamper your Pal?

Is it pamper your pal week already?! No, but it sure seems like it! I was suprised to find a present for me already today! And I waited until there was a free moment and I really needed it. What a great bag full of stuff goodies...I got some incredibly blue CTH Supersock DK, some wonderfully good to smell bath salts that I just have the lid off of now hoping they'll infuse RK with the smell permanently, a Mason-Dixon wash cloth of my very own AND some decadent organic chocolate.

Oh my. In fact, I was just having an overload feeling a few minutes ago not sure what to do next because there seemed like so much to do. Then I remembered the chocolate and I opened the one with caramel in the centers and....wow....I feel so much better now and I've really forgotten about EVERYTHING I need to do...except eat this chocolate.

Thank you very much, my pal! (And I really liked the E on the bag; I just sort of assumed that meant is was for me. If it's not for me and there's someone else in this exchange with an "E" name then I've already eaten half of one of your candy bars. Sorry! Not!) :-)