Spring Fling Swap package

I went to a medical examination in Portland for a worker's comp claim today and was cattle prodded in my hand to test for carpal tunnel (it really wasn't that bad and I don't have carpal tunnel, which is good news). I was exhausted as it took about away my morning and I didn't get home until almost 2 o'clock, 1 hour before I was to work. I checked the mail first thing and there in the package bin was my Spring Fling swap package from Tanja! I smelled the coffee beans as soon as I opened the bin!

Inside the box were carefully wrapped packages full of wonderful gifts! Here's picture of the contents all together.



Tanja put together a very thoughtful, fun, and uniquely individual to me package. The coffee was the house roast from Dana Street Roasting Company in Mountain View, California. I had a cup as soon as I finished my lunch and it was delicious!

Other treats included 2 dark chocolate bars, one flavored with orange and the other with hazelnuts and currants. The orange one is gone. I'm going to try and save the second one for later this week. I also received some salt water taffy from a local family business in Mountain View and a jar of pickled okra! I was so surprised and touched by the pickled okra - I had just written about having some a few weeks ago, and Tanja obviously read about how much I love it.

Tanja worked in the early morning hours to make me a beautiful quilted needle case and it was accompanied by a little knitted bag with stitch markers, and the needle pockets were filled with perfectly scented hand lotions made by ShiKai (cucumber melon and yuzu). There was also a pink bag that I can use for projects and the most beautiful plum-aqua sock yarn by Thank Ewe. It's so soft I might make a shawl from it instead of socks. It has enough yardage for a shawl!

Tanja and I corresponded about books throughout the swap and she sent me Krik!Krak! by Edwidge Danticat and Arranged Marriage by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Arranged Marriage was inside a beautiful book cover and I'm wondering if Tanja also made that. Both books will be on my bedside table for summer reading. They're both books of short stories and will be perfect for bedtime reading. I've been wanting to read Edwidge Danticat for some time because I've been reading the Madison Scott Bell trilogy about Haiti and this will be good followup. Plus, I read a great deal about Edwidge Danticat on Laila Lalami's blog, a blog where I collect many titles for my reading lists. (Speaking of which, Tanja, have you read Love and Other Dangerous Pursuits? I think you would like it).

I feel like I'm forgetting something important, but I loved the package. I had read Tanja's blog early in the swap when we were assigned to choose someone from the swap who liked coffee the same way we liked it. Many people chose Tanja. I would have too, but missed the deadline for some reason. Also, in reading Tanja's blog again, I've discovered she likes to make Turkish coffee. Once again, thank you so much for the wonderful swap, Tanja. You were an enjoyable swap pal throughout the swap.

I know I'm behind in posting. I've been struggling with tendinitis and I've been finishing up swaps. I completed my last one on Monday and I may take a break from swaps where I knit big projects for others, at least until my hands heal. I'm working on a shawl for mothers for Afghans for Afghans (see side bar) and need to complete a comfort shawl and a welcome-to-the-family shawl for my nephew's wife, not to mention the bajillion pairs of socks I somehow promised family members in a burst of optimistic enthusiasm (or mania depending on your point of view).

I'm off to drink another cup of Dana Street coffee!

Making Greek Coffee

Yum! That wasn't difficult. Cristina sent me details on how to make it.

1. Use the cup to measure the coffee needed and pour the water into the pot.



2. Add 1 heaping teaspoon of coffee to the pot. Add sugar if desired (1/2 to 2 teaspoons - I added 1 teaspoon).



3. Turn on the heat (medium low), stir the coffee until dissolved and don't stir again.



4. Heat slowly. Foam will start to rise in the pot before it boils.



When the foam rises to the top, remove from heat and serve.

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The coffee will sit in the bottom of the cup, so don't stir it again. Drink until you reach the coffee at the bottom.



There was an optional and traditional step, and of course I had to try it. Turn the cup upside down to its little plate. Let the coffee dry. Pick up the cup and read your future in the images the coffee has left in it.



I think it looks like a cup of steaming coffee. I think it means there will be more coffee swaps in my future!

Delicious experience! Can't wait to share it with others.

Ravelry Caffeine Addict Swap

I am so far behind posting news. I got back from Tallahassee a week ago and started back to work the next day. Work plus numerous doctor appointments for thumb and other things consumed my time. This will teach me not to make appointments for the days following a vacation! I've had the swap package for a week and I'm long overdue for posting about it. It deserves a decent post!

I received my package from Cristina (Ravelry ID Karmologyclinic) from Greece. It was a wonderful package. It was aesthetically attractive, educational, and I was introduced to treats I've never tried before and also have the opportunity to learn a new skill with regard to coffee. Cristina was also the person I sent to and I had a wonderful time reading her blog and being inspired by her many crafty talents. I think my new favorite color combination is now pink and orange - one I'd not noticed before reading Cristina's blog and coffee questionnaire.



Cristina loves fabric and she made the card she sent me. You can read about how she made it here. I love the idea and hope to do this myself. Cristina sent me some pretty beads that I want to use on cards, too. It will take me awhile to do the crocheted flowers!



The coffee was Mocha coffee from Ethiopia and it's very good. Cristina also gave me Greek coffee and provided the tools to make it. The little red pot with the handle is what I make the coffee with, and the little cup is how I drink it. I'm really thrilled with this! I haven't had a chance to make any coffee yet, but have plans to do so as soon as I post this entry. There will be a followup post.

The cup was fantastic - I love the design and the size is perfect! It's my new favorite cup.

I also received sock yarn in all my favorites colors. I'm not sure I'll make socks - I'm thinking I'll make a scarf.

The package contained some delicious taffy-like candy made with the resin of mastic, which is a shrub grown on the island of Chios. It has a pine-like taste and mastic has all kinds of healing properties, from fighting tooth decay and to fighting stomach ailments. Read more about mastic here. The candy is gone - I finished my last piece Friday evening. The pretty green wrappers are what is left. I want my sister to take note of this candy. I'm sending her some money to stock up on more of it when she goes to Cyprus for her son's wedding reception this summer. (I'm assuming she'll be able to find it there).

I loved everything, Cristina, especially the "Greekness" of the package. Learning new skills and trying things from other countries are the reason I love international swaps. Swap leaders take note - I want to swap with Cristina again!

This reminds me to say StitchCraft opened last week! I'll talk about it in my next entry.

So much to say, so little time to say it!

I just got back from Here:



I got a coffee swap package from Cristina in Greece and am very excited about showing that, and the yard exploded in blooms while we were away. Unfortunately, the sun is still missing and the light is AWFUL, so I don't have any pictures yet. Stay tuned, I'll write more tomorrow when the sun is supposed to be out for a brief period of time.

I am SO cold!