I happen to LOVE the Brrrrrrrrrrrrr weather. Along with the ice, sleet, cold, and snow. I even enjoyed shoveling the driveway in upstate NY - even though people told me it would get old soon enough. But, nope, I LOVED it.

I used to volunteer to shovel my neighbor's driveway for fun as well, lol.

What can I say? I'm weird like that.

So, if anyone wants their driveway shoveled, free of charge, you know who to call. 

I thought I'd share a photo of the backyard. I've never seen it in this color before!


Sadly, it's almost all melted today. But, as I'm going to Poland this January ... I know I'll see plenty of the white stuff then. 

On a swap related note, I'm slooooowly moving along. However, I shall definitely be ready to send before (or on) the final date.

I received today from our wonderful organizer - pinkleo. 

Everything is so amazing - I just love it.

This is an amazing shirt with the man who I will marry. Click for the closer image of my Severus. It's such a great image ... I just love this shirt so much.



Then, we have some HP goodies - chocolate frog (yum), a moving bookmark of my future husband, and (this is so cool) a time turner!


Next we have a "I heart HP" bookmark and a Slytherin bracelet. I have to support my future husband's house. Ahem. Moving on.


A wonderful Slytherin scarf - it is silver and green. The colors just would not photograph correctly. But, it's wonderful, and (I don't know why) but it smells yummy.


A spectacular golden snitch - such a great job on this!


Finally, potions earrings. These are so cool - there's actual liquid in them. Like real potions bottles. I might wear them for my wedding with Severus. Ahem. Sometimes I get carried away.


Thank you SO much pinkleo - I really love everything.

I received three new cards.  From MrsZeddies, Lunakitten, and Phildude.

Also, I have sent all my cards out as of this morning.

I received another card today - from Windoverireland. 

Here's the one from Windoverireland:


And the one from Ronda - with matching envelope.


Thanks to you both.

Oooooh, me first, me first!  lol

I received an amazing package from kstaron. She really spoiled me. I hope you all are ready with those wist buttons. 

First - the whole lot of goodies.


She packaged everything so nicely. These are the containers some of the things came in.


For Air -  we have this amazing journal. I just love it. A great pen with bells on top to go with it, and a wonderful butterfly bookmark. My partner joked that now he'll know exactly how well my writing is going by the sound of the bells! She also took the time to write out 33 writing prompts for me. As a writer - I'm in heaven.

Back of journal.


For fire - we have these fantastic hair clips and earrings. I love this - especially the hair clips. I plan on wearing them often! We also have a great bracelet to match the earrings. I love this too; it's totally my style.


And then, she made this dragon scarf - it's the tongue.  The velvet feels like heaven.


For water - a lovely seashell pendant, an origami fish pin, and an ever flowing triple moon chalice. These are so great - the pin is too cute. And I love the chalice.


For earth - these are straight off of my wists. She did an amazing job with them. A pincushion and Greenman pendant.


Finally - spirit. This hand painted box (love it!), wishing papers (very cool), and a goddess keychain. Ok ... my confession: inside of this box were some utterly delicious chocolates. They didn't make it into the photo. I'm embarrassed to say how many there were, because then you all would know what a glutton I am!  But, rest assured, they were utterly delicious.


Thanks so much kstaron - I really love everything.

Kurtzie was wonderful enough to be my angel.  And she sent some wonderful things!

First a scarf she crocheted, which made her think or marshes ... which Lestat spent some time in. 



Then black wings - earrings and bracelet. Obviously from Memnoch. I love these - wore the earrings all day!


Then soap - smells SO DARN YUMMY! And it's so pretty too. I don't know if I'll ever use it because I like the design so much.


These awesome stitch markers - you can't tell in the photos so much, but they're made to look like marble. Much like vampires in the A.R. books.


Some lovely bookmarks, and a ray of sunshine pen. 


A needle book (something I totally needed) - fleur de is, of course, and a journal:


A necklace she crocheted based on my wists, representing the Mayfair emerald. I love this!


Lastly, she sent me some craft supplies for fun, and a pie. I've long admired these pies on craftster and I'm so excited to have one of my own. She made it into a magnet - the "pie plate" is a bottle cap. Very clever. And since I'm a baker - this is too cool.

I received from Miss Violaceous. She sent an AMAZING package - way more than the requirements! I love it all so much. I don't think I can even knit with it because it's SO pretty to look at.

A group shot of all the yarn she spun, the yarn she dyed (titled "Love"), and another group shot of all the yummy goodies she sent. Those chips were SO good ... I'm afraid they didn't last long. 




Click on the smaller icons for more detailed yarn shots. It's worth the look - everything is gorgeous. 

First up, "Love" - 500 plus grams of 100% wool yarn that she dyed herself. I love these colors! Now, I just need to find the perfect pattern to use up all this yarn.


Second, "Popsicle" - Merino roving (for some thrummed mittens I want to make). I love these colors - makes me want to lick it. 


Third, "Tangle" - It has sparkle (and she included extra dreads ... but I forgot to take a picture of those - will come back to edit later).


Fourth, "Sonata" - Merino/silk with thread and glass beads. It's difficult to see the glass beads and details of this yarn ... it's subtly stunning in person.


Fifth, "Tempest" - Lambswool/silk.


Last, but not least: "Brindle" - 100% Alpaca.

I received from Woodland_faerie.  Prepare your wist buttons. I'm posting all the photos here, though, she was also my vegan swap angel. So, there's A LOT.

The amazing shawl she sent me - there's so many details to it. And it's not too warm, which is perfect for Louisiana (and CA).


A gorgeous altar cloth ... though, I must admit, it also looks good on my couch. The blue fabric is sparkly - it was hard to capture that.


A goddess bag - I adore this!


Then a miscellaneous amount of fun extras. There were actually 2 vegan bars (but, I ate one). The carrot is toy for my cat - from whom I had to steal it back to get a photo.


I can't wait to read the cat book - right up my alley. I also am so enchanted with the faery - I adore the wings.


Sagittarius (me, lol) necklace and beautiful beautiful box. I am so enjoying these two items.


Lastly - an apron. But, it's clever in that you can take the bottom and button it up top so that you can gather things in it. I'm interested in foraging, and I bake a lot - so this is perfect.


Gathered (there is a ribbon to hold it in place, I just didn't use it for the photo).


Oh, and the cards she sent me - so stunning.


Thank you SO much, again, I truly LOVED it all. 

I received from TwistedTruth. She spoiled my kitty SO much.  I love everything. I even managed to get a photo of my cat taking everything in (this is VERY rare, lol).

First up - my cat not being able to decide with what to play first.



Then, we've got a fun sleeping mat (which my cat immediately burrowed under). I love this fabric!


Then, a group shot of the toys my cat got, and a fun tote for me. The applique she sent me is just like my cat. And I love the black kitty (I kept that for me, lol). My cat's favorite is the white mouse.


Here is my favorite toy. I'm watching you. I LOVE this so much I may keep it for myself too.


Finally (this isn't the best photo) a xmas stocking. It says my cat's name on it and has her little face in the bottom corner. So cute.


Thanks again for everything TwistedTruth - I loved it all.

Edited to add: I caught my cat on the mat! 

I received from santacruzsugar today. She sent me some amazing things. I love them all! 

A cork board (from my wists!) and a bowl made of yarn. I love this. I already put them in their "proper" places (as shown in the small icons).




This recipe book with gorgeous fabric. It's divided into sections, on the inside. I already put a few recipes in. Plus vegan stickers as a bonus.


Some amazing place mats - one side is tie dye and the other is woven from magazine strips. I'm in love!


This fabulous apron - right up my alley! I flounced around all day in it. My mom is modeling it here, and the smaller icon shows it hung up. I can't get over the cherry fabric (I love cherry fabric!).





Thank you so much, yet again, for all the wonderful items.