All packages must be sent with delivery confirmation, so we can track any lost packages.

Remember whatever you want to add to your "Fall" box to make it special!

Any interest?

Deb

We need a few more to join!

Hope you are all having a good day. The weather here in central PA is beautiful!!

Heidi

Well I am on my way back outside. I try to get as much done before my little one's nap is over :o)

Heidi

Any one else interested?

So far we have~
Laura
Heidi
Linda
Kathy
Deb

We have enough for the swap, but a few more always add more fun!

Deb

vina

Heidi

(note to self... lay off the choco-milk before bed!)
~Laura

Hi Tropicalstorm...come join the fun!

Hey Laura!! Your my LIL SIS over on OBF.

And a couple of you guys I think I was in the Fall Swap or Aug. swap with recently. Whoo boy, I've been in so many swaps, I've got my swaps mixed up :0)

Can't wait to see who I'm paired with.
Talk to you all soon! vina

Tropicalstorm,
You have until late tonight to join. Let me know on this thread if your still interested in joining. I'll wait until around 11 pm, assign swap Pals then and we can contact each other for addresses. Boy, was this swap simple!
I love Fall, it's my favorite time of year! All the trees are starting to change color and we are expecting a light dusting of snnnnoooowww! I'm not ready for winter yet, our summer was much cooler than normal, hopefully we have Fall temps for a few weeks!

Be back later,
Deb

Anyone else interested? Come on, we know you've been lurking! LOL!

Deb

PPLLEEEEEEAASSSSSSSEEEEE

Heidi

I really don't need any info, we can contact our trade Pals individually with our addresses.

Diene,
Welcome to the swap!

So, our final group is-
Laura
Heidi
Linda
Kathy
Deb
Vina
Melinda
Diene

Tropical storm,
If your still interested in being in the swap, I'll gladly be your exchange pal. ;) Just let me know with in the next few days.

Ok, this list is going to be easy- I'm mixing up our names backwards- so you could of seen who you sent to all the time!

Diene sends to Melinda
Melinda sends to Vina
Vina sends to Deb
Deb sends to Kathy
Kathy sends to Linda
Linda sends to Heidi
Heidi sends to Laura
Laura sends to Diene!

Please send your info (name & address) to your swap Pal. Try to do it ASAP.

Hugs to all!
Have to make this short and make lunch! Whooo hoo, our Fall swap begins, start preparing those boxes! Fill them with neat "Fall" items!
I can't wait to hear what's in the boxes!

Deb

Laura I emailed you too!!

Heidi

I am just kidding. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone puts in their box.

Hope you all are enjoying your Saturday.

Heidi

Linda, I need your info so I can fill up your box!

This is so much fun!!

Kathy

Heidi

Hope you get it by the end of the week!!

Heidi

I just sent you an email. Been busy working on filling up that box. :)

~Kathy

Keep working on those boxes! Think "Fall"

Hugs,
Deb

I have been to the post office and DEB your box is on the way...your DC# is 0307 1790 0002 5604 7067
I hope you like it...its a mish mash of stuff (and that's all I'll give away)

Happy Fall Y'all...
vina

It is snowing here. Kinda crazy for October.We are used to flurries but not like this.
How is the weather everywhere else.

According to the DC number Laura your box is in Michigan as of last night. You might get it today **jumping up and down excited**.

Any one have plans for the weekend???

If its as cold as they predict I will be snuggled in a blanket with my 2 little boys watching a movie. Very productive Huh??

Heidi

Be back later,
Deb

Heidi

Ok I am done sharing. I got it out of my system :o)

Better run, I'm making lunch and smell it burning.

Deb

I am hoping Laura got her box. USPS said it was delivered, but I always worry when shipping to APT. I had a bad experience in the past of stuff getting stolen.

The weather man says its going to be 60 next week. Hope he isn't teasing. I hate being stuck inside!!

Heidi

The weather here has been nasty too. No snow, just cold sorta slushy rain...yuck!

Well I am sure that is more then any of you wanted to know :0)

I will be back later to see if anyone got their box today!!

Heidi

A very sweet note challenging me to discover what my kitty wanted. The answer? Birds to eat!
Handy Dandy Notebook
*clue* garden hook on suction cups for the window
*clue* parrot shaped cat toy (a very big hit)
*clue* a suet block and feeder
very yummy chocolate chip banana "blues clues bread"
2009-'10 wallet calender
toy mice for the kitties
Halloween ornament
scarecrow potholder
pumpkin spice sachet
seeds: dahlia, 4:00 rose and gaura
bulbs: tulips 'Margarita' and 'Queen of the Night', daffodils, amaryllis 'Naked Lady' and last but not least 'Cherubs Smile' iris

WHOOOO I hope I didnt leave anything out!!! What an AMAZING box!!! Unwrapping everything was just like Hanukkah, and I kept shouting "A clue! A clue!" which I think scared Duncan half to death the first time. Since today was the first warm-ish non drizzly day in almost 3 weeks I immediately planted the iris and bulbs out front, and set up the suet in the window just above the cat's scratching/ birdwatching post. A-MA-ZING! Also, would you mind sharing the recipe for that super yummy bread? Its more like cake, I swear!

If I had known I would have done the Mail Time song while walking back from the office... "Here's the mail, it never fails, it makes me wanna wag my tail. When it comes I wanna wail MAIIIILLLLL!" You, John and Jace have all outdone yourselves! Have I used the word amazing yet? :)

Love to you all, and a big thank you hug for the boys too,
~Laura

PS- Diene, your box should go out tomorrow or weds :)

diene~ They didn't bloom much last year so I really couldn't tell you exactly what they looked like. The base of the plant is not a single bulb...it looks like a lot of little dangling fingers. The have not been thinned in years and its a mess between the tree root!! I hope they bloom better next year.

Have a good night everyone!! I have a 3 year old that is starting to get a little loopy from exhaustion ...my entertainment for the night :o)

Heidi

Heidi, Mystery?????? Daylilies, How exciting! I love finding old plants new homes...it makes them look new all over again!

Laura, LOL! I'm reading your post and singing the mail song too...BLUES CLUES is a staple at our house! We love Steve! That sounds like a great box!

Gotta run...busy afternoon....school, dr.appts.,store....oh mylanta! I'm already tired!

vina

Here are the pumpkins that we decorated. We bought the face parts at Walmart for $3. Quick and easy if you don't like the mess!! (Even cheaper we grew the pumpkins our self!!)

My box did go out for Kathy on Tuesday- USPS# 0308 2040 0000 7895 9270.

Also, I received a fantastic box from Vina! In the box was~
2 beautiful large scarecrow mugs (one was broke, but the other arrived in perfect shape)

Seeds stuff in two cute little rattan pumpkins!

Yellow Jonquils
Oriental Lily mix
Pickwick Crocus
Daffs!

2 adorable fuzzy teddies dressed up for Halloween!

Handmade scarf- really neat done in Fall colors!

2 mini gardening tools (I'm going to add these to a Fall wreath I'm making)

Stuffed pumpin (I'm using it for sewing- as a pin cushion)

Tea lite holder (very festive)

Thanks Vina for the wonderful box, I'm ready for Fall now! ;)
I love everything you sent! Off to post a few more things on other threads, and then I'm cleaning ALL day! I'll be back online tonight.

Everyone has been sending such nice boxes!

Hugs,
Deb

Deb~~~So glad your box made it...I am bummed that one of the mugs got broke. I thought I packed them good. At least you still have one. The scarf I bought at a Fall Craft Show, the same lady had the little fabric pumpkins. I thought they were so cute I got some for myself too. Shopping for other people always give you an excuse to buy for yourself too :0)

Happy Fall Y'all....off to make dinner.
vina

I thought you made the scarf! It's so warm and fuzzy, perfect Fall colors too, I love it! It has such neat loopy stitches! I learned how to crochet & knit in high school, I'm not sure I know how anymore.

I loved everything you sent, Vina! This was such a fun swap! :)

Hugs,
Deb

Heidi, your kiddos are so cute! The one catching snowflakes on his tongue is adorable, as is the one with the kitty. She looks like a Siamese. We had one that the dogs used to drag around and she never did anything to them. However, when she wanted to wash their ears, she'd growl and swat at them to stay still! LOL 9 lb cat ruled the 50+ lbs dogs! Hey, with all that pumpkin baking, did you bake any pumpkin rolls? MMMMM! They don't last around here more than 1 1/2 days! I saw the pumpkin face things at Walmart. They are cute. We are going to pick out our pumkins this weekend -- but at the grocery store. The large ones sell for $3.99 and the huge jack-o-lantern ones for $7.99. There are pumpkin patches around town, most hosted by churches. There are several farms around, but most of them are 30-40 miles away and with the hectic schedule this weekend due to marching band performances, we just don't have time to go. One of the farms has a corn maze, which is lots of fun.

Sunny skies and 74 degrees with some nice cool breezes blowing! I love fall weather! I was able to get some bulbs planted before the rain, but I still have more to go.
My okra shot up after the rain last week, so we had fried okra last night for dinner. YUMMMY!

Now for the good news! My box arrived!! Yea!!!
Inside Deb placed things that reminded her of fall:

Red Bastogne's parrot tulips - pretty! I love red!
Libretto parrot tulips - love the 'blushing' look they have!
Red Ruby Grass seeds -- yea! I wanted some of these! Thanks, Deb!!
Mojito mint body butter -- will have to hide that from my daughter. Good for those tired hands after a busy day digging those bulbs!
Honeycomb crow decoration - LOL! I've got the spot for him!
Package of coasters with -- teapot design! I love teapots!
Pregnant onion - I've never had one of these, but I have a spot for it, too!
Cool ceramic pumpkin!
Hen & chicks - Yea!
A bell to hang up!
Gaillardia seeds - These grow great down here!

Thanks for a great fall box, Deb!

~Kathy

Tonight is our Halloween parade! My Brownie GS troop is in the parade. We are dressing as butterflies. My son will be riding in our wagon in his swamp monster costume. He really looks like a big bug so it should be cute.

Heidi

(Thanks for listening to me rant...this is the extent of my adult conversation for the day)

Now as to the marching band, I wish your sister and her band the best of luck in their marching contests. My son plays the trombone for concert, but the baritone for marching this year (he's a freshman and they sometimes ask freshmen to switch so they have more baritones - next year it will be t-bone all the way). They had regionals in Houston two weeks ago and took 9th out of 28 or 29 bands. Their UIL marching contest last weekend and this weekend is Super BOA (Band of America) right here in San Antonio. Their theme is "Joy" and the 1st chair trumpet player has a solo. I imagine your sister must be so honored to be able to play the solo during the competition. When her band marches, do they do all those crazy movements and a lot of backwards marching? I've been to almost all the football games where the local high schools have been presenting their competition performances and hey, those kids work hard and it shows! My son really loves band, though, despite the long practices after school and getting caught in a few rainstorms along the way! Best of luck to your sis! Let me know how they do!

Our Halloween party in the subdivision is on 10/30. They have a costume contest, food galore, cake walk, face painting, and someone drives a flatbed trailer lined with hay bales around the neighborhood. It is so much fun. Post a picture if you can, of your little bug with all the butterflies!

~Kathy

Wow Kathy, he plays two instruments...That has to be hard!! I never even learned one...unless you count the recorder. I could play "Hot Cross Buns"!!! My sisters band does the funky moves...and wears a stupid hat with a feather!! Last years show was called "year of the dragon". Half way through the show they all bowed and yelled "MooShoo Pork" I chuckle just thinking about it. This years show is called primary colors. It's ok...I still liked last year :o)

Heidi

~Laura

WHHHOOOOOO my box is on the way! I am so excited! Just like Christmas...(only I don't have to return the ugly turtleneck the next day) :0)

Hugs to all! vina

ps....sorry to hear about the "yucks" going around. My son just got over an ear infection...poor booger! He's only 15 months!!

Heidi

LOL- my son has one of those hats with the feathers. Their uniforms consist of a jacket and pants that have suspenders that look a lot like those fishing waders. He says they look like a bunch of "cat in the hats" on the field. I read him what you had written and he thought it was cool that she gets to play the solo. He said the best person gets that honor! The nice thing about switching between baritone and T-bone is that the music is the same. Now he wants to learn the base trombone. LOL I didn't know they came in 'base'... he says it's an even larger horn. Oh joy! Larger horn means louder...hmmmm It already sounds like a large freight train barreling through the house when he practices... In fact, the night I was out furiously planting some bulbs in anticipation of the rains that were coming (and fighting off the mosquitoes) I could hear him all the way out in the yard! Too bad we can't kill mosquitoes with sound!

This morning it was 49 degrees! Brrrrr! But the sun has warmed us up to a nice 62, so it's time to get busy planting!

~Kathy

When I opened it up there was spooky Halloween tissue paper on top. My 3yr old immediately found the bag of Milky Way's. He loves chocolate!! Both of the boys liked reading about the bugs on the insect guide.

Ok here is the list

Small wreath with 3 scarecrows ( very cute)
Beautiful autumn pot holder/dish towel set~ it has colored leaves, golden pears, pumpkins and gourds on it.
White Daffodil Thalia
Tulip Darwin Hybrid Ollioules
Turkey notepad that hangs on the fridge (I have it up there already to use)
Notebook that says my garden. The inside is broken down by garden style and month/season...I am going to use this to keep my flower beds straight!!
Insect pompom pals. I am going to attach these to clothes pins and put them on my flower pots.
Butterfly color by number. ~ I think this was also meant for the boys, but I have other plans for it :o)
Ok now for the seeds....
Brugmansia, Tomato, purple coneflower, Hibiscus sunset and luna red, Daylily, Gerber Daisy, sweet pea, Red Crape Myrtle(who told you I was debating on growing one of these??), Mixed Poppy, Purple Morning Glory, Rudbeckia hirta, mixed lantana, blue love in a mist, mixed 4:00, hyacinth bean vine, nasturtiums, canteloupe, and Periwinkle Blue Aster.

Ok I think that is everything. Thank You Thank You for this box!

Kathy~ the larger horn story made me laugh. My son is only 3 but he loves the drums. People cringe when I talk about buying him a set!! I love the drum line in the band. I hope that he stays passionate about the drums and can one day be in the drum line.

Anyone else get their box today?
The weather here started out warm and now it is cold and raining. Yuck!!

Heidi

Heidi, do you (or anyone else here) know any good way to keep cats out of the amaryllis bulbs? Id really like to try forcing them in water, the pictures are so pretty! Theres only have one sunny window suitable for forcing them, which belongs to Rufus and Zoe, and I understand amaryllis are toxic if eaten.

Hope everyone is doing well, apologies in advanced if Im not around this weekend as Ive agreed to cover the studio.
~Laura

I love all the boxes. I have never tried geocaching but it sounds like fun. Definitely something my girl scouts would like to do!!

Heidi

What a fantastic box! Thanks so much Kathy, I really loved it!

Melinda THANK YOU SO MUCH!! What a generous box!!

Have a great Sunday everyone! After the Birthday Party a Haunted Hayride!! YEAH! :0)

vina

Glad you liked your box! Doesn't that pumpkin spice candle smell yummy? Salt City Candle Co. has pumpkin spice candles that are really good, too, but I have to order them online.

I think you'll like the elephant garlic. Since it's in the allium family, you'll see the big flower ball bloom one day, just like any other allium. Some people roast it - it has a more delicate flavor than regular garlic - it's just not as strong. Makes a pretty plant, though. I had been given some a few years back, but the drought must have taken them. My mom has some planted in her yard, but I couldn't find them either, so I guess the drought got them, too. :( I was surprised to see them when I was at Lowe's, since you never know what they are going to get in, and bulbs disappear quickly around here. You have to grab them when you see them, or else you're out of luck.

One thing I just found yesterday at Walmart was pumpkin spice pudding! I've never seen it, so I bought some to try out. Wish I'd seen it sooner so I could have put it in the box, too.

Sounds like everyone is getting some really nice boxes. This swap has been a lot of fun!

Vina - I'm so jealous ~~ We don't have a haunted hayride down here!

I was able to most of my excess plants in the ground yesterday before the rains came again. Right now the radar shows nothing but heavy downpours for the rest of the day and 57 degrees.

~Kathy

Kathy, they don't have haunted hayrides down where you live? What do you do for Halloween? Being in Upstate NY you can't throw a stone without hitting a hayride. We must have 7 or 8 different ones...just around where I am. Sleepy Hollow...the headless horsemen? The actual Sleepy Hollow is about an hour and half drive (maybe 2 hours) from my house. So you bet people around here...eat it up!

The clouds have parted and out I go to plant bulbs!
Have a great Monday everyone!!
vina

Seven or eight haunted hayrides? WOW! Now I'm really jealous! Sleepy Hollow Hayride? Ahhh! Sounds like so much fun!

We have haunted houses - three that are the big commercial kind with the gory junk, and several that are neighborhood homes turned into haunted houses by their owners. We also have lots of pumpkin patches and corn mazes run by farmers. Most of the churches have "Trunk or Treat" or "Hallelujah Night" and a couple of the malls do trick or treating. Many subdivisions, including our own, have pre trick or treat Halloween parties, too. We have several state parks nearby and one had a Halloween fest of some sort. The Zoo has a ZooBoo for kiddies and the Botanical Center has BOOtanica! There are two or three ghost hunt tours operating nightly and Sea World and Six Flags Fiesta Texas both have Halloween stuff. We have a ton of things to choose from, just no haunted hayrides!

vina

The Halloween at Six Flags/Fiesta Texas isn't for little ones, either. We went to the part of the park where the Looney Tunes characters were when our kids were small, but ran into some of the ghouls when we were leaving. Definitely not for little ones. My kids still remember the troll hiding underneath the rail road bridge and tha's been at least 10 years ago!

I do not have much faith in the DC but it comes free with online shipping. I sent three boxes with DC's and the Post Office never even acknowledged they were mailed. I did get an e-mail from them apologizing saying they had a crash of the system.

Hope you enjoy it Melinda. Happy Halloween.
diene

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!
off to spook another thread...
vina

I have to run and pick up more candy, I have the feeling that I don't have enough. Everyone's been sneeking some!

Deb