Anonymous Stuff

Just a quick note on maintaining your anonymity throughout the swap...

Some of you don't allow anonymous comments on your blogs. That eliminates one avenue of contact by your pal. Not everyone has easy access to other email accounts at work, so that eliminates some time and potential contact. I'm not asking anyone to do anything that makes them uncomfortable, but just ponder those bits, and if you need help creating an anonymous account, make up a silly name like Sally Swapper and get an account with any of the free email providers, or with an unused account through your internet service provider.

Also, one more time... Don't reveal your identity to your pal before you mail the package (or final package if you ship more than once). Sure, things happen, but I just wanted to remind everyone ONE MORE TIME.

Now, back to your tea, knitting and chatting.

Your Invitation is in the Mail

Picture a big, old Victorian on a double lot, on the edge of the quaint shopping district in your town. Mary's at the door, peeping through the etched glass, and will throw open the door as you come up the walk. Devon is still fiddling with the tiered dessert display, because those are HER pastries on there, you know? I'm busy rearranging the assorted china cups (some even with mismatched saucers) and mugs, then flit over to the teas, because everything has to be JUST SO for our grand opening.

It's a come as you are kind of place. For those dreaming of a grand, almost formal tea, I'll be serving with the silver service in the grand dining room. (Pinkies out, optional, but I will have sugar cubes and those precious little tongs!) For those wishing for a completely casual experience, Mary will be on hand in the great room. (There are toys for your children in there too.) For anyone in between, Devon will be pouring on the veranda, weather permitting. (Otherwise, we'll direct you to the sun room in the back.) Of course, we'll really all be flitting from room to room, because we're excited and want to meet you all, so have a cup with each of us! Please take your pets to the area in the back, where we have arranged for their own party. (Dogs on the left, cats on the right, and turtles and other species to the far right.)

Okay, your pal's info isn't really below, but it will be sent out later today. Please keep the exceptionally social, friendly feel of this swap alive and contact your pal right away. Don't forget to check your spam folder before you email your hostess, feeling left out.

Last, but not least, we have divided up into groups, but not by "formality" as I described above. Please use your "personal" host as your first point of contact if there's a concern, once you know which of us it is. I'm always available to all of you - heck we all are - but only your personal host will have the information about your match.

Now, let's sip, chat and knit!

Early Bird Special!

Bethany is our early bird contest winner. I'm not going to post a picture of her prize, because that kinda' ruins the surprise, doesn't it? Trust me, it's very nice, and once she receives it, you can pop over to her blog and say hi.

Many, MANY thanks to you for posting those questionnaires early. Over half of you qualified for the early bird contest, and fewer than 10% of you still need to post. PLEASE post as soon as you can! (And if you have a friend whose questionnaire is missing, peer pressure is a wonderful thing...) We won't send out matches until 100% of the questionnaires are posted, and if for some reason, yours isn't up by the 22nd... That's not going to happen though, so we won't talk about it.

Remember to check your spam folder when matches go out, before you email and say you haven't received anything. The spam filters don't like emails without names, it seems...

CLOSED

Sign-ups have closed. Welcome, guests! Please check your link under the guest list on the side, and let us know if it doesn't work.

If you haven't posted your questionnaire, please do so immediately. The hostesses are checking for them as we speak, and if all the questionnaires are up before the 20th, matches might go out early.

A word on matches... I hope I'm clearing things up here, not making them more confusing. Each person will SEND to one pal, and RECEIVE from someone different. You'll be reminded of the details by your hostess when the matches are sent out, but I did want to make that part clear.

On your mark, get set, POUR!

You're Almost Too Late!

Just a friendly reminder that you have only a little over 24 hours left to sign up for the swap, and to enter the early bird contest. Unlike the Wonderland tea party, we won't be able to take late-comers, so sign up (via email to knit1tea2@gmail.com) before midnight on the 15th.


That doesn't mean the last-minute guests will get their responses from me before then though. Please don't panic unless you don't hear from me by Thursday evening, Eastern Time. I can't always check this account from work...


Remember too, that all questionnaires must be posted - and easy to find! - by the 20th. No matches will be sent out until ALL questionnaires are in place, so PLEASE don't hold up progress. If you have your questionnaire posted by the 15th and note as much in the comments on the appropriate post here, you'll be entered in our first contest.

With that, a big thank you to those of you with your questionnaires in place. It is greatly appreciated!

Scone Recipe

Fox and Goose Scones
(Thank you Ruth, and your friend Donna!)

3 cups flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

3/4 cups butter 1 cup milk

1 tablespoon heavy cream 1 cup dried cranberries


Heat oven to 425. Grease cookie sheet.
Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in butter until crumbly. Mix in fruit, add milk and cream and mix thoroughly.
Turn onto floured board and knead about 8 times. Roll out and cut into circles or triangles. (or I just pat it into two semi-flat rounds and
cut those into sections) Place on cookie sheet, brush with beaten egg (optional).
Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown (may be slightly longer for sections than biscuit sized scones)

You can substitute sour cream, mayonaise, or yogurt for heavy cream. (I cheat and use less milk, and make up the difference with
half and half) You can substitute raisons or any other dried fruit for cranberries. (I often used dried blueberries...yum)
One of my friends also sprinkles the scone tops with "raw" sugar before baking to make then look fancier.

Buttons to the Rescue: Where Do We Start

Buttons are a great way to let others know what you are doing, your opinions, and what swaps you are involved in. Here is some info on how to do that.

• First right click on the button and 'copy image location' or 'save image as' and then save it to your computer.
• From here you need to find a photo hosting sight such as 'Flickr', 'Yahoo', 'AOL'. This will host your photo with out taking up the bandwidth of the sight you are taking the button from. Upload and save to your photo sharing site and copy the URL. If you are using flick you click on 'All Sizes' and scroll down and you will find number 2 will give you the URL to save and use (copy this).
  
• Then when you want to add it to your page you use Configure HTML/Javascript and use this for posting... 1. a href="SWAP LINK HERE" 2. - 3. img src="LINK FROM FLICKR WITH THE SITE ADDRESS"/4. (this is not the full HTML code - but how you make it correct is by putting <> brackets around each of the links above (where I have placed the numbers). If you need assistance with this I will be happy to email the full look of the code, because blogger will not allow me to post it here. k1t2DevonATgmail.com)
• This will post the button and link it to the swap page.
• Hope this helps!

Happy Swapping everyone and thank you for those of you who have already put up your questionnaire! We do hope this tea party proves to be just what everyone needs as we finish up the summer months.

Do enjoy some tea and scones if you'd like!