Oh Kathleen..you are good..and Donna is better..I looked at that cupcake tower yesterday myself!

And I know you'll get tons of use of that platter!

Kathleen, the poet, I love that gorgeous pumpkin platter, it is soooo you! The cupcake tree is something I have been meaning to look into (but haven't gotten around to it)...and how neat for a retired teacher, (or is that tired?) to get a cookbook from her swap parnter's childrens' school! Donna, you did a great package!

A-dor-a-ble! The box and the poem. Almost as cute as Donna's son ;-).

Awesome package!

Nina

Kathleen, I never knew you were a poet! Great gifts and who wouldn't want a cookbook. We'll be waiting for a picture of cupcakes in that cute tower.

Good job Donna!

Beverly

Oh, Beverly, there are SO many things you don't know about me, a real mystery woman, LOL!

Yippee - so glad you liked everything Kathleen! When I saw the cupcake tower it occurred to me that you could make some beautiful cupcakes for your grandchildren! I have the cupcake tower, and it's always a hit for kids' (and adults'!)parties. The platter is, well, dishy for my dishy swap partner:-) But I did picture it matching all of your lovely autumn decor. And the cookbook is really one of my favorites, it's got lots of regional recipes in there. I love the poem, I'm going to print and keep it! ((((Kathleen))))

I had some help from a "forum angel" who let me pick her brain and bounce ideas off of her because she knew I was a swap newbie. Thanks Annie:-)
DONNA

I like your poem. And I like the platter and cupcake holder. Nice gifts.
Clare

LOL, Donna, all I did was agree with you that my grandkids LOVE my cupcake tree, that the platter was perfect for Kathleen and that any foodie always loves a cookbook. (grin) You did very well indeed, and are no longer a swap virgin!

I do like that platter a lot, though, it's so "autumnal" and can go from September all the way through Thanksgiving. The cupcake tree is bigger than mine, and I know that cupcakes are very "fashionable" now and Bud and Makayla like them all sprinkled and "fancied up" so I can just see that filled with kathleen's beautiful handiwork for her grandkids. I love local, regional cookbooks, especially those with personal meaning and the schoolteacher theme ties right in.

Enjoy everything, Kathleen, I'm sure something will show up on that platter soon...

Annie

What a great poem! I so love your platter! The cupcake stand looks really cool as does the cookbook! Hope your going to post some of those wonderful highlighted recipes. Enjoy your loot!

Shelley

Kathleen..You are a great friend to shop for~

I love gratitude..It says so much about a person:)

And you had lovely reasons to be..Donna..I love my cupcake tree..this is a terrific item..especially w/ K's grandchildren and teachers:)

The book is priceless..and now with K's pedestal..this is a set of pumpkins!!

I'm sure you'll love the cupcake holder. I get tons of use out of mine. Fun prop. And those are always the best books.

Very creative....both of you!

Beautiful platter and it'll look so perfect and pretty with Kathleen's new cake plate. She sets an awesome table. Can't wait to see! The cupcake holder is such a great idea, looking forward to seeing it all filled up! and Annie is right, what foodie wouldn't want a cookbook, especially one that's near and dear to your heart! You did great, Donna! I bet that Mike was even happier that the box came, Kathleen must have made him nuts with all the walking outside to check!

Great poem, Kathleen, you certainly are an original! You rock, my friend!

Uh, about that "no longer a swap virgin" thing, can we keep that news away from my DH????? He thinks I'm saving it all for him......:-)
DONNA

What a great poem and a fun swap package!

I really love regional cookbooks and this is a very special one.

Enjoy!

Kathleen! I would never have guessed you were a poet! How very sweet of you to write the Ode to Donna!

And you're not going to believe it but I, too, was considering the cupcake tower. Not for cupcakes but I make so many muffins and this would be a no problem display for them!

And the platter is so cute and I'm pretty sure Kathleen will put it to good use very soon, if not already!

And "who doesn't need another cookbook", I sure would not turn any cookbook down!! Darling card too!

You did a good job Donna! Enjoy!!

Michelle

I love my cupcake tower also. It really can be used for other things like muffins and cookes and favor tied up in cellophane. You'll have fun. The platter is very cute and a cookbook is always fun. Great package.

Oh, Michelle, there are so many things you don't know about me, LOL!
Did you get that chicken yet? I am getting annoyed with UPS!

Oh, Kathleen, that swap package is so "you", it's amazing!

Donna, you'd never know this was your first swap! Lovely, just lovely!

Linda

as a collector of platters and having a fantastic assortment of what i call "thanksgiving" tableware, i LOVE that platter! i also have a cupcake tower that i use for absolutely everything and every occasion that i can bring it out. we had it in use the other day for caramel and candy apples. it also held small jelly jars that i recently used as party favors and i've seen them used at showers holding (giveaway) candles.

what a great swap package donna, you did good.

kathleen, i loved your show of gratitude. i just loved the originality of it all! enjoy your goodies.

maryanne

Donna, this was my first swap too, and I was nervous! You did great!
Thanks for all the ideas for the cupcake holder! Maryanne, candied apples? I never would have thought of that!
This was a lot of fun, so glad I decided to try it!

Hey, there's lots of really good ideas here for the cupcake tower. I really need to learn to think outside the box. Of course it would be great for muffins, caramel apples, small candles and little jars of jam (or butters from Michelle:-) We are having fun, aren't we????
DONNA

Nice job Donna! The cupcake holder sure looks to be mult-functional.

I really love platters and the pumpkin is about as fall-themed as you get... I'm sure Kathleen will get lots of use out of it!

And as other posters have mentioned, you can never have enough cookbooks.

Catherine

What a great swap box, Donna. I love regional cookbooks and this looks great. Hope you post recipes from it, Kathleen. Really nice platter.

Brenda

Those are the most special kind of cookbooks, aren't they. Great job Donna, Kathleen obviously loves her stuff!

Kathleen, great poem!

Donna, I used the to platter to plate our dinner..on the WFD thread! Took the cookbook with me when I went to the hair salon to read while I waited, and I am sure I will use the cupcake holder soon, maybe when the new baby arrives at the end of the month!

Great swap, and awesome poem!

I've seen those cupcake towers and I think they are great! Hmmm I wonder if quiches would work in them....brain working here....

And who can't use another Thanksgiving serving piece?

I love, love love local cookbooks, like the one Linda sent me....remember that one, Linda? 'Any B!TCH Can Cook'? Still in my kitchen on display!