Very, very nice...

16 years ago

...and boy am I glad everything was in one piece. We got home late Friday night and as we walked up the path to the back door it look like Hansel and Gretel had left a paper trail. Little chewed up pieces of newspaper everywhere. And cardboard. Great...the dog is dragging home trash. Then we got to the porch. Uh-oh. A big box on the doorstep. Big hole in the box. Our mail is delivered a half mile down the road and normally they'd leave a pick-up notice, but someone must've been there at mail time who thought they'd be a good neighbor and placed it right next to the dog's bed.

It was a package from Jo (though it didn't register at first...I thought the 'co' in jojoco meant Colorado...I don't keep up very well, lol). We carried it in. I could see bubble wrap...nothing leaking...whew!

A very nice selection that you fortunately packed very well. Thank you Jo! (I think the dog was after your, ahem, recyclable packing material.)

First is a bottle of port. I have to say I have never tried port, though I am liking red wine more these days. I think we'll save it for the first snow. Jo says to pair with dark chocolate...fine by me.

The plates are greener than in the picture, and gorgeous. And wouldn't they be perfect for the chocolate pear that's on one of Ann's food porn cards.

The caroler...she's very adorable. A Byers Choice, which I have never heard of. So I googled them and gee....they sell them in Spokane. I may have to make a field trip to the north end and check them out. She will have a special place at Christmas, Jo.

Thanks again...you done good.

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Comments (30)

diana55
16 years ago
Very nice!!! I love the Caroler. She is so cute. My DH just loves Port wine. I have never tried it myself, but he likes it with Cheese. You put together a nice package Jo. Enjoy!!! Diana55
annie1992
16 years ago
Katie, I canned some pears in port wine for Mom and she loved them, although I think dark chocolate is a MUCH better choice, LOL

Those plates are really nice and the caroler is cute and unique. I've never heard of Byer's Choice either, I'm off to google.

Great package, Jo, good enough that even the dog wanted a piece of it!

Annie
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Carol Schmertzler Siegel
16 years ago
Great package, Jo! Katie, the chocolate with Port gets my vote, too, although my neighbor always opted for a cigar with his. I'd go with the chocolate :) I love the plates and the Caroler is cute! Enjoy your gifts!
lackboys3
16 years ago
Lovely swap box Jo! Katie, you can do a lot with port wine, I second Annie's suggestion to have it with a nice crisp pear. I think you can poach the pears in port, then drizzle with dark chocolate. It will probably look a lot like Ann's card! The plates are wonderful, and a great replacement for anyone who hasn't seen the real autumn leaves change yet:-) Enjoy the caroler, she's quite sweet!
DONNA
riverrat1
16 years ago
What a lovely package. Great job jo!

I just poached pears in a mixture of Cabernet and port...omgoodness, they were good. Add some cracked green cardamon pods (in cheesecloth), vanilla, lemon and sugar. Once the pears are soft reduce the poaching liquid down to a syrup. This is on my last meal list ;-)

The plates are great for all kinds of things. I'd use them as bread and butter plates too!

Enjoy your package Katie. It's a good one for sure.
msafirstein
16 years ago
I love leaf dishes and do my entire table with leaves when I can! And your leaf plates are a good size with many uses.

The caroler is too adorable! I keep a little bit of Christmas displayed year round and she would be center on 1 of my shelves.

Good job Jo!! Katie enjoy your goodies.

Michelle
chancesmom
16 years ago
I sure hope you enjoy the Port, Katie, I love it after a nice meal with cheeses and fruit.....but now will have to try with dark chocolate! The plates look perfect for this time of year, bet you can get lots of use out of them.

Lovely package, Jo!
kathleen_li
16 years ago
I LOVE the leaf plates, so pretty. The Byers figure is grand, very collectible, my friend has a collection, treasure it!!!
GREAT JOB, JO, LUCKY KATIE!
artsyshell
16 years ago
That caroler is so cute! Love the dishes and everything else. Nice swap! Was the pancake mix included in the swap too?

Shelley
mustangs81
16 years ago
How very nice! That was my question too Shelley, i.e. pancake mix.

You all amaze me with your packaging abilities, I'm a packaging wimp. I always have a thought to packaging with I make my selections.
ziporion
16 years ago
Michelle, those leaf cookies you made would go great on those lovely leaf plates.
I love that port!

Nice package!

Catherine
jojoco
16 years ago
Katie,
I am so glad everything arrived basically intact. To answer the pancake question, I used the two pancake packages as "packing material", to keep everything from sliding. I called it recycleable materials. I am learning from the pros how to cheat ;)
This was my first swap and I realize I didn't do it exactly right, by including something (the caroller) that has absolutely nothing to do with cooking. But it is a favorite...
I am so glad you enjoyed it all.

Jo
Bizzo
16 years ago
Jo-
AWESOME for your first swap! Way to go.

That port looks yummy... and you all are making me hungry with port and poached pears, and chocolate pears, and chocolate... isn't it amazing what a beautiful dish does to a foodie!

Great favorites!! (And packing material LOL!!!)

Elizabeth
earthlydelights
16 years ago
excellent package!!!

i just love port - it is a wonderful dessert wine and yes indeed, a great dark chocolate accompaniment, or then again, sipped on its own.

those plates would be perfect for my thanksgiving table as dessert plates. i would need to get about 20 of them.

byer carolers are made in chalfont, pa - about 20 miles from me. the last weekend in september is when they normally hold their open house and it's a really wonderful experience/event.

way to go jo - katie, enjoy everything!

maryanne
BeverlyAL
16 years ago
Great package! I especially love those leaf dishes.

Beverly
alison
16 years ago
Jo -- what a lovely package! I love those plates, and the caroller is very sweet. I love the ...ahem...recyclable material.

I'm just learning about port, Katie -- enjoy!
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Cute leaves...I lika very much..

Neat packaging materials too.
msafirstein
16 years ago
the caroller

The caroler can be used in a tablescape, same as placemats or napkins or.......

I have to say that because of this swap box I was looking at some Thanksgiving Indian figurines today. One I particularly liked but there was no mate for her. And now I wished I had bought it.

Michelle
Marigene
16 years ago
Katie, love the leaf plates, and oh, that caroler is so cute. Port?, hmm, never tried it...nice package, Jo.
doucanoe
16 years ago
I don't think I have ever had port, either, but I love red wines, so I am sure I'd like it. Those plates are really wonderful! That caroller is just too darn cute! Great first swap, Jo! Ya done good!

Enjoy, Katie!

Linda
KatieC
Original Author
16 years ago
OK, I was trying to be vague about the packing materials (buttermilk and buckwheat). I am a good recycler, I will do my duty.

Jo, I'm glad you 'didn't do it exactly right'. She's very cute...I may have to find her a friend. Or two.
arabellamiller
16 years ago
Very,very nice is right!

What a great job you did Jo. Those plates are gorgeous. And nice job with the "packing material"

AM
granjan
16 years ago
Delightful package. Love the leaf plates.
ann_t
16 years ago
Very nice. I especially love the Port. Enjoy Katie.

Ann

PS. Just a reminder though that "Packing Material" other than paper, bubble wrap (etc.) is cheating.
craftyrn
16 years ago
I just love those plates ! And the Caroler is so cute .

And Katie-- port makes a divine, decadent jelly.

Jo , your "packing material" is a big favorite of mine, esp their Buckwheat -- yeah ya cheated but good job anyway.

Diane
homesforsale
16 years ago
I must say I favor carolers too..I have a few and look forward to taking them out every year!

Love the leaves too:)
sigh
16 years ago
must...find...those...leaf...plates. LOVE them!
Also port is fabulous for soaking dried cherries or cranberries in. I use port soaked cranberries as part of my Thanksgiving Harvest Salad and they are divine. The salad also calls for stilton, another great port pairing. Trust me, you'll love it.
Great box!

Nina
jessyf
16 years ago
Oh so there are TWO cheater bags of mix? A second look at the picture - yup, one is hiding behind the caroler!

I have tasted that port. Its very very good! Nice idea for cranberries, Nina, can you post the recipe on Discussions?

Those plates are beautiful!
lsr2002
16 years ago
Warres Port is great with either dark choclate or Stilton. I grew up having little sips of port with cheese on Saturday nights with my parents. It wasn't until I was married and buying it on my own that I first had it with chocolate - total yum.

I love your "packing material" too. It's lucky the dog didn't help more with unpacking.

Lee
sigh
16 years ago
I can't believe that I missed the "packing material"! How clever, how crafty! And oh boy, Lee's right. It's a good thing the dog got discouraged by all of the other packing material.

Jessy, the salad is always a hit. I'll post the recipe in discussions now.

Nina

Very, very nice...

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