As you probably know, periodically I like to take part in an online swap. Usually these swaps have to do with knitting in some way, but often there is a secondary focus. This spring’s swap is tea-themed.

Kelle sent me a box. A big box. An exciting box. It arrived as I was on my way out the door for work, so I had all day to think about what might be included in such a box. Anticipation is a good emotion. I’m really good at anticipation.

What could be contained in the depths of such styrofoam peanuts? Hints of blue and green peeked through to offer teasers.

I unpacked. A blue gift bag emerged tied with a stripey ribbon. Green tissue paper filled that. And underneath it all was this bounty:

Isn’t that an awesome package?

And the best part? It’s themed. Kelle incorporated many things from her home state of Michigan to give me a truly unique present.

There are two skeins of Michigan yarn. One is a wool-nylon blend that I suspect will wear like iron and show great stitch definition and that matches the sky. The other is a squishy merino-cashmere-nylon blend in a blue-green colorway called River’s Edge. And there’s a cabled sock pattern from a Michigan designer.

Kelle included three teas. One comes in a travel tin so I don’t ever have to be further from a cuppa than a pot of boiling water. One is a summer Darjeeling blend in a cool canister. I’m looking to kicking off the summer season by brewing some up this weekend. The last one is from a famed Michigan foodie and is my favorite blend of tea — Keemun. Plus there are cookies and chocolate bars. Yum!

Kelle didn’t stop there. She made sure my garden wasn’t forgotten by including gardening gloves and nasturtium seeds and added a little metallic-encased notepad, which will live in my knitting bag. And this great and true card:

Thank you, Kelle! This is fantastic and has really made the receiving end of the Spring Fling Tea Swap a ton of fun! I hope you enjoy your end of the swap, too.