I love going to the swap day. I am definitely addicted! It is so fun seeing the people that I am getting to know and now call my friends. I am really getting a kick out seeing the kids and interacting with them. I am also having fun meeting new people and families that are learning about the swap and coming out to join in.
Swap – September 2013
This past weekend was a busy one for me with Garden Club booth on Saturday and the swap on Sunday. I almost did not make it to the swap. I overdid it with all the activity on Saturday and really should have taken the day off completely on Sunday…. but I didn’t. Yes, I am paying for it now and will need to rest and recuperate a few days. Dang that is hard to sit, rest and recuperate. But it is always so much fun to go to the swap and I enjoy the whole process of bartering and swapping.
Once again, I came home with a stash of wonderful things!!!
So, what did I come home with this month:
- Grapefruit curd
- 2 dozen eggs
- fresh bay leaves
- Banana bread
- Garlic, onion, lemon balm biscuits
- Cweet potato cookies (in the freezer for my husband)
- Choc chip cookies (in the freezer for my husband)
- Cranberry cobbler candle
- Jalapeno jam
- Bran muffins
- Homemade peanut butter
- Homemade vapor rub (a little thin, I will try to thicken it with some beeswax)
- Pecans, Pecans, Pecans!
- Maple syrup
- Soy candle – gardenia
- Venison sausage (hard sausage for cheese and crackers)
- 3 bottles of flavored Kombucha
- Fresh mint and thyme
- A fantastic walking stick
- Hummingbird feeder
- Salsa
- Potato Vine plant
- Kalanchoe gastonis-bonnieri – Donkey ears.
- MRE
I feel like a broken record with the things that I take:
- Soap (quantities very depleted, need to keep making soap!) Lavender is still the most popular. I took 2 bars of Cinnamon Toast and those were traded very early. It is that time of year, so I will be making more Cinnamon Toast soap now!
- Ginger Beer (took 8 jugs, came home with 0)
- Mustard (took 10 half-pints, came home with 0)
- Granola Bars (took 6 baggies, came home with 1)
- Fabric Napkins (gone!)
I didn’t bring enough ginger beer and boy, did I hear about it, but I laugh because I know it is alright. There were people trying to figure out who had traded me for ginger beer and trying to convince them to trade it to them… hahaha
One family has created a new recipe using the mustard I make using roasted brussel sprouts. I was hungry just listening to her describe it. Her husband couldn’t get a word in edge wise, so he just kept nodding his head up and down. What fun! Another family now has “his” and “hers” mustard jars. They each have their own jar so they can’t blame the other one for eating it all.
I always have a great time swapping with the kids. They really want to be part of the activities and take time to make special things to bring to trade with. I came home with a paracord bracelet (another one), a nice little candle and some cute little muffins. I love each swap with them. There were a few new kids there this time. I traded with one of them for a tie-die shirt.
I need to plan ahead so that I have more room in our refrigerator so I can make more ginger beer to take to the next swap and I better start writing down the names of everyone requesting, so that I don’t forget who wants it!
Would you go to a swap if you had one in your area?
Sincerely, Emily
Sincerely, Emily 
Yes, definitely if there was one right here in my town and I would like it to be a variety like the one you attend! Do you share your mustard recipe? Nancy
Hi Nancy – Mustard! Yes! I sure hope no one from the swap is reading this. They will see how easy it is to make and won’t want to barter for it anymore! ha. The original recipe came from a blogging friend and I link to it in my post. Here is the link to my post. https://emilysincerely.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/making-mustard/
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What an amazing idea! I think your swaps sound wonderful Emily! My husband would go mad for your ginger beer! x
Alison, thanks for stopping by. I really enjoy the swap each month. Is there anything like that happening in your area? If you know of any, I would love to add a link to my post over at Not Dabbling in Normal – sharing about swaps in other areas.
Ginger beer is wonderful, isn’t it?!