Just started a new postal ring, the Fairy Ring. All you have to do to participate is create a sprite or fairy stamp carving to add. With all the problems that tend to plague these rings, I'm hoping all 20 of my participants will be responsible mailers! :-)
Hey, is it just me, or is anyone ELSE noticing that people keep posting comments to my blog that are totally other there??? I'm noticing people who have NO interest whatsoever in letterboxing are posting stuff that makes no sense in the comments sections like some sort of low budget ad campaign. This one guy told me he found my blog very "inmformative" (???) and posted something about a trading company blog, while someone else had something about Halloween costumes a while ago. Who ARE these people????
Seriously, folks, if you're reading this, feel free to post about letterboxing. Feel free to post about stamping. Feel free to post about ink, carving tools, gatherings or to say hi, I love/hate your site! You can even post to let everyone know about your personal letterboxing/stamping/inking/hiking/related to boxing blog. But DO NOT post stuff here that has NOTHING to do with what I'M posting here...to steal a snooty turn of phrase, it cheapens us both!
Oh, yeah, so BOXING! :-) The Highlander and I are also heading to Desperately Seeking Sun in Syracuse in February, so we haven't entirely hibernated after all. I'm looking forward to boxing indoors, so I might start planting a mall series, if I can get away with it. Might have to be min-boxes, but it's a thought...
Okay, mostly babbling now, but thought I hadn't babbled in a while, so...yeah! Hey, seriously, if you have a boxing blog, post here so I can make mention of you here. I know for sure of a few blogs, but I have forgotten their web addys, so Celtic Quinn and Dixiekin...remind me again!
The (not as bitter as she sounds) Sprite & the (still thinks computers are from the devil) Highlander
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Boxing clues now posted under July 2005
Oh, yeah! I finally started posting our clues to this blog (which will eventually become our new clue posting site once it's complete). Our first real blog was in August 2005, so right now, anything listed in our archives before then will be our clues list. The first ones are under January 2004 and they continue from there (btw, these are more updated than the ones on our original clues site). Any questions or mistakes, let us know!
The (industrious) Sprite & the (still thinks computers and phones are of the devil) Highlander
The (industrious) Sprite & the (still thinks computers and phones are of the devil) Highlander
Boxing Updates & T-shirt shout-out
Okay, so we officially didn't come up with a night boxing event for this year...but maybe next Halloween! Sorry, folks!
Still, we (okay, I...the Highlander was up duck hunting at 3am!) had a good day boxing today. Tirolbill, the IAP and I picked up the rest of the boxes in North Tonawanda and a bunch of the Kenmore kids' Plumber's Tools series. We also dropped off everyone's gifts to Team Dakota and hooked up with a new boxing group at Cup of Joe, We Who Must Not Be Named! Hopefully we'll get them to show up at a gathering next year!
We still have t-shirts here for those of you that paid for them (or had them paid for) and haven't pick them up yet. If you want us to mail them to you, you can just Paypal us $3.85 and we'll send them out to you in a flat rate envelope. Here's the ones we still have with the sizes we had listed for you...contact us soon if you haven't already done so:
Crafymouse & Dandelion--M & XL
Dusty Strings--M
Dagonell--XL
Norasta & Guitarzan--L & XL
WINK & Tarheel--L & XL
Tirolbill--L
Songchick--M, L & 2XL
Jiggs--S & 2XL
Ninja Rob--XL
Lockwench--L & L
Joystar--L
IAP--2XL
By the way, it turns out the cost for the flat rate envelopes was only $3.85, not $3.95. If you paid the higher price, we owe you a dime! We can Paypal that or mail you the difference. Let us know!
The Sprite & the Highlander
Still, we (okay, I...the Highlander was up duck hunting at 3am!) had a good day boxing today. Tirolbill, the IAP and I picked up the rest of the boxes in North Tonawanda and a bunch of the Kenmore kids' Plumber's Tools series. We also dropped off everyone's gifts to Team Dakota and hooked up with a new boxing group at Cup of Joe, We Who Must Not Be Named! Hopefully we'll get them to show up at a gathering next year!
We still have t-shirts here for those of you that paid for them (or had them paid for) and haven't pick them up yet. If you want us to mail them to you, you can just Paypal us $3.85 and we'll send them out to you in a flat rate envelope. Here's the ones we still have with the sizes we had listed for you...contact us soon if you haven't already done so:
Crafymouse & Dandelion--M & XL
Dusty Strings--M
Dagonell--XL
Norasta & Guitarzan--L & XL
WINK & Tarheel--L & XL
Tirolbill--L
Songchick--M, L & 2XL
Jiggs--S & 2XL
Ninja Rob--XL
Lockwench--L & L
Joystar--L
IAP--2XL
By the way, it turns out the cost for the flat rate envelopes was only $3.85, not $3.95. If you paid the higher price, we owe you a dime! We can Paypal that or mail you the difference. Let us know!
The Sprite & the Highlander
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Random Stuff
So I FINALLY found the chat room for Atlas Quest! You have to download the toolbar first, but once you do, there;s a little unlabeled button next to the "Links" button that takes you to a chat room. Who knew??? While I was there, Scarab told me there's a new Yahoo group for keeping track of your travelling event stamps. The addresss is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LBNA_EventBoxes/ I just added The Four Seasons to the database there and there's already a few listed, so it promises to be a good deal.
Team Dakota HAS returned after all! They're back and it looks like they plan to stay, but boxing is the last thing on their minds right now. Things went a little south down south, so I think they're just going to regroup and start over. Of course, nosy me is already planning to fix that deal VERY soon...people without boxing equipment count as refugees in need of FEMA assistance, as far as I'm concerned (more on that later).
Anyway, my sniffles from the cold wind on Saturday have turned into a full blown cold, darn it! It's like I'm being punished for having fun boxing. Thus, the shirts that need mailing have been sitting on the counter at our house waiting for an evening where I'm NOT under the influence of Sudafed or Actifed to go to the PO. I promise to get this done this week, seriously. On that note, though, if anyone else is interested in a shirt, now's the time to tell me. I have a few folks straggling in, but not enough to make a second order for $11 each yet (and without enough to make a order, shirts are $25 each). Holler if you want one!
Okay, head pounding...typing bad now...I'm off to snuggle into some Highlander for the night!
The (too sick to be creative with the parentheses) Sprite & the (making her get off the computer) Highlander
Team Dakota HAS returned after all! They're back and it looks like they plan to stay, but boxing is the last thing on their minds right now. Things went a little south down south, so I think they're just going to regroup and start over. Of course, nosy me is already planning to fix that deal VERY soon...people without boxing equipment count as refugees in need of FEMA assistance, as far as I'm concerned (more on that later).
Anyway, my sniffles from the cold wind on Saturday have turned into a full blown cold, darn it! It's like I'm being punished for having fun boxing. Thus, the shirts that need mailing have been sitting on the counter at our house waiting for an evening where I'm NOT under the influence of Sudafed or Actifed to go to the PO. I promise to get this done this week, seriously. On that note, though, if anyone else is interested in a shirt, now's the time to tell me. I have a few folks straggling in, but not enough to make a second order for $11 each yet (and without enough to make a order, shirts are $25 each). Holler if you want one!
Okay, head pounding...typing bad now...I'm off to snuggle into some Highlander for the night!
The (too sick to be creative with the parentheses) Sprite & the (making her get off the computer) Highlander
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Boxing Ro-Cho-Cho
Finally, a day of boxing with just the Highlander and I! I get so caught up asking others to box with us that I had forgotten what it was like to just be out together doing what we love...walking and talking in the autumn splendor while searching for boxes. The Highlander's neck problems have abated considerably, so he finally got to enjoy a day of hiking, too.
Rochester is really a nice place (regardless of what the Buffalo snobs may say!). We LOVED the Urban Letterboxer's Eastman School of Music series, one of which was another book hidden like our Letterbook box. Unfortunately, out of the 8 boxes we tried, 3 were missing/couldn't be found, and one just got too dark (thank goodness for the Highlander in dark scary places at night! Still, it was a terrific day...not too hot, not too cold, not too long or short a walk, everything just right! I swear, we're not boxing with ANYone else for at least a month, just so we can hang out with each other all over again! I think we'll also start boxing earlier in the day...I love sleeping in, but on a boxing day, it just seems a shame to sleep away those extra hours.
Now, if I could just get my PLB going, my boxing life would be easy! :-P
The (back in the saddle again) Sprite & the (loving the ride, but glad to be back to the bunkhouse) Highlander
Rochester is really a nice place (regardless of what the Buffalo snobs may say!). We LOVED the Urban Letterboxer's Eastman School of Music series, one of which was another book hidden like our Letterbook box. Unfortunately, out of the 8 boxes we tried, 3 were missing/couldn't be found, and one just got too dark (thank goodness for the Highlander in dark scary places at night! Still, it was a terrific day...not too hot, not too cold, not too long or short a walk, everything just right! I swear, we're not boxing with ANYone else for at least a month, just so we can hang out with each other all over again! I think we'll also start boxing earlier in the day...I love sleeping in, but on a boxing day, it just seems a shame to sleep away those extra hours.
Now, if I could just get my PLB going, my boxing life would be easy! :-P
The (back in the saddle again) Sprite & the (loving the ride, but glad to be back to the bunkhouse) Highlander
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Snurgerblatt!
Okay, before anyone gets their feelings hurt...yes...YES, we had a mini-meet (turns her head in shame)! I feel like I cheated on someone! :-)
Actually, it wasn't even all that. Basically, the t-shirts are here so a few folks stopped by to pick theirs up. The Elba Onions and the G Team grabbed theirs early on, but the Quinn kids brought a few friends later in the day that hadn't stamped into the HH hostel with the new stamp (and I hadn't the heart to keep another woman's children in the cold with no place to sit). Plus, there were new HH's that I hadn't stamped into yet and I needed to get my book in order after the trip to Florida...
So, they came and talked and stamped in and talked and passed around PLBs they had with us and talked some MORE and the next thing we knew, 3 hours had passed and we'd just had an impromptu mini-meet. I grabbed some leftover Speedy Cut in the shape of a kinda weird looking Rhode Island and we all put a little carved something onto it and voila!...event stamp. Sweet Heart came up with the name as we were all trying to craft something clever ("Just call it something made up like snurgerblatt or something!") and we couldn't stop laughing about how silly the word sounded (and how to correctly spell it!), so that made it official.
All in all, not a bad way to break up a cold rainy weekend. I would never have planned it ('cause that takes work and effort and cleaning and FOOD), but as a spur of the moment thing, I'm all for it! :-)
The (playing like she's 17) Sprite & the (just glad to be back to the land of the living again) Highlander
Actually, it wasn't even all that. Basically, the t-shirts are here so a few folks stopped by to pick theirs up. The Elba Onions and the G Team grabbed theirs early on, but the Quinn kids brought a few friends later in the day that hadn't stamped into the HH hostel with the new stamp (and I hadn't the heart to keep another woman's children in the cold with no place to sit). Plus, there were new HH's that I hadn't stamped into yet and I needed to get my book in order after the trip to Florida...
So, they came and talked and stamped in and talked and passed around PLBs they had with us and talked some MORE and the next thing we knew, 3 hours had passed and we'd just had an impromptu mini-meet. I grabbed some leftover Speedy Cut in the shape of a kinda weird looking Rhode Island and we all put a little carved something onto it and voila!...event stamp. Sweet Heart came up with the name as we were all trying to craft something clever ("Just call it something made up like snurgerblatt or something!") and we couldn't stop laughing about how silly the word sounded (and how to correctly spell it!), so that made it official.
All in all, not a bad way to break up a cold rainy weekend. I would never have planned it ('cause that takes work and effort and cleaning and FOOD), but as a spur of the moment thing, I'm all for it! :-)
The (playing like she's 17) Sprite & the (just glad to be back to the land of the living again) Highlander
Thursday, October 06, 2005
T-shirts and updates...at long last!
Well, it's finally happened. After a month of herniated discs, hospital visits and cortisone shots, the Highlander was finally able to struggle into work this week and see about the shirts. They shouldbe ready by tomorrow for us and we'll start mailing out the ones to those of you who paid for it this weekend. I'm pretty sure we AREN'T going to be doing any more travel or gatherings this year, so anyone that wants to come to the hitchhiker hostel is welcome to grab your shirt when you come. I just want to take care of the hubby for awhile and enjoy the recent peace that's come from finally getting him some pain relief.
Hope the world of boxing is still spinning without us! We did get to take a trip to visit my grannies in Florida and took one letterboxing to pick up A Leaf and Wanderings (both planted by Kirbert). We even planted three new boxes in the area which Kirbert has graciously offered to adopt for us! I also took a trip alone to the the LBMA Gathering at Knoebels with my friend and her family, but the Highlander and I shall never gather separately (???) again if I can help it...after all, it's a two person stamp!
I hear Team Dakota snuck back into town under cover of night and might be staying. If anyone knows where they are, let us know...we have a PLB for them!
The S & H
Hope the world of boxing is still spinning without us! We did get to take a trip to visit my grannies in Florida and took one letterboxing to pick up A Leaf and Wanderings (both planted by Kirbert). We even planted three new boxes in the area which Kirbert has graciously offered to adopt for us! I also took a trip alone to the the LBMA Gathering at Knoebels with my friend and her family, but the Highlander and I shall never gather separately (???) again if I can help it...after all, it's a two person stamp!
I hear Team Dakota snuck back into town under cover of night and might be staying. If anyone knows where they are, let us know...we have a PLB for them!
The S & H
Monday, September 05, 2005
Short Boxing Trip and...well, BOXES!!!
Just got back from Pennsylvania tonight after visiting our friends the Millers for the Labor Day weekend. We hadn't intended to turn it into a boxing weekend/recruitment trip, but after two pf Lightnin' Bug's boxes (Trexler's Tatanka and The Caboose of the Ironton Rail series), we've got a family of new boxers and 3 more participants for the Knoebel's Gathering at the end of September! Oh, what a demanding mistress letterboxing is, constantly demanding new sacrifices and fresh blood....! :-)
Oh, and as if to prove that the boxing gods are smiling down on us, we went into the Tops Market in Medina right before we left and found they had brought back the display of Lock and Lock boxes we all love to use! I bought a bunch on the spot and almost left the milk and stuff I CAME for behind!
School starts tomorrow, so the last major boxing events we have for this year (at least as far as I KNOW) are all coming up in the next few months. The Knoebel's Event is at the end of September in PA, the "Lake Eerie" Gathering in Ohio is in October as well as the Pink Flamingo Caper in CT and HOPEFULLY a night boxing event. We even plan to visit my grannies in Florida to box with them for a weekend. After that, though, I think the Highlander and I are due for a social calendar rest! We'll check back with everyone soon!
The Sprite & the Highlander
Oh, and as if to prove that the boxing gods are smiling down on us, we went into the Tops Market in Medina right before we left and found they had brought back the display of Lock and Lock boxes we all love to use! I bought a bunch on the spot and almost left the milk and stuff I CAME for behind!
School starts tomorrow, so the last major boxing events we have for this year (at least as far as I KNOW) are all coming up in the next few months. The Knoebel's Event is at the end of September in PA, the "Lake Eerie" Gathering in Ohio is in October as well as the Pink Flamingo Caper in CT and HOPEFULLY a night boxing event. We even plan to visit my grannies in Florida to box with them for a weekend. After that, though, I think the Highlander and I are due for a social calendar rest! We'll check back with everyone soon!
The Sprite & the Highlander
Sunday, August 28, 2005
2005 WNY Gathering Wrap Up
And another good time was had by all! Thanks to everyone that came for making this a wonderful weekend of boxing! The Highlander and I had a ball Saturday and it seemed like everyone left happy with the amount of boxing and socializing available, which is all we ask for! We even had a great time Sunday with Jiggs (sorry we lost you after lunch, man!), Craftmouse and Dandelion. I just posted Mama Rose's pics to the AQ site and the photo folder at the Yahoo group (plus I'll add them to our wrap-up page on our website), but if anyone else has pics to share, please post them as well!
Thanks to all who donated boxes, food, raffle items and, of course, money...we actually broke even for a change on the supplies and pavillion! :-) And SUPER special thanks to my planting partners, without whom we could not have done this...the IAP, Celtic Quinn, Silver Dragon Quinn, Mama Rose, Judomon, Little Tiger and Dances With Music (hope we're not forgetting anyone!).
The majority of these boxes are out here forever, but ALL of them are here for the next month, so feel free to return to the area and box again. Keep in mind (now that you won't have a herd of folks behind you as you box waiting to stamp in!) to take the time to rehide all the boxes as well, if not better than you find them so we've have a series that people can enjoy for years to come.
Finally, we'll be sending the t-shirt money to the makers this week and will contact all of you via AQ and this group when they finally arrive. If you can still get money to us this week, we can still get you a shirt, but e-mail us ahead of time so you'll know if we've placed the order yet.
Well, that's it for now! We're gonna find a spot to night box in October, but until then, how about a camping weekend in Allegeny NEXT August? We'll check it out and hope to see you there for the 4th Annual WNY Gathering!
The (happy, but exhausted) Sprite & the (exhausted, but happy) Highlander
Thanks to all who donated boxes, food, raffle items and, of course, money...we actually broke even for a change on the supplies and pavillion! :-) And SUPER special thanks to my planting partners, without whom we could not have done this...the IAP, Celtic Quinn, Silver Dragon Quinn, Mama Rose, Judomon, Little Tiger and Dances With Music (hope we're not forgetting anyone!).
The majority of these boxes are out here forever, but ALL of them are here for the next month, so feel free to return to the area and box again. Keep in mind (now that you won't have a herd of folks behind you as you box waiting to stamp in!) to take the time to rehide all the boxes as well, if not better than you find them so we've have a series that people can enjoy for years to come.
Finally, we'll be sending the t-shirt money to the makers this week and will contact all of you via AQ and this group when they finally arrive. If you can still get money to us this week, we can still get you a shirt, but e-mail us ahead of time so you'll know if we've placed the order yet.
Well, that's it for now! We're gonna find a spot to night box in October, but until then, how about a camping weekend in Allegeny NEXT August? We'll check it out and hope to see you there for the 4th Annual WNY Gathering!
The (happy, but exhausted) Sprite & the (exhausted, but happy) Highlander
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Atlas Quest Ceremonial Candle Affirmation
(looks up briefly from lighting incense at her Atlas Quest shrine and dusts off her ceremonial AQ acolyte robes) Yeah, some people get really into Atlas Quest, but not me. I just...hang on a second (turns to yell at the Highlander) I said FIVE ceremonial AQ candles to be lit by NOON, not FOUR! Are you TRYING to anger the boxing gods???
Well, after this post on the Premium Boards at Atlas Quest, it was apparent that we needed to put our candles where our mouths were! So, after getting candles and our Springchick from AQ headquarters, we did Ryan one stupider and draped ourselves in the ceremonial robes to proceed with our Affirmation Ceremony.
We lit the appropriate number of candles (5), knelt at the AQ shrine (okay, sat at the picnic table with it) and spoke aloud the affirmation, thereby invoking the true spirit of letterboxing. We also read from the Book of Speedball, verses 2004-2005 and sacrificed a huge horsefly that landed on Moonlightgamer's back while we were stamping. At the end, most of us signed into the event book with the official AQ pencils, too. There was even a little bloodshed as both Celtic Quinn and Moonlightgamer were both stung by yellowjackets trying to get the "What A Boy Wants" LB out of the tree (which they successfully did, I might add!)...oh, and when I reached into my backpa...er, ceremonial bag of holding for the pencils and stabbed myself with 5 of them. I think we must have done it wrong, though, since we STILL don't have a clue! (we did kinda wait until AFTER noon to light the candles...darn it!) :-)
Even though this was a sacred gathering, it WAS an official event with its own event stamp and flash photography was allowed. Celtic Quinn should be posting the pics from this once they get home from boxing and upload them to the photo album on AQ and LBNY. We posted the Book of Speedball as well for folks to laugh at (in reverance, of course!). All in all, a hilarious day at Rotary Park, but a very weird one for the folks that lived nearby and saw us in our ceremonial robes and hats (which were NOT just sheets from the closet, the hat from an old Halloween costume and a pillow on my head, no matter WHAT the investigating officer says!).
The (sitll peeling wax off the green satin sheets) Sprite and the (reluctant to put away the ceremonial purple pimp hat from last Halloween) Highlander
Well, after this post on the Premium Boards at Atlas Quest, it was apparent that we needed to put our candles where our mouths were! So, after getting candles and our Springchick from AQ headquarters, we did Ryan one stupider and draped ourselves in the ceremonial robes to proceed with our Affirmation Ceremony.
We lit the appropriate number of candles (5), knelt at the AQ shrine (okay, sat at the picnic table with it) and spoke aloud the affirmation, thereby invoking the true spirit of letterboxing. We also read from the Book of Speedball, verses 2004-2005 and sacrificed a huge horsefly that landed on Moonlightgamer's back while we were stamping. At the end, most of us signed into the event book with the official AQ pencils, too. There was even a little bloodshed as both Celtic Quinn and Moonlightgamer were both stung by yellowjackets trying to get the "What A Boy Wants" LB out of the tree (which they successfully did, I might add!)...oh, and when I reached into my backpa...er, ceremonial bag of holding for the pencils and stabbed myself with 5 of them. I think we must have done it wrong, though, since we STILL don't have a clue! (we did kinda wait until AFTER noon to light the candles...darn it!) :-)
Even though this was a sacred gathering, it WAS an official event with its own event stamp and flash photography was allowed. Celtic Quinn should be posting the pics from this once they get home from boxing and upload them to the photo album on AQ and LBNY. We posted the Book of Speedball as well for folks to laugh at (in reverance, of course!). All in all, a hilarious day at Rotary Park, but a very weird one for the folks that lived nearby and saw us in our ceremonial robes and hats (which were NOT just sheets from the closet, the hat from an old Halloween costume and a pillow on my head, no matter WHAT the investigating officer says!).
The (sitll peeling wax off the green satin sheets) Sprite and the (reluctant to put away the ceremonial purple pimp hat from last Halloween) Highlander
LBCNY & LBWNY merge into LBNY!
Well, after asking whether or not folks wanted to change our Letterboxing Western New York shirt to say Letterboxing New York, the two New York State Yahoo groups have merged into one (and the shirt is changed, too!). The new site is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LbNY/ and we definitely encourage everyone to join. The LBWNY group will be closing down after the gathering to promote unity within the state. The t-shirt has already been changed to say LBNY, too, so all is well in NYS boxing!
In other changes, this has become our official site from now on. Having a place to post all these updates without having to update a webpage is a much nicer prospect, so expect more info to be posted on a more regular basis.
On that note, Trogdor (one of our boxes inspired by the Millenium is now selling Trogdor t-shirts and happens to also be right near where the box is currently located...fate works in mysterious ways!
Gathering proceedings continue! Currently, the Quinn clan and friends are joining us for a little irrevent fun at the expense of Atlas Quest...check out the link for the Atlas Quest Cermonial Candle Affirmation. The shrine has been made, the PZCut has been fattened, the ink has been huffed on and I'm still looking for decent robes to wear...they just don't make graduation gowns as sturdy as they used to!
Anyway, that's all that's new with us this week...check back in a few days for last minute updates. I'm going to attempt to get my sleep patterns back in order before school starts up again (good luck with THAT, seeing how it's already 2:17am and the Highlander has been out cold since10:30!)
The S & H
In other changes, this has become our official site from now on. Having a place to post all these updates without having to update a webpage is a much nicer prospect, so expect more info to be posted on a more regular basis.
On that note, Trogdor (one of our boxes inspired by the Millenium is now selling Trogdor t-shirts and happens to also be right near where the box is currently located...fate works in mysterious ways!
Gathering proceedings continue! Currently, the Quinn clan and friends are joining us for a little irrevent fun at the expense of Atlas Quest...check out the link for the Atlas Quest Cermonial Candle Affirmation. The shrine has been made, the PZCut has been fattened, the ink has been huffed on and I'm still looking for decent robes to wear...they just don't make graduation gowns as sturdy as they used to!
Anyway, that's all that's new with us this week...check back in a few days for last minute updates. I'm going to attempt to get my sleep patterns back in order before school starts up again (good luck with THAT, seeing how it's already 2:17am and the Highlander has been out cold since10:30!)
The S & H
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Ceremonial AQ Robes and Gathering Update
Well, after SERIOUS hiking yesterday with Silver Dragon, Celtic Quinn and our new boxing buddies, Dances With Music and Mama Rose and the Rosettes, all the boxes for the gathering have at LAST been planted (plus we found the last two Penefield parks boxes without a hitch!). We were able to get every single box (yes, EVERY box!) into Durand Eastman Park, so this promises to be a day of boxing euphoria beyond compare! In addition, most of these boxes are permanent plants, so anything you miss in the 60+ boxes should still be available for at least a month, if not longer.
We're still trying to come up with ways to work this t-shirt thing by August, too, but we don't see it happening unless we A) do iron on transfers or B) find another person willing to silk screen the shirts for us with our logo. If anyone knows someone who can silk screen shirts that we order for FREE, let us know! :-) Again, we'll still get shirts, just not as fast as we'd hoped.
Also, as part of a joke that was posted on the Premium Boards at Atlas Quest, Ryan (Green Tortuga) has, in fact, sent over the ceremonial AQ candles and Springchick! :-) We plan to send him a nice photo album of our AQ ceremony invoking the spirit of letterboxing this weekend. It's going to be campy and stupid (needless to say, the Quinn Clan is automatically involved), but we'll post the pics when we're done!
The (scrubbing her acolyte/graduation robes to a spotless...er, black) Sprite & the (sharpening the sacrificial Speedball cutter and fattening the PZCut) Highlander
We're still trying to come up with ways to work this t-shirt thing by August, too, but we don't see it happening unless we A) do iron on transfers or B) find another person willing to silk screen the shirts for us with our logo. If anyone knows someone who can silk screen shirts that we order for FREE, let us know! :-) Again, we'll still get shirts, just not as fast as we'd hoped.
Also, as part of a joke that was posted on the Premium Boards at Atlas Quest, Ryan (Green Tortuga) has, in fact, sent over the ceremonial AQ candles and Springchick! :-) We plan to send him a nice photo album of our AQ ceremony invoking the spirit of letterboxing this weekend. It's going to be campy and stupid (needless to say, the Quinn Clan is automatically involved), but we'll post the pics when we're done!
The (scrubbing her acolyte/graduation robes to a spotless...er, black) Sprite & the (sharpening the sacrificial Speedball cutter and fattening the PZCut) Highlander
Monday, August 08, 2005
Tips For Attending a Gathering
As promised, here's some info we've compiled on what to do if you're attending a gathering. Rather than post a big log here, we've stored it as a printable document here: http://www.geocities.com/dasprite222/gtips.doc Ryan also has it posted on Atlas Quest, so if you can't bring up our file, just go right to this link and print this instead: http://www.atlasquest.com/events/tips2.html
New/Old pics & Box Updates
Hey, we just added pics to the Atlas Quest event page for the November 2004 WNY gathering! Just click here to see them http://www.atlasquest.com/events/event.html?gEventId=37
I also went ahead and added all the boxes that were donated to Atlas Quest. The owners will be able to add the clues to LBNA after I post them, but since LBNA doesn't have a way to show an adoption, I decided to let them choose whether or not they want to list the boxes there.
Still time for those of you who haven't to sign up to come in August. Just click on the link to the right to go straight to the event page and sign up. It's going to be big...5 more boxes showed up this weekend that we have to add!
I also went ahead and added all the boxes that were donated to Atlas Quest. The owners will be able to add the clues to LBNA after I post them, but since LBNA doesn't have a way to show an adoption, I decided to let them choose whether or not they want to list the boxes there.
Still time for those of you who haven't to sign up to come in August. Just click on the link to the right to go straight to the event page and sign up. It's going to be big...5 more boxes showed up this weekend that we have to add!
T-Shirt Update
Good news and bad news...
The good news is you guys still have time to place an order for the LBWNY t-shirt (the one with the hiker on the front and our "If You Plant It, They Will Come" slogan cicled around the image of NYS with "LBWNY" on the back) for the $11 price (see the LBWNY Yahoo group or the event page's photo album for pics).
The bad news is only a few of the shirts will be ready for the gathering. The folks at Planet Love are swamped with orders and craft shows and our little shirt is really the last in line. They didn't realize we needed them so soon (and we were kind of leisurely taking orders and collecting money with the assumption that time is an infinite thing), so they haven't even had a chance to order the extra shirts for us yet, let alone put logos on them.
So, what WILL be available at the gathering is the chance to SEE these shirts and place an order, since they were able to crank out one or two for us to display. The rest will come after Labor Day and you can pick them up or contact us for mailing instructions. Needless to say, we would be MORE than happy to let you pick them up if you live nearby (we hadn't figured in the cost of mailing out all these individually until this moment...ouch!). If you've placed an order for a shirt already, you will HAVE to pay by August 27th to get it (except Dagonell, who gets his free). Bringing your money to the gathering is okay, but it must be given to us by day's end to get in this order. A
nyone NOT ordering and paying by August 27th has two options:1) Purchase your shirt from Planet Love at the individual shirt price without the discount at $252) Wait for us to get another order of at least 24 shirts at $11, which will take longer, but would get you a shirt cheaper
Anyway, sorry for all the promises of a t-shirt paradise! We'll still have a great shirt, but (as is the custom with reality checks) not exactly when we want it!
The good news is you guys still have time to place an order for the LBWNY t-shirt (the one with the hiker on the front and our "If You Plant It, They Will Come" slogan cicled around the image of NYS with "LBWNY" on the back) for the $11 price (see the LBWNY Yahoo group or the event page's photo album for pics).
The bad news is only a few of the shirts will be ready for the gathering. The folks at Planet Love are swamped with orders and craft shows and our little shirt is really the last in line. They didn't realize we needed them so soon (and we were kind of leisurely taking orders and collecting money with the assumption that time is an infinite thing), so they haven't even had a chance to order the extra shirts for us yet, let alone put logos on them.
So, what WILL be available at the gathering is the chance to SEE these shirts and place an order, since they were able to crank out one or two for us to display. The rest will come after Labor Day and you can pick them up or contact us for mailing instructions. Needless to say, we would be MORE than happy to let you pick them up if you live nearby (we hadn't figured in the cost of mailing out all these individually until this moment...ouch!). If you've placed an order for a shirt already, you will HAVE to pay by August 27th to get it (except Dagonell, who gets his free). Bringing your money to the gathering is okay, but it must be given to us by day's end to get in this order. A
nyone NOT ordering and paying by August 27th has two options:1) Purchase your shirt from Planet Love at the individual shirt price without the discount at $252) Wait for us to get another order of at least 24 shirts at $11, which will take longer, but would get you a shirt cheaper
Anyway, sorry for all the promises of a t-shirt paradise! We'll still have a great shirt, but (as is the custom with reality checks) not exactly when we want it!
Thursday, August 04, 2005
New Travelling Event Stamp
I know, I know, I told everyone we'd be in Canada all weekend, but after driving to and from Fear Faketor, we decided to just excommunicate ourselves from the outside world (well, the HIGHLANDER did...I just made a BLOG, f'r cryin' out loud...and I LIKE talking!)
Anyway, we have a new travelling event stamp to unveil at the gathering in August! It's called The Four Seasons and it's got one of the 4 major sports associations interlocking on 4 puzzle pieces (MLB, NFL, NHL, & NBA). It works well with the "Just Playin' Around WNY" theme, but it also works nice for events in general as an around-the-pavilion sort of set of boxes.
I also finished a Dungeons & Dragons stamp last night that turned out even better than I had hoped, so much so that I'm thinking of retrying our personal stamp once more, once I get more carving material. So now I'm in carving mode...trying to decide what ELSE I can make with my little erasers today while playing with my new colorwheel and markers...
I have NO idea how I'll survive until the 27th.... :-O
Anyway, we have a new travelling event stamp to unveil at the gathering in August! It's called The Four Seasons and it's got one of the 4 major sports associations interlocking on 4 puzzle pieces (MLB, NFL, NHL, & NBA). It works well with the "Just Playin' Around WNY" theme, but it also works nice for events in general as an around-the-pavilion sort of set of boxes.
I also finished a Dungeons & Dragons stamp last night that turned out even better than I had hoped, so much so that I'm thinking of retrying our personal stamp once more, once I get more carving material. So now I'm in carving mode...trying to decide what ELSE I can make with my little erasers today while playing with my new colorwheel and markers...
I have NO idea how I'll survive until the 27th.... :-O
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
WNY Gathering and General Summer Update
We’re P85 F405 X188 H52 V44 as of 8/3/2005, but will hit over 100 plants VERY soon! Here’s what else is new with the Winged and the Kilted One!
Our summer of gatherings continues! We attended the Fear Faketor Gathering in Standfordville, NY from July29-30 and hung out overnight with the Quinn kids (Celtic Quinn, Green Star and Silver Dragon) along with our hostesses, Talking Turtle & Kreepy Kelli! We also had a terrific time visiting with Team Dakota, and those who came to say hi to them at the Spriland Fling Mini-Meet on July 24th. The 3rd Annual WNY Gathering (which has an updated webpage as of 8/3/2005 linked to the Atlas Quest site) is coming at the end of August, so now all our energy is devoted to making this last party a success! Click the links for details and to sign up!
The LBWNY (Letterboxing Western New York) Yahoo group continues and one of its most recent tasks was to create our new slogan “If You Plant It, They Will Come”, which we’ve placed on the back of our new t-shirt, Pics of the front hiker design and the back logo/slogan are posted in the photo section of the group. The shirts will be on sale for $11 at the WNY gathering, but you can contact us to preorder a shirt so that we’ll have your size when we get there. Mark & Sue Pepe have also been cool enough to send us some of their “Just Get Out There and Box” wristbands, which will also be on sale at the gathering for $5 each. One shirt and a few wristbands will also be raffled off at the gathering.
We’re still making the Life Lessons from The Jukebox series and now have our boxes in about 10 different states. We’re going for all 50, so if you’d like to offer your adoption services, contact us and let us know! If you find it ANY of our boxes, please be sure to register your find on Atlas Quest for us. We love seeing who’s who!
That's it for now...hope to see you all at the gathering!
The S & H
Our summer of gatherings continues! We attended the Fear Faketor Gathering in Standfordville, NY from July29-30 and hung out overnight with the Quinn kids (Celtic Quinn, Green Star and Silver Dragon) along with our hostesses, Talking Turtle & Kreepy Kelli! We also had a terrific time visiting with Team Dakota, and those who came to say hi to them at the Spriland Fling Mini-Meet on July 24th. The 3rd Annual WNY Gathering (which has an updated webpage as of 8/3/2005 linked to the Atlas Quest site) is coming at the end of August, so now all our energy is devoted to making this last party a success! Click the links for details and to sign up!
The LBWNY (Letterboxing Western New York) Yahoo group continues and one of its most recent tasks was to create our new slogan “If You Plant It, They Will Come”, which we’ve placed on the back of our new t-shirt, Pics of the front hiker design and the back logo/slogan are posted in the photo section of the group. The shirts will be on sale for $11 at the WNY gathering, but you can contact us to preorder a shirt so that we’ll have your size when we get there. Mark & Sue Pepe have also been cool enough to send us some of their “Just Get Out There and Box” wristbands, which will also be on sale at the gathering for $5 each. One shirt and a few wristbands will also be raffled off at the gathering.
We’re still making the Life Lessons from The Jukebox series and now have our boxes in about 10 different states. We’re going for all 50, so if you’d like to offer your adoption services, contact us and let us know! If you find it ANY of our boxes, please be sure to register your find on Atlas Quest for us. We love seeing who’s who!
That's it for now...hope to see you all at the gathering!
The S & H
What IS Letterboxing?
Our new favorite hobby is letterboxing (which, we can do in tandem with our national park passport cancellation search). The premise is pretty simple. People all over the world leave little boxes to be found by others who use clues from various internet websites (like www.letterboxing.org or www.atlasquest.com) to locate them. You go in search of these with your own little stamp and inkpad (something you like that you can get from any craft store), a writing utensil of some sort and your own little notebook for logging where you've been.
Once you've found a box, you'll always find a note explaining what you've found, a little stamp pertaining to the box and a logbook to leave your mark in. You use the stamp and inkpad you've brought to mark your presence in the letterbox's logbook, then use THEIR stamp to mark your own notebook as proof you've been there (essentially, exchanging stamp images). You can also write little notes to say more if you'd like. (ex--"Found it! From the Sprite & the Highlander"). Once you're done, put everything back and you're all set!
Sometimes you'll find a little box or pack inside a letterbox that comes complete with its own stamp and logbook. These are called hitchhikers and they're meant to travel. When you find one, take it with you and place it in the next letterbox you find. When you get there, pretend like the hitchhiker (or HH) is another person. Both you and the HH stamp into the box’s logbook (so people will know you were both there) and stamp both your log book and the HH’s with the box’s own stamp (so everyone will know where it’s been). Alternately, you can mail them to another letterboxing friend for them to place, which really helps move a hitchhiker around! No matter what, make sure you stamp in just like you would on a normal box.
The key in all this is making sure people DON'T see you. If you attract a lot of attention to a box, vandals might bother with it for fun, and then the box is gone for the next finders (as it stands, we're told that some people think it's funny to check for these boxes just to destroy them). We actually enjoy the cloak and dagger kind of stuff...one person plays look out while the other acquires the package, sliding along walls to make sure you don't get caught, doing the dive roll as the enemy opens FIRE...well, you get the idea, here!You also want to make sure you put things back the way you found them. We’ve been to lots of boxes now and really try to do what we can to rehide the box as well as possible. Nothing is worse than finding out your box was stolen or vandalized because someone was in a rush to take off to the next box and left it out to be found by passerbys.
Next time...gatherings!
Once you've found a box, you'll always find a note explaining what you've found, a little stamp pertaining to the box and a logbook to leave your mark in. You use the stamp and inkpad you've brought to mark your presence in the letterbox's logbook, then use THEIR stamp to mark your own notebook as proof you've been there (essentially, exchanging stamp images). You can also write little notes to say more if you'd like. (ex--"Found it! From the Sprite & the Highlander"). Once you're done, put everything back and you're all set!
Sometimes you'll find a little box or pack inside a letterbox that comes complete with its own stamp and logbook. These are called hitchhikers and they're meant to travel. When you find one, take it with you and place it in the next letterbox you find. When you get there, pretend like the hitchhiker (or HH) is another person. Both you and the HH stamp into the box’s logbook (so people will know you were both there) and stamp both your log book and the HH’s with the box’s own stamp (so everyone will know where it’s been). Alternately, you can mail them to another letterboxing friend for them to place, which really helps move a hitchhiker around! No matter what, make sure you stamp in just like you would on a normal box.
The key in all this is making sure people DON'T see you. If you attract a lot of attention to a box, vandals might bother with it for fun, and then the box is gone for the next finders (as it stands, we're told that some people think it's funny to check for these boxes just to destroy them). We actually enjoy the cloak and dagger kind of stuff...one person plays look out while the other acquires the package, sliding along walls to make sure you don't get caught, doing the dive roll as the enemy opens FIRE...well, you get the idea, here!You also want to make sure you put things back the way you found them. We’ve been to lots of boxes now and really try to do what we can to rehide the box as well as possible. Nothing is worse than finding out your box was stolen or vandalized because someone was in a rush to take off to the next box and left it out to be found by passerbys.
Next time...gatherings!
Our First Blog!
Well, it was bound to happen sometime! We got sick of posting and erasing all the stuff we had added to show you guys new info that we finally decide to blog it all (sounds so sordid!).
From now on, we'll be posting our updates and travel stuff on here, but we'll also keep our clues at our same address (www.geocities.com/dasprite222/boxclues.htm) and keep the main page available for a little while longer (just to redirect folks to this one). If this works the way I want, all the stuff on our main page will be here and we'll just use this space for our clues. Enjoy!
From now on, we'll be posting our updates and travel stuff on here, but we'll also keep our clues at our same address (www.geocities.com/dasprite222/boxclues.htm) and keep the main page available for a little while longer (just to redirect folks to this one). If this works the way I want, all the stuff on our main page will be here and we'll just use this space for our clues. Enjoy!
Sunday, August 01, 2004
General Boxes
These boxes are listed alphabetically.
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie (record your find)
Placed on 10/23/04 in Medina, NY (Orleans County)
This box is located at the Medina Railroad Museum in Medina, NY (can be found with a simple internet search). The clues are very simple. On the north side of the main building, you'll notice a platform. Part of the side of this platform is covered and has No Parking signs on it. Right where the boards stop covering the sides, you'll find a gap where you can reach-ch-ch in and boogie on back to your car to stamp!
The museum is pretty cool, too...you can take holiday rides as well as visit the miniature trains inside...it's MUCH bigger than it looks!
Coming Home (record your find)
Placed on 11/26/04 in Carrollton, TX (Denton County)
BEING REPLACED AS OF 8/21/05…WILL REPOST WHEN IT RETURNS!
Carrollton was the Sprite's home in the 90's and we return here each Thanksgiving, so we decided to leave a little part of us behind this holiday. In Carrollton, take Frankford Road to where Dickerson and Rosemeade meet. Take Rosemeade past E.L. Kent Elementary School (on left) and cross over the culvert to the park on the right. Turn right on Greenglen around the edge of the park and park your car down by the metal bridge that crosses the creek. Take a look around and enjoy the view, but before you even cross, make sure to check under the left side of the bridge behind the oddly circular piece of cement for what you seek.
Make sure the parkgoers are looking the other way when you acquire and rehide this one...happy hunting!
Placed on 10/17/04 in Snyder, NY (Erie County)
This box is the first and the inspiration for our series "Something I'm Thankful For", to be placed out for the Western NY Gathering on November 13th. It's also the only box that will be posted before the 2nd week of November. We've been trying to bring a little letterboxing sprite or Highlander into this world for quite a while now, so we decided to place this box outside our doctor's office. When you find it, say a little prayer and keep us in mind!Snyder is a tiny suburban city just off I-290 in Buffalo. Take the Harlem Rd. exit and turn left to get on Harlem. Go a few miles up to JUST BEFORE Route 5. On your left are the buildings for Snyder Park North. Turn in and go to the back of the parking lot. On the right is a brick building. Park here and look under the large tree to your left.This is an urban area, so be as careful with this box...well, as you would our own child! ;-) Once you get the box, you can actually sit in your car and stamp without looking too suspicious.
Flying J (record your find)
Placed on 1/4/05 in Pembroke, New York (Genesee County)
This box is right near a place near and dear to our heart, the Flying J. The Flying J is a a nice clean truck stop that has saved our lives many a time. From rushed birthday cards to last minute birthday gifts, showers and dinners, even mini tvs and DVDS...the Flying J has it ALL! We just love going it to see if they have whatever bizarre items we want...and they've only NOT had the item once!
Take the New York Thruway to the Medina/Pembroke exit #48 (the Six Flags Darien Lake exit), or for local folks, take Route 77 to where it meets the Thruway. Pull into the parking lot for cars and RVs and go to the parking along the right hand side. Stop and check the warped metal casing on the 3rd light post for this LB (whose container was ALSO purchased at the Flying J!). Stop inside and take a look around!
If Only For A Moment… (record your find)
Placed on 11/12/04 in Lockport, NY (Niagara County)
This box is hidden at a touching little park dedicated to children called the Children's Memorial Park (at the "Y" in the road between Lincoln Avenue and Transit Road (Route 78). The walkway stones are all dedicated to children who never had the chance to become adults. Refreshingly, however, this park is not just used to remember those who've passed on. Prom pictures and bridal shots are done regularly at the little gazebo, making what we consider a meaningful connection between endings and new beginnings. We think it also helps to remember the life of those same children, which was certainly filled with love and happiness as long as they were with us (even if only for a moment...)The box is quite close to the gazebo. Check the pinecone shaped bush to the right of the walkway as you head up to the gazebo and treasure the little things in life...tomorrow is not promised to any of us.
The Letterbook (record your find)
Placed on 9/23/04 in Medina, NY (Orleans County)
Letterboxes you've seen
But take a look
At our new letterbox
The Letterbook.
First go to Medina
To the middle of town
Near Main and Center
Have a look around.
See all the sights,
But the place you'll stop
Is a lovely little store
That's called The Book Shoppe.
Inside will be books
But the ones you should see
Are on the second shelf
Of "History"
On that shelf
In that bookcase
Is a Southwestern book
That seems out of place
Once you open it
Inside you'll find
A logbook and stamp
But no ink, so bring thine (poetic license)
As always, be sure
To be nice and neat
Even thought the owner knows
You should still be discreet.
Once you're done,
Don't rush off to go
Stay and look around
And have a cup of joe!
Little Cabin In Indian Falls (record your find)
Placed on 1/9/05 in Indian Falls, New York (Genesee County)
This box isn’t far from the Flying J, but we chose this location more for its view than its products. The Log Cabin Restaurant is just as nice and clean as the Flying J, but just not quite as appetizing, in our opinion (stop in for a bite and prove we’re wrong, please!) It is, however, an actual log cabin, which we love, and it DOES have a little hidden waterfall just behind it, which is even nicer.
From the Flying J, head north on Route 77 to Indian Falls. You’ll eventually drive down a hill that crosses over a small bridge. DO NOT cross over, but turn left and pull into the parking lot of the Log Cabin. Our box is right by the guardrail that prevents you from going into the waters below. Park on the far right end of the guardrail. Look between the 3rd post of the guard and the rail itself for a metal microbox.
Note: Snow gets shoved against this rail in the winter, so check the snow bank closely…the other side of it is entirely clear, so you can get to the box.
Lock City (record your find)
Replaced on 7/15/2004 in Lockport, NY (Niagara County)
This box was moved from Outwater Park after vandals destroyed the container. Luckily, we were able to recover the stamp and have moved it to a more appropriate location:
To get to Lockport: From the NYS Thruway, take the Airport exit (Route 78/Transit Road) all the way into Lockport. If you're already in the Western New York area and know the back roads, you can take take the 990 to Millersport, which dead ends into Transit, too.
Once in Lockport, follow the signs to the two canal locks right in the middle of town. Park nearby and take the stairs down to the locks on the SOUTH side (NOT the side the towpath is on!). Head EAST down more stairs and along the canal, keeping the cement wall on your right. The wall eventually curves away from the sidewalk and heads uphill, becoming a old stone wall. A hole in the wall that looks like someone has tried to partially refill it with cement is here. Just below this hole to the bottom left is a microbox (Altoids tin) containing a smaller version of the old Flight of Five that made Lockport famous. You’ll have to move two flat rocks about half your palm size to see it.
Please be sure to be EXTRA discreet in acquiring and replacing this box. This is right in town and LOTS of people hang around, so watch for tourists on the bridge and on the opposite side of the canal…you are visible from quite a few locations!
The Mystery of A’Tuin (record your find)
Placed on 12/22/04 in New York
Location: The word "Onguiaahra" appears on documents as early as 1641, and a little later "Ongiara" . Both are Indian words thought as meaning "The Straight". A more romantic meaning "Thunder of Waters" is also given.
Clue: Find the Native American A'Tuin overlooking this place (perhaps not THE A'Tuin, but large enough). Look under the middle tree near its southern side for a smaller version of its likeness. Note: This is a VERY small circular shaped Lock N Lock box, so look carefully!
Once A Year (Uncle Julie) (record your find)
Placed on 11/28/2004 in Addison, TX (Dallas County)
When we visit Texas for Thanksgiving, the one thing the Highlander INSISTS on is a trip to his favorite restaurant, Uncle Julio's (affectionately termed Uncle Julie!). So, it seemed only fitting this year that as we sat knocking back salsa, chips and margarita swirls, we created our second Texas stamp.You'll need to head to the Uncle Julio's at Keller Springs Road and the Dallas Tollway. Once you pull in by the sign, try to get the first parking space on your left facing the restaurant. If you can't, park close by and go the shrubbery in front of that space. It's basically at the southeast corner of the building. Check around under this shrubbed in area for our loving tribute (if it doesn't QUITE look like him, remember this is what he looks like to us AFTER a few margarita swirls!)
To Your Health, Too! (record your find)
Placed on 5/21/2005 in Clarence Hollow, NY (Erie County)
This box was originally part of the huge Royalton Ravine series and was called To Your Health. The stamp is still the same, but the location is new and quite worth the re-find! Incidentally, the reason we chose the location is because the historic museum here is actually the old home of Wilson Greatbatch, the inventor of the first implantable pacemaker! If you’d like to make a nice weekend of it, the Asa Ransom House is a stone’s throw past this box and it’s the best bed & breakfast in town, not to mention an award-winning restaurant.
Head down Route 5 from Williamsville and take it all the way until you get to the Clarence Historical Museum at 10465 Main Street (the entrance is on the right, just past the soccer fields and before the Asa Ransom House). Pull into the parking lot and park at the far end near the picnic tables and lake. Head down to the lake and go around to the side with the bridge. Before you cross the bridge, look to your left and you’ll see a faint path heading along the creek into the woods. At the start of this path, head 10 steps in and look down to the left. A fallen tree leans up against a tree near your path. You’ll have to leave the path and climb down a little to lift some deadwood for this box.
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