Today is the day!...It's time to pick a winner, and as predicted this was just way more fun than anyone should be allowed to have on a rainy Thursday afternoon! It started with the cabin boy coming home from school and immediately beginning a search for socks with holes in them, because as I was reminded, "All pirates wear socks with holes in them, Mom." Alas, none were to be found—I did away with them in a back-to-school pitching frenzy. But undaunted, the lad donned his pirate kit and forged on...

Who will it be mateys? Aaarrr...let me reach into me bag here....

Aye, we've got a winner here and her name be...

Joyce Anna! Congratulations! I'll be contacting you via Ravelry and sending this off to you soon!

Woohoo! If you'd like to see the exciting video footage of the actual drawing, here it is!

And now because I am so happy that you stopped and because I don't like to think of anyone going away empty handed, I present you with yet another cookie recipe. These are the lad's favorite...Pumpkin Chocolate Chip! He doesn't look too happy to share, does he?...he is a pirate after all...

Aaahh...the joys of virtual sharing...you get to share your cookies and eat them too...

The recipe for these cookies is written on a piece of notebook paper that is tattered and stained and well worn—my favorite kind of recipe. It was given to me by a friend, back in the dark ages when I was still in college. I don't know where Thor got the recipe, but it is definitely a keeper, and as you can see we love it around here.

Thor's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup pureed pumkin

1 beaten egg

1/2 cup veg oil (we use canola)

1 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups all unbleached all purpose flour

1 tsp cinamon

1 tsp milk (yes, 1 teaspoon—weird I know)

1 tsp vanilla

1 pkg chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

There are no other specifications for this recipe—you just dump everything in the bowl and mix until smooth. I usually add the ingredients in the order given in the recipe, but it doesn't really seem to matter how you do it as long as it all goes in and gets incorporated. Scoop rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (you can use a greased baking sheet and eliminate the parchment paper, but I am lazy and am a firm believer in the virtues of parchment paper—you can even reuse it if you want). Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool and devour.

These cookies have a soft, cake-like crumb and are positively sublime when they are warm from the oven and the chocolate is still soft. Pair them with a cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk and it's perfection....mmmmm....

Thanks again to all of you who commented and entered the contest! What a fun and nice bunch you all are! xoxox—Alison