Surprise Giveaway Winners

I actually decided to randomly pick 2 winners for the Surprise Giveaway, and they are....

Dawn from Linen Closet Quilts and Robin from The Robin's Nest.

Dawn and Robin will each receive a candle, a package of note cards, a hand-painted pin (made by yours truly), and a CD of my favorite music.

I love surprises (well, I really like surprising other people, but don't necessarily like being surprised myself- I always like to know exactly what to expect). My kids have learned that when we tell them to get their shoes on and get in the car for no apparent reason, they should do it without question or complaining. Because often it means a trip to the ice cream shop or something fun like that.

Oh and speaking of surprises, Happy Cottage Quilter will also receive a hand-painted pin and package of notecards for being the first one to comment on yesterday's post which announced the Surprise Giveaway...... Whoa! Betcha didn't see that one coming, did you????????? Yep I'm just full of surprises today..........

So don't be surprised if I decide to do more SURPRISE GIVEAWAYS in the future. 'Cause I think I mentioned, I'm sneaky like that!

SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!!!

I have been trying hard to keep up with all of my favorite blogs (so, so many....) and trying to reply to comments on my blog (because I read and so appreciate each and every one). But I fear I have fallen woefully behind (again.... tsk tsk... I know.... shame on me....) So in appreciation for all of the lovely and encouraging comments I receive here, I decided to do something a little special. You see, during the entire month of October, I filed away ALL of your comments. Yep, every single one (I'm just a little sneaky like that...) All of those names are going into a giveaway I am doing. You get an entry for every comment, so if you commented 10 times during the month of October, then you get your name entered 10 times. (You were entering a giveaway and you didn't even know it- hee hee!!)

I am in the process of compiling the entries right now, and I will pull the winner later today.
Tomorrow I will post the name of the winner and their FABULOUS prize (insert Bob Barker immitation here.)

Thank you to everyone who visits here and leaves a comment. Have a wonderful Monday.

My Favorite Fungus

A few weeks ago we had several days of rain (which seems to be a recurring theme around, since this past spring). After it cleared up, I looked out the front window and saw something strange. Upon inspection I found this really interesting "garden" of mushrooms of various kinds and colors. I just had to take (a lot) of photos.
This one formed a cup on top that collected water.

I think this is the same type of mushroom as the others above, but in a different stage of development.These were a beautiful bright yellow color, but we looked them up and found out that they are extremely poisonous.This group looks like the Mushroom Family- Papa, Mama, and Baby Mushroom, don't you think? And below, they are pictured a few days later.

I thought they were so beautiful and interesting, they inspired me to do a few quick sketches.

Daisy Update

Here is Daisy when we went to visit her in the hospital yesterday. She was feeling and acting fine- full of energy and wanting to come home with us. She has charmed everyone at the hospital.
This morning we got good news- she is coming home this afternoon! When this all started, there was some discussion about her prognosis because she's 10 years old- we don't consider her old, of course, but I guess she is approaching her "golden years".... she doesn't act or look like an old dog. But her bloodwork is looking better. We will still have to keep a very close eye on her. She will be on immunosuppressive drugs for a least a few months.

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and prayers.... they mean a lot to us. I am sure they have helped in her recovery. She means so much to us- after all, she is the baby of the family...





4:31 pm Update: It's good to be home............

Needing Prayers for Pup

Daisy has been in the hospital since Saturday night. I rushed her to the veterinary emergency room (thank goodness, we have one about 25 minutes away) at about 10 pm because she just didn't look right to me, and her ears and gums were very pale. She was diagnosed with Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia, which means that her immune system has gone haywire and is attacking her platelets. She is at a dangerous risk for hemorrhage. Please pray for her (and us!) We are a little worried. At least she is feeling well, not acting sick. But as I said, her platelets are so low that the vet said that even vigorous barking could set off bleeding. I am going to visit her today and take her some homemade food (chicken and brown rice and veggies). I will be so happy to see her. Hope she can come home soon.

Homecoming

Daughter was Homecoming Princess for the Sophomore Class at her college. We went to the basketball game on Friday night to see the "coronation"...
Below, she is with the Sophomore Class "prince".... Here she is with some of her friends....

And here she is with her boyfriend...
Last week we had to decide what she would wear. We thought that we could cut off the bottom of a formal dress that she already had, and turn it into a cocktail length dress. I went up to her college with sewing machine, sewing notions and supplies, trims, iron, etc. so I could work on the dress while I was up there. When I was about halfway there, I realized that I forgot to bring the dress that we were supposed to work on! Duh.... So I stopped at Target and just pulled one of everything off the racks and took $400 worth of dresses with me. She tried everything on, chose one, and then I had to return everything else on the way back home! Oh well, I think she ended up with a nicer dress, very classic that she can wear again many times. And it was on sale- so everything worked out OK. But I honestly couldn't believe that I forgot to take the dress- well, actually I CAN believe it- after all, I've done dumber things in my life!

Today I get to paint, something I don't get a chance to do much of anymore, but I have a good project to work on, so I am excited! Have a creative Monday.....

Look What I Did!

When I arrived home from Quilt Market last week, this was waiting for me in the mailbox... Daughter and I went to a quilt show about a month ago, and I saw a wool quilt by Maggie Bonanami that I thought would be great in my family room. It was available as a Block of the Month. Now, don't ask me WHAT IN THE WORLD possessed me to think that I'd have time to work on someone's else's design, you know, for my own enjoyment, in addition to developing my own designs. But I did sign up for it. I spent most of the weekend working on it, and tah-dah!!! I actually got Block #1 done! Yay!

I know this doesn't look like "my style"- when I design, my projects are much brighter and cottage-y in style. But my house is decorated in a style I would describe as country colonial with a little primitive thrown in. Go figure... I think I just like a lot of different kinds of styles and I'm just looking for an excuse to get them all into my life somehow!

Tonight we are going to the basketball game at daughter's college- she is on the Homecoming court as Sophomore class princess! I got her a lovely new black dress, I will post photos next week. Have a wonderful weekend.

Award Winning Booths at Quilt Market

Some booths that won awards at Fall Quilt Market in Houston...

First Place- Single Booth- Minnick and Simpson

First Place- Double Booth- Heather Bailey

Second Place- Double Booth- Amy Butler

Best Merchandising- Sandi Henderson

And this one didn't get an award, but I think it should have- so here is my favorite booth, by Blackbird Designs. I just love everything they do design-wise, and they are very nice and friendly, too.

That's it for the Quilt Market photos. I guess I will have to come up with something else to blog about now- haha.