Three years. That's a long time. Three years of posts - some nauseatingly long, some embarrassing, in retrospect, some boring, bland and inane - and those were all the ones about the mister! But I love my blog - it's definitely made me a better cook and you would think a better quilter, but I'm afraid you can't teach old dogs and this quilter new tricks, so my quilting skills have remained the same - but at least I'm consistent! Also, most bloggers are great photographers...having improved their photog skills by blogging. I, on the other hand, am still the pitiful picture-taker I was when I began. Even a new camera didn't help. I am what I am and I know what I know and apparently there is no room in my brain for anything more. Sucks being me. But the best thing about my blog, and the most important to me, are the friends I've met through blogging - fascinating, motivating, inspiring people who are there for me 24/7 and always in the dark of night!
I love this time of year - the crunch of leaves under my feet at 0H-dark-Thirty every morn, cinnamon-scented candles, bowls of chili and pumpkin soup and the promise of a Thanksgiving spent with family...so much to be happy about, so much to be thankful for! Pictured above is one of my very favorite Thanksgiving decorations...my dear friend Bev sent it to me years ago and it always tickles me pink to see it. It's made of felt and pinned onto a pineapple. I was going to write up directions for ya'll to make yourselves one but I have no time for that...after a quick internet search I found a website that has directions for a turkey centerpiece that is very similar to mine and you can find it here. It's a simple pattern that's fast and cheap to make and I promise if you make one, every year when you pull it out of storage you'll smile - might even giggle!
SO...3 years of blogging combined with feelings of gratitude and Thanksgiving = ONE FABULOUS GIFT BASKET!!! Just look at all the goodies I put together for one lucky winner!
From Pier One, a ceramic pumpkin-shaped dish that holds the most delicious orange-flavored candy you'll ever taste (found at Common Folk in the Crossroads area for you Seattleites). A pair of turkey salt and pepper shakers from World Market. A small but very fragrant Yankee Candle - your entire kitchen will smell like freshly baked cinnamon rolls! One of my favorite baking pans is the one pictured above - pumpkin shaped muffins make any morning start better. There's even a recipe on the back of the wrapper that's dang good! And the last picture above is a gel-turkey for your window...I bought a couple for Baby Max to play with when he arrives - hope he doesn't eat it!
To keep you looking nice and clean while you cook your feast, I've made you a T-day apron and two hot pads...yes, they're the kind of hot pads your kid would make but at least you won't feel bad about getting gravy and grease on them! One of my favorite T-day reads is this little Charlie Brown Thanksgiving book - the pictures will remind you of your childhood - unless you're an amnesiac. And not pictured separately but included in the basket is a package of plastic acorns which are great to spread around your table...guests will think they're made of chocolate and might try to bite them which is always great entertainment!
Folks, I kid you not, this is a great gift basket valued at over $140.00!! And it can be YOURS!!! Here's what you need to do:
Today I'm a guest blogger over at STASH MANICURE - I know what you're thinking...you're thinking STASH MANICURE is a blog for tips on organization and why in the devil would I be one of their guests?!?! Well I'll tell you...my post over there has NOTHING to do with organization...I would not want to be seen as a hypocrite! Sew...go to STASH MANICURE and read my post and then come back here and leave me a comment telling me something about my post...maybe you learned something from reading it? Maybe you found it funny? Maybe you thought it was a dry and not worth the time it took to read...in which case I'll show you just how magnanimous I am and I'll STILL let you enter the contest...although the odds of you winning will be slim to none!
Leave me a comment HERE, about my post THERE and you'll be entered to win this beautiful gift basket! Of course, it would be doubly nice if you left me a comment THERE as well, and if you do I'll give you another entry!
Contest will end Wednesday evening at 6:00. Winner will be picked via Random Generator. Winner announced Thursday morning. Basket will be delivered to you before Thanksgiving - as God is my witness and as long as UPS wears brown.
Thanks to STASH MANICURE for allowing me to play on their blog and thanks to all of you for keeping me in "bizness" for three long years!
