A Trip To The KC Fair and Blog Hopping

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. 
                                                                                         ~John Lennon

Happy Monday!  Today is the day to start of the Fall-O-Ween Quilt Designer Blog Hop!  Make sure you check it out.  Gudrun has organized a fabulous 10 days for all of us starting with herself today.  She is including a great Halloween pattern, a giveaway, and some gorgeous pictures for us to view.
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Picture Of The Day:

Waterfall in my backyard

I had this waterfall created in my backyard about 10 years ago.  It is so soothing to be able to sit out back and listen to the sound of running water.  The visiting birds love to come and take their daily baths not to mention quench their thirst.  No interesting facts or ideas today - just a little view into my world.

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Friday the hubby took a day off work so that we could attend the Kern County Fair.  We hadn't been to the fair in about 13 years.  Why you might ask?  Our kids showed animals at the fair for approximately 8 years and we were both on the livestock committee causing us to be at the fair 10 very long days, many days from before sun-up to way after sun-down.  This caused what I commonly refer to as "fair burn out".  We had absolutely no desire to see any part of the fair until this year.  Of course, being able to park and get in for free (our first 'senion' qualifying event) was a big enticement!  I thought I would share some of the quilts that were entered there this year.  I was a little disappointed to see that entries in the arts and crafts were down considerably from when I used to enter cross stitch pieces.  Sorry, I digress........here are the pictures:

Please click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see the details!

This was the first picture quilt as you entered the building.  I loved the colors and the fmq.

This picture quilt won a special award.  Doesn't the lion look like it could just walk right out of there. 

This grandmother's garden quilt was unique with the appliqued edging.  Loved the scene at the bottom.

Another blue ribbon winner - the colors in this were beautiful

The applique work on this was gorgeous.  I think it only received a 2nd place ribbon because the colors were rather disjointed.

I have seen tie quilts before but thought the interesting center in crazy quilt style was a little different

One of the few Christmas quilts entered

This is a close up of the Christmas Quilt above.  I couldn't believe the minute stippling that was done on this one.

This was first place winner plus it won two separate specialty awards.  The quilt was adorable.

There was a combination of quilting, machine embroidery, and fmq.  The awards were well deserved.

This was the Best In Show Quilt.  Absolutely stunning!

I hope you enjoyed the trip to the fair with me and weren't too horribly bored.  Besides the quilts, we also had to visit all of the exhibit buildings and some of the livestock.  Ran into some friends we hadn't seen for quite a while.  Ate some good food and left before the heat really set in for the day.  All in all, a good time and I'm glad we went.

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Very little sewing was accomplished this weekend.  I did make a hexie flower which I will share on One Flower Wednesday.  I also received the background fabric for the GFG quilt in Friday's mail and started making a few hexies to begin the flower connections. 

Saturday we were out looking at carpet - a process we have been working on for 2 1/2  years!  I think we have it narrowed down to a couple of selections.  We are to get a couple of larger samples to bring home to help in our decision.  Can you believe it is taking us so long?  First it was to decide if we wanted to continue with hardwood through to the bedrooms and office/sewing room or if we would go with carpet.  Back and forth, undecided, not sure which way to go.  Well, price was the final deciding factor.  Hardwood is much too expensive (sigh!) so carpet is the direction we are heading.  Then, what color? texture? padding? etc.  Our aim is to have it installed by Thanksgiving.  Wish me luck!

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GIVEAWAYS!

A giveaway for some cute FQs is happening over at Me? A Mom?.  This one ends October 5th.

Cranberry Samplings is have a great giveaway to celebrate her goal of attaining 100 followers.  Hop on over and check this one out as it ends Oct 1.

My friend, Leona, is having a super giveaway over at Leona's Quilting Adventure.  She is giving away One Braided Bucket Purse Kit and one copy of Simply Stylish Bags, by Dorothy Wood.  This ends October 1st!

Me? A Mom? is hosting a giveaway for CSN Stores.  You can win a $35.00 gift certificate!

And, don't forget my giveaway ends today at 6:00 pm PST.  Enter HERE!

There are probably more giveaways out there but since I am way behind on reading all of the blogs I follow, that was the list I could come up with.

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Final Thoughts

Monday - a fresh start to the week.  So much planned, only so much time to get it accomplished.  I will do what I can and try not to stress over what I can't.  We all, at one time or another, stress over time restraints, time deadlines, budgets, family, and more.  I am taking a vow to just do what I can with the time that I have for the day.  I will try to remember to take a deep breath and relax as the day passes followed by the weeks, months, and years.  I will do my best to remember my mantra - One Today Is Worth Two Tomorrows.  How about you?