200 Followers Celebration Giveaway

"Friends are like fabric - you can never have enough!"
                                                ~author unknown

It's Monday!  Like you needed to be reminded.  How was your weekend?  My Saturday was busy but Sunday was rather restful.  Saturday morning was our normal run to the Farmer's Market where I probably over bought because of not being able to go the previous weekend. I felt like I was in a fresh produce drought last week - lol.  Next we were off to the Cruise 99, a car show being held downtown.  There were some absolutely spectacular cars on display (pictures further down in the blog).  Then to lunch and on to our ALS Support Group meeting.  There we said good-bye to our case manager of 5 years and met the incoming case manager.  Two hours later we were on the road to Petsmart - have to feed Weasley and Snickerdoodle!  And finally home about 4:30.  A very full day and I was pooped.  Sunday was much more relaxing even if it was wash day.  We were able to sit outside for a couple of hours enjoying the Sunday paper and a cup of coffee.  I managed to complete one more hexagon flower for my GFG quilt (picture on One Flower Wednesday) and started assembling the garden.  We caught up on some shows on the DVR (we're over a week behind) and just generally vegged.

Photo Of The Day:

Coast Redwood in our backyard

Coast redwoods range from southern Oregon to central California, extending not more than fifty miles inland- only as far as the coastal climate has its influence. Fog plays a vital role in the survival of these trees, protecting them from the summer drought conditions typical of this area. They also need abundant winter rain and moderate year round temperatures. In ideal conditions a coast redwood can grow 2-3 feet in height annually, but when the trees are stressed from lack of moisture and sunlight they may grow as little as one inch per year.  We have 7 of these trees in our little backyard.  This is my attempt at bringing the mountains to our valley home.

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Here are a few of the cars that we saw at the car show on Saturday:

 This last car belongs to a friend of ours.  He completely restored the car by himself (except for the paint job).
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Friday's mail brought me my first block from the Australian Block Swap.  An envelope arrived from Cathy, who lives in Golden Grove South Australia.  She sent me a beautiful green and white block in the Blazing Arrows block that I requested.  She included a post card "Greetings From Adelaide" with a picture of the Rundle Mall.

Isn't it pretty!?!

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As I previously mentioned, I was able to start assembling my Garden for my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  My 'stepping stones' are just a plain white but I thought that it was the best way to really make the bright colors of my flowers pop.

I can't even imagine how many flowers or stepping stones it will take to make a full quilt.  But I haven't set myself any time limits and am thoroughly enjoying creating each and every flower.

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This giveaway is now closed.  The winner will be announced Monday, October 18, 2010

200 FOLLOWERS!!  I can't believe I now have over 200 followers.  Thank you all for deciding to follow my rants and raves, creations and failures, hopes and dreams.  Calls for a celebration - don't you agree?  How about another giveaway?  Would you like some fabric?  How about these.............

This is a set of 5 - 1/2 yard cuts of fabric from the line called "Indian Summer Style" by Hoffman California International Fabrics.  These are really pretty fabrics!  You can't really tell it but each piece of fabric is highlighted with sparkly gold in the leaves (I just couldn't get a decent picture - sorry).  You could win 2 1/2 yards of fabric to add to your stash!  Here is what you have to do to enter:

1.  Leave me a comment on this posting - anything you want to say.  Let me know why you quilt, or what you are doing today, or what the weather's like  -  I think you get the idea

2.  And, if you would like a second chance to win this fabric, blog about this giveaway and come back here, leave me a separate comment and tell me that you did and include a link to your blog.  This must be done in a separate comment or you won't get two counted entries.

That's it!  Simple enough don't you think?  This giveaway will close Sunday, October 17th at 6:00 pm PST.  The winner will be selected using random.org.  I will announce the winner on Monday, October 18 in my posting for that day.

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GIVEAWAYS

Kati over at The Blue Chair is having a great giveaway.  She is giving away personalized blog business cards (a $50 value) and four fat quarters of Modern Meadow by Joel Dewberry.  This ends Oct. 13th.

Molly from Molly's Place is giving away a subscription to McCall's Quilting. Not sure when this one ends.

Have you checked out the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway?  There are around 140 blogs participating and 8 businesses all holding a giveaway.  Make sure you check them out!  I still haven't made it all of the way through the list!

And, of course, don't forget that I, too, am participating in the Fall Into Fall Giveaway.  You can enter my giveaway HERE.  In this giveaway I'm giving away a darling quilt kit!!
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Final Thought

When I started this blog I thought having just 5 followers would be an amazing accomplishment - and, even then I thought I would have to beg family members to sign on.  Once I reached 100 followers I thought that would be the top goal I could attain.  But you all have made me so happy by becoming my followers, whether daily readers or if you just stop by for the occasional visit.  I am blessed to have each and every one of you in my life.  So many of you already seem like close friends just from our little comments to each other via email.  I know that I won't ever meet the majority of you, but I want you all to know I honestly do appreciate your comments and friendship through my daily journeys called life.  You bring a special sunshine to my day!!  Thank you all so very much for becoming a follower of Stray Stitches!!