Here's To Being Optimistic!

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.                       ~Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995


Totally terrific Tuesday!  Positive enough for you?  I didn't get a lick of quilting done yesterday but I did get through the list of participants in the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway.  I consider that quite a feat unto itself.  So many great blogs out there, my reading list grew, I entered some great giveaways, and even picked up some quilting tips along the way.  I did manage to squeeze in a couple hours of counted cross stitch.  I am soooo close to completing the Christmas stocking for my SIL!

Photo Of The Day:

At least one bird is a little less dressed today

Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds.  Although feathers cover most parts of the body of birds, they arise only from certain well-defined tracts on the skin. They aid in flight, thermal insulation, waterproofing and coloration that helps in communication and protection.  Feathers insulate birds from water and cold temperatures. They may also be plucked to line the nest and provide insulation to the eggs and young. The individual feathers in the wings and tail play important roles in controlling flight.  Although feathers are light, a bird's plumage weighs two or three times more than its skeleton, since many bones are hollow and contain air sacs.  I have many birds that come into my yard - they are a constant source of entertainment.  What kind of birds do you see around your home?

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Since I did not get any quilting done yesterday, and, as a result don't have anything to share along that line, how about a recipe?  I found this one a couple of years ago but I don't remember where or from whom.  Without further ado.......

LIGHT-AS-A-FEATHER GINGERBREAD

Ingredients

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup molasses

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Ingredients

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Sift together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, ginger, and cinnamon.

3.  Pour the boiling water over the shortening.  Stir until partly melted.  Add everything else and beat until smooth.

4.  Pour into a greased 8-inch square pan.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.  Cool in pan.  Serve with whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Personal Notes:

1.  I made sure the shortening was completely melted

2.  I had to cook for an additional 10 minutes

3.  Extremely moist!  The flavor is even better the second day.

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GIVEAWAYS

There are quite a few giveaways out there in addition to the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway.  Check these out today!

My friend, Leona, is having a great giveaway over at Leona's Quilting Adventure.   She is giving away: 1. One Assorted Christmas Themed Jelly Roll containing 42, 2 1/2" Strips; 2. Five Assorted Christmas Fat Quarters; 3. Three Handmade Christmas Coasters; 4. One Miranda Day Bag Pattern; 5. One Easy Scallop Ruler by Darlene Zimmerman; 6. One Bucilla Mary Engelbright Santas Ornaments Kit to Make 6 felt ornaments; and 7. One Package Needle Threaders.  This fantastic giveaway ends October 14th!!

Ginny over at Ginnys Quilts is having a giveaway for 3 AccuQuilt GO! dies.  And, if you aren't interested in the dies, then she is also giving away a great charm pack.  This giveaway ends October 15.

Crazyquiltgirl Fabric Shop is giving away a Moda Bliss layer cake and Thimble Blossoms Piece of Cake 2 Quilt Pattern.  This giveaway ends October 14.

Believe it or not, I have found another AccuQuilt GO! plus three dies giveaway!  This one is being hosted by Badlands Quilts.  Hurry as this one ends Wednesday night at midnight CST!

This is the last day to enter the giveaway at Joy Studio.  They are giving away some fun fat quarters and a patch panel.

Don't forget my 200 Followers Celebration Giveaway.  I'm giving away 5 - 1/2 yard cuts of Hoffman fabrics.  This ends Sunday, October 17th!

And we are winding down on my other giveaway that ends on Friday.  In this one you could win a darling Just Ducky Baby Quilt kit from Connecting Threads.  Click HERE to enter this giveaway.
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Final Thoughts

Although I didn't get to any quilting yesterday, I don't feel the day was wasted.  There, I'm trying to be optimistic - my husband claims I am quite the pessimist.  And, a lot of the time I probably am.  So I will leave you with this quote that I think works well in both of our wolds:

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society.  The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.                  ~Gil Stern

Have a totally tenseless, tireless, tasteful, titillating Tuesday!!