80th Post Celebration Giveaway!

When the world says, "Give up,"  Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." 
~Author Unknown

This is sort of how I felt when I first started blogging.  Well, hope won - I kept trying it one more time!  And now I am writing my 80th post!  I never would have thought that I would find so many things to write about and to share.  Hopefully they weren't too boring.  I never thought that I would make so many new friends!  I enjoy communicating with all of you and following what is happening in your lives too.  This call for a celebration!  I will have a giveaway - but that will have to wait for later but not much later. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is a naturalized Rose-ringed Parakeet on the power lines in my backyard

Research shows the largest North American population of naturalized Rose-ringed Parakeets, Psittacula krameri, lives in Bakersfield, California.   The species is non-migratory but has daily foraging migration through their territory. Most foraging flocks vary in size depending on season. This species is unmistakable with light green plumage, long tail, and raucous, repetitive "kee ep" call. The average length is 16 inches. Adult males have the "rose-ring". The current population in Bakersfield appears to have began as a result of the loss of the Happy Bird Aviary roof. A hurricane force windstorm occurred on December 20, 1977 in the southern San Joaquin Valley, destroying the aviary, and leading to the release of multiple species of cage-bred birds. Two breeding pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets were among the birds lost by the owner. (Original research by Alison Sheehey, Nature Alley and Barbara Mansfield, Kern Audubon Society).  These wonderful birds are fun to watch and listen to.  They provide a mass of green when flying in a flock and when making a banking turn.  We are so lucky to have these colorful creatures in our midst.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JUST FOR FUN

I found this on FaceBook this morning.  You really have to try this. This is so cute! Do this: 1) Go to Google Maps 2) Click on Get Directions 3) Type in Japan as starting point 4) Type in China as ending point 5) Go to number 43 on the directions 6) Laugh and, if you are a FB participant, repost.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's time for another Mystery Designer Block Of The Month.  Let's see if you can figure it out before the final photo.....

These were the squares and rectangles I had to cut

Then I had to construct 4 HST

And 4 flying geese

Another flying geese of different colors

Then it was time to assemble these blocks.  Any ideas yet?

One more flying geese in a larger size (sorry for the over exposure)

Place all blocks into 3 rows.  I bet you have an idea now.

And here it is.  Just like you guessed.....a Christmas Tree.  The actual name of this block is "Oh Christmas Tree".  I'm not particularly wild about this block but the colors are still great.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My 80th Post Celebration Giveaway!!!

Now for what you have been waiting for!! This time I counted the fabric several times - lol.  There are 8 pieces of fabric by Ranae Merrill for Blank Textiles, Inc. 

The top piece (green) is a 1/2 yard cut.  The 2nd piece (navy) is 1/3 yard.  The rest of the fabrics are fat quarters.  That makes this collection 2 1/3 yards of fabric (if my math is right).  It doesn't show up very well but each piece has sparkly gold and silver printed on it - some in swirls, some in a dusting pattern - it's really very pretty.  To enter giveaway you must......

1.  Leave a comment telling me what your favorite tv show is.

and for a second chance....................

2.  Blog about this giveaway.  Make sure to come back and leave me a separate comment that includes a link to your blog that included my giveaway.

This giveaway is open to everyone, international friends included!  You do not have to be a follower, but I sure hope you like what you see and become a "Stitchie".  If you have a 'no-reply' blogger, make sure to leave me an email address. 

This giveaway will end on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 6:00 pm.  The winner will be selected by random.org and announced Wednesday, Nov. 17 in my regular post.  Good luck!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAYS

Stitchbird is having a birthday celebration.  She is giving away a ton of things!  You should go check it out - not sure when this one ends.

Just a reminder to enter the giveaway at Leona's Quilting Adventure.  This one ends November 11, 2010.

Mariliz's Musings is giving away a Freebird charm pack by MoMo for Moda.  This giveaway ends the evening of November 7th.

Little Miss Shabby is having a giveaway too.  She is giving away a nice fat quarter stack of Summer In the City.  This ends Thursday the 10th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our weekend is promising to be busy.  Our normal run to the local Farmers Market, family in for a visit, errands to run, yard work to do.....the list seems endless this time.  I plan to include a little creativity, do a little cooking, and especially enjoy time with my husband.  Life is good albeit a busy one. 

Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must.
 ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!!!