It's An Animal Day!

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
~Mark Twain

How old am I?  Let me think.  Today I don't feel as old as I actually am.  If I don't look in the mirror I can actually believe that I am 15 years younger than I really am.  Take away the mirrors and I may never age.  Yesterday I felt every bit of my age.  Parts hurt, the mind was a bit slow and I just felt old.  Why is it our body has to age but our mind doesn't want to?  Why can't we just pick an age and stay there?  I don't want to be in my teens or twenties again - heaven forbid!  But the 40's would be nice.  I liked myself in the 40's.  Life wasn't necessarily easier but I moved with a lot more ease and it didn't take so long to bounce back from lack of sleep.  Youth is wasted on the young!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Dog Biscuits

February 23 is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day, one of many odd holidays set aside (ok, often overlooked) for dogs and their owners.  Dog biscuits have possibly been around since at least Roman times, though they were far from the kind of dog treats we pamper our furry friends with today. The earliest dog biscuits were actually very old, hard, stale bread. Back then "bad bread" was considered "dog's bread."  By the 19th century hunters would give sporting dogs hard barley meal biscuits for energy on a hunt. Grain-only biscuits were slowly upgraded to include vegetables, meat and bone meal. These were homemade and, of course, did not come in any fun shapes or flavors.  Dog biscuits were once classified in the same category as soap! Delicious! 

So, how do you celebrate International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day? There are probably as many ways as there are treats. Give your dog an old favorite or try something innovative and new. Teach a new trick. Or just enjoy watching your dog's body going on full alert in anticipation when you open the treat package! Yep, this is about the easiest holiday there is to celebrate!

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

Today is also One Flower Wednesday.

Today's flower is really much brighter than the picture shows.  Since I have already made a couple of hexie flowers with dogs, I thought it was only fair to make one with a cat.  He does have an awfully cute smile on his face :)

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LITTLE BLUE BIRD

Yesterday I was able to bind both of the little blue bird 6" mini quilts.

For some reason I made this binding wider than I normally do.  I think this happened because I used an old left over binding that was already pre-cut and I didn't think to measure it until it was already sewn on.  Lately I have been cutting my bindings 2" wide, especially for small items like this.  This one measured out at 2 1/4" when I measured one of the scraps.  It's amazing how much that little 1/8" can add to the width on one side of the fold.

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GARDEN FANCIES

Yesterday I was also able to work some on my Garden Fancies wool table runner.

I have the stems stitched on both ends and some of the leaves stitched on this end.  The stems were supposed to be stitched in a pearl cotton - one that could not be found in my town.  I didn't want to wait to order some so I just used 4 strands of DMC floss.  It looks okay but probably would have looked even better with the pearl cotton.  Just a few more leaves on this side and all on the other side.  Slowly but surely.

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ADVICE FOR A FRIEND

My new friend, Deborah, is looking for some advice on a quilt she has been working on for a number of years. 

She has added a narrow black border but wants to add another border with color.  If you will go to blog, Deborah's Test Blog, and give her your suggestions, she and I would greatly appreciate it.  Thanks!

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TODAY'S GOAL

The next Layer Cake QAL block was released yesterday - I am going to make it today!

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GIVEAWAYS

Insights From SewCalGal is having a book giveaway.  You could win a personally signed copy of Amy Ellis' new book "Modern Basics".  The winner will be randomly selected on Sunday, February 27th.

Creative Chicks is having a 500th post (can you imagine 500 posts?) giveaway.  They are giving away 8 fat quarters of Vintage Sheets.  The winner will be announced on Friday, February 25th.

Sew Happy.Me is having a fabric giveaway.  They are giving away a bundle of fat quarters from Doll Babies by Henry Glass.  But hurry as this giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

Hilachas is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway.  She is giving away 9 fat quarters from Connecting Threads, an Olfa 45 mm refill blade, and a spool of 100% Egyptian Cotton Thread.  This giveaway ends March 8, at midnight.

Jaybird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  The Fabric Quarter is going to give away a half yard bundle of Magnolia Lane from Michael Miller with a few companion fabrics... totaling 7 half yards of fabric!  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 24, at 10 pm EST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I'm the first to admit that my dogs are spoiled rotten.  They each have their special food and favorite treats.  They sleep with us at night and have their own beds - one in the kitchen and one in the sewing room - both piled high with blankets and afghans.  After all, I don't want them to get the least bit cold.  They sit in our laps when we watch TV or sleep on the couch while we eat our dinner.  I remember when the only time you took your dog to the vets was if he was sick or needed a shot to be licensed.  Now they go for their yearly check up and if they are over four years old, they get their annual teeth cleaning too.  Our dogs are definitely part of our family - they are our "babies".  I would feel lost without them.  Nothing else gives unconditional love like a dog.  Those big brown eyes and wagging tail; who could resist.  I just know that when I die I want to come back as a dog in the life of luxury.

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~Gilda Radner


May you spend your Wednesday wisely!!