Blocks, Blocks, and More

If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: "President Can't Swim."

~Lyndon B. Johnson

Let me preface this by saying if you work for a publishing company I'm not necessarily pointing a finger at you.  Do you ever get tired of listening to the news?  I sure do.  It seems as if they try to sensationalize everything that is bad and ignore the good.  For example - The birds are flying south for the winter - watch out, they may cause hazards to aircraft.  The reporters seem to take just the tiniest bit of truth and stretch it into a worst possible scenario.  Yes birds do fly south for the winter, and yes, there have been collisions with aircraft but if you compare the actual events, this is a very rare occurrence.  I would like just one day where they report only the news as it happened - no additions, no what-ifs and no dooms day possibilities.  I wish I could share a correction in our paper recently with you.  They had to follow it up with a correction of the correction.  That's our local paper for you - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Frozen Food

Did you know that March is National Frozen Food Month?  Well, neither did I until I did some reading.   We think of frozen food as a new invention, but it is actually one of the oldest methods known for preserving food. From the days when man first inhabited cold regions, he froze fish, game and other meats for future use. The first known patent for freezing food was granted as early as 1853 in England. The method used was to immerse the food in ice-and-salt brine. Many other patents were granted for freezing food at that time, all using ice-and-salt mixtures.  But frozen foods could not be used extensively until the development of mechanical refrigeration. This made it possible to freeze and transport meats over long distances.  In 1916, experiments in Germany showed that foods could be frozen by the quick freeze method, which meant freezing the food in a few hours instead of in several days. In 1917 a man called Clavence Birdsage began to work on methods for freezing food in small containers for sale in stores. It wasn’t until 1919 that the first commercial pact of this type was put on the market.  As the result of his experiments and the work of others, it was found that many vegetables could also be preserved in this manner, and the frozen industry was on its way.  I know I would be lost without my frozen foods!

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LAYER CAKE BLOCK

Yesterday I made the 11th block in the Layer Cake QAL hosted by Moose on the Porch. 

This block was designed by Vanessa Wilson of Crafty Gemini and is called E-ccentric Quilt Block.  I'm not wild about this block but I do think the fabrics from Sweet and Sour worked up nicely in this design.  Only one more block to make in two weeks and then I will be putting the blocks together for a quilt top!

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MAIL CALL

The other day my mail box was overflowing in swap blocks, purchases, and winnings.  I received my first 7.5" Barn Door Swap blocks.....

These two wonderful blocks were made for me by Karyli.  I love the fabric she selected for the blocks.  You can check Karyli's blog out at Sew and So On...

I also received.......

I just hate it when I see this envelope in the mailbox.  The postal people always make it sound like this couldn't have ever been their fault.  YUCK!

But luckily Kate had slipped the contents of the envelope into a sealed bag as I had suggested to all of my Bee members.  None of the nasty, icky, sticky, who-knows-what-it-is stuff could get through to the precious fabrics.

Kate was a bit behind but the wait was worth it.  She made me this wonderful block and included a cute little note.  Love the block, Kate!

I am currently involved in Leona's Mug Rug Swap Adventure and she recently had a giveaway for the members of this group.  I was one of the lucky winners of.....

QuiltPink for hope published by Better Homes & Gardens.  There are some awe inspiring quilt designs and 50 quilt block patters in this book.  Each quilt in the book has a story attached.  Leona also included some wonderful charm squares.  Thank you so very much for, Leona, for this and for hosting the swap!

I recently placed an order with Connection Threads.  They had some batiks on sale that I just couldn't pass up.....

Aren't these beautiful?  I was sadly lacking in batiks and since some of the members of the swaps I'm involved in seem to request batiks I decided it was time to increase my stash.  Once again I'm blue heavy.  I really need to work on that.  If you are in the market for batiks, check out Connecting Threads.  You certainly would have a hard time beating their prices and their customer service is outstanding!  And they still have a selection of batiks at 30% off!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to finish the hot pad for the swap I'm in.  I definitely have to prepare emails for swap partners in the Block Swap Adventure as they are do tomorrow!

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GIVEAWAYS

A Bowl Full Of Lemons is having giveaway.  You could win Silhouette SD Machine.  This giveaway ends March 25th at 11:59 pm.



Green Fairy Quilts is having a giveaway.  Up for grabs is a Punctuation Jelly Roll.  This giveaway ends Friday night, March 25.

Cut To Pieces is having a giveaway.  You could win a Hawthorne Threads Scrap Pack.  Ends?

Sew Many Ways is celebrating her one millionth visit with a giveaway.  You could win a beautiful 24 inch Sterling Silver necklace.  This giveaway ends ?

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FINAL THOUGHT

The passing of Elizabeth Taylor brought a sadness to my heart.  Such a regal and beautiful woman.  She was in so many great movies and supported some great causes.  I even remember her bit parts in General Hospital and also in All My Children - quite the surprise.  I think the movie I most remember her in is National Velvet.  I saw this as a child (no, not when it was first released) on TV.  Even through all of her health issues she remained a lady, a star, and an international beauty.  Elizabeth Taylor will be missed.

Elizabeth Taylor was an icon — the mortal Hollywood actress for whom the grand Greek word might as well have been invented.
~Lisa Schwarzbaum

Will your Thursday be full of thread?