A Novel Giveaway

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~Charles Dickens
We are on that roller coaster known as spring weather.  Thursday was warm with a high of 76 degrees with an abundance of  bright sunshine.  Friday brought overcast and dreary looking skies with our high reaching only 62.  Yes, I know that could be a regular heat wave to some of you but it's fairly normal for us at this time of the year.  The plants are confused.  "Do we leaf out yet or send out flowers?"  And the poor birds - "Do we start nest building or just stare at each other for a little while longer?".  There certainly has been lots of mating dances going on along my fence tops lately.   I never know which closet to go to in the morning and could possibly be changing clothes completely by afternoon (my closets are tiny so don't think wardrobe - think high school gym locker).  Thursday it was jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt.  Friday it was back into sweats and a corduroy shirt.  Saturday and Sunday were partly cloudy and cool but a little warmer than Friday.  But I'm not complaining because in about a month it will be hot and will remain hot until some time until October.  I'm not looking forward to summer.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Potato Chips - mmmmmmmm!

Today, March 14,  is National Potato Chip day.  National Potato Chip Day celebrates the ever popular potato chip. Potato Chips are America's #1 snack food. But, its not just a snack food. Its the potato of choice for many lunchtime and dinner meals. Regular (or plain) potato chips are by far the most popular. Other popular flavors are barbecue, sour cream & onion, oil & vinegar, and ranch.

It is hard to believe that the world's most famous snack food began as a joke. Potato Chips were first made in 1853 while Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt was on vacation in New York. At one restaurant, he kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because he said they were "too thick". The chef, George Crum, decided that he would cut them into paper-thin slices, boil them in oil, fry them, and salt them as a joke to the Commodore. It backfired. They became an instant success and the restaurant was well known for them. 

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MUG RUG SWAP

Friday I finally decided to work on my mug rug for my swap partner in Leona's Mug Rug Swap Adventure.

It took me forever to decide exactly what I wanted to do.  I visited my swap partner's blog but that really didn't help a lot.  I even asked her for her "likes" and still didn't have a clue where I was going.  So I pulled out a charm pack I had and a few other fabrics and started cutting.  I ended up with......

...This!  I love the colors in this mug rug.  And the little birdie in the bottom corner was just a little added something.  In fact, he matches the backing to this mug rug.  I hope my partner likes it!  This will be hitting the mail box in a couple of days.

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A NOVEL GIVEAWAY

Last month Nancy, a follower of mine, surprised me when she told me that she had won Patty's Round Robin Book Giveaway.  A bigger surprise was when she told me she would be forwarding the book to me after she had read it.  You see, Nancy doesn't have a website but had seen my entry for Patty's giveaway and knew how much I would like to read the book.  What book you ask?  The book is The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini. 

This book certainly didn't disappoint.  Ms. Chiaverini continued with her excellent story telling.  It is an excellent read.  Inside the cover of this book are the names and locations of everyone that have read the book so far in the Round Robin Book Giveaway.  The book started its travels from San Diego, CA when it left the hands of Darlene, Insights from  Sew Cal Gal (the originator of the Round Robin Book Giveaway).  It has since traveled to Amerika Samoa, then to Iowa and on to Nancy in Utah then to me here in Bakersfield, CA.   Now it is my turn to continue the Round Robin Book Giveaway.  If you would like to read the book and then send it on its way with another giveaway, just leave me a comment below saying you would like to read the book.  Please don't leave a comment if you won't be able to send the book forward.  Let's see how many places this wonderful book can go!  This giveaway will end Monday, March 21, 2011 at midnight.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, March 22.

Thank you, Nancy, for giving me the opportunity to send this book on its way!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make 2 swap blocks for the 6 Inch Block Swaps Australia that just started up.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Plaid Scottie is still celebrating her blogiversary, this time with giveaway #2.  Kaelin is giving away a med size flat rate box full of scraps.  This giveaway ends at midnight on March 17th.

Quilt Cookies is having a giveaway.  What you can win is a surprise so who knows what little goodie it will be.  This winner will be announced after March 16.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a Sugar & Spice layer cake.  This winner will be selected on Wednesday, March 16.

The Q and the U is having a Blog-O-Versary giveaway.  Actually, the 1st of 3.  For this giveaway Riel is giving away a lot of wonderful scraps.  This giveaway will end Wednesday, March 16, AST.

You still have another week to enter the giveaway for a pattern from B. Bumble and Company.  Just go to enter HERE.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Do you ever feel like you run out of time to accomplish all there is to do or would like to do?  I do.  And it doesn't help when they steal an hour from me like they did yesterday!  I wish I had six sets of hands - one for piecing, one for hand stitching, and one for anything else that I might want to do or for even doing chores around the house.  I try to divide my day in two.  One half for piecing and the other for hand stitching.  When you throw writing a blog in the mix, it really limits the hours you can give to any one project.  I have even started working on projects in the evenings.  I used to save this time for my DH and watching TV.  Now I use that time to spend with DH, usually some sort of hand project, and listening to shows.  Unfortunately, I also have to allow time for eating and sleeping.  Probably necessary so I can accomplish my main goals.  So, how do you divide your day?

Time is what prevents everything from happening at once.
~John Archibald Wheeler

A new week, a new day - use it wisely!