Do We Have A Winner?

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.
~Rabindranath Tagore

Spring just doesn't know what to do for us yet.  Shall she bring sunshine and flowers or cool weather and showers?  Yesterday morning was full of unexpected clouds.  A cool breeze blew but the birds were still singing.  As the afternoon passed, so did the clouds.  More blue than gray, more sun than shade.  I have daffodils, dutch iris, gerbera daisies, and tulips all blooming in my yard.  The blue of the scrub jay and the yellow of the gold finch are constant sources of color in my yard too.  And green! Lots and lots of green!  New green leaves, growing grass and weeds.  I just love to look out my window in Spring.


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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Look UP At The Sky Day

Look up at the sky today. Gah! Not directly into the sun. Are you okay? Yeah you'll be seeing those spots for a few minutes. Anyway, next time look up and admire the clouds. Hey, that one looks like a rabbit! Whoops, sorry, didn't mean to make you look again. You know what, just wait until tonight and check out the stars. Much safer.
This is rather fitting since the space shuttle, Columbia was successfully launched on April 12, 1981, the 20th anniversary of the first human spaceflight, and returned on April 14, 1981, after orbiting the Earth 36 times, landing on the dry lake bed runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Columbia then undertook three further research missions to test its technical characteristics and performance. 

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WINNER

I suppose you would like to know who the won the $25.00 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop for my 200th Post Celebration Giveaway.  Well, first I want to fill you in on some facts.  There were 13 countries heard from:  USA, UK, Canada, France, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Croatia, Australia, Singapore, Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, and Russia.  Here are the tallies for our states:  Alabama - 2, Arizona - 4, Arkansas - 2, California - 10, Colorado - 1, Connecticut - 1, Florida - 11, Georgia - 5, Idaho - 4, Illinois - 1, Indiana - 6, Iowa - 2, Kentucky - 3, Louisiana - 1, Maine - 3, Massachusetts - 1, Maryland - 2, Michigan - 2, Missouri - 3, Nebraska - 2, Nevada - 1, New Hampshire - 1, New Jersey - 3, New York - 4, North Carolina - 10, North Dakota - 1, Ohio - 3, Oklahoma - 2, Oregon - 3, Pennsylvania - 6, Rhode Island - 1, South Carolina - 2, South Dakota - 2, Tennessee - 4, Texas - 12, Utah - 7, Virginia - 3, Washington - 1, Wisconsin - 3.  As you can see, the comments were left by people far and wide.  There were, unfortunately, also 9 No Reply bloggers.  That makes me rather sad because I would have loved to have been able to make a response back to them.  I had so much fun reading where you were all from.  Thank you again for playing along and for taking the time to read my blog!  OKAY!  So much for the facts that interested only me.  With the help of random.org, the winner of the $25.00 gift certificate is.........

#9
Mommarock said...

Congrats from TX! You do an amazing job on your blog.. someday I'll get better at mine.. I'm just not very organized.. I yap a little when I get a chance LOL.

I have already sent out an email to the lucky winner.

Thank you all again for playing along in my giveaway. 
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SASHINGS

Yesterday morning was spent cutting and assembling the sashing for my Layer Cake quilt.

I am not following the pattern that was given by Moose On The Porch Quilts but am trying something a little different.  We will see how it looks when I start adding the blocks to the sashing.

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AFTERNOON OF LABOR

In the afternoon I spent two hours wrestling the blue and brown quilt. 

This quilt measure in excess of 60" X 72" and weighs a ton!  Now I know why I have been putting off quilting this for so long.  However, I definitely want this quilt done before Easter weekend so I can give to DD#2 when she comes up to visit.  This will probably be the last quilt I quilt myself.  All future quilts will be going out to a long arm quilter.  Does anybody have recommendations to send my way for long arm quilting?  I just can't muscle that much fabric and batting around anymore.

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USE FOR A HOOK

We figured out a use for at least one of those hooks that have been setting idly by on the desk waiting for me to remember what they were to be used for......

DH put the hook up behind the spare bedroom door so I can hang my cutting mats.  So nice not to have them laying on the bed or hanging on the closet door always in the way.  Thank you, honey!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make a hexagon flower so I will be prepared for Wednesday.  I will also put in at least two more hours on the brown and blue quilt!

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GIVEAWAYS

Sew Cal Gal is having a giveaway.  You could win a kit to make a darling wall hanging and $25 gift certificate to AccuQuilt.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 17, at midnight PST.

Alderwood Quilts is having an April giveaway.  You could win a First Choice Boxers pattern (adult sizes small to XXL) as well as your choice of conversation fabric to make a pair.  The winner will be announced on May 1st.

Quilted Journeys is celebrating her one year anniversary with a giveaway.  You could win a wonderful fat quarter bundle of 5 beautiful fabrics.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 15, at 6:00 pm EST.

Bluebird's Wing is having a big giveaway.  There are 8 great possible prizes to win.  This giveaway runs through Sunday, April 17.

Cotton Blossom Farms is having a giveaway.  She is giving away a 12 fat quarter bundle of Michael Miller's Gypsy Bandana by Pillow and Maxfield.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 15, at midnight EST.

Ardea's Nest is having a giveaway.  You could win 4 1/2 cuts of some beautiful fabric.  She has also provided a wonderful tutorial.  Melissa will draw the winner on Saturday, April 16.
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FINAL THOUGHT

I love to read.  I am currently reading the third book by Emilie Richards, Lover's Knot.  This is the best of the series so far.  I wasn't horribly impressed with her first two books so I wasn't in any hurry to continue the series.  But, pleasantly, this is a much better read.  When I worked out of the house, my co-workers would always make fun of me when I would spend my lunch hour reading.  I don't go anywhere without a book.  Books can open up the mind, take us to far away places and distant times.  I have always loved to read and have to set a time limit for myself when reading in bed or I would likely read until the sun came up.  Reading has been a passion of mine since I was young.  I read to the girls growing up and love reading to my grandsons.  Do you like to read?  If you do, what are you currently reading?

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.
 ~Charles W. Eliot


May your Tuesday be totally tantalizing!