I'm Back With A Giveaway!

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. 

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I honestly feel a bit rusty starting out on my blog today.  Going over a week without posting seemed so strange.  But not to worry.  I certainly wasn't bored.  My grandson and daughter kept me plenty busy and entertained.  We had a wonderful visit and got to know our GS#2 even better.  He has a special relations ship with my DH (also known as BeBaw) and would run to the door looking for Bebaw's van.  The house is so quiet now and I began missing them just as soon as they pulled away from the curb.  Hopefully we will all be together again some time in the next few months.  So what's been happening while I've been gone?  I've read a few blogs but I feel as if I'm way behind with all of my blogland friends.  I hope all is well with all of you!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Did you know Americans did not invent Thanksgiving?  It began in Canada. Frobisher's celebration in 1578 was 43 years before the pilgrims gave thanks in 1621 for the bounty that ended a year of hardships and death.  Frobisher and early colonists, giving thanks for safe passage, as well as pilgrim celebrations in the US that began the traditions of turkeys, pumpkin pies, and the gathering of family and friends.

There are three traditions behind the Canadian Thanksgiving Day:

1.  Long ago, before the first Europeans arrived in North America, the farmers in Europe held celebrations at harvest time. To give thanks for their good fortune and the abundance of food, the farm workers filled a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain. This symbol was called a cornucopia or horn of plenty. When they came to Canada they brought this tradition with them.

2.  In the year 1578, the English navigator Martin Frobisher held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies.

3. The third came in the year 1621, in what is now the United States, when the Pilgrims celebrated their harvest in the New World. The Pilgrims were English colonists who had founded a permanent European settlement at Plymouth Massachusetts. By the 1750's, this joyous celebration was brought to Nova Scotia by American settlers from the south.

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WHILE I WAS AWAY....

I received some wonderful squishies.....

I received this wonderful table mat from my swap partner in the Quilted Table Fall/Halloween table topper swap.  Donna used the fat quarters I sent her to create this beauty.  She also included a darling BOO pin, some great note cards and a wonderful 2012 San Diego calender.  Thank you, Donna!

Don't you just love all the kitties and the bright colors?  I won this from Blueberry Patch last month.  I can see several hexie flowers in the future.  Oh my!  Looking at the fabric I realize somehow I didn't include the blue colorway of the top cat fabric.  Thank you so much, Cathy.

And, finally, but certainly not least, I received these wonderful 6" blocks from Anna all the way from The Netherlands.  Anna was my swap partner for August for the 6 Inch Block Swaps Australia.  Love the designs she selected and the colors are perfect.  Thank you, Anna!!

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FAT QUARTER SHOP GIVEAWAY

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Now on to what you all are looking for......the GIVEAWAY.  Fat Quarter Shop is one of my "go-to" online shops.  They have a great selection and wonderful customer service.  Fat Quarter Shop is where I get my monthly Mystery BOM.  These wonderful people are the sponsors of this giveaway.  What could you win?  How about some Family Forever by Bentarex Fabrics?!?

Fat Quarter Shop is giving away a fat quarter bundle of Family Forever in the winner's choice of colorway......

Red Colorway

or

Green Colorway

Isn't this some gorgeous fabric?  I wish I could be one of the winners but I will be satisfied to hold the giveaway instead.  How can you win?  How about  3  chances......

1.  Hop on over to Fat Quarter Shop and check out their newest fat quarter bundles, then come back here and tell me what line you will be adding to your wish list.

2.  Tell me what your favorite Halloween candy is

3.  Blog about this giveaway, then come back and leave me link to the posting.

Make sure to leave each of your responses as separate comments.  If you combine them into one comment, you will only be entered once into the giveaway.

This giveaway is open to everyone.  Fat Quarter Shop will ship globally!!

If you are a No-Reply blogger, you must include your email address in the comments.  If I can't reach you - YOU CAN NOT WIN.

The winner will be selected with the help of random.org

This giveaway ends Monday, October 17, at noon PDT.  The winner will be announced by Tuesday, October 18, at 10:00 am.

Good luck to everyone!!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to finish a mug rug for a flickr group swap.

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GIVEAWAYS

Making Rebecca Lynne is having a giveaway.  You could win a Echino Madrigal Peach Pouch created by Rebecca & some destash.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 12, at midnight EST.

Tales At Wayne Manor is having a giveaway.  You could win 4 coordinated fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, October 11.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a Delighted layer cake.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 12.

Sew Bitter Sweet Designs is having a giveaway.  You could win one Delighted Rollie Pollie.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 12, at midnight.

Love Affair With My Brother is having a giveaway.  You could win a jelly roll from Intrepid Thread.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 14.

Hilachas is celebrating her one year blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win 8 batik fat quarters from Connecting Threads, a spool of 100% Egyptian Cotton Thread, and fall leaves table mat and a box of crayons.  This giveaway ends Saturday, October 15, at midnight CST.

Jaybird Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Modern Mix by Jessica Levitt.  This giveaway ends tonight, Monday October 10th, at 9:00 pm PST.

501 Quilt Blocks is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a copy of the MyMemories Software.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17.

Lilypad Quilting is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a jelly roll of Cabbage and Roses.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 14.

SewBernie is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 12.

Hoodies and Flip Flops is celebrating one year blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win 25.00 gift certificate from Fabrics N Quilts plus a whole bunch of other goodies.  This giveaway ends Saturday, October 22, at noon Central Time.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Whew!  I made it through.  I have more to share with you but I think I was a bit wordy as it was.  We have had a brief tease by Mother Nature of what autumn will be like.  We had a wonderful rain and some cooler temps - some days only into the 60's.  But we are back into the 80's this week.  Just gotta love that roller coaster.  From shorts to zip-up hoodies and back again to shorts.  I'm never sure which way to dress in the morning.  Even the pups were bundled under their covers for a few days.  Just loved that little bit of a nip to the nose.  I know many of you are already deep into the throws of fall and possibly have even had a bit of snow.  I'm sure the east has or is enjoying the colorful display provided by the changing leaves.  Here, we pretty much don't expect it to stay cool until the end of the month.  Oh heck, it's not unheard of to go Trick or Treating in shorts because it's so warm.  Oh well, it is what it is.  I'll just meander outside to check the temps and see if there are any clouds in the sky.

October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter. 
~Nova Bair