A BIG GIVEAWAY

Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.
~Dave Barry

Is everyone going out shopping today?  I'm not.  I'm enjoying family, relaxing, and just enjoying the day.  I haven't gone shopping on Black Friday in many, many years.  I do most of my shopping online, away from the crowds and the noise.  Did everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving?  I DID!!  Ate too much but had a great time with family and friends around the table.  And the smoked turkey made by my DH was absolutely delicious!!  Thank you, honey!

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

My Santa collection

Since it is now officially the Christmas season, it is time to bring out my Santa collection.  Do you know who Santa Claus is?  He is based on a real person, St. Nicholas.  St. Nicholas, or Sinter Klaas in Dutch, was a very shy man and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it.  It is said, that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney.  It landed in a stocking which a girl had put by the fire to dry!  This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.  When the Dutch introduced him to the Americans they called him Santa Claus.

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No sewing yesterday, or even Wednesday.  Too much preparation, too little time.  Did you check out my two new blogs?  If not, please do.  The are Block Swap Adventure and Let's Bee Together.  If you are looking for something to start after the first of the year, add these to your list!  We are still looking for new members.

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GIVEAWAYS

The day has finally arrived for my next giveaway!  No special reason this time other than I found this when I was putting back all of my sewing crap mess.  Wouldn't you like to see?

Doesn't help much does it?

OK.  Let me tell you about it.  What I am giving away it the mostly complete set of Thimbleberries Quilt Club 2006 BOM Quilt Kit.  It appears that I am missing the fabric for the outside borders and maybe a little of the backing.  I did a google search for fabric from this collection and there are still some pieces available.

Here is what is included in this giveaway....

12 months of quilt blocks, fabric for sashing, binding, and most of the backing.  The backing is supposed to have a center piece with some blocks in it that I apparently never got (who knows why not). 

This shows each of the twelve months.

This is the sashing, binding, and some of the backing fabric (8 3/8 yards of fabric just in this grouping alone!)

This is a sampling of the fabrics in a few of the monthly squares.  Pretty, rich, fall colors.

This is a picture I found online of the finished quilt.  See the outer border fabric?  That is what is missing.  Perhaps you already have something that will work or you can find something online.

Anyway, that is my giveaway!  What do you think?  Worth waiting through my hints the last couple of days?  Even with the missing fabric, you have to admit that this is a pretty good haul.

Here's how to enter to win this Thimbleberries BOM from 2006...

1.  Leave a comment telling me what you favorite movie is. 

Mine?  I have three - Steel Magnolias, African Queen, and Twister.  Yes I know, Twister isn't much of a movie acting wise but for some reason it just keeps me glued to the screen every time I watch it.  And I can only watch Steel Magnolias if I want a good cry and nobody else is home.  Love Sally Fields!!  And for a classic you just can't beat Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

2.  Blog about this giveaway, then come back and leave another comment telling me you did with a link to your blog for that day.  (If you leave it with the first comment then it will only count as one - make sure this is a separate comment).  So now you have two chances to win.

3.  There will be an additional chance to enter next week, but you will have to wait until I post that.

You do not have to be a follower of my blog but I certainly would like it if you were!  This giveaway is open to everyone!  Make sure that I have some way to reach you!  If your name is drawn and I can't reach you,  you can't win.  So, if you have a no-reply blogger then leave me your email.

This giveaway will end Friday, December 10th at 9:00 pm PST.  The winner will be selected by random.org.

GOOD LUCK

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FINAL THOUGHT

As you head into the holiday season it is important to remember why we are actually celebrating, no matter what your religion.  It seems that commercialism has taken over everything.  Children do not understand the true meaning of any of the holidays except that it means they will probably receive gifts.  And I'm just as guilty as the next person in perpetuating this practice.  I lavish toys on my grandsons and buy too many gifts for other family members too.  Today I will stop and think about what Christmas means to me.  I will try to do this at least once a day until that special day arrives.

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

~Burton Hillis

Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend!!

Sweet & Sour - 2 Ways!

There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today.
 ~Mignon McLaughlin

Isn't that the truth?!?  I wish I had done more organizing yesterday because I certainly don't feel like doing it today.  Actually, I did get quite a bit accomplished yesterday morning.  There are a few less boxes in the living room but I think more of a mess in the second room.  I need to get some plastic storage containers so I can better organize my scraps - that will happen Saturday.  Ziploc bags work great until one bag shifts and then they all shift and a new mess starts.  It's Friday and less than a week until Turkey Day! 

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PHOTOS OF THE DAY

These are a part of my collection of teapots that sit on top of the shelves in my kitchen.  The top one on the right was painted my daughter, Megan, just for me!

Teapots are relatively a new invention compared to the amount of time that tea has been around. In the 7th century, tea came in bricks. A chunk was cut off and then broken up so that it can be boiled in water. They were boiled in cauldrons and then the tea was sipped from wide bowls. The traditional teapots weren't needed until the type of tea changed. In the 1300's, leaf infusion started and now teapots were necessary to allow for the tea to steep. Teapot-like vessels have been around in China for thousands of years, but they were used for wine and water. These vessels had a spout and handle and eventually were adopted for the steeping of tea.

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The other day in the mail I received a very nice surprise from my friend, Leona, of Leona's Quilting Adventure. 

She made a scrap bag just for me!

I had been thinking about making one for myself, but you know how that goes - I will get to it eventually.  Now I don't have to.  After using it for the last two days I don't know how I lived without it.  I'm no longer throwing scraps and threads on the floor.  Who knew that I could be so neat ?!?  Thank you so very much Leona!!!

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Yesterday I took a break from unpacking, putting away, and arranging.  I decided I needed some sewing time.  I had achieved quite a lot in the morning and deserved a break (at least that's what I told myself).  I elected to make the second block of the Layer Cake Quilt Along......

This block was designed by Vickie Eapen of Spun Sugar Quilts.  I used the same line of fabric, Sweet and Sour by Connecting Threads (which happens to be on sale this week at 50% off!), as I did for Block #1.  I think it looks rather citrusy (is that even a word?).

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How about a recipe today?  I haven't shared one with you for awhile so I think it's about time.  With all of the busy and hectic schedules, how would you like a super simple yet super tasty chicken recipe.  My mother gave me this recipe back in the 70's.

Sweet And Sour Chicken

Ingredients

4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 jar Kraft Russian Dressing

1 package onion soup mix

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

2.  Lay out chicken breasts in a 9" X 13" baking dish.

3.  Sprinkle onion soup mix over chicken

4.  Top off with Russian Dressing

5.  Cover loosely with foil and bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour

As my Mother said "Voila!"

Personal Notes

1.  I used 2 breasts and used the full packet of onion soup mix but only enough dressing to cover the chicken well.  This leaves enough in the bottle for later or to use on  your salad.

2.  Excellent served with pineapple and rice pilaf.

3.  Reheats well but tastes great the first time around.

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GIVEAWAYS

Designs By Kassie is giving away a custom Christmas card design.  Kassie is the one I used to create my beautiful blog.  Enter this great giveaway by November 23rd.

Leona is having another great giveaway!  She says "Let's Get Ready For Christmas!"  .  She is giving away a gorgeous lap size quilt and a copy of Aunt Bea's Parlor.  This will close on Friday, November 26.

Green Fairy Quilts is having a big giveaway - but hurry - this one ends tonight!  They are giving away an Origins fat quarter bundle - beautiful fabric.

It's almost time for my to have another giveaway!!!  Come back next Friday to see what I will be giving away!  I don't think you will want to miss this one.  I will give you a hint - it involves a lot of Thimbleberries from 2006!!

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I know that I have been doing a lot of griping and complaining lately.  That will stop as of today - immediately.  Negative feelings just bring me down so I'm gong to be positive and up.  I look forward to completing the chores I have in front of me.  I look forward to this weekend when I can spend time with my dear, sweet hubby.  I look forward to seeing the sun set tonight and rise again in the morning!  I am ready to take on the day!!!

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.
~Author Unknown

Here's hoping you have a super Friday that will lead into a stupendous weekend!!  See you next week, my friends!