Wrapping up the Weekend - and a Drawing

GR&DF I do thank you all so much for the kind comments about the Squirrel Sampler - I love the Fall and this put me right in the mood. Faith had a quick question in the comments - she asked what does RAK stand for - something wonderful that this community is so well known for - "Random Acts of Kindness." There are so many wonderful stitchers giving so much to everyone.

I was in the kitchen quite a bit over the weekend - one thing I made was a salad we really enjoy - broccoli salad ..... it has bacon...

- and I love me some bacon!!! It has some broccoli...

and a little chop, chop - mix, mix later.... et voila -

a bowl of delicious summer salad - although I make this all the year long, it lends itself to accompanying summer dishes - I also made some fried chicken and BBQ ribs - and it was a delicious 4th of July picnic dinner - at home! If you would like the recipe it is super easy - just ask.

I also made a really great frosted chocolaty cake -

I got this recipe from Posie Gets Cozy's Blog - it is her "go to " Birthday Cake recipe - The cake part is Hershey's Deep Dark Chocolate Cake and the frosting is a new one to me - Cloudburst Frosting - my new favorite frosting - it whipped up light and delicious - I changed the almond extract for vanilla - but other than that I kept the recipe as written - This was scarfed up quickly at Rico's work place - with requests for the recipe - If you take a look at her Blog you will find it lots of fun - so stay a minute a browse.

We also made a quick trip out to Sloat Garden Center to replace the plants on the balcony for the summer season. Here are a couple of snaps -

Rico picked out some nice petunias and ferns to fill in the window boxes and I got a great...


geranium - the geranium is one of my all time favorite plants to have around - so many lovely colours and leaf shapes - and this was a beautiful one IMHO.

------------

In keeping with the many RAK's I have had lately I wanted to have a little drawing and pass on the fun Squirrel Sampler that was passed to me.

So, if you would like a chance to win and stitch this delightful Fall Sampler just leave a comment on this post only - and I will have the Who-Hounds pull a name this Sunday - July11, 2010 - and announce the winner on Monday - No need to do anything else but leave a comment. You can be anywhere in the world - but you will have to be able to receive the chart via snail mail. You can mention it on your Blog, if you have one, but you don't need to have a Blog to enter - just passing on the kindness shown me - that's all.

I loved the idea that Natasha had about a SAL - but I am thinking about something else - more group related...... check back for details, once I work them out in my tiny over taxed brain.

There you go sports fans - I think that about wraps it up for today. Thank you all for stopping by and leaving those sweet comments... I do appreciate them all!! Do come again.

Take care,
edgar

A Super RAK and a Give-a-way...

Yesterday the mails brought a super RAK from my dear friend Jennifer in Ohio. Here is a snap -

Jennifer knows how we have three fur babies and so included and wonderful keyring with and chihuahua on it (looking just like HRH The Peach) -and here her majesty is....

Just thinking "ya gotta piece cheese - so give that sucker up...NOW!!" She is a sweetie!!..... back to the RAK - Jennifer knows me quite well and also sent some handmade soap - a real weakness of mine - and a brochure from Historic Lebanon. Thank you so much - It just made my day!!!! That is one of the really great things about this blog stuff - I have met such wonderful people that I wouldn't have otherwise. The friendships I have been building within this community are great and I do cherish every one of them - another thing to be thankful for!!!!

I wanted to do a drawing/give-a-way and just didn't know what or where I would find the time - but Rico came through - he had a sales rep visit his office and give him this baseball Snoopy - Here is a snap -

Since I don't know anyone that collects Snoopy's I wanted him to go to someone who would appreciate him.... so if you or you know someone who would enjoy getting him just leave a little comment on this blog up until Sunday 12/7 at 3 PM PST - and we will haul out the BOD and have a drawing - I will announce the winner on Monday Morning - this way I can get him in the mail Tuesday and hopefully to his new home before Christmas - He sits about 6 inches tall.

I started working on the ABC SAL last night using the dark fabric..... I am not sure I really like the way the golden Scarecrow is looking - I love the plum colour but the yellow - I wonder what a green might look like or just a lighter purple????..... I think I may try something else over the weekend and post on Monday.

Thank you all for the great ideas about shelling the walnuts - I was just lol - as I never thought about using a towel - I had these visions of whacking the nuts with a hammer and having them fly all over the place - I am such a ding sometimes!!!! Now how did my grandmother deal for all those years shelling pecans and walnuts for the holidays - I know she shelled tons every fall because she made all sorts of candies....making - turtles, fudge, sugared nuts, and cakes and pies both the ton. Where did she find the time?

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a great weekend -
Take care,
edgar

Exchange Finishing Marathon, and a Small Drawing...

Last night I was in the throws of an exchange finishing frenzy, which will continue tonight after visiting Britex for some extra doo-dads..... so there are no snaps of any stitchy things....

This weekend while digging around looking for something else I ran across a make it yourself sampler kit I got last year. I never got around to doing anything with it so here it sits, brand new never played with -



I thought to myself that someone might want to make a their own sampler - instead of gathering dust at my house I am going to have a "BOD" drawing. So - if you would like to have this kit just leave a comment in today's comment section, you can leave a comment up until 3pm on Friday. I will have the mystic all seeing, all dancing chihuahuas do that voodoo they do so well and have a winner on next Monday - 9/22/08. Here is a snap of the inside


The kit includes: 2 full color instruction books, 3 traditional sampler charts, a piece of 14ct Aida cloth, an adjustable embroidery hoop, a thimble, 7 floss colours and a size 26 needle.

Last night was super movie night on TCM with a triple line up of chick flicks- starting off with the original "The Women" - 1939 starring MGM Divas - Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, then it was "Stage Door"- 1937 with RKO Divas - Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rodgers - the evening ended - or I should say my evening ended with "Little Women" - 1933 again with Katherine Hepburn. Three super-dee-duper flicks!! I was in hog heaven!!!

Just a reminder that the I am still taking sign ups for the SBBC 2009 - until next Friday 9/26/08. Just send an email to - edgar matt @ g mail . com (take out the spaces).

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

And the week continues -

I was a stitching fool last night an finished up another exchange - that I can't show just yet. So that is three exchanges in the last couple of weeks which puts me ahead of schedule - I just can't believe it.... as I felt I was way behind. So that I keep it all straight and on track I keep a list with the mail dates in my stitchy basket at home and I have my "Black Sheep Bits " notebook - which is a composition book that has ALL of my ongoing projects, the SBBC, exchanges past, present and future - all in this book....

(and I thought I wouldn't have any pictures today) I have to write it all down as I have such a bad memory sometimes - If I didn't have this notebook I would be completely lost!!!

I think I need to do a "Fabulous Fall" drawing from
THE BOWL of DESTINY......
those singing and dancing Chihuahuas are getting out of practice....... so ..... let me see what I can come up with - stay tuned -

Last night the movie was a Netflix pix - "Schindler's List" - 1993 - a movie I hadn't seen in a long time and it is still just as powerful as ever - The brilliant use of B&W to set the tone and the superb acting of Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. A line from the movie says it all
" Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world." Isn't that a great thought - that one person against a whole evil world can do some good!!

I would like to send out a warm thanks to all the new visitors out there!!! and - Thank you to all the regulars - you know who you are!!!!!! Come back often - I might just surprise you!!!

Take care,
edgar