100 Posts Giveaway

aka: the "Wahoo! I want to celebrate the people I've connected with through blogging" giveaway.

After my first giveaway, my thoughts about giveaways changed. That one was part of a quilting giveaway of close to 100 craft bloggers. I was amazed to have so many people stopping by and commenting on my blog, but I found myself hoping that when I drew a name (or the random integer generator did) that it would be someone I knew...someone whose blog I loved, or a friend who reads mine, or a family member back home. I decided that the next time I gave something away on my blog, it would be a celebration of the connections made through blogging.

And so I'm celebrating the community I found here. I'm so grateful for the ideas shared, the beauty exposed, the inspirational thoughts posted, the gratitude expressed, the honoring of details, the insecurities gently revealed and the reassurances so freely given. I'm grateful for my bloggy friends! And while this post may be followed with an "Aack! How do I keep up with all of the wonderful people I've connected with through blogging?" post, it is simply because I consider you, all of you, to be part of my community now.


And so this giveaway is a thank you to YOU for visiting! I am so grateful you are one of the wonderful people who stop by here. Whether you comment often or we've never formally met, whether you've been here before or whether this is a first visit, you are part of my blog. And so to one of you, as an act of "community service" (hee hee!)...I'd love to give away this little scarf. It is a slightly narrower version of this pattern made out of my favorite yarn in the world in color called Meadow. (Isn't that perfect for spring?) Oh, this yarn makes such airy, soft delicacies! I love, love, love it!

Simply comment on this post, say hello if you are commenting for the first time, make sure I have a way to contact you and then wish upon a star. I'll draw (yes, this time I think I'll draw) a name out next Tuesday night. Good luck! And THANK YOU for being part of my blog.

p.s. If the winner wants buttons or ribbon to go with it as shown in the pattern, simply let me know when I contact you. I would be pleased as punch to add them for you.

I am grateful for....

A hike....

Here's what hubby spotted. She wasn't bashful. Watchful, but not bashful. She foraged with a younger deer, used her nose to to satisfy an itch (can you see the little nuzzle mark in her fur?) and watched us watching her. We spotted four deer. They were beautiful to watch!

A new project....

I'm embroidering these as a housewarming gift for a friend who moved into a new apartment.

A bit of green...

After seeing Amy's pic, I had to see if there was any green coming up by me and there was!

My next post will be #100. As part of that celebration, I think I'll give away something green. 'Til then, have a lovely day.

Lovely things and surprises

Hubby and I went away for a rustic, and much needed, overnighter. Can you spy what he did on our hike?

While there have been other lovely things recently...like meeting Victoria and her quilts today! Wow!...I'm simply going to sign off for tonight, with a promise of a little surprise coming soon.

Until then.....have a lovely couple of days! We'll chat soon!

My collection of nine-patches...

...all for Bumblebean's nine-patch gather. Her post also has a wonderful list of places you can contribute to other charity quilt projects. Check it out!

Hope you have a lovely day.

Happy Valentine's Day

May you discover your own beauty and sweetness today....

If you dream it...they will come

Things I am creating in my life:

1. Time at home and a sense of home.
2. Quilts.
3. Lots of love with my honey...memories, snuggles, just hanging out time.
4. Babies.
5. Time with friends.
6. Work that is meaningful to me.
7. Community. People that take care of each other.
8. A little less consumption and collection of "stuff", yes, even here at "the little collection".

How about you? What are you creating?

Soup Swap: Sweet Potato Soup

This recipe was given to me by the mother of a boy back home. I had a nice little on again/off again crush on this boy all growing up. Before he left for two years, he paid me a visit at college (midnight hiking included) that fanned that crush into a flame. At his farewell party, his mother made this soup. It was the beginning of a transfer of my affections from son to soup. When he returned the sparks just weren't there, but I was still passionately in love with this...

...in spite of its occasional resemblance to baby food. And my true love? He loves it!

Oh how I love a happy ending!

Admittedly, it is a stretch to say that what I am about to share for Jessica's Soup Swap is a recipe. It's more of a soup "concept", but it is so simple, I think a concept will do. As such, realize that all measurements are estimates (guesses) and can (and probably should!) be tweaked. I always wing it with this recipe. Just know, with good dairy and cardamom you can't go wrong!

Without further ado....

Claudia's Sweet Potato Soup

4 sweet potatoes
reserved liquid from boiling sweet potatoes

2 Tbs. butter (or ghee if, like Claudia, you roll like that)
1/2 cup cream (or skip this and use 1/2 and 1/2 or milk)
1/2 - 1 cup milk
ground cardamom
salt and pepper

1. Boil the sweet potatoes 'til soft.
2. Drain, reserving some of the liquid.
3. Transfer to a blender.
4. Add 1/2 cup reserved liquid.
5. Add 1 Tbs. butter.
6. Add part of the dairy product of your choice.
7. Blend away. (Technical term, see Joy of Cooking)

8. Add additional liquids (reserved liquid, milk, cream, etc.) and butter to achieve your desired level of richness, creaminess and thickness.

9. Add cardamom, (maybe 1/2 -3/4 tsp?) salt and pepper to taste.

If you really want to be happy, enjoy with these crackers.

(Aack! I just discovered the blog with this recipe has been deleted. Oh they are divine! Can I share this recipe with you? What are the blog ethics for something published by someone else that I can no longer just link to because it's been deleted? They are one of my main inspirations for starting a blog! You must try them! Well, if you are in to that making your own crackers kind of thing... This happy ending is slightly marred. Somebody help! Is there a copyright lawyer in the house?)

A spot of tea....

...and some yogi counsel I am trying to follow.

Falling Leaves

This is my current sewing-on-the subway project.


Yes. It's "out of season", but it's my most transportable project and I am glad to be making a little progress on it.

In honor of Molly's question of Inspiration - Imitation - Innovation, here's a little background. The quilt that inspired this was all maple leaf blocks, with very large and orderly rows of leaves filling the center of a scrappy quilt. When I started sewing mine years ago, I wanted it to be just like that! But when I got it back out this year, I decided I want something more free-form, with a variety of wind-blown leaves tossed over the background fabric.

So...I'm adding applique and embroidery and words. What words, especially action words, do you think of when you think of falling leaves? I have twirl and float and fall...What else? Maybe crunch or dance? Can you even think of autumn things when you are dreaming of spring???

And give us this day our daily bread...

What if you knew that whatever you truly need today, it will be provided?

Last night, I dreamt I bought a motorcycle and I was loving it! Admittedly, a little scary on the curves, but I was excited...the freedom, the cute helmet...

A calendar from my sister explains the necessity of said helmet:

Seems like an appropriate dream when I have been sorting scraps for the 9 Patch Gather sponsored by the Harley-loving Victoria's over at Bumblebeans. It'll be fun to piece these!

They are all scraps from my sister's rose quilt top. I finished it before her wedding last summer, but then she decided she'd rather have me actually spending time with her that week than holed up at Grandma's madly quilting it. Funny, huh? Glad somebody has her priorities straight! So, it is waiting for some quilting love back at my mom's house. I have until her first anniversary anyway, right???


In any event, Victoria has a great list of charity quilting opportunities if you are interested in doing your own project. Check it out!

p.s. What did you dream last night? What are you working on? I'd love to know!

Have a happy Sunday!