We Have A Winner!

Let me begin today with the winner of the Valentine’s Day Giveaway.





HAPPY COTTAGE QUILTER!!

You are the lucky one today!

Congratulations!!

Microsoft clip art

********************************************

Thought for today...

As the clouds roll in with sunshine behind them, there is a sense of Spring in the air.

I visualize tulips, daffodils and hyacinths blooming.

********************************************

Here's wishing you a great rest of the day!

Until next time....

God bless and keep you.

Sonia

Last Chance...

Microsoft clipart



 We are down to the count!   It's the last chance to enter for my Valentines Day Giveaway.  I will draw names late this evening, so you still have a little time.   :)

I will post the winner tomorrow.

See blog dated 2/10 or 2/11 to enter the giveaway.

Good Luck!!  :)  

WAVES

Last night I watched a movie about a surfer. At one point she was in a competition and got knocked off her board and was being beat by the waves.  Each time she came up for air another wave would come crashing down on her.   She was eventually rescued, but it scared her.  She was reminded though, to live in fear was not a life at all.  She went back out to finish the competition and though she didn't win, she overcame the waves.

Microsoft clipart

I woke this morning with the thought that we all have waves in our lives.  It seems things are going along just fine then we get knocked down, only to be knocked down by another wave each time we come up for air.  The waves are waves of despair, anger, hurt, worry... the list goes on.  The only way we make it, is by facing those waves and persevering through.

Later in the morning I heard a song, that tied in with my thoughts.
It's titled "The Anchor Holds" by Ray Boltz.

The chorus goes like this...

"The anchor holds

Though the ship is battered

The anchor holds

Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees

As I faced the raging seas

The anchor holds

In spite of the  storm"

I know through the storms of my life and the bashing of the waves, the anchor for me is my faith in God.  That's what helps me persevere and face those waves that hit each time I come up for air.

*********************************************************

Thought for Today

Thank You God for giving me David.

He is my best friend, my Valentine.

*********************************************************

David and I exchanged our valentines early.

He gave me a beautiful mini rose plant ( to be planted in my flower bed after last frost) and a beautiful card that brought tears to my eyes.

 

 I gave him a poem I wrote for the occasion.  

It is now hanging above a song he wrote for me a few years ago at Christmas.

*********************************************************

Don't Forget...

Sign up for my Valentine's Day Giveaway!!  

See posting dated February 10, 2011 or February 11, 2011 

The more times you enter the better chance you have. :)

The drawing will be Valentine's Day Evening.

Also...

Quilts by Lee  is having a giveaway. 

Check it out @ http://quiltsbylee.blogspot.com/

Think Spring Giveaway by StrayStitches.

Check it out @ http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/02/think-spring-giveaway.html

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having the Mug Rug Swap Adventure and Giveaway!

Check it out at... 
http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/2011/02/mug-rug-swap-adventure-sponsored-by.html?showComment=1297387925952#c992328715059545243

 *********************************************************

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia  

Think Spring Giveaway

THINK SPRING GIVEAWAY

Have you been thinking about spring?  The flowers, the bright green of grass and leaves?  Don't you think that we should celebrate the coming season with a giveaway?  I do!!  After looking through my stash, I decided to share some fabric that definitely says SPRING!

 

This giveaway will end on Monday, February 21st at 11:59 PM PST.  

I will announce the winner on Tuesday, February 22nd. 

 

Check it out at....

  http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/02/think-spring-giveaway.html

***************************************************

 And don't forget...

 

A VALENTINE DAY GIVEAWAY!!

Welcome to my first giveaway in 2011!  

Give away date:  2/14/11 

Happy Valentines Day!  

New York Times Best-Selling Novel   

FIREPROOF Never Leave Your Partner.

 A novelization by Eric Wilson based on 

the screenplay by Alex Kindrick & Stephen Kendrick.

A good book including bonus features:

Discussion Group Guide

The Making of FIREPROOF

Production Photos

A Special Message from Alex & Stephen Kendrick

You will also receive the three featured coordinating fat quarters.  

To enter the Give Away:

You can enter the giveaway by the following steps.  

You will receive a entry for each step you do.

 Good Luck! 

1. Sign up to follow my blog.
2. Leave a comment on why valentines are special.
3. Post my give away on your blog and let me know (be sure to include your link).

 

Give away date:  2/14/11 

The winner will be announce on 2/15/11

***************************************************

 

Here's wishing you a wonderful Saturday!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

A Valentines Day Giveaway and a Mug Rug Swap Adventure

from my carport yesterday 11 a.m.

 

this morning... isn't it beautiful?

 Let me begin by saying it snowed all day yesterday.  Needless to say I took pictures.  Though I don't like to be out in the snow, I do think it's pretty when it's falling softly to the ground.  We received around five inches of snow, which closed our schools and some businesses down.



This is still a little odd to me, as I spent ten years in Kansas growing up and it seems nothing shut down when it snowed up there.  I don't remember getting out of school for snow much, especially when it was less than a foot of snow.

None the less, my kids love the fact that school has been out for the past two days and I too haven't minded the time off. 



 
 

*********************************************************

Thought for today:

Though it's very chilly outside and the ground covered in white,

The sun still shines and the sky is blue.

  ********************************************************* 

Snow Ice Cream Anyone?

 My Mom called yesterday and asked if I had ever made snow ice cream.  I never have and she gave me the recipe over the phone.  Ice cream is one of those things I have to be in the mood for.  So I didn't make any.  I thought though you might like the recipe so here it is.

SNOW ICE CREAM

Original Recipe Yield 8 servings

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/snow-ice-cream-ii/Detail.aspx

Ingredients

• 1 gallon snow
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups milk

Directions: When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

 

  ********************************************************* 

A VALENTINE DAY GIVEAWAY!!

Welcome to my first giveaway in 2011!  

Give away date:  2/14/11 

Happy Valentines Day!  

New York Times Best-Selling Novel   

FIREPROOF Never Leave Your Partner.

 A novelization by Eric Wilson based on 

the screenplay by Alex Kindrick & Stephen Kendrick.

A good book including bonus features:

Discussion Group Guide

The Making of FIREPROOF

Production Photos

A Special Message from Alex & Stephen Kendrick

You will also receive the three featured coordinating fat quarters.  

To enter the Give Away:

You can enter the giveaway by the following steps.  

You will receive a entry for each step you do.

 Good Luck! 

1. Sign up to follow my blog.
2. Leave a comment on why valentines are special.
3. Post my give away on your blog and let me know.

 

  *********************************************************

A MUG RUG SWAP ADVENTURE!

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having the Mug Rug Swap Adventure and Giveaway!

Check it out at... 
http://oneygirl-myquiltingadventure.blogspot.com/2011/02/mug-rug-swap-adventure-sponsored-by.html?showComment=1297387925952#c992328715059545243 

 

  *********************************************************
 In Closing:

May your days be blessed,
Surrounding you with the love of family and friends. 

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Just a few winter pics

If you are in my neck of the woods, Arkansas, you know it snowed today.  The earth is covered with a nice, wet, good packing kind of snow.  The kind that makes perfect snowballs. 

I received evidence that it was good for snowballs this afternoon, as I was leaving work. A friend of mine threw a huge snowball at me.  Luckily I had just ducked into the car.  :)

Snow... I like it if I'm nice a toasty on the inside watching out the window, as if in a snow-globe of sorts.  That's how I enjoy the snow.  It's pretty when it falls from the heavens and lands softly on the earth... until a dog runs through it, or a car sputters by.   

******************************************************
 

My thoughts for today

This morning as I watched the weather and heard the predictions... words started flowing out of me...

Snow, snow why do you blow in my neighborhood?

Go away, go away... 

I should have moved further South, than I am today...

Yes... I am ready for Spring.

******************************************************
Pics of the day

As it began to float from the heavens....

White fluffy cover...

 


Awesome gnarley trees!















******************************************************

So... what are your plans for the snow?

Do you get out and play:  snowball fights, snowmen/women/angels?   

or

Do you sit inside with a hot cup of cocoa, all nice and toasty and serene enjoying the view?

With My Head Under A Towel...

The past couple of evenings have been with my head under a towel, hovering over a bowl of steaming water with eucalyptus oil, breathing in the vapors, fighting off sinus troubles.  

Microsoft word clip art

Though I am fighting against congestion, drainage (how can one be congested and have sinus drainage too...is beyond me), my voice trying to fade away, and a cough (caused by the nagging tickle in my throat), I'm thankful that is all that is wrong with me.  

There have been several of my friends taken down to their knees with the flu.  It seems to be a particularly nasty bug this year.  I have a big, burly, bouncer, biker friend, that I didn't think anything would take down, but that little nasty flu bug sure did.   For once, I actually felt sorry for him.  :)

I just hope it all moves on... and everyone survives.

*****************************************************

 

My thought for the day:

My best friend (my husband) 

got my camera and took these pictures for me this morning.

He knew I would like them.

 God sure paints a pretty sky!

*****************************************************

Recipe for a hot drink when you have a cold!

If you have been feeling a little under the weather, try this hot concoction to help sooth the ailment.

HOT NOT TODDY

from About.com

http://cocktails.about.com/od/mocktailmocktail/r/hotnot_toddy.htm 

A Hot Toddy is great but sometimes you want that warm soothing mix without the liquor and that's where the Hot Not Toddy comes in. Choose your favorite hot tea and watch it be transform it into a delightful winter mocktail by adding some the non-alcoholic elements of the traditional toddy. This is not only great for the non-drinker but to share with kids and as a soothing relief of cold symptoms - kind of like chicken soup.

Ingredients:

• 7 oz hot tea
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• grated cinnamon
• ground cloves
• grated nutmeg
• lemon wedge for garnish

Preparation:

1. In an Irish coffee glass pour the honey, lemon and spices.
2. Top with hot, brewed tea.
3. Stir.
4. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

 *****************************************************

Final Thoughts:

May you wake in the mourn; full of energy and well rested.

May your day be accomplished and fully blessed.

God bless and keep you,

Sonia