Month Long Celebration Winner!!!!

WOW! There were 80 entrants in total although one of you had your name in there three times...Alberta! I guess I wasn't watching too closely ;o) Just kidding!

I put all of your names in at Random.org and the big green bag full of stash goes to...Stitchinowl!

Sorry I have the list divided into three parts but I couldn't figure out how to get the whole thing onto one and have the date and time show at the bottom.

Again, I want to thank everyone for participating and I only wish that I could give out prizes to everyone. You've really made Blogging enjoyable for me. You're all winners in my book ;o)

Month Long Celebration Week 5

Wow! It's hard to believe it's the end of January already! And it's the final day of my month long celebration :o( I've been having so much fun (and I hope you have been too) that I'm sorry to see it come to a close. But don't worry, there will be other giveaways in the future ;o)

Here is the last batch of items to be placed in the big green bag -


January 25 - a retractable tape measure. Perfect size for carrying around with you :o)

January 26 - a 3.5 x 5 inch wood frame. You know you can always find something to stitch that will fit in there! LOL!

January 27 - a complete kit by Pine Mountain Designs called August Is Cookin'. Gotta love these pre-finished projects ;o)

January 28 - two new patterns. Love Blooms by Mosey N Me and Christmas Ornaments 2 by Prairie Grove Peddler.

January 29 - a white theme...a piece of 20 x 24 inch of white Monaco and a card of white 3/8" Pull Bow Ribbon (6 yards). If you have trouble making bows, this will do the trick!

January 30 - five ceramic Mill Hill buttons. Four trees (two different styles) and one teddy bear :o)

January 31 - and finally...two pieces of hand-dyed fabric! One 9 x 13 inch 28 count Opalescent Lugana (Mystique Cafe Mocha) by Enchanted Fabrics and one 17 x 14 inch 28 count Linen (mystery color but I think it might be called Pepper) by R&R Reproductions.

You may have noticed a Just Cross Stitch magazine in the picture as well. That's because I'm going to swap the January 11 item. I did have the November/December 2010 up but I'm going to replace that with the January/February 2011 issue. I hope you don't mind. My rules anyway ;o) LOL!

I'm also going to include a little something from my province; a Nova Scotia lanyard. I find these perfect for attaching my scissors to while I'm in the car. That way you always know where they are!

There's still a bit of time left to enter so remember to comment on the first post in order to get your name thrown in the hat. PLEASE read all the rules beforehand! Tomorrow I will use Random.org to choose the winner and then post that name here. Good luck everyone :o)

Month Long Celebration Week 4

Today it's sunny out, with no snow, but the wind is wild and C-O-L-D! This is the first real cold snap that we've had here. I really shouldn't complain ;o) I figure it's a good time to get some work done and post another round of goodies for you!

January 18 - a serious stitcher has to have more DMC ;o) Here's another eight new skeins of floss (Ecru, 815, 3024, 3362, 3363, 3364, 3371 and 3866).

January 19 - a stitcher has to have beads as well! I'm including one package of Mill Hill Petite Glass Beads (42027) and one package of Mill Hill Glass Seed Beads (02019).

January 20 - I can't forget that blending filament that we love so much ;o) Included are two spools of Kreinik (001 and 100).

January 21 - this poor pattern looks well used but I found it in a second hand shop and thought it might appeal to those sampler lovers out there. It's called Sampler Stocking III by Mary Beale. It's copyright 1985 so I don't know if it's OOP or not.

January 22 - buttons! Buttons are always good to have in our stash :o) This is a package of Dress It Up buttons in squares and circles. Perfect for LK, BC, HIH or snowmen patterns!

January 23 - I figure you'll need more finishing stash as well so here are two fat quarters. I love the paw prints :o)

January 24 - how can you finish something without ribbon? So here are two spools; one a brown satin and the other a blue grosgrain.

Only one more week to go! Are you getting excited? I know I am :o)

There's still time to enter so remember to comment on the first post in order to get your name thrown in the hat. PLEASE read all the rules beforehand!

I want to thank everyone for their kind, kind words on my last post. It made me feel a bit better knowing that there have been others in similar situations. I'm still expecting to see or hear Popcorn so she is still missed but I do hope that she finds the right home. I have faith that she will.

Month Long Celebration Week 3

I can't believe how time flies! We're now onto week 3. I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen so far :o) It's so fun picking out items to put up each week. Are you ready? Here you go -

January 11 - the November/December 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch. This is new but I do see a rip on the front cover :o( That may have happened while it was piled under all my rubble...

January 12 - this isn't really stitchy related but I thought a cute puppy calendar would be nice. Hey, you can keep track of you stitching with it! The picture on the front is my favourite ;o)

January 13 - how can one stitch without floss? Included is 8 skeins of DMC (white, 371, 372, 564, 606, 725, 986 and 3756).

January 14 - another new pattern! This is called Fall Baking by Of Generations Past.

January 15 - so far there hasn't been any fabric so this will get you ready for Christmas :o) It's hard to see in the picture but it's a piece of 28 count silver/white Metallic Lugana, 18 x 13.75.

January 16 - another new pattern but this one includes the threads AND a sterling silver charm! This one is called Me And Thee by Charland Designs. Perfect for Valentine's Day :o)

January 17 - and the final item for this week is a heart tin frame by Twisted Threads. I've had this in my stash for years now and have never stitched a pattern for it. I'm passing it on in hopes that it will be used :o)

Before I forget, I want to welcome all the new Pumpkin Stalkers to the Pumpkin Patch. It's been nice to see new faces and to check out your Blogs as well :o) I hope you will enjoy future visits here. The Patch is a pretty laid back place that not only combines my love for cross stitch and photography but it does have a little sense of humour too. LOL!

Sigh...I hate to do this but I feel I must :o( For those of you who want to enter this giveaway, PLEASE read ALL the rules (and there aren't many) on this post before commenting. If you can, let me know what your ID is if it's not easily picked out among the Stalker list. Just because you follow me in your Google Reader does not make you a Follower of my Blog. To have your name entered, you have to comment on that first post as well. If you leave a comment on another post, your name will not be entered and I will not track you down. Sorry but that's not my job ;o) I would hate to see anyone left out so if you have any doubts, please check the comment section of that first post to make sure your name is there. Thank you!

Please stay tuned for my second finish :o) WOOHOO!

Month Long Celebration Week 2

It's that time of week again when I reveal more goodies! Are you prepared? Just think, last time you only got to see three day's worth. This time I have seven days of stuff for you to feast your eyes on and I hope you won't be disappointed ;o)

January 4 - I'm including one of my own handmade tuck pillows :o) These are great for that instant finish gratification. I left a (very) small hole at the bottom so you can stuff it or leave it flat; whichever you desire!

January 5 - since I won the whole Dinky Dye silk collection, I thought I would share some of the silks that I have. I mean hey, am I 'really' going to use all of this silk???? Probably not in this lifetime. LOL! These three skeins came from one of their OOPS packs.

January 6 - another pattern. This time Colors from Crossed Wing Collection and its brand new.

January 7 - how can you stitch something without a cute pair of scissors? I had picked up the regular embroidery version of these breast cancer scissors quite awhile ago and then the other day I found the stork style in the same pattern. And yes, I did buy a pair for myself too ;o)

January 8 - For The Love Of Cross Stitch was one of my favourite magazines so I'm always on the search for issues that I don't have so that I can complete my collection. I came across a stack of these this past summer and ended up buying two that I already had. These are second hand but always a nice addition to anyone's stash! The issues are July and November 1989.

January 9 - plastic floss bobbins are always a great idea! There are 17 and with the hole at the top, I think they would be great for those hand dyed fibers. That way you can keep them gathered together on a huge ring.

January 10 - speaking of rings...how about a brand new package of them for those floss tags that everyone loves to make? There are 8 in the package, 1.5 inches in diameter and come in four different colors (gold, green, red and blue).

Remember, if you would like to get your name in on this giveaway, please read the rules and put a comment on THIS POST only!

We still have three weeks to go :o)

Month Long Celebration!

As promised w-a-y back in this post, I will be holding a month long giveaway to celebrate my 200+ Pumpkin Stalkers!!!! Woohoo! I am so pleased that so many of you think that my Blog is interesting enough to follow ;o) LOL!

So what does this mean? Well, for every day of this month, I will add a prize(s) to the box and on February 1, a winner will be announced :o) Just think of the loot! Since I don't have the time to post an individual picture each day, I will post a group picture every Monday instead. Most of the items will be cross stitch related. Some will be new, gently used or from my stash.

Now the rules are simple... First, you MUST be a Pumpkin Stalker (either old or new). Second, you MUST leave a comment on THIS POST only! If you leave a comment on another post, it will not be included in the draw. And finally, you MUST leave me your email address or have some way for me to contact you if you are the winner. Easy peasy :o)

Do you want a sneak peek of what's to come? No? Ahhhhh, I thought you said yes ;o) Here are the prizes for January 1-3 -

January 1 - a HUGE tote from Stitches N Things! I had three of these so I figured I could part with one ;o) These are great for carrying around big projects. The bag measures 20 x 15.5 inches.

January 2 - the pattern Summer Flies by Shepherd's Bush and it includes the button!

January 3 - a tin because we all know how much fun it is to finish one of these.

Good luck everyone and I hope this will be as fun for you as it is for me :o)

Please Don't Pinch Me...

...because if I'm dreaming, I don't want to know ;o)

I blinked once, I blinked twice and then a third time but the same email stared right back at me. I've read it again and again but it still says the same thing...

I WAS THE WINNER OF THE DINKY DYES PRIZE FROM THE NEEDLEWORK SHOW!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!! I can't believe it! I just can't stop smiling either :o) I will receive THE FULL SET of their silks. How many is that? I think 180. Can you say heaven? Sweet!

It's funny because on Saturday, DH was watching television while I was working out my answer to the question that was asked for the contest. I kept asking DH questions about Australia until he finally looked at me strangely and asked me what the heck I was doing. When I told him and then interjected that it was approximately $700 worth of silks, realization hit but he still shook his head ;o) I NEVER thought I would win. EVER!

I'm hoping this is a good omen because (early) tomorrow morning I have to go for my yearly mammogram :o( I'm officially in my eleventh year now so hopefully it will all go down smoothly. I was at Frenchys (used clothing store) and bought this T-shirt -

Appropriate, yes? LOL! I know I've done this for ten years now but it still doesn't get any easier. Even though I'm trying not to think about it, it's still in the back of my mind and probably a good reason why I don't feel so great this week. Fingers and toes crossed :o)

I had another WONDERFUL surprise last night when I got an email from my dear friend Irene. She FINISHED stitching the Happy Pumpkin Day 2010 pattern! She's fast ;o) I hope she doesn't mind me 'borrowing' her picture -

Please visit her Blog though to see how she finished the back. I'm tickled pink because it came out better than I had hoped :o) Great job Irene!

Going Postal

That's the way I feel right about now! LOL!

Although I could go for a ride in a USPS truck ;o) This picture was taken when we were in Camden, Maine. Since stealing a postal truck is a federal offence, I figured this was the closest I would ever get to one. Call me weird but this has always been a dream of mine. Driving the truck, not stealing it!

The day is finally here and I bet you are all on the edge of your seats just waiting to hear the names of the winners. Am I right? ;o) I used the randomizer and the Pumpkin Day winner is...CAROLYN!!!!

I also used the randomizer for the Jack-O-Lantern contest because there were just too many great pumpkins to choose from :o) The lucky winner is...TINA!!!!

Congratulations girls! I will be emailing you both :o)

I want to thank everyone for making Pumpkin Day 2010 a great success. This was the best one to date! I hope everyone had fun and learned something new. I know I did ;o) I 'think' I sent everyone the free chart but there were a few that didn't put down their email address :o( So if you didn't receive the chart, please email me and I will send it right out. If anyone 'does' stitch the pattern, can you plmk because I'd love to see it :o)

Happy Pumpkin Day!

Woohoo! The day is finally here :o) Welcome to the third annual Pumpkin Day festivities! Are you ready to have some fun? I SAID...are you ready to have some fun???? Good because today is all about having a good time!

Did you know that...?

- pumpkins originated in Central America.
- the word 'pumpkin' comes from the Greek word 'pepon' which means large melon.
- Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state in the US.
- pumpkins were once used for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

Pumpkin Carving -

How many of you are decorating pumpkins for Halloween this year? If you're in need of some ideas, you might want to check out Pumpkin Masters and Hershey's for some really neat (and free) stencils! And if you want to practice beforehand, why not try your hand at Pumpkin Carve, Jack-O-Lantern Creator or Halloween Pumpkin Carve :o)

Recipes -

A party isn't a party without food! Here are some recipes that you might want to try while pumpkins are still in season. Let's begin with some munchies :o) Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are perfect for that. While you're snaking on that, whip up a batch of Pumpkin Apple Soup! Pumpkin Risotto will make a fine entree and for dessert? How about Pumpkin Cremes Brulees! That's definitely one recipe I want to try :o) If you're not a pumpkin fan but still want a fall atmosphere, try Kraft's Great Pumpkin Cake (btw, a Comet Cup is an ice cream cone).

Games -

Who's up for some games???? I've got some new ones this year :o)

Catch as many pumpkins as you can in Halloween Pumpkin Catch.

Pumpkin Patch Blast is pretty much that as well as addicting. LOL!

Squash ghosts and monsters in Pumpkin Push.

Contests -

How good are you at making a Jack-O-Lantern? Are you ready to be put to the test? In order to enter this contest, leave a comment (on THIS post only) with a link to your entry :o) Be creative! Carve a real pumpkin, draw a picture or just take a picture of a stitched pumpkin. Let's see what you've got!

Want to be entered into the second giveaway? It's simple! Either be or become a Pumpkin Stalker :o) Just remember, leave a separate comment (on THIS post only) saying that you are a follower.

In order to give everyone a fair chance, these contests will be open until Monday, October 25 at midnight EST. You can enter one or both contest and I will ship anywhere. PLEASE provide me a way to contact you through you comment. If I cannot, another name will be drawn from the hat.

Prizes?

Of course! A treat bag will be awarded to the winner of each contest :o) What's in them you ask? HA! That's a surprise. Let's just say it's pumpkin themed and will contain stitchy stuff...

Unfortunately there can only be two winners but since this is a party and I feel that everyone 'should' go home with something, I have a cross stitch design by moi for you to take home :o) Just make sure you leave me a way to email it to you.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the day and I want to thank you for coming :o) If you didn't make it over, you still have until October 25 to participate so don't forget! Have fun and good luck!

Zee Winner Is...

Sorry for making you wait this long ladies but I was in the 'big town' today so my day was pretty full. I'm finally done supper, settling down and starting to enjoy my evening. Ahhhh!

There were a good number of entrants but unfortunately only 32 out of the 35 were qualified for an entry. I'm sorry about this but I did lay down the rules and I can't go back on that afterwards :o( Because of this, I wrote each person's name down on a piece of paper and made them into little individual pearls :o) Aren't they so pretty in their shell -

Yes, I know, this isn't an oyster shell but it's the closest thing I could come by. LOL!

Since DH had to go back to work and Duncan was too engrossed in The Dog Whisperer (he LOVES this show!), I had to do all the work myself :oS So after a lot of mixing and swirling, I finally picked a pearl and that lucky pearl belonged to -

Congratulations Karen from Gathering Thoughts! Since I can't find your email address, can you please email me so I can get your information off to Anita :o) I hope you will enjoy your shopping spree and remember, if you spend $60, you only have to pay $30! That's like going to a 50% off sale! You can just spend the $30 gift certificate but I like the logic behind getting more for less ;oD

I want to thank everyone who entered and I only wish that I could send something to each of you because in a way, each of you has become a part of my life. I LOVE getting on the computer and seeing what comments you've left me. Some days I laugh out loud and those are usually the days that I need it the most. And then reading your Blogs is like sitting down with a friend and a cup of tea. I've met so many wonderful ladies over the years and it makes my heart smile to know there is still so much kindness still out there in this world :o)

PS - check back tomorrow for a progress picture of Sabrina. I've been bad...sooooo bad...

A Spring In My Step...

...and a smile on my face :o) Why you ask? Well, as of today there are several reasons!

First off, here is week two of my progress on Sabrina -

Isn't she gorgeous? Okay, besides the fact that she looks like a mutant without her hands ;o) I just LOVE the top portion of her dress. All the empty spots will be filled in with beads. Yeah, that's just the beginning. What was I thinking????

Anyway, back to the dress. The top reminds me of my wedding dress. I'm not a froufrou girl so when it came time to marry DH, I chose a simple design. The bodice had lots of intricate details but was balanced out by the plain skirt. Even today I still love my dress and there are days when I wonder if I could still fit into it. I doubt it though because I was quite tiny when I met DH ;o)

I keep telling him that I want to get married again so I can buy and wear another wedding dress. So far it's been a no go. LOL!

Have you noticed that I now have ONE HUNDRED stalkers???? I was incredibly happy when I spied that this morning! To celebrate this first milestone, I am (and a HUGE thanks to Anita) giving away a $30 Gift Certificate from Anita's Little Stitches :o) Anita is wonderful to deal with and has a great selection of cross stitch items to add to your stash. In order to win, you 'must' be a Pumpkin Stalker (old or new) and you must leave a comment on THIS post only. Remember; please leave me a way to get a hold of you if you are the winner. The contest will be open until 11:59pm on Sunday, March 7. I will post the winner on Monday, March 8 :o)

And finally...yesterday was a good day :o) I am still SO stoked! I met with a woman in a nearby community that is going to be opening a gallery and she was looking for artists. She and her DH had packed up everything and moved here from BC. They bought a local B&B and the gallery will be right beside it. I had emailed her samples of my photography and she was thrilled with what she saw and wanted to meet me in person. So yesterday I went for a little drive. When she looked at what I brought, she said what she saw was art and not just pictures. Ahhhh, that made me feel SO good because that's 'exactly' how I want people to see my work as :o) She even wants my whole collection for her shop! That means lots of work on my part but I'm really looking forward to it. Since I missed the tourist season last year, this summer should give me a really good idea of how things will move.

I now have FOUR places carrying my work...boing, boing, BOING!

Happy, Happy Pumpkin Day!

Welcome to the second annual Pumpkin Day festivities! I hope you're ready for some fun because there's a wide range of activities to take part in. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and most of all...enjoy :o)

Did you know?

- that pumpkins are 90% water.
- that pumpkin flowers are edible.
- that six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins (can you guess which one can't?).
- that pumpkins are actually a fruit.

Recipes -

Besides being used for the classic Pumpkin Pie, pumpkins are versatile in so many other ways. Maybe give one of these recipes a try for yourself :o)

Baked Harvest Pumpkin & Sage Risotto is one dish I've been anxious to try. DH makes a mean risotto so I figure this new twist could prove to be quite delicious!

I have personally tried this recipe - Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie. When I say 'tried', I mean eaten ;o) My SIL made it one year and it was fan-tas-tique.

When it comes to pumpkin, the fruit is not the only thing you can eat! The seeds are just as yummy and how good does Coriander & Pumpkin Seed Crusted Scallops sound? Mmmmmm...

Games -

Okay, maybe not the most highly entertaining but hey, what's a party without games? LOL!

In Pumpkin Run, the aim of the game is to gather as much candy as you can without the bats and ghosts interfering.

This is by far my favourite! As The Pumpkin, it's your job to scare the kiddies and grab their candy :o) Am I evil or what?

Pumpkin Carving -

Try out your carving skills either here or here. How good are you at making a Jack-O-Lantern?

Contests -

How good are you at making a Jack-O-Lantern? Are you ready to be put to the test? In order to enter this contest, leave a comment (on this post only) with a link to your entry :o) Be creative! Carve a real pumpkin, draw a picture or just take a picture of a stitched pumpkin. Let's see what you've got!

Want to be entered into the second giveaway? It's simple! Either be or become a Pumpkin Stalker :o) Don't know how? Visit your Blogger Dashboard page and at the bottom it gives you a chance to add the address of the Blog you want to follow. Just remember, leave a separate comment (on this post only) saying that you've done this!

In order to give everyone a fair chance, these contests will be open until Friday, October 23 at midnight EST.

Prizes?

A treat bag will be awarded to the winner of each contest :o) What's in them you ask? HA! That's a surprise. Let's just say there will be sweets, smiles and stitchy stuff. Have fun and good luck!

Drumroll...

Well, there's been a kink in my schedule and I'm still here in Halifax :o) So...I've had to make do with that I have here and I apologize that there are no pictures :o(

There were 40 entrants so I cut up the hotel paper into little strips and wrote down each one's name. They were folded up and placed into a Ziploc bag that I had. Luckily, DH came back early and drew the names of the two winners :o)

And who are the winners....

JOLENE!
You are the winner of the first surprise package!

LORI-ANN!
You are the winner of the second surprise package!

I hope to get them out to you by the first of next week. If readers are curious as to what they won, hopefully Jolene and Lori-Ann will post pictures on their Blogs when they get their packages ;o)

I want to thank everyone for entering. I'm sorry I didn't have something for everyone :o( I DO want to thank you for reading and leaving wonderful and witty comments. It always makes my day :o)

Don't worry though because there's another event coming up soon! Keep your eyes peeled for the bright orange sign...

A Super Giveaway!

Check out Dip Diddly Designs for her first giveaway. She's got some lovely things there so please take a spin over and have a visit :o)

Contest At Violarium!

You don't want to miss out on this -

Check out Violarium's Blog on how to enter this fabulous contest :o)

Pickles Picks A Winner!

That's right! LOL! And here we have an action shot just to prove he helped -

Sorry it's a bit blurry. I messed up :oP

I want to thank everyone who entered (and also those who commented!). Since some of you didn't specify whether you wanted your name in the contest or not, I put them in anyway :o) If you are the winner and didn't want to enter, that's okay too because I picked two alternative names just in case! So who's our lucky winner????

As you can see, it's Pickles approved too ;o)

I'm Going To Have S.E.X.!!!!

WOOHOO!!!! I can't wait :o)

I couldn't believe it when I went to read Erynne's Blog and found out that I was the winner of her contest! Thank you so much Erynne and way to go Mika, you deserve lots of doggy hugs and kisses for picking my name ;o) I now have a $50 gift certificate for Anita's Little Stitches. Anita is so wonderful to deal with and I bought one of her very first patterns, although I'm ashamed to say that I have not stitched it yet. Once SS is completed, I'll be free of any obligations. And speaking of SS, I only have the backstitching left to do! It may just get done on time :o)

While we're on the topic...I'm down to four days and then I get to see DH again... You know, the last time I was on a plane was 20 years ago? I'm a little nervous. Hopefully it all goes smoothly and they don't lose my luggage. I'm not going to carry on because I can't be bothered with all the new security issues. Did I mention that my flight leaves at 5:30...AM???? That means I have to be at the airport for 4:30am. Oye!

Yesterday, I drove to Moncton and while I was there, I stopped by the LNS and purchased a few GASTs, a skein of Threadworx and Pumpkin Patch by The Prairie Schooler. I might as well take advantage of it now because once we move, it won't be so semi-local anymore :o( Anyway, I also stopped by the Hallmark store to pick up a card. While I was there, I spotted this little guy and couldn't resist purchasing him as well. On my way home, I stopped in to see my Gram and handed my little friend over to her :o) When you lift the butterfly off his nose and replace it, he sings a song and his little tails starts wagging. LOL! She loved it and was going to show it off today.

I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not but my Gram was moved to a special care home back in January :o( It just got to a point where she couldn't care for herself anymore but it was hard convincing her of this. I can certainly understand why she didn't want to move but I'm glad that she has settled into her new place. It's NICE too! I would move in there if I could ;o) Here's a picture of us the day we moved her in and please note, I was REALLY tired out when this picture was taken -

One last thing before I sign off. Because I have been so blessed lately (thanks to my Secret Santa, Erynne and Anita), I want to pass some of that on to someone else as my way of thanking them :o) I have the pattern "I" is for Ice Skater by The Victoria Sampler (brand new), along with the complete accessory pack, that is looking for a new home. If you would like to adopt this pair, please leave a comment 'on this post only'. Please make sure I have a way to contact you by email if you should be the winner! On Tuesday morning, I will draw a name and post the lucky winner's name later that day. This is open to anyone, anywhere. I will allow new readers to enter and hope that maybe you'll continue to follow my Blog :o) Good luck everyone!

The Next Stage...A New Frontier

Yesterday I found myself losing two of the most important people in my life :o( My heart felt so empty. It was not a good day.

Before the crack of dawn, I drove DH to Moncton so he could catch his bus to Sydney. Even as I write this, he is beginning his new training and I couldn't be more proud of him :o) It was hard seeing him go but I don't think the bulk of it has sunk in yet. When I went to bed last night, I took out one of DH's sweatshirts and wrapped it up with me. A sad picture I know. For once in my life, Christmas cannot come soon enough.

Over the last year, I've slowly been introduced to being by myself but this will really be the test and one I'm not sure I can do but I'm willing to try. I have a lot on my plate but Wonder Woman I am not :oS Cooking? What the hell is that? I do have great plans to explore that realm but so far, two donuts from Tim Horton's doesn't really qualify ;o)

While in Moncton, I took the opportunity to go visit my Gram but it wasn't the kind of visit I was hoping for :o( Gram has severe osteoporosis and over the years, her spine has curled in so that her back is hunched. This has created pressure on her inner organs and a lot of pain as a result.

Last week she called the ambulance because she was in so much pain. For Gram to do this, it had to be extremely severe because this woman is a rock and stubborn to boot. She was in her late fifties when my grandfather died and she's been on her own ever since. I've always looked up to Gram because of the type of woman she is, plus she's always been there for me :o)

Dad told me because of all the pain medication she was on (she was on FOUR kinds), it was best to see her in the morning so I arrived shortly after 10:30 am. My aunt was just getting Gram dressed. I took Brie into the living room to wait. The person that entered the room didn't look anything like my Gram :o( She was so pale and her eyes were almost dead. It looked like the life had been zapped right out of her. She did recognize me and Brie though and was very happy to see us :o)

We carried on a bit of conversation but then she started to fall asleep while she was talking. Her voice was starting to slur and by the time I left, she was hallucinating. Very difficult to watch. I just wanted to hug her and not let go. Mom just called awhile ago to let me know that Gram is now back in the hospital :o( I'm not sure where things are going from here but it sure is lonely dealing with this myself.

My heart was filled with warmth though when two unexpected packages arrived here late last week :o) First off, dear (but VERY bad) Chiloe sent me this Lanarte kit -

I just about fell off my chair when I opened it! I have been eyeing this kit for awhile now and could not believe my eyes when I had it in my hot little hands. I can't thank you enough my friend and I have no idea what I did to deserve such a RAOK. I will be getting you back ;o)

I had a head's up on the second package but I had no idea of the contents. There was a shriek of joy when I found this -

Nursy stitched up this gorgeous pumpkin towel and just so you know, her stitching is beautiful! There is no way that towel is being used but it will have a place of honour in my stitching room :o) She also enclosed two Watership Down bookmark kits. I guess someone is reading my Blog. LOL! Thank you so much for thinking of me dear friend.

So I guess you are all waiting and wondering who the winners are :o) I hope everyone had a fun time at the Pumpkin Day festivities. I was a little disappointed in the pumpkin carving contest and as far as I can tell, there were only two entrants (Lori-Ann and Rachael) :o( I thought you guys would be more creative! Because it was based on creativity, the winner is....LORI-ANN! A grab bag will be making its way to you shortly :o) Don't worry Rachael; you have a much deserved thank you coming your way...

There were 31 entrants for the other grab bag and since that outnumbered my brilliant Scrabble lottery technique, I had to use Random.org. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how to get a picture of the screen to show you so you'll just have to take my word for it. Drum roll please......the winner is.......HARMIEN! Congrats!

If there is anyone out there that requested a copy of my free charts and did not receive them, please email me with your contact information. My email address can be found in my profile. Finally, I want to send a HUGE thank you out to everyone who stopped by and I hope you'll come back next year and celebrate with me again :o)

It's Pumpkin Day!!!!

Don't worry Lili, you didn't miss it ;o) To be honest, I was a little worried that I would have to postpone it as things here are a royal mess but I have prevailed and the show will go on! I hope everyone is ready to have some fun :o)

As you probably already know, a pumpkin is really a squash. Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A and potassium and also high in fibre. So guess what? They are good for you :o) Although, when you start adding in the sugar, cream, eggs or milk...that piece of pumpkin pie or that jar of pumpkin jam might not be all that nutritious after all. But hey, this is Pumpkin Day and you can eat whatever you want!

Pumpkins are a huge part of this time of year, especially on Halloween. We love carving up these plump vegetables :o) So...the first contest of the day is to show off your very own Jack-O-Lanterns! If you've already carved out your pumpkin for Halloween, take a picture of it and post it to your Blog. Leave a comment on "this post only" with a link to your entry. If you don't have an 'actual' Jack-O-Lantern, be creative and make one! Who says it has to be made from a real pumpkin. If you want to practice, try out your ideas here or here. All entries will be judged and the winner will receive a surprise grab bag so make sure I have your contact information as well :o)

It wouldn't be a party without games now would it???? Take a stroll into the game area and try The Pumpkin Battle or Bashing Pumpkins. A little violent for pumpkins I know but believe me, no pumpkins will be hurt during these games ;o)

Did you know that the world's largest pumpkin pie, as of October 2005, stands at 2,020 pounds after baking? I guess asking for 'just a sliver' would be like asking for 63 9" pies. At least! LOL!

Today I have a VERY special gift for ALL of you :o) Since it's Pumpkin Day and also Breast Cancer Awareness Month (both of which are dear to me), I thought that this next thing would be perfect...I have designed a Limited Edition cross stitch pattern for you! I know I couldn't believe it myself. LOL! With the help of a dear, dear friend, I actually have the finished models to show you -

Rachael, the bionic stitcher, stitched and finished both pieces for me in time for today's festivities! Thank you SO much girl, you did an awesome job :o) In order to obtain this pattern (it has two versions), please leave a comment on "this post only", along with your contact information and I will email the pattern to you. As I stated, this is a Limited Edition pattern so it will only be available until Monday, October 27, 2008 and then it's gone!

And finally, I have one more grab bag to give away :o) All you have to do for this one is to leave a comment on "this post only", along with your contact information and your name will be automatically placed into the hat. Since I am unsure as to my schedule for the rest of the week, the winners will be announced on Monday, October 27, 2008. I thank you for your patience and...

HAVE A HAPPY PUMPKIN DAY!!!!

And The Winner Is...

Since I didn't have an extra pair of hands (paws don't count) and I didn't want to waste paper, the next best thing I could come up with to draw a name was...Scrabble! LOL! Don't worry, I haven't gone completely off my rocker, yet ;o) There were 23 names that qualified for the giveaway and since there are 26 letters in the alphabet... See where I'm going with this? So I dug out just one tile for each letter from A to W, placed them back in the bag and drew a letter without even seeing the list of names. The letter P was drawn from the bag. P is the 16th letter of the alphabet and the 16th name on the comment list was...

Daffycat!!!!

Congratulations Sharon :o) Email me your mailing address and I'll get your surprise out next week!

Thanks to everyone that entered. You guys are the BEST!