A November Country Giveaway

And finally, it's time for another country giveaway!

This month, how about a year's subscription to one of the following:

MaryJanesFarm
Hobby Farms Home

I've received both magazines at different times in the past, and I love them both.

The winner, to be drawn randomly on November 12th, can select the magazine of their choice.

I'm changing up the rules just a tiny bit this month - simply COMMENT to this post to be entered into the giveaway.  Only one comment is necessary to be entered into the giveaway.

I think that's easier, and much simpler for everyone since we all have such busy and hectic lives!!

Good luck, and have a wonderful Thursday!

a rustic prairie shot from my photo archives

Almost Country Giveaway Time Again!

Good grief, where has September gone??!!! 

I realize I have been seriously MIA this month, which is mostly due to my spare time being filled with planting a fall garden, making 4 batches of red pickles (with hubby's help, of course), tending to a runty guinea keet (who is thriving now), and lots of other chores related to living on 27 acres...

We're beginning to get some pumpkins, Baby Pam variety to be exact, which are the best to make pumpkin pies with.  I can't wait to make our first pie!  I planted carrots, fall radish, and spinach last weekend.  Would still like to get some lettuce planted.

Just a reminder... October 1st marks the beginning of a new country giveaway, and I think you're going to like the wonderful and unique handmade item I have for you.

So remember to stop back here on Saturday to find out what it is and enter for your chance to win!

This Is Killin' Me

I can't draw the winners for the Lehman's country giveaway until late this afternoon.

My work schedule was abruptly changed yesterday afternoon, so instead of working my usual 2nd shift at the hospital today, I need to be there E.A.R.L.Y. this morning for a meeting. 

So it's killin' me on 2 counts...

I'm anxious to find out who the winners of the giveaway are (as you are too, I'm sure!!!)

And I am so NOT a morning person anymore.

OUCH.

Nap Time + Lehman's Country Giveaway

What is it with animals?  They keep us up at night, and then they have their nap time during the day while we put eye drops in our red-rimmed eyes and get ready for work....

As you can see, the keets are napping.  It's what they do best when they're little.  Except last night.  The two runts kept me up, peeping at the top of their little lungs.  Worried mama (me) kept checking on them, holding them while they fell asleep. 

Not good for my sleep time....  so now I'm over-fatigued today after working all 3 days this weekend at the turnpike, which was busy with travelers heading home yesterday!

Here's a reminder: you only have until tomorrow to enter the Lehman's country giveaway and win one of two $25 gift certificates!! 

Read my original post here, with the rules to enter.  

Comments do not qualify as entries - you must reply to the email you receive announcing a new post on my blog.  In order to do that, you need to subscribe to my blog (see box at top of right sidebar).

It's free, and easy, to subscribe!!

And you can unsubscribe at any time.

But remember, there will be 10 more months of country giveaways here, so you might want to hang around for awhile.  :-)

Our Second Keet Hatch... and Don't Forget the Lehman's Country Giveaway!

Our first pearl guinea - isn't she just precious?!

We'll just say it's going much better than the last hatch.  Since about 3 a.m., we've had 4 keets hatch out!

And yes, the brooder light is secured by the ginormous nail that hubby pounded into the windowsill last time...

And this time we've got our first pearl keets - so far we've got 2 pearls and 2 lavenders.

First two keets - one pearl, one lavender

There are still 10 eggs in the incubator - I hear chirping behind me right now, need to check... yep, #5 is starting to bust outta his shell!

I've got to go take a nap before work today.  Couldn't sleep once I woke up at 3:15 a.m.  I wonder why.

Don't forget to enter the

Lehman's country giveaway!

Two lucky readers will each win a $25 gift certificate to Lehman's.  Make sure you follow the rules, which are short, simple and easy: 

You need to reply to an email announcing

there's a new post on my blog.  

To be able to do that, just subscribe to my blog, up in the right of my sidebar, being sure to follow through with the email verification that Feedburner requires.

The next time you get an email announcing a new blog post, just hit "reply" and put in the subject line, "Enter me in your Lehman's country giveaway!

Really, that's it.  Here's a link to the original post with the full rules - you still have until September 7th to enter.

Good luck to all, and hope everyone is having a fantabulous Saturday!!

A Long Weekend - And Country Giveaway Continues!

Soooo, I imagine quite a few people have taken today off work.  And probably many are going away for a short weekend vacay.  We're not.

What are your long weekend plans??

We are renting a Bobcat for the weekend, so we can dig our ponds deeper (since they are dry) and do a thousand other chores around our property.  There will be pictures, I promise.....

I am working 4 hours at the hospital today, a shortened day, from 1:30 to 5:30.  But I'm working all three weekend days at the turnpike.  Then back to work Tuesday at the hospital.... I'm becoming used to this 2-job routine I think.

The chickens have started laying eggs!

It almost seems like I actually get more done at home now that I'm working 2 jobs?  Except housecleaning....  yeah, that has gone by the wayside, for sure!

Don't forget to enter the country giveaway.

Rules are here in this post.  

Really simple rules - no standing on your head while you tweet my giveaway - no need to tell all your Facebook friends just to get an extra entry. 

Enter once, be entered once, but get TWO chances to win a $25 gift certificate to Lehman's extraordinary country store in Ohio.

Have an extraordinary long and lovely weekend,

and good luck in the Lehman's country giveaway!!

A Country Giveaway Starts Sept 1

The next monthly country giveaway

will commence on Thursday, September 1st.

Entry rules are simple!

Beginning on Thursday, September 1st, simply REPLY to the email notice you get about a new blog post, putting in the subject line, Enter me in your country giveaway!

You'll have until Monday, Sept 4th, midnight PST, to enter.

(That's 3 a.m. Eastern time!)

That's it. 

So easy-peasy a 5th grader could do it. 

Right?

Be ready.  Get subscribed to my blog, over there in the right sidebar, right up at the top.  Once you sign up, you'll need to confirm your subscription - be sure you follow through with the confirmation!

IT'S FREE.

And you can always unsubscribe anytime you want to. So nothing is lost, and quite possibly you'll gain a nice freebie in the next 12 months. Remember, we'll be having a country giveaway here every month through July 2012.

And no, I'm not telling what September's giveaway is going to be - it's a surprise!  :-)

Open to everyone, family and friends. But limited to USA and Canada residents only.

In closing, here's this morning's prairie sunrise.  Pretty cool, huh?

Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday.

Mark Your Calendar - Next Country Giveaway

Just a reminder, don't forget about the year's worth
of country giveaways coming your way.  

The next giveaway will start on September 1st, so watch your email inbox!

Wait a minute... you say you don't get
an email when I put up a new blog post?!

Well, it's really easy to remedy THAT situation. See that handy-dandy box in the right side column of my blog, right at the top there?

Just put your email in that box and click "submit", follow the instructions to confirm it's really YOUR email address, and you'll be ready for the next giveaway.

When you receive the email announcing the country giveaway on September 1st, simply hit "Reply", replace the subject line with "Enter me in your Country Giveaway" and you'll be entered.

Pretty darn easy-peasy, huh?

I'm not telling yet what the next giveaway item will be - it's a surprise!  It will be something good though, I promise.

It's safe to say it won't be a weekend at the Wort Hotel (my budget precludes "silver platter" hotels), unless the Wort Hotel wants to sponsor my next giveaway.   :-)

Also, watch for the upcoming list of my top five favorite

historic hotels that I would just DROOL to visit.

(Yes, the Wort is one of them!)

Grit Giveaway Winner(s)!

And the winner is.......  Laura of A Simple Happy Life blog!  

And then, as always, I wanted to give a few more readers a taste of Grit magazine.  So I'm sending two back issues to Cindy of Write Up My Alley and Linda from Wander to the Wayside.  Grit magazines have information that is timeless!

Congrats to the winners ~ please send me your addresses so I can get the goods out to you.  {There's an email link at the bottom of each blog post, or you can go to my profile and email from there.}

Thank you to everyone who entered, and remember, there's going to be lots more in the coming months.  More country magazine subscriptions, more country books, more country STUFF!!

Stay tuned!!

And the best way to not miss a giveaway is to subscribe to my blog.  You'll get an email notifying you when I've put up a new post.  

The "subscribe" box is in the left sidebar, Follow Oz Girl Via Email - you can always unsubscribe at any time if you decide my blog just isn't relevant to you any longer.  

It's easy to sign up, and it's easy to get rid of me,

even though I hope you won't do that.  :-)

Last Call for Grit Magazine Giveaway!

This is it, only a few hours left to enter my Grit magazine subscription giveaway!  Read my prior posts for the entry rules ~ it's really, really easy.

No tweeting, Facebook joining, 

or dancing under the full moon required!

We left the chicken coop open this afternoon.  Normally, we close all the birds up securely before we leave for work (we are both 2nd shifters!) but with temps expected to climb near 112 or over today, I didn't want to take a chance on them getting overheated.  Of course, I needed to leave work early in order to close the coop right around dusk.  

We have wayyyyyy too many predators out here on our prairie

to even risk leaving the coop open after dark!

We've got a chance of storms tomorrow night -- whoopeee!  Needless to say, we can really use the moisture.  My fingers are crossed...  here's a pic of an early June storm building momentum.  (I think we've had maybe one storm since then??!)

Here's hoping for some rain on Wednesday!!

Until then, get your entries sent for the Grit giveaway!!

You have until midnight PST.

A winner will be drawn tomorrow using randomizer.org.

Stay tuned to my blog as I tell the

riveting rescue story of keet #3 later this week.

[I don't recall that he ever thanked me for his in-the-nick-of-time rescue?!]

A Keet Nap... and Last Day to Enter Grit Giveaway!

Keets like to stretch o-u-t when they sleep.

Most guinea experts will tell you...

they almost look dead!

Today is the last day to enter the awesome Grit magazine subscription giveaway.  If you're not familiar with what Grit magazine is all about, click on the link to their website and check them out -- they are everything country, and especially self-sufficient country.  Definitely one of my favorite magazines!

Entry rules are posted in prior posts, but it's really quite simple: just hit "reply" when you get an email announcing a new post on my blog, and in the subject line put "Enter me in your Grit giveaway!"

That's it.

Entries will be accepted until midnight Tuesday, PST - that's 3 a.m. Wednesday Eastern time.  So if you haven't subscribed to my blog yet, you still have time.  That neat little subscription box is over in my left sidebar.

Best of luck to everyone who has entered so far, and remember, even if you don't win a subscription to Grit magazine, there are going to be more fun country giveaways over the next 12 months.  

I've got a hay-wagon full of great ideas

and can't wait to do all the future giveaways!

A Kansas Sunrise ~ and a Giveaway!

No, this isn't today's sunrise.  

This morning's sunrise was rather uneventful.  So I pulled this one from my photo archives - one of the most glorious sunrises I've yet to see out here on the Kansas plains.  The shades of red, orange and purple were stunning on this crisp November morning over a year ago.

Don't you think so?

If you haven't yet, don't forget to subscribe to my blog so you can enter my Grit magazine subscription giveaway.  Read the original giveaway post here.  When you subscribe to my blog (see left sidebar to subscribe) be sure you enter your email address correctly - Feedburner will verify your email address by sending a confirmation email with a link you have to click to prove you are the owner of that email address.

The contest is open to family and friends alike, U.S. and Canadian residents only.  And I've decided to extend the deadline to enter.  You'll have until Tuesday at midnight, PST, to enter the giveaway.

So get subscribed, and reply to the next blog post you get in your email to be entered in the Grit magazine subscription giveaway!!

Livin' the Country Dream ~ A Giveaway

I know it's not everyone's dream to live in the country.  It's always been my dream, and I sure do love where we live.

 Frost on the grass - appealing photo to me right now

with our 100-degree plus days!

For my readers who long to make an escape from a crazy, chaotic city life, and my readers who already live in the country, I have a fun offer for you.

I'd like to offer a subscription to Grit magazine to one of my lucky readers.  This is one of my favorite go-to, rural living, how-do-you-do-that magazines - and other times, it's my country dreamin' kind of magazine.  Whether you already live in the country, or you're just dreaming of a country life someday -- Grit magazine has something for both camps. 

[On a side note, I'm lucky to be part of the Grit family and blog on their website.  Check out the link to my Grit blog (in the right sidebar) when you have a few spare minutes.]

Want to win a year's subscription to Grit magazine?  Here's how:

Make sure you subscribe to my blog and when you get your email announcing my new post, just hit "reply" and in the subject line put "Enter me in your Grit giveaway!"  If you already subscribe, you can reply to either of today's emails.

If you don't subscribe to my blog yet, it's easy to sign up.  You'll see "Follow Oz Girl by Email" in my left sidebar.  Enter your email address and follow the instructions.

That's it.  You've got til midnight PST Sunday to enter.  I'll pick a winner Monday morning using randomizer.org.  Contest is open to readers of the U.S. and Canada only. Please note, this giveaway is not subsidized by Grit magazine.  I will buy a subscription for the lucky winner!

This is my first blog giveaway in a long time. I've decided to offer a country item giveaway every month for the next 12 months.  It might be a magazine subscription, a country themed book, or a too-cute-for-words country item.

Stay tuned, and stay subscribed to find out!

I'll be posting a Lazy Sunday Morning photo tomorrow.  I've got my fingers crossed for a fantastic country sunrise.  :-)

Springtime Giveaway Winner{s}

Our giveaway winner is............ Nezzy of Cow Patty Surprise!! Congrats, Nezzy!  Send me your address (suzgarten@yahoo.com) and I'll get the doll out later this week so your sweet grand-girls can take proper care of her.  :-)  

Now after I drew the winner of the giveaway, I had a thought.  Seems like so many of you wanted that danged ole bird book.  So I thought.... why not draw a 2nd name from amongst those who want the bird book?? Soooooo, our bird book winner is.......... Julie of Midlife Jobhunter!  Congrats Julie, I hope you enjoy your bird book as much as I'm enjoying my copy. (Send me your address!)

Starling mama in our backyard... see more pics on my photo blog

And if y'all haven't visited Nezzy's or Julie's blog, well, you totally need to stop by and say hi....  I'm jes sayin'.  They are BOTH seriously fantastic writers, and that's no bull.

I will be back soon this week.... I want to give y'all an update on Micki Kohler and the benefit that was held for her a week ago.  The benefit had a huge turnout, and I'll put up some photos for y'all to see.   Thanks to everyone who donated to help out Micki and her family, words cannot express the family's appreciation as they travel through this difficult period in their lives.

I'm a little scarce and harried right now because I finally .... HAVE A JOB! Yep, I'm now among the ranks of the employed after 1.5 years of job searching in Kansas.  What's that, you want to know what I'm doing?  Welllllll..... if you decide to travel through Kansas on I-35, you just might meet me at one of the southern toll booths.  Yessiree, I am now a toll booth collector for the Kansas Turnpike Authority.  I've been in training since last week, but I think they will throw me to the wolves just in time for the Memorial Day weekend, and you just know I'm going to be one hopping girl that weekend!!  I'm already eating less (can we all say YAY!!) so I'm hoping that a side benefit is that I'll lose about 20 pounds.  That would sure be a blessing.  :-)

Thanks to everyone who commented on my giveaway, and stay tuned for the next giveaway.  There's always a chance to win something fun here at Oz Girl's place.

Have a great week y'all!

Springtime Giveaway ~ Choose Your Prize!

 My lantana is blooming.... ain't she purty?

I've been wanting to throw a spring giveaway for awhile now... just haven't had the time, as usual!  So here it is, and I've decided to give the winner their choice of prizes.  

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America

I have two copies of this marvelous book, so I would love to share one with my readers.  Since I received my copy several months ago, I have identified quite a few birds around our parts, and I've even helped some blogger friends identify birds that they have photographed!  This is a great book, one I'm sure anyone who loves nature will enjoy and use as a reference for many years to come. Approx. Value: $17.95

My binoculars have become one of my closest friends in recent months... just the other night I saw a juvenile black-crowned night heron in a tree near our pond.  Their call is so distinctive that I had been wondering, what the heck is hanging out around our pond?  One evening I saw an adult fly away.  Click on the pic below to enlarge and see exactly what I'm talking about - it's the bird at the top of the page.

{Does that mean I'm getting old because I'm starting to enjoy bird watching??!!}

Bradford Exchange "Soft Elegance" Limited Edition Plates (includes all 4)

Or perhaps you're a kitteh lover!  I have a numbered series of plates from the Bradford Exchange (click on photos to enlarge).  These are part of a numbered and dated (1994/1995) limited edition and measure 8-1/4" each.  They are from my grandmother's estate, and are in mint condition ~ never hung or displayed, no chips, cracks, dings, NOTHING. As you can see, I also have the certificates for each plate.  If you're a plate collector, this is definitely something you'll love to add to your collection!   
Approx. Value: $29.95 per plate

Plate titles, from top left, clockwise: Alexandra in Amethysts, Emily in Emeralds, Tabitha on Taffeta, and Priscilla in Pearls.  They are all numbered on the back, with full descriptions and Bradex numbers.  These plates are for DISPLAY only and not to be used with food.

Lee Middleton "Best Friend Bear" Doll by Reva Schick

(Artist Studio series)

Lee was from Ohio, Springfield to be exact, and she started making dolls modeled after her two kids -- friends loved them and began to want their own, hence how her company got started.  I won't go deep into the history but it's really quite interesting.  She died suddenly in Jan 1997 (heart attack) and three artists were found to carry on her work.  This doll is by "Reva Schick" and part of the Artist Studio collection, the premium line of Lee Middleton dolls. She is numbered 2332 and signed by Reva Schick at the base of her skull; I do not have her original certificate, but she does have both her wrist tags.  She is also missing the small pink teddy bear that came with her. She measures 20" or so, and is weighted to feel like a real baby.  Approx. Value: $158.00

Since she's not porcelain, a little girl can actually play with this doll, so it's an ideal gift for a young daughter or a favorite granddaughter.  Or you can keep it safe on display with the hope that it will grow in value over the years as a collectible.

But she's adorable nonetheless, don't you agree?

The winner of my spring giveaway will be selected in a random drawing of commenter names by Tori... she loves to do this, and I think it's more fun than using the random generator.

The winner will have their choice of any of the above items.  I will email the winner, but I need to hear back within 24 hours or I will award the giveaway to another drawn name.  This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents, however, if you live abroad and are willing to pay shipping costs, then I will happily open it up to international residents.  :-)

So, just leave me a comment, tell me which prize you'd like to win, and you have until next weekend to enter.  If you want extra entries, just tweet or Facebook the giveaway and let me know.  But one comment is all it takes to get you into the giveaway!

We will draw a name on Sunday, May 23rd, and announce the winner no later than Monday, May 24th.

And a big thank you to all who come by to read my blog.  I love your comments and appreciate that you find my blog interesting to read!

Speaking of Giveaways...

The giveaway poll results showed that most of you enjoy contests and giveaways on blogs, but your comments told me that you really do prefer easy giveaways, and that it's difficult to find the time to tweet a giveaway, go to a product website and pick your favorite, FB about a giveaway, blog about a giveaway, etc., etc.  Which is understandable.  We're all pressed for time these days.  Goodness, I know I find it difficult to find the time to sit down at my computer and just visit/comment on all my favorite blogs!!!  And I always enjoy finding NEW blogs, but where do I find the time for that too??

What I learned from your comments and what I'll try to do in the future... keep my giveaways simple, and for the most part, only include items that are hand-made and home-made by me!  I've received a few emails from outside companies interested in having me promote their products.  I think my rule of thumb on this topic is going to be ONLY if it's a product that is dear to my heart and that I can endorse whole-heartedly!  And that hasn't happened yet.

So, moving on.... Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain is having a lil giveaway.  Right now, she's giving away a dozen I Heart You cookies for YOU and a bag of Barnyard Pals for your furry pup friend.  You have until next Friday, April 9th, to enter.  She'll be having different giveaways the entire month, promoting fellow bloggers' handmade items, so you'll want to keep an eye on her blog - she just had a giveaway for a beautiful chicken nest box last week!  I think it's a wonderful idea, and I wish I had thought of it first!  :-)  Check out her fresh new blog design while you're there.  I'm lovin' it, and thinking that maybe it's time for me to freshen up my blog design... hmmm... not now, maybe later.

Y'all have a wonderful Thursday, wherever you are!

I just love our Kansas sunsets!!

New Blogger Friends

I'd like to introduce two new blogger friends to y'all.... one is a new friend to me, but an old pro at blogging. The other is an old friend, but a new blogger. You're going to find both of them immensely interesting people.

Kayla of The Eclectic Element is the old pro at blogging, while at the same time just a 20-something kid. {I say that with immense fondness, as I would love to be in my 20s again!!} She's in her element when making beautiful jewelry, which she sells at her Etsy store. Since Kayla contracted Lyme's disease quite a few years ago, one of her specialty jewelry items is what she calls the healing bracelet. My sister purchased two of Kayla's healing bracelets, one for herself and her best friend, and then decided to send Kayla some of my I Heart You cookies as a thank you. And so my friendship with Kayla was begun.

Kayla is so sweet that she decided she wanted to do a review of my I Heart You cookies and offer a dozen to one of her readers.  How sweet is that?!  But then she went above and beyond just a cookie review... I could not believe when I read her post yesterday, she also promoted my Wheatgrass Designs store on Zazzle in addition to the Lazy G Ranch! Kayla, you're the best ... I'm blushing and I'm speechless!!

And so my dear readers, if you'd like another opportunity to win a dozen I Heart You cookies, the cookies that simply won't allow you to eat just one and will even promote selfishness as you find yourself compelled to hide them and keep them all to yourself.... then head on over to Kayla's blog right here and enter her giveaway.  The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. mainland through Friday, March 19th, noon Central time.  You can just leave a comment and become one of Kayla's followers for one entry, or she has posted many other ways you can earn additional entries.  Be sure to leave a separate comment for each extra option you complete.

My next blogger friend is new at blogging, but she's already a good friend of mine, one I met last year here in Kansas.  Ladyrider lives a half hour north of me with roughly 10 or more horses at any given time, 3 you're-our-new-friend-forever dogs (which just means they love to shower newcomers with LOTS of attention), several cats inside and outside, and a small flock of adorable and fascinating guineas.  She has been wanting to start a blog for awhile, and it's finally here, Treasures on the Trail Ride Home.  

She's a professional horse person through and through.... I'd so love it if all my horse lovin' friends would head on over to check out her blog.  I know she'll be growing in leaps and bound with her blogging skills, so let's all say hello and hang around to help her on her road to blogging fun! She's been building a trail obstacle course on her property this past week (I need to learn some circular saw tips and tricks from her!), and has a few friends coming by today with their horses to inaugurate the trail.  So head on over to read her first few posts and say hi, and be sure to return later to see the pics of today's fun.

My goodness, don't we all remember our first days in the blogging world?  How tentative and unsure of ourselves we were then, and almost every single one of us started blogging to stay in touch with family and friends.  We had no idea whatsoever that blogging was going to open our eyes to a whole new world of special and wonderful friendships!

One more new blog...  my son and his wife have also started a blog of their own, so they can document their journey to parenthood.  I'm so excited for them and for me too, as this lil girl is going to be my first grandchild.  How cool is that?!

Fun Spring Giveaways!

I'm going to get the word out about several great giveaways at some of my bloggy friends sites, so listen up y'all!

First up is a beautiful hooked rug by Jane Augenstein, My World in Pictures. Jane has crafted some amazing hooked rugs, and they are all her own original designs. Now she is offering her Golden Pony design (retail value $115.00) in a giveaway! How cool is that. Go directly to her blog post with the hooked rug here, but be sure to enter before March 1st. She has also set up a new website to showcase and sell her rugs at Liberty Homestead Rugs. Check them out sometime, leave her a comment or just go ahead and buy one!

Second, Misha at From My Front Porch in the Mountains is having an awesome spring giveaway with all kinds of goodies ~ you have until Tuesday, March 2, at 7:00 pm (Eastern time) to enter her contest.  Run over there and check it out, she's got a ton of goodies in this giveaway. 

Third is a new blogger I found tonight through Misha's blog... Simply Stated Aesthestics and Simply Stated Antiques.  Rebecca is having a wonderful giveaway, a "package overflowing with all sorts of goodies" that will include your choice of tea or coffee from Heavenly Cup, but you have to enter before March 1st, so get on over there right now and enter!  You can enter her contest on either one of her blogs, but click here if you want to get there fast.

Last (but not least!) is another new blogger I found via Simply Stated Aesthetics.  Coastal Charm is giving away two (2) fresh, crisp $20 bills to two lucky winners.  Enter before March 10 to have a chance to add a 20-spot to your billfold.  Click here to go right to Linda's giveaway.

These are all fun giveaways, but bottom line, all of these women are fantastic bloggers, and you would love to add them to your following list.  I know I enjoy reading Misha's and Jane's blogs, and I'm looking forward to following Rebecca and Linda too, now that I've found them.

A Little of This, and a Little of That

It's a beautiful sunny day today... isn't it amazing what the sun can do for a person's outlook?  You can't help but feel more cheerful and have an agreeable disposition and outlook on life.  Perhaps I'll take the furkids on a walk around the property later this afternoon...

As promised in my last post, I've put up a dog book giveaway at my Lazy G Ranch website.  So hop on over and make a comment to enter... you have until Sunday the 28th.  Earn extra points if you tweet, facebook or post on your blog about my book giveaway ~ just let me know in your comment if you do so.  Subscribe to the Lazy G blog and earn an extra 5 points!

Since several of my readers have asked about my grandmother, I want to let y'all know that upon my departure from Ohio she was doing exceptionally well.  No longer at death's door, she was not only eating and taking her meds voluntarily, but she was up and about, going to eat in the nursing home dining room and meeting other ladies.  So I think she's got quite a bit more time here on this lovely planet, contrary to the doctor's prognosis.  Thank you to everyone who asked about her, and for all your good wishes and prayers.

While in Ohio, I found several old photo albums at her house.  If only I had drove to Ohio, then I would have brought those home with me and reorganized them (many are falling out of the binders) and then scanned several to add to my post here.  I should have selected a few photos to bring back home with me, but alas, I did not.  There's a wealth of old, old family photos there.  Our great-aunts were fascinated with the family genealogy, and so I did manage to snag many of their written research materials.  I've started a family tree on  Ancestry.com {just another of my many projects that I don't seem to have the appropriate amount of time to devote} but as soon as I can get back to it, it promises to provide an additional wealth of information.  In the materials that my great-aunts put together, I have family names dating back to 1769; Leonard Barnes, who was born that year, would be my great-great-great-great-great grandfather!!  Five generations ago, how cool is that?

 

The above photo sits right here by my computer; I've had it a long time. This is my great-great grandfather Joshua (also my son's name) and his wife Sarah, married Christmas eve 1885.  Joshua was 24, Sarah was only 17.   Joshua passed away in August 1936, Sarah in January 1942.

When I get those photo albums back home, I'll have lots more really cool old pics to post.  I'd like to put up some pics of my gramma, both in her younger days and more recent photos too.

Now I did say "a little of this and a little of that" in my post... here's something else on my agenda these days...

This is a baby quilt I started for my son and his wife, oh, about 3 years ago?  Some of you may know that they had a miscarriage in 2006, and then another in 2007, and possibly a few more before they even knew they were pregnant.  It's been a rocky road for them, but this time it appears we're going to have a new family member by June...I'm going to be a grammy!  Soooo, upon my return from Ohio last week, I removed the above quilt from my living room chest because now I need to finish this bugger.  I am hand quilting inside each heart and around each heart, then I need to get some yarn to do some random hand tying in the border.  Wish me luck... this is my first official quilt project!!

 close-up of the heart detail

This is the book, below, that I adapted my heart quilt from... I know this isn't the best picture, but you can kinda see the heart quilt on the cover of the book here.  I like the country look of their quilt (it's a button quilt) and maybe I'll even do a second one like it... I modified mine for a baby with the soft, muted natural tones.  If you're interested in this book, it can be purchased at Gooseberry Patch.  It's a wonderful book with really cool country designs and recipes too!

I think that's enough of "this and that" for this post... stay tuned for my next post, as we discuss a unique and adorable alternative to staying at hotels which may have bedbugs!!  

And for your reading pleasure, here's a recent news article in the Wichita Eagle ...  I think if you are travelling through our wonderful state, you may want to think twice about staying in ANY of our hotels.  Seriously.  Any of my readers are more than welcome to stay at our place.  We would love to have y'all!

And Our Cookie Winner is...

The #13 comment was selected by Randomizer.org... that would be Miss Misha of From My Front Porch in the Mountains!

Thanks again to everyone who entered... Misha, you've got one hour to send me your address - email me at suzgarten(at)yahoo.com.  I've got your package all ready to send out.  :-)

Congrats Misha, and I hope you enjoy the cookies, and the dog treat samples!