Whirl Into Winter Blog Giveway

It's now January 15th. Time for the winner. And the winner is:

Kaye

Kaye said...
Your giveaway is sooo beautiful. I am amazed at all of You being so generous. Thank You and a Happy, Blessed New Year.
January 1, 2009 8:20 AM

Congratulation Kaye. I have emailed you and am requesting some info. Thank you everyone for participating.

Happy New Year!
I'm starting the New Year by participating in Debi's Whirl Into Winter Quilt Blog Giveaway. There are over 60 bloggers participating and giving away some great gifts. After you register for my give away, go here to visit each of the other blogs that are participating and register to win their give away, too or click on the snowflake on my sidebar and it will take you to the site to find each participant.

I have chosen to give to one lucky winner a few items to set your table with when you have some special people on a special day with a special meal prepared. My giveaway includes a handmade lined table runner made by me. It has a winter white & ivory floral design with just a touch of burgundy and green/blue. The lining is a silky fabric and has a fringed tassel on each end. It is lovely and you will love it.

To go along with the table runner is a set of 6 ivory linen napkins and 6 napkin rings. There are also 6 winter fragrant candles of holiday sage, hollyberry , and winterland. Also, a Cambridge 4 piece spreader set. The lucky winner will receive all of these items packed in a lovely keepsake box.
All you have to do for a chance to enter this giveaway is leave me a comment And if you mention this giveaway on your blog let me know and your name will go in a 2nd time for the drawing. So you can have 2 chances to win. If you do not have a blog, please be sure and leave an email address so you can be contacted if you are the winner!!

The winner will be choosen in a random drawing of all comments and will be announced on my post on January 15th. All comments from Jan 1 - Jan 15 will be included.

Good luck and thank you for participating!!

gin

What a wonderful year

We will soon be closing out 2008 and starting 2009. What a wonderful year it has been. We are thankful for good health, happiness, and success. We are thankful for family and friends. We are thankful for all the good things along with all the unexpected things that at the time were not our expectations. We will be bringing in the New Year with an agenda to honor God; to make our lives and those around us to be all that we can be; and to make the best out of what comes our way.

So from our family to yours we wish you a Happy New Year a few days early.

gin

Ritchie Family Christmas 2008

Christmas in our family last more than 1 day.
Several days before Christmas me and the girls of my family get together for just a Christmas lunch at one of our homes. This year it was at Bobbie's. We always say no gifts and we always do Peg's birthday that day. We had a good time. But I don't know why any one didn't take pictures. I hate that I have no pictures from that day
Christmas Eve is spent at my dad's with my side of the family. After everyone arrives, we all share in the conversation, exchange gifts, and enjoy snacks and coca cola and dr pepper. Goodness, no pictures from this either.
Christmas Day all our kids and their families come to our house. We start our Christmas dinner with saying the blessing. We read the Christmas Story from Luke 2:10-14 before we exchange gifts for the name we drew. Then we open gifts and stockings from Santa (which is mom and dad).
Then on to husbands parents to spend afternoon with his side of the family. Then back to our house for Christmas dinner leftovers, a little relaxation and then load the vehicles for the trip back to their own homes. No pictures from this either.
I hope your Christmas was just as enjoyable.
I hate to see it end. "Snap out of it==get back in reality," I tell myself. "There is a kitchen and living room that needs your undivided attention to be cleaned up and put back in order!"
Here's a limited view of our Christmas.

Merry Christmas to You

Wishing you a joyous Christmas.

The Spirit of Christmas is in the peace, joy and hope that it brings.

May it touch your heart and remain with you today and always.

May God Bless you and your family this Season.

For He is the Reason for the Season!

gin

Latest and last

I've completed my last minute project and no more projects this year!
These Christmas aprons are the latest. I kind of went overboard with 4 identical aprons. But once I got started I couldn't stop. I already had the Christmas plaid, the red fabric, and the net toille. So i just assembly lined them all together and was through in no time. These will go to some of Santa's special elves who will be surely busy in the next 11 days!


gin

Snow day

Thursday was a snow day. They are very few and very far in between. But you gotta love the snow day when it comes. This was my little tiny snowman. It was cold and only me and husband to build him, well - mainly me to build him.
The snow was fun and exciting for the day, but glad it's gone!

gin

Excitment fills the air

I can call it a Christmas present from blogland. My first ever in blogland. Some of my new best friends are in blogland. Thank you Holly for the Kreative Blogger Award. I am so excited.

The rules are to give the award to 5 other bloggers. That is easy for me because I only have a few commenters that are very Kreative and there are some bloggers out there that I do view all the time that do beautiful Kreativ work. I am passing the Kreative Blogger award to:

Aimee - she has her own little girl pattern design business and has added some applique designs and even a Christmas ornament tutorial. She is truly Kreative. (and I'm not just saying this because she is my niece)

Bobbie - She is all around Kreative - from her kreativ Monday menus to her kreativ projects for the house. (and I'm not just saying this because we are cousins).

Abbie - have you seen her gorgeous quilts??? They are so amazing. I love her work.

Val - Her Kreative aprons are to live for! And there is even pj's. And kreative finger foods. You can always find something Kreativ for any time of the year here.

Tammy - of Arts and Inspirations. She has beautiful and unique Kreative items.

Thanks again Holly!!

gin

At our house ....

Decorations are going up and the Christmas tree lights are being plugged in.

My favorite ornament is a snowflake with with picture of the kids when they were little.

The stockings are being hung, and the mantle and stair banister is beginning to twinkle. The mantle is set with 3 twinkling Christmas trees set on a blanket of lighted snow with a deer in the midst and candle lamps on each end. And 2 wire reindeer resting on the hearth.

The candles are lit with a glowing winter fragrance. My Santa plates are put in view with a candle lamp surrounded by 2 white milk glass reindeer. My table is set with a crystal bowl full of shiny red, green, blue, silver and gold glass ball ornaments. And I am using a table runner of green and gold with shiny glass beads on the end. This is one of the many table runners I made a few months ago.

The door wreath I made from live branches from the edge of the woods is being hung with a smile, while songs of Christmas can be heard in the background. I make a similar one every year. I have a round wire base, I wrap fresh branches around and attach with what ever I have at the time -- florist tape, string, twist ties, like I said whatever I have at the time. I will also cut some holly berry branches from the woods and attach them, and then dash a little glitter on the pine cones. It is hanging on the barn door right now until I finish.

The gifts will be wrapped. The menu planned. We'll ride around to see the lights. We'll be visiting family and friends. We'll attend Christmas plays and view the live Nativity Scene. Christmas Day will be here soon.

gin

December is here. A favorite holiday, another holiday of blessings, a time to spread good will and good cheer.

I find myself strolling thru the mall and stores getting lost in the Christmas music being played. I tune into the music instead of hurrying and scurrying about to get the gifts that I'm there for.
I've begun to watch the Christmas movies on tv and my favorite Christmas movies on dvds. Lounging around in pj's till mid morning on days not going to work is part of Christmas for me.

Me and my family members who exchange gifts every year have come up with a new tradition. We are going to pool our money we would have spent on gifts for each other and are giving it to a mission cause. We will still get together for food and visit, but it will have a new meaning this year.

I personally am choosing a childs name from the Angel Christmas Tree for a needy child in the area. I love to buy chilren's gifts, so this year I will buy for this little child and hope to make their Christmas a little merrier.

My blog is even getting in the holiday spirit. Can't you tell. Read this post slow because I have some Christmas songs that will play for you. They are awful slow starting, so take your time reading till the songs begin!! Even the weather is cooperating. Tonight it will be in the low 40's and high tomorrow in the 70's, and by the end of the week we will have a 35 degree night and 60's in the day. Hey, this is the south you know! Always perfect weather!

Check out my family blog to get some Christmas updates!

This week I will have my Christmas tree and decorations up!
It's only 23 days till Christmas!!

gin

2 swaps in - - 2 swaps out

I got home Sunday night from an out of town weekend. And what to my surprise! First a package from Holly for my beautiful Vintage Christmas Stocking package hosted by Priscilla. Thank you very much Holly.

It was a great package. From the creative wrappings to the most vintage gifts ever.
I love it all. And so much to love. The stocking is super! I love it. There is a little vase and a saucer with a pink flower. The fur wrapped gift is awesome. I love the little candies and the tea. The ribbons, the ornaments, the vintage light bulbs and light bulb streamer - to the journal, the towels and even lotion! I probably left something out, but believe me I will enjoy every item! Click on these pictures to get a better view of everything.

And another package! First, I must apologize to 2Fun4U . I had given up on the swap because it had ended a while back and I had not received it. It was for the Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas swap apron from 2fun4u hosted by Val.. The apron is great. The chocolate on chocolate lining with swirls looks just like hot chocolate! I love the apron. She also sent a cute tin of hot chocolate and a mug. Thank you 2fun4U.

I can't show what I sent Holly. She hasn't received it yet. But go here to check when she gets it. I hope she likes it. The other swap I sent was to be a handmade ornament or handmade hanging Christmas item. I can't show it yet either. I hope she likes it too.

gin

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day 2008 filled with family, food, and fun.

Our table is set and garnished with traditional Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings.

We give thanks to our God for bountiful blessings.

After a delicious and ful-filling dinner we visited and shared stories of the past weeks and with expectations for the coming weeks.

Then outside we go to particiapte in a little family competiton, with gifts and prizes to be had by all. The weather outside is terrific. Such a beautiful day with partly cloudy in the low 70's. You can hear the crunch crunch on the fallen autumn leaves as we walk all around.

There is the archery competition. And 4-wheeler riding.

All the outside play worked up the appetite for a light supper of leftovers.
A day well spent to renew family ties.

gin

Happy Thanksgiving

Wising you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving Day.
gin

O K

I give up. I haven't received my Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas Apron swap package. I know things happen and some people can't get it together. But that's ok by me. I'm not one to dwell on others unorganizational skills. I would help if I could, but if I can't, I do my own thing. So I took things into my own hands and made my own Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas Apron.

It's rather quick, simple, and kinda cute. I also made some quick aprons for my girls. Yes it had to be LSU aprons. And the bottom picture is more LSU fabric that I will finish up tonight in aprons! And I know one of these aprons is not of LSU. It is hot peppers fabric. I couldn't resist the remnant fabric and bought it. It was just enough to make 2 aprons - black with red, green, and yellow hot peppers.

gin

Show and Tell

Remember my place mats and table runners I had made a few weeks back and posted on? Well, I have a few more made. I seem to can't get away from greens, ivorys, and burgundy colors. And I can't seem to post the pictures here. It just keeps loading loading loading loading and no picture ever shows up. So no pictures. I'll just tell and not show. Maybe that's a good thing because the table runners are gifts for family members. Not Christmas gifts, but just a thinking of you gift. I will be visiting these family members soon and will bring the table runners for you to choose the one you like. I think they are pretty. Some with satin ribbon trim along the edges, some with glassy beads, some with fringe, and some with a satiny lining. I'm going to take most of the day Monday, tomorrow, and finish up a few more. Then no more sewing for me until next year. ! You know there is Thanksgiving and Christmas to do.

Yesterday, we rode into the "city" to eat lunch. While there we did a little shopping. We went in one store which is like a salvage store. All things are new from other stores that have closed down or whatever. But you really have to search thru the stuff to find something you might want. I knew they would have a lot of Christmas decor and such. I found some really nice Christmas tree skirts. Velvety red with gold swirls and a wide green velvet trim. Very nice. I wanted one. As I "dug" through the stash I realized they all had names stitched on them. There was "The Thompson's" printed in gold script. There was "The Johnson's". There was "The Bozeman's". And a few more. But I didn't want to be a common name and husband was not about to buy this. Then there was "The La Ville's". Oh good, I said, We can be "The La Ville"s". I like that name. At 75% off I could live with that name a few weeks. I bought it to the dismay of husband. But I can turn the name to the back and cover it with a pretty wrapped gift. My only other find of the day was a box of 100 bulls eye targets for shooting or archery. There will be another post for what I have in store for these.

I can't seem to load any pictures. It just keeps loading loading and loading and no picture shows up. So my great tree skirt will be for my eyes only.

My must do's this week are to finish my table runners and place mats. I really like them and hope the recipients will like them too. I plan to finish them Monday and Tuesday. Also, I have 2 swap packages I have to get in the mail. They are all packaged and ready to go to the post office. And of course there is Thanksgiving preparations.
You will be busy this week, too.
Whistle while you work!!

gin

Giving Thanks

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. In 8 days most people will be preparing for family and friends, visiting family and friends, and eating the turkey with all the trimmings. We should remember those who are not as fortunate to be able to enjoy the true traditional American Thanksgiving Day. It is a time that we should not only celebrate 1 day out of the year, but everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving, although, not with all the holiday food spread on the family table and family from far and near gathering. But everyday we should be thankful. I like to take a moment of every day just to myself to reflect on being thankful every day for the bountiful blessings we take for granted. Even some mishaps in our lives are really blessings in disguise.


I am thankful for:

• my husband and children - for our good health, our memories, our time spent together, our successes and failures



• my extended family, parents, sisters and brothers and their families, and in-laws for times spent together during the good and the bad times



• our jobs - that we have the ability to work, to have the means to take care of home and family and to provide for our own necessities and wants



• each day God gives me. Realizing how precious each day and moment and breath is. And to make the best of each day no matter what it brings.



• living in the USA. That we have the freedoms that we have. So many we take for granted but would surely realize it if they were ever taken from us. Special thanks for those in our military, past and present, who make this possible for us.



• best friends



• a day off from work



• shopping malls, outlets, antique stores, flea markets, garage sales, and grocery stores



• sunshine and hot summer days



• the beach and the mountains



• fresh hot out of the oven chocolate chip cookies



• cell phones, laptops, and plasma tv's



• and, most of all I am thankful for Jesus as my Savior

Of course, Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving without family and food around the table. So on this upcoming Thanksgiving Day I will be thankful for everyday of the year and make everyday of the year a day to be Thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

gin

gin

New creations

The past few weeks I have completed 2 more quilts. I had one quilt top already put together, but never quilted. So I got busy with getting my batting, lining, new needle and thread together. I set up my quilt frame. I don't have a picture of it in action, but I will make a mental note to take a picture of quilting in progress.

This quilt is very simple. Large squares from my "fabric stash" stripped together with this awesome shiny silky fabric.Can you tell how pretty the stripping is? This is a single bed size quilt.

This next quilt,( I must confess), is kind of a "cheater" quilt. Well not kind of, it really is. I found this great piece of fabric. I liked it and bought all there was on the bolt while thinking "my it already looks like a quilt." So with keeping that in mind, I just teamed it up with batting and a coordinating matching sheet for the bottom and quilted it around the pre-printed design. And voila!! an instant quilt.
This one was so quick an easy. I will keep my eye open for some ideal fabric to do this again. I have a few more creations to work on in the coming weeks.

gin

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

Oh my gosh look at me now!! I did the Celebrity Look Alike and look at me now!!

This was really fun. Click on it and get your celebrity look alikes.

I think it portrayed me well. I like my look alikes!!

Leave me a comment if you try it too.

gin

Get well

Get well to Brandon who has had strep throat for the last few days and get well to Rob who has had pneumonia for the last few days. they both went to the doctor, got shots, prescriptions and have been trying to recuperate for the past few days. They are both back at work today after a very sick last week.

Could it be that early cool morning fishing trip triggered that strep and that pneumonia had been setting in for a while for it to become that bad. Get well soon guys!!

Jennifer and Julie are taking care of their guys.

Trent has his new house up for sale. He hopes to sell quick. We will be there to help him move again!!

gin

Spilling my kitchen secrets

Bobbie does Menu Planning Monday every week. And I have faithfully used her menus for the week because I like the same things she cooks, she does all the work for me by giving me the menu, and she makes my life free from thinking about cooking.

But, lately she has made me work a little harder in the kitchen by coming up with my own menus. And this week is no different. She wants us to give her this weeks menu and spill our kitchen secrets. So after you read mine, go to Bobbie's and check her out!

It's only my husband and myself to cook dinner for. All the kids are grown and gone. So the last few years have been different with just the two instead of a house full of kids and their friends.

I just stop at the Piggly Wiggly which is between my work and my house. It's convenient and I now know where everything is. They have some sales but I don't try to shop around. I really do not like to grocery shop. I do clip coupons on occasion, but for some reason they are never with me when I go to the grocery store. I buy groceries about twice a month, but of course more often for fresh bread and milk.

I like to try new recipes and do so when I'm home alone and have plenty of time. I do freeze some meals occasionally. And that's so nice when I have something already cooked and I just have to put it in the oven. We usually eat around 6pm on weekdays and weekends there is no set time just depending where we are and what we are up to.

The only time my husband helps in the kitchen is when he cooks outside - like fish, something on the grill or frying the turkey. But he does prepare all the meats himself, which I love for him to do (it gives me a break). The only way he helps when I cook inside is to order what he wants to eat. He usually suggest a couple things a week that he would like, which is fine with me. I like a variety of dishes. But it does get so hard with the same thing - pork, chicken, beef, seafood.

So my menu this week is:

Monday - white beans, rice, thin boneless seasoned pork chops pan cooked with onions, cornbread (in fact I already had my beans in the crock pot and then sat down to read your blog and found out I had to make my own menu anyway, haha) (I really like really good seasoned white beans)

Tuesday - Spaghetti,meatballs, sauce, leftover cornbread, big green salad

Wednesday - Breaded chicken tenders in oven, oven baked sweet potato french fries, biscuits

Thursday - Steak on grill, potatoes, salad, rolls
For these potatoes I use irish potatoes, wash well and scrub, cut into quarters or sixths (depending on size), with peeling left on, salt, pepper, and any other seasoning to your taste, 1 tbls water, and slap slices of butter around on top. Cover and cook in microwave for 20 minutes. Taste like baked potato, but less time.

Friday - I think I deserve take out!!

Saturday - Some kind of sandwich

Sunday - Roast, potato, carrots, rice gravy, English peas, rolls, blueberry pie.


gin

Thought for the day

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NRSV

Would you change the way you live if you knew that every word and thought would be examined by God first? David asks that God approve his words and thoughts as though they were sacrifices brought to the altar. As you begin each day, determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think.Ask for God's help in controlling what you say.

gin

I'm in the mood for

Shopping. Not just any shopping, but Christmas shopping.

I've made my list, checked it twice, and hope I get each one something that's just right.

First I want to make my Christmas budget really work. To do this I will

• do a little "window" shopping and browsing to get some gift ideas and price comparisons.
• also go early (and I mean like 5 AM or before) on the Friday after Thanksgiving sale day just in case I come across that special something for that special someone at a very special price.
• include handmade items for some of my gifts.
• give a monetary gift so that special someone can get something they always wanted.
• remember that it doesn't have to be a bought gift, but a gift of action can be a blessing to someone.

Besides the gathering of gifts for my list, I also love the wrapping of each gift. I could sit all night in the middle of the floor with paper, scissors, tape, ribbons, bows, boxes, etc. and wish it would never end. (yes I am strange.)

Our family traditions for our immediate family is always special. Now that the children are grown, married and own their own, we have to kind of add and change a few things. But we are always together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and spend time with extended family. We draw names now and put our names in as well, so the kids are not bombarded with having to buy gifts for 2 sides of their new familes. That's how I want it. The best gift I could receive from my children is for us just to all be together for a special moment to share in the Christmas spirit, enjoy a Christmas feast, read the Christmas Story and to share our blessings with others. (Of course, as the mom that I am I will have each one a special gift just for him/her from mom/dad.)

Some things we did when the kids were little were Christmas Caroling with our church, Christmas plays at church and school, Nativity scenes, nursing home and shut in visiting and taking small gifts or food, town Christmas parade where we would either be in the parade or a spectator, and that special day of going to get our Tree and decorating it. These were just simple tasks to do to help others have a joyful Christmas too.

But most important, we focus on the Reason for the Season. Because of God's Gift to us, the birth of His Son, are we able to celebrate.

How is your shopping going?

P.S. I haven't forgotten Thanksgiving.

gin

Morning stroll

I love taking a quick evening stroll. I am a fast walker so it becomes my exercise and a way to just release all the pinned up energy and stress and it relieves my boggled mind. But I have changed my evening walk to a morning walk because with the time change it's gets too dark too early to take my walk after I get home.

This morning it went like this:

6:15 - I am ready and am getting Poochie ready with her leash. If I don't take her she will bark the entire time I am gone and when I get back it will be a disaster waiting for me - chewed up paper, socks, shoes, etc. ( she has now chewed the corner of one of the bed shams and has torn a sofa pillow in shreds with white stuffing found everywhere).

6:25 - Out the door, hollering at Poochie to wait, and we here a snort, snort and then rustling in the leaves. Then we see the quick flash of 2 deer running away. These pictures are ones we took with our camo digital electronic camera that you hide in the woods and it takes pictures by motion detection.

So I'm using these pictures we had already taken because I did not have my cell phone camera with me. And of course by the time I could snap it they would be gone.

6:30 - So I go down the beaten path which I have made into my walking track, and I tripped over something and down on the ground I rolled. And I seemed to have rolled and tumbled a few feet or so away. You know the feeling when your going down and you just can't stop? Well that's what it was like. I had let go of Poochie's leash and she was way gone. But when I sat up and kind of laughed at my self and fussing at myself for getting dirty, Poochie must have heard me because she ran back to me as if to see if I was ok.

6:45 - I gave up and went back to the house to get ready for work again!

I'll try again tomorrow morning!

gin

Do you like?

I've spent some time sewing up some table runners and place mats. I came across a great fabric store with an abundance of fabric in any texture and color you could imagine and so many trims, beads and stuff. And the price you would not believe.

This I call a winter wonderland table runner. It's white/cream with just a touch of green and burgundy large flowered pattern, lined with a satiny fabric and tassels on the end.This is sleigh bells table runner. It's a pretty green with golden cream swirls. It's not lined but has 2 rows of cream glass beads.
This is green, cream and burgundy patterned kind of a soft chenille like fabric.I haven't made anything with it yet.
I want to make some more so this week I'm going back to pick out some more fabric and trim. They are quick and easy. They will look great for Christmas use even though they are not a holiday pattern. They can be used throughout the year for that special look on your table. Some of you out there may be getting one of these for an early Christmas gift!

I just have to throw in this picture. While taking the table runner pictures on my dining table, this is the view from my dining room window - a pink rose bush planted at the end of the house. It has just exploded over the last 2 years. We built a heavy duty trellis to hold it. It just blooms and blooms and blooms. It was a cutting I took from my grandma's house like 10 years ago. When we moved here I brought a few cuttings from where I had originally planted it at our other house. This is sitting at the dining table, looking out the window down the driveway.

gin