B.........log give away!

It's time to choose this year's Christmas ornament and since I cannot decide which one to make, you get the chance to choose and perhaps win one of these two mini pine needle baskets. Each is about 2 1/4" long and is tied with a red raffia bow. Basket #1 is an oval shape with a wide handle crocheted of the same natural raffia as the sewing.
Basket #2 is also oval, but is more of a tiny gathering basket with a narrower handle. It is shown with a tiny pine bough.
This is what you have to do to win the mini basket of your choice:

To be placed once in the drawing sign up to follow this blog by clicking on "Subscribe to" in the sidebar to the right. If you already are a follower you are automatically entered.

To be placed twice in the drawing, also comment here on which one you would select and why.

To be placed three times in the drawing, also visit my Etsy shop http://peacoxcreations.etsy.com/ and comment on one of the items or give me a suggestion.

This giveaway (did I mention free shipping as well) will run from today, June 28, and close on July 4 at 7:00pm CDT. My dear mother, who is 94 years old and as honest as the day is long, will draw the winner at that time and you will be notified immediately.

Thank you and good luck!!

M.........ultitasking

The other day, dh announced that he was going to watch the US Open golf championship. He is an avid golfer and that did not surprise me, but I was a little amused to find him napping in front of a TV going full blast. When I asked him about that later he replied that he was just "multitasking". Then yesterday, I noticed that he had added to this strenuous workout by petting the cat at the same time. And here I had always thought that women were the best multitaskers...go figure!

"E.........arth Laughs in Flowers"...

...at least according to Ralph Waldo Emerson! With the delightful bouquet to the right it's easy to see that joy. This arrangement is especially precious because it was the gift of a dear friend. For more than six years, she and I and eight other incredible women have been enjoying laughter, tears, good times and sad times as we join together twice a month for lively games of mah jongg. When the Red Hat Society appeared in our area, we enthusiastically participated in "Red Hat Fun" as well. We always remember each other's birthdays, and this year, the flowers were one of my gifts. Isn't the red and purple appropriate? Flower arranging is just one of many talents that flourish in this group of ladies that I number among my dearest friends. So I would like to add to Emerson's quote, "and blesses us with their glory".

S.........ummertime and the livin' is easy in Kohler!

So often you hear me "complain" about the long, hard winters here, but when summer arrives, it's so glorious that all is forgotten. Kohler was designed as a garden community, and the village is dotted with wonderful gardens by master gardeners and home gardens flourish as well. The irises here are along the side of our home and I couldn't resist showing you the splendid color.

Besides gardening, we do as much as possible outdoors to take advantage of our few brief months of delightful weather. We cook as much as possible outside and relax on our tiny, comfortable stone and grass patio.

Summer has always been my favorite season and this year is no exception. How sweet it is to put away the heavy coat, hats, mittens, scarves and boots!

I hope your summers are just as lovely and that every moment of this rich season blesses your lives as well!

L.........azy T Crochet

This month's Etsy Blogger is LazyTCrochet! It is exciting to feature a fellow knitter and crocheter and one that loves bright, bold colors as much as I do! To the right you can see a unique cuff knitted around a bead that features bats, the Chinese symbol for joy, prosperity and happiness. If you check out her shop in the next couple of days, you will also find incredible bargains as she is participating in the Etsy "Yart" (yard+art) sale. Her shop is full of hats, scarves, capelets and shawls as well: something for everyone. You can find her shop at http://LazyTCrochet.com and her blog at http://LazyTCrochet.blogspot.com She is certainly far from "lazy"!

W.........hat is so rare as a day in June?

So many of you have only seen our home in the winter with snow in deep drifts, so I thought I'd let you know that we do have glorious times here as well! Today is one of those days. We just returned home from breakfast with some dear friends, dh is now out mowing the grass, and the cats are sleeping in the sunshine. The weather is perfect, so I was reminded of the poet's words and as soon as I finish, I'll be outside enjoying the perfect June day! Many folks in the northern climates think that the autumn is the most beautiful season, but my favorite month is June. The bright greens of the trees, the emerging of summer flowers and heavenly blue skies are accented by soft, warm breezes that finally warm up my soul. Thank you, God, for June and our cute, little "home sweet home"!