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Goodwill

Autumn's Last Stand

It is just about time to say good bye to autumn.
Unless you live in the great north.
I gather that you said good bye autumn, hello winter a few weeks ago!

But here on the central coast of California, we are wrapping it up. Soon.
With any luck, we will be able to say hello to a rainy winter and spring.

Varmit Campaign

What is a varmit?
According to Wikipedia: Vermin (colloquially varmint or varmit) are pests or nuisance animals, especially those that threaten human society by spreading diseases or destroying crops and livestock.

Destroying crops and livestock. Yep, that's what happens around here. There is always something just waiting in the wings to chow down on my hens, the chicks, the eggs, my garden or my tiny little orchard.
It is truly a wonder that we get any food at all off this little piece of land.

Here is a list of recent offenders:

I am not super excited to have a mountain lion creeping around the neighborhood, but he does make his presence known every couple of years. This year, I am hoping that he avoids the sheep/goats/chickens and really makes a feast of some of these pesky varmits. Then it will be a Happy Thanksgiving indeed!

Christmas in November

My neighbors already have their Christmas lights up.

 Thanksgiving isn't until next week, and as a rule I just don't care for our country's obsession with early-bird Christmas decorating. BUT, these lights looks so pretty on a dark night. AND since my daughter saw a mountain lion roaming around the neighborhood 2 weeks ago, I feel like any and all extra illumination is a good thing.

Simply Strings

We are back home from Quilt Market, in Houston, and ready to settle in for the holiday season.

 
But before we do, there is something VERY important I need to tell you about.

My first book!
It is called Simply Strings: A Modern Approach to a Traditional Quilt Block.

I started this book almost three years ago without knowing it.
I was over run with scraps and decided that I was going to bust them. ALL of them. So I started string piecing blocks and then quilts and before I knew it I had 14 quilt tops, a scrap basket that was still overflowing, and an idea for a book. And the rest, as they say, is history. Well, except for all of the work of writing an entire book!

My favorite project in the book is...well all of them.
But here are a few that were very popular at Market:

Hope for Tomorrow

Color Me Happy (low volume option)

Organic

 

And of course, an announcement like this would not be complete without a GIVEAWAY!
Leave a comment letting me know what you think and I will draw a winner next week.
(I hope it's you.)

One Question

The adults give expected answers.

The children...PRECIOUS!

Reminiscent

This little video reminds me of days gone by...of coughs and colds and ear infections.
And trying to get toddlers to take medicine.
Except for the screaming and crying and spitting it out part.
Apparently pandas aren't into that part.