Out with the old...

in with the new.
Once again, I've pondered going over my year in quilting, life and blogland with you but once again, I've realized it's just not my style.  Here's what I will do.  I will tell you I started the year with great incentive and interest in the quilt world. I was going to ride a roll I'd been on in 2010 but apparently, to ride a roll, you actually have to stay on the ride. Too bad I didn't stay on the ride. Got off to attend to life's business and then some more of life's business. Quilting had to take a back seat but not anymore. I went to the Sewing Summit in October and I realized I need to be doing what I love more now than ever. 

I will still have to attend to my day job and the family but I plan to do a couple of things this year.  Before I get to that, let me pass along the fun.  Last year I posted my horoscope for 2011.  I re-read it today and well, there was this, " "This year the focus shifts from a lifestyle focused on gadgets, information and social networking to introspection, home and family."  I made a joke about not being on my blog so often, yada, yada, yada.  Um, it was right. I did get distracted from the tech stuff (and you all).

Or this, "You are about to encounter your most uncensored raw self on levels as of yet unprecedented. Ready yourself, Goat, because this spring an explosion of fiery planets in Aries sweeps the very base of your horoscope getting you back in touch with some of your most primal instincts. Competition, aggression and the need for plenty of physical outlets ensue." - I didn't exactly take up mixed martial arts but I did find a love of hunting and I haven't even gotten my own kill yet.

Hmm, I did make work more important over my domesticity this year, also.  That's three points of the horoscope that panned out. I'm not sure about all this voo doo stuff but if that worked, then I have HIGH hopes my horoscope this year is going to be good for me this year.  At least, I that's what I say now. Let's go read it, shall we? (Here's the direct Yahoo link if you want to find yours.)

"The confusion of 2011 is about to lift as clarity returns in 2012." Thank God because I really don't do well with change.
"You've no doubt been through a series of powerful metamorphoses since 2008, when Pluto took possession of your stars for the long haul." Duh.
"You're not even a quarter of the way through the 18-year shedding process that Pluto requires ..."  Shit.
"and yet you're not the same person you were just a few years ago by any stretch of the imagination." Again, duh. It's freaking impossible to be young, niave, carefree me. (Okay, I was never that way but I do know I've changed and grown a lot.)
"In some ways, you can expect this year to be a long, dramatic pause."  Thank you, thank you, thank you. Give me a chance to breath, oh stars. I really need that.

"You'll be questioning many aspects of your existence, especially your professional life. Mars, the planet of work and action, will be retrograde for the first quarter of the year in your house of higher learning and travel, putting you in a deeply introspective and philosophical mode. During this time, you'll be less inclined to hit the road than you will be to hit the books." Hmm, I started this process a little early. Since about Nov. I've been contemplating these things and when I have some news, if I have news, I'll share. in the meatime, hitting the books was on my agenda these next couple of months.  This is getting just a little strange to me.

"When the eclipse patterns stir up the winds of change for you again in spring and summer, you'll experience some major epiphanies about the new direction you need to take. The new Moon solar eclipse in your work sector brings a fresh approach to the way you go about your daily routine. And then, the full Moon lunar eclipse of June in your dream sector will bring the muse and vision to inspire you to go beyond the known. The total solar eclipse and new Moon in your goal sector in November is the final push to plant radically new seeds. There's no question that you're leaving your old life behind; it's now just a matter of faithfully emerging into the new." Here I'm a little worried, I'm not ready to faithfully emerge anywhere and I think I'm coming to a solution about what I want anand now the stars are telling me I'll change direction from where I am?  Or do they mean I'll actually be solidified in the direction I'm thinking of going now? Come on, people, you are supposed to help me interpret this stuff... clearly it's my livelihood we are discussing here. 

"Love is in the air with generous Jupiter in sister Earth sign Taurus, showering your romantic sector until June. The planet of fortune will provide ample opportunities for you to fall in love with someone new - or simply love the one you're with. Pleasure becomes a key theme for the first half of the year, providing a nice balance to your normal dutiful life."  On a lighter note, can anyone fault me for saying it's just a SHOCKER that I'd simply love the one I'm with. Oh stars, oh stars. At least there is one area you are stating the obvious.  But look, I do appreciate letting me know the first half of the year is about pleasure. Should I ask, are we talking bedroom pleasure or maybe just romantic movies that hubs would never see pleasure? I need to know, I'm an OCD Capricorn afterall, where I should and shouldn't expect pleasure (ahem, maybe I should put a little footnote here that says, "expect pleasure beyond what is considered normal for my life because hubs is absolutely wonderful in every way to me - :) ). It would not be fair of me to yell at hubs for not going to see New Year's Eve with me because you told me to expect more pleasure if you meant pleasure in the sense he was going to start cleaning the bathrooms.  A little clarity, please?

So there you have it, my year looms ahead, mostly promising. How does your horoscope look?

Happy Monday, everyone. I'll see you tomorrow with some resolutions I plan not to keep.  Wait, I mean, to keep.  Be ready, I want to hear at least one of yours, even if it's a resolution not to tell me your resolutions!

Cheers!
Becky

The WINNERS

Happy New Year, everyone! Tomorrow I'll get into all the NY stuff I feel the need to say (it may be long... you may want to run and hide.)

However, for TODAY, the WINNERS from my birthday giveaway to you, my beautiful followers.

The first prize goes to commenter #6 who was Annie of Annie's Ruby Slipperz. Annie, you've won the book and Island Batik jelly roll.

The second prize goes to commenter #19 who was Kate of Katie Mae Quilts.  Katie, you've won the pins, quilt-it kit (which I meant to post was a giveaway I won last year, slightly used, but never opened and used myself), the quilt journal and the fat quarters.

Annie and Kate, you should have an email from me asking for your address, please send it as soon as possible so I can send it out this week.

As for the yarn, the first person to speak up for by Colleen so thank you for your interest and taking it off my hands. I hope you find it useful.

Congratulations ladies and once again, thank you all for being my pals. :-)

Cheers!
Becky

For you, my followers.

The derailed plan from yesterday was this post. For my birthday, I wanted to give you a big, heartfelt, thank you for being my followers.

I want to host a giveaway.  I currently have 245 followers and it amazes me that you read my posts and have hung around this long.  I don't know what you see in me but I am grateful for your friendships.

So, as a thank you, I'm hosting a surprise giveaway!  I have randomly drawn 3 winners for the 3 prizes below. I will randomly draw 2 winners for the prizes below.

Criteria:
1) You were a follower as of the date/time of this posting.
2)  I will use random.org to draw two winners (first commentor will be #1, second commentor will be #2 and so on.)
3)  You comment on this post between now and Jan.. 1, 2012 12:00am Eastern Time letting me know you are entering (please be sure I can contact you if I draw you as a winner.)
4) Only one comment per person, please.

If your name has been drawn, I will give you through Jan. 1 (ET) for you to respond to my email asking for your address so I can send you your prize. If, at that time, I haven't heard from you, I'll contact an alternate winner I've drawn.

Now, the prizes!

PRIZE 1

 A book, signed by the author, with small comfort stories of quilts/quilting. I bought book was bought at a quilt show and I picked up two of them so I could share one with you. A note, it has a prayer/meditation them, Christian-based at times, even but all are good little annectdotes and stories.   Also included in the prize, a jelly roll of batiks. Purchased at Hancock's of Paducah, I'd like to share this rll with you. It has blues, greys, creams, and whites.

Second Prize

 Straight pins I won recently but cannot use. Also won but not used, the patterns. It was used slightly by its original (not me) owner but everything is there. Also, a notebook to track your quilt creations. Date/time created, for who, the inspiration of it, etc. It's super cute!

And last but not least for the second prize, these 11beautiful fat quarters. I do not recall the fabric line but I can teel you they are of very good quality.

I want to say again, how much I appreciate you all. Knowing I am writing to someone and not simply to myself is comforting in its own way but also, meeting all of you and getting to know you is a real treasure to me.

I hope you like my gifts and good luck to each and every one of you. Please don't forget to leave a comment to enter!

Cheers,
Becky

ps- if you've read this far, on a first come first serve basis, I am offering this skein of yarn to anyone who knits or crochets. Since  this was sent to me in erro for an order, and I was told by the store to keep it, I thought I'd actually pass it to you b/c I don't knit or crochet myself. Whoever is the first commentor today to say they want this will receive it.

It's my birthday!

So today is my birthday and because of that, I'm not posting a Weigh-In Weds.   I'm also not saying much more than that except that because I had to work today and because my AWESOME BABY BROTHER

(he's the dad of the previously mentioned niece and nephew) is making me Filet Oscar (filet w/lump crab meat & bernaise sauce. Asparagus on the side) with herbed, goat cheese mashed potatoes for dinner, I'm putting my plans for you are on hold.

Please come back tomorrow and I'll explain what my plans are for you before I became so selfishly engrossed with the following dinner.

Mmm, dinner is ready...

Or how about a closer look?

You hungry yet? :-)

THANK YOU Rick (baby bro), Karen (SIL) and Mike (hubs) for such a great birthday dinner in the comfort of my own home.

To my lovely followers, I'll see YOU tomorrow.

Cheers!
Beck

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, because I do and because I believe everyone should be wished good tidings on this day, I'm wishing you all a Merry Christmas day and Happy Season.

I am ever so thankful you take time to stop and check in with me and I hope we see each other more often in the next year.

Cheers, everybody!
Becky

(ps- Connie, my mon (Letty) wonders if you could remind Norma to give Crook some extra loving while they are visiting us. Thanks for coming by!)