LaVieEnRosie

Not my best idea...

I really did want to know what you favorite quilt books were.

Except that every time a title came up that wasn't immediately recognizable, I had to check my bookshelves.  And then Amazon.  (It was too late to run to the quilt shop.)  The good news is that I had a lot of them.  The bad news is that I didn't have all of them.  The worse news is that some of those I didn't have looked interesting... the long and the short of this is that I wound up in a bookstore.  That's always dangerous.  While I didn't buy any quilt books, I can't say the same for cookbooks.   

The first one was Laurie's fault.  Okay, that might not be entirely fair because she didn't force me to buy it.  Except that I only picked it up because of what Laurie wrote about the pancakes. 

 
If you love breakfast, brunch and really amazing food pictures, this is a terrific cookbook.  I think I gained 20 lbs. just reading this one.  Of course, reading this book also put me on the hunt for those European-style brown paper baking cups.  (Found them, thank you.)

I also came home with these...

 
There's just something about a really good cookie or dessert cookbook that always gets me.  It's like shopping at Tiffany's.  I don't actually want those diamonds, I just like looking at them.  And while I will never actually make 99% of the recipes in the books, I really love reading the books. 

About the books I got ~ The Fat Witch Brownies book is terrific.  In addition to several terrific brownie recipes, there are all sort of bar cookie recipes, some of which will be somewhat familiar and several that are interesting variations.  Just reading the recipes makes it pretty clear why the bakery is so popular.  I have made two recipes from this book ~ the Fat Witch Brownies and the Cherry Oatmeal Bars.  Yumm-o! 

The Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy book by Alice Medrich is also excellent.  While I wish it had more pictures ~ cookie pictures are always a good thing! ~ this book is jam-packed with everything you ever needed to know about baking almost every kind of cookie.  If you like cookies and baking cookies, I think you'll like this book.  The funny thing with this book is that several of the recipes also come with a "lighter" version.  Lighter... schmighter.  Cookies are supposed to be... well, cookies! 

The Very Merry Cookie Party book is just fun.  The cookie recipes look delicious and delectable, there are all types of cookies from traditional to funky variations, and the book includes tips for presentation if you're participating in a cookie exchange.

While I'm on the subject of cookie cookbooks, I can't not include one of my favorite cookie cookbooks ~ Big Fat Cookies.

 
In the three or four years that I've had this book, we've probably made about half the recipes in this book and not one of them hasn't been a "keeper".  It also includes lots of valuable information about baking cookies, ingredients, and so on.

And while you're at the bookstore, don't miss out on Where Women Cook...

 
I don't think it was supposed to be out until tomorrow but since it was sitting there... and since I was there... and since I was already in trouble... in for a penny, in for a pound!

Three last things to tell you before I head off... 

One.  Rosie is collarless and very, very happy.  The most immediate improvement in her life has been that getting up and down from the bed and couch is so much easier without that "thing" around her neck.  Life is good!

Two.  That big stack of books from Martingale is going to Lucky No. 22 ~ Lynn Koeppen!   

Three.  It seems I haven't been doing enough hippity-hoppity-bloggiting this past month or so.  To wit, I'm hopping again this week with the ladies from Henry Glass Fabrics and you're invited!

When does it start?  Wednesday, December 1st

How long does it run?  One week ~ from the 1st through Tuesday, December 7th.

Who's going to be there?  Heather Mulder Petersen of Anka's Treasures.  Barbara Jones of Quilt Soup.  Kim Diehl of all those fabulous books.  The Crazy ladies from the Buggy Barn ~ Pam and Janet.  Linda, Jacquelynne, Liz and Beth, Mary Ellen, Dana, Amy... and all the other ladies listed in the sidebar on the right side near the top... there are so many that I'm forgetting all the names!

What is it?  A blog hop with Christmas projects and free patterns!  Something simple, something fun... and I think there will be some prizes along the way with a big prize at the end. 

Did someone mention prizes?  Of course there will be prizes!  There will be more details later but to win the Grand Prize, all you'll have to do is keep track of a few words and then leave one comment on the last day. 

Who knows... I might even have an extra cookie cookbook. 

 

Bumper?

So what's new with you?

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was better than Rosie's. 

It turns out that Rosie didn't bring home any fleas from Houston.  Instead she's been bothered by allergies... which, I gather is a pretty common thing for Golden Retrievers.  So all that itching and scratching was something else.  And it led to licking the area she was scratching, which led to her developing a hot-spot, which led to antibiotics and a spray that she really doesn't like, which means I have to keep her from licking it off, and so there you have it... the lovely collar you see her wearing above.  It frames her sweet face so prettily. 

Which is kind of ironic because that collar has exposed a previously suspected but heretofore unconfirmed personality trait.  She's kind of stubborn.  Think "bull in a china shop" stubborn.  "I can get a square peg in a round hole if I hit it hard enough" stubborn.  If there seems to be something in the way of where you want to go, push harder!  Something has got to give and it isn't going to be Rosie! 

At first I felt bad about her discomfort.  That is, when I wasn't laughing.  Am I wrong for laughing at predicament?

She must think so because I think she's starting to have some fun with the collar, at my expense.  She's been having fun with all the noise she makes as she bumps into furniture, cabinets and walls.  And she's been bumping my legs frequently and with increasing... uh... force.  Hence the "Bumper" moniker.  And lest you think the collar has been slowing her down, think again.  As soon as she got home from the vet's office, she was outside trying to figure out how to pick up one of her rocks with the collar on.  That took about three seconds.  It only took her two seconds to figure out that hanging her head and looking really, really sad would get her an extra treat.  Or two. 

 
Probably more. 

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful ~ everything that you hoped it would be and more. 

Mine was terrific.  Simple.  Quiet.  Really nice.  We did the usual roast turkey with all the trimmings thing ~ and yes, Rosie loves it.  She gets plenty of leftovers and treats from the table because... well, I not really sure how to tell you this without you thinking I'm incredibly odd.  Which you may already do... nonetheless, I have to tell you that I don't really care for the whole turkey dinner thing.  The turkey is fine but I would rather have it in a sandwich.  Instead of the cooked stuffing, I like it better when it's waiting to go into the oven, in the same way that some people like raw cookie dough.  And I'd rather have baked or roasted potatoes instead of mashed.  Green bean casserole?  No thanks.  The good news is that I'll use some of the leftover turkey to make the Chicken Turkey Artichoke Casserole for tomorrow.     

Life here is busy.  I'm trying to get caught up with stuff from this past Fall and start thinking ahead for Spring.  I've been working more at Williams-Sonoma which isn't good because it means I am spending too much time at/near Pottery Barn.  How cute is this?

 
It's a two-bottle wine bag... the Santa Pants Wine Bag.  I just had to have it.  (Only $19.00 at Pottery Barn.)

I also got a couple of Christmas napkins but then got in trouble with my Mom when I cut one up to make a pillow.  She's demanding that I buy a couple more because she loves these napkins.  Which is kind of funny because have I told you that I've been forbidden from bringing any new cloth napkins into the house.  I love cloth napkins and yes, we use them daily.  Just so you know, this is going to be a really cool pillow when I'm finished.

 

One last thing... while I was at Market, the lovely ladies at Martingale gave me a stack of books.

 
They gave them to me so that I would go away.  Or did I go away because I was going to give the books away?  That's it! 

If you leave a comment by midnight on Sunday, November 28th, you could win this whole stack of books ~ that's right, all eight of them! 

Just tell me what your all-time favorite quilt book is ~ other than mine, of course.  Is it a technique book?  A pattern book?  A museum book?  And I want to know why is it your favorite book.

 

Thumper...

That's what Carrie has been calling me since we got back from Houston.  Thumper.  She thinks it's cute or clever but it's not. 

 

 

I got to go to Houston a few weeks ago with Carrie and Gram but I didn't get to go to Quilt Market.  Something about no dogs allowed unless they're service dogs.  I could do that... except that I'm not that well-trained.  Carrie's right that the ruse wouldn't last more than a minute or two.  All it would take is one heartfelt "Rosie!" from one of my peeps and I'd be off getting some sugar.  I'm a little predictable that way.  Carrie's teased about starting a Facebook campaign to get me in ~ it worked for Betty White!  But I think she's a little afraid of the "powers that be"... something about having a booth on the loading dock if the folks that make those decisions weren't amused. 

No, Carrie isn't calling me "Thumper" because of all the hip hop, hippity hoppity whatever going on this past week.  It seems I came back from Houston with a follower.  A flea.  Or two.  Maybe more.  I'm itching and scratching a bit and while Carrie has done that Frontline thing, sprayed me with flea spray and so on, I think I'm getting a bath this coming week.  I gather it will be about the same time as we have some fog in the house.  I like fog.  Have I ever told you that I come from San Francisco?  I know all about fog.  

I've been asked to take care of some very important details, I get to pick and name the winners for two giveaways!

Giveaway No. 1 ~ the Kim Diehl book, Quiltmaker magazine & layer cake. 

Or maybe I should say books!  I convinced Carrie to part with her copy of the book so there are two prizes.  

No. 155 ~ McDurham

No. 105 ~ I Piece 2-Mary 

Giveaway No. 2 ~ Quiltmaker's 100 Favorite Blocks, layer cake & project bag.

No. 184 ~ Michele Breault

No. 1 ~ LuckyMom

No. 152 ~ Judith Hogan

And there is one more... No. 125 ~ Billie K

If you leave a comment on this post, Carrie will e-mail you to get your mailing address!  And congratulations! 

 
So what else is new?

Carrie sewed a little today.  I think it was just an excuse to spend the whole day in her pajamas.  What a schlub.  Okay, so she was out all day yesterday.  She said she was working but since I don't get to go with her, I'm never really sure.  She went visiting with a quilt group here in Phoenix, then she had to go to work at her "part-time" job.  That job cracks me up.  Isn't the point of a job to make money that you get to bring home in the form of a paycheck?  I don't know if Carrie actually gets paid for the time she spends there but even if she does, I think she still winds up owing the company more money than she makes.

Today, she put the borders on something she called a Schnibble, trimmed the blocks from some kit she bought a couple of years ago, auditioned some binding fabric for another quilt made from a kit, and got a whole bunch of "stuff" put away in her sewing room.  Now she's stitching on a wool applique penny rug designed by her friend, Ginger, and watching Daniel Craig in Casino Royale.  And my Uncle Mark just called to remind her about the sewing machine cabinet he's got listed on eBay.  

This cabinet came with all the furniture they got from their Dad a few years ago and since neither Carrie or Mark want it or need it, they're selling it.  It was bought to house a Bernina sewing machine but a friend of Carrie's has that.  If you're interested... here's Mark's listing ~ eBay ~ Sewing Machine Cabinet.

That's all I can think of for now. 

 
 

Hip Block Blog Hop...

I said a hip hop to the blog hop of blocks

To the hip blog hop, a you don't stop

So rock it for the blog hop boggie and say up jumped the blogger

To the rhythm of the hop, the block...

My block!

Ouch.  My head hurts.  Re-writing a hip hop classic is hard work... even when you do a bad job of it! 

 
I have to tell you that I'm a little bit surprised and a lot honored that the lovely ladies at Quiltmaker magazine let me have a block in their lovely magazine.  After I was horribly late and didn't get a block done in time to be in Volume 1, I didn't think I would get to come play the second time they had this party.  But they're a very forgiving and really nice bunch!  They even invited me to do their blog hop... though after they read my attempt at hip hop, they might be wishing they hadn't.   

So here it is.  My block.  Chunky Monkey.  #187.    

 
That's one block.  Not four... well, it is four.  Four little blocks to make one big block.  Each little Monkey Wrench finishes at 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", the whole block finishes at 12" x 12".

I have a very cool neighbor too.  #188.

 
Celine's block is probably perfect too.  I bet she used that neat little Perfect Piecing Seam Guide.  Celine is also on today's blog hop!   

What can I tell you about Chunky Monkey?  What got me started is that I wanted a block that could be made with scraps ~ big ones and little ones.  I also wanted a block that would work in a big quilt or a little one, and something that would "play well" with other blocks.  And it had to work with lots of different styles of fabric ~ and lots of different fabrics!  That was important.  My block uses fifteen.  

Did I tell you that I would be giving something away?

Actually, I have three things to give away.  An issue of 100 Blocks, a Layer Cake and a Miss Rosie's project bag. 

 
Did I mention that my block could be made with charm squares?  Or with a layer cake?  Hmmm... that little Chunky Monkey block just might be a Schneak Peak of some kind. 

Oh...and did I mention that the very nice ladies at Quiltmaker sent me more than one copy of the magazine?  I bet I forgot that part.  I'm sorry about that.  So rather than keep them all for myself, I'm giving them all away.  All three of them.  And since I just so happen to have at least three layer cakes and three project bags, there are going to be three winners. 

Just leave a comment here by midnight on Friday night ~ November 12th ~ and you'll be entered to win. 

Winners will be announced on Saturday. 

After you've left your comment, be sure to visit all these lovely ladies to see what they've made!

Day 4 -- the Hippity Hoppity Block Bloggers

• Sarah & Dolores ~ Homestead Hearth
• Lynda & Nancy ~ the Possibilities ladies ~ Great American Quilt
• Bonnie Hunter ~ Quiltville
• Celine Perkins ~ Perkins Dry Goods
• Heidi Pridemore ~ The Whimsical Workshop Studio
• Jane Quinn ~ Quilting in the Country
• Kari Ramsay ~ Fresh Cut Quilts
• Gerri Robinson ~ Planted Seed Designs
• Scarlett Rose ~ Scarlett Rose
• Benita Skinner ~ Victoriana Quilt Designs
• Anita Grossman-Solomon ~ Make it Simpler
• Monica Solorio-Snow ~ The Happy Zombie herself  
• Angie, Susan and Dana ~ Quilter's Newsletter

Have fun!  Now go hip hop to the blog hop of blocks...

Hippity hoppity bloggity hoppity...

Try saying that three times fast! 

It's Day 2 and yes, I kinda sorta missed Day 1... but I'm going to make up for it. 

I was out and about yesterday, running errands and getting caught up a bit.  This is a weird week, I'll be with the Night Owls tonight, they're a chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild, then its back to "work" this week at my "other" job.  I made the mistake of running by Crate and Barrel yesterday... ouch.  Fun... but ouch.  All because I needed one of these...

 
I have plans for this... maybe some of the little sewing things that are too pretty to actually use and too nice to let get all dusty if I leave them out. 

Did you know that Quiltmaker Magazine is doing a Blog Hop?  It's all to celebrate the publication of this terrific Special Edition issue...

 
The hop started yesterday and runs through Friday with prizes, prizes and lots more prizes.  I'll be here on Thursday with something... don't know what yet.  But today, here's were you need to be:

• The Mothership ~ Quilty Pleasures
• Peg Spradlin ~ HandicraftsbyPeg
• Paula Stoddard ~ Pacific Patchwork
• Helen Stubbings ~ Hugs 'n Kisses
• Maria Umhey ~ Windham Fabric SnipIts
• Cathy Van Bruggen ~ Cathy Van Bruggen Designs
• Pam Vieira-McGinnis ~ the one and only PamKittyMorning
• Cyndi Walker ~ Wishful Stitches
• Ann Weber ~ Gingham Girls
• Cinzia White ~ Cinzia White Designs
• Elisa Wilson ~ BackPorch Design
• Kathy York ~ Aqua Moon Art Quilts
• Patty Young ~ ModKid Boutique

Did I tell you that I actually cooked last night?  It isn't exactly "soup weather" here in Phoenix but I've decided that it's going to be a "state of mind" kind of situation.  I felt like soup so it was soup weather. 

While teaching at Quilt 'n Friends in Michigan several years ago, the "church ladies" made this terrific soup for lunch.  They know about "soup weather" in Michigan.  After a tiny bit of whining, Sally gave me the recipe for Italian Vegetable Soup.  Isn't she a sweetheart!  I've played around with a few things ~ all noted on the recipe ~ but it's a terrific, easy-to-make, you-probably-have-most-of-the-ingredients-on-hand kind of recipe.  All you need to finish this off is some good bread and a green salad.  

 
Italian Vegetable Soup ~ Recipe

One last thing... Quiltmaker sent me a few extra copies of their Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 2 issue to give away.  And since I know several of you are seriously coveting a copy of this...

 
The lovely ladies at Martingale gave me a copy of this to give away.  (They gave it to me in the hope that I would go away and stop pawing Kim's yo-yo quilt.  Yeah, right... good luck with that!  By the way, the Pie in the Sky quilt on the front cover is also even more wonderful in person.  But for the yo-yos, I would have been all over this one.) 

So here's the deal -- leave a comment here by Midnight on Wednesday night ~ November 10th ~ and you could win the following:

 
What's that at the bottom of the pile?  Oh that.  It's a Layer Cake of La Petit Ecole, a wonderful new collection by The French General.  I'm in love with this little collection.  There would be plenty there to make a whole slew of blocks... or a whole pile of yo-yos. 

Midnight.  12:00 am.  Mountain Time.  November 10th... almost the 11th. 

And I'll be back on Thursday with my block ~ it's called Chunky Monkey.   

Best intentions...

I was going to post from Fall Market.  Really.  I was. 

 

I brought my camera ~ I even remembered to bring it into the convention center.  I even took some pictures!  I had my laptop in Houston ~ anything to avoid having to use my brother's computer.  Not that I think he would have let me do so but that's moot anyway.  My laptop never made it out of my bag. 

So while I've been catching up with work, sleep, life, mail, e-mail, work and such this past week, I've been trying to think what I would write about.  You've already seen scads of pictures from Market showing beautiful booths, gorgeous quilts and happy faces.  I gather there are even a couple of pictures of me floating around.  Facebook?  That was the wonderful and talented Tara of Sew Unique Creations, she came by on Monday and brought me candy.  How can you not love someone who does that?  While Tara didn't exhibit at Market, she and her husband had arrived a day early to set up their booth for Festival.  (If you love Reproduction fabrics, did you know that Tara has an online store?  She's got it all ~ gorgeous fabric and terrific patterns.)

Market was lots of fun.  I got to visit with my neighbors Barbara of QuiltSoup, Pam and Janet of Buggy Barn Quilts and Jacquelynne of The Noble Wife.  Jo Morton was just across the "big aisle" so I was able to keep tabs on her ~ next year's Little Women's Club projects are gorgeous.  With her fabric, her quilts and her club, she just keeps getting better and better.  Lori Smith from My Heart to Your Hands had 37 beautiful new patterns ~ okay, it was really only 17... slacker.  I loved Anna Maria Horner's new fabric, Innocent Crush, and then felt really old talking to her.  She's even more beautiful and charming than her fabric.  I wish her sewing books had been around 40 years ago, they're absolutely the best.       

I pestered Alma long enough to get a book, but missed seeing Barb.  I'm thinking Alma drew the short straw there.  I pestered Polly and Laurie and Barb and Mary, and then pestered a Happy Zombie while she was trying to shop for fabric.  I did tell her that I've been hoarding Holiday Happy fabric and that way-cute holiday gnome panel in anticipation of the projects she'll have coming soon.  I kept seeing Joanna coming or going ~ we were always going in opposite directions ~ but I did get by long enough to swoon over her beautiful booth, quilts and fabric.  In one of my only really smart moments in Houston, I managed to get by Lisa Bongean's booth early on Saturday, in time to get a Nine-Patch Gathering book, some wool and a Primitive Pinwheel kit.     

I really missed some of the people who weren't there this time.  Bonnie and Camille.  Carol Hopkins.  And Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts.  Though if I had a baby on the way or a new puppy in the house, I wouldn't have been in Houston either!    

So I'll just show you some of what sticks out to me the most.  I'll start with this quilt ~ it was one of my favorites from Market.   

 

Of all the amazing, beautiful, spectacular and dazzling things I saw, this was my favorite.  If you've seen the picture of this quilt in Kim Diehl's new book, Simple Graces, let it suffice to say that there isn't a picture on the planet that does this quilt justice.  The lovely ladies in the Martingale booth let me take a picture of the quilt if I promised to go away... or at least step back and stop pawing the quilt. 

 
I like yo-yos but I've never been a fan of yo-yo quilts until this one. 

I'm a fan of this yo-yo too... I got to visit with her.  I even bonked her on the head with the back door of the mini-van.  She still spoke to me after so I hope that means she's forgiven me. 

 
Hi Bonnie!  This is one of my favorite people ~ Bonnie Sullivan of All Through the Night.  Bonnie has some cool things in the work for next year.  I met Bonnie about seven years ago at Fall Market.  She was my "neighbor" across the aisle and I watched her booth while she was off doing important business things.  I took my duty very seriously, to the point that I got rather annoyed when some here-to-fore unknown woman started rooting around under the tables looking for who-knows-what.  I'm sure she was up to no good.  I've seen this person since, she's a regular at Market.  Another yo-yo.

 
I know.  I'm a twit.  But in my own defense, I didn't know at the time they were sisters... despite the family resemblance.  Kathy has a gorgeous new collection, Full Circle.  I love this quilt ~ it's by Coach House Designs.

 
All the "embroidery" blocks in the quilt are printed on the fabric, so is the rick-rack trim around the blocks. 

If you haven't already been there, Kathy is participating in a Holiday Blog Hop several terrific ladies ~ Brenda Gervais ~ With Thy Needle and Thread, Debbie Field ~ Granola Girl Designs, Jan Patek, Kathy Schmitz, Renee Plains ~ Liberty Star, Tracy ~ Plum Cute Designs, Lisa Bongean ~ Primitive Gatherings, Lynda Hall ~ Primitive Pieces by Lynda, Cheri Saffiote-Payne, Tara Lynn Darr ~ Sew Unique Creations, Debbie Busby ~ Wooden Spool Designs and Stacy West ~ Buttermilk Basin.  While the hop started earlier this week, the posts are every Tuesday and Friday through December 10th. 

Who else did I see at Market?

 
Elizabeth and PamKittyMorning in front of Elizabeth's beautiful fabric, Red Rose Farm.  Pam wasn't wearing her kit-kat ears in the picture ~ she had those on while visiting Barbara of QuiltSoup.  Elizabeth... well, she looked fabulous.  How is it that I spent two days driving across the country and wound up looking tired and bedraggled.  She spent three days driving across the country and Elizabeth looks like she's been to the spa?  She and Pam looked happy and rested.  They even looked great early in the morning ~ I saw them back here, they were on their way into the convention center. 

 
Huh?

This is the "other side" of Market.  This is what the back parking lot looks like at 7:30 on Friday morning. 

Move-in starts on Thursday and the back lot is usually full with a line of cars and trucks waiting to get in my late morning.  There are only so many parking spots back there, many of which are taken by the folks who actually work at the convention center.  Since you're not supposed to haul stuff in through the front doors, all the unloading is done back here.  Every kind of handcart and dolly is in evidence, as well as lots of boxes, bins, baskets and Sterlite containers.  Many people un-hitch their cargo vans and leave them behind the convention center, it makes packing up on Monday afternoon a bit faster and easier, and it also saves on parking fees.  You'll also find trucks and vans for folks exhibiting at Market and Festival.  In years past, you can wait for several hours to get into the parking lot to load up so getting there early is a good idea.

If you're wondering where they put all those huge wooden crates during Market... here you go.

 
By the way, that's Highway 45 above the parking lot.  It makes it kind of noisy back there, and years ago when it rained heavily during move-in, the water came off the sides of the roadway in sheets.  Going back and forth into the convention center from the parking lot meant dodging the sheet of water coming off the roof of the convention center, running through the rain over the roadway, then dodging the sheet of water coming off the freeway.  Back and forth.  In and out.  You should also know that all the freight doors of the convention center were open and the air conditioning was off.  Even if you weren't soaked from being outside, you were sweating inside because it was about 90 degrees with almost 100 percent humidity.  The next morning, with the air conditioning turned on, it was cold and damp. 

So much for Market being glamorous, right?  Though some folks still manage...

 
Some folks are just cooler than the rest of us.  I know you don't need confirmation from me but Tula Pink's new collection, Parisville, is amazing.  While Tammy Tadd and the Tadd-poles weren't at Fall Market this time, Tammy also has an envy-worthy cargo van.  It matches her vehicle in color and it's got her logo on it.  In the "Way Cool" sweepstakes, Tula and Tammy are way out in front of moi.   

That's all I can think of right now ~ my brain is still a little mushy but I'll be back later this week.  I've got so much to catch up, things I've missed in the past couple of months.  I missed doing something to celebrate my 200th post, I missed my 2 year blog-aversary, and a couple of other things that escape me right now... I just remember I forgot some stuff. 

I've also got some things to give away in the coming weeks ~ a Kim Diehl "Simple Graces" book, a couple of terrific Martingale books, some fabric goodies, and I can't remember what else. 

And there's the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Blog Hop this week!  I'm on Thursday so I'll have some magazines to give away... and probably something else. 

At least that's my intention.