More Star Crazy

This weekend has been absolutely gorgeous!!! Big change from all of the snow last weekend. It has also been a really busy weekend. Yesterday was spent at our county Readers Rally, very glad that is over with. Last night we went to a concert, saw Keb Mo, Kevin So, ans Susan Weirner, it was a Valentine present for hubby. We both really enjoyed it. Today was spent catching up on odds and ends. One goal for the weekend was to make my Star Crazy blocks for February, I don't want to get behind. I also wanted to make my January blocks for my Civil War Tribute quilt, my latest block of the month from Homestead Hearth. I managed to get both complete. I am very please with how the star crazy blocks are turning out. As I said earlier the colors are a little out of my comfort zone but I do like them. The civil war block is more "me".

Star Crazy

While catching up on reading blogs last month, I found this wonderful star pattern BOM. It is through The Quilt Show, that is sponsored by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. When I saw it, I knew that I had to do it. Stars are my absolute favorite pattern. I finally finished the January blocks, you can see them to the right. I have almost finished the ones for February. I am also excited that I am able to use up some of my stash on this project. I did have to buy the white for the background and a couple of the fabrics for the stars. I went through my stash first to see what I had, then went to the quilt shop. I am stepping out of my comfort zone on this one. I am actually following the colors on the website, they are very bright and I am more of a traditional kind of person. I do like the way the first month has turned out. Apparently hubby does too, he never mentions anything on my design wall, but he make a comment about these blocks and how much he liked them. I hope to finish the ones for February this weekend.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

Let the good times roll! Happy Mardi Gras everyone!! I lived in New Orleans for a couple of years back in the mid 1980's. It seems so long ago now. It was a great place to live for a few years, but not a place that I wanted to call home. Now about the only time I really think about living there is during Mardi Gras. New Orleans really knows how to throw a party.

Snow in Atlanta

Wow, almost four inches of snow, in Atlanta. This is one crazy winter. It started snowing yesterday afternoon about an hour before we left school. The kids were crazy and the adults too. It was probably the most beautiful snowfall I have ever seen, the flakes were huge and there were lots of them. By the time I got home there was already an accumulation. You can see were I pulled into our driveway how deep it already was. It snowed until about 8 or 9 last night, I kept looking out the window while watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I had planned on getting out today and visiting one of the local quilt shops, I don't think that is going to happen. I have been out feeding the birds and checking on some of my neighbors. Now to the sewing room for the afternoon.

And the winner is.....

The winner of my birthday give away is Grindelskin. Send me your mailing address and I will get your goodies to you. Thanks to all who participated.

This is it, the big day

There is nothing like working in an elementary school on your birthday. I have had so many little birthday wishes and songs today. It has been the best. The beautiful rose and box of baby cakes were on my desk this morning when I came in to work, a gift from my wonderful clerk.

I had a birthday banner on my computer.

The tulips are from my LSTC. My wonderful hubby even cooked breakfast for me this morning. After reading Dear Abby yesterday I decided to borrow an idea from one of her readers, I am embracing turning 50 and for the next year my goal is to try 50 new things. It could be something as big as a trip or as little as trying a new food. I am really excited!

I will announce the winner of my birthday giveaway tomorrow.

I was lucky enough to receive a blog award from Pat over at Silver Thimble. She is the one that deserves an award, she is my inspiration and a great friend. If you would like to check out some other great blogs here are 10 of my favorites:

1. Becky
2. Lori
3. Karen
4. Sherry
5. Kristi
6. Megan
7. Nedra
8. Gretchen
9. Mary
10. Melissa

I had a really hard time narrowing the list down to 10, there are so many blogs I try to visit on a regular basis. Hope you check these out, maybe you will discover a new one to inspire you. If you want to give out your own blog awards here are the rules:

Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

What a weekend!!!!

This has been one of the best weekends ever!! Hubby outdid himself, our destination was revealed on Friday night. We were going to Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville. I was so surprised, it is a five star resort that was recently written up in Conde Nast Traveler magazine. I couldn't hardly sleep Friday night I was so excited. However, the weather didn't exactly cooperate with us. There is a lot to do at the Gardens, but most of it is outside, horseback riding, biking, hiking, canoeing, and golfing. It was too cold to do any of that, so we stopped at Tellus Science museum on the way up. I guess I am a nerd, but I thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It is divided into three parts: transportation, fossils, and minerals. They also have one of the few digital planetarium movies in the US. We spent a couple of hours there since it was too cold to do anything outside.

After the museum we headed to our main destination. When we got there, we found that the "Fairy Godmother" had been in our room,(the photo above is our cottage, I could live there.) she had left balloons and champagne. After checking out our room we wandered around the grounds and headed over to the restaurant on the grounds. We had a wonderful dinner, and were visited again by the fairy godmother, our waitress brought out the cutest little birthday cake. It was a perfect day. On Sunday we had a wonderful breakfast followed by a tour of the ruins on the ground. The ruins are the remains of a home built in the 1800's for Julia Scarborough by her husband Godfrey Barnsley. It is a very romantic story.

I have already had a wonderful birthday and it isn't even my birthday yet.

Mystery Trip

I am so excited!! I am getting one of my birthday presents early, my hubby is taking me on a mystery trip this weekend. I had told him a few months ago that I wanted to do something different and special for this birthday, but no surprise party. We are leaving Saturday morning and will be back on Sunday night, I have been told to take one really nice outfit to wear on Saturday night. I have been quizzing him and I do have few clues: we are going in the car, it is northwest from here, it will take about 2 hours to get there, and we have never been there. This is the first time he has ever planned anything like this, so I am really looking forward to the weekend. I was so excited, I was inspired to sew the last row of blocks on my Glory Bound quilt. I already have the fabric for the backing and want to get it to the quilter next week.

Help me celebrate

I remember when I was little thinking that 50 was as old as a person could possibly be. I have definitely changed my mind considering that I will be 50 in a little more than a week. I want you to help me celebrate. Tell me how you celebrated a milestone birthday and you will be entered in my birthday give away.

There are three books, Happy Hour by Atkinson Designs, Let the Good Times Roll by Anka's Treasures, and Surprisingly Simple Quilts from Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. In addition there is a pack of 12 fat quarters, featuring icicles fabrics. To enter the giveaway leave a comment about one of your special days, to enter twice become a follower. The winner will be determined by RNG on my big day, February 10.