Happy Hallowe'en

 Happy Hallowe'en!!!!

Yes, I am back. Still unpacking. 

Found my camera - took pics of my Hallowe'en mantel and fireplace - lost my camera again. 

It's here somewhere. arrgh!

Bill and Kat and I dressed up last Saturday to attend a Young Cardinals/100 Yorktown show at Raleigh's wonderful Berkeley Cafe.

Here we are pre-show.

Kat helped us with our make-up. But she wouldn't let us take a pick of what turned out to be her prize winning Tin-Woman outfit!

Bill found a random mustache at the show and borrowed it, creating giggle fits all night. Wish I'd been faster with the camera phone to catch the ear hair mustache!

100 Yorktown was completely in the Hallowe'en spirit. My son, Jordan, is the monkey lead singer with 3 of his 4 banana band mates.

When Bill gets home we're gonna curl up and watch scary movies on Turner Classic Movies or these classics sent by my Sister from another Mister, Pam!

Thanks sweetie! I loves Hammer films!

Hope everyone has a wonderful, spooky, 

candy filled night. 

All treats and no tricks!

 

Love ya,

Becky

Super Saturday

As if Thursday and Friday weren't filled with enough excitement!

I was out the door again with my pal Anne to Rising Meadow Farm for 

their annual Shearing Day.

 Rising Meadow is a beautiful sheep farm nestled in the middle of North Carolina.

Some of these sheep have already been sheared. The rest are waiting their turn.

 Not a great pic - sorry.

This guy is a Master at shearing. He uses clippers and his left hand even though he is right handed.

We were amazed at his speed!

 

 This is Emily. She has been hand clipper shearing for 2 years and is as fast as her mentor!

 

This is the fleece once clipped. Natural wool is so very luxurious! The natural lanolins remain and coat one's hands as you card, spin and use the yarn.

 This is a llama 

(or an Alpaca - I can't tell the difference.)

They serve as guards for the sheep. I've been told the coyotes are more scared of them than of the dogs. 

5 years ago when on a Field Trip to this farm we got to meet the animals up close and the llamas were very kissy face with us.

No, they do not spit in your eyes and blind you!

Unless you attack one.

 Anne and I were windblown and a bit chilly so we left the farm and headed for lunch and thrift shopping!

We ventured into Asheboro, NC where there are a couple of amazing antique/junque shops in their Downtown. But we opted for the Salvation Army store, Goodwill and Christians United Outreach Center.

Here are the books I found.

Here are the crafty kits I bought.

And my Fave find of the day -

For those surprises I mentioned yesterday.

Jordan received a turn table for Christmas and has been amassing quite an impressive collection of vinyl. I found this gem in Raleigh and can't wait to see his face when he sees it. He LOVES "Safety Dance."

The Wake Forest mugs are for Kat and me.

And for my sweet BillHubby who loves to photograph interesting buildings and southern history in decay - a bank.  This is from the late 60's and small enough to fit in the palm of one's hand.

July is Almost Over?!? Giveaway

I am having one of those "where the heck did this month go?" moments.

Bill Hubby and I have been busy so time flies.

Following the July Celebration In Liberty, NC we set up at the Garner Arts and Crafts Festival.  

  Again, we met amazing crafts folk and some really nice customers.

Again, sales were disappointing. 

Again, I think it was the heat.

We will be checking out more venues and let you know if we are setting up near you!

In the meantime, go peak at my etsy shop.  Lots of bibs, tissue covers, an apron and a couple of sets of coasters.

Plus, There are still a few days left for the 

Christmas in July specials!!

I got a huge surprise today! 

I was featured on The Apron Goddesses!

I don't know how they found me!  

But dang what a sweet write up!  

Thanks to the Ladies who are The Apron Goddesses!

Which brings me to another little announcement - I now have 99 Bloggie Friend Followers!!!  

 I think it's time for a Give-away!

Here's the deal -

See all those little boxes on both sides of this column? 

The ones with links to other blogs and cool as all get out places on the interwebs?  

Yeah? Well, to enter this giveaway 

1) You must be a follower

2) Please visit one of the cool websites by clicking their button links here.

Come back here and let me know where you went and a little about what you saw.  Maybe Bea over at What's the Buzz - Bea's Blabber is talking about her adorable grandson or perhaps Angie over at Mama Lusco Handmade is showing off her adorable kids in vacation pics.

That's all. 

The Prize? Hmmm, One of my aprons of course! 

Something in a retro fabric with a couple of kitchen towels to match!

Extra entries? 

Sure, why not?

For a 2nd entry - Visit one more site and come back and tell me about it. (Heck, I hope eventually you can visit all of these fine folks!)

For a 3rd entry - If you visit my absolute over all favorite site, become a Fan and then tell me which, um, vocal expression, is your favorite  then you get that 3rd entry.  Trick is You have to guess which site I am talking about. 

It really isn't hard to figure out.

There ya are.  3 chances to win!

The winner will be drawn next Thursday, August 5 around midnight EDST.

Okay, I gotta go sew!

Love you all!

Boston Terrier Love and a Giveaway!!

 

Most of you know, we are owned by Petey the Boston Terrier.

He has owned me for nearly 13 years.  As you can imagine I have collected many a Boston Terrier knick knack valuable junque item.

Recently, CSN Stores contacted me.  This outfit has 200+ stores!!!!  They sell barstools and all sorts of Furniture, Home Decor, Housewares, Outdoor Stuff (grills to games to furniture,) Baby and Kid stuff,  Shoes, Bags and Luggage, Health and Fitness things, Pet supplies and goodies and Office and School supplies!  Seriously, I still haven't looked at every store.  There is soooooo much stuff!

The nice folks at CSN like my blog. They gave me a couple of exciting and fun options. I could have an item to review or I could have a giveaway.  Welllll, I had never shopped with CSN before. I knew little about them.  I proposed a compromise so that I could honestly evaluate their services and give you, my sweet readers, a prize too.  Could I would review a product and have a Give Away? 

Why yes, you may!

Let me tell ya, I spent hours looking at the fabulous products they carry in their stores.  All of it was great looking and reasonably priced too.  I decided to treat myself to this little guy!

He's a Boston Terrier puppy and he's Purple!!  

How could I pass him up?

I placed my order and swift as a European Swallow (or was it an African Swallow? Laden or unladen? But I digress.)  This sweet pillow was delivered fast!  Safely packed and on my doorstep in a matter of days.

I took him around to meet my other precious stuffed animals and dollies.

 

Here he is with Jordan's Bear. Bear was Jordan's constant companion for many a year since 25 years ago.  Bear is hoping to be passed to a Grand son but for now he is chillin with the precious Build-a-Bear that Kat gave me.  They both think this "Petey" pillow is cute and that his color is a perfect blend for the bedroom.

Petey The Pillow (as I have named him) decided that sitting with the ladies is where he wants to be.  There are many more adorable, petite pillows in this collection.  You could create a whole menagerie!

And if all my ramblings aren't enough fun this gets funner!  

(Yeah, I said "funner.")

I have a $40 "Shopping Spree" to award to one of you, my wonderful readers.  You can use it in any of CSN's 200+ stores online.  (They also accept all the major credit cards and PayPal plus a couple of "Bill Me later options" if you want to spend a little more.)

How may you win you ask?

Leave a comment on this blog.

Easy huh?

Extra entries - Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry. Thank you.

• #1 Go to CSN Stores for a look around. 

Come back here and tell me what you would use your $40 to purchase.

• #2 Follow my Blog or remind me that you already follow me.

• #3 Tell a friend about this giveaway.  Ask them to comment that you sent them here.  You'll get an extra entry.  And if they become a follower of my blog - you get another entry.

• #4 Grab my button for your blog.

You have until my Blogiversary, Saturday, March 13th, Midnight Eastern Standard Time to enter.  I will draw a name on Sunday, March 14th and announce the winner!

Stay tuned because I have all kinds of Give Aways planned for my One Year Blogiversay!

Now I think I'll join Petey the Boston Terrier in his favorite activity.

Music! Music! Music!

I am one super dooper proud Mama!!!

My Boy, Jordan, and his pals started a band in our basement their Senior year at Chapel Hill High. 100 Yorktown has had a few personnel changes and 3 (yes 3!) Final concerts.

The guys have worked so hard on their craft. Now it is beginning to pay off! In addition to their moms, dads, sisters & brothers (collectively known as 50 Yorktown) and their long time friends, 100 Yorktown now has a genuine fan base!

This fan base turned out last Thursday night in Raleigh to set a record for Thursday night attendance at Deep South The Bar. (Thanks for having us. We all had a blast!)

But the best part - the guys won a gig at Raleigh (NC) Downtown Live series!!!!! They are on the same bill as big time recording artist Filter! It's a free show too.

Also making me very proud is the fact that 100 Yorktown is playing Sunday, May 24th at Raleigh's The Pour House for The Eve Carson Memorial Fund. You can hear some great music and support a worthy cause all at once!

In proud honor of the accomplishments of Jordan and 100 Yorktown I have installed a music playing gizmo. It features a new 100 Yorktown song and songs by a few of their musical influencers and some of my favorite local bands. All these bands are from North Carolina! The music player is waaaaayyy down at the bottom of this page and takes a minute to load and then play!

Enjoy!

Hope to see you in Raleigh soon!

~Becky