Autumn winners -

First and foremost, as promised, today Bob drew the name of the winner of 

the knitted cowl!  There were 22 comments however a few of you passed 

on wanting your name included for one reason or another, which was fine. 

I'm happy to announce the winner is VEE a long time blogging 

friend at A Haven For Vee.  She is located up north in one of

 my most favorite states, Maine!

Congratulations Vee - I will get started on your choice of cowl (brown)

 asap. I know it will get cold up your way very soon! So listen for the

 click clack of my knitting needles down here in still balmy North Carolina!

I'll get your address later and then let you know when your little gift is

 on the way. . . .arriving before it snows perhaps.

I purchased beautiful freshly harvested butternut squash on the recent 

pumpkin farm visit. Hoping they will be as tasty as the ones from there

 last year - much more flavorful than any bought at the grocery store!

Speaking of cold days and nights ahead, one of our favorite homemade

 soups is roasted butternut squash. . . . . . I'll be in the kitchen later this

 week preparing a batch for supper and the freezer.

Thanks to all of who participated in the drawing for the knitted cowl.

Just so you know, Bob and I decided to draw a second name which we are

 going to keep secret for the time being! Once I finish Vee's cowl I'm sure 

I'll have plenty more long, cold winter evenings for knitting . . . . . so

you may be a winner also!

Enjoy your week - we are having perfect October weather here, 

and especially colorful sunrises . . . . . worth waking early to view.

 

Giveaway Winner - Stormy weather - Baking

Wow, quite a night, and now a wild morning after. Severe storms bringing tornados, 

baseball sized hailstones, trees down, power outages, and flooding, roll across the

 country once again leaving a trail of destruction. . . . .  but hopefully no deaths or

 serious injuries. Properties are heavily damaged in some areas, and south of us

an area of North Carolina has thousands now without power. We have been lucky

here in our area.

I didn't sleep much and was up by 6 AM which is early for me, especially these days!

I had no idea what to do so got in the shower, washed my hair, and just let the water 

drown out the outdoor noise of the storm. Small branches fell littering the the deck

 and garden, treetops swayed violently, emergency vehicle sirens sounded, and

 mama finch's nest in the hanging basket spun around like a wild carnival

 ride. . . . . but she stayed tucked in!

It's still blowing and raining off and on, but the sun is promised later - from what
 I can see there's no real damage here, just a lot of clean up when things dry out
in the next day or so hopefully.

The fig tree appears greener than ever.

Anyway, once Bob was up I grabbed him to pick the Tea Towel Giveaway winner!

Here we go. . . . . . . .

. . . . . .we tossed all the names of each of you who had commented on the Giveaway

 post in his Boston Red Sox cap, and he pulled out Marilyn's entry!  I think we both

 just stood there gaping at each other and then said "Wow, it's Marilyn!"  

She's a dear and lovely tea lady friend from Portland, Oregon and, although I wish all

 of you could have won, we know she going to enjoy the book because if there's 

anyone who knows about tea and tea time, it's definitely Marilyn. 

So congratulations dear Marilyn - I'll be in touch regarding mailing the book.

I know some of you already follow Marilyn's delightful blog aptly titled

DELIGHTS OF THE HEART  - but if not, do visit and meet her soon.

Thanks to all who entered the Giveaway and for leaving fun comments on 

your tea towel collections and ironing!

More to come in another post regarding what I'm doing to keep busy whilst still

 locked down - which I guess is better than being locked up!

Hope your Easter weekend was good despite being so different from usual.

I baked these pistachio muffins again for Easter Sunday - everyone who tries them

 seems to love them - and shared with neighbors.

Stay safe, stay strong, be well.