200th Post and a Giveaway

This is my 200th post! A year ago I didn't know anything about blogs . I didn't know how much starting a blog would enrich my life. I have met so many creative, kind, smart and generous people. I have been so encouraged by all your sweet comments. You have been such a blessing to me in so many ways.
Your friendship is very precious to me and I appreciate every one of you.
Thank you for all your sweet comments and emails. Thank you for sharing your lives with me and letting me share mine with you.

So I've got a few things to give away as a small token of my appreciation of all of you.


A picture frame.

A little vintage floral tin box

A mini enamel teapot from my collection

Do you know what this is? It's a little holder for clothespins! It would be hung up by the little hook at the collar. Isn't it too cute?
A vintage dessert plate.

A needlepoint sign, just perfect for those mornings when you want to sleep in!

A delightful book about the charms of the front porch. Don't we all love a front porch?

Here's everything. Oh and there is a little porcelain box that I forgot to show a larger picture of. It's on the plate.

This is just a little collection of things which I have treasured and thought you might like.

Just leave a comment on this post. I'm going to be away so I'll pick the winner when I get back on Nov. 3.

Also I have a wonderful little video for you to enjoy. I'm sure it will bless you. I just loved it.

Just click on the word JOY

Thanks for stopping by!

Rhondi xo

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful that I get to spend all next week in Texas with our grandchildren. They are so precious and it is such a joy to be with my son, our daughter-in-law and our grandkids. I'll also get to go to the Houston Quilt Show while I'm there too. What a treat!

If you click on the daisy on my sidebar you will see a list of others who are joining in with Thankful Thursday.

What are you thankful for today?
Rhondi xo

A Thrifting We Will Go

Who doesn't like to get a bargain especially these days when the economy is so uncertain! Over the past couple of weeks, I've picked up a few things at my local Goodwill. It's not a great one at all but every once in awhile I find something that follows me home.
I couldn't resist these little dessert plates at 50 cents each.
Each one has a different picture and words around the rim.

Aren't they cute? Wouldn't they be fun at a party with this cake?
This is a silhouette cut out of a thin 1/8" piece of wood. On the bottom it says "handcraft collectibles by Barb & John" and it has "Geathering" written by hand, so I think it is a handmade one of a kind piece. I love the way it stands out against the plain wall. It's small, about 8" long and 6" high. It was only $2.

I find it hard to resist Mary Englebreit things. I know some of you think they're too cutsey, but I like them. This is a big cookie jar that I got for $5. For now she is in our guest bedroom, sitting in front of the paint by numbers picture I got earlier this year.
A nice cross stitched towel which will be fun for Christmas. I got 2 of them for 50 cents each.
I saved the best for last. I picked up this little figurine for only $1.99. I noticed it right away and thought it looked like a Bing & Grondahl piece from Denmark. I know they are expensive but thought perhaps it was a copy. It had the markings on the bottom which looked like they could be real. When I got it home I looked up the markings and to my delight found that it is real! There was one on Ebay for sale for $125! Yippee!! I got a deal!! Don't you love it when that happens?

Isn't it a precious piece?

It's found a home on the table beside my bed. I just love it.
Isn't it silly how finding some sweet thrifted thing for your home can give you pleasure? It's fun to find joy in the little things in life. They say the best things in life are free. Maybe the second best things in life are thrifted treasures!

It's quite cool here this morning but the sun shining through the trees in the backyard and it is a glorious day. Just looking out the window brings joy to my heart. Hope you find some joy in your day. Sometimes you have to look hard for it, but it's there to be found.

Rhondi xo

Soup's On

It was definitely fall this weekend and there was a chill in the air, a perfect day for some homemade soup! So I decided to make Dorothy's chowder. Here's what I needed.

Put 2 cups diced potatoes, 3/4 cup finely chopped onion and 1/2 cup chopped celery in a large pot. Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water and 1 teaspoon salt and cook. Meanwhile in medium saucepan melt 4 tablespoons buttter , then add 4 tablespoons flour and 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard. Stir and cook for a minute or so. Add 2 cups milk and 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce and stir until it thickens. Add some fresh ground pepper.

Add the milk mixture, 1 cup canned whole tomatoes cut into chunks, and 1 tablespoon parsely (I didn't have any) to the cooked vegetables. By the time you've got the milk ready the vegetables are cooked enough. Add 1 cup grated cheese. I prefer sharp cheddar but this time I used mozzerella because that's what I had. Stir occasionally until it's hot and ready to serve. Ladle into soup bowls and it's ready to eat. My husband likes lots fresh ground pepper on his. A nice hot meal to warm us on a cool fall day.

Hope you had a good weekend.

Rhondi xo

Teapot Quilt

I finished another quilt! This one is for a class I am going to teach at Overall Quilter in January. There are some cute appliqued flowers and fun borders. and darling little teapots
with teacups all around the edge.

This is the finished quilt. It's not a very good photo,but I don't have it anymore to take a better one.

Here's another shot of it.
I just counted and this is quilt number 27: 7 were small quilts, the rest were large ones. I've given away 14 to my family and friends for weddings, anniversaries, new babies, graduations, thank yous, plus for cancer patients and sick children through the cuddle quilt program at my local quilt guild. I have 6 others on the go in various states of completion and a whole bunch of ideas still in my head. Quilting is my passion!

Right now I am working on a quilt for my granddaughter made with all the dresses she's outgrown. So I'm going to get my cup of tea and sit down at the sewing machine again.

I hope you find something to do this weekend that you can enjoy as much as I enjoy making quilts.

Rhondi xo

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for good health. One of our friends recently found out he has cancer in the esophagus. My daughter in law's aunt who is only in her 50's has been diagnosed with a type of dementia that progresses very rapidly. One of my very best friends is having some tests done and it's not conclusive yet but they are suspecting MS.
One day all of these dear people were healthy, and the next they were faced with a serious diagnosis. So I want to be thankful for and appreciate my good health today and not take it for granted.

There are others participating in Thankful Thursday and you can visit them by clicking on the daisy on the right. Take time to visit them if you can. I know they'd appreciate it.

What are you thankful for today?
Rhondi xo

Play Date

The other day I went to a play date. In case you're wondering , I don't have any young children. It was a play date for me ! Several of the ladies from our quilt guild get together once a month for a play date and I joined them.

We made necklaces with fabric, ribbon and wood beads. We cut up small pieces of fabric and used a glue stick to glue it to a 20mm wooden bead, carefully stuffing the extra fabric through the holes. Then it was threaded through a piece of yarn or ribbon. Here are a few of the beads we made. I love this necklace: great for Halloween.
Can you pick out the one I made?
I just happened to be wearing this shirt that day and it matched perfectly!

Play dates are fun. I encourage you to get together with some girlfriends and have some fun!

Hope you're enjoying the same wonderful fall weather that we are here in North Carolina.

Rhondi xo

A Little Piece of Quiet

Good morning
This is what I read this morning. Maybe it will encourage you today.

Difficulty is the very atmosphere for a miracle- it is a miracle in its first stage. If it is to be a great miracle, the condition is not difficulty but impossibilty. Is your situation seemingly impossible? Then it is the perfect environment for a miracle to occur. I believe in miracles . Do you?

This morning I was just feeling the need for some peace and serenity in my house, so I gathered a few white things from around the house and grouped them together to make something more soothing than the usual color I have everywhere. My viburnum macrophyllia decided to flower so I picked some of those. The white cow pitcher is the ideal container.
I added this little pitcher that was a yard sale find earlier this year.
added a white cow creamer..
With the white birdcage and a pretty little linen cloth it makes a lovely peaceful grouping.
Hope you can find a little piece of quiet in your day today.
Rhondi xo