Jane Austen Might Have Liked This Herself!!

          (teapartypendants)

         I mentioned in my post yesterday that the movie 'Pride and Prejudice' caught my attention some years back, and I thanked Jane Austen. Then, after a little thought, I realized that while I have watched and loved a number of movies based on novels by Jane Austen,...Pride and Prejudice,

           ... Sense and Sensibility,...

              ...and Emma...

            I have never actually read a book by Jane Austen! O_0
       I've got to remedy that oversight soon!! I just hope it doesn't end up being the same way it was when I read 'To Kill A Mockingbird'! :-( After seeing the movie 'umpteen' thousand times...and loving it!...I was very disappointed with the book.
       Anyway....I'm all about getting in the Jane Austen mood today...after I watch the final mountain stage of the Tour De France, and finish the black crochet hat I'm still working on (now that the red one is finally finished), and planning for hubby and I's trip to Paris for our 'Date Night' tomorrow! Yep! I'm finally gonna get there!!! LOL {He wants to eat Escargot!!! O_0 I'm trying to talk him into 'French' fries!! LOL}
        So how do you get into a Jane Austen mood?! This is how!... 

      (AntiqueGraphique)

     (TurtleDoves)

       (58cherries)

      (Graphique)

     (vintagedheart)

     (AntiqueGraphique)

     (roiaobrien)

          Okay!! Now I'm in the mood! :-) Now I just have to figure out which book to start with...Have any of you read any of her books?! Do you have a recommendation for where I should start?!...If I don't get any suggestions I may just start with the one I love the best from the movies...Pride and Prejudice. After all, and I think I've said this before, 'I'm a sucker for a love story!' :-)

       And, so that you can get into the Jane Austen mood too,...bouffe e bambini is hosting a Giveaway, introducing you to Jennifer, of the blog Dear Lillie. This is what is being given away!!

          The rules for what you have to do to win it are HERE.  The Giveaway ends Tuesday July 26th. So get on over there and get in on it!!! ^_^ 

       By the way, on her blog, Jennifer is featuring a Jane Austen inspired silhouette pillow tutorial,...

         ...the first of several tutorials involving Jane Austen that you'll see in the coming weeks...Really pretty, huh?! I think Jane Austen herself might have liked it! :-) So now might be a good reason to start following her blog, Dear Lillie, anyway....other than just for the Giveaway! :-]

         Okay....Let's go forth and read!....or whatever you might be doing today!! ^_^ 

Read a Good Book?!

Have you read any good books lately?
Have you quietly sat all alone
and thumbed through the word-filled pages,
of a story your mind made it's own?

Have you drifted away to a place
where you almost could smell the sea?
Where you found yourself so out of sorts
that you didn't quite know who to be?

Has a character brought you to tears;
Made you think of a time long since gone?
Have you been so enthralled with a writer
that their every word formed a bond?

Have you learned new things for your future;
Remembered some things from your past;
because of great words put on paper
that made all the memories last?

Have you been so excited to finish
that you restrained the desire to look?
Have you told all your friends about it?
Well, it sounds like you've read a good book!

June Is Good For Giveaway Winners AND Grooms!

    Yes! Another month is upon us. Another month to name a Giveaway winner...the baby blanket Giveaway, which I'll announce in a minute. And another month for weddings!...I don't know about you, but if I didn't know better I'd think that time was speeding up somehow!... *wink! wink!* Okay, so maybe it only 'feels' like it's speeding up...especially for grooms about to get married!
    I'm mentioning the grooms because of a new treasury that one of my men's boutonnieres has been chosen for.  The Treasury is entitled FLOWERS FOR YOUR GROOM. 

     Once again, I'm reminded about how many creative minds there are on Etsy! Here are a few of the boutonnieres up closer...

      If you want to see the descriptions of them, check out the rest of the shop where these came from, or just plain 'out-right' buy them, just click on the photos. It'll take you directly to them.
     Oh Yeah! Let me show you the one she chose of mine from my Wuglyees shop too! :-) It's the Fluffy Yellow Czech Fly Boutonniere...

      I'm honored to have been included. So, THANK YOU pugpops!! I especially appreciate it because, even though most boutonnieres are not in the fiber category, you are a lady that appreciates a Lot of Yarns and Wooden Crochet Hooks! :-)

    Okay, on to more treasures!! The winner of the Baby blanket...

      As usual, the box was shaken up.....and shaken up some more. Hubby reached his....Hey! How did your hand get 'ashey' AGAIN?!!!...un-lotioned hand into the box.....

       ...and the name that popped up was...

      Congratulations Shannon!! (Alittlesprite) I'm kinda glad you won, because you've been so faithful about putting a new entry in on different days. See! Persistence 'does' pay off sometimes!! :-] Just email me your address and I'll get my little 'baby' in the mail right away, so it can take it's long trip to your home...down under. {Reminded me of THIS SONG :-)}
     The new GIVEAWAY begins!!! :-) This one will be drawn on June 15, 2011. You can click on the sidebar photo to see the details, but what I'm giving away this time is this...

       Yep! One of my Flip-Flop hats, with a flower! :-) 

          It's a smaller version. Not so 'floppy'. (Because I know everybody doesn't like hats like that.) This is what the original size Flip-Flop hat looks like on 'Shequita'...

      I'm going to put more photos on the Giveaway Link. So check it out there...I'm going to list the small red one in my shop...

      ...after I get some better photos of it, in better lighting. I took these just for you! Don't you feel special, having to look at 'bad' photos done just for you?! LOL
     Okay, I'm off to fix the Giveaway link now, and then.....yoyo bag handle here I come!! ^_^ Phew! Time goes by so fast!!!


Time Goes By So Fast!

Time goes by so fast!
It seems to fly just like the wind.
Before you eat your breakfast,
seems it's yesterday again!

You visit with some friends,
go to work and cut the lawn.
Then you look up from your book
and face another fleeting dawn!

You're planning what's for dinner,
jotting down the grocery list.
You wake up from a nap,
and now you're looking at a mist!

Time goes by so fast!
It seems to fly just like the wind.
Make the most out of it,
cause it may not come again!

GIVEAWAY Central!!

The Date for the drawing on this GIVEAWAY?...To Be Announced.

The item being given away?...

The Size?...

The materials?...

The Value?...

The colors?... 

Intended uses?...

RULES TO ENTER...

First: YOU MUST BE A FOLLOWER OF MY BLOG!!

Second: Comment on any one of my regular blog posts...NOT-THIS-POST!!!...Just let me know in your comment, however you word it, that you want to be entered in the Giveaway.

You can put your comment at the bottom of the post...-->  HERE <-- ...You will be entered only if you comment on the blog that day...{My Giveaways are open to whoever, and wherever you live...as long as the postman will deliver it! LOL}

Now, head on over to my regular 'The Wug's Backyard Blogspot' blog post --> HERE <-- ...and leave me a comment saying you wanna be entered...Well, GO ON!! LOL

DO NOT POST A COMMENT FOR THE GIVEAWAY ON THIS POST, AS IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AN ENTRY!!

Oh Yeah!.....I Almost Forgot......Giveaway!

       Okay folks, you can relax today! There's no spiders, no bears, no softball size hail....do you believe people got that in some areas yesterday?!!...or nothing like that in today's post! LOL Today it's all about flowers!! :-) I absolutely love this beautiful flower in the header photo! I don't know who took it though, so if you know, please 'give a girl a clue'. {That includes for the next photo below too. I like to give credit to people for their work whenever I can.}
     Okay, the reason today's post is all about flowers is for two reasons. One, because I'm finally off of 'spider watch'!! I no longer have that big monster spider loose in my house, I've closed off all bathroom drains...*Teehee*...and I refuse to Google to find out how long spiders incubate in a spider sac before they're born! Enough is enough! LOL So, I need something else to do with myself besides sitting and watching!

      I did finish my book (To Kill A Mockingbird). And today I also have lots of letter writing to do, and lots of phone calls to make. But, before I get to that, I have to take care of some unfinished business. I almost forgot that I didn't post what May 1st's Giveaway would be!!...*smh*...All that spider nonsense totally took me 'off my game'! ^_^
    I decided that because I have so many necklaces...crochet flower necklaces...that I've never listed, I'd make the Giveaway for May 1st one of those necklaces! And since I know what "I" like, but I don't know what "YOU" like, I decided that the winner should be able to choose which one of the necklaces they want!! :-)
    Before I show you what your choices will be, let me encourage you all to PLEASE not forget to "Follow" and put "Enter Me" in your comments below! Last month I only had 4 entries for my blanket! {I refuse to believe that it was because you didn't want my warm, ugly blanket to come live at your house!! LOL}  So, click "Follow", if you aren't already a follower, and put "Enter Me" somewhere in your comment below. One entry per day. 
    Okay, these are the necklaces you'll have to choose from. They're all bold statement pieces, and they all hang from a 17 or 18 inch (43.2 or 45.7cm) gun metal chain or real leather cord...There's this dragonfly and silver metal dangle flower necklace, on a leather cord....

       ...This purple crochet flower danglenecklace, with a metal dangle that holds a purple glass stone. {And by the way, my camera made this crochet flower look like it had more blue tones, but the crochet thread was more the shade of the glass stone in the dangle...just so you know. More of a grape shade.}

       ...Then there's this red, black, and white one, with a pearl-like button, a leather cord, and a glass black and white heart hanging below it.

      ...Next is this peachy-pink one. The button is plastic and the large dangle is glass.

      ...Then this 2-tone blue one. It's a smaller one. It has a clear, plastic button that's shaped like a flower, and a very eye-catching glass dangle hanging below it.

      ...Or how about this smaller one. It has turquoise and green colors, with a glass heart dangle.

      ...Almost done! :-))...There's a pink and white smaller one, with a ribbon necklace, a glass pink and white heart dangle, a gold and white center button, and a little metal heart with "Love" written on it.

     ...This pretty red one, with a longer dangle that has all kinds of interesting beadwork, and a pretty interesting button in the middle too!...

      ...and last, this bold purple, blue, and black one. It has a black center button, and a black and blue cameo-type dangle below it.

      Okay, all done! :-) I'm going to link this post in the right side bar that talks all about my Giveaways, so you can come back here and review if you win it!...The necklaces that are left over will be offered to all of my blog followers for a very reduced price...very reduced...for a short time after the Giveaway. I'm doing that as a thank you to all of you for your constant support and making me feel welcome to blogland this year.
     Yep! William and Katherine and I have something in common....April 29th is their special wedding day, and my special Anniversary! Not my wedding Anniversary though...although YIKES! that's coming fast too!!!...No, it's the Anniversary of my very first blog entry!! :-)I can hardly believe it's almost been a year!!...Got any ideas about what I should do for THAT Anniversary?!!

 1st Anniversary

We've had one year
of laughs and fun.
I knew we'd make it,
Honey Bun!

The wedding's over.
The tears are dry.
We're still together,
Sweetie Pie!

Year number two
will be easy-maybe!
We'll make it so.
Okay-Baby?

Making it last
will be our career.
We'll go headlong,
without fear.

For years to come
we'll be right here,
and I'll love you more
each year-My Dear!

No!...It's Not A Joke!!

    I thought that I'd deter away from food today...I'm still gonna eat it! I'm just not gonna show it to you! ^_^ Instead I'm gonna show you some bursts of Spring. After all today is the first day of April, right?!

     Pretty soon the flowers will be popping open to greet the ever-shining sun....

       ...and the trees in all their leafed splendor will be standing guard to make sure there's a place to dart off to when the sun gets too hot...But when?....When is this bursting sunshiny flowers and leafed tree Springtime scene going to start happening?!...O_0 March, so they say, is suppose to 'come in like a lion, and go out like a lamb'.

                {from the Etsy shop becmudd}
     You know what our weather forecast was for today?!

     It's a WINTER STORM WARNING!!! And No! It's not a joke either!! Number one, I don't celebrate any of the holidays, like April Fool's day. And number two, SNOW ain't no joke!!!...*shaking my head*
     Seriously 'Mr. Winter Storm Warning', you couldn't put your little gloves and coat away until next season.....SERIOUSLY???!!!! 

      I was kind of in disbelief when the bones and joints of my hands started to do that 'snow-aching' thing yesterday. Then, as the day went on, it proceeded to wash over my whole body, so that my whole body had that "It's gonna rain...or snow" feeling!....Snow?!....I said: "Nahhhhh!"

        { from Mariann Rea of the Etsy shop littlefoxphotos}
    And then we saw that weather forecast last night. And this morning, the snow starting  coming down,... all over my newly-cleared backyard!!...*sigh*
     I've got a full month of activity planned!! I don't have time for snow removal, wet snow boots on my floors, high heating bills, etc...!! I'VE GOT IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO!!!...
      Starting with announcing the winner of this month's Giveaway!

       As usual, the box was shaked up.....and shaked up some more!

        And the name that popped up?!.....

          Congratulations Artistikat! You are now the owner of my crocheted flop hat...

     ...if you want it, that is. :-) Just email me, contact me on Twitter, or on Facebook and leave me your address so I can get it out to you....{I'll be announcing the new Giveaway over the weekend.}

         {Ant Winter Fun print of original watercolor by becmudd}
      I guess I better start learning how to have fun in the snow!....*sigh*...Maybe my friends can help me.

     I guess that's what I'll have to try to do today...Gather some friends for some fun!...I'll have to leave the beautiful look of Spring to Little Fox. Her FREE Desktop Calendar for April 2011 is here!

         Despite the fact that there's still lots of white stuff on the ground, she's feeling the Spring...in her heart. And via her beautiful Desktop Calendar, she's sharing it with us! :-) Thanks Mariann! It's good to have something around here that actually looks like Spring! It sure isn't the weather map!!....Although those weather people look pretty happy about that! UGH!


Happy Weather People

Weather people are so happy!
So excited about their maps!
Always smiling on the T.V.,
like there's sunshine in their laps.

They're a chitty chatty bunch.
Talking radars and jet streams.
Strangely when the weather turns
their eyes glaze over, and face beams.

I don't know how they are so happy
when there's snow and rain and sleet;
When they do outdoors reporting,
smiling, while with soaking feet!

The places that they go
are where most folks are running from!
Are they brave, selfless informants,
 or just really, really dumb?!

I cannot imagine
how they hold their heads up high,
when most folks can't stand their forecasts,
and they make folks want to cry.

They seem so proud and happy;
Fancy ties and great hair-dos!
Disgruntled comments bounce right off,
as do our frequent hiss and boos!!

The conclusion that I've reached
is that they have a 'Happy Gene'.
But, no doubt, they would just say
that they're reporting what they've seen.

Hey! They were not there
when wind and force moved things around!
But they're happy to be able
to now tell us where it's bound!