Glad Tidings! Mother's day, flowers, and a contest.

I know, it is just a little corney, but this Gladiola bloomed for me and my Sweet Husband brought it in for Mother's Day. The flowers seem bigger this year and I love the colors.

Tomorow is Mother's Day.

My Mom has been gone for just over a decade but she lives on in my siblings, my children, and me.

She was an amazing woman and she was ahead of her time.

This is an old post I wrote in her honor, read it and see if you don't agree.

Rosie and Ruth, from March 2009

And now,,,

for the contest.

I was looking at my stats on this new blogger interface and I noticed that it shows the total number of comments I have received so far.

I was astounded to discover that I am less than 100 comments away from 2000!

So, here are the rules.

1. You can comment as many times as you like, but only once per post.

2. You can comment on any of the last 333 posts (that is all of them),

as long as you have not already commented on that post.

3. As a hint for my long time followers, the earlier posts have fewer comments.

4. I will not tell you how many comments we are from the goal.

5. The winner will be whoever posts the 2000th comment.

6. Anyone can enter, even if you have won a previous contest.

Cheers, and good luck,

Kat

&

Spontaneous

Cat Napping

All this talk about contests, 

gave Spontaneous an idea.

She is entering a cat napping contest at 

Kats Kats News 

(There sure seem so be a lot of cat lovers out there named Kat).

I think she has an excellent chance.

Don't forget, my contest goes till next Wednesday.

You can follow me,

leave me a comment,

or send me an email.

Have a great Nap,

Kat

& 

Spontaneous

Day trip part three, produce stands and home. Contest!

Almost forgot,

we stopped for a picnic lunch before our walk on Heintooga Round Bottom Road

(Don't you just love that name)

We had home made bran muffins with peanut butter.

We headed home after our lovely walk. 

We stopped at a produce stand on the way back down the mountain.

 Isn't this a great harvest display?

There are several stands and each is a little different.

 They have beautiful pumpkins

Some with nice twisty stems.

 An assortment of gourds.

Some of these are quite fantastic.

 There were several different kinds of apples on offer.

We bought some King Lush,

 and some Arkansaw Black apples.

They are organically grown.

They were selling several kinds of grapes too and you could smell them.

 Inside the place is an antique / stuff store.

It is choc-a-block with things.

Here we have an old telephone,

a fire truck peddle car,

and gallons of cider.

 Anyone need an old mountain still?

Just look at this place,

my Mom would have loved it!

 A display of canning jars on window shelves.

 One of the kind gentlemen working at the stand saw me taking photos

and suggested I walk around out back.

This is the view.

 From a different angle.

 This old sign sits out back.

Notice the bird with twirly wings on top?

Just so you know,

I could go for everything on the sign,

except the boiled peanuts.

No thank you!

The last bit of enjoyment for the trip?

German apple pancake made from the King Lush and Arkansas Black apples.

Guess what I am having for breakfast this morning?

Don't forget the contest folks,

It goes till next Wednesday.

I really would like to know who looks at my posts,

and what you think of them.

There are three easy ways to enter the contest.

1. Follow me,

2. If you are already a follower, leave me a comment,

(You can comment on any post between now and Wednesday, I will give one entry per comment)

3. If you do not wish to follow or leave a comment,

send an email too 

akatscorner@aol.com

tell me what you think.

Can't wait to hear from you,

Cheers,

Kat

Day trip part 2, awesome autumn, 300th post and a contest.

Since this is my 300th post,

I figured it should be a special one.

I think this set of photos is one of the best I have ever posted,

I hope you will agree.

Sit back and enjoy the walk,

can't you just hear the crunching leaves?

when we are done, I will tell you all about my contest.

 Heintooga Round Bottom Road

This is one of our favorite places to walk at any time of year.

I have posted photos from here before.

It is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway

and it has to be one of the most beautiful places to look for Autumn.

 Here you can see why they call it the Blue Ridge.

I took this one on the way to Heintooga, but it was too pretty not to share.

 When we called before scheduling our trip,

the nice lady told us that the leaves were not as good this year

because the recent storms brought many leaves down early.

I do not agree with her.

 Everywhere you look,

there is beauty.

 My Sweet Husband agrees with me.

Where the trees are bare,

it just provides contrast.

 See what I mean?

In this case,

Nature is the poet.

 We have driven this road,

but usually we just park either at the top,

or if we have time along the way.

Then we walk,

(not the entire 14 miles!)

 Awesome,

When was the last time you really thought about the meaning of the word "Awesome".

It is for something that literally fills you with Awe.

(Did you notice, the leaf in flight)

 Yellow.

 Gold.

 Branches to frame the scenery.

 What will we see just around this bend,

and the next one.

It just keeps getting better.

 A crown of glory!

 Orange.

 Hillside color.

 A little higher up.

 Early evening shadows.

 Evening color.

 Looking up.

 Looking into the distance.

Autumn Red.

With all these photos,

I still need to post one more blog to cover that glorious day.

I promised to tell you about the contest.

I want to see who all is reading my blog.

This is a very simple contest,

all you have to do to enter is follow me.

If, you are already a follower,

just leave a comment on either this post or any subsequent posts between now and next Wednesday.

If you comment on more than one post,

I will give you an extra entry.

There will be a prize package.

I am not going to tell you what is in it yet,

but I think you will like it.

Spontaneous won't tell me what she thinks of this idea,

She is busy.

Cheers,

Kat

Don't forget to enter by next Wednesday.

Thus far, contest entry and a cool kitty.

So far we only have one entry, Bay Tree Poet. Her entry is over three posts and was not written specifically for the contest, but fits nicely. All of her posts are worth reading, she is a good find. See for yourself.
http://baytreepoet.blogspot.com/2010/03/truth-will-out.html
http://baytreepoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/truth-will-out-pt-2-story-of-lost-key.html
http://baytreepoet.blogspot.com/2010/05/truth-will-out-pt-3-turning-over-new.html
You can review the contest here http://akatscorner.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-leap-challenge-with-prize.html

In the mean time, this is how Spontaneous likes to keep cool.

Have a great weekend,

Kat

Great leap challenge with a prize.

I have taken several great leaps in my life, giant steps forward over chasms of doubt.

Questions of "Do I dare?" try to hold me back.

"What if?" sings a siren songs from both sides,

"What if it all goes wrong?"

"What if it all goes right?".

Some great leaps are over life changing matters, "Should I marry him?" (Best one of all!), "Should I Join the Air Force?", "Can I make it through Nursing School?".

Some just require us to be brave for a few minutes. "Shall I cut my hair?", or "Should I get rid of that?".

I am making yet another great leap, (ok maybe it isn't as dramatic as some, but it is something I have wanted to do for a long time) I have opened an ETSY shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyGoodCompany

You see, people keep trying to buy my jewelry. Seriously, I have had people stop me in line at the grocery store and offer money for jewelry I was wearing. This inevitably when I am wearing something of my own design. My Sweet Hubby thinks I have a knack for it. He has several of my original pieces, they are always conversation starters.

So, in order to introduce my shop and hopefully help promote it, I am having a contest of sorts on this blog.
The prize,

a pair of Peacock Pretty earrings They are made from glass and abalone beads with sterling silver french hooks.

Now I know that some of you don't wear earrings, but wouldn't your Sweet heart look great in these? Especially if she knew you won them just for her?

Here is the challenge:

1. Write a blog post about a "Great leap". It can be what you feel is the bravest thing you have ever done, or something you are still dreaming of. Tell us all about it. Pictures are great, but not required.

2. Post a comment to this blog with a link back to your posting by next Monday July 12, (make sure there is a way for me to reach you just in case, if you do not wish an email address to appear, you can email it to me at akatscorner@aol.com )

Easy enough? Just two steps.
My Sweet Husband does not know it yet, but he will be judging the entries, I like all of you too much to be fair.

Mercury thinks these are some PrettyGood Earrings.

You are all invited to check out the shop, but that is not required in order to win. I currently have two necklaces on offer and will be posting more over the next few days.

I can't wait to see your entries.

Kat