Sponsors: Where Would We Be Without Them?

The Christmas Stocking Surprise Giveaway is over. The winner has been announced, notified and responded. The box is packed to the brim full of goodies and a Christmas Stocking to boot. All of this was made possible by Sponsors, people who put there faith in me to tell you about who they are, what they do and the product they offer. Over the next several months, each day I will be mentioning products, sponsors, sales, special items, what's new, etc. and it will all be about my sponsors.  I call them mine, but they don't just work with me, they work with several people who do the same thing I do.  So this evening I just want to say thank you to the 11 sponsors that came through with some very nice items for me to try out and another set to give to the winner, Carolyn McKinnon.  I can't wait for Carolyn to get her box and let me know she has opened it all and then we will work together to share with you what was sent to her.  I  know I love what I received and I am sure she will be just as pleased as I am.  I have to wonder if she has quit doing her "quilty jiggidy jig" as she told me she had been doing since I emailed her. It made me feel so good to be able to tell all of you thank you by allowing you the opportunity to enter to win.  This giveaway was not an easy task from start to finish but was so worth it in the end.  There will be more giveaways, not on the grand scale as this one was but still worthy and enlightening.

Christmas is just a few days away and I know so many of us are feeling stress, sadness, joy and excitement all at the same time.  I spent the weekend with two of my bff's making pounds and pounds of Chocolate/black walnut fudge, peanut butter fudge, divinity, peanut brittle, pecan fondants, cherry mash bars, toffee, sugar cookie dough, chocolate chip cookie dough and peanut butter cookie dough. Now 7 bags of sugar, 3 bags of flour, pounds of peanut butter, pounds of stick butter, bottles of real vanilla, pounds of black walnuts, pounds of pecans, pounds of peanuts, bottles and bottles of white syrup, dozens of eggs later, we have a dining room table, foyer table, kitchen counter, boxes, plastic containers, little paper candy cups, and all other means of storage containers full of the fruits of our labor. Some will go as far away as Texas, some to Kansas City, some to Chuck, Sherry and Connor's house to share with the family and friends as we gather together Christmas day, some will go to Marilyn's house to be shared with her family when they get together this week for Christmas before some of them head off to Texas to see the twins, deliver the gifts and share the goodies with Jeff, Nicole, Ashley and Brandon.  They are going to be so surprised when they see what Aunt Marilyn made them for Christmas.  We had so much fun making all the goodies, so much laughter was shared, some disappointments were with us, some tears of bittersweet memories (I used to do all my holiday candy and cookie making with my sister and it was a very tearful weekend for me).  But, I learned that you can make new traditions and still remember without too much pain. I am thankful for my friend Marilyn and my wonderful dear sweet Steve.

So from my house to yours, I wish you and your family the Merriest of Christmases, the Happiest New Year. I wish you good health, happiness and wonderful memories.  I wish you wisdom and dreams for the New Year. I wish you health and good will to others. Please remember that no day is so bad that you can't take the time to do a kindness for another albeit so simple as a smile and looking at the person as you pass on the street, stand in the line at the store, or while waiting in traffic, turn to the car next to you and wave, smile or nod.  Just pass the goodwill around, I do believe it is catching.
I have many things to share this coming year. I hope you stop in and visit often, even just to say hi.

So, away I go, with a few things still left to do and packages to wrap.  I will see you soon and we will sit a spell and talk

Love and God's speed, .

Jeanne, Steve and the Maverick (he who really rules this roost).