And the Winners Are.......!

First of all let me apologize for not posting last night....later down in this post I will explain!

My little bears new name is Wexley Frederick.

The two winners are:

Deb - Wexley
Kitten with a Wiplash - Frederick

Everyone gave such wonderful names! I loved them all. As a matter of fact I am keeping all the pieces of paper and when I go to name any other cute stuffed animals I am going to use your suggestions!

For the two of you who won please contact me at iwcquilts@aol.com with your contact info so I can send you the packages!

Thank you all for participating and please always stop by to say hello!

The reason I didn't post last night was.......as you all have read on my blog, I work in Washington DC and travel by train to work from Fredericksburg VA which is 50 miles south of the DC area. Well this week they are running what they call and "S" schedule which simply means....not all trains run. Of course I forget this yesterday and had to wait an hour for the next train on the cold platform. Then about 15 miles from my stop the previous train running broke down and they offloaded all the passengers onto our train. Well...what should have been an hour and 15 minute ride home turned into a 2 and half hour trip. I didn't get home until 8:30 and I ate and went to bed. I have to get up at 5:00 in the morning and I completely forgot to post the winners. I hope you will all forgive me! The pay is good...but the hours are rough!

And I also can't seem to post the picture so I have added a link so you can see the cutie!

Winner Announced Tonight

Thank you all for my birthday wishes....I really appreciated them....wishes are more important to me than presents! Yes Tom you were the first!

I will announce the winners tonight for my name the bear contest. I really had a great Birthday yesterday. I treated my self to a facial and then I went out with a friend for dinner. We were at the restaurant for 3 hours.....so needless to say when I got back home I decided I would announce the winner today! All of the names were so clever....I can't wait to see who wins. I enjoyed every ones comments and I want to thank each one of you for participating in my fun. I feel I have made some new friends!

I have all the names written down with the owners name and when I arrive home tonight I will pick from the bowl! Stay tuned! I have the packages ready to mail out on Friday! Can't wait ......see everyone tonight.

Only a few more days and Little Bear gets his Name!

I am just loving the names that are coming in. I will pick the name on December 29th and post the winners names. I will then send out their prizes once they get in touch with me. Whew.....it is almost that time and then it will be the new year!

For those of you who have wished me a happy birthday.....thank you very much! I have always hated my birthday so close to Christmas. When I was younger, it was because I was always left out of having a special day...you know....I got the BD gift lumped in with the Christmas gift....or it was forgotten, or the two presents blurred together because I got it at the same time. As an adult I appreciate the fact that remembering a kids birthday at the holidays is tough and sometimes ...hey there isn't enough money for all...thus the situations when I was younger. My parents always got me something and I had a BD cake and party....but if a parent asked about a gift my mom would always tell then just send their "kid", the present wasn't necessary....(oh yeah!..LOl...but hey...what can I say...I have a frugal and understanding mom) Well, now I just have a ball and friends and I go out for dinner, lunch or breakfast.....I sometimes pay...sometimes they pay and I still have fun! Wanting the gift has long left me and I just get a charge out of having a meal with really good friends. It's the company that counts for me now.

Well....now that I have bored you with my birthday woes.....just remember to enter the contest and you will get a treat on my birthday!

My Little Bear is Awaiting his Name!

Don't forget it is only 11 more days until my little bear has his new name....get your picks in the hat! I am getting excited....he will show up in my pictures for awhile once he has his official name. I am gathering little prizes and yarn for the packages. Remember ...two winners ...cause he needs a first and last name! I am officially giving him the birthdate of 12/29 because that is my birthday. Easy to remember.....LOL

I Am Excited!

The cutest and most creative names have been coming into my post for the contest! I can't wait to pick his name. With picking randomly.....I imagine it will be one wild and crazy name! This has been so much fun. I have gone on some of your websites and wow are you ladies busy and creative! I am going to watch my grandson the third week in January and I am spending my time during the day knitting, sewing and searching the web blogs. I am going to enjoy myself. I just love to be with my grandson and being at the CAKE household! Fun, fun, fun!!!! Oh...BTW...Mom and Dad CAKE will be out of town and it will just be me and Connor CAKE...hehehe...we will eat what we want and be naughty.....now what are grandmas for?

Late Night Interesting Find

Last night when I should have been asleep but couldn't seem to get there, I was knitting and happened across an interesting show on PBS. They were interviewing an author, William Seale who has done extensive research on the Presidents and their families. It includes traditions, living conditions, the war, assassination, and other stories that revolved around the lives of these first families. I found it absolutely fascinating. He gave all sorts of tidbits and facts about the Presidents and their families all the way back to Washington. Some information I was aware of and other information I was surprised. Some of the men he spoke of ...well needless to say I was asking my self...was he a president? So today, as a Christmas present to myself, I ordered the two volume set of The President's House and plan to enrich my reading after the holidays. I love history and the fact that I work in the US Capital and not all that far from the White House makes is even more tasty reading. Check out the website and you too might find some fun and interesting gifts!

Don't forget about my 100the post contest.....only 15 more days until I pick two names from the hat!

It's getting closer to Christmas!

For the last few days I have been in a "get it done" mood. I am trying to think of things my family would want for Christmas and I have made up my mind that it must be practical and not just things. I have found some great items on line and at great prices. As for my handmade things....well I am getting them done also. I got one of my overdue swaps in the mail and I felt so good about it. I have two more to finish and I am well on my way.

I am working very hard to have a good attitude with my boss at work. I finally realized she is such a control freak..far beyond the micro manager I knew her to be. She needs to have all attention on herself and she makes sure that all credit is given to her. What a miserable life she is creating for herself. I have watched over the last few weeks her crumbling at the edges....but hey....you reap what you sow. Now that I have just let her have her way and just keep telling myself....it doesn't matter, she will be gone one day....I am more at peace with myself. I just turned it over to the good Lord and let him deal with it. Enough said.....right?

I am getting so many cute names for my bear. I can't wait to pick from the hat what his name is going to be. I believe once he is named, he will have to be in all my pictures I take and post. It will only be fair....right? Don't forget to post a name if you haven't yet. I will pick the name and post on the 29th of Dec. My birthday! Oh dear...I am now on the downhill slide to 60! It's okay....getting ready to turn 57 is just fine. I like who I am and I can take care of myself....still would like a companion...but hey life isn't all the perfect! One will come along one day, I hope....LOL

Fourteen more knitting and sewing days for me! Well actually 11....my family is gathering on the 21st for our annual brunch which I started and my SIL took over. Bigger house and she is an attention person too. But it is okay...I don't have to clean that much and I can relax more.....silver lining to all clouds. LOL

The Names are so Sweet!

Names have been coming in for my contest and they are so cute and creative. I am so glad that I am pulling them out of a hat instead of trying to decide which one I like....cause I like them all! This is so much fun! I am enjoying meeting new people.

Just three weeks away and my little bear will have a name, so make sure you tell your friends to join in the fun! Keep those cute name rolling in!

This is my 100th Post!

This is my 100th post! So it is time for a contest. You can enter as many times as you like. I will put all suggestions in a hat and draw the name out at the end of this month...as a matter of fact on my birthday, December 29th.

The contest is to name my little bear I bought sometime ago. I love bears and haven't really bought any in a very long time. When I saw this cutie I had to have him. He sits on my table or where ever so I can just enjoy his cuteness! But he soooooo needs a name. So please help me with a name suggestion and why you thought that it would be a good name. I will add your name to the hat when each time you submit a name and in the hat again for every person who visits my site on your recommendation. Make sure you tell them to let me know they have been recommended! And on December 29th he will have a new name!

For the contest I will pick two winners (yes he will need a middle name!) and they will receive wonderful sock yarn and other small gifts. Enjoy!

A Simple Life

This morning as I rode the train to work....I looked out at the river near Quantico and the sun was just rising. It was so beautiful and peaceful in its appearance. the water seemed to be so calm and shimmery. A calm washed over me and I suddenly realized the lady sitting next to me felt it at the same time. She said in her broken English, "it is such a beautiful day and we should all be so thankful". It's the little things that should be making us happy...the beautiful scenes of nature, helping others and the smile of a stranger.

I read my daughter's blog with such sadness and I realized she feels the same about the holidays as I do. We rush, we buy, we invite friends over to an already bulging get together, all the while trying to become super woman or man. We bring so much unnecessary stress into our lives! We have totally forgotten what the reason is for the season. Now don't get me wrong...I love to give and receive as much as the next person. But we all have gone overboard. When I read about the shooting and trampling of people on this Black Friday....my heart just broke. How important is it to save a few dollars at the cost of being hurt or killed.

I am so grateful that I have a job, a nice home, and good friends and family. My wish in the next few years is to celebrate the reason for the holidays and enjoy each other. I can forgo the gifts and treats if it means hardship on anyone. I want the peace and joy I felt as a youngster. My dad insisted on a nice family meal where we all sat at the table and enjoyed each others company. Okay...as a kid it irritated me when I wanted to play with my new things (never got many) but I do have fond memories of playing with my brothers.

Last night when I got off from the train and was in my car a gentleman came up to my car and asked could I give him a jump start. His car battery has died and he needed a jump start. I was more than happy to. I drove to his car in the lot and I helped jump his car. He was glad I could help him and his handshake reflected so. It felt very good to be able to do something so small and yet so big for him. We need to carry our good deeds throughout the year. I plan to...how about you?

I hope each and everyone had a great Thanksgiving and will have a wonderful Christmas and above all remember the reason for the season and keep the season all 365 days. God Bless each and everyone!

Contest Time!

Two more posts after this and I will hit the 100 posting mark! I will have a contest! Keep you eyes peeled in the next 24 hours and I will give the details! I will then find out who lurks at my blog......LOL...just kidding. Pass the word.....the contest will be announced within the next 24 hours. The 100 posting will announce the contest.

It's the Christmas rush now!

The long holiday weekend was very nice. Being at my brother's and his family for Thanksgiving was very nice. I was surprised. But true to my predictions, my sister in law did not make the turkey.....her sister did. But all the food was good....not mom's but good. My daughter came and spent Friday through Sunday with me and it was so nice. We have for years gone shopping and out to lunch, but this year with the hard financial times we did a few things and just enjoyed each others company. It didn't really feel like Thanksgiving. I am going to have to start having things at my house. I need that. I feel so scattered and the holidays don't seem all that special anymore.

I had a date on Sunday morning and he seems to be a very nice gentleman. We will see. I am getting rather cynical about this dating thing also. I don't know what people want in life. But that is a whole other story.

I also went to see the play Peter Pan at our local dinner theater. It was as cute as it could be and I enjoyed seeing some ladies I haven't seen in a while. Our local theater really does a phenomenal job when it comes to the plays. Professionals usually play the major parts and locals play the minor parts....the productions have always been great and a real treat.

I need to concentrate now on Christmas and hope I can get everything done. I don't plan on doing much but with my aches and pains it has gotten harder, but I will persevere.

I need to keep the reason for the season in my heart and head and go on from there!