January Results for The Great Blog Train

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The 25th GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination: Athens, GREECE. It was a wonderful trip with 40 boxcars!! We (the Engineers) would like to thank all of you for travelling with us and we hope that you all had a wonderful time!

The Giveaway Winner: H.P. (I have contacted the winners by email)
Congrats!!!

 

W   A   N   T   E   D  :

(Being a "Destination Cohost" means that you get to pick our next destination!!  It also means that you will post The Great Blog Train on your blog on the first Wednesday of whatever month you will be cohosting (1 different cohost per month).  We (the engineers or hosts) will provide you with the html code for the blog hop & for the Giveaway - all you will have to do is add into that post some information on the destination that you picked (like population, known for, location etc - basic family friendly facts) and add a few pictures.  Also, if you cohost we ask that you promote it on your social media sites) (We are now scheduling for April 2015).

If you are interested in being a Destination Co-host for the Great Blog Train then please click HERE and fill out the form (THANK YOU!!)

We are now featuring the top 3 Boxcars!  (These are the links that received the most clicks)
Summer Garden Polymer Clay Vase by "Luna Blue Creations"



Treadle Sewing Machine - Repair & Redo by "Redo It Yourself Inspirations"


Writing Thank You Notes by "Five Little Chefs"

Please join us for the FEBRUARY Great Blog Train

on February 4th, 2015!

Sign up to receive emails about The Great Blog Train

LINK PARTY!! Tuesdays with a Twist #95

Are you ready for a fun party?  We're your co-hosts:

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 Debra @ Ms Smoozy's

Deb @ Kneaded Creations

Carole @ Garden Up Green

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!

 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  My feature... 


(drum roll please) 

Banana Split Pie



from Susan at Little Shack on the Hill!

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci 
 

Who Needs Glitter? Valentine Bunting

 

This project begins with the adorable *FREE* Valentine's Banner Printable from Kristi at I Should Be Mopping the Floor!  She makes a great point about how glitter has a way of taking over your entire house, so Clever Kristy created this printable that looks like glitter!  Of course, the glitter lovers in the group could always add as much as they like!

I didn't feel like vacuuming (-; I never do ;-) so I chose some ribbon with shimmering silver dots for threading the darling pennants!  I think it adds a nice little sparkle!



Shiny gold buttons in two different widths were used for spacers.

'Not sure what happened with my printing, but it took me four tries to get it right!  LOL!  It's kind of nice to have the hearts in different sizes though!  Can we pretend I did that on purpose?  ;-)

 

 

If you visit Kristi to download this charming and *FREE* Valentine's Banner Printable, I hope you'll tell her Marci says, "Hi"!

 

This is my third holiday bunting!  If you would like to see the others, please click on the links below:

 

Halloween Bunting

 

Thanksgiving Bunting

 

Have you been getting ready for Valentine's Day?

 

;-)  -Marci

My Sister's Birthday Gift

My sister and her family live on a beautiful farm where they get to see sunrises like this.  We had a wonderful time at their house on Christmas Eve!  After a scrumptious meal and her grandbabies launching lots of gift wrap, the conversation with these dear people was long and sweet. 

 

 

January can be cold and snowy here in Arkansas.  My sister's birthday is at the end of the month.  I was thinking about her when I stumbled across a free tutorial for cozy Flannel Scarves!  What a perfect gift for a January birthday!

 

I went kind of crazy purchasing fabric and made six scarves for her!  Still a little too excited, they were mailed way before her birthday, at the beginning of the month.  I said I wanted her to stay extra warm in case the weather was harsh, but I really just wanted to give them to her right away!  They turned out so soft and snuggly!  She didn't mind!

 

 Here she is happily modeling one.  Isn't my sister beautiful?

 

I'd love to have ideas for her birthday next year.  What do you think would be a nice gift for a January Birthday Girl? 

Giving credit where credit is due, all the photos in this post were taken by my sister.

 

;-)  -Marci

Excellent Customer Service and An Explanation

Hello, Friends!  Thursday was a vacation day for me, but very busy.  My first stop was speaking at a Master Gardener training class, which went well.  Herbs and Edible Flowers, A Place to Begin is the title of my program.  It's for anyone who is new to herbs.  You might remember it was the inspiration behind my posts about herbs.  Edible flowers kept sneaking into the presentation, so became part of the title.  Would you like some posts about edible flowers?  Maybe a few could be written.  I keep planning to add a page to my blog for just the posts on herbs, but never quite seem to find the time.

 

After the Master Gardener presentation, I went to Orschelns for bird seed, then to a furniture store, then to Hancock Fabrics in Fayetteville.  Not in a hurry, I am pretty sure I touched every single fabric in the entire store!  It took a long time to get to the cutting table, but once there I met Lila and Cheree.  (I hope I have spelled those names correctly)  Both were lovely and we had a great little visit.  Lila writes a blog!  Indigo Pears  Check it out and please tell her Marci says "Hi".  ;-)  At the cash register Cheree went through their sale flyer for me and used every last coupon she could find that might work on my purchase!  By the time she was finished, I saved more than I spent!  WOW!  Thanks, Cheree!  EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!  I have always loved that Hancocks, but it's a bit out of the way for me.  Well, not any more!  Lila and Cheree definitely make it worth the drive! 

 

You may be wondering why I haven't been posting many photos for about a month or so.  Well, in my post Venting with Friends I told you about some crazy virus on my laptop.  The fix worked for a while, but then my photos went dark again.  Dad gum it!!  I think we are repaired now and you will be seeing photos again soon.  I've been super busy, especially in the sewing department and can't wait to tell you all about it!

 

'Talk to you soon!

 

;-)  -Marci

Great Quote

If you want something you never had, you have to do something you've never done.

;-)  -Marci

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #94

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist!

We're your co-hosts:

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 Debra @ Ms Smoozy's

Deb @ Kneaded Creations

Carole @ Garden Up Green

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured.  Be sure to check all of our blogs!

 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  My feature... 


(drum roll please) 


Five Simple Steps to a Healthier Life {and a Pep Talk}



from Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth!

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

We all love comments!  Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!

;-)  -Marci