YOUR PICKLES ARE ON THE WAY!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELAINE from Georgia, on being the winner of my blog giveaway!!  Thanks to everyone that took the time to leave comments!!  I appreciate your humor and interest!!  I'll be having another giveaway in the future, so watch and be ready...never know what might be brewing here at AWESOME ASS ACRES!!  Thanks again!! 

Another "new" venture!

A farming friend from Minnesota ordered a pendant for his daughter's birthday...wanted a Golden Retriever that looked similar to her dog, Izzy.  As I said in a previous blog, I'm having lots of fun painting different dog breeds...this is my first time painting a Golden...real pleased with it!!  Can't wait to hear what she thinks!! 

 ***Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered for my "pickle giveaway"...remember to mention pickles or leave a comment on the "giveaway" post!!!

It's a Corgi Christmas!!

As an artist, you sometimes get caught up with repetition and you find yourself in the proverbial "rut"!  I've painted for over 20 years, met many friends through instructing classes, made a living traveling the craft show circuit and now, I've settled into selling on Ebay.  It's such a world wide market and it's definitely not as strenuous as preparing for a show, with the inventory that you have to paint and have on hand.  I've just recently began painting on canvas and I love it...also, I'm experimenting with different breeds of dogs!  Corgi's are a fun, smart, really cute breed and although I don't currently own one, several of my friends do.  That's the breed I'm having the most fun with right now, so I wanted to post the last 2 paintings that I've completed.  The Christmas living room scene is sold and the snow scene is currently on Ebay.  Let me know what you think...I take criticism well and suggestions are welcome!!  Thanks to all!!

FALL GIVEAWAY! COMMENT TO WIN!!

There's so many bloggers that offer items to be given away during certain times of the year...so I've decided to jump on the mule wagon!!  As my blog sometimes mention, we have a good size garden every year, here at AWESOME ASS ACRES.  We freeze, can, sell, give away vegetables, throughout the growing season and enjoy the process of it all.  Our favorite canned item is, by far, my red sweet pickles.  I've been using this recipe for about 20 years and it's ALWAYS a favorite of anyone that likes sweet pickles.  They're sooooo good with any kind of meat dish and are a pretty addition to any meal!  Crispy, sweet, would remind you of candied apples at the fair!

I will be giving away a pint jar full of these delicious, sweet, crispy pickles + the hard to find recipe! 

The drawing will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 8PM, using a random number generator.  I will contact the winner by email.

Directions to participate:
Each time you leave a comment on this particular post = 1 entry
Each time you leave a comment on any post on my blog AND mention pickles = 1 entry
Each time you mention my blog in your blog = 2 entries
If you pass this info on and that person gives you as a reference = 2 entries
If you leave a comment and you're a current follower OR if you become a follower = 2 entries

I'd love to get as many folks involved as possible, so tell your friends, email your contacts, spread the word any way you'd like!!!  BELIEVE ME -- these pickles are worth your entry, so have fun and GOOD LUCK!!

*Due to shipping, this drawing will only apply to continental US residents.

BACK PAINTING...MORE PICS FROM TRIP!

After our return from our East Coast trip, we packed up again and headed to Cades Cove, our favorite campground in the mountains!  Had some rain, but it was still very relaxing and there's nothing like tent camping when it's cool weather!  Big campfire every night, cozy sleeping bags, quietness all around, making new friends and those beautiful mountains!!  I'm back painting today...planning on some pendants and a set of bowls for Halloween.  We're hoping to head over to Etheridge, TN next weekend and help our friend, Jimmy, drive wagon tours through the Amish community there.  He's covered up this time of the year...even had the pleasure of having Ms. Wynonna Judd on a tour this past week...sure wish I could've been there - you know with my singing country music and all!!!  We might have worked out some kind of partnership tour, who knows!!  Well, for now, my focus is on getting some pendants painted, featuring his black and white spotted Percheron draft team...Babe and Lil' Huey...I hope they'll sell for souvenirs of the tour!  I've also posted a picture of Eddington, one of the standing stallions at Claiborne Farms, in Paris, KY.  Take care and come back soon!!

BACK IN EAST TENNESSEE!

We're back from our travelling adventure and it was a WONDERFUL trip!  We have memories to last several lifetimes...beautiful sights, excellent food, gorgeous weather, great new friendships and some fabulous detours that brought us unexpected, unforgettable experiences!  Too many to mention, but some were...spending the night in the middle of Chesapeake Bay on the 17 mile bridge, touring Washington, DC and having a government employee (thank you, Jean!) in the Capitol, sing "Happy Birthday" to my husband, Larry, meeting a wonderful citizen of Fall River, MA and having him offer to escort us several miles to Lizzie Borden's gravesite, eating the best clam chowder in the world, at "Chowda's" in Bar Harbour, ME,...the list is much too long for tonight, but I hope to post pics and add more tomorrow!  We did end our sightseeing in Paris, KY while visiting our daughter and her family, during the last couple of days.  One of our most memorable stops happened this morning...we visited the renown Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY.  This 3000 acre farm was home to Secretariat and hosts his final resting spot.  Six of the eleven Triple Crown winners, were conceived in Claiborne Farm's breeding barn.  They house several beautiful stallions and we were privileged to visit with two...Pulpit and Eddington.  John, the farm guide was absolutely wonderful.  Extremely knowledgeable, polite, funny and patient with my incessant questions, he opened the racing world to us in a way, we never expected.  This tour is a must for anyone that loves horses and John is worth asking for!