Check it

UPS guy rang my bell today, left a surprise, wonder what it could be?

Oh, my! I'm a winner and didn't even know it! I entered a photo in the Cornell Funky Nest photo contest (Thanx Pamela for telling me about it!). Yippee! What fun!

PS - You can see my photo by clicking the link to the winners at Cornell. :0)

Wanna win some Jelly Bellies?

For the last few weeks I have been wondering who put the stuffing in this birdhouse. I never saw any creature coming or going and it may have been there all winter unnoticed because I didn't really even look at it until the snow started melting and I wondered if I'd be lucky enough to have a guest this spring.

Then, Saturday afternoon, I guess the neighborhood was noisy enough that this little guest popped his head out.

Who is this? Let's get closer.

After I got close enough to realize that this is my little flying squirrel friend (spotted last October on my suet), I slowly backed away, went into the garage and did the happy dance like I had just won a million dollars. My husband looked at me like I had lost my mind. So I stopped jumping and wiggling, breathed deeply and softly told him that a flying squirrel had moved into the birdhouse. I also told him that I was so excited and thrilled (like he couldn't tell) and maybe there'd be babies and on and on, then I started jumping again.

This man really loves me, he gave me that smile that you give to excited children when you're pretty puzzled by their joy but are just happy to be away from their tears. And he did not take me to the mental institute so I feel pretty loved.

I think he likes me. :) I was about 5 feet from him here. Here's where the contest comes in. He (or she) needs a name. Did I mention how excited I am?  I hope there's babies, which I suppose would mean that there's more than one.  But I'm just so happy to be able to get a photo of him.   I hope to catch him out eating, but he's nocturnal so that may not happen.  A girl can dream.

We recently discovered that Milwaukee has a Jelly Belly factory. So, leave your suggestions of a name for the little fellow and I will choose one and deliver some Wisconsin Jelly Bellies to the person who suggested the name. In the event a name comes up more than once I'll go with the first person who suggested it. You can leave as many comments/names as you want between now and next Monday noon. I'll announce the winner, and the winning name, next Tuesday.

Boy? Girl? What do you think we should call him?

We have a winner!

Several months ago my husband had some escargot with dinner, and while I would not touch them with a ten foot pole. I did bring those cute little snail shells home with me to photograph.

I remember washing them up real good, but then forgot all about them. I apparently tucked them into a couple of the drawers of my jewelry box and promptly forgot about them.

I hope you aren’t too disappointed by this revelation. L^2 at Dog's Eye View was the lucky guesser.

So I snapped a few photos before I ship the shells off.

CONGRATULATIONS L-Squared!

Giving away $100 (guess once each day)

Please ignore the dust.

A few weeks ago, I was peeking in the drawers of my jewelry box wondering what was in them. I don’t really wear a lot of jewelry, so I don’t peek it in often. But for some reason, this day I was just wondering if they were empty. Have I mentioned how forgetful I am?

After I saw what was there I just knew I would have to have a little contest. I wanted to time it with my new look and you should see a prettier place within the next week. Leanne is hard at work and I bet it’ll look fabulous when she‘s done. Didn't she do a GREAT job!!  You have her to thank totally for my all new home.  So, while Leanne is busy breathing a sigh of relief that she's done, let’s play a game (of course she can play too if she wants).

Measures: 4 ½”x3 ¾”x1 ½”

What’s in my drawers?

I would like you to tell me what is in the drawer. You can guess once each day so be sure and come back. If you want to post about it on your blog, you can guess a second time on that day. For each person who says that you sent them, you get another guess.

I am going to run this contest starting now (July 26th) until noon (Central time), August 1st. scratch that, until 5 pm August 1st due to my annoying little test interfering with my fun, scratch that, the contest has been extended until August 11th, 5pm Central.  That evening every correct guess will go into a drawing for a $100 Visa card to spend wherever the winner chooses. If by some fluke no one guesses correctly, we’ll extend the game.

Details, I will give periodic hints and may chose some of the hints based on comments so feel free to leave a question with your guess. I’m not worried if you guess singular or plural (example: lake or lakes) - both will count if it’s right. It does need to be somewhat specific (example: animal, bear or grizzly bear) - animal would be too general, bear is still a little too general but you don’t need to be so specific that you say purple painted grizzly bear with pink toenails. I guess I get to determine if you were specific enough, although I may consult with my husband (if he's around).

Remember, one guess each day and if someone sent you, share some love by leaving their name in your comment.

HINTS

07/28 - First hint, my daughter gave me this cute jewelry box for Christmas a few years ago but she did not give me what's in the drawer.  It is NOT a piece of jewelry. {There are two hints here}

07/30 - Now hubby doesn't think this is much of a hint, or he didn't until I explained it, so I will explain to you too.  I have been eagerly reading everyone's ideas and based on the many guesses there have been, I think it's a pretty good hint to tell you that the item has no sentimental value.  In fact, I will happily send you the item along with the Visa card.

07/31 - last hints of the week, it looks like I may have to extend this another week because not one person has guessed it yet.   If it gets extended, I will be giving daily hints next week AND It's NOT metal.

CONTEST EXTENDED: reason - no one has guessed what the object is.  I would be happy to run out and spend the money but that wouldn't really be fair now would it?  So let's go another week.  I have a feeling you guys will get it.  I will give a new hint every day to try to help out.

08/01 - It's NOT man made.  If you scroll through the comments, anything that has been guessed up until now is wrong, so don't guess one of those.  I love the lint guesses, but nope, it's not lint, or a dustbunny.   My mom had my baby teeth in her jewelry box too, but it's not teeth.  That would be a great place to hide a key, but it's not a key.

08/02 - There is something in the drawer, the answer isn't "nothing".   It's getting just as hard to give hints as I think it is to guess.  Ask some questions if you like, help me out.  So far the closest guess there has been was on August 1st, so you might want to take a look there.  There has been a close guess, but not quite.

08/03 - Three of them fits in a drawer and I have five of them.  No more than three could fit in the drawer, without breaking them.

08/04 - It's not paper or wood or any kind.  One way or another this ends on the 11th, even if I have to start giving dead giveaways.  There have been some answers so very close, but not quite there yet.

QUESTION:  Do you think this should continue until the date mentioned above or if there's a correct answer just give to the first correct answer and stop it?  I mean it's already went longer than a week?  Ideas?  Help a girl out. :)

08/05 - OK, I'm turning comments off and am notifying the correct guesser.  In the event they do not want to give me their mailing address we will continue.  If they accept the "winnings"  I will post about it as soon as I hear from them. :)