UPDATE: The winner is…Terra Oenning!
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In keeping with my Christmas Countdown over on Facebook, today’s word search puzzle’s theme is Christmas Tree Ornaments! We all have our preference for dressing up a tree. My granddaughter prefers a more modern and coordinated tree. My dd and I love a cozy, weirdly mismatched tree because we love the ornaments we’ve gathered over the years. The 10-year-old loves her tiny tree that’s decorated with pink pigs—her choice.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me about your favorite ornament!

UPDATE: The winner is…cindy!
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I’m up early to get ready for the Christmas craft sale today! I’ll post this blog and go jump in the shower. Even if it rains, and that puts a damper on folks turning out for the sale, it will be fun! I always shop the other vendors, and the venue feeds us really, really well. I can’t wait for the homemade chili!

In the meantime, solve the puzzle! Then tell me whether you have any homemade holiday decorations you treasure for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Psst! And don’t forget to head over to my Friends page on Facebook to enter the Advent contest!

UPDATE: The winner is…Rachelle Lerner!
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I had a late start today. Why?

1. Last night (this morning?), I was up from 2 AM to 6 AM due to insomnia. Then, I slept until 8:30 AM. My dd woke me because…
2. We committed to taking the 10-year-old on a shopping adventure—translation: a garage sale, the dollar store, and then the flea market.

I’m so tired now I’m yawning while I’m writing this. As soon as it posts, I’m taking a nap!

Your Saturday challenge, should you accept it, is to:

Solve the puzzle then tell me what sort of treasure you would love to find for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.

Background

UPDATE: The winner is…Beth!
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I can’t wait to share the story I just finished writing!

It’s one of those projects of the heart that writers seldom get to do. I’d put it on my schedule so many times, but knowing what actually sells had me pushing it aside year after year. This year, I used my determination to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge to finish the darn story.

I hope you’ll read it. It was soooo much fun to write, and it made me cry at the end. If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy, just click on the cover! It’s a cute cover, right?

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, solve the puzzle then tell me which of these LGD story elements I listed for the puzzle intrigues you!

UPDATE: The winner is…Wendy Vest!
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My daughter and I made the shopping list last night. She cooks the entire dinner every year all by herself, and she looks forward to it every year. I can’t imagine liking the prep. She even has a To Do list that tells her when to start what, with notes about how to make everything. She refines it every year. And the dinner is always amazing!

We have the turkey (we always get a 12 or 13-pounder because we hate having more than a day or two of leftovers). Then there’s creamed potatoes, mac ‘n’ cheese, pea (instead of green beans) casserole, bread dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, a tray of olives, pickles, etc., and I can’t remember what else. Oh yeah, pies (pumpkin, chocolate, key lime or lemon meringue)!

So, to celebrate the prep and the “preppers,” solve the puzzle and tell me what your favorite Thanksgiving dishes are for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!  

UPDATE: The winner is…Diana Sallens!
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I packed the 10-year-old’s lunch bag today with the usual stuff, plus an apple. Then I added the one thing I knew would make her smile because she loves them as much as I do—a big fat juicy dill pickle. I’m sure her friends look at her funny, but she’d rather have a pickle than a piece of fruit. Seriously.

I LOVE pickles. Plain ol’ dills, kosher dills, gherkins—but I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE mixed, spicy pickles, too. Have you ever tried Korean kimchi? Yes, you have to get past the fermented garlicky smell (doesn’t bother me a bit!) to get to the yumminess. They do pickles with cabbage, carrots, beets, cucumbers, etc. I adore mixed, spicy Mexican pickles, too. There’s really an endless variety. Then there’s my great-grandma’s chow-chow. She had the best dill pickles and chow-chow ever. Like, to-die-for good.

Let’s celebrate World Pickle Day with a puzzle and a contest!

Solve the word search puzzle, then tell me about your favorite pickles for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Tara Leavitt!
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I have a lot of people to thank for their service on this day, starting with my late father who received recognition at his graveside. I thank my sister, Elle James, my brother and my nephew, who all served. Service is in my DNA. I had uncles who served in WWII, luckily all returned. I’m sure your families have their own heroes as well. So, a shout out to all who served! If you get a chance today, thank a veteran for their service.

Saturday Puzzle-Contest

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you have a family or friend you’ll celebrate today.