The annual burfday give away

I can't just let my birthday pass without some of the usual fanfare we usually have around here now, can I?

There is always the birthday eye candy-
I love me some Bret Michaels. I really do. But it is darn hard to find a photo of him that is not terrifying. Clearly I don't love him for his looks. I actually think he is pretty darn smart and funny too.

Since Bret is insufficient eye candy, how about some real eye candy?
Hmmmmmmmm, James Marsden. He would make a fine burfday present.
Sadly James was not at my door on my burfday.

I did get something I asked for (well, the only thing I asked for)-
the start of a cottage garden in front of our house.
Complete with foxgloves...
and some beautiful, feathery astilbe.

Plus roses, forget me nots, azaleas, jacob's ladder, lilacs, hydrangeas, columbine, and delphiniums. All that's missing for now is the lily of the valley. It's rather exciting to be making our own gardens. We never really bothered with that at the rental house.

And now, a present for *you*!
This is an old redwork baby quilt that has been kicking around my sewing room for many years. Since I am rearranging some furniture in there right now, I thought I would pass it along to one of you. (The quilt collection is just too big!)

It is WELL loved. There are some paint splatters on it, that big hole at the bottom and some of the embroidery is actually worn thin. (You can click to enlarge.)
But look at that hippo!

It's suitable for cutting, or loving, or whatever you want to do with it.

You just need to leave a comment, no hoops to leap through, saying you want it. I will have Jack pick a name on Friday.

P.S. Thank you very much for all the kind words. I have a metric ton of anxiety, but I am hanging in there.