Countdown

I printed off my list of names for the drawing.  Three people gave their full names, so I edited their last names out of this picture, just in case they didn't want that information spread around the Internet.  

I cut the individual entries, folded them, and put them in a bowl.  Now I wait for Cliff to wake up and draw two names:  The winner receives "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" and the runner-up receives Pioneer Woman's cookbook.  I will give the winners until Wednesday morning to claim the prize and send me their addresses; if I haven't heard from them by then, we'll draw another name.   
I know this is a rather primitive way to hold a drawing on the Internet.  I realize there's some random generator thingie other people use for drawings.  But I'm a pretty primitive person, so until I do a giveaway that gets a ridiculous number of entries, I'll do it this way.

Counting down

It's only a little over twenty-four hours until Cliff will draw a name out of a hat to determine the lucky winner of a signed copy of Ree Drummond's book, "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels".  I'm in the process of reading my own copy.  I followed a lot of the story as she serialized it on her blog, but I'm enjoying reading those parts again; I believe I'm about to the point where I stopped, because it's beginning to be new and unfamiliar to me. 
Did you know Ree has signed a deal with Columbia Pictures for a possible movie version of the book? 
I didn't stop reading the story online because I lost interest, by the way.  Somehow my attention span isn't so great, reading on the computer, I think because there are so many things online to distract me... you know, like checking email or tending Farmville crops.  I do much better reading my Nook, or an actual book, away from the computer.    
I've made out the list for the drawing, ready to type out and cut into strips to fold and toss in a hat.  I hope there's no confusion about who is who.  For instance, I have one Vikki and one Vicki.  So I hope if I draw one of those, the winner will know which one is her.  One person left an anonymous comment, said they were in New Mexico, so I wrote the name like this:  "Anonymous in New Mexico".  
You can go to that entry and read all the comments and see where everybody said they would travel if they had a choice.  I received three entries by email instead of in the comments.  They're in the running with everybody else.  
It isn't too late to get your name in; midnight tonight is the cutoff time.  
I've decided to throw in a consolation prize.  Since I have three signed copies of Ree's cookbook, I'll give one of those away to the second name Cliff picks.  If it goes to someone who already has the cookbook, perhaps they will have a friend who would enjoy it as a gift.   
Now, everybody keeps saying how nice I am to have this drawing, but all it's going to cost me is the postage to send the books to the winners.  Ree donated the books; how else would I have gotten them autographed?  
I was asked on Facebook if I'd met Pioneer Woman; no, I have not, but I've read her blog for so long it feels as though I know her.  That's enough for me.  We're "cyber-neighbors", don't you know?  
While we're on the subject of books, Groupon has a deal that will get you ten dollars off a twenty-dollar purchase at Barnes and Noble; it can be used for a Nook Book, too.  I put in for my coupon this morning.  

And the winner is....

Midlife Mom! Contact me with your address, dear; looks like a Christmas gift for your DIL. I wish I had a copy of PW's book for every single one of you.

If you want to purchase one, I notice they're much cheaper on Amazon.com than in the book stores. If you want it autographed, Ree has said that if you send your book to her, she will autograph it and send it back. She's already done that for a lot of people. I copied the following direct from her website:

"If you would like me to sign my scrawly, curly, loopy, deeply disturbed signature on a cookbook for you (or someone in your life), I’d be happy to oblige. Just send your cookbook to:

Pioneer Woman, 
P.O. Box 749
, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Please stick a Post-it (or scrap of paper) in each cookbook with the specifics (recipient’s name, etc.) and I’ll sign away. I’m happy to write special messages."

For those who love Pioneer Woman

I just happen to have in my possession an extra copy of "The Pioneer Woman Cooks", which is on the New York Times best seller list (hardcover advice category).

Oh, it isn't MY copy. The only way you're getting that away from me is to pry it out of my cold, dead hands when I'm deceased.

This is really more than a cookbook; if you love the Pioneer Woman's website, this is for you. Even if you have no plans of ever cooking again.

There are pictures of cows and horses and dogs and children. And cowboys. Pardon me while I have a moment of silence and reflection.

There's enough butter to send you into cardiac arrest. Don't blame me for that.

Here's the deal: If you enjoy P.W., just leave a comment telling me so. You can tell me why if you like, but it isn't necessary.

I don't have a huge readership, so I don't expect a lot of replies. I'll probably just write down all three or four entries on slips of paper and have Cliff draw one. If there should be more than I expect, I'll search out that random generator thingie that everybody uses for their drawings.

Very simple, very easy. You have until 6 P.M. on Christmas Eve to get your comment in.

(Did I mention it's autographed?)

It's a contest!

Over at my AOL journal, I'm having a giveaway. If you're interested in getting a $99 digital camcorder absolutely free, go on over there and put your name in the hat.

My Country Life.