Birthday Winner!

(Mom in her new Christmas Parka - Ketchikan, Alaska 1971)

Early January and much of the northern world is covered in snow and ice.  When I was a small child, we lived in Ketchikan, Alaska where my dad had graduated from high school and my grandparents were commercial fisherman.  Mom was an Oregon girl who went to live on the island of Revillagigado with her young husband, having not even met her new in-laws until arriving in Alaska. Mom always said that Dad had a bit of gypsy blood and couldn't quite decide where he wanted to live.  We moved, along with the fishing or hunting seasons that were calling Dad's name, back and forth between Alaska and northeast Oregon several times when we kids were small. 

This picture of Mom was taken during one Alaska stay in 1971.  I remember it clearly.  Dad had purchased this beautiful parka for Mom for Christmas and made the mistake of taking me with him when he picked it up.  I was a precocious four year-old at the time and remember Dad telling me, "Now Paula.  Don't tell Mama about her new coat.  It's a secret."  I barely made it through the door at home that evening before blurting out, "Daddy bought you a new parka.  It's a secret!"

Dad didn't tell me secrets much after that....

Today was Mom's birthday so it is the day to draw a name for her birthday giveaway!

I hopped on over to random.org, popped in the numbers 1 through 9 (the amount of comments on the giveaway post) - clicked on go...and the winner is....

Tipper !

Congratulations to Tipper of Blind Pig and the Acorn!  These two coasters and that box of tea, along with two more coasters for a complete set of 4, will be headed your way!! (and for anyone who doesn't know Tipper - pop on over and introduce yourself - you will get lost in her incredible blog about life in Appalachia!)

Thanks everyone who stopped by and left a comment on the birthday giveaway post -

Happy January!