Cherie, a reader, sent this message – which I almost forgot to post!
I’m writing because a friend of mine will turn 90 on July 7. Her name is Joan Skillman. I was wondering if some of your friends could send her a card. She is a mom of 5, grandma to 10, and has 9 great grandchildren. She has always loved and raised Aussies. For many years she and her daughter Pam competed in agility competitions with their dogs. Joan worked till 80s as a hospital tech. She has been a quilter and rug hooker but has slowed down some because of macular degeneration.
Thanks for considering her.
Joan Skillman
Cherie reynolds
My name is Cherie Reynolds and I met Joan Skillman around 2020. I worked in the quilt shop that her daughter owned in Holt, Michigan. Although Joan worked at the local hospital she was at the quilt shop often helping out. She has been my second mom for many years.
Joan was born July 7, 1936 in Ithaca, Michigan. She was married and had 5 children. Joan raised Australian Shepard dogs in the 80s and 90s. One of her winning puppies was bought by Baxter Black, a cowboy poet.
We have taken classes with Bonnie Hunter and Lisa Bonjean. She has rug hooked with Polly Minick. She has also made baskets and we’ve taken a class to make barn quilts.
She worked as a hospital tech until she was in her 80s. Then she decided she had time to take up distance bicycle riding. In 2017 she rode in the Delmar Ride in Michigan from Lansing to Mackinaw. It’s a 350 mile ride over 5 days. In 2019 we went to Hawaii and she swam with the mantra rays and snorkeled for the first time. In 2021 her 5 children took her to Wyoming and they went on a Grand Teton wagon ride for several days.
Joan is an amazing woman who is always up for a new adventure. It would be wonderful if your friends could shower her with cards for her 90th birthday.
Happy Birthday, Joan!
My card will be in the mail and I do hope Joan has a marvelous time on her birthday. Cheers!
My card went into the mailbox this morning, so is on it’s way to Joan. What a productive life she had.
Enjoyed both blogs today as always.
Jeanine – I
Got the sweetest card today from Rhonda!!!!
Happy birthday Joan. As a fellow Michiganian, I know of Holt, Ithaca and the bicycle ride. But I never went to the quilt shop unfortunately. I’ll send a card in tomorrow’s mail as I missed it today.
Loved the post yesterday about Keeper and Three. And the beautiful photos too. It’s well above 100 heat index here today. Other than watering my garden, I’ve been inside. And checking the chickens too.
Stay cool everyone! 🌻
Sunflower – I give cold water to the chickens several times – I have one group who hangs out under the steps to the haymow and they really could find a cooler spot!
Mary,
I have frozen Gatorade bottles that I put inside the chicken watering dishes. I change them out 2-3 times a day in this heat and humidity. My chicken have been digging holes in the yard and settling in on the cooler dirt. 🌻
Wow, I am tired just reading about Joan. What a great and full life. Card is coming.
It is so exciting that Joan is so active. Her card is in the mail.
What an inspiration Joan is for staying young at any age. My card went out to her this morning.
Lovely story of Joan! I will definitely send a card. I will be 85 in August and I also worked in a hospital as a specialty medical technologist in pathology for the last 30 years of my career. She and I would have some things in common, I think, but I was never that physically active. Wish I had been. Too much in my head!
I’m wishing Joan a Happy Birthday through you, Mary. She would be an interesting and fun lady to know! May she have more active years to learn and do!
Hello! Mary did u get more rain last night? We had .52 or .75 ? 😂
Therapy went good!
Joan is an amazing woman!
Love all the pictures!
Joy – you got rain? Nope, nothing here. I think Tim’s corn across the road is taller than me!
Joan is living quite the life! Happy Birthday to 90 yeats young!,,,,
Wow! What a role model Joan is…. I know all the quilters you mentioned and also the rug hooker Polly Minick you mentioned. Happy Birthday to Joan…. A card coming her way!
Oh my! What a young at heart lady!! She definitely doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet. I will be writing out my card tomorrow.