A Busy Week

I’ve had an old friend staying with us since Sunday so I feel like I have neglected the blog.  It’s been such fun to have her here but today I had to get to work.  

Remember Bo, the black lab puppy?  He was here till Monday noon and I took some great pictures of him.


He loved to jump into one of the red chairs with a toy – here he has a squeaky hot dog.


And Mo is such a good girl!  No trouble at all – I hardly know she’s here – she loves our dog beds and I think her dad is going to get one for her.


Yesterday Becky and I went to Des Moines to the boys state basketball tournament.  Garner Hayfied Ventura lost but they had a super season with only one loss and Becky and I thought it was exciting to watch them play at Wells Fargo.


On the way home we stopped in Ames at Salvation Army and I bought this chair for $25 – I want to try my hand at reupholstery.


In the meantime Ethel enjoys it and it feels pretty comfortable to me, too.

I ordered a bunch  of new books from Amazon – they all look so good I don’t know which one to read first.  I’ll keep you posted.

The Big 12 Tournament will be on TV this weekend so along with 3 extra dogs, some new snow, and sewing for our spring market sale, I have my time pretty much filled up.  

I’m heading off to choir practice – it was just a week ago that I missed the start of Ash Wednesday service.

Anybody else getting that gardening itch?

25 thoughts on “A Busy Week

  1. Ellen Sharp

    Love your blog! I’m a dog lover, also!! Going to retire in May..so will start my hand at piecing a quilt!! I also love to read..just finished Commonwealth by Ann Patchett..very good! Love Beatriz Williams, her books are great…what did you order?

  2. Susan Sundermeyer

    I so want to get out in my flower beds but I know it’s still too early. It was in the lows 50’s here in OH today with high winds, but back to cold and snow flurries for the weekend.

  3. Janie Lang

    Got a seed catalog the other day. I’m not much of a gardener but they’re fun to look at. It means spring is around the corner! I have the camping itch myself!

  4. Brenda archambault

    Mary, on the red chair with the ecru “antimacassar” … Don’t you love that name, it looked like the binding was done on the machine. Do you do all your bindings on the machine or just the small ones that I imagine are tossed into the washing machine on occasions.
    Just had our quilt show in sun city west, az, with over 3000 paid admission and I was the featured quilter. As our theme was silver and red, I made and displayed a few quilts inspired by you. Thanks!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Brenda – congratulations on being featured at your quilt show! Anything that’s going to get lots of washing gets machine binding. Many ways to do it – online tutorials are invaluable!

    2. Brenda archambault

      Wish I knew how to send a video. But, Google me, quilter, and see if anthinng turns up.

  5. Martha Engstler

    We have a kitty that visits almost every night. I think it belongs to someone but have no idea who. My husband really looks forward to the visit and of course he feeds the stranger. Hope to get our own later in the spring.They add so much warmth and comfort.

  6. Linda Shickell

    I so enjoy your blog!!! And I love seeing all your furry friends!!! They are very lucky to have you in their lives – thank you!!

  7. Betty Klosterman

    Spring is on it’s way with lots of wind-50-60+ mph. So far our biggest fire burned 5000 acres thanks to the wind. Not as bad as Oklahoma but we aren’t thru yet…

  8. Patty Turner

    Love your posts! Can’t wait to see your revamped chair! Bo looks like a sweetie!

  9. Kathy

    Your energy is amazing! I try to do as much as I can each day, but never get to the crafts which I used to do in my evenings when I worked. Now that I’ve retired, it seems more to do around the house, but I do let TV get the best of my time. I must work on that and do some handwork while the TV shows are on. I especially enjoy the Hallmark mysteries. Reading has been my chief pleasure and also manage to get that done each evening as well. I enjoy getting a peek at your life. It’s very cathartic for me and hope it motivates me to pull out my sewing machine and check out some patterns for a small lap quilt.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kathy – start making your crafts the priority and cleaning secondary. That’s my theory.

  10. Betty Klosterman

    Is the Wells Fargo building where the basket ball games are being played the same building that used to be called Veterans Auditorium, if I remember right? If so, when I lived in Des Moines in the early 60’s, the basket ball tourney was in the finals on Saturday night. The snow started after the games started and came down like mad. All the people were snowed inside the auditorium all night unable to get their cars out. Bet they had a good time?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Betty – I remember that night at The Barn – Vets Auditorium. Wells Fargo Arena is new and has replaced Vets. I doesn’t seem the same.

  11. Paula (Texas)

    Would love to start my garden, but I need several square yards of dirt to top off my beds, and it has rained way too much to bring in the dirt!

  12. Emily

    Been out buying plants and starting seed. Getting ready to dig in the dirt!
    Love your chair. I would love to re-upholster two of mine. Looking forward to seeing yours. Mary, you inspire me!

    Take care.

  13. Cindy

    I started my tomatoes , peppers, and eggplant in covered foil loaf pans on Sunday . They are in my sunny southern window. Keep your fingers crossed, I have heard that peppers are really hard to start indoors. I am also busy making curtains for my grandson’s rooms.

  14. Carol Brooks

    Where did you get the dog bed? Tessa would love it! Good for you for going to the tourney in DM.
    March Madness is getting close and I can’t wait. It is one of my favorite times of year. I’m glad you
    enjoyed your time with your friend.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Carol – we have several of these beds – I get them from Grandinroad catalog. Dogs love them because they can rest their head on the bolster. Can’t wait for March Madness!

  15. Sunflower

    Oh, yes! I am so anxious to get in the garden. Made a list today with the seed catalog. I’ve been watching the Big 10 tournament here in Michigan. Love your blog. Take care.

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