Today was so nice, wind was from the NW so we hardly knew it was blowing – it was calm and bordered on boring. I cleaned in the morning and Hank came this afternoon. Becky was here to join us on the ride thru the wilderness trail.
Keeper, Hank and Hazel were all in the golf cart with me ready to go – Keeper jumped down – chaos ensued.
Hank rolled in the very full muddy waterway as soon as we got there – he actually wants to be a dirty farm dog on the side.
I thought I’d show you what I’m working on – I’m not sure where this block came from – I found the drawing in the quilt shop. It’s a traditional pattern – not my original work at all. I just like to piece blocks.
The blocks look so different – check out the lower left corner block – it almost makes a secondary circle. I think I’ll make 16 blocks.
I finished Chicken Salad and will add it to the pile waiting to be quilted.
From a reader who says she’s hung this in her kitchen the past 4 moves.
More reader photos
It’s getting green!
What’s tomorrow? Just more of the same, I think. How about you?
There are so many pretty quilts today. Mary, your blocks are beautiful.
It is green here, too, in SW Ohio. I mowed tonight, the grass was getting tall enough we were getting close to get one of those letters from the city. Now we’re safe from that, and will be mowing until fall.
Someone mentioned rhubarb. We had a rhubarb dessert for Easter. It was the first cutting. Today was high in the mid 70’s and there was asparagus to pick.
Beryl – I have to wait a little longer for rhubarb and asparagus. Yum! Good thing you mowed!!!
The dogs stay busy. The quilts are lovely and I look at the detail of the Hello Spring quilt and wonder how many hours it took. It should be a family heirloom. Our yard work has slowed down as we get things accomplished. We had almost 2 inches of rain on Easter Sunday and the lawn is now that beautiful verdant green I associate with spring. I made my first rhubarb custard pie of the season today. It is our favorite pie and I will make several between now and mid June when I stop picking the stalks to let the roots build strength for next year. I haven’t been near my sewing machine for several weeks. Eventually, the yard stuff will be done and I can escape to the creativity of quilting.
Vicki – I know you’re a couple weeks ahead of us – my rhubarb is just starting to come up and our grass was so destroyed last summer that anything will be an improvement this year.
I remember when we moved from northern Iowa to Iowa City that we quickly learned spring came 2 weeks earlier than northern Iowa and we had fall 2 weeks longer each year. One telling point was that in northern Iowa we always had peonies for the cemetery at Memorial Day. Here in Iowa City, the peonies are often well past their prime or done by then. I have one bunch of peonies that already have buds.
Lots of interesting tidbits in today’s blog. Love your chickens quilt.. Your CW looking blocks are right up my alley. It’s amazing how one block done in various color combinations is so striking – each taking on its own personality, yet still a blending with each other. The finished product will be fantastic.
Laughter at stink eye from pets, dogs romping around – great way to start out the day. Have a good one, all!
Jan
I, too, love those blocks and your colors! Keep up the good work! )
Love the escapades of the dogs! They are always up to something. Looks like you needed a real shower after the mud showed from Hank! 😂
A busy time of the year here in the farm. Jay finished planting beans on the north piece after a run to the elevator for more seed. Then home to change the planter to plant corn. The guys were here and Jay was discing and suddenly I was on a parts run for the planter. The closest John Deere shop is 30 miles. A few phone calls to make sure they had the parts! So a road trip for me. Then it was time for some supper. It was a beautiful day with a tiny sprinkle of rain sometime during the night.
I’m not sure what is happening today. Jay is discing and I need to work on cleaning the kitchen up. Yikes! I think I’ll stick a frozen meat loaf in the oven about 10. Then that will be ready for whatever and who ever is hungry.
It is suppose to be a beautiful day today also. Hope it is for you too!
Joy – your day sounded like a very typical day in the life of a farm wife – running for parts and cooking! We’ve had so much rain that nobody will be in the field for awhile around here.
Mary that is a problem we would love! Hopefully, it will rain soon! A farmer is an eternal optimist!
Your days this spring sound so perfect for me too–like they used to be for me anyway. I am lucky to get a walk in the neighborhood.
Loved all the quilts today–the eye candy with coffee. I am in retreat prep. Tail end now as other than my suitcase, I am ready. Snatched some projects to work on. Binding two baby quilts for sure.
Fran – so where are you going for this retreat? When you attend so many retreats is attendance usually the same gals? From all over?
I enjoyed all the wonderful quilts today. Yes, Mary, your blocks are so perfect. I do not do well with triangles, no matter how they are made. I especially like the Minnesota pillow, since I am originally from MN. I was always going to make one for my sister who lives there yet, but have never done it. Today I have sewing with our church quilt group. We meet every Tuesday afternoon for 2 hours. The sun is shining this morning and it is supposed to get to lower 70’s today. Hopefully, the wind doesn’t get crazy today!
The blocks are beautiful. Being in MD Civil war fabric and quilts are popular and the blocks remind me of one. It is beautiful. I live in a retirement community and yesterday was my cat’s semi annual vet visit and taking her down the hall made people come out to see a poor cat being tortured or at least it sounded like it. She wasn’t happy. It is only 7 traffic lights away to the vet. How do I know. BECAUSE I count them to her hoping it will calm her or it might be a way for me to keep my sanity knowing it is soon over. When it is all over not a peep out of her on the way back to my apartment. Oh the joys of allowing a cat to own you. Today she just walks past me giving dirty looks AND she does have dirty looks.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day
Angie – That is so funny about your cat giving you dirty looks. I guess they don’t forget, do they? I remember taking our Dalmatian to the vet many years ago. When she was “lifted” into the little pickup truck we had, she knew where she was going. She would shake all the way to the vet, which was about 5 miles from our house. She never liked to get into any vehicle. She would be fine on the rride back home. We tried to take on rides just for fun, but she didn’t want anything to do with it.
Angie – anyone who has taken a pet to the vet is familiar with “the look”. Ha!
I’ve had the chicken scratch pattern fora while.Still want to make it one day
I also like the blocks. I’ve made this block before – now I just need to find my pattern. I have a suitcase full of civil war fabric. This would make a great way to use this fabric.
Mary! Those new blocks you are putting together! They are beautiful…and perfect. I don’t know how you are so skillful with piecing. Those blocks will make a beautiful quilt.
Mary, I totally agree with Jean. Hard as I try, I can’t figure out how you just know which colors/fabrics go together. Really jealous here. Oh well, I’ll keep trying.
Janet I too agree that Mary has that sense of color I so lack when I decide what fabrics to use in a block. Guess that’s what made her an icon designer and me one who dreams of being able to put colors together to be as eye catching as hers.
Hi Mary,tomorrow my niece and her family are coming to visit from kingaroy Queensland (peanut capital of Australia) after seeing my brother doing locum work in the south island, hope they can help me decide which of 3 quilts my sister would like for her 70th birthday. The remaining 2 will be for my great nieces. The dogs are living their best lives! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – what is locum work? I’m unfamiliar with this word. I know you’ll choose the perfect quilt for your sister.
While do admire your Hoya, I am quite taken with the new blocks you are putting together. I love the interplay of the many pieces and the colors in each block. Are these reproduction fabrics?
Lindah – some are reproduction fabrics but some are newer traditional prints such as the check and red polka dot.
Your blocks are wonderful, halfway there. This post touched on everything. So nice to see all the spring green in your yard, and seeing the dogs having so much fun outdoors.
Tomorrow is “Taco Tuesday”, and our favorite Mexican restaurant has wonderful .99 tacos. After lunch, we have grocery shopping and a stop at the pharmacy. That is about as exciting as it gets.
Thanks, Mary 🥰
Looks like a wonderful full day! Its no wonder you want another day like that. Love your quilt blocks, they are looking great. Nice quilt show today!
Jeanie – I wish I were going to Taco Tuesday with you!
The dogs always have a good time together. Enjoyed seeing all of the quilts and really liking the country threads t-shirt.
Cindy K – was I wearing a Country Threads shirt?
Mary, I think you were wearing your Country Threads Apron!
Yesterday was a busy day, we put up 27 bluebird houses at Camden State Park…yes they are intended for Bluebirds, but five minutes after we had houses set up and in two different locations, the Tree Swallows found a house or two, they were pretty excited too! We also have our Baltimore Oriole feeders out, just needing to add grape jelly and oranges once they arrive. This morning I was up at 5:30 and the wonderful Robins are singing their morning greetings!
Cynthia – oh, yes! I wear the apron every day so I have a picket for my phone. Why doesn’t the apparel industry realize that women need good size pockets????? I put my grape jelly out last week and then it rained!! 27 houses!!! Amazing!
Your blocks are terrific…color placement can be very interesting. And the parking, no wonder why spaces are hard to find!