After a 9 hour day yesterday and choir last night, I am thankful it’s raining today so I can clean up my kitchen, my sewing room, run the vacuum and continue working on our next door banner to show you on May 1.
It was a gorgeous day in North Iowa yesterday and even as I sit here this morning and it’s gray and drizzly outside I can hear the goldfinches chirping away – so wonderful to have them back. Yesterday when I got to church for choir practice the kids were looking at the trees where 4 turkey buzzards were perched – in town! And they were there last year, too. I don’t think I have ever seen one before.
Back to my yard work. After the discussion about the teepee, I took a ride through the grove. Brenda sent me a picture from her yard of a huge branch teepee and now I can’t find it. Grrr. She explained that they put the branches around the trees as they cleaned up their property. It was easier than hauling them all to one location.
This is my ride through the grove – all of these woodpiles exist because our grove is old and most everything is dead or dying with the exception of new volunteer trees and brushy growth.
Ideally the old trees should come down and we should plant a new grove but we are too old to tackle that huge job so the next owners will have to do it. By the time I got all the way around I started another teepee.
Hazel was convinced there was something inside that hollow limb and there probably was at one time.
Back to my project for the day – this flower area between the garage and the quilt shop. This is how it looked when I started – ugh!
Lilies are coming up slowly and until I think they’re all showing I won’t be able to plant all of these new ones.
I raked and cleaned and tried not to tear away the new growth that had already come up. The Workhorse worked hard hauling and dumping.
I bought an elephant ear bulb at Walmart.
I wanted to plant it inside this wooden tower so the leaves would have some support.
I doubt it will grow however because it felt soft and it smelled really bad. I think it was rotten and I remember when I bought it I thought it might be soft – that was a couple weeks ago.
I had to dig out the roots of the dead kiwi vine and then got around to the hydrangeas – yes, more of them. By the time I finished I put up a few of the fence sections and moved on. It sure looks better, doesn’t it?
The area north of the quilt shop collects many leaves and I had a big job raking there but in the end it looked like this and I hope to plant hostas there when Connie divides hers.
By this time I stopped and did the chores. I was too tired to move!
Thought you’d enjoy this picture of a boy in a crate with the dog looking on – haha!
The little dog’s name is Piper and she belongs to Roy’s sister Kathy who has MS and who wanted a little dog for company .
The little boy in the crate is her grandson.
Here’s a picture taken by Pam Buda on the cruise of Connie holding the quilt called Hiding In Plain Sight. I’m seriously considering this quilt as the sewalong project. Anybody interested? I’m not ready to start quite yet but wanted to think about what fabrics to gather.
Off to the barn and then the sewing room.
Small acts of kindness could change the world.
I love your posts! Thank you and keep them coming!
YES, to Hiding in Plain Sight! Love it❣️
Enjoy your post so much. Beautiful area of the country
I would be interested in a sew along. I am working on the bullseye quilt.
HOLY COW!!!!!! You have more energy than the energizer bunny!!!! i’m exhausted just looking at the cleaning out of the garden patch you did…….
We do the teepee at the back of our lot, but not around a tree, just free standing. Then we burn it once a year, great bonfire! Neighbors come with lawn chairs and we just sit and watch. Not enough of neighbor time these days.
I am also thinning some hostas and moving to a new spot. Had a small garden last year in the are, didn’t do well at all, so trying something else. Besides, we have a ton of hostas, so they are free!
Loved the picture of Connie’s project from the cruise. I will be attending 2 different classes that Pam Buda will be teaching at Sauder’s Village in Ohio during there quilt show during the first week of May. I am really looking forward to it.
I really love the teepee made of branches around the tree. What a great idea!!! Almost as good as your quilting patterns. 🙂
Ahh yard work. Once I feel a bit stronger I need to tackle some weeding. I can at least use my right hand. I started physical therapy yesterday. Not fun but at least I don’t have to use the sling anymore. The hiding in plain site sounds interesting… if I can just shop from my stash. (LOL)
Glad you are taking some rest today from your yard work! I’m not sure I consider cleaning up the kitchen, sewing room and running the vacuum as a day of rest! But that’s another story. Must say your flower beds are looking good!
Yesterday the hummingbirds returned! I’ve had my feeder up for about 10 days but that was the first I’d seen any, a male. I’m guessing he’s picking a place for a nest and waiting for the ladies to arrive! I love to watch them. They are funny and will scold me if I haven’t put the feeders out when they return.
Cute pictures of the dog and the little boy.
Mary, you titled this blog post “A Day of Rest for Me”, and then wrote because it’s raining and you can’t work outside, you “can clean up my kitchen, my sewing room, run the vacuum and continue working on our next door banner”.
Your “Day of Rest” is busier than many peoples’ busiest day!
We need a quilt block for Women Farmers!
I like the “Hiding In Plain Sight” quilt…it would be a great stash buster!
Yes, please to Hiding in Plain Sight! I absolutely love it.
You did an amazing clean up job! You are such an inspiration to me. I have a tiny (2 foot x 6 foot) area I just planted sunflowers & echinacea in. While pulling out the weeds, I kept you close to the front of my mind when I would think about just giving up….I have bad arthritis in my hands. I think the hostas will look fabulous on the north side. Have a blessed day, sweet friend.
Sounds like you can use a day of rest after all that yardwork. Cleaning the kitchen and vacuuming doesn’t sound a whole lot like resting, but sewing does! Hidden in Plain Sight would be a great sew-along. I have smaller scraps from several recent projects (including Bullseye) that will work. Looking forward to the door banner!
Yes! I love this quilt! Probably my favorite in the book.
Have a wonderful relaxing day, Mary. Love Hiding in Plain Sight.
We are off in our travel trailer today to go to a Bee Celebration and to pick up our new bees. We have decided to keep bees. Wish us luck. I am a bit nervous about this new adventure.
Turkey vultures are such a fun bird. Probably out in the wild..not in towns. People don’t like the mess. I went to a bird talk. It was from the Buffalo Bill bird sanctuary from Cody Wyoming. Their vulture is named Sully. It is amazing how they work to clean up dead animals. Here is their Facebook page. https://centerofthewest.org/explore/greater-yellowstone-natural-history/raptor-experience/
The sew along sounds great!
Deedee – I watched the video about Suli – loved it! I’m going to pass it along to the pastor’s kids who will love it! Thank you sooooo much!
4 ads to click today:) Wow–you were busy, busy with all that clean up, but it looks great.
The little Hidden in Plain Sight quilt is just the right size.
Please,please do Hiding in Plain Sight as a see along.
Mary I would love to do that little quilt Connie was holding as a sew along.
Yes a quilt block for a farm woman. It could be called A Day Of Rest and then be a super busy block. LOL
Love your blog. Something to think about in the city sitting in an office all day. Your garden. Your quilts. Your doggy visitors. And giant birds in a tree. So much fun in life.
Moe Baly – I remember when I worked in an office and I felt like I was in prison! Last night Hazel’s doggie BFF, Moe, visited and I forgot to take their picture! Moe had been cooped up all day and needed a run which she got! Sounds like another Moe I know – haha! How are you feeling?
Moe,
I agree!! And I adore the name you picked for the quilt!! 😆
I think I want to BE Mary when I grow up!!! (I’m 53 … )
DEPENDS. and I don’t mean the undies! I made a list of projects to finish before undertaking another. The scrappy cruise quilt Hiding in Plain Sight is so tempting as is another door banner for May since I unpacked my old Harvey and will need a replacement.
A nice sunny chilly morning helping to melt more snow in places where the snow thrower piled it high. Just the Stellar Bluejays are looking for treats this morning. They’ve started building nests already. The Chipmunks are busy popping up from holes teasing our dog.
So nice to see all your outdoor progress, Mary! The deer, elk and moose would have a feast if many of the flower seeds sprouted up here.
Mary, you work as hard as your Work Horse! I too have MS and simply cannot stay upright on the lawn or any incline so I love seeing your garden cleanup! I think the quilt Connie is displaying would be a great choice. I’ve been studying my book wondering which you would pick. It was fun to do the quirky little quilt together with others. Rest a little—even God didn’t do it all in one day! Blessings to you!
Your idea of rest and mine are different…..
Yes…hiding in plain sight…would be wonderful….where can I get the pattern
Snarling – the pattern is in our book Beyond The Battlefield high sells for $31 including shipping. Check should be sent to. Country Threads if you’d like to join us.
your rest day has made me tired. i may have to have an afternoon nap! Your work outside yesterday was ‘over the top’ for a work day. i know it all has to be done but still … love the hidden in plain sight quilt. did you ever make progress on the temecula quilt-along? i am one block behind. but getting there.
love your blog and hearing about your life and animals. patti in florida
Patti Lela – I am also behind on my quirky little quilt but it’s on the list!
Patti Leal – you misunderstood – TODAY is my day of rest!
would love to do a sew along with hiding in plain site- thanks for all you do!!
Yes, let’s do the Hiding in plain sight as a sew along. Loved the Bullseye quilt.
I have the pattern and a stash of Civil War, many from your Fat Eighth club just waiting to be busted. Let’s do it. My 2019 goal to do one UFO a month is a bit behind schedule. I am quilting it today. Life sometimes gets in the way. It is a kit I bought on my last visit to Country Threads. 1169 pieces in a 36 inch square.
Your garden will be beautiful as always.
Donna Sproston – which quilt had that many pieces in a 36” square???? Yikes!
Mary – I bought an elephant ear bulb a few years ago and it was not soft – but didn’t grow
at all. Wonder if they are hard to start? You have so much energy ….yard is looking good
after all your hard work. Thanks for your daily doings!
Cathie Fisher Braman – I have grown many elephant ears but I do not remember one of them that smelled so bad as this one!
You are a very busy lady!! I hope you do the sew along! I love that quilt! ♥️♥️
Add another “Yes” to Hiding in Plain Sight! That would be a great choice. I just love seeing spring come to your farm – it’s like everything – including the animals – is waking up from a cozy warm nap. It just feels good!! And, you may want to reconsider your concept of a day of rest … sounds a whole lot like work to me!! hehehe!!
The other Angie – I didn’t make myself very clear – TODAY is my day of rest after almost killing myself yesterday.
Mary –
You are a true inspiration. Like someone else said above, when I’m doing my own work (which pales in comparison to yours!!), and beginning to fade from exhaustion and pain due to my ever-present ailments, I think of you. You encourage me to keep on keepin’ on! I too. hated working in an office! I’m an outside girl and want to have my hands in the dirt so to speak. Gardening is tough here in Phoenix, but I try every year and get a meager harvest.
Quilting: I also would be interested in a q-a-l with the quilt Connie is holding up. I am currently making a much larger than originally planned quilt for my 92 year old Momma. I had intended it for her b-day in February, but a new granddaughter came about 5 weeks early and so I had to make her her quilt!!
Thanks for your blog Mary. I look forward to reading it every day and so enjoy all your stories of country life. I’m Country in my heart, just stuck in Phoenix…
Patricia Campbell – I cannot imagine how you garden in Phoenix! Vegetables or flowers or both? You don’t ever get rain, do you? It’s hard to keep working like I used to but if I stop I might not get going again. I need a knee replacement, actually two of them, but I just can’t give in quite yet. I don’t want to move to town and I like having this much work to do.
Mary,
It’s not easy!!! My husband rigged up a soaker hose onto a auto timer that he ran out to very small raised bed that stays out of afternoon sun. Twice a day watering. Right now I have 3 kinds of tomatoes, strawberries, red bell peppers, jalepeños, hot chili peppers, zucchini, sage, and basil planted. I’ve had them in a month (a bit late here…) and already harvested quite a few strawberries. My roma tomatoes have lots of little green guys waiting to ripen… Come July-Sept though things get rough. I have to change the watering schedule and watch everything very closely. Plus the birds and blasted squirrels are always looking for freebies. haha
Flowers in front of the house… Just annuals really: geraniums, petunias, bacopa, gerbera daisy… my favorite perennials won’t grow here. I do have a variety (3?) of blooming aloes. We get rain twice a year: monsoon season July-August, and in the “Winter” occasionally. We had a very wet winter (for us lol) so the wildflowers have been nice this year.
I need knee and hip surgeries, possibly foot, hand, and back as well… Getting old isn’t for the faint-hearted!
Patricia Campbell – I admire you for being so determined to grow a garden as well as flowers. So when are you going to give in and have those surgeries? I just am not ready and I refuse to be laid up all summer.
I like Hiding in Plain Sight! Let’s go for it!
I would love to make Hiding in Plain Sight!
Count me in to the Sew- along!
I’ve been planting flowers for my son’s wedding the first week of May, and am about to start in on our flower beds. Yes to the quilt along, I love reproduction fabrics and the scrappier the better, so yes, please! I normally just lurk and have never commented, but the quilt along got me to comment.
Debby – please don’t be afraid to comment! Think of all the comments that you enjoy reading and just know you’re among friends! Smile.
IN PLAIN SIGHT- It looks like about 40×40. It might make a cute baby quilt–in assorted pinks and blues?
I’d love to do this sew along! Thank you if we can!
Happy’s Thursday!
Hi Mary, I enjoyed the pictures of your place and all you have accomplished in your flower gardens. You deserve to be tired! I also garden and I know every sore muscle pays off in beautiful plants and blooms in the weeks and months ahead.
I think the small quilt, Hidden In Plain Sight would be a wonderful sew along project 🙂
Bonnie, in Oregon
All your hard work-you deserve a day off-rain or shine! We have huge oak and hickory trees around our house and I gave up raking a few years ago. I bought a gas powered backpack blower-so much easier! Only thing-my husband has to help put on me and start it! I hold onto the deck support so he won’t pull me down and I can go through 2 or 3 gas tank fill ups. He picks up the limbs and sticks and piles of leaves too far from our woods to blow through the fence. There are huge amounts of dead and fallen trees everywhere I go. I told my husband it must be because we are old and they are older than us!
Yes,to Hiding In Plain Sight. It is one of my favorites from the book. When I first saw it, I thought it was your Fruit Pie pattern.
Hiding in Plain Sight would be a great choice for a sew-a-long. I dug up some day lilies that were in need of being thinned. I did find four of my Asiatic lilies that survived the winter. It was beautiful working outside until a cool front came through. We are to have snow on Saturday. Not much but enough to put a damper on things. We’ve had a cardinal singing most of the day for the past few days. I put out the oriole feeder in case they come back. The house finches like it, too. Enjoy your evening.
Diane In WI – we are expecting snow on Saturday, too. Darn! I want to open up the porch but guess I’d better wait till next week.
I truly Love your emails😘. They are so much fun & informational & Love the photos!! Only problem is that after reading all you do in a typical day, I am exhausted!! Wish I had your energy! Right know I sit with a broken right arm so getting nothing done! Oh Well!!
Pat O’Neill – so how did you break your arm? I assume you’re right handed? Yikes! If it’s any consolation I felt terrible today after all that work yesterday!
Rest? Really?? You certainly get a lot done; especially on a “rest” day! 😉 I am eager to learn more about the Next Door banner; I am very interested in the In Plain Sight sew-along, yes! My grands used to love getting inside the dog crate, so funny!! Too bad about the Elephant Ear bulb, I had the same thing happen w/ Caladium bulbs from WalMart— they replaced them, no questions asked.
Years ago I wanted to buy a farm and raise lots of animals. Instead we got a big house with a half acre lot, two dogs and chickens and now I am so thankful I don’t have that farm because this lot keeps us both so busy. There is always something to do whether it’s cleaning up the yard, planting flowers, taking care of chickens and lots of other work plus we are always doing something to our 100 year old house. You wear me out with all you do and still have time for sewing, quilting and church activities. Love the tree teepees. Can’t wait to see the new wall hanging.
Hi Mary! Crazy – today I found 7 ads to close and a couple that were interesting enough to open and take a look. You certainly deserve a day off. We’ve been doing yard work too. We only have a city yard but SO MANY STICKS AND BRANCHES. I had to rake the whole yard because of the little twigs all over. I was hoping to get the raised beds tilled but with rain today – and snow (can you believe it?) this weekend that isn’t going get done for at least a week now. It was probably too cold and wet anyway lol. Of course on Easter Saturday we put the gazebo tent up – it was a beautiful day and the kids were all coming for lunch so we decided it was a good deck day, but our Minnesota winter skin needed some protection. Dilemma – do we take it back down or does Al spend the day on Saturday removing snow from the top? That will keep him busy. And oh what the heck – I am in on another sew along!
Sherry
Decided this year to get area cleaned out and plant some flowers as hadn’t been able to last several years as husband needed so much care..bought several hanging baskets for porch,so far so good as llama is ignoring them.. got 3 rose bushes planted…hoping deer don’t find them. Got mulched and staked out where I wanted to plant what, then got several plants in when horror of horrors…a copperhead snake.., luckily saw it from about 5 foot away and had a shovel in hand…dispatched it…haven’t been back to the area since…maybe this weekend. Have I mentioned I hate snakes.
Nikki in TX – good Bongo! He isn’t eating the hanging baskets! As for that snake, find another spot to garden?
Last fall killed a rattlesnake near burn barrel..& a copperhead on porch foot outside back door…was taking my Ms Maci out for her morning constitutional and hopes..backed in house put her on couch & exited kitchen door& went around porch to back door..dispatched with a hoe, definitely work me up & look before opening glass storm door now!!!
Nikki In Tx – Connie can’t stand snakes – they don’t bother me too much but we don’t have snakes around here so I’ve never been startled by one in my yard. Sounds like you’re good with that hoe! Give Bongo a little pet from me!
Love the quilt Hiding in plain sight. I rad a book all about the Underground Railroad. Amazing! You do wo k really hard, even on your “days off”.
The Hiding in plain sight quilt would be a fun one to sew along. You are so good with your yard work. We have lots of turkey vultures. One day I pulled into my driveway and there were two of them in my side yard munching on a dead squirrel that had drug from the street. Gross. They eat everything!
Debbie B – that’s what I understand. My question is do they only eat roadkill or do they also kill small rodents, birds, etc? Did they kill the squirrel?
Sounds like it is a popular sew along – Hiding in Plain Sight. Will look forward to it – looks like lots of work and is beautiful!! Hopefully you will get a bit of rest – I don’t know how you do all you do!!
Hiding in Plain Sight will make a great sew a long. A good looking yard does take time and lots of work. It is really great you are so active. Keep up the good work.
That is one of my favorite quilts in the book! Can we wait until fall? Because I love to work in the garden too! I have hostas I could give you because we had to cut a bunch of trees down and now I have too much sun. A garden is an ever changing project! But that’s what makes it so much fun
Ann Thate – you know, I think fall would be a splendid idea! I love to be on my porch, I love mowing lawn and I’m hoping Reed and I will get to go on some adventures so I hate to be pressured with a sewalong. I could announce on the blog tomorrow so everybody knows. Wish I could get some of those hostas – isn’t this funny, I don’t grow very nice hostas. Everybody says they’re so easy- blah, blah, blah. Mine hardly grow. Ugh! Give me a hydrangea any day! Thanks, Anne!
Yes to Hiding in Plain Sight! Love it and your blog. The garden is looking great. Wish I lived closer, I have tons of hosts I’d love to share with you! If you would like, we could meet again with Carol and I could bring you some! All of a sudden the ads are back so I’ve been closing them or opening them religiously. Hugs to you and Connie. Think of you so often and miss you 😘
Step Breslin – oh, that would be so fun to meet up! The blog is somewhat of a mystery to me – I only know how to write it! Haha!
Connie’s quilt “Hiding In Plain Sight” would be great for a sew along. I would be interested in making that one. I have a bird feeder with thistle seed in it outside my sewing room window. I love to see the Goldfinches as they fly in to get the seed. The males are such a beautiful bright yellow. Our other feeder has sunflower seeds in it. I have seen cardinals, red-wing blackbirds, chickadees, a cow bird, a thrush, nuthatches, a rose-breasted woodpecker, mourning doves, blue birds, and sparrows. Love to watch the birds while I’m sewing.
Dianne H – I wish I had that many different birds coming to my feeders! I’m getting ready to put out the oriole feeders – my most fun birdwatching of the year!
A fall quilt a long would be great. Hiding In Plain Sight (aka A Day Of Rest LOL) is a beauty and seems a very manageable size. Thinking about Good Fortune here – that turned out pretty large. Anyway, count me in!
Thanks for all your posts and pictures Mary. I look here first each day for news from the farm.
Wendy – sounds great! Glad you’re OK with starting in the fall. Going to wash and dry my Good Fortune this morning and then take pictures which could be in the snow since we’re under a winter storm watch!
A big YES to Hiding in Plain Sight sew along! Any time you want to start, I’ll be there. Hope you get your day of rest today, Mary – you’ve earned it!
I am definitely interested in Hiding in Plain Sight sew along. Already started gathering some fabrics for it! Whenever you ready to go. First is spring yard work though. Always lots to do but you go over the top! I do not know how you do all you do. It looks fantastic already.
I’d love to quilt along with you the quilt us beautiful.