Hi Mary,
I am so glad you are back home and doing well! I have followed your blog for years and look forward to reading it every day. I visited your shop in 1995. My dad was at Mayo, donating a kidney to his sister. He was 70, and was the oldest living donor Mayo had used up to that time. I stopped at your quilt shop on my way to Mayo.
Sadly, my dad passed away in 1996 from an aggressive brain tumor.
Fast forward, my mom fell in her home two years ago, and had a brain bleed. She was in the hospital, then the nursing home, and finally back home. She loves being in her own home, and only gets out for medical appointments. She lives for the mail arriving every day. Her birthday is December 19th and she will be 95. She would love to receive cards from your readers. If you think she’s a good choice, this is her name and address:
Ellen Weber
507 Hawkeye Drive
Danbury, IA 51019
I’m attaching a photo from her 92nd birthday.
Thanks, Mary! And I hope you keep getting stronger every day. All your blog readers love you and are cheering.
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How could she NOT be worthy of us “carding” her. I’ve already picked out my card – I hope Ellen has a sense of humor.
So I woke up like this today – remember what Ellen looks like at 95. This is me at 76!!!
No, I don’t know what happened – but it’s almost gone tonight. Good grief! What next?
So happy you enjoyed the video – more coming!
Reader Photos
Isn’t this fun?
I would love to send a card to Ellen, thank you for sharing her with all of us. Mary, I’m sorry you are having an eye issue, hopefully it just goes away. Vicki, your front door is so inviting, I admire your decorating very much. It has been blustery here in middle Wisconsin and now we have a dusting of snow. I just completed a 3-day class on Laura Heine College technique. It has been so much fun and something outside my wheel house.
Kim – I love that look but I’m not good at it. I question everything I lay down.
There were 11 ads today and I clicked on all of them! Maybe it’s because Christmas is coming and they want to try getting our attention.
I enjoyed seeing all the quilts and Christmas decorating today. Thanks for sharing them with us.
I hope your eye is okay by now.
Oh, Mary, your eye!! Just when things were going better. Hope it heals quickly. Love the birthday card you picked out!!
I love sending these cards to your readers, their friends and family. How nice to get something that isn’t a bill or a request for something.
As always the reader’s pictures are lovely. My tree has been up on a table for five years now. I ol y plug in the lights in the winter when it’s dark early in the night.
A story. We have a square in the center of town that usually has a fountains and gardens in the summer months. For Christmas they put up a large cut evergreen and decorate with lights and bulbs. It’s a huge undertaking. Someone told me today that the heavy wind knocked it down. I can’t image all the work it will take to get it back up. Luckily the snow passed us by last night so they don’t have that to deal with.
Very cold todsy, but I did make it to book Club and the sun is shinning.
Thank you readers for the pictures.
You can make a video of your house and you playing anytime you want!! I love it. I just wrote a card to Ellen. Nice idea. In the reader photos, what is the bear pattern? I lost pieces of the one I had from Simplicity. I made some from an ancient quilt that was in pieces. I love seeing all of the Christmas decorations. Thank you🎄😀. It is 22* here. Toooo cold!
P:S. My eye gets like that when I get a cat hair in it🙀🙀. Hope it is better.
Diane – Judith made the bears – maybe she’ll see this and answer.
Oh no Mary 😱 I’m so sorry to see your eye!! I’m glad to hear it’s better now but you don’t need anything else!!
Love all the Christmas pictures – so fun! The card recipient is a great one – thanks for doing this!
Mary, just think back to a week ago. How wonderful that you have made so much progress in a week! Thanks to all for sending the pictures of their Christmas decorations; they’re all so pretty! I don’t really do much in the way of holiday decorating, but I really enjoy seeing yours.
About my sewing machine that froze and stopped sewing the day after Thanksgiving – I took it to the shop Tuesday and got word back yesterday. It’s fixable! And worth fixing as it’s a good quality machine even if 24 years old. It will be ready for me to pick up tomorrow! I’m thrilled! Uh, if any of you like to learn from the mistakes made by others – don’t use your machine for years and years without getting it serviced, like I did.
Thanks for the update. What sewing machine model is it? Another common mistake we all make is choosing new needles more often. I oil every four bobbins after brusing out a bit of lint.
An Elna Quilter’s Dream 6003. I did clean the lint out regularly, and it’s self-lubricating so I didn’t need to oil it myself. But should have been taking it for service. I have learned to change needles often too.
Sounds like a good, reliable machine. So glad that it can be serviced for the problem you had.
Ellen is evidence you can recover and get back home, even at her age. Good for her. I know she’ll be so happy sitting opening her cards from what we’ve learned so far about her will.
So sorry that Sue lost her last sibling, I can’t imagine how she must feel. I know it’s going to happen to me someday or my siblings will be without me, but it’s hard thinking of those days.
That’s why these wonderful holiday images we get to see of decorating and quilts bring us such joy. Thanks to all who know how much we enjoy them.
Mary, you seem to be recovering very well! Not sure what the puffy eye could be from. Very cold & windy here! Had to retrieve my grill cover at 1:30 this morning! About 3,000 were without power earlier. All our lines are underground so it usually doesn’t happen here. I could count the times on one hand & I’ve lived here in this home almost 7 yrs. Sue in OR, so sorry for the loss of your sister. And Patti in FL your quilt is so beautiful! Cindi K, yes please send your MIL’s name & address to Mary. Receiving cards just may be the turning point for her. I agree with Mary, we all fear having to leave our beloved homes. Change isn’t easy!
So happy you are feeling well enough to get out and about some. I love all the Christmas decorations and the quilts and all the animals! I will definite send a card to Ellen. She certainly looks amazing! I am so glad for your ongoing recovery and that you feel up to continuing your blog, which is a blessing for all of us who follow you and love you.
Mary, you are so brave & funny!
Posting that selfie ! Have always loved your wry sense of humor as I have been following your company, GoatGazette & now blog for so many years.
Praying for your continued healing 🙌🏻
Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder what happened during the night to my body!! Lol. Glad you had a good day. Love all the Christmas pictures. The quilts especially. Just put up some outside decorations yesterday while great grands were visiting. They loved it-they got to do all the bending and plugging cords for me. Loved that.
If t’s any consolation I look like that every morning! ha ha Worse sometimes!
You are coming along just great Mary. Soon all that will be behind you.
I am envious of Ellen Weber. I am a wannabe! Sending a card!
I have a Christmas party to attend this morning. It’s 9 degrees so wondering who will opt out? It will warm up for the weekend. I have a retreat at Farmhouse Quilting next week. Busy trying to ready for that when I am home!
Great pictures today Mary. I love seeing all of the Christmas quilts and decorations. The cats in the
Christmas tree is priceless. Sorry about your eye. Happy to hear that it got better as the day went on. Take care.
Sue in OR, so terribly sorry for the loss of your sister. I can only imagine how hard that would be, like loosing a piece of yourself. My two sisters and I have grown so close, especially after loosing both parents because it feels like you are orphaned with no parents, even when you are grown. Death is a big part of life and we all are subject to the same destiny but missing a loved changes you forever.
Mary, nothing surprises me anymore like your puffy eye. I blame most everything strange on our environment because everything has added hormones, steroids and chemicals that are foreign to our bodies. I’m sure you still have everything they pumped into you at the hospital circulating in your body so it’s no wonder your eye is puffy shut. Lets pray that goes away and stays gone!
Snow with ice underneath here this morning. Husband has an all-day at the University of Michigan hospital so the two hour drive will be a treat and it looks like I have to be the chauffeur. I am already worrying about leaving the dogs all day, Nelson will certainly find something to destroy.
Stay warm and take only the best care of you! Blessings all.
Linda – I wish Nelson could come to my house for a play date! Keeper would love him. Do you have anyone who could stop by? I always feel the same way if I have to leave.
Thank You, Linda. It was so nice of you to read my post. I know what you mean about feeling like an orphan. I do too. I am the last of the four of us. Hope your trip to the hospital goes well and no mess when you get home.
Mary that eye! What?! Keep us updated.
The Christmas pics are the BEST! Thanks to everyone who shares.🎄
Hi Mary, we could be twins! In August l woke with a puffy eye(the left one),hayfever l am told,tried pills from chemist, no help. Went to doctor, eye drops and nasal spray for6 months,actually right eye starting now, bulge on eyelid and puffy under eye, full of fluid,it improves during day being upright, fruid drains a bit, then puffy again after sleep. I hope yours goes quickly Mary, l am now waiting for hospital appointment. I had my first Uber eats tonight, my daughter in law did the order, fed up with trying to think what to eat! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Everyone’s decorations helps me get in the mood. Such pretty ones. Sadly, my sister passed away a few days before Thanksgiving. They came to see us in July and she was happy and healthy and peppy as always. She died of cancer that went so fast. I still can’t get over it. I have been sewing. It helps. The thing is, she was 8 years younger than me. Seems so unfair.
We have been having beautiful days and Very cold nights lately. It’s supposed to change soon though.
Mary…I hope your eye is completely back to normal in the morning.
Sue – losing a younger sister must be devastating. Cancer is so cruel – yes, if you can dive yourself into sewing or a big quilting project, I would imagine it would help but that feeling of being alone is hard to shake. Best wishes to you.
Thank you, Mary. Hug your sister tight.
I’m so sorry you lost your younger sister to cancer. To be the last of ,4 is hard. I pray that God gives you comfort and strenghth. Be sure you reach out to friends for suppott. I still miss my husband who passed away 5 years ago. I am comforted by my memories of his kindness to me and my family.
sue, i’m so sorry for the loss of your sister. may God help you heal and deal with this loss. hug those memories. blessings to you, patti in florida
I’m so sorry to read of the passing of your sister, it is a hard loss to get over. I hope you continue to quilt and just let time do its thing, ease the pain. My sister was 11 months older than me (we were like twins) she passed at 52 and it left such a void. Time became a sort of comfort. May her memories bring you comfort and many smiles from time spent together. Big hug!!
the Christmas decorations from everyone are so cheerful. if i feel like i’m missing out, i’ll just come back here and go through the pictures again. so many great decorating ideas.
cats in the tree is pretty much gonna happen if you have cats. i used to put my felt ornaments or plastic ones on the very bottom branches. one interesting thing – my charlie brown tree with its one ornament is not strong enough for the cat to climb. i think about my trees and all my ornaments collected over the years, and it just makes me tired. also sad that i can’t enjoy them now. but i have all you guys who share and i’ll enjoy yours. thanks.
i was surprised by the snow in seattle. i didn’t know it snowed there. looks nice but i don’t have to be in it or clear it. your quilts are lovely. thanks for sharing them.
hopefully tomorrow your face will be fine. glad you are getting out and about a bit around the farm. am sure it makes you feel more human or more you. hugs to all, patti in florida
Patti, your December 3rd blue challenge quilt was sensational! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Great photos-just started getting out my Christmas decor today. Had to laugh at the card you picked out as my husband and I stopped at the farm supply store after a church soup supper last night to do some shopping and we had read that exact card. We both got a kick out of it. My MIL is 94 and at her doctors request, she recently went to the nursing home. She is not adapting very well. Told my son to take notes as he may be in the same situation with us someday. Has not been fun.
Cindy K – I swear it’s my fear – having to leave my beloved home and I can’t do anything about it. Just like the psych ward – how do you prove you’re not crazy? How do you convince everybody you want to stay in your own home? How would she like some cards? Let me know – I’d be happy to make her next.
Cindy, do consider sharing her story and address with Mary and all of us. Change is always hard as we age and I think we could ease the transition with some cards.
Oh my, I bet that was scary waking up to. Wonder what happened to do that to you. I love all the Christmas decorations, I put up some small table trees and call it good. Love all the quilts. Foggy and cold here in Idaho. I can’t wait for a sunny days. Maybe in a couple more days. Please rest and take care of yourself
Vicki in Seattle: your quilt is beautiful! Those deep, rich colors against the snow is breathtaking. But SNOW?? In Seattle?? Lol
Pat, thank you!
Seattle is not known for snow but we do get it every now and then. Traffic comes to a halt and the kids have a great time. I couldn’t resist taking quilt pictures last year when we had snow around Christmas time.😂🌲😂
Hi Vicki, I wondered if those pictures were from last year. I too live in the Pacific Northwest, north of you though in Port Coquitlam, BC. We do get snow and always hear on our news stations when it snows in Seattle. Like you our traffic comes to a stand still. Your quilt looked lovely against the snowy background.
Surgery and hospital stays seem to cause strange things. Ain’t life grand? As Mom would say “This will pass.” Not much consulation. I’m glad you are taking pictures to remember this surgery. You will laugh at it in the future!! Things could be a lot worse.
I don’t know what a 92 year old lady should look like, but Ellen doesn’t look a day over 50. She looks great. Maybe enjoying everything helps longevity?
When I came home after my heart surgery, I was happy to wear clothes UNTIL….. Frank was at work and first I couldn’t get my pants down to go to the bathroom. Then I couldn’t get them back up! So, I put on my housecoat and that was it. You aren’t supposed to use your arms after heart surgery.
Is the tree with the cat decorations tied up somehow so the cats won’t tip it over? I love the decorations!! The entertainment committee. If it shouldn’t be done, the cat will manage to do it.
Everybody has their beautiful Christmas decorations all out. They are great. We can look at every one. Their quilts are great, too.
Was the lady from Buffalo, NY, who wrote a couple years ago about the lake effect snow? Have you heard from her? I think about her when they are telling about the 4-6′ snow. I don’t think I would want to have to shovel out of that.
Take care, Mary, and don’t push your recovery. Just enjoy getting better and be glad the surgery is over. Pretty soon you will be able to be out and about enjoying everything on the farm. In the meantime you have the dog and cat circus to watch.
Take care, everybody and enjoy the Christmas season.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – things are going really well! I think today was the turning point! I got to go to the barn, got outside, play the piano, see another person, eat some real food – all good! I even had a nap in there so now I’ll have to stay up late. I’m ready to find a new project but I’m not foolish enough to overdo things so that I’d end up back in the hospital! Aren’t all the readers’ Christmas decorations fun?
Oh, my goodness, Mary! I wonder what made that happen? But you say it’s almost normal now. Thank goodness! My brother thought he had pink eye earlier this year, but I think it was a black fly bite! My dad was allergic to their bites. Funny thing was it was in October! Seems late for those little guys to be around. Anyway, I hope tomorrow it’s gone for good! The pictures are great today, those cats in the tree! I wouldn’t be putting any precious ornaments on that tree! And I love the pup on the quilt on the couch! So comfy! I went to my needlecraft guild’s Christmas lunch meeting today, so fun. Jan in MA
The tree helpers are just too precious. I love the decorating and the dog on the quilt on the sofa. Mary, what an odd thing to happen to your eye. Am glad it is gone. (Or mostly gone.) Cold here today, with lots of wind.