Starting with a chuckle. Here’s another one:
Here is the January book list from my book club:
Blue Hour – Paula Hawkins
This is how it always is – Lori Frankel
How to read a book
The Art Thief
Here
The Mountain Between Us – Charles Martin
One Big Happy Family – Susan Mallory
The Hunter – Tana French
The Water Keeper – Charles Martin
The Measure
Dead By Dawn – Paul Doiron
I’ve been trying for hours to download the Mountain Between Us on to my Kindle and I simply can’t get it to “process” – what does that mean? Anybody know? (This is why I don’t use my Kindle – I don’t understand it!)
This piano quilt is going to be my next project. Do YOU have your next project picked out?
Do any of you have friends or relatives in the fire danger area? Did they evacuate safely?
Reader Photos
Not much new here.
Carolyn, I’m so sorry for your loss, may your memories of your son bring you some comfort at this difficult time.
I don’t watch much national news, so sad with all the devastation from the fires. So many are still struggling from the Hurricane damage.
Just a quick comment about the book list – The Hunter is a sequel to The Searcher.
The cartoons gave me a good little giggle!
Carolyn, so sorry to hear about your loss. Will keep you in prayer.
My niece lives very near the largest fire, maybe about 10 miles from the southerly edge. Of course those boundaries are changing all the time, so who know what it is today. She is prepared to evacuate, had to find a place to go that would allow her to bring her dog as pets are not accepted at every shelter facility. Meanwhile, until they get an evacuation notice, they are running multiple air cleaners in the house and wearing N-95 masks when they must go outdoors. She sent me a couple pictures of what she can see from her location…it would be enough to make me leave even witout an evacuation order.
Happy birthday to Hazel. You are such a cutie. if the piano is not your insturment, perhaps you could find a different instrument that will allow you to express your musical side? LOL
~Suzanne in Michigan
Carolyn, so sorry for the loss of your son. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
We’ve been watching the news about the fires every day. It is so devastating. I’m glad we, Canada, had the water bombers to send down to help the firefighters.
Teresa – I thought about you being my Canada friend. There isn’t enough help in the world tho’, is there, to fix this.
It is truly so hard to watch this, reminds me of the fires we have had in past summers. So many people in the world come together to help I just wish the rains would somehow come to help even more. You are right, there isn’t enough help to fix this fast enough.
Carolyn, so sorry for the loss of your son. The California fires are just devastating! Life will never be the same for all of those affected. I can’t imagine trying to rebuild their lives! Great picture of Hazel! She’s quite the character!
You say your mom was not an animal lover and you have lots of animals. Did she like living in the country? Did she quilt? Did she play the piano or guitar like you and Becky? Just curious where you got all your interest.
Dee – Mom hated all sewing and needlework and I begged to use the sewing machine. She didn’t like animals – I begged to bring them in the house. No, she didn’t play piano or guitar BUT she was a good farm wife and a great cook as well as an accomplished golfer! She saved her egg money from 600 laying hens and joined the golf club. We knew where she’d be every Wednesday. The only relative I have that was a quilter was Aunt Amy. Did you know we wrote a book called Quilts From Aunt Amy?
I bet your mom would have gotten a kick about Rick trying to get the hens in the barn.
Dee – she wouldn’t have been any better than Rick!
Hazel is so cute, even if she can’t play the piano. My maternal grandma was Hazel, and I now have a great-niece, who is Hazel, also.
Carolyn, my heart aches for you. The passing years do smooth the jagged edges of a parent’s grief, but you are never the same. 😔
Carolyn, I am so sorry for the loss of your son. It’s not supposed to happen that way. You took such good care of him and loved him so much.
The California fires are terrible. I don’t know much about California, but the Santa Anna winds have been a problem for many years. There isn’t much anybody can do as the extremely strong winds are in control of the situation. The sparks can fly for miles and start new fires along the way. Everybody, take care.
Betty in Rapid City
Hi Mary
Your blog is such a blessing to me, every time I read it and look at the pictures. God bless you and Thankyou
Praying for California fires to end and all your families safe with their homes intact🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
When you first showed your red and white snowball quilt I loved it and ordered your pattern and gathered my fabric. And it is still waiting and seeing it in your photo today reminds me I still love it. I think I will starting cutting the fabric when I get back home tomorrow. Loved your jokes😊.
Viv – there’s no time like the present to start that snowball quilt!!
Words cannot say the grief i feel for Califorrnia and the fires. Frightening.
Stayed up late to watch the Ohio State Texas semi-finals. Very exciting for me. My daughters and I texted all through the game.!! I couldn’t watch at one point, but I’m glad I saw the Jack Sawyer scoop and score!! I couldn’t believe it was really happening! On to Notre Dame.
Carolyn, There are no words to ease your pain. Our hearts are with you and your family.
I love the watercolor piano quilt – that will be fun to work on.
My son and his wife evacuated from the Sunset fire in Hollywood Hills Wednesday night. They came back on Friday and were happy to be home. I don’t think either of them slept well those two days.
These fires are beyond belief. My heart goes out to those affected.
The fires are just beyond belief. I can only imagine the mind-blowing losses. It hurts to think about it happening over and over there. I wish I could help somehow.
Hazel is the most beautiful creature. I had an Aunt Hazel and she was a real trip. They probably would have liked each other. I would so love to meet Hazel! All the photos are great and the jokes are so funny. Thanks so much!
The fires are devastating – SO very sorry for all who are affected! I feel helpless as I see the news reports – no way to help but to make a donation to be used as folks need it. It’s going to take years and lots of dollars to help people…..
It’s cold and snowing here – everything looks so pretty as I stay inside and look out! I’ll go out in a few minutes to fill the bird feeders, then stay in the rest of the day.
Great photos today – I got some chuckles out of some!
I’m feeling pretty happy about the OSU – Texas game last night and am looking forward to the championship game along with most of Ohio. I’m getting ready for my family to come (some from out-of-state) over MLK weekend – there will be around 30-35 here on Sunday; some will come Sat, some will stay over until Monday and then hot-foot it back home to watch the game. We’ll have a gift exchange, lots of food, much laughter, some family stories, and an over-all great time. I look forward to it every year!
Carolyn, So sorry for your loss. There just are no words to comfort a parent losing a child. Take care.
Carolyn, I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your son. Prayers for comfort to envelope you and your family.
Jan
My sincere sympathy Carolyn. Our thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
I’m headed ti a bridal shower for our grandsons fiancé.
Morning everyone. Carolyn, I’m so sorry for your loss. Please know we on the blog are thinking of you.
Liked the cartoons this morning. Nice to start the day with smiles.
We got about 4-6 inches of snow here in southeast Michigan. It’s beautiful, calm this morning with no wind. They started plowing the shopping center parking lot at 6 am though and i didn’t love that!
Reading about dog strollers, I thought I would share a funny story. I was walking Biscuit a few weeks ago along the strip mall sidewalk near me when i saw an elderly man get out of his pickup and get a stroller out of the truck bed. He then went to the far side of his truck to the back door. I thought, oh look, grampa has his grandchild and they’re going to the Ace Hardware store. Nope, when he came around the truck, he had a little dog in the stroller! Made me chuckle.
Going today to the nursing home for a luncheon. My mom, my aunt and my uncle all live in the same facility. It will be them and as many of my cousins and other aunts and uncles that want to come. Expecting 30, so glad our snow came yesterday. Roads good today’.
For everyone near the fires, please be safe. And keep us posted.
Thanks for this wonderful blog, Mary. 🌻
Sunflower – a luncheon with all the cousins and family — I hope it’s very well attended and everyone enjoys it. Sure makes it easy to visit everybody in one trip, doesn’t it? Wish I could meet Biscuit.
Mary,
Our luncheon had 26 people. My mom and her four living siblings and two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law. All of them age 80 to 91. Wonderful time together.
Biscuit would love you!!! 🌻
Thanks for the two chuckles, kitten box, and toilet seat chicken😹😹. Hazel is so smart she could play the piano! I forgot to put down some new books (to me) that came into the Little Free Library. They are A DOG’s PUPOSE, A DOG’S WAY HOME, and BAILEY all by W. Bruce Cameron. You have probably read all of them, Mary, but they are new to me. I love them! The 30 stars quikts are lovely. OSU won last night❤️🩶. Snow and cold here.
Diane – the game turned into a good one – the first half was quite boring. I will miss college football but actually like basketball better so we’re coming into my favorite season.
I love College basketball and March Madness😺. The games are so much fun.
Buddy and Squeak are enjoying the fireplace.
Ohh Carolyn, there are no words. Prayers for you and your family. 🙏
The California fires are so terrible, hard to imagine.
Penny and Lucy really enjoy their penthouse bunkbed and take turns on the top. It’s all cardboard.
Hazel is adorable 🥰!
A reservoir in our city was drained in last few months as a body was found in it. A man climbed over the tall iron fence and drowned, now family sueing even though they knew he had mental health issues. I think of all the beautiful old homes around there and how one ember and massive hurricane wind’s would take that historic old neighborhood but would this drinking water reservoir have helped one bit? People here are making the comparison of losing our entire city homes to the devastation in CA and how much more has been lost there. So far my family in Newport Beach is okay but they’ve been so dry there so I’ll be happy we got another inch of snow last night to keep our ground with moisture.
I love the cat condo. We’ll be celebrating today cause the wind and bitter cold will be gone so we can be comfortable getting out with hopes of 30 degree temperature.
Kathy – I think about the fires so much that I dreamed about them last night. I look around my house and try to imagine standing on the gravel road watching it burn to the ground. The heartbreak would be unfathomable.
Regarding your Kindle problem, just turn your internet modem off and back on. Resetting the modem solves most issues. If that doesn’t solve the problem, turn the Kindle off and back on to reset it. GOOD LUCK!
Condolences Carolyn. My thoughts are with you.
I wanted to let you know my son passed away late this afternoon.
Deepest sympathies on your loss.
Sending you virtual hugs
Dear Carolyn, I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you.
Prayers are with you Carolyn.
Carolyn,
So very sorry you’ve lost your loved one. Prayers for strength in coming days.
Carolyn, I can’t imagine what you must be going through. It just doesn’t seem natural when a child passes before the parent. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I’m sending deepest condolences for your loss.
I’m so very sorry for the loss of your son.
Carolyn, I’m so very sorry about the loss of your son. May God hold you in the palm of His hand as you grieve.
i’m so sorry for your loss. may God give you strength and wrap you in His arms as you struggle with this. bless you. patti in florida
Sincere condolences to you and your family over the loss of your son. Prayers for you.
Carolyn, so sorry for the loss of your son. We were praying for him as he battled the tumors on his lung and neck.
Marie C, love your quilt with different appliqué designs.
I am currently embroidering on a towel with a flower design and the saying: flowers for you. It is for a friend having surgery in February.
I finished embroidering on a onesie for a dear friend’s daughter who just had a baby.
Barbara Pym’s book “Excellent Women” is funny and cute. Just my type of book.
Penny and Lucy are sure enjoying their penthouse.
Just read the blog and all the comments to my husband. He said it was better than the news channel.
Life is full of joy and pain. We just keep praying. Especially for those in LA.
Carolyn, My condolences to you and your family on the passing of your son. My God give you both the strength and comfort to deal with this loss. Janice TC area
Carolyn so very sorry for you loss, love and prayers go out to you
I am so sorry to hear this sad news! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family {{ Carolyn }}
Hi Mary, very worrying for people living in California and the fires,hard to imagine how to cope.We had a lovely day quilting and chatting at my friend’s house. Hazel is looking good at the piano, did you know Hazel is one of the 10 most popular girls names for 2024 in New Zealand? Rain coming tomorrow, good day to sew! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – no, I didn’t realize Hazel was such a popular name. My mom’s name was Hazel and I wanted her memory to live on in our everyday lives although I have to chuckle because she was not an animal lover. Haha!!!
I have been watching the fire situation for days now. It is just heartbreaking. And I’m disgusted that the governor keeps saying he has to stop people getting out bad information-WHAT!! That man is a nut case IMO. Well, I should probably keep my opinions to myself.
Loved the jokes and all of the photos tonight. The cats bunk bed is very clever and the toilet seat door is a hoot!
Cindy K – you’re saying what we all probably are thinking. There’s likely some mismanagement there somewhere. So very sad.
No one in our family lives down that way – but my aunt & uncle (in their 80’s) lost their home when the fires went through Santa Rosa. Got out in their pj’s and nothing else. It won’t take too much more for people to leave this state, not just by the thousands but by the millions. The politicians & the dictator aren’t doing their jobs, too busy lying & doing the “do as I say, not as I do” thing…anything to line their own pockets. Thanks for the laughs about the dogs. Ours doesn’t know she’s a dog – she has a special stroller, has to be ‘tucked in’ at night and tells us when its time to feed her. Cute when she runs up, tail wagging, smiling and then starts licking her lips! And they say dogs can’t train their humans??!!?? Love your blog, Mary! Deb
Deb – dogs are really so smart, aren’t they? I swear they understand every word I say to them. Gloria’s little dog Angel has a stroller, too!
I have a cousin that has lived in Topanga Canyon for years. They were up here in Oregon when the fire started. So far the fire has not reached their home and hopefully it won’t. They do know someone that did lose their home that has been n the family for 3 generations. The whole situation is unimaginable.
I feel so bad for those of you having to deal with losses from the fires. Reminds me that whatever I’m going through, someone else is going through much worse. Sending my best thoughts to all of you.
I want to thank Theresa in Indiana for the very cute card with a puppy and kitties on the front. Love my animals!!
I have a friend that lost her house–it was built in 1901–the people living in the house got out with clothes on their backs. My friend who owns the house lives up here in W WA
Dorothy in W WA
Evening Mary, I need to join a book club when I retire. I would love it. I just found a new to me author that I just discovered. His name is Richard Paul Evans. They are shorter stories but he’s a good writer and these three books are all part of one story. In order they are…..The Broken Road
The Forgotten Road
The Road to Grace
I just started a nine patch quilt for the schools . Not very interesting but it’s a sports theme so a young boy will like it. I need to finish two tops that need quilted. Like you, the piecing is the fun part.
Kathy Burton
I’m about 50 miles from the fires in Ca. But I do have loved ones close. This is just so sad. A lot of mistakes made by our govt. 🙏🏻
By the way, people trying to charge their cars! I have always thought electric cars are not a good idea.
Mary, The electric cars will be a huge problem if they were abandoned on the congested roads. They will probably have to get equipment in to get them out of the way and that’s what the California governor want to make mandatory – not smart. You wonder if the fires could have been put out if the reservoirs weren’t drained.
Cindy, I hope you don’t have to evacuate. I’m so sorry.
Mary, you have fortune in eggs. I just paid $22.50 for 5 dozen. I about died and 15.00 for coffee. Terrible prices. . Been watching the fires in California. I was there in November for a birthday. I was in the Thousand Oaks area. Our friends are safe for now . I feel so sorry for them.
I may start a quilt later in the month, right now I’m knitting some back scratchers for next Christmas. I have to get an early start. Ha
Pray for everyone
Knitting “backscratchers??”
Never heard of these!! Are there patterns for such things?? Would love to know where to find some. . .
$22.50 for 5 dozen? Yes please! $6.50/dozen at sprouts, $10 for organic from the meat market. We’re in AZ.
Almost had to evacuate yesterday but the fire went a different direction from me. But we were packed and ready to go if needed
It is really scary
I am worried that some of my friends who live in the burned areas
Cindy – our son and his wife evacuated from the sunset fire. They went home two days later. You have my prayers. We’ve been there.