Iowa State won the Pop Tarts Bowl today – by one point! I could hardly breathe towards the end of the game. Very stressful. Now I’m watching BYU and CO but it’s not looking good for CO.
A reader sent me the list of Kent Haruf’s books – FYI:
- The Tie That Binds
- Where you Once Belonged
- Plainsong
- Eventide
- Benediction
- Our Souls At Night
I enjoyed each of them. Get your CURRENT good books ready for January – not all the good books you’ve read in the past 20 years! Let’s say the ones you’ve read in the past 6 months. And don’t give me a synopsis – I can’t print all that. Readers will have to go online to get more info if they’re interested. Would you like to give a star recommendation? At our book club we assign stars 1-5, 5 being excellent.
Reader photos
Hank visited today – here we are – Hank and Keeper with Hazel in her safe place on the table. See that huge bowl on the right side of the table? It’s full of cards! I will always remember the power of a greeting card. Which reminds me – who will be our next card recipient?
You’ll laugh at this – I thought of something else before being hospitalized – GET A PEDICURE!!! Your bare feet will be in plain sight as you lay in bed and annoying as all get out if they’re in bad shape. I actually did this before I went to Mayo and I’m so glad I did.
This next week is going to be spent finishing up as much as possible before New Years Day because you know I always start something new on January 1. Hmmm…. I’m trying to decide what it will in 2025.
Mary thank you again for this wonderful blog. I’m doing very well and my knee is improving daily. I am truly surprised when I think back to the day I came home and I wasn’t able to lift my leg without using a strap and not a week later it got easier and easier. Now just about a month has gone by and I only use a cane to walk. I even went to the basement and did chair aerobics today. It makes me feel so good as I usually exercise 5 days a week. In another week I am allowed to drive when I feel confident. I will try around my neighbourhood. I totally agree with you about the pedicure before surgery. I had done that and one day while I was doing my exercises I thought to myself, well at least my feet look good. It is weird to think that but I know you will understand.
Mary,
Hello! Returned from Indianapolis late last night. We had a great time with our daughter and her husband. Biscuit got along great with Bowser and I have a picture of them that I’ll send. My neighbor did great with the chickens and they were fine while I was gone.
Today I made another pillow book bag for my neighbor’s daughter as they wouldn’t take any payment for tending the chickens. And I bought a really cute book to go in it. I’ll deliver it tomorrow.
Kathy in Western NY, 25 quilts in 2025 sounds like such a good challenge! I would love that but I know I wont be able to complete it with another garden wedding this summer!! I will be a master gardener from spring till the wedding in July so probably wont sew during those months! I will follow and encourage your progress though!
What a rainy day we had in Michigan! Have a great week everyone. 🌻
Sunflower, I am going to try my best to complete some of these fabrics I have pulled together with a pattern as I have family and friends I can gift them to as well as charity ones as well. It needs to be a serious goal of mine. I was in a local quilt shop and some newer lines were $16 a yard. So it’s time to make do with what I got. I admire you for making your garden wedding worthy. Much more important. And I still need to make a few of those book pillows some day as they are nice gifts.
So glad you are doing well after your surgery. Such a traumatic event! The book I recommend is
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Quite an unusual story. Thanks for the wonderful blog, Mary!
Happy New Year! Wanted to say that now as I will be at a retreat over the eve celebration. It’s our 4th yr and we have started a tradition. What better way to celebrate than with quilty friends.
I have packed all my projects. Sewing stuff has not made up from the sewing room yet. Just have to pack clothes and personal stuff. I want to make cookies–snickerdoodles. There will be lots of treats but there is nothing better than homemade–minus the junk they put in our packaged food.
I had a walk yesterday and our high was 55, It felt like spring as kind of wet from all the dense fog we get overnight. Rain and snow supposedly coming. Hoping a walk today too.
Barbara’s pillow is so cute! And just perfectly themed for so many of us. I have runners coming out of my ears but not many pillows. Maybe that should be a focus for me this year.
It’s so good to see Hank and Keeper playing together. They really are great friends aren’t they? And the look on Hazel’s face says all you need to know about what she thinks!
Thinking of JB this morning and looking forward to an update after the stitches are out. Poor old guy.
Hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday
My favorite books are actually 3 mystery series and I would give all three of these series 5 stars . They are:
1) Ellie Griffiths Ruth Galloway series. Start with the first book “Crossing Places”.
2) Ann Cleeves Vera series. First book in series is “The Crow Trap”*
3) Ann Cleeves Shetland series “Raven Black”*
* means I believe they have been made into Netflix films or something like that
I am still in awe that Jan and Pat in AZ reached out that fast to Jamie and showed their immediate support to her. Special angels in my book of life.
It’s heartwarming to know our circle cares for each one of us through cards of encouragement or whatever occasion is called upon but just the fast that during a busy holiday time two of your readers went to visit Jamie is truly the spirit of the season. I ponder over the diversity of your readers who make your blog so amazing to me.
My card to Jamie should be there this week as I actually had to go buy one at the store. My stash of cards is depleting so I think I want to go to the Hallmark store as I saw they had a box of all occasion cards which I never see anymore in stores. Now if only they’d make boxes of stationary again as I have relatives that I have to write to as they are not into computers for email.
Warm day for the Bills game. And last week it was 9 degrees at it. Wild and crazy.
I have ambitious goals for next year for sewing. I’m not going to push myself to read 25 books in 2025 like I originally thought. I’m excited to use what fabrics I have on hand to make 25 quilts in 2025.
Kathy, my goal is to only use stash this year. Heaven knows there is plenty! I know better than to set a number goal because squirrels happen at my house, a virtual infestation.
Oh Pat I hear ya! Squirrels distract me too but I’ve decided I’ve printed out enough BOM and quilt along patterns that I need now to concentrate on finishing. And the price of ink for my printer was so expensive ($59) last week that I better stop and use what I’ve already printed out.
Even more amazing is that Pat lives halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. It took her a little over an hour to get here!
Janet asked me about my email address. Relish was the name of my second beagle who I rescued a short time after my first rescue beagle crossed the bridge. I wanted to give him a name that would remind me of the short amount of time we would have together. So, his name was a daily reminder that we should relish every moment. And, of course, he ruled my world.
Hi Mary another nice day, sunshine and a little breeze, tomorrow will be wet! Busy day,checked the big cupboard in the laundry for fabric to make a pocket for the side of a friend’s lazyboy so she doesn’t lose the remote, ended up using a piece of polar fleece,it’s done and didn’t needside seams etc. Finished binding on charity quilt, washed the dog and after lunch finished quilting a quilt for my great niece, binding and photo this week! I feel as busy as Patti, haha!
I love the carpet in your room Mary, nice to see Keeper and hank having fun. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – wow! You got a lot done!!
Thanks for the Haruf book suggestions, Mary. I am sure Keeper and Hank had a fun playdate.
Jamie-AZ, I love your door Santa; it’s so cute. Barb-MO, the pillow you made Mary is adorable.
Even tho it was dreary, our high was around 50, and it didn’t rain.
Take Care, 🥰
i totally forgot to mention the pillow that barbara made. it is really really nice. good job. patti in florida
I did too Patti as I’m still so thankful for readers Pat and Jan in AZ who drove to be with Jamie! What a beautiful sentiment and cute design Barbara in MO made. Not only are we diverse in our journeys but diverse in talents. I can’t knit or crochet but love to admire pieces made as well what everyone creates.
i’m glad you enjoyed football today. i spent several hours behind my sewing machine. the hidden log cabin i was supposed to be doing turned out to be not that. as people showed their tops, i realized i did not really pay attention to the video. i ended up making a quarter log cabin. well, duh. i ended up with 30 blocks so it will be around 40×48″. i also have 12 blocks that are 6.5 x 8.5″. will have to see what they will become. maybe a runner? who knows? kinda felt stupid but realized it is because i only paid attention to the cutting directions and not the assembly. so mine didn’t turn out to be ‘hidden’, oh well. who cares, right? i always do things differently anyway. however, it did cause me to use 4.25 yards of fabric.
since i’ll be cleaning for the next two days, i doubt i will get more sewing done. so it looks like i’m coming out with 25.5 yards more used than purchased. i will admit i did not count any of the fabric that was already cut, or scraps, so it was probably much more used. must be better next year. in fact almost all the tops did not get counted except for sashings, cornerstones and borders.
weather here is warm again. expected to be 80 on new year’s day. but by the 3rd will be in the 40s at night and 60s in day time. how does anyone stay well in this weather?
i really like the stocking on jamie’s door. very nicely done. glad she is getting so many cards. i see mine has not gotten there yet.
glad hank came to visit again. he and keeper are such good friends and it’s obvious hank likes you.
time for bed, hugs to all, patti in florida
Your card came Friday! Thank you!
forgot to say, Barb, I LOVE your pillow and Betty, we’ve missed you, Glad to see you back!
Mary, you’re looking great!
I received 10 cards today! Every card included hand written notes of encouragement. A big thanks to:
Jodi in Iowa
Linda in Texas
Dorothy in Minnesota
Margie in Iowa
Mary in South Dakota (love the penguins)
Wanda in Virginia
Sunflower in Michigan ( I grew up there, reallly miss it in the fall!)
Madelyn in Texas
Donna in Missouri
Nan in Illinois
Every card was beautiful. I’ve been taking them to the dining room with me and they are getting lots of oooohs and aaaaaahs! I’ve been reading some of the inspirational messages to them (not the personal ones) which then produce a lot of awwwws. Just want to let you know I’m not the only one enjoying your kindness. Love you all!
Jamie – the power of a greeting card is overwhelming, isn’t it?
Patti,
your card came yesterday! Thank you!!
Mary, yes it is. That’s why I so enjoyed making them for over 25 years!
Patti,
your card came yesterday! Thank you!!
Mary, yes it is. That’s why I so enjoyed making them for over 25 years!