Rain, sleet, drizzle and a bit of snow all happened today although it’s not very cold. A good day to watch tv and nap with Hazel in the chair.
Reader photos
Stay home and stay safe!
A Gloomy Day, 12-14-24
Country Threads Chicken Scratch
Farm life
Rain, sleet, drizzle and a bit of snow all happened today although it’s not very cold. A good day to watch tv and nap with Hazel in the chair.
Reader photos
Stay home and stay safe!
It’s a gloomy day here today too. Just above freezing so, I’m hoping our driveway doesn’t turn into a skating rink when it cools off.
I’m digging out my box of Christmas ornaments so we can finish decorating our tree. My husband put up the tree and added the lights yesterday and, it looks beautiful just like that. A real tree so, a Christmasy evergreen smell. We have high ceilings in our living room and, used to put up a huge tree but, sticking to a 8 foot one this year.
I’m holding off on sewing until after Christmas so I can bake some cookies, finish some shopping and, wrap presents. I’ll listen to Christmas music or have a Christmas movie on to really get into the spirit.
We have gloomy days to remind us to appreciate the sun-filled days.
I cut my retreat 1 day short because of incoming nasty weather. It was not as bad here as warmer and just misty rain and icy however. Two gals stayed over and they are still there another as very icy where we were retreating. My anxiety level was such that it would not have been pretty if I stayed. Ha
A quilt on the long arm is almost finished as a result. I spent most of yesterday afternoon quilting. The quilt is a Christmas gift.
It’s nice to read that Betty and Patti find creative ways to use scraps and make needed quilts for people. What’s encouraging is they aren’t grumbling about the cost of fabrics now but making do with what they have to use. I like that!
Our music program is today in church and I do love hearing it so I would miss that too Mary but your health is more important right now to continue on this right path. Last week was our children’s pageant and a community chorus concert so being in the spirit continues.
kathy, why would i grumble about the cost of fabric? i’ve said before that i have a houseful of fabric (having owned a quilt store). but…if i can’t find what i want or can’t get to it, i will buy fabric. once i bought a batch of fabric that depicted portobello in portugal because i wanted it for a back. yes, i waited til it was on sale. this is what i do. i like nice backs, whether all one fabric or a mish-mash of everything. for a couple years i put Christmas fabric on the back of those quilts so the kids would always have a Christmas quilt.
i’ve been blessed with life and still able to do lots, so i share. i was always taught to give back. my grandmother would have given you the shirt off her back. my mother, on the other hand, wanted to know how you were going to use it and you better not give it away. my belief is that God blessed me, He gave me a talent and i can give back. i’m no longer able to actively participate in guild meetings or visit quilt shops or guilds, but i can still make an impact. i can use my talents to bless those less fortunate than me. it is part of why i joined with a friend to create our ‘quilting angels’ group 30+ years ago. the first 2-3 years there were only five of us. i opened my quilt store and opened the group to my customers during angel time. we gradually grew to about 12 people consistently. i so remember when we hit our first 100th quilt. it took a long time. we each did what we wanted to do with each one donating materials, including pins, etc. while at the store i started a block of the month, each block was 25 cents (a block with directions and a piece of fabric that must be used). if you brought it back before the next month, it went in the kitty. the first of the next month i had the ups guy reach in and pick out a block. that person won the blocks. lots were donated back to angels. that is how we started paying for batting. it grown since then, but especially since the pandemic when we were shut down. now we average about 20-25 people each month. and have surpassed the 7000 quilt number. plus all the other things, pillow cases, placemats, bed runners, table runners, stuffed balls for babies, stuffed rabbits (hand made) for the kids, etc. the kitty {a mason jar with angels printed on it) is always available and that is how we pay for batting now. as members have died, they have left their stash to us – anything sold goes in the kitty. we always have a ‘free’ table at meetings. you can donate to that or just take from it. sometimes i will take a book, look at it for a couple months, then take it back again. it all works.
gee, i do run on don’t i. must be because i don’t get out much. i wholeheartedly believe in our mission. they all just want me to keep on sewing so i can use up a bunch of my fabric. if i keep working with scraps and purchased estate items, i’ll never get through my yardage. i also feel that for everything anyone gives back, we receive back in more blessings. take care everyone and keep on quiting, patti in florida
Patti, you are an Angel!!!!! And an inspiration!
Good morning. The pin cushions are special and I love seeing everyone’s decorations. We (southern Minnesota) got the crummy weather yesterday also so I whipped up a couple batches of cookies which I will bake this afternoon. At church today, we will have the kids Christmas program followed by a potluck. It’s always a good day.
As long as we are all hunkering down and staying inside, I have a few Netflix movies to watch. ‘Christmas Chronicles’ with Kurt Russel isn’t new but I seem to watch it every year. ‘Find me Falling’ with Harry Connick is really fun. A movie that may turn into a series is ‘Man on the Inside’ with Ted Danson. It’s really good.
That’s all I have for now. Stay safe everyone and have a good week ahead.
Only cold here in Colorado. I am waiting for a wool batting to be delivered, then I will be hand-quilting a simple checkerboard quilt. I’ll use #8 perle cotton with sashiko needles ( big stitch). Plan to take my time and enjoy it. The wool batting makes a warm and cozy quilt, with very nice drape. Checkerboard is my favorite quilt at the moment. Sew 4-patches, and if you twirl them on the back they all nest together perfectly. I make blocks of 4-patches and then sew the blocks together. very satisfying. Merry Christmas everyone.
It sounds like taking a nap with Hazel was the perfect activity for your afternoon, Mary.
We had ice this morning; temps were to go up this afternoon, but it was still cold and messy. We had planned to go out for an early dinner, but opted for a Casey’s pizza. I love a Saturday evening in sweats.
Take Care/Stay Warm, 🥰
wow. sounds like most people are getting slammed with bad weather, snow and ice. staying home sounds good in those conditions. i’m glad you posted tonight. i’m sure it will take a bit to get over the ’ema’ thing but i’m sure it will be okay. you only had good thoughts. and we are all proud of her for becoming a citizen. she probably knows more about our country now than we remember from school.
thanks for posting my star block and it’s center. the star points are not meant to be perfect. some of the rest of them are really weird. but i was using up the pieces the lady had started. trying to expand them into something that will be useful. there will be six blocks and yes they are truly a strange size. it’s what happens when you are winging things and cutting each star point separately. they are ready for the points to be sewn on now. ran out of background and was using what i could from her ‘stash’ that ended up at my house. the very last square for the corner had to be pieced as there were not pieces large enough.
today i came across a huge stack of blues (from the sale) that were the ends of strips. some large enough for 3″ squares and the other ends of the strip could only make a 2.5″ square. hmmmm there are lots. mind wonders what on earth she made that needed sooo many 3″ blue strips of the same color.
had a scare the other day and ended up at e.r. was probably just a drop in blood sugar but they always panic because of the added heart failure issue. everything was fine and i came home. seems crazy that they insist that i go to hospital. all is okay.
today i got a great phone call. one of my very good friends that now lives in pennsylvania will be coming south after christmas. yeah, she is coming to see me. (her grandsons live further south than me) i am so happy. we’ve been friends forever and she was one of the original five in the quilting angels. it is going to be a fantastic gift.
we’ve been having weather like south texas. here in florida our blood appears to not be as thick any more. 40 degrees is freezing to me. yesterday morning in the high 30s and today in the high 70s. should stay that way for a couple more days.
keep on healing and taking care of yourself. being stuck at home can be a pain but it is better to be healthy and not risk getting sick. hugs and blessings, patti in florida
Patti – I’m so sorry you had to make a visit to the hospital again but tickled that your friend is going to visit you – how fun! I love your creativity with all the estate sale goodies! I’m working on some improv piece right now – my favorite thing to do!!
Mankato area had clouds all day. Rain/snow mix started this afternoon. It changed to snow but got only a dusting. Tomorrow my siblings come to select some of Mother’s glassware, collectibles, decorations. My sister’s daughter has been an huge help to me. I enjoyed the photos today. Thanks Mary!
That Christmas decoration stealing is happening in Cheyenne also. On a few ring cameras some thieves appear to be young people. Someone even took a huge wreath off of a garage.
we had the lights stolen many years ago. first it was a certain color bulb taken, replaced them. then several more removed, replaced and the final straw was when all were removed and smashed in the driveway. Suspected the culprit but of course it was pre RING so no proof. Thinking about having this character in our neighborhood was quite chilling. pretty diabolical.
The weather here southwest of Houston, Texas is enough to make someone bi-polar! In the 30’s and 40’s for a few days (which is cold for us!), and now in the 80’s for the next four days! Crazy.
Relax and enjoy the calm of cold and cruddy weather! Thanks for the blog and the pictures from others.
Guess I was in my own little world. Didn’t know the eastern part of the state was getting it. We got snow and ice on Tuesday with nasty roads. The weather was nice here but I only went out to feed the birds. I worked on Pediatric quilts and watched Christmas movies and stayed out of trouble. So far I’ve completed 10 tops with 2 more to go. They go together fast and are a good way to use up extra blocks. Trying to use up fabric….. It leaves home and doesn’t come back! Scrappy quilts are my favorite. I never throw white fabric away and it shows in my quilts.
Need to get the wreaths out. Last year somebody very strong stole the wreath on the outside of the fence. My evil thoughts had hoped the fence would have come down on him……. Such is life.
Take care everybody and stay healthy. Mary, don’t get in a hurry to get out in the world. Maybe the church will realize your dedication to the music? Some things are taken for granted and not appreciated?
Merry Christmas. It will be here in a blink of an eye.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – you read my mind! I think I’ll let them miss me at church before I go back. I feel great here at home but haven’t gone anywhere yet – might have to go to the farm store – I’ll wear my mask. I just hate missing the Christmas music at church, tho’
That Christmas decoration stealing is happening in Cheyenne also. On a few ring cameras some thieves appear to be young people. Someone even took a huge wreath off of a garage.
Mary – I set off to run errands yesterday just when it started snowing. It was wet snow, but the traffic was nuts. By the time I finished and got home, I had been gone 2-1/2 hours. I had to get cat food or else I would have been in trouble so that’s the main reason I drove in the “snow”. After I got home, it snowed for a while and there was a few inches when I got up this morning. Today it was melting, but everything is still covered in white.
I don’t know if my 3 year old cats ever experienced snow so I took them out to the deck to see it. They walked about a foot or two in it but they weren’t impressed! They wanted back in the house. They’re a couple of snuggle bugs so we took a nap this afternoon. It’s been one of those Saturdays.
I finished some coasters for a gift and continued sewing row 7 of my hydrangea quilt. If I ever get it done, I’ll send you a photo.
Take care everyone.
You stay home and safe, too, Mary. It looked like ice up there! Warmer here—44* . Ii am binding a Challenge quilt due on Tuesday at Guild. . Should be a fun night. I
Hello Mary! It was a gray day here today as well. I decided to stay home today, and just have a day at home. My son Tim and I shopped for a tree as Larry has not been well for a couple of weeks. This year we have a smaller tree, it is a Fraser fir. I got the lights on and then Tim,p and his family came over with pizza, and our granddaughter helped put the ornaments on! It is fun to have the lights on during the day too. I think locations east of us closer to Rochester had more of the rain/ice. Tomorrow I will meet up with my oldest grandchild and we are going to see Wicked, shop for her Christmas gift, and have lunch at Arby’s. Then I have to get busy and get cards out and bake a few different kinds of cookies and finish the decorations. I hope you are feeling better and better each day. I got my last sampler quilt back from the quilter so I now have two quilts to get the bindings sewn on, then get them hand stitched. They do not have anyone in mind, so I shall keep them until something comes up. I think I made 7 or 8 quilts this year…ya, but who’s counting!
We’ve had a very weird windstorm and our power has been out since noon which doesn’t help me ice my knee. I have one soft ice pack but it will only stay frozen so long. Had a great dinner planned but without power…..my husband will have to go somewhere and buy us something. Luckily we have a gas fireplace so I am sitting in the living room under a nice warm quilt.
Thank you for blogging tonight! It was really nasty around here last evening. Lots of accidents south of Sioux Falls on I29. Our son came over this morning for breakfast from Sioux Falls and he said the highway was fine but the county black tops were nasty! We didn’t need to go anywhere 😀
Jay did scoop off the slippery stuff in front of the garage. So, if the sun comes out it will be clear. I sewed and messed around. That’s about all.
Have a good Sunday everyone.