It has rained for 3 days now and some areas near us have had 6-8+ inches of rain. We haven’t had that much but everything is certainly soggy. We had some wind last night, too – seems we always have wind and limbs break off in the grove all the time but this time it’s in our yard – the ditch actually.
And this is how it’s supposed to look.
It will definitely require a chain saw.
Someone asked to see the onions coming up.
Pretty unimpressive so far.
This was the orchid cactus last week.
Here it is today.
It won’t be long now until it blooms.
I’ve had two sewing days this week. The first one I shared with Reed and while I supervised him as he learned to do machine binding, I made this birthday gift for Sam’s oldest boy, Aidan. It matches his pillowcase.
And yesterday I got these 16 patch blocks put together. Blocks were made way last winter so now it’s time to get it quilted because it’s also a birthday gift.
And while I’m showing quilts, a reader named Eleanor sent this picture. It was made with an older jellyroll – don’t you love it?
And I get questions regarding Connie’s Cobblestone pattern. Yes, it is still available for $3.00.
Two “bad hair day” hens outside.
And I have just a very few lilies left. This one is so beautiful!
Mary, what happens to Lilies? I used to have a lot of them 8 years ago, they multiplied nicely and now, like you, I only have a few. Do critters dig them up or do they just not last many years? I live in WI and have had 3 days of rain too with another one tomorrow…yuk.
Linda – I’m not sure about the lilies – do they just run out of steam? I’d like to plant more but never think of buying them early on.
Please say you have someone coming to cut the branch down! I love all of the quilts but my favorite pictures are of the hens, ha! They do look like they’re having a bad hair day!!
You won! Tallest corn. No fields have near that size here. I keep watching if it will be 2 feet by the 4th of July. Maybe too much rain. Everything is flooded. Since 6-1 11″ ,same in May. More rain tonight and tomorrow. My veggies look dead, you have so much patiences to teach Reed. and so much energy.
Dee t – one reader from Ohio said their corn is over 5’6″ but it was planted much earlier than ours.
Oh! I needed those beautiful picture today. I’ve had many friends receive heartbreaking news this week. It’s hard to find the words to help.
But, on the brighter side, I demonstrate bias binding to my little quilting group. What a capitive audience. I hope each one feels more comfortable about binding. I love binding. I’m sure Reed will enjoy it.
Jo – such news can really take the wind out of your sails, can’t it? Just being a good friend is the best thing you can do.
We got 4.7″ rain from midnight Saturday thru noon Wednesday and NO wind in Rapid City. Both sump pumps are doing their thing. Areas around us got more along with washed out roads and lots of damage. We really need the moisture, just not all at once. Luckily, we live almost to the top of a tall hill, except we think our house was built in a dish in the rocks that collects water.
For the Iowans, my Aunt in Ft. Dodge always said you have to be strong to live in Iowa. I think she was 93 when she died.
Betty – I’m planning to be 93 when I die! Just sounded like a good number – ha!
Received my cobblestone pattern, thank you. Love your chickens, what kind are they? Thanks.
Meta – the bad hair day chickens are actually Polish Top Hats
Thank goodness 93 is a longgg way off!! We are getting lots of rain in Central Ohio, too, but not as much as everyone else. Lots of flash flooding in our area. That happened to a friend and it was awful, but we all pitched in and helped clean up. It made me appreciate and start donating to the Red Cross; they were awesome. Those bad hair day chickens are so adorable. Thanks for all of the quilt pictures, too–inspiring.
Wow! I love your 16-Patch Quilt! What’s next — border(s) and/or binding? It’s definitely beautiful as is. I hope someone helps you with that tree limb. My mother recently had a large (but not as large as yours!) branch land in her back yard. I took my saw and branch trimmer over there and took care of it for her. It was 95 in the shade and I was a hot mess! Rest is not for the weary, for sure! Glad you’ve managed some quilting time.
Mary, what did you use to do the name on the quilt? Paula in KY
Paula – letter fabric from Moda MANY years ago!
Love seeing your 16 patch! It would be a great way to use some of my scraps! Thanks for sharing my quilt. Our daughter loves it and is recovering well. Thanks for the chickens. Sometimes I feel like that!
I love those bad hair chickens! Remind me of myself! LOL. I love your quilts! You work so hard AND
are so talented. We are having lots of rain and wind too up here in NE Washington. But that is spring weather…..and NOW it is summer!
I’m jealous of all the fabric I see behind Aiden’s gift. Every quilter’s dream is to have her own private fabric shop!
Our trees around us are getting so old and brittle now so it’s a limb here and there we lose with each wind storm. We paid to have four trees taken down around a barn we store our motor home inside so that relieves our mind each time the wind blows now. Just hate losing these big old trees around me for shade. We need the rain here in NY so hoping we get some this weekend.
Can you share how you machine quilt your 16 patch? You usually do straight lines , correct? It’s gorgeous colors and what a wonderful gift.
Kathy – I’ll take another pic when it’s done but yes, I plan to straight line it.
Thanks for starting off my day in cloudy Idaho with your beautiful array of pictures…except that poor branch. Hope no bird nests lost their contents there. The clouds are white and looked like fog in amongst the trees up here at 5800 ft. as they moved thru this early morning; one lone Mule deer doe in the front at 6 am.
We had much rain with thunder showers yesterday. Plenty of tourists traveling coming thru to n fro Montana yesterday. Road crews clearing boulders on sides of hiway n I felt so sorry for the gal holding the slow or stop flag signal as I could see she was the victim of hungry mosquitoes. The Salmon River looked so full and swift. The Llama rides on the way to town weren’t getting many customers either.
Got the strips cut for Cobblestone’s pattern and two smaller tops from Kim Dielh’s new book this week. Shopped in my stash…these smaller patterns don’t make a dent in stashes. So much Lupine blooming
in all colors. Can’t remember this much rain last year.
Looking forward to your new book this fall.
Those are gorgeous chickens. I have so wanted to have chickens for some time. My husband bought me one of those coffee table books of beautiful chickens. I guess he was hoping that would keep me satisfied. I recently read Rules of Civility you might enjoy. It is the same author of Gentleman in Moscow. Have you ever read anything by Ivan Doig. I think you might also enjoy him. We writes heartwarming stories of regular peoples lives. Those that I have read have been country folks in the 30’s-50’s. Thank you for sharing yourself with others,
Starla – thank you for the book recommendations. Why can’t you have a few chickens????
We live in the suburbs without a fence with an average size lot. I don’t think my neighbors would appreciate free roaming and our winters are so cold a coop would have to be pretty substantial. I even had names picked out Sonja, Shelia, and Sylvia.
Starla – I’ll name three of my girls Sonja,Sheila and Sylvia – Starla’s three S girls! Which ones shall they be?
Mary, that is so cool!
Mary that is so sweet.
Starrla – I hate auto correct – it doesn’t want me to put 2 r’s in your name!
Neat pictures! The chickens are so cute! Is an orchid cactus the same as a Christmas cactus. Buds look bigger on the orchid.
Janie – the orchid cactus also called night blooming cereus has a huge bloom – about 6″ across but looks very much like a giant Christmas cactus bloom- I’ll show the open bloom when it’s open.
Mary, I’ve followed you for years and realized that the last email I received from you was back in April! Did you stop posting emails, or did my email address get taken off the list? I know I don’t “comment” much, so wondered if that might be the reason… I’d really like to get back on your email list… Hope you can help❤️
Thanks so much,
Susan Hodges
Susan – Hi! Don’t know what happened but you will have to re-subscribe from your computer and then confirm. I’ve been writing non stop – are you still sewing like mad?