I accompanied a family of singers this morning in church – the men sang and Mom played sax – we’ve practiced several times and it was good!
Grass was so wet until mid afternoon and as I was very close to done a few big drops hit me, then Hazel came to get me (she hates thunder) and I just got to the porch and the skies opened.
Here’s the rock garden in front of the house –
And then after an hour came this.
I use these seasonal farm pictures on photo sympathy cards for men who have passed rather than a flowery sympathy card. This summer I’m trying to take pictures of the crops at different stages so that I have a card representing the time frame when the gentleman died.
And…. Remember June? I got a note from her niece Deb who suggested her aunt for a card shower.
Hi, Mary,
I’m writing to let you know our shower of greeting cards hit it’s mark. June is still getting cards every day. We will get a final count and let you know. She wants to be in on the thank you email, so in a few days we’ll be writing a thank you to your blog readers, until then, know that what you do with this platform is incredible. Her whole family is touched by the kindness shown in each card from “strangers” across this nation.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Deb Oscarson
So, Dear Readers, you came thru for me again! Thank you! Does anyone else have an elderly lady who could use some cheering up from strangers who are simply kind women who read this blog? I won’t bury you with requests but pretend this could be YOUR mom or aunt or grandmother. Better stock up on cards!
Reader photos
The old couch is already loved!
I have enjoyed the flower pictures – I don’t have blooms and I appreciate the hard work.
Looking for field corn pictures!
Mary
First, to Lynette, I’m so sorry for your loss.
I loved the cat cartoons. So true!
The waving flag is beautiful! Is that a Country Threads pattern? All the quilts shown today are very nice. Such talent!
Thanks for the blog, Mary. 🌻
We grow corn here in what’s called the Fraser Valley. Just east of us by about a half hour or so. The Fraser river runs through and that’s why it is called the Fraser valley. I can’t wait to have fresh corn. There’s nothing like it. We went to Alberta to visit friends one summer and we saw the wheat growing there. It was so beautiful. Like a sea of gold. I love this time of year. Our strawberries are ready now and hopefully tomorrow I am going to get some. I got a cold from my grand daughter so am under the weather. We will see how I feel tomorrow.
Three looks so relaxed sleeping on the porch-love him. The quilts and flowers are beautiful, and the corn fields are so lush and green.
I hope the weather improves, so you can enjoy your porch.
My condolences to Lynette-take care.
Thanks, Mary
Dear Mary and Readers, I’m so grateful that this blog about “everything” keeps me company on quiet days. The pictures of gardens, quilts, and critters are always welcome and sometimes such a surprise (I don’t care cats!) that I find myself smiling or outright laughing!
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and the family discord, Lynette. I agree, Mary’s blog is just the tonic for a blue day. Thanks again, everyone for pix and comments.
83* here today and humid. Good corn-growing weather!
Prayers continue for all, Kris in WI
Kris – this blog cannot survive without you readers sending pictures and joining in the conversation – I appreciate everyone who does. Think how many read and lurk – and don’t help. I’m thinking of what we should chat about next. But no politics or anything controversial.
Lynette, sympathy on the loss of your mother. I’m glad you know she is resting in Heaven.
Mary, the photo of the tall corn with the ears is from Needville, Texas. We’ve had a lot of rain also. I don’t dare complain about the rain, because then drought conditions would ensue. But I have to wear rubber boots that reach to my knees to take the dog for a walk and the soggy grass stinks! I love the repurposed couch! My granddaughter is now 4 1/2, but the cats have claimed several of her baby items for their naps.
Paula – thank you! I could not find the thread of conversation back to the photo. I just finished mowing around the puddles but I won’t complain either. It’s so lush and green but the weeds are growing, too.
I keep a good selection of get well, thinking of you and birthday cards for our card showers. It is so important for us to do this one quick thing…writing a little note and signing a card and putting it in the mail. It brings so much joy to the receiver and to the family. I know I’m repeating myself but mom when was in the nursing home, it even brought fun and joy to the nursing staff.
There is so much sadness in the comments today. I send prayers to Lynette for comfort. Love and prayers to Margie’s mom. This is hard, no matter how old your parents are when you lose them.
Sheryl – I do remember you saying the staff enjoyed the cards, too. And like you said, why wouldn’t we do this small thing for a stranger who is connected to us by a thread – the blog – which they don’t even understand. I have a good friend who is a nun who tells me this is a card “ministry” and I agree. I want as many readers as possible to send a simple card.
I was thinking of the word “ministry” when I was writing the comment. It really is!
The funnies are a hoot! Great idea for men’s cards. Love the pictures as always.
Lynette, I am so sorry for your mom’s loss. After my mom passed, I went over to the assisted living facility (where I went every day she was there) and visited with the mostly ladies that she knew or sat with for meals. It helped me to grieve and I was able to give them a boost because some had kids in MA, Southern Ohio, PA, and other places so they didn’t get many visitors. I did that until all of her good friends passed. My dad was a small town attorney. After he retired, he told us we were NEVER to fight over anything of his and mom’s. He never went into detail, but we knew to do it bothered him when families were difficult.
The cats today are, of course, typical. If I say, “No,” to Squeak, she swats me–lovely! The little Log Cabin with the hearts is just wonderful and I love the flag quilts. I have to go back and see what I want to order of the flag patterns. Just trying to catch up after the trips!
Mary, the corn fields are beautiful! Love the log cabin heart quilt and the Flag quilts. Of course cats don’t care, they just let us live here! They are so funny! Lynette, I am sorry for the loss of your mother. It is a blessing to know she is with the Lord.
I love seeing the corn pictures and what a great idea for cards so your male friends who are ill or have passed. We grow lots of taters here in central Wisc due to the sandy soil and lots of water. Farmers must rotate crops on the tater fields to replenish the nitrogen in the soil since taters take it out. They usually plant corn or wheat, so I will see if I can get a corn picture for you. I like how the quilter put the tiny US flag in the center of her quilt, what a cute idea and it would make a good table topper. The barn looks amazing and so glad that you had help getting it buffed up and the sofa is perfect as a viewing station for all the critters. Hope to see some rain today and I hope to sew some this afternoon.
The peonies in a vase looked so pretty. I was so disappointed to again this year find the deer have eaten off all the flower buds so I don’t get to enjoy them again this year.
Lynette, my sympathy, but also joy to you! My mother in law is going to be 102 in August! She has only been existing. She has broken bones and currently has a broken leg. She is in a nursing home, but she can hardly do anything by herself anymore. So sad to watch her decline. She has the indignity of being lifted by a Hoyer, if I spelled that correctly, to a bed pan and then they let her lay in bed for 45 minutes before getting the Hoyer and getting her back to her wheelchair. If she is in bed she refuses to talk to us even though she is off the bed pan. She wants to know why she is still here. I can only tell her the lord is not ready yet. I know she prays and we just have to wait til her room is ready in heaven. It will be sad when he calls her, but also joyful that she is not suffering any more. My nephew has to replant 2 fields of beans due to rain, but we so needed it. Mary, I hope you have a great day!
Margie – can we send her cards???? I also wonder why she can’t be released from this life of misery. Is the nursing home near you? Even if you don’t want all the readers to send cards, please send her address to my email. How about birthday cards in advance? Hopefully she will be in Heaven before her 102 birthday!
Sitting in the sunroom this morning listening to the little wrens singing, robins, a bird I couldn’t recognize singing to us. They were probably scolding the black who is encouraging her kittens to come to a new home….under our sunroom, I’m thinking. 🤔
I am so jealous of your rain! The showers get close to us and they just split and go around! So frustrating.
I love your blog about nothing. And look how much joy you have given to so many! 💕
The ‘I don’t care cats’ are a hoot! And that is just how they are!
Joy – it rained again in the night!!!! And is too windy and chilly to sit in the porch this morning. So glad I mowed some yesterday. I love sitting in the porch listening to the birds – my orioles sing beautifully so sitting inside the house this morning is pretty boring.
Love the “I don’t care cats” and such a sweet log cabin quilt with a heart in the center of each block. Another rainy day made for quilting. Happy Belated Anniversary to you and Rick.
So happy that June has enjoyed her cards so much! As we get older it’s those little things that add so much to our lives! When readers sent cards to my friend Ron for his 91st birthday, he was totally amazed that people he didn’t know would send him cards! He loved it & still has all those cards! I find it unusual that he sends cards to all his 4 kids, grands, & great grands…& calls them on their birthdays! He’s always done this. Lynette, so sorry for the loss of your mother. I’m also sorry family is being such a challenge. Yes, unfortunately that does happen many times. Love the pictures of the corn. Here the corn & soybeans are doing well due to all the rain we’ve had. I’ll try to get pictures taken. Good use of the old couch! For some reason animals like to be up off the ground. Better view of things? Boots loves the foot rest on my recliner! That’s where he naps.
Alice – at 91 he sends all those cards! Wow! Well done, Ron! Give Boots my love!
I love the corn field pictures and the two cat “I don’t care” pictures/cartoons. Cats truly DON’T care. The modified log cabin quilt is very interesting. It gives me thought for something I could make. The picture of the cat sitting on the chair makes me want to lay down and do the same. And it is only 7 a.m. ! Laugh.
Mary, I know you always comment it’s the “blog about nothing” but I have to say I needed your words and humor this morning. My mom passed away on the 12th. She had a long life – lived to 94 but the last few years were more existing than living. I know she is with the Lord and that is great comfort to me. Family is being a challenge at this time (doesn’t that so often happen?). Anyhow, I needed the cheer and the laughs this morning and you came through as always!!!! 💝💝 Love seeing the corn….. I need to take a drive as corn has been harvested here since May. I have a farm relatively near. Poor Hazel, my Lexi hates the thunder and lightening as well. Love the cats and the cat humor!!!! Truth there!!!!
I hope everyone has a great day. I’m off quilting for a bit — been doing a lot of cross-stitch. Will have to send photos……
Lynette, my sympathy to you for the loss of your mom. I’m glad you have your quilting time today to help work through the grief and of a long life your mom had. You put it so eloquently when you said last few years she existed and not lived. Again my condolences to you.
Lynette – I am so sorry! I actually wrote a whole “piece” last night about how old women are forgotten but then deleted it because I thought it was just too “dark”. I mentioned them going to the care center to wait to die – they lose their husbands and women in this age group in this day and age spent their lives taking care of EVERYTHING. And then they’re alone. Don’t know if this was your mom’s case but when I visit the care center it’s certainly the case.
Oh, and then there’s family issues – we’ve all experienced that, too, and I’m sorry.
A little late but to Rick and Mary, congratulations!
Beautiful patriotic quilts to night. The one that looks like it’s waving is spectacular. I like the one with the flag in the center and half square triangles all around it. I think even I can manage making that one. I would send a photo of a corn field if I could, however corn is not usually grown around our neck of the woods (or I should say prairie). I can send a photo of our wheat fields if you’d like. I’ve never seen a couch in a barn before, but it looks like yours will be well used.
Martha – Rick worked in WY when he was young and he would LOVE to see a wheat field!!
Fields of wheat are beautiful, especially in a nice breeze. They aren’t as dramatic and tall as corn, but easy to watch. They both feed both people and animals and are a product of different areas of the country. This is from an Iowa farm girl! We enjoy what every part of the country can produce and are so happy to be living in the United States. And we can’t forget quilters!!
Betty in Rapid City