I went to town to the post office, the appliance store (I bought a new stove and a new frig for the shop), went to the courthouse to pay my taxes and the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. And then I came home and took a nap! Sweet!
Here’s what’s Hazel was up to today. She rolls in anything stinky. Sigh.
This is Hank who lives in Kansas.
This is Hankster who lives near me.
Now we won’t have to wonder which Hank I’m talking about. You know of course, that Ster is his middle name – Hank Ster Greiman. Haha!!! Love it!
Remember my friend Sherry W. who raises Monarchs? It’s that time again –
Sherry has made many log cabin quilts with many different layouts. Here are a few different ones:
This was Sherry’s back yard last week after torrential rains.
Remember the couple making the Star Light Star Bright quilts together? Here they are – so very nice!
Beryl made this from the free table at her retreat.
Books, anybody? I missed the last book club meeting and I’ll miss the next one, too.
Hazel has already gone to bed.
I love today’s blog with the beautiful quilts and pets. I want to make a log cabin quilt and after seeing these beautiful quilts, I’m ready to start!
I’m over 1/2 done with the book I’m reading and wish I was done so I won’t pass that title on. BUT I want to tell about a cute movie I watched last night. Darling Companion with Diane Keaton. It is a sweet dog story. I stream through an Amazon Firestick and found this movie on the Tubi app.
Love the little embroidered quilt, thanks for sharing..
U know I never knew the real reason for CINCO DE MAYO
And I am Hispanic 😂😂
Katie – Haha! And now you know! Hilarious, wasn’t it?
Great post today, Mary! I keep forgetting to mention that I am not getting any ads at all to click on. I used to but it’s been a few weeks now that they aren’t there. I always did when they were but I can’t figure out how to get them back. I’ve tried clicking on the title as someone mentioned, clicking on “read on blog”, tried refreshing, nothing! I hope they come back soon, I do want to support the blog! Now, the quilts shown are just beautiful. Love Sherry’s log cabins – I would love to see her stash of blue fabrics! They’re all so pretty. Candy’s spiral quilted one, just amazing and so beautifully quilted. Jeanne’s hexie quilt must be huge! And Sherry’s grandson is so cute and proud of his beautiful quilt! I knew Sherry raised Monarch butterflies but I had no idea that there were SO MANY! Her grandson looks so cute – I know that he comes every day to help feed and clean them and I know that’s a hard job because I was fortunate enough to raise two beautiful swallowtail butterflies a few years ago. It was so amazing to actually see them open up and eventually fly away! My dill didn’t do anything this year and so no caterpillars in my garden sadly. I hope to have better luck next year. I hope Loretta feels better soon, she’s so sweet in her little tee shirt. Jan in MA
Jan – I just don’t know what to tell you unless you happen to have an ad blocker programed into your computer. You could try unsubscribing and then just resubscribe again – sort of like a reset button. I have no one to ask to help me. So if you can’t help I understand. It is what it is.
You are right Mary. You have the option to block ads and if a person has said yes to block them they won’t get ads. I can’t remember how to turn the bad blocker off but goggling it about the device Jan is using will help her.
What a lot of pictures and information today. Good to get the Hank and Hankster straight. I think if I see their eyes I’ll keep them straight. My Buster has dark brown eyes like Hankster. 👀
Who is the young boy in the kitchen with his hands on jar lids?Cute!
Love the picture of Sherry’s grandson making his own quilt. He will always remember that. Two of my granddaughter would go through my fabric and make pillows when they came to visit. Easy craft that made them happy.
Love the picture of the ladies with their purses. Another good idea.
Love the pictures of the butterflies and deer. And of course the dogs.
The most interesting book I read lately was Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. About the role of women in 15th century China. The story is inspired by the true story of a woman physician in China who wrote about her practice.
Carolyn – it’s the same grandson that helps Sherry with the monarch and is also designing his own quilt
I just finished Nightshade by Michael Connelly. Very good book and apparently there will be more with books to come with the main character Stilwell.
My goodness, books and log cabin quilts – two favorites. What a great way to start out my morning! All the quilts are beautiful, thanks for sharing. Pat, thanks for the quilt title of the couples’ quilt. I’ll check it out. Also, to the book title suggestions, a few jotted down for future reference. My next book to start is “Henry” by Katrina Shawver.
Have a productive Thursday!
Jan
It has been so wonderful finally relaxing. Our packing was completed a week ago, movers came and went. I had a real compliment-they said our move was the most organized move and they gave us a $400 discount because of it. Now that is a good business. They even called to ask if they could come a 1/2 hr early as they were ready if that worked for us. We spent a few days at our next door neighbours dog sitting Max. Our Eddy kept looking over at our house and looking at me, like he was asking why we weren’t there. We are now at my mom’s for three more weeks till we can move into the house we bought. It sure feels good to not have to pack and sort of have life as normal as it can be when you aren’t in your own home. We are so excited to move, can’t wait! Yesterday my son and I went to the auction to pick up 8 rolls of farm fencing we will attach to the horse fencing so the dogs can’t escape. That was a fun day and we were able to drop it at a friend’s acreage, she lives about 10 minutes from our new place.
Teresa – poor Eddy – how to make a dog understand something like that. He knew his home was in sight.🙁. And that was sure a compliment from the moving company – well done, Teresa! All that hard work paid off in more ways than one!
Good morning! The quilts are beautiful and I love all of the animal pictures. I read Rose in the storm by Jon Katz recently. It is about a border collie. Sad in a couple of places but I enjoyed the book.
Love all the pictures! Hazel is quite the character, getting all stinky! Can’t wait to see the chickens with their new look!
Mary, we haven’t been to Mayo since January. Lots of things were torn up then. We stay on the west end of Rochester by Costco, so we can take the shuttle in to the gonda. More medical buildings! That place is amazing!
I love all the variations of the log cabin! Beautiful! The little guy with his quilt is super awesome!
I go to the chiropractor this morning.
Mary, I am amazed you can go to garner for a pharmacy, hardware, etc.? Our little town 3 miles away has two gas stations, a grocery store, library, and two restaurants, a clinic, the elevator, and bars . The hardware/lumber yard sold out a few years ago.
Joy – yes, Garner is pretty good about having businesses. For decades there was a huge department store on the corner that carried work clothes in every size and people came from all over to shop there. It’s closed now and we all miss it. There are many storefronts that are empty. Mayo – I usually drive up and back the same day – one time I went three times in a week! That’s a long drive for you, isn’t it? But I’ll stay somewhere on south Broadway the next time. Is your chiropractor helping? Mine sure helps me
Mary, Mayo is 4 hours from us. Not horrible for sure, but too far to not stay overnight at our age.
You are fortunate your Garner still has several stores. Larchwood is a bedroom town so I think more people stop in Sioux Falls before they come home and get their needs. No one wanted to buy the lumber yard sold out the hardware/lumber yard was sold. It’s a real pain when you need 5 screws or bolts for something that needs fixing!
The chiropractic is working on my neck and hip! He’s doing ultrasound and tens aft3 the clicker. Hope it helps!
I sure hope the halter helps your chicken! Do you like the sound of a rooster crowing in the morning? I always did! We don’t have chickens. Just cats that look at the kitchen window while we make breakfast 😆
Joy – I would really miss hearing a rooster in the mornings. Garner has most of the necessities but Walmart is only 24 miles away. I’ve become a tried and true Amazon customer – I don’t even have to shop and carry it to my car. It’s delivered nearly to my door. I love it.
Just a quick note. I’m Sherry W in Texas. I was the sick Sherry.
I don’t grow anything but trouble….lol.
Love the Mayo!!!
Elliott races in every morning waiting for Hazel photos!
What pattern did they use for the Star Light quilts? Such a great scrap quilt – I’d like to share with my church quilters.
Sounds you spent a lot of money yesterday! We got a new roof. Had to have some of the underlayment replaced, so took them 2 days to complete. Today the kids can go out to play – been cooped up for 2 days inside.
I am SO looking forward to 70’s this weekend. School starts Monday, yippee!!
Diana – could you send me a picture of Elliot? I think she might have mentioned the pattern in her email. I’ll look
The pattern is No Point Stars by Cluck Cluck Sew. It is a free printable download.
I click on lots of ads and am wondering if this is the correct way to do it or is it necessary to open the ads. I have never opened the ads before, just clicked on the 3 dots but if that isn’t enough I will do differently. Hope somebody knows what is correct as I am happy to help keep the blog going. I know we all enjoy it. Pat in Iowa City
Thank you, Pat!
Pat Williams – I’ve always understood that clicking on the ad is sufficient – you do NOT have to waste time opening ads and looking at anything.
Hazel is definitely the leader of the pack. Small but mighty. Caitlin looks like a princess. Just needs a Tierra. And Loretta reminds me of when Ginger had cancer surgery. She had to wear her tshirt for a few weeks. Sure miss her. Hank and Hankster could have a hay day together.
The log cabin block is so versatile. Haven’t made one in years but I do have two as UFOs. The other quilts are great too. And that hexi quilt-oh my! I have a couple of old ones but I didn’t make them-they were garage sale finds.
Have never heard of raising monarchs. We used to see a lot of them. Have only seen a few all summer.
I always love seeing the pups (especially yours Mary) ❤️ as well as the quilts. Trying to get motivated to go in the sewing room….. what it really needs is a good clean. Obviously not high on my list and it needs to be. The heat here has been so oppressive I’m not motivated to do much but sit and x-stitch while watching a good movie or show. Mary, I know you think your blog is about “nothing” but it brings so much joy to my mornings! Thank you!!!! 💝
Speaking of Hanks, have you all read the Hank the Cowdog books by John Erickson? If you can listen to the audiobooks, the different voices are really funny, too!
Tanya – gosh, I forgot about Hank the cow dog! I’ve never done audio however
When we told our son we were naming our new puppy Hank, he said-I remember the “Hank the Cowdog” books from grade school!
Love all the quilt pictures.
Candy the quilt with spiral quilting, was it done on a longarm machine?
Hi, Kay! Thanks for asking, but no, the spiral quilting was done on my Brother sewing machine, and it was a beast to quilt! Around, and around, and around! I pin baste my quilts, and pretty closely, I think. As I turned this quilt, I kept getting excess fabric bunching up towards the outside edges, so I had to smooth it out and re-pin some parts. Surprisingly, it turned out pretty flat and square. I love it, but it’s my one and only spiral quilt, lol! I can’t see how it would be possible to spiral quilt on a long-arm machine … but I really don’t know much about them.
Candy…I’ve spiral quilted several quilts and had the same problem of having to take pins out and repin. The largest I’ve done is a twin. Now I just do it for lap or baby quilts because I love the way it looks.
Like spirals a great deal also. The most that can be done is start the spiral on the longarm, stop when there is no more room, and roll up once or twice to baste the rest up top. Roll down to baste the bottom. Then finish on a standard machine. Two things help. 100% cotton batt to reduce bunching and sewing in a clockwise direction. It does take a while, even on a 40″x60″ top.
Candy – I agree it would not be possible to quilt in a spiral on a longarm.
Candy, your spiral quilting is beautiful! But I agree – I did one, and like you it was a ‘one and done’ quilt. I really like the look but boy oh boy was I glad when it was done!
Beautiful quilt pictures! I loved the joke, great blog today! Hugs,
Always love the dog/cat/deer pictures. The quilts are lovely. trying to get back in the mood. I just can’t seem to do it. But I will keep on keeping on. Just like you.
Dee – we should get together / email me
The log cabin was the first pattern I bought, before I had even started quilting. I prefer traditional patterns. Today’s quilts are wonderful.
I am glad to have seen both Hanks at once; they are both adorable.
Thanks for the photos of the sleeping fur babies—so sweet.
I loved the Mayo joke, Mary; that was a good one!
Thanks, 🥰
Haha, you fooled me with the mayo story!
Log cabin blocks have so many ways to set them. I’m loving the pastel color combos.
Hank and Hankister are beautiful.
You accomplished a lot in town today. After all that, you deserve a nap.
I have always loved log cabin quilts. Candy’s is outstanding!
I cracked up laughing at your joke. Thank you for that.
You must have to give Hazel a bath everyday!
Love all the dogs! Thank you for clearing up Hank and Hank Ster! Sherry’s Log Cabin quilts are Beautiful! I especially like the layout of the last one, dark centers surrounded by low volume fabric. Her grandson and his quilt is adorable. The couples Star Light Star Bright quilts are gorgeous! What a fun thing to do together. I love Beryl’s cat quilt layout and colors. Last circular log cabin with spiral quilting looks amazing. Lastly, the hexagon quilt is a beautiful piece of work!
As usual, great pictures. Great to see what people are making.
The log cabin is such a versatile block depending on colors, layout, design, etc. And it is a very easy block. Great way to use all the extra strips, too. When you make them with the denim, do you serge or zigzag the edges to stop the fraying?
I had to call my cable carrier for the TV because I was having problems getting some channels…….. The repairman opened the box and discovered that the cable wiring had melted. Guess that means it has been too hot? I think he was surprised? It is fixed now.
Fall is near. The big spider web by my front door is back. And the grass is back to brown again. There was very little snow last year. We do need the rain.
Keep quilting. The enjoyment of creating and the great colors are so perfect to raise our spirits and making something with our hands doesn’t hurt.
Take care. Betty in Rapid City
Two excellent books I read recently are The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, and How Does it Feel by Sophie Kinsella. The first is a historical novel based on the life of a midwife a few years after the Revolutionary War. The second is a short novelization about the author’s experience with brain cancer. Both are well written and engrossing.
I loved The Frozen River. This was based on an actual person. Historical fiction is my favorite genre! Another one I enjoyed was The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen.