Bruce’s funeral is Saturday with visitation Friday night. These days of waiting for the autopsy results and for the funeral are long. Here is Phyllis’s address if you choose to send a card and if you DO send a card, please leave a note about what your connection is.
Phyllis Schutjer
340-290th St.
Woden, IA 50484
The porch is a lovely spot this morning –
before we start working at moving the manure outside the chicken door – I am so sick of trudging over and around it I could scream!!! (I’m betting you can read between the lines). About right now I’m regretting someone’s big idea that I should have chickens again.
I’m trying to sew an uneven log cabin block and after 50 years of striving to make a perfect log cabin block, I’m having a hard time getting that charming off balance look. Haha!!
Remember this table? It’s in the back of my van right now waiting to come out but I need help. For $20 I will store it until I know where it’s going to live. Remember Rick can’t walk around things so it can’t be cut down for a coffee table which I would love!
There were many new items at the thrift store – even since the day before and I do like pictures so I can keep changing them with the season. I also love Norman Rockwell.
And in keeping with the changing season I moved this one to the mantel and took down the patriotic.
Reader photos
Linda and I were discussing our pine floors and how worn they look and I agree but how would I ever refinish them? Where would we all move to and why would I bother? I sorta like them all scratched and worn looking – like Linda said, “After all, we LIVE here”.
Love the blog pictures today. That cat on the sewing machine seems to me to be saying, “let me help you with that 1/4” seam!” And the photo of the two dogs looking at cranes, oh, my, that’s priceless!
Went to the eye doctor this morning. Eyes dilated so sitting in a darkened room til it wears off. This is the fifth time this last year because of an injury I had while trimming bushes. A piece of wood and dust got in my eye but I am now cleared not to come back for 12 months! So glad. No vision problem or change from the wood just a lot of pain.
I took a quilt to my long arm quilter yesterday. She’ll get right to it as she just finished several quilts and is caught up! Have the binding cut and ready.
Moving on to several small projects and a repair of a leather jacket for a friend.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend everyone!
Mary,
Loved the blog post today 🙂
Especially the pet pictures!
The flower cards in the vases were so fun….never have seen these before.
Another hot day in Indiana….can noy believe Labor Day is here already….My O My where did the summer go!
Hope everyone has a safe & fun Holiday weekend!
Sandy in Indiana
mary, excellent blog entry today. everything about it. all the pictures are wonderful. so many great things to look at, think about, etc. yep, i’m pretty sure that is a judy rothermel. i have alot of her stuff also.
i remember when i first started teaching quilting, i made tops to sell classes, not necessarily what i usually did. when i had the store and taught classes, i made tops/quilts to sell fabric and to teach classes. some of those samples are still not quilted. when i quilted for others (for close to 15 years), my things got put at the bottom of the list. now i have time but not always the energy. some day it will happen. now i tend to make things from what is available downstairs where i am the most. still working on being able to get upstairs.
lung doc appointment was today. she wants another PET scan. last one was over 3 yrs ago and was clean. i really expect this one to be also. think i mentioned the eye doc and the laser treatment to get rid of the scar tissue. that eye is better already but still has a bit to go. i get a break from doctors next week and can prepare for my angel charity meeting. have lots to turn in.
trying to cut things up to get them out of my way (part of straightening up my small area in the bedroom). making large flying geese (3.5×6.5), need more bricks in both sizes (2.0×3.5 and 2.5×4.5) and i saw something i liked that uses 4″ squares and 2″ squares in bright splashy florals. starting new stacks til i have enough to do it. that’s how i can churn out the blocks quickly. tho sometimes the blocks get set aside for a while til i’m ready to deal with them.
came across my book about swedish death cleaning. know that i should at least start thinking about the amount of fabric and books i have. i’m enjoying every bit of it and not stressing over it. i know mr. ed would have no idea what to do with it. but i’m sure my angel group could deal with it all for him and he is an honorary member (we met in my store and then my house for years).
tomorrow is my physical so guess i should go to bed. keep on stitching and sharing. thanks, mary. patti in florida
I am so sorry about Rick’s friend Bruce, what a tragic accident.
The photos of the pets are adorable!
Mary, I am glad you went back for the table.😊 I think your pine floors are perfect!
Take Care/Thanks, 🥰
I make your recipe for the Cauliflower Salad all the time and we love it! Now you have me curious about the recipes for Mexican Caviar and Fritos Corn Salad. Would you possibly share?
Debbie – OK – it’s on my list!!!l
I also think the sampler quilt is the Civil War Diary quilt-I also have that book. The finished quilt is awesome. Lots of great pictures today.
So sorry to hear about your friend. I’ve been to two funeral’s recently-one a guild member-the other a church member. Also have a guild member who lost her husband.
I had to laugh that you went back to get the table. I saw it in your post yesterday-and went thrifting today. Saw a table like it but I also have no place to put it (sure wish I did though) so didn’t even look at the price.
Google “Vintage Shawnee corn bowl” and you’ll find all kinds of tableware like Mary’s corn bowl.
The chicken picture is darn cute and I would of bought it myself. Love the whimsy of Norman Rockwell prints. Lucky you. I think the chicken sh?! pile is worth the trouble, and you seem to have the right equipment to move it along. Hope you make good use of it elsewhere on the farm. I love your floors, I think they would classify as primitive. I wouldn’t paint or stain them, love them just the way they are. You have such a great spot to have your coffee. I will put a card in the mail, kindness matters.
My thought on the sampler quilt blocks is The Farmer’’s Wife.
Hello ladies, following on from your conversation re reproduction blocks/book, I have a question.
I refer to a photo page 41 of volume 26, published 1996, minature quilts(if anyone has it still) “Sampler” quilt by Judie Rothermel. Does anyone know if there are patterns for the border of this in either volume I or II of old spiral bound books Quilters Minature Handbook by her.
Much appreciated, a puzzle for the day.
Keep well Mary, hope you are keeping pain free,
Kind thoughts to all
When i saw rhe picture of the dog named Sammy, I was sure my husband must have sent a picture of our dog, Sonny. Then I looked closer and could see that Sammy is larger than Sonny. Also I think Sammy must be an Aussie while Sonny is a Shelty. These herders are great dogs as long as you don’t get a herder that just can’t ever let the herding thing go. Some have a strong herding gene.
Pat – and how is Sonny? And you?
Noticed your corn bowl in the porch picture. I inherited a pair of them from my mother. She used them all the time when I was growing up. I am guessing they are at least 70 years old? I have never seen them anywhere else until now. They were a couple of the few things I chose from her. Funny thing though is that I do not like to eat corn!! But memories are more important..
Jean – another thrift store find many years ago – it’s the only corn dish I own, but I love sweet corn!!
I’m so glad you were able to bring the table home. If it were mine, and I lived in a bigger house, I’d stack it on top of a big table to add vertical interest. The pet photos are wonderful. So very sorry to hear about your neighbor. Sure hope the weather cools off for the funeral. It’s 90 degrees here today, but first frost is October 15th, right around the corner.
San / Murphy, NC
I had to hop on my laptop to respond to this post (can’t do comments on my phone). I LOVE your “new” Norman Rockwell print!!! My parents had that same print hanging in their house during my growing up years and I loved it then and love it now! I love the horse poking his head out the door!
You have the best thrift shop, Mary! You are always bringing home new treasures! There was an estate sale in my neighborhood last weekend and I went after a friend had said she had been and there were treasures to be had. I came home with a lovely antique coffee table that perfectly matches my end tables and a bookcase that a friend made for me many years ago. I have been waiting 11 years to find just the right table and I am thrilled with it! I can wait patiently to find just the right piece!
Diane – if I could, I’d send this Norman Rockwell picture to you! If you can figure a way and if you want it, it’s yours. Or your next trip?
Cecil the cat looks exactly like our Pepper the cat…..eyes and all. He hangs with me whenever we are outside together, but can be a pest when I’m trying to pick cucumbers in the garden. Is that a penguin in the Norman Rothwell picture? Not sure if they would be on a farm down here! Thanks for all the pictures today. Fun to see all of them. I like your table, too. I would leave your floors just like they are. They match the rest of your house.
Jeanine – I intend to leave my floors as they are. Where do you see a penguin?? There is no penguin in this farm picture – please look again
Oh, I see the “penguin”. The pump handle at the bottom of the picture looks like a penguin if you don’t look too close.
Yes, I tried to enlarge the picture and then I could see that it was part of the pump. I thought it weird for a penguin to be in a farm picture. HaHa on me!
I looked for the penguin as well! It is the water pump!
If you found someone to refinish your floors I bet it could be done in sections over time so you would have a place to put your furniture pre, otherwise get a pod to store your stuff right there. It takes time to sand the floors then stain and urethane the floors. It is a big job. Plus the product doesn’t smell so good if you use oil based sealer/ urethane. If they used water based sealants, etc, I don’t think there is much odor. Floors that are refurbished are easier to keep up, and oh so beautiful! I used to do a lot of interior painting and wallpapering, and watched a lot of floors get sanded, stained, sometimes not stained and urethaned. It takes time for the floors to cure too. You can find out from someone who finishes floors. They would explain the process.
I’d like to know – Where is this great thrift store you shop at?
Myrna – I shop at several – The Village (One Vision) in Clear Lake, Shop On State in Osage, Exceptional Treasures in Algona
Loved your photo of coffee on the porch.. It brings back so many memories for me. We always had the blue coffee mug with the pussy willow design and my father was an incredible birder. We always had bird identification books close to the best viewing windows. and I spent many wonderful hours observing the birds at our feeders. Thanks for the memories
Jane – I’ve had so many lovely birds in the past two weeks! I love the young woodpeckers whose heads haven’t turned red yet – mom and dad feed them religiously! And my bird book is always close by.
Mary also iNaturalist but the best is the Merlin app as well as your books!
Love all the pictures of the pets. Smart move on the table. We’re hot in Ohio but that may change soon. Some schools are already back in session. I’m going to try to see my granddaughter’s volleyball games. One of my goals! She’s a senior in high school.I
Good luck, Mary, with the chickens. It sure is hard work.
Carolyn – yes, it is hard work but I suppose most things are hard at age 76 – haha!!!
Thanks for the chuckle about your wonky log cabin blocks. Wonky quilts have caught my eye for some time but I know I’ll be like you striving for perfection. I made a bunch of crumb blocks and found myself matching and overthinking those. I found a cute free wonky pumpkin log cabin quilt and I thought that would be a good one to make because it’s not a big commitment like a big quilt.
https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/wall-quilts/fun-fall-scene
Love all the dogs/cats. I met my granddaughter who just went to college for lunch and shopping yesterday. As we were leaving the store, I said LOOK! The bulletin board had pictures from the local shelter.
Sheryl – I try very hard not to look at those shelter pictures
I’m liking all the dog photos. I would enjoy shopping at your thrift store. Although, I’ve become more diligent about what I purchase. It’s looking like a beautiful day here in Cheyenne.
Martha -when are you heading back to MN? Yes, I love my thrift store in Clear Lake – it’s very close to my grocery store so I get there pretty often.
I’m glad you bought the table! I’m not sure what you should do with your wood floors. If you put new finish on them you would have to have someone sand them down, stain, and finish them. That’s a mess. But, I wouldn’t ever pain them! That wears off and then it would look icky! If you don’t mind them with the worn look, then leave them the way they are,
We are suppose to get storms sometime this evening or overnight. I have t figured out which. A little rain would be good but I don’t want any nasty stuff.
With all the heat it seems like we don’t have an appetite or much of a one anyway. So what to have is a problem. Ugh. Anyone else?
Take care.
Joy – right now I don’t have any trouble deciding what to have for supper – everything revolves around tomatoes. Plus I make a “salsa” called Mexican caviar which we eat with Tostitos scoops – we often call it our supper although last night we had blt’s again. Do you have lots of corn? I have a Fritos corn salad that is always delicious. Should I put out the plea – WHAT’S FOR SUPPER? I could sure use some suggestions, too.
I sure could use some suggestions! Boring supper menu!
Beautiful post today.
That’s a lot of chicken sh.t! Does it go to the garden? Do you have a composting pile?
Shopping at your thrift store looks like great fun. I’m in the middle of cleaning out my house…not just cleaning it up. I’ve found dog meds that expired 20 years ago! Yep, it all needs cleaning out.
We have clear blue skies today. Thanks for all the pet pix.
That quilt might be Civil War Diary.
Cathy – I think you could be right – I have that book! Well done, Cathy W!
I saw a picture of someone who had painted their wood floor gray. It really looked nice.