Remember Tim, the big gray and white tomcat that I used to feed in the woodshed? The last time I saw him was February 22, 2025…….and today he came back!!
This was last February – when he hadn’t been around for a couple of weeks and then he appeared in the barn.
Rick saw him and called me because Tim was terrified – I ran back there with food, climbed the ladder and he leaned his head into my hand. He is not skinny or any worse for wear – he was hungry but he’s been eating somewhere. Holy Cow – you could have knocked me over with a feather. Welcome home, Tim!
Millie got a shot of antibiotics but my vet could find nothing startlingly wrong. Millie cried all the way and was scared to death and when I let her in the house when we got home, she bolted and I havent seen her since. Poor baby.
So….when I got home I cut these strips and have now second guessed myself.
I want to make log cabin but not necessarily in these colors – I’d better let this simmer.
Remember sending cards to Jean Freisinger in Zanesville, OH? Here she is holding a stack of cards from 18 different states on the first day – just fantastic, Ladies! She looks so surprised and Susan says she reads them and enjoys them very much and sends thanks to you all! Kindness matters.
Onyx-at-Christmas-Table-Runner_Final-PDF.pdf
Ladies – you could start this now to enjoy it in December.
We had to go look for snakes –
This picture should be titled “Blowin’ In the Wind”
And this should be called “The Day Is Done” by an Iowa farmer.
I’m thrilled that Tim is back – I was just sure the coyotes had gotten him. And I hope Millie forgives me soon.
Thanks everyone for the comments to Mary’s blog, especially the wandering pet stories today. Not much new here today. 70*, sunny, but gusty winds–must be Mary’s weather from the day the corn garland was blowing in the wind.
Oh, wait! There is something new. After a week of the old printer telling me something was wrong and not wanting to play, I fixed it! Well, YouTube and me. Took all the cartridges out, washed the carriage, put it back together and …nothing. Changed the black cartridge since the printer told me that was the problem…nothing. Checked the other cartridges…bent the little sticky out clips that hold them in place. Bingo! Not the black cartridge, but the yellow one. Boy did I feel smart…sort of. It only took a week and I’m still hoping it will solve the printer tantrum. I think I’ll name old HP7529, Millie. Nice printer… pretty printer. Kris in WI
PS: Maybe I need some of that fresh air and sunshine…ya think? Kris
Kris! Very impressive detective work! I thought our paper-shredder was a goner, it would not start when ai put a piece of paper in, and wouldn’t shut itself off automatically like it was supposed to, either. I decided to oil it. I put the paper in and put oil on the paper, it took a couple of attempts, but that was it! Then I went to Walmart and got a package that had oil and sharpening for the shredder. So when my shredder does not start up automatically when I put the paper in, I oil it. Worked for me!
As a friend of mine is always saying to her granddaughters…..Girl Power!!! Kris.
Welcome back Tim. He doesn’t look underfed or any worse for wear. Glad he is back.
It seems Hazel is always digging for something and all I usually see is his hiney up in the air. So cute
Tim looks in great shape. Don’t you wish he could talk?
Put a heavy rounded rock or a couple of broken bricks in bottom of pot for weight to keep the plant from being top heavy. Have a huge jade plant (to soon re re-homed) and that is what I did to keep it upright.
Perhaps Tim has two families and he likes to share his time. I am quite sure Millie will forgive; but, she will NOT forget. That has been my experience with my kitties. My dogs have liked their vets. And, that photo from Pamelia? That looks more like the day’s end during the Iowa harvest time as I recall. No boys in our family and Mom was forbidden to drive a tractor (another story!! my isister and I never believed), so it was all Dad bringing in the harvest.
I agree with Janet S. The sunset harvest scene is worth of a card, or a frameable painting. As Gail eluded to, so much backstory on the farm to reach that point.
Welcome back, Tim. I hope Millie feels better soon.
Jan
Welcome home, Tim. What a nice surprise!
We love to hear the news about your animals. Poor Millie. She’s in hiding after that humiliation! Ha
Love this friendship quilt. 90 years old!! Amazing!
We’re cold here this morning in SW Ohio, but the sun is out and makes all the difference!!
Hi Mary – The word must be out on where to spend a cozy winter in Iowa with the pet population. It is amazing that Tim came back. Loved all the pictures today – especially that sunset! Seeing that crow in the corn quilt reminded me – I pieced it all together last year but never quilted and bound it. Need to do that for this season! Thanks again for all the inspiration from you blog about nothing.
Love the photo of Mrs. Freisinger – bless her! (Zanesville is not far from me, so I enjoyed it even more.)
Glad Tim is back – those toms surely can roam, can’t they?
Thanks for the link to “Onyx at Christmas” – might have to make that for fun – I need more fun in my life.
I think that harvest photo is the best – being an old farm gal, I appreciate all that it stand for. Harvest here in the middle of Ohio is going well because it’s pretty dry – conversely, the yields aren’t as good as everyone hoped due to the drought. My nephew on the western side of OH posted photos of the dust flying as his soybeans came off – I’ll bet he really appreciated the cab on his combine!
Thanks for a fun blog today!
I’m happy that Tim is back. It’s always a relief when cats come home. Our feral cat is here about half time. When the weather gets colder he will be here more. When we first moved to our home there was a young pregnant cat that showed up. We tamed here eventually. Whenever her kittens were around six weeks old she would take them on a hunting trip. She always brought everyone home. She was usually gone around 10 days. The first time I worried so much. I learned not to worry when she did it with each new litter. I really like the colors you pulled for your new quilt project.
Tim is back! Awesome news!
A little too warm again in SW IA. Next week looks more reasonable but I will be at the Benedictine in Schuyler, NE for a quilt retreat. I hope I can get out and walk the grounds there. I cut all day yesterday on two quilts. One is a mystery quilt that I have been dragging out. I have to make a ton of flying geese for the next step. I still have a little more cutting on those. I had hoped to get this top done before the next mystery quilt comes out in January.
Yay for Tim coming home! Maybe set out a dish of catnip for Millie to relax. I hope Barney gets along with Tim and now Miss Mortie. 😻❤️
Mary I love reading your blog. My brother and his family live in Webster City so I always enjoy seeing what’s happening with the farms and weather. Your animal antics give me a laugh. We could make up some good stories about Tim’s escapades. When I was in Chattanooga I had two indoor cats. Almost every day a tom with a clipped ear would show up at the back door and I would put out some food. I named him Chip. Awhile later we had a block get together. I was standing with some of the women and I saw Chip. I said — hey there’s Chip. Does he belong to anyone. Another lady said she called him Fred and she fed him every day. Another lady overheard us and said that’s my cat and now I know why he never eats but doesn’t lose weight. I have laughed over that story for 20 years.
Rita – your story could also be Tim’s, I think – he’s healthy and strong so somebody has been taking care of him. Although last March I visited all my neighbors within a mile radius and none had ever seen him.
I think my readers on either coast get a bit of education about farming, too, which must be foreign to them. It’s such a gorgeous morning that I am able to drink my coffee in the porch!
It’s such a relief to have a missing cat return. Yay for Tim for finding his way back before winter! I love your strips for a log cabin, a lovely mix for a sort of low volume quilt. I love the low-volume look and have made a number of them. Which makes it sound like I don’t know what the number is….which I don’t.
I’m so happy Tim is back!! He’s been busy. I’m also very happy Jean is thrilled with all hr cards!
I notice the beautiful sky yesterday also! Such a bright blue! Jay didn’t combine for a while yesterday, just so windy! We were afraid of fire. Yes, Jay is back farming and so happy! His eye still has the gas bubble and he cannot see anything either it yet.
I have a bird banging on my window downstairs! He must be fighting his reflection! 🙄
Have a good day everyone!
Joy – I hope Jay doesn’t get dust in that eye – must be annoying. Yesterday wasn’t any fun with that strong wind – today is perfect! I’m even drinking my coffee in the porch!!
Mary, yes it is a beautiful day. The doctor said on Monday that the slits they made were healed and he could go to the field on Wednesday! He’s been a happy camper running the combine and hauling corn to the yard. Tomorrow will get windy again.
Have a good night! Love eating your blog!
So happy Tim has returned! One less kitty for you to worry about. Millie will forgive you – she just needs time to be mad!
Such beautiful weather we’re having! Elliott and his sister are in MIchigan this weekend. No school due to conferences and Columbus Day, so mom planned a little getaway. We planned on going to Wisconsin for our yearly fall visit, but no hotel rooms! I should stay home anyway. Altering my sis in laws dress for my nieces wedding next week.
Thank you for the blog. I have my coffee and a little brightness every morning. I love when I find like minded people – even if not in person. Hugs to Tim and Millie.
Diana – no hotel rooms!! Just to look at pretty leaves – I’d stay home, too, and sew – but certainly not alter a wedding dress – ick. Your house will be quiet for the long weekend.
As I scrolled down the really fun blog today, there was Hazel in her usual pose. Next I read “This picture should be called Blowing in the Wind. And I thought it was referring to Hazel. I laughed and laughed. Then scrolled to the next picture of the corn blowing. Now I laughed and laughed some more — at me! Tim is back. Cards so joyfully received. Beautiful scenes from the farm. What a positive way to start my day.
Linda – that made me laugh right now!! Yes, lots of good news in yesterday’s post – I love it!
That stunning harvest photo could be made into a card. I’m so envious because our house backs up to a big hill so never see a sunset.
We had a feral cat that had a litter of 4 little black & white fur balls. One day they were all gone. Six weeks later she came back with 3 black/white kittens and one grey about the same age. Boy was I ever happy to see her again.
Weather is still nice everyone so get outside and enjoy.
What a gorgeous picture of the harvested field at sunset!
Seeing the picture of the signature quilt I sent you has reminded me that it’s still waiting to be finished. It’s 90 years old now, but I don’t want to wait until it’s 100.
Thanks for the picture of Mrs. Freisinger. It’s so lovely to see the reaction of a card recipient and the joy those cards bring.
Erin – when I went back to your original email I noticed that photo which I must have missed – such a great quilt! A classic
What a miracle Tim came back. He knows a good home and life on the run wasn’t easy staying alive I’m sure. Millie sure didn’t like her car ride and shot. But she’s back home too and all’s well is your nest today. I love it.
Finally fall weather is here. Covered my herbs last night to get a few more weeks with them.
I say go with those colors for a lot cabin. It looks low volume and subdued. I’m kinda getting tired of seeing so many solid bright colors in quilts so I like your choices.
Kathy – I might add a few more low volume strips – maybe I should just start it and see. I, too, am getting tired of all the brights. I also have a ton of brushed cottons – what should I do with those?
Mary. – feel like making another bulleyes quilt? Those brushed cottons are such soft fabrics that it needs to be a cuddly couch quilt.
Kathy – oh my gosh, funny you should ask! I am considering it – seriously!!
Welcome back Tim. Love his nose. He is a cutie!!!
You are a loving and faithful animal person–as am I.
Ann – I do love these animals like children.
Hi Mary, great that Tim is back! Such a beautiful cat! A neighbour’s cat dissappeared for 3 weeks, then just strolled in ,a bit thinner, but fine. They really make you worry!My son who lives the other side of the city popped in today with delicious curry(not one he made, too hot!),the dog was so excited to see him! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – as I was looking back for photos I came across the pictures of Stella and Luna – so so cute!
Oh, that shades blue Iowa sky and now a misty taupe/beige field and pink/orange sunset. Who says we can’t combine colors any way our mind sees them.
Poor Millie…and poor Mary. No doubt it was almost heartbreaking to listen to her cry and just when you want to give her a hug, away she dashed. I’m sure forgiveness is just around the corner…as soon as she is done sulking.
Pamela’s cat & dog picture reminds me of our Einstein tuxedo cat. He would perch on the arm of the chair and just roll into the space next to your leg and push you over so he could get the warm spot!
And then there is Tim. I think he was wondering where you were when Rick spotted him and let you know he was back. Good call, Rick. There is certainly never a dull moment on your farm! Now about Hazel and her search for snakes…Still gives me the shudders and I can almost hear those corn stalks rustling in the wind…kind of spooky!
so glad Jean enjoyed her cards. Don’t you feel just a little sneaky when you surprise one of Mary’s card shower recipients? Rather like ringing a neighbor’s doorbell on May Day and leaving a basket of treats behind! Next up, a card for Pat. (;-) Kris in WI
Kris – the memory of May baskets tickled me!
Ferrell cats are very unpredictable. We’ve had a few over the years. May not see them for months and then once in awhile they’ll be back but never stay permanently. Hilarious picture of the cat-he’s bound and determined to make the dog share that chair! Funny.
Cindy – did you notice that the dog is actually a stuffed animal? Haha!
Wow, that is a very realistic stuffed dog!! Gorgeous pictures in the blog today–every one a winner, every one made me smile or laugh. Glad Tim cat is back. Hope Millie has come out of hiding by now. Those low volume prints are so pretty–so many possibilities.
What a beautiful cat is your Tim!!!!! He does not look like he has been missing meals. His fur looks lovely. I am glad he came to visit again! Don’t we wonder about cats in our lives that are here and then gone.
I love the Crow and Corn pattern. It is great seeing Tim back all safe and sound. That sunset is amazing.
I wore a sweatshirt all day today-so fun!
Take Care/Thanks, Mary
Our kitty disappeared this summer. She wasn’t one to wander. We think either a fox or hawk got her. She was an outdoor kitty. We do miss her. After a trip to Yellowstone National Park we are going to adopt another one. That evening photo captured God’s beautiful creation.