Getting your cards is a treat! Like all old ladies I look forward to,getting the mail. Our most recent “carding” brought this email to me:
This is just a note to let you know how much I appreciate the “carding” of my Mom. So many of these wonderful friends took the time to send Mom a card and encourage her in her new situation. We know that we should never underestimate an act of kindness, but truly, love and kindness are the things that make enhance life exponentially. The ladies at the front desk were amazed at how many cards Mom got from kindly strangers. My sincere thanks to all who sent cards, you are all angels… Blessings, Kris in Naperville (daughter of Janet in Saint Joe)
Doesn’t that make you feel good all over? I wish I could find a way to determine those readers or relatives of readers who would truly enjoy a carding. Right now I think we should consider Sally and Rita and how many more? But to track down all the info is difficult. Any ideas here?
Iowa is under a wind advisory tonight and tomorrow and then the temps are going to drop like a brick. I’m lucky to be inside.
Reader photos
I come across pictures online that are so beautiful that I save them to enjoy later – here are a couple.
What about you New York readers? Are you buried in new snow? And is it still snowing?? Such hard work shoveling out. If you’re buried and can send pictures, we’d love to see them.
Rick thanks you all for the compliments to the chef!
oh my, such a great collection of pictures, quilts, decorations and comments. love them all. those doll clothes are definitely a labor of love (in my opinion). love the top hat on top of the tree, what an idea. the primitive quilt by diane in central ohio is magnificent. i love it. what a treasure. i wonder if i have green buttons so i could make a button tree. really like that also. course all this stuff is upstairs (boo hiss). laughed at greta in the sink. slinky likes to drink from the faucet in the kitchen and in the bathroom. smokey always liked sleeping in the bathroom sink. never understand why.
thanks for the compliments on the blue quilt. someone else made the blocks. here’s a lesson in the difference in fabrics. this quilt is basically the ‘pineapple blossom’ by bonnie hunter. i made the same thing in september in scraps (sept 14 or 15th). for that one i used reds for sashing and yellows for cornerstones. if you can’t go back and see it, i’ll send another picture. this blue/white one was made with scraps all in blues of all shades. i used two different creams for sashing and random blues from the 2″ square drawer for cornerstones. i’m glad you all liked it. it will be donated to a group that sets up women from abuse centers in their own places with their children. i used up a big piece of gray and a leftover blue from a back. even used up a whole piece for the binding. now those are all gone. yeah!
mary, i’m so glad you are going so well. you’ve received some gorgeous gifts for your yard or plant room. love them all. so does greta it looks like. last night was strange around here. didn’t feel good, shut down computer, went to bed, never even opened my book, woke up at 2:30 am and turned out the light. weird. i pray for continued healing and strength for you. prayers for all the readers experiencing difficulty or health issues. blessings, patti in florida
So many wonderful pictures and it’s nice to see ideas for trees. I’m enjoying seeing smaller trees this year as big ones overwhelm me just thinking of decorating them. Love Patti’s challenge quilt! Lots of work.
Kris that was so nice what you wrote about the happiness the cards brought to your mom. It’s so special to find a card in your mail you weren’t expecting and I love passing that fun part of the day onto another person. Thank you for sharing your mom with us.
It’s so good to know Mary that you’ve been healing well!!!
A group of my friends are stuffing 15 stockings for a building in our area that houses homeless vets. They’ve recently had additions built onto it and having an open house to meet administrators and learn about their programs. Then we have another 15 stockings filled with personal care products for a women’s shelter. Many already provide for the children that come there with moms so we always take care of the moms. We enjoy doing this every year.
No snow totals in my area- just a couple inches for us ….it’s all west and south of my area and I’m hoping Carol at Pin Oak quilting is not out of her mind with this snow event again.
oh Gretta,.. you silly kitty, your parents have had to lock you out of the cabinet!!
Patti – I really like your challenge quilt. Was it paper pieced? It is beautiful! Also, the two saws make a very unique Christmas tree. So many other beautiful decorations. I enjoy seeing all of them. I am simple in my decorating anymore since the kids cannot come home at Christmas. Suppose to get real cold and windy here tonight. Our church is planning to go caroling tonight, but I am not going in the brutal wind. Can’t do that anymore.
Mary – So happy that your days are going well. Still praying for you everyday. I know you are being careful, and that is good!
Happy you had another good day! Loved all the pictures! The dining room table is so inviting!
We are off to SF today for a hearing aid test for Jay! And we have errands to run that are farm related. Plus, the wind is going to be brutal, but so it goes!
Joy – how did you get Jay to agree to a hearing test????? Don’t blow away?
Glad you’re feeling better! Loved the pictures today and saved several for ideas. Love Greta in the sink! Years ago we had a tuxedo kitty, Arthur, who loved to curl up in the bathroom sink for a nap!
Children’s Mountain Giveaway Update: We’re all set for our giveaway to the kids on December 14th from 10:00am to 2:00pm or until everything is gone. We will be working out of Earthfare in downtown Asheville. We had donations from over 85 areas of the country in addition to many contributions from my church quilting group here in COLUMBIA, SC where I live during the winter. The church has been sending items up weekly to Hendersonville and Asheville but saving items for the children for our event. I bought large paper grocery bags with handles so the kids can put their treasures in. In addition to quilts we had books, toys. hats, scarves, gloves, and pillows with handles and a pocket to put a book in donated. Small cosmetic bags will be stuffed with candy, crayons, and tiny coloring books to keep in the car with them. My husband has rented an enclosed trailer to transport everything up to Asheville in on the 13th so I can set up everything on Friday and be ready to go on Saturday. We will be sure to take many pictures and I only wish we could picture each and every child. Remember, this isn’t just a giveaway, but an event to bring a little happiness and hope to them during the Christmas Season. If anyone has ANY suggestions to help me pull this off, let me or Mary know. FYI: Janis Dean from FOX will be in the area that day handing out toys. I’m trying to reach her so maybe she can give a shout out about our event.
Glad each day is getting better for you. Great pictures once again. Today is going to be in the 50’s. Dan can finally get some decorations up outside. It’s been unseasonably cold here and then tomorrow the high will be in the 20’s again.
Patti, your challenge quilt is beautiful. I agree with Angie, the cabin on the water is gorgeous. The ladder lights are wonderful and think of what beautiful garland could put on the ladder at the holidays. The holiday decorating is motivating and provides pleasure. Thank you, everyone, for sharing. Mary, continue to be kind to yourself in this process of healing.
So glad you are feeling better. At times I thought “do I feel better? “. But then thought any worse I would be dead. But truly each day you will forget how crappy the day before was. Just take it SLOW.
The quilts are beautiful and love the one with the different characters. But the picture that leaves me the MOST envious is the cabin on the water. Absolutely gorgeous and you must cherish each day sitting on the porch. I live about three hours from the beach or mountains and give me the mountains.
Angie – remember I found that picture online but I’ll just bet it’s AI. That’s ridiculous to build a house that close to the water.
Mary, you would be appalled at how many people do just that and then wonder why their house flooded or was swept away. Why planning and zoning allows it is beyond me. Sharing one brain cell I guess.
Hi Mary, great photos again! It feels like we are heading into winter,damp day,very low clouds ,long sleeve t-shirt and cardigan on,waiting for summer! On Saturday afternoon we are having a small afternoon tea to remember my husband, maybe a dozen people, most of his mates gone now.Washing the dog tomorrow so she will be presentable, not happy having a haircut today! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Such great pictures today! Beautiful quilts and trees. Patti, your quilt is beautiful.
My daughter is coming Friday to help put up the tree and decorate. It would take me 4 days to do it. So glad you are doing well, Mary.
Love seeing everyone’s holiday decor, quilts, trees, and well loved pieces. Really love the ornamented horseshoe tree with the bottle brush trees mounted on the raw edge wood. Started decorating our house and got sidetracked with a furnace issue, thank goodness for space heaters, 2 dogs not 100 percent, thank goodness for our wonderful vet clinic, and car repairs. Apparently someone did not secure their load and lost a large plastic garbage can on the freeway. I “found” it at about 65 miles an hour! State patrol cannot locate the offender, but my bumper, fog light, sensor and wheel alignment were toast! No airbags, no injuries, just frustration. Furnace is now working, dogs are better, car repaired, back to decorating!
OMG, Sandy! So glad you did not get injured when you ‘found’ that large plastic garbage can. Also glad that your furnace is working again and that your dogs are better. Take care!
Good grief Sandy; what a handful! If things happen in threes, you should be all done now. Fingers crossed!
Great pictures Mary, thank you. I am home after my knee replacement. They gave me a block so the pain isn’t bad. I’m allergic to the good meds so am on extra strength Tylenol and Advil. They promised tomorrow will be my worst day. Hoping it won’t. Wish me luck.
PS- I did get the 9 microwave bowl holders done. I will take a picture and send it.l soon.
Teresa glad your knee replacement went well. Stay ahead of the pain meds, keep your leg elevated for awhile and do plenty of icing. I found those things to be the most helpful. And plenty of rest and protein. It seems the protein helps with the healing. I’m eleven weeks out of my replacement and the only thing that I still have issues with are going doing the basement stairs. I take it slow and use the railing.
Will keep you in our prayers for a quick recovery.
Thank you Rita for the words of encouragement. I am surprised not to have any knee pain but the pain in my quad muscle is very bad. I’m wondering how long that lasts. Once that is gone it will be a lot better. Hoping it’s gone within a week. Did my exercises this morning. Have to do them two more times today.
Teresa, my husband had a block when he had his shoulder surgery. He had pain after it wore off the second day but then was fine. Hopefully you’ll get through this quickly.
Best thoughts coming your way
Thank you. I’m hoping it goes away soon. I had a block too that lasted till about 1am. With that it was painless. Praying the muscle pain ends soon.
So glad you’re having some good days now. Have you had the urge to just sit and play the piano to pass some time? Or it may not be comfortable in that position. We have to venture out tomorrow in that wind and I’ve got a list a mile long. We’re getting it done in one shot. We finally got the decorating done and in the process purged everything we haven’t used in years. I hope someone thrift shopping will be happy. I know I am. I even had time to clean in my sewing room so hopefully this week I can get back at it. Stay safe at home and continued prayers for recovery.
Mary,
I’m so glad you had a good day. My husband’s recovery continues, too. He was over active yesterday when I was away, but he did better today.
I just returned from a Christmas community band concert. Our good friend is the director and the band is about 80 people. They were joined by the community choir also for several songs. It puts me in such a good mood as the music was lovely and festive.
Sending Sally good well wishes, too.
Love the pictures the last few blogs. Thanks, Mary.
Great pictures today. I’m glad to hear you are doing well. I started to decorate today. I hope to be done by the end of the week. We’re supposed to get really windy tomorrow in east central Iowa.
Oh, Mary, I am oohing and aahing over all the eye candy tonight. Really! Beautiful quilts, lovely Christmas trees, kittites! Who can ask for more! And reading last night that you had been out and about for a bit sounds like you are making good progress. All is good.
Some fantastic ideas. Have not seen the button tree before, for example.
The cat in the sink needs a caption. It looks very unhappy!
Stay warm. Don t over do Mary! What are you reading?
Wonderful – 2 good days in a row!!! Keep it up! It’s a delight to read that you’re doing well.
Love the photos today – and hope you get some from NY. Northeast Ohio (my home until I went away to college) all the way through PA and into NY got clobbered – last count I saw was 51 inches in one spot with more to come. All my place got was a few flurries – but it did look Christmasy! 🙂