DON’T PLAY THE EVENT! Just play your game. Too bad Iowa State didn’t figure that out before their embarrassing loss this afternoon. Oh, this is so reminiscent of the 80s when Iowa played in several huge games, remember the Rose Bowl? Remember Ronnie Harmon? I turned off the tv and took the dogs out to the hay ground to play.
So the game we looked forward to for months was a hopeless disappointment – call me a fair weather fan if you will, but you can’t make that many mistakes in a game and expect any loyalty from me.
This is what I’m working on but my original plan didn’t set up like I hoped so now I’m rethinking. I want to use it on a round table so that’s one factor.
I sent Rick to the store for one barely ripe, almost green, banana. This is what I got:
Reader photos
A story from Gloria who has little Caitlin:
Good morning Mary – I have a story that will warm your heart and you can share it with your readers if you want.
Two years ago on Halloween a feral cat showed up at our place and we were able to tame him, had him neutered, shots, etc. We named him Boo. He became Emmett’s best friend. When Emmett went to Rainbow Bridge last spring, Boo was devastated. He was so depressed. He followed us everywhere and wanted to be held all the time.
On Tuesday of this week Gaylen was loading our outdoor furnace with wood. He heard crying and when he looked here was Boo bringing a crying kitten to him. The kitten is extremely thin and she was freezing. We’re feeding her and Boo lets her in his heated cat kennel. When she has gained some weight we will take her in to be spayed and shots. She was obviously someone’s pet because she wants to be held all the time and she purrs like crazy. We named her Christmas.
Trying to post another piano solo but I keep getting the message – Failed to insert media. Ugh. Where’s Ema?
So… goodnight!
Mary, I hope you were able to sleep last night!
My husband did all the grocery shopping when I was laid up. He would leave for the store (3 miles) and I could count on getting a call. “Where did you say the —— is? “. I would just talk to him as he went down the aisle. Our local store made that really easy because they don’t move stuff! He still will pick up something for me. Oh, And if he bought banana, they were always green! Haha.
Have a good day! The forecast looks like it’s going to be COLD middle of the week. Bleh we are so spoiled with this warm weather!
Holy cow Mary! You scared the dickens out of me. I thought someone important to us had died! Haha
Sorry about your team losing. My Oregon Ducks managed to pull off another win for a 13-0 season. I’m looking forward to seeing who they play in the Rose Bowl. Arizona State won their game too so it will be some fun football coming up.
Gloria and Galen are special people to step up for the animals in need that come their way. Somewhat like someone else we know. Bless all of you!
Pat – Arizona State is the team who best Iowa State!!!
Oh no! Oops sorry. I was watching the Oregon game and didn’t realize. We have a lot of Iowa people here so I’ll keep the celebration more subdued.
My husband was not domesticated. His cousin, Patsy, invited us to Easter. She said to bring buns for dinner. He came home with hamburger buns! Patsy’s comment was it was alright with her……. He started going to get groceries with me and he did get better.
Mary, when Frank has his 1st heart surgery his doctor said don’t sleep in the recliner. Well, he always slept on his side in bed which didn’t work with the chest incision. My advice was sleep was all important to recovery and it didn’t matter where he got it!! He happily snored his way to recovery in the recliner.
Love the get well card with the dog.
Take care everybody. And Merry Christmas. Half the fun is getting ready for everything, I think.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty K – last night I was still awake at 3:30 am so I came downstairs to the recliner and got some sleep – I agree, it’s better than none! Loved the story of Frank and the hamburger buns. He wasn’t domesticated! Hardy har har har!!!!!
Maey – So glad to hear you’re doing better and able to go outside with Keeper and Hazel. Loved the story about Boo and Christmas. Sweet!
I don’t want to spend another Christmas and birthday without my husband, but I have no choice. I miss him so much! It’ll be two years at the end of January since he passed away. This time of year is not fun for anyone who has lost someone. And I know my sister and sister-in-law are going through the same feelings as they lost their husbands this year.
I hope I cheer up as the day goes on. Maybe I’ll sew some of the blocks together for my hydrangea quilt which may turn out to be a wall hanging.
My cat was running down the hall this morning and came up behind me in a full run and tripped me. I didn’t see him, or I would have stepped aside. I fell on the floor which is carpeted. It hurt and with my bad hip I was surprised it didn’t hurt worse than it did. I gave myself a few minutes before I got up. I’m a little sore, but okay. Kiki the cat didn’t know what happened, but his brother Geo saw it all and came to console me and laid on the floor next to me. It’s always good to have a pet when you’re on the ground.
Today it is cold, but it is nice to see the sun after days of overcast. Snow is forecasted for later this week. I hope they are wrong!
Take care Mary and everyone.
Sharon G – oh dear!!! Do you always have your phone with you in case you fall? I do – 99% of the time. Ouch!
Mary – Yes, I have my phone with me. Back in the day, I learned how important it was to have my phone with me at all times.
sharon, i hope you start to feel better. i understand your sadness (as well as someone not you can) but maybe try to concentrate on the happy times in previous holidays? blessings, patti in florida
Sharon, it’s ok to cry. I miss mine terribly.
Lovely pictures today, especially the cross stitch. My Christmas Cactus has several blooms. Here is my green banana story. My 6th grade daughter decided on what she wanted to do for the school science fair. She would take green bananas and see under what conditions they ripened the fastest. Green bananas….how would we find them when we needed them? We talked to the local IGA owner (in our town of 500). He took us to the back room. He had very green bananas. He said there are always some back here. When the time came she was able to get the green bananas. She did well on her experiment and won the chemistry division at the regional science fair. Her prize was the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Not a great prize for a 6th grader. Wish I’d had one in college as a chemistry minor. It would have saved me trips to the Chem library to use the book. If you need really green bananas, ask. There might be some in the back room.
Judy- hmmmm, interesting. We always have green bananas on the shelf
I came home from the hospital om Thursday the 5th, I had a heart attack on Thanksgiving evening. Two coronary arteries were blocked more than 95% so now I have two stents. I’m doing good but taking it easy.
My daughter is staying with us for a few days to help out. Give me some time and I will be good as new.
Praise God for all his blessings.
So thankful!!
Sally J – oh no!!! Who got you to the hospital? Your husband was there , I hope. Was your hospital experience better than mine?
oh sally, i’m so sorry. wishing you a quick recovery. blessings to you, patti in florida
Beautiful Christmas cactus picture! The quilt on the wall is a perfect balance. The first time I saw one was in England. Go figure. I enjoy having a Christmas cactus around – just had to buy a new one last week. Well, not had to. . . but, did. 🙂
Jan
I laughed at the bananas…I only buy slightly green bananas! And usually only 1 at a time since they ripen so quickly.
Hope you are improving each day.
Gloria – I never buy ripe bananas – I like them just past green.
Just a great post today. Love it all. So glad Boo has a pal and that you are willing to take in Christmas!! Love all things nativity so that is my favorite, but all are great. Mary, I hope you aren’t’ doing too much. Must give Ric an E for effort. I don’t like overly ripe bananas either. He is use to you doing most things. Have a great day!!
The holidays are getting a little hard. Some days are festive, some, down right shitty!
My incredible neighbor came over and put lights on my arbor and little volunteer cedar tree while I was at work yesterday. What a surprise. His decorations are very festive…a wonderland. I wanted a sign that said “copy and paste”. Now I have some and can see them from my sewing room.
They didn’t world is full of divine people. From kitty savers to fantastic neighbors.
Today I’m cleaning out my kitchen and pantry. I should have done this 6 months ago. I don’t cook much anymore, so I no longer need oatmeal, pancake syrup, pasta sauce, etc. I could have donated it, but now it’s expired.
Thanks for all the picture..they are so adorable to see.
I am glad your neighbor put up some lights for you. Take cheer and enjoy the beauty. These days can be hard. Get support where you can – friends, neighbors, work colleagues.
I might be a control freak but I never let my hubby buy the groceries. He only buys what’s on the list and I only put things on said list that I know I need. Not milk, bread, butter, eggs, etc. And the banana things must be passed on from previous generations. When mom was alive she always wanted slightly green small bananas. Easy for me to buy because that is what I like also.
Senior Christmas at church today, taking meatballs with Hy-Vee recipe for the sauce. apple jelly, grape jelly, ketchup and tomato sauce. Sweet and tangy.
Finished shopping yesterday with a trip to Fleet Farm. Money to my son – he’s easy, toys for the grands.
Enjoy the warm weather today, I heard snow mid week. ugh…
LOL, Diana! What IS it about men and grocery stores?
My husband can never find anything that I ask for, but mercy me can he ever find the most disgusting rubbish! Who needs 6 bags of potato chips with strange “new” flavors? What is wrong with POTATO-tasting potato chips? He needed them because they were new; then he won’t eat them because they aren’t familiar. Nope. No more grocery runs for him…
Years ago, we laughed ourselves silly about a brief video of a man who couldn’t find something in the refrigerator. He called a friend, and they both studied the contents of the refrigerator via video and still couldn’t find the item. Finally, they gave up and called the man’s wife who responded with, “It’s behind the ketchup.” Sure enough, it was there all along. Our family joke whenever anyone asks where something might be is that it’s behind the ketchup. Apparently everything in the grocery store is hiding behind the ketchup.
Susan – what a great story! I swear they’re all alike!
I was so glad to finally get off my knee scooter. I could not make it to our freezer in the garage. I would send my husband out to get something and tell him exactly where it was. He would return with something else to cook because he couldn’t find what I wanted. When I was finally able to get to the freezer, I can find what I want.
The little kitty story is heartwarming and what a perfect name for the new pet! I’m glad that you are feeling well enough to be up and doing.
Bonnie – I’ve heard that skit and honestly it’s hilarious and so familiar. I hope some of the readers watch it.
She also has a video about being in rehab and watching QVC for the first time and calling the nurse for help. Hilarious!
Renae – I’d better look for that one!
Mary,
I’m laughing at the banana story but in fairness to Rick…maybe that’s all the bananas on the shelf that day?? It’s still funny!
Loved the kitten story from Gloria, too. Lucky cats and Gloria you definitely have a kind heart! Reminds me of my daughter who is always taking home strays. By the way, I told her about the nice comments from the blog readers about her dog Daisy when she crossed the rainbow bridge and she was so touched that people she doesn’t even know or met were so kind. You have created a wonderful community here, Mary.
Teresa, good luck with your knee recovery. You’ll be glad you did it though it might be hard to think that yet!
Have a wonderful Sunday everyone. Hubby taking me to Culver’s for lunch. 🌻
Sunflower, I just said to my husband today -not sure why I did this – maybe everyone goes through that. Thanks for your well wishes.
Check out Jeanne Robertson. ” Don’t Send A Man To The Grocery Store” on Youtube.
Bonnie, Jeanne Robertson’s film is really funny as is all her films. She has a great sense of humor.
I love that Boo got a Christmas kitten, especially when Boo really needed Christmas, and Christmas really needed Boo! What a great story!
I also love the colors of your sections of Christmas colored squares and I’m looking forward to seeing where you go with it, and wondering what your original plan was. Inquiring minds….
Glad to hear you got out with the dogs. I got a walk. The day was so warm. Managed to work on Christmas decorations and will finish up today. I made banana bread and Puffed corn for the retreat that starts on Tuesday in Elk Horn, IA.
Loved the quilts and deco today. I am getting my Christmas quilts, etc. out today. Will try to get a photo to you. I think I have figured out how to do that from my phone to my computer. I don’t do email on my phone but I take pics with it.
I’m with you on nearly green bananas……
What pattern is the quilt on the top of Christmas quilts galore? The one with the church block? Is it a Country Threads pattern? I love it 🥰🥰
Sandy
I’m with you on nearly green bananas……
What pattern is the quilt on the top of Christmas quilts galore? The one with the church block? Is it a Country Threads pattern? I love it 🥰🥰
So glad you are hom3 and on the mend ❤️
Sandy
Thanks so much for the story and pic of the bananas. I am still laughing!!
I love happy cat stories. Almost all our cats over the years have come to us that way—Homeless and unannounced. We have a long list of cats we’ve loved and can place where we have lived by which cats were alive and with us. When my husband was transferred to Seoul, Korea for work, we took 3 cats with us. I don’t even want to think what it must have cost my husband’s company to transport those cats to Korea. They were forced to live in quarantine for 10 days and I had to go to the airport every day to feed them.
Well Gloria and Gaylens story of Boo and now Christmas gives me faith in decency and humanity in people. Bless their loving hearts to care for these cats and I have always said there is a special place in Heaven for folks like them. My vet would always say to me a stray pet finds you knowing you will comfort him and you didn’t turn your back on a crying baby kitten. Thank you!
Hi Mary. I can relate to your Iowa State loss. Lots of hearts were broken after our Ohio State loss to Michigan last week. And most of them were on the field.
Love the Christmas quilts and cross stitch. Your readers are so talented.
I bet your fur babies were so glad to get out and play. I have an only dog and after days of being cooped up he does his zoomies in the yard while I watch from the door. It’s like he knows he needs his exercise!
Love the story of Boo and Christmas.
Hi Mary, you will have to send Rick to the store with a note in future! Green bananas are common in New Zealand, pacific islanders like them baked, l like ripe ones on toast with jam,. I wish l could find a kitten, but Bella says no! Windy and wet tonight, cosy in bed! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
lovely post. lovely christmas quilts. i really like your start on your project. do you just make it a large square, quilt it and then cut it into a circle – or – do you design it into a circle to begin with? sorry your game was such a disappointment. am sure the dogs were glad to get out and play.
i love the kitten story. how sweet that emmett would send a kitten to help boo not be sad any more. such a moving story. glad that both cats can be together.
quiet day here today while i rested up from yesterday. i did spend lots of time off and on messing with the bin of scraps. we have 1.5 x 2.5″ pieces – 1.5 x 3.5″ pieces – 1.5″ x 6.5″ pieces and lots of triangles that are half of maybe a 3″ square (haven’t measured). it’s amazing how much is in here. i told mr. ed it is probably gonna take me a couple more days before i get this bin emptied. but they are being organized. same with same. some fabrics were sold in my store ages ago. lots of these fabrics i would have bought myself and a couple i have bought myself. woman must have a grandchild that likes ‘frozen’ the movie as there are a few strips of that fabric. most interesting. the mother lode was a baggie within a baggie – 185 black/white half square triangles sewn but not pressed open yet. another black/white (same) of about 285 paired half squares not stitched yet. oh my.
hugs and blessings to all, patti in florida
What a sweet cat story. I do believe Boo was sent Christmas from Emmet. I like all the quilts today. Four days after knee replacement and praying for more than four hours sleep in a row tonight.
Teresa – I had to sleep in a recliner – are you in the bed?
I don’t have a recliner though I wish I did. So yes trying to sleep in our bed. Not sure what I will do tonight. Just pray for sleep is all I can do. A friend of my husbands said go buy a recliner she’ll need it. Now I understand.
Teresa – elevate you legs on bed pillows
i pray you get to sleep very soon. patti in florida
I see some banana bread in your future. If you don’t feel like making it now, peel the bananas, throw them in a ziplock bag, then into the freezer. They’ll wait there until you’re ready, lol! Sadly, some days those are the best bananas on the shelf in the grocery store. I can’t eat them unless they’re almost green. If I remember right, you had a pattern for a round table topper that I loved. I think it had flying geese around the edge. Loved the kitten story!
Never send a man to do an easy job, he’ll always do it wrong so you’ll never ask him to do it again. (sorry, Rick but it’s the truth).
I got all teary reading the Boo and Christmas story. Emmet knew how sad Boo was and sent Christmas to him. How lucky Christmas is to have found a furrever home with Mini and Boo. Thank you Mini for being so kind to animals.
So sorry about the Iowa State loss. It was a sad game. On the other hand, I’m over the moon about my Georgia Bulldawg’s win. We weren’t sure which Dawgs team would show up tonight. They really have played like two different teams this year. I’m just so happy that the right team showed up and played the hearts out!
Mary I have bananas just like those and will be making Banana Bread with them tomorrow!
I am sure glad you are doing well!
Love the Boo and Christmas story—animals continue to astonish us, don’t they? I’d laugh at your banana incident, but it hits too close to home (sigh).