Even with all my visits to Mayo I need a primary care doctor. I established one last summer but then he left the clinic so I had to get another one – Dr.Ellis. I told him about the blog and he said he wanted to read the blog about nothing so welcome, Dr. Ellis! We’re a tight knit group of old ladies who live similar lives. If you’re a reader who doesn’t bother to read the comments, you don’t know what you’re missing. The best conversation is not my post – it’s the comments!!
Reader photos
My work space
Remember Barbara who accepted and distributed all the quilts in North Carolina? She sent me her notebook – such meticulous records she kept which looks like nearly a full time job. Well done, Barbara!
After my doctor appointment today I drove to Mason City for a long anticipated pedicure. Imagine my extreme disappointment when I read the handwritten sign on the door: closed January 13 and 14. Dang. So I turned around and drove 30 minutes home.
I quilted this little scrap quilt late this afternoon. This is a “nothing” quilt and the machine worked perfectly. I quilted a piece last weekend that I was really attached to and wanted it to be perfect and of course the machine had issues. Why, oh why????
Those blue and white 9patch blocks are calling my name.
The football game is on in the background – what’s wrong with the Vikings????? I may have to leave the game to watch Netflix instead.
Are you ready to send me your Points of Interest photos? I’m ready to receive them in my email.
maryehazel2020@gmail.com
Welcome to the blog Dr Ellis. Your a special person to us. The quilts are really great. Sandy, I love the design and color usage in your string quilt. Vicky, your pink quilt is so cheerful. Mary, your cats are so sweet, and they line up for ‘me time’ with mom. Must be really hard to be one human to so many cats and two dogs. The amount of love mom must have to pass out in a day. Do the cats ever go to Rick for attention? It is cold and snowy here. We have a winter weather advisory through Wednesday morning. Next week will be much colder with Monday only reaching 7 degrees. Thankfully, only one day like that. Janice, Traverse City area
Mary, I’m sewing a red and white quilt and will have lots of leftover fabric. Is your Red And White Snowball quilt pattern still available for purchase from you? (Sorry for being “late to the party “ for the request.)
Connie – let me look before you send any money
Connie – don’t send any money. Here are the only two measurements you need.
Big squares cut 5 x 5
Connector squares – cut 1-1/2 x 1-1/2
Thank you!
Welcome to Dr. Ellis. We are happy Mary has you for a doctor. You will find this group caring, kind, and some of us are funny even if we don’t always mean to be! It is good to hear from Betty and Jo. Kathy in NY, there are Bills fans here, too. We had our garage door replaced and the wonderful young man told me about going to the Finger Lakes; he wondered if I had ever heard of them. 🙂 Then, he mentioned the Bills. He is a born and bred Ohioan yet cheers for the Bills:) I am a born and bred Western New Yorker. When Damar Hamlin was hurt, the Cincinnati hospital was awesome and the whole city cheered and cheered when he came back for his checkup.
QUESTION: for Mary and bloggers. Does anyone know the name of the Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day book that has the circular folded star hot pad pattern? I must not have that book b/c I can’t find it. Thank you:)
Good morning, The temperature here in SE South dakota was -9 with a wind chill of -21 went I went to work at 6:15 this morning (I drive school bus). We received 1/2″ of snow last night. We haven’t had hardly any snow this winter, everything is brown. We need the moisture so bad because our summer was also dry. I’m cutting out 5″ red and white blocks to make Country Threads pattern Red and White Snowball, using some of my many scraps! And not making dent in the scraps!! The quilt will be lovely when I’m done! Welcome to Dr Ellis, hope he enjoys us golden oldies with our chit chat!!
Prayer for you as you drive the school bus. What a blessing you are to the students.
I live in Arizona and I am very proud of the support our state gave to Los Angeles. Our son and his wife live in Pasadena. All though their home wasn’t in the fire path. (as of yet, more wind coming) they live downwind from Altadena ( Eaton Fire ) and had a lot of smoke and unhealthy air. They housed friends who had to evacuate. They have several friends whose homes burned to the ground.
And yes, the Vikings!!! We watched the whole sad game. We lived in St. Paul when the Vikings played their first game there so we are fans. Unless it is Green Bay. Growing up in Wisconsin, they are my first team.
LOVE love love the pink breast cancer quilt! Would Rita in Iowa be able to tell us the name of the pattern?Thank you.
Cynthia, I put that in the response below along with the quilt shop I bought it at. It just spoke to be and has the ribbon color for 26 different types of cancer and lap and wallhanging size. The shop is right along I35 so easy to get on and off the interstate in Missouri.
Welcome Dr. Ellis!
Jo from Wyoming welcome back!
The weather this morning is frightful! -11*
Jay found a hole on the outside of our house where the mice can get in! It is temporarily plugged for now and will be plugged permanently with foam when it warms up!
Love the kitties observing the goings on in the sewing room! Such pretty kitties!
I received a beautiful bouquet from our son and family for my birthday! I’ll send you a picture!
Mary, sorry you couldn’t get a pedicure! That would feel really good!
Stay warm everyone!
I just looked at the temperature here in SW Iowa. 1degree! It’s warmer in Alaska where I used to live.
Welcome to the Doc.
I got a quilt quilted on the long arm yesterday. One more out of the unquilted pile to put two pieced ones in. I will never get caught up!
USPS has been holding a pkg for me since Dec. 30. Really?! and another one is out there somewhere. I need the one for a mystery quilt that I am participating on line with. It started last Tuesday. So I am already behind!
Fran don’t believe those messages about holding a UPS package they are false. Ignore them.
Because I live in Minnesota, naturally, I have been a Viking fan since the 70’s. Trust me they have crashed and burned many times (4 trips to the super bowl and lost all of them). It’s probably better for them to get eliminated now rather than later. I still watched most of the game and was thrilled to see Arizona rolling out the red carpet for the Los Angeles fire department including giving them the proceeds from the game. When Arizona announced the game would be there, they sold 52,000 tickets in two hours. How’s that for support?
Take care everyone.
Janet – and I watched every one of the Super Bowl games, too. I just couldn’t believe what I was watching last night – so many silly mistakes. Reminds me of the U of Iowa when they get to a big game. They fall apart. Sigh.
Wasn’t fluffybun the cat that didn’t get along with the other cats? Also, did you tell Dr. Ellis about your “ice tea”? Haha
Dee – yes, FluffyBun has made great strides – even walking through the rest of the house – peacefully, too!! It has taken two years however and she still has a ways to go.
Welcome Dr. Ellis. You will find this a kind and caring blog. Perfect for a kind and caring physician.
I’m a day late as usual. Welcome Dr. Ellis. The blog about nothing is far from that. As you can see, it keeps us occupied and most of the time challenged. The string star quilt is just beautiful. So novel. I’ve been crocheting lap quilts the last couple of months. I’ll send a picture to Mary. I’ve been donating them to a local traumatic brain injury facility. A lot of the patients are in wheel chairs, and I try to make them to fit. They aren’t fancy. I use a linen stitch also known as a moss stitch. That stitch means they are dense and quite warm. I think a fancy or airier stitch might more easily get caught on the wheel chair structure. have a log cabin quilt upstairs ready to sew together, but just can’t get into it now. Maybe soon. Jo in Wyoming, tell us about your work with the women’s prison quilting.
Welcome Dr. Ellis, it’s very important that Mary remains in good hands, she has a lot to do. She keeps us all together. Sunflower your photo is stunning. Who wouldn’t want to have a backyard like that. Sandy your quilt is a labor of love and quite the stash buster. Mary looks like you’re in good company. If all the kitties were purring at the same time you would have quite the song. Your quilt turned out beautifully. It’s amazing what we can do with leftover pieces. Barbara you took lots of note on your donations and will have these to look back on and know there are so many good people that have helped. Good job well done.
As far as the breast quilt, I found the pattern at a quilt shop in MO on my way back from seeing my daughter in Texas. It just spoke to me. (Blue Top Quilt Shop, Lamar, Mo. The Ribbon Quilt, Everyday Stitches, Everydaystitches.com.
Kim’s cancer journey began last year in Feb. She first went through all the testing, then two sets of Chemotherapy. She had a double Mastectomy the end of September. She opted out of Radiation because there was no way of knowing if there was any cancer left as they couldn’t detect it with any tests or imaging. They said all the edges of the tissue they remove was clean but there could be very small cells remaining that they couldn’t detect. She would have had to wait another 7 months before reconstructive surgery. Kim is scheduled to have reconstructive surgery on Jan 27. They told her to expect the surgery to last 10 hours. Many prayers are needed. We will be going to Texas to support and help out where we can.
Thanks for all the comments and support you all give.
Rita in Iowa
By the way the fabrics were from my quilting buddy, sister and my stash. I did buy a breast cancer fabric for the back which I received yesterday from UPS.
Thank you Rita !
Welcome Dr. Ellis. I agree with Mary, the comments are like letters from old friends. Remember when we wrote letters instead of texts?
I watched the Rams play the Vikings until the end of the third quarter. I read that LA Rams had 40 buses of fans from LA there! What a following. Glad they won. My sweatshirt says, “I just want both teams to have fun” and that sums up most games for me.
Some beautiful quilts today, even Mary’s nothing quilt was stunning. The string quilt is a work of art. I agree it looks like an antique. The breast cancer quilt is outstanding.
Sunflower, your lake picture is beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Barbara, your collection for North Carolina was a labor of love. Thanks for letting us participate.
Stay warm, folks.
Thank You !!!
Welcome Dr. Ellis! Please do your best to keep Mary ticking. She is such a kind person. All the quilts today are wonderful. The Vikings just fell apart on all levels tonight – defensively and offensively. It was a terrible game. At least I got a new cross-stitch project underway. It’s been so dry here in SE WY. We really need some snow. Day temps have been in the 20s. Sunday it’s suppose to be a single digit high. I’ve read where kennel quilts are needed in CA. There are guidelines if anyone wants to participate. I’m sure the fur babies out there have been traumatized.
Martha!
In case you missed it, I LOVED YOUR CARD! When I took it out of the envelope I started laughing so loud, That tough little girl is me.
When I read your message I realized we are very like minded. I would love to chat more with you.
Love the String Star quilt! Welcome Dr. Ellis. My sew-jo is starting to wake-up. I haven’t really sewn much of anything in the three years since my older brother died. I made my three great grandsons fleece tied blankets with matching pillowcases for Christmas and have almost finished a quilt top.
We had some snow and ice here in upper SC on Friday and Saturday. On the North side of my house where the deck is, still a solid sheet of ice today-there’s no direct sun there at all. I had to go out the front door and walk around the house to get to my car for a Dr. appointment. Taking no chances with two artificial knees that are both over twenty years old. I saw the dermatologist and now have a large bandage on my right cheek due to two biopsies. I am scheduled for breast biopsies on Wednesday morning due to an abnormal mammogram with follow up more intense mammograms and ultrasounds.
We had a wonderful speaker with a marvelous trunk show of gorgeous quilts tonight. She has published two books and lots of patterns. She also designed a line of fabric but she said tonight the fabric is all gone (except maybe for what is in my stash!) Her website is Butterfly Threads-if you get a chance, take a look!
I have followed Diane at Butterfly Threads for a number of years. I enjoy her blog, but it is pretty sporadic these days. She does have some nice patterns. It’s nice to see her happily remarried … travelling and having fun.
Thank you Debbie for liking my string stars! I forgot to put the little sandy in New Zealand paper on the q when l photographed it! Still plenty more scraps to play with! I liked Mary’s strips and squares too.Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Debbie, keep the faith and positive thoughts that all will be good with your upcoming tests and procedures. We’ll be here when you want to share how you are doing. And no falling on those icy walks. Stay safe.
I bought one of her quilts because I liked the raspberry colored border.. She is talented in her use of color. I don’t know if the pattern is still published. I could not find it on her web site. 60″x83″ called One Way Ticket. Richly colored 1-1/2″ squares. I believe she made it in 2014.
Wow, another great eye-candy post. Welcome Dr.Ellis, can you keep our Mary alive and well for maybe 50-100 years?
Sunflower, thank your husband for that gorgeous photo. I miss Michigan but not the cold.
Rita, love your breast cancer quilt. Beautiful!
JB is looking great and it’s so good to see the elusive Fluffybun.
I thought my cards had come to an end, you can’t begin to imagine how thrilled I was today to find 3 cards in my mailbox! Big thanks to:
Sue in Indiana
Kim in Wisconsin
Both beautiful with lovely messages, and
Martha in Wyoming. I burst into laughter at your card, so very funny! Your personal message really resonated with me. I agree with you 100%
With help from Mary and Visa, I will soon be able to join in the card sending! I’m so excited to be able to pay it forward!
I don’t know what happened to the Vikings either. I couldn’t be for the Rams because I’m a 49ers fan. Now I want the Bills to go to the Super Bowl.
Welcome Dr. Ellis. Please take good care of Mary.
Great pictures today.
Charlotte- thanks for your support for our Bills. They have a very devoted fan base in this part of the country. When Buffalo suffered the supermarket shooting, their team was right there to provide and serve food to community and first responders. The sportscaster on our local news last night said not for verbatim “ and here’s Josh Allen being his down to earth self at an interview “. He always gives credit to his team mates – not himself. A very humble man. I don’t know how many new readers know but Jo in Wyoming’s son was a college roommate to Josh Allen.
Kathy – I didn’t know that!!!
Mary, she mentioned it years ago here so she might chime in with her thoughts on what a kind person he was.
Welcome Dr. Ellis. The star string quilt is quite stunning.
Sunflower what a beautiful picture and nice to have a skating rink in your backyard.
Welcome Dr. Ellis! Please be a good doctor to Mary. I love the pictures today. The pink cancer awareness quilt is beautiful! Hugs,
Dr. Ellis’s brother Heath is a friend here in Pleasant Hill IA. If he’s as kind and caring as his brother, you’re in good hands Mary.
Myrna Eisenlauer
Hi Dr. Ellis! Glad to have you here.
Barbara in NC – do you need more quilts?
Weather here in north Phoenix has been cold and windy. (I won’t mention temperatures because I will get mocked by those in truly cold areas.)
Welcome to Dr Ellis. This blog will give you insight into the lives of older women.
Christine, are you going to Quiltcon next month in Phoenix? I will be there -arriving late Thursday and staying through Sunday. Would love to meet other blog readers. rjoehnk5@aol.com
I forgot about Quiltcon! I’m planning to go to Road to CA next week (and hoping no new fires start near Ontario). I’ll put Quiltcon on my calendar.
Christine is AZ I will not mock you…our thermometer said -11* this morning! Sure am happy I don’t need to go anywhere today!
Oh my – now that’s COLD! Glad you can stay inside!
Boy, howdy! My daughter and her husband moved to Duluth last summer so he can go to grad school. I looked online and found that Duluth is the 5th coldest city on the country. Talked to my daughter yesterday and told her we’re getting another Arctic cold front with wind chills up to -15—she doesn’t want to hear it. She’s a nurse in a hospital built facing Lake Superior—talk about wind chills ! 😵💫
Hi Christine, I still have a few quilts that are being passed out as I hear about a need. So I’m good right now but thanks for offering. Just took care of a homeless lady and her dog who has been living in an Earthfare ‘s employee insulated shed in his backyard. Earthfare provided dogfood for her pet and we took care of her with blankets. a quilt, hat, gloves and a scarf. She has nowhere to go or any family. So many still like her! So sad.
Christine, scroll down. I sent you a reply to your question about quilts but it posted down in the comments.
Christine in AZ, scroll down for my reply.
Mary, I like your “nothing quilt,” but I know what you mean. Whenever I want a quilt to turn out as close to perfect as possible (and I mean the piecing as well as the quilting) I make mistakes that I have never made before!
The string star quilt with the black backgrounds and the red looks almost like an antique! I can picture it in someone’s attic and want to say congrats to the maker (name upside-down in their photo). It is a stunner and I may want to try one that is somewhat like it..
Thanks Elizabeth!
Welcome Dr.Ellis. Mary is a very special person, so please…keep her going strong for many years to come.
We’re so glad you got a good checkup. Good news is always welcome.
Welcome back, Jo. Several people have wondered about you. What have you been up to? Are you still doing quilting with the jail inmates?
welcome Dr. Ellis. Who knows you may decide to give quilting a try. My cousin who was a dentist turned to quilting when health issues removed him from his dental career and his airplane he tried some different things finally settling on quilting. Applique designs seemed to be his forte. Just saying……..
Hi Mary.
Can you please direct me to where I learn how to send you a photo? Yours is one of the few blogs that my comments will post, so I’m hoping I can send a photo. My paternal grandfather was a Salvation Army Officer, a fruit grower and a carpenter, so he was also a funeral director in his country town. He had a double garage on his property: one car, one hearse, and his workshop for carpentry plus a fridge. I have a tall skinny set of drawers in my sewing room, two fat quarters wide, with special memories.
Pauline in South Australia
I can help you! Photos need to be emailed directly to Mary. Her email address is near the top of the blog, right beneath her mailing address.
Pauline – do you know how to click on the arrow and then specify where to send that particular photo? Do that and use my email address.
Pauline, after you take the photo (with your phone) that you want to send, write an email on your phone to Mary’s email address shown on the blog, then “attach” it to your email by tapping the “paperclip” symbol at the top of your email screen,. Wait for the photo to appear in the body of your email letter. Clheck to see if it is what you want. Then send off the email to Mary.
RuthW – great instructions! Thank you!!
Welcome to Dr Ellis, keep our Mary going, we love her and the blog about nothing. I really enjoyed seeing the string quilt that Sandy did, and the label is wonderful. I have never seen a string quilt laid out that way and the 4 patches are a perfect sashing. I watched enough football this weekend, took a pass on the Viking game. My husband is watching it and giving me updates, lol. I have busy cutting out some small tumblers to take to a sit n sew this week, hope to get a nice runner done. So many remnants, so little time. Its suppose to warm up on Wednesday.
The outside picture is from my deck overlooking Long Lake in Lake Orion, Michigan. We have colorful lights in our backyard as you can see. To the right is a lighted skating and hockey rink made by my son and his friends. Beautiful photo by my husband.
Thanks for posting the photo, Mary.
The star quilt with the black background is outstanding! And Rita, your quilt is beautiful. I like your sewing helpers, Mary. Biscuit will sit in my needlepoint chair in my sewing room but he’s not interested in the sewing machine thank goodness!
Your little scrap quilt is a nice pattern, too. Barbara, wow, you really did a fabulous job on your quilt collection and distribution. You are a generous person and I was happy to participate.
The Vikings are not playing well, you’re right about that. Take care everyone. 🌻
Thank you Sunflower. MANY walked away thrilled with their quilts etc. Just gave my church back a small box of their contributions that were left over and they were immediately sent out to another area in need. Still people sleeping in tents in Asheville. So sad.
Welcome to Dr. Ellis! We are counting on you to take good care of our Mary please! She means a lot to many of us!
I have grandsons in MN that are going to be very disappointed at how poorly the Vikes are playing. I agree with you, what is wrong with them?
Well you had a day full of being out and about. Love the kitties waiting patiently for you to sit down and sew.
My big excitement today was finding eggs at Wegmans grocery store here for $3 a dozen.
Welcome to Dr Ellis. You’re in for a treat listening to us chatter from all over the world.