I’m sure many of you customers and blog readers remember Dakota, a beagle owned by Heidi Anderson, daughter of my cousins Chuck and Tonya. At the age of 13 Heidi developed Wilms Tumor, a type of kidney cancer. (I hope I’m getting my facts and dates relatively accurate!). Heidi got a beagle puppy and named her Dakota.
Heidi received treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX and spent lots of time there. The North Iowa community all wanted to help the Anderson family and I knew I could help by keeping Dakota which was something most people couldn’t or wouldn’t do.
So Dakota spent quite a lot of time here at Country Threads, in our home and in the quilt shop as well. She became “our dog” when she stayed here with us and our dogs Carly and Maggie.
Well, Dakota would have been 16 years old yesterday but she died last week – Heidi died at age 16 and so did her dog. I went to see her one last time last week – such a sweet dog.
I have searched for hours for all the photos I have of her. I finally found a few on my computer – most were lost when my computer crashed years ago. I found several and was so thrilled to find them but of course tonight when I was going to write this post, I couldn’t lay my hands on them. Makes me so mad. When I stumble across them I’ll post them.
Sorry for another dog story. I promise quilts are coming your way. I quilted this Farmer’s Daughter for Connie tonight – we’ll have it on the blog soon.
This is a baby quilt I’m giving to a couple at church and this is the way I wrap gift quilts.
Here are the Dirty Dozen quilts:
Sam and the kids and Ivy came out this afternoon – here’s Ivy and Hazel in the playhouse and Hazel digging under the big tire. She must have smelled something under there!
It’s been a long day – I will say Goodnight!
I think too many ads sometimes- not here necessarily but a colon cleansing ad??!!?
I can see sewing and quilting and clothing ads- come on google- you can do better ads than I have been seeing lately and not so many of them.
Rhoda – and I have no control over what ads are shown – I’m sorry! I just have to pay the expenses of keeping this blog going – somehow.
So nice all pictures. I much like. I am so happy too.
I love your dog stories and all the beautiful quilts. I really like your idea of wrapping your gift quilts. I hope I can remember it.
thanks for posting my dirty dozen even if i forgot to put my name on it. it’s the fourth one down. going to my charity group and will make some child happy. i’m planning to put cats on the back also.
lovely finishes on the others also.
dog stories are good. we know you love dogs.
take care, patti in florida
Great finishes everyone! All my stuff is packed up as we are now installing the walls (sheet rock) on the back porch, which is my sewing room. I am so excited. We had the vinyl siding put on last month. Love the furbabies pictures Mary.
My sister’s “OOPS BABY” is growing like a weed. He is almost 2 months old now. Can’t remember of I sent you a picture or not. Been so busy around here and also, my African Grey Birds had babies a week ago now, so we are busy with them and making sure mama is feeding them good.
Have a great week all.
Brenda in SC – OMG! They had babies? Send us a picture! And I’ll bet that Oops baby is so special – no picture of him yet. And your new sewing room – won’t it be fun to set up and organize? We’ll need pictures of that, too, when you’re done!
My condolences to you, and Chuck and Tonya, on the passing of Dakota.
I love all the dog stories and pictures!! Quilts are beautiful!
The quilt Patti made for charity sure will brighten a child up. Very cute. And I am happy a new baby in your church family gets a quilt from you !
I can’t remember if Sam is a teacher or home schools her children? Either way, I pray once more for good health for all with choices ahead. Just as we set up our sewing rooms just so, I know families are finding places to set up for learning from home. I still love seeing a mug full of sharpened colored pencils sitting out wherever.
Kathy in western NY – Sam is a teacher in a Christian school near us – hard to know how the school year will go this year!
thanks kathy. i let the fabric age for an appropriate amount of time. 2002 from Alexander Henry.
Fabric is like wine, it MUST age properly!
i love your dog stories and pictures. and your farm stories. i grew up on a farm and my brother now lives there and farms the land. my mother and grandfather were born on that land so our roots are deep. i think your mix of topics with pictures and stories are perfect! they are all the things i love to see.
my mother is 92 years old and sometimes i forward your emails when they are full of farm or dog stories. she loves them!
Our Hannes turned sixteen years old on Saturday. I love the photos of Dakota, he lived a good, long life. Don’t apologize for dog posts, we love them. That Farmer’s Daughter is just lovely!
I love animal stories! Doesn’t hurt that we are beagle people! To the lady complaining about ads…go get a life! The ads keep this blog going!
Love all the animal and their “people” stories. Especially with pictures! Keep them coming! I really like how you package your gifts. I will be doing this going forward. Have a blessed day.
Animals and quilts! Nothing better!
I am so sorry to hear about Heidi and Dakota 😥 My husband and I had a wonderful Beagle named Emily who was 16 1/2 years old when she passed. I am thankful for her long life but it is never enough time. It’s still a hard loss 💔💔
I love dog stories and pics as much as I love quilt stories and pics! The pic of Ivy and Hazel in the play house is very sweet. They look so happy to be together.
I like how you wrap your gift quilts. I’ll have to try that, too.
Take care dear friend!
Donna
I love reading your messages on e-mails every day. Love the pictures of all of the quilts and doggies. Thank you for sharing a part of your life and thank goodness for quilting inspiration. Have a great day.
Lorraine
I love all your stories!! It is so nice of you to share your life with us-both the quilting and the everyday stuff! You are an inspiration to me to get out there and do more! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for sharing your slice of life… Full with dogs, people and quilts. Love it! I too wrap my quilts like that. My thinking is you can’t find wrapping paper as pretty as a quilt. Hope you have a good day!
I love the red/cream quilt. I am always drawn to any red quilts, but I love that pattern. I am happy to click on as many ads as show up on your blog. I usually don’t even pay attention to what is being advertised!
Thank you Mary for giving George such a good start. We are spoiling him more each day.
Thanks also to all those who commented on our adoption. We are enjoying him more each day.
Joan from Clear Lake – your comment posted! Fantastic! I’m so glad!
I think Heidi and Dakota have reconnected in a great place.
Jo in Wyoming – Heidi was waiting with open arms to welcome Dakota, don’t you think?
Don’t feel bad about your feelings, especially for animals. No, they just aren’t animals. They are our very best, truest friends. God gave me a stray cat in 1965. I sure didn’t ask for her, but I named her Festus because she was the scraggly image of Festus Hagen on Gunsmoke, with a pure heart of gold. We didn’t have any money and she ate noodles and broth along with us, never complaining. When she was 14 1/2 she had a stroke. She died 1 1/2 years later at age 16 in 1981, and I’m all teared up just writing this. She was truly the dearest friend I ever had and I’ll never forget her.
Betty, I love your kitty story. Thanks.
Betty – ah, what a sweet story about Festus! Do you have a cat now? If not, you should!
Like the others who commented, why we read your blog is pretty much for all the things you share with us. Don’t ever apologize for caring about an animal. They have a way of endearing themselves into our lives. It would be a much better world if all people felt like you do about pets and took care of them accordingly! On another topic – does anyone know what pattern the Santa Claus wall hanging dirty dozen finish is? I just love, love, love it!!!
Keep all the news coming Mary. I love your blog.
Hi, Mary how sad to lose a child that young. But now we know that she has her favorite pet with her, my sympathy to Dakota and Heidy’s parents. Dakota lived a long life and now she can stay forever with Heidy. So many DD projects, but I am reading. Have a nice week end.