Our shipment of A Country’s Call will be here soon and we are including a free pattern with every book order.
https://www.country-threads-chicken-scratch.com
This is 100 Wishes – the pattern you’ll receive free with your book order.
Our new autographed book is available for $33.00 sent to Country Threads.
I am going to gather my fabrics for the cover quilt so I’ll be ready! I’m almost done with HIPS so I’ll be ready to start another project – oh, wait, I haven’t started working on #7 yet! Yikes! First things first.
100 Wishes has the sweetest story about making this quilt for a wedding gift, a baby shower – any special occasion where people gather to wish someone well. It can be made with charms and muslin or yardage. I’m going to sort my charms first – this is another small quilt I want to start!
We are in for several days of rain and then a severe drop in temps. I was so worried about the tribe but yesterday when I did chores Mama Hen had moved them into the baby chicken pen with the heat lamp! All I had to do was close the door! Is that a God “thing” or what? I enjoyed seeing them up close and will be able to get nice pictures now. Here’s the first one – which I will improve on as they get used to me.
Can’t wait for Reed to see them up close and Becky will want to see them, too.
I’m going to catch up in the house today and then sew. Calico beans are in the crock pot for supper – Rick’s favorite. Oh and by the way – Connie L. sent the name of a good book and I realized I had forgotten to ask you for your good books in October so send them now.
Happy Rainy Day if you live in the Midwest!
Wow, Mary, you are so sweet to include a free pattern – and I love it! – along with a book full of patterns I also love! Can hardly wait! Thank you!
Thank you for the pattern. I am sure I will want to cut that out too as soon as I receive it.
Calico beans is my husband’s favorite too.
I have a wedding on Friday at Okoboji. Hope it does not snow and rain!
Outdoor band contest in Ft. Dodge on Saturday! I don’t do cold and dry damp very well! I don’t even care to go to Mother Nature’s tonight! It is wet and cold. MK: Hope you have something interesting for Guíld on Monday night
I was able to close 6 ads for you this morning. Yay! Looking forward to Quilt Festival the end of the month. I sure hope the Astro’s send Tampa home tonight. Don’t need a slaughter (like St. Louis) or extra innings (like Washington), just a win. Fingers crossed. Have a great day.
Will be raining here too in MA the next few days. I just love the 100 Wishes quilt! I will be ordering the book as soon as finances allow. Been decorating for fall. Fun going out picking rose hips – I found green ones! So pretty, bluish green. I picked some nice bittersweet too. I was almost ready to clip some gorgeous white berry clusters that were wrapped with bittersweet and then I realized they were poison ivy berries! Wow, I am so glad I didn’t clip those! Beware of pretty clusters of white berries! The birds must eat them because this is the first time I’ve noticed them and I’ve been gathering rose hips and bittersweet for years. Just love the fact that momma hen was smart enough to bring those babies inside where the warm heat lamp is. Enjoy your sewing! Jan in MA
There must be some instincts to move in with the babies (yes, a God thing in my book!) that she moved in in advance of the drop in temperatures.
Our weather did a quick shift late yesterday afternoon. We started with crazy wind, then hail, then thundersnow. I woke up this morning with snow everywhere and it has continued all morning. I think by the weekend we will be back up in the 70’s, but before that, we get to have a low of 15 tonight. The vet gave me a bootie to put on Akira’s bandaged foot to keep it dry–an IV bag with a strip of gauze to hold it on her foot. She actually did quite well with it when I had her out earlier, though it was pretty slick for her on the snow-covered concrete patio.
Thank you for including the additional pattern with our books. I’m so excited to have it in my hands. The cover is absolutely gorgeous!!
I am totally agreeing with Judi L. about looking forward to Quilt Festival and to an Astro win! I LOVE the little wishes quilt and its story. What a fun project that will be! Also, can’t wait for great new book recommendations! What a great month October is! Stay warm and hunker down for those cold winds though.
Watched the Astros the other night – but they lost. Hoping for the best in games to come! Your books will also soon be on the way to you, Tanya! Readers – this Tanya is the one who writes the stories of the Civil War women for the last 2 books – we are indebted to her and I know you make the connection between us. She has so much historical knowledge, she makes my head spin! Thank you so much, Tanya, for your expertise!
Thanks so much for the free pattern! Eagerly awaiting it and the book! Yes, God gives critters the sense to look out for themselves, and especially their babies. Glad the tribe is safe and warm!
What are calico beans, sound really good. I can’t wait for the new book & thank you so much for the free pattern, nice of you!
October book list
James Patterson – The First Lady
Elin Hilderbrand – Summer of ‘69
Your free pattern photo gave me the push I needed to write my check and get it in the mail. It is just darling and colorful.
That mama chicken is one smart cookie. She knows winter is coming. It is much chillier here on the Or coast right now. A very bitter wind blew in but the days are still sunny but now very warm.
I just finished An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor and before that, I read Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown. Both very enjoyable.
Anonymous is me…Sue in Oregon. Don’t quite know how that happened.
The gifted pattern will be perfect to share with my inmates. They have LOTS of scraps and I took them 8 yards of white this week. This group is getting really good at HST. They gave a quilt to an auction last week, fund raising for our senior center…it went over $100.00! Considering how small their sewing machines are, quilting is rather difficult, so they tie. Piecing, they do a great job.
Now they are working on a project for a kitchen worker with cancer..they want her to be comfy while getting chemo. They are great girls that made huge mistakes.
I love those chickens
I’m glad you clarified that your inmates are indeed, inmates. You have a very kind heart to teach them how to sew and make a quilt. What is your job at the prison?
Glad the mother put the babies in the pen for warmth. Thanking you and Connie in advance
for the free pattern coming with my book order. The quilt is perfect as a gift for a baby
shower. When you have cold weather, I know we’ll have it in western PA in a day or two.
You are more accurate than the TV weather people!
Love the free pattern quilt! Been busy buttoning up for the impending cold too. Ugh, I hate winter.
What a comfort that mama knew what was weighing on your mind! I smiled yesterday when I was in an Amish quilt shop here in Ohio and saw your previous book on their shelf. So glad I have it and can’t wait to read your new one soon too when it arrives. Thanks for the special present for us. We are heading back home soon and I have Susan Ache’s newest book to read while co-piloting. And holding one dog on my lap too cause he likes looking out. Riding up higher in the motor home allows me to see how many people ignore laws and talk on their cell phones up to their faces and ears so it’s better I keep my head in a book and not fume over their ignorance to not wait till they can pull over in a spot.
Just finished the Winemaker’s Wife. Excellent!!
Just finished the Winemaker’s Wife. Excellent!!!
Beneath the Scarlett Sky
Harry’s Trees
I’m interested to know what calico beans are too,we have 2 women here in Wellington New Zealand who have been awarded queen’s service medals for teaching quilting at our woman’s prison for 20 years,they do a great job!
I’ve made the 100 Wishes quilt and hang it every spring! It’s just so cheerful. We had snow in eastern Oregon on Wednesday following really high winds. It’s gone except in the Blue mountains and is a beautiful, albeit chilly, sunshiny day. Looking forward to receipt of your new book. I received two quilt magazines in the mail today. Yay! Will take them with me tomorrow to read while waiting for my hubby to have a procedure done at the hospital. Should fix up some handwork to take along.
Good book — “Calico Joe” by John Grisham
“Camino Island” by John Grisham
Apparently I’m on Grisham kick! Lol!!!
The Prayer Box – Wingate
The Winemaker’s Wife – Harmel
The Me I Used to Be – Ryan
The Lake House – Morton
These 4 books were so good I couldn’t pick a favorite!
Mycroft Holmes Kareem Abdul Jabar & Anna Waterhouse *Who knew Jabar was an author & a good
Mycroft & Sherlock Kareem Abdul Jabar & Anna Waterhouse one, at that?
The Enchantment of Bees Rachel Linden
The Yankee Widow Linda Lael Miller
The Secret Orphan Glynis Peters
The Most Fun We Ever Had Claire Lombardo
Home For Erring and Outcast Girls Julie Kibler
I’m not sure what the title of Jabar’s book is? Help?
Hi Mary, clarification on the two titles mentioned above as follow:
‘Mycroft Holmes’ by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse
‘Mycroft and Sherlock’ by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse
His newest book that just came out in September is called:
‘Mycroft and Sherlock: The Empty Birdcage’ by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse
Look forward to receiving my book & now a free pattern too. Thank you Mary!
I too wonder about the calico beans, haven’t heard of them . Will have to look for them next time in Ft Worth & real grocery store. Haven’t meet a bean I didn’t like. Cooked Charro beans last week and so enjoyed ( pinto beans Mexican style).
Friday & Saturday supposed to have cool weather & a pot of beans & cornbread sounds just about right .
Have gotten 2 more blocks of # 7 done..3 of 16…not holding my breathe will finish by the end of month…eye surgery Monday & won’t get any sewing done for several days after..that is my excuse anyway.
I am in KS – Marion has a cute quilt shop called “Sew What” and a shop in Cottonwood Falls called “Calico
Rose”.
We are staying at the restored Elgin Hotel in Marion, KS and it is a fabulous Victorian vintage hotel.
Am so excited to read your book.
Stay warm. It is only 45 here.
Thank you, Mary for sending us an extra patter. Neat.
Now that the weather is changing, I’d love to know where people are from.
I just read, THE GLORY CLOAK about Clara Barton and Louis May Alcott. Oh shoot, forgot the author. Will look it up and send it. Duh🤪🤪
Someone else listed the author – I got it! Thanks!
Thank you so much for the fun bonus pattern/gift! I can’t wait to get it and the beautiful book! Friday afternoon will be covering plants & moving the ones I can–my mother henning!!
I have a question for all of more experienced quilters. I started handquilting a quilt this summer, but I had to switch to embroidery projects for portability & family events. Now my right hand’s thumb, index & middle fingers are numb & tingling. How do you prevent this????
Do Less!!
While working on a project, stretch out your working hand every five minutes. Rub the muscles of that hand. Do other activities that require use of the whole hand, not just a few fingers. Pace yourself. Don’t be in a hurry to finish the handquilting or the embroidery because that will really hurt your hand and finger muscles and it will take much longer for your hand to recover. Soak your hand in Epsom salts (or table salt) and really warm water for 10 minutes two or three times a day. Don’t forget that your elbow might need some rest too. Stretch out your whole arm while flexing your fingers.
The goal is to keep the use of your fingers and hand, while enjoying the handwork.
Ruth, TY for your advice & I apologize for not answering sooner. Friday was a day filled with many other activities and very few minutes of needlework. Roseann Meehan Kermes shared a past FB posting with stretches for quilters from healthyquilting.com. Building up an inventory of projects for retirement (probably not a sound investment stategy!), has created my sense of eagerness! You are so right to pace myself!
Only 3 ads to close for me tonight.
Could y’all send some rain to middle TN? We’re in a drought & it’s getting worse. We’ve had a couple of beautiful days & cool nights — perfect weather in my opinion but that’s all going to change very soon. They’re saying we MAY get our first frost overnight Saturday! Way too early for our part of TN, I think. We might get some rain Monday but so far whenever they predict rain we get either zero or too little to penetrate the dry, dry, ground. So sad! I also hate that it’s getting dark so early! Our sunset this evening was at 6:11pm CST. Sunrise is too late too — 6:42am today! Ugh!
Chickens are so smart! I’ve got to get your book ordered soon…………after payday later this month, I guess.
Oh, and not everyone included the author of the books they recommended. That helps a lot. Thanks!
Jan – I sure wish we could send some rain your way – we don’t want any more of it!
Patricia O’Brien wrote THE GLORY CLOAK.
I love seeing Mama and the tribe😃
Thanks so much for the pattern that will come with the book I ordered! I’m over the top excited to see this book! I’ve heard of calico beans, but I’ve never eaten them. They must be good!
I am so excited to get your new book, and the free pattern is really special! I can’t wait to plan one. Thank you, it is a real treat!
Mama hen is so smart, she knew just what to do. Will look forward to more pictures.
Tanya in Houston, I really enjoy reading about the women of the civil war – the book is so beautiful and your stories of these women really make it so interesting! Thank you for your contribution!
My order for the new book is going in the mail tomorrow. Thank you so much for including the free pattern with the book. Love the Mama hen and her chicks, it’s great to watch them and there movements, so smart to get those babies undercover. Just read the Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs, very good and fast reading.
God has been taking care of chickens for a lot of years. Instinct is such a wonderful thing.
It is 24 degrees right now. All the outside flowers, etc. bit the dust last night. We had rain, snow and WIND last night into today but just got about 5″ snow here in Rapid. I think that is all for us, but it is still snowing heavily all around us. North Dakota is going to get it bad now with lots more snow and wind. And into the middle of South Dakota, too. My neighbor shoveled the drift behind my garage door this morning. This afternoon I shoveled for about 2 hours. There is still a stretch of walk that will wait til tomorrow. I take small bites of snow, don’t push it and go inside when I get cold, tired, hungry. The moisture in the snow put Rapid City over the top of moisture for about 130 years of records and we still have 2 1/2 months to go. No wonder everything was so green. The good part of the snow is the ground is still warm so the snow will settle and melt very fast. It isn’t like snow in Iowa where it snows in October and is still there come May????? The storm hitting Denver is a different one than we got.
Yes, we are waiting for the new book and pattern. It will keep us all happy spending time indoors this winter.
Betty, I thought of you last night when we watched the weather! Rick’s boy, Eric, lives in Greenbush, MN, north of Fargo and they’re expecting quite a lot of snow. I’m not sure we’ll get a measurable amount but you’re, right, if we do it will be here next April! Yup, there go the flowers! Now to put all the pots away so Rick can move snow without running into or over them. My little chicks are so busy in their pen – quite a difference from 2 acres! Love what you said about God taking care of chickens for years!
Mary,
I closed several ads tonight, I never count them, if I did, I wouldn’t remember after I read all the other comments. Are calico beans the same as pinto beans? I’m going to look forward to your answer to the bean dilemma.
Marsha Ivers
I make most of my baby quilts with charm packs.
I’ve made Calico Beans in the past with bacon and it was always a hit. Thanks for reminding me of that one. I need to make it again. Thank you for the free pattern. I, too, am enjoying the baseball playoffs.
Love the free pattern and thank you!! Will send my book money at end of month as I want to receive it at my Florida address. We plan to leave 1st of Nov. and we are there for 6 months. Can’t take Mi. winters anymore!! Closing ads everyday and I so enjoy your blog.
I’m going to see how to make calico beans. I’d love to find something my husband likes. So impressed about your mama hen. They are a lot smarter than are given credit for. Looking forward to hearing what sex the little chicks are. Beautiful day here in Carroll Valley, great for yard sailing.