Harvest is in full swing in North Iowa but this is the view to the northwest – showers are moving in which will put a stop to harvesting.
Got some fun quilt pictures from readers. These are from Diane McGregor, Squeak’s mom.
And this from Gloria — a clever attic window using a panel.
Yesterday at the thrift store I ran into several friends. Don Barkema, Cheryl’s husband, was keeping Fall alive with pumpkins and mums for his house. After Cheryl’s death I wondered if her most beloved season would be observed and I’m happy to say YES!
And I met a new friend – Journey Hansen – Dann and Diane’s new golden doodle puppy. They lost Marty last summer and now Journey has arrived at their home to mend their hearts.
And the highlight of my week was walking Reed’s chickens, Debbie and Delores. Vera is in love with the chickens and simply could not stand still while we put the harnesses on. You’ll love this!
And June joined us outside, too – she can stand by herself and will soon be walking at only 10-1/2 months. She’s got Vera, Myra, Reed and Nolan to keep up with and she will!
After the walk we moved Debbie and Delores to my place for the winter since I have heat in the barn and they’ll be able to make lots of new friends. They will be the only Rhode Island hens that I have so we’ll be able to pick them out and move them back to Reed’s house next spring. He can take care of them here this winter.
And one last mention – this is what I’m watching while I sew. It’s very good – it won lots of awards and I’m wondering if anyone else has watched it. It’s a huge mystery as to what’s happening and I’m only in episode 3.
Love the photos of the Reed and his siblings walking with the chickens wearing harnesses. I’ve never seen this before and it made my day.
Made me smile! I never heard of walking chickens with harnesses. Many years ago, my sister and I each had a special hen in my mother’s flock. We used to sit and cuddle them. My mother showed us how to hyptonize a chicken with a piece of straw. (Gently lay her on her side, and point a piece of straw at her eye, so she’s focused on the straw.) It sounds mean, but it only lasts a minute or so, and then they shake themselves and get up.
Walking hens who knew you where talking about with a leash ….. the thought that came to my mind was opening the gate and letting them out.
My next thought (after gathering myself together) why do you need a leash don’t the hens just follow you such as ducks ?
We have wild turkeys and there is no figuring them out they are crazy maybe crazy smart
Colleen in Northern California
Where it is totally smokey like you are at a camp fire and no matter where you are the smoke is in your eyes. The sun looks like a sunset (hazy red) all day
We have never had fires like this. Suburbs of houses burned to the ground hotels gone
2 hospitals evacuated…..think of a big city that has a hospital and hotels and houses and imagine a section of it just burned to the ground ( the hospitals did not burn but a Hilton did as well as at least another)
This is not just a fire in California it is history making
At one time (it ah they (14-17 fires) started Sunday night so not much time really) 600 people were missing that number has dropped but imagine the family’s and friends of 600 people not knowing
Pretty quilts – I love the barn in the window! Beautiful work. The chicken one too – really nice quilts. The kids with the chickens – so cute! Love the look on the hens face being picked up, too funny. I am so jealous that you have heat in the barn! Is it solar? Tell me more about that please!
Jan, in Topsfield, MA where the Topsfield Fair has just ended – no more traffic! Yay! Had our first frost of the season last night. Luckily the tomatoes were spared. Still getting lots of red ones.
You are amazing. Reed is such a lucky young man to be taught and nurtured by you. You inspire me.
Oh I love this installment! Everything looked so beautiful and fallish. I love the new puppy and the hens.
I loved big little lies. It made me think about the dynamics of relationships for quite a while. I’ve loved following your blog for a very long time and this is the first time I’ve actually commented. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Kathy G – I finished BLL tonite – wow! I loved it!
OMGosh Mary. My husband is grinning from ear to ear at the chickens on leashes. He had 37,000 on his farm as a kid; they didn’t walk them on leashes–lol. He said they will love your heated barn. Those neighbor kids are so cute. Obviously, “above average” as Garrison Keillor would say:) Thanks for sharing my quilts–yikes more chickens. That little Golden doodle is adorable. Our grandkids have a black miniature labradoodle. They are small, but so cute and smart. Have you seen one? I didn’t know they existed.
Oh, my goodness! I just chuckled at the pic’s of the kids harnessing up the chickens and taking them for a walk. I needed a little levity today – at least I have power and internet, unlike so many of my friends in Sonoma County (No. Calif) who have had to evacuate and so many more who have lost everything. It’s total devastation. My sister lives in Occidental and she is okay, but many of my friends are staying with relatives in Petaluma and camping out at state parks near the coast. There are hundreds of people in shelters, and many shelters allow you to bring your animals. I don’t know what’s going to happen to all the people who have nothing to go back to – hoping FEMA will bring trailers or some sort of temporary shelter. But back to the pictures, thank you for the adorable pic’s of the kids walking the chickens and of the golden doodle puppy! Diane M
Diane Matthews – what we are seeing on the news from CA is horrific. I don’t know how everyone who has been affected by hurricanes or fires can possibly recover. Where will they live? Go to work? Go to school? I feel bad for all of them.
FEMA is here in Northern California where people will live is up in the air because we have been told the FEMA trailers are in use in other parts of the country (as those hurricanes and floods, etc) had disasters already and there are just not enough trailers to go around . Some air b&b homes are being donated for short periods of time. Some families are camping ⛺️ but our winter (rainy season) is starting now and it does get cold here (not as cold as your place )
It’s interesting that there is quite a bit of livestock that has been saved and displaced also our local fair grounds are being used to house cattle and horses and sheep and chickens and goats and ducks and rabbits and domesticated birds of all types. There are round the clock volunteers tending to them and requests for feed for now and when the pasture fed animals return feed to keep them while the grass lands grow.
It is beyond belief that homes in subdivisions where lost to fires these were not homes next to and intertwined with forests and a Hilton hotel. 2 hospitals were evacuated but neither were damaged
The fires are now contained but services such as water, electricity are in the process of being restored. Schools far from the fires were canceled due to smoke as were sports activities.
A huge area has been effected by the fires and the smoke and the areas not effected by the fires are working to collect money to help the fire victims firefighters have lost their homes as well as city workers Teacher’s we don’t know how or where these people will live during the rebyof their homes some have lost everything others do have jobs if they can get housing.
It sounds impossible to rebound from such loss. I’m glad it doesn’t get cold there – all those poor people! Thank you, Colleen, for giving us a better picture.
I like many who posted, think the harnessed chicks are a hoot. I am a big fan of Lianne Moriarty as an author. I have read many of her books, including Big Little Lies. I am currently reading My Name Is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliverira. The story is about Mary Sumter who is a midwife at start of the Civil War. She is determined to become a surgeon against all odds.
Susan – I feel really stupid because I’m reading a great book this week and I felt like I was getting Big Little Lies mixed up with the book. Lo and Behold – the book is by Leanne Moriarty — “Truly Madly Guilty” and I had not noticed she is the author of BLL. A great book! I finished BLL tonite, too – it was very good!
So glad you like this author, Mary.
Loved dirty little lies bing watched the whole show in one sitting great cast!!!
How wonderful you can help Reed out this winter with shelter. You are so kind and he will always remember the friendship he has with you. Maybe it will be a good book you can write some day.!
Walking chickens??? I love it!! Love the chicken quilt, too.
Loved this post! I’m glad you have the time to do this…always a bright spot when I see your posts.
Hello readers of dear Mary’s great blog,
I found the pattern today at the thrift store of the quilt shown recently on her blog of the cat hanging by its claws to the quilt and will send it free to the first person who would like it. I just could not leave it behind after we all got such a kick out of seeing it.
Keep watching because it is very good.
Hi Mary,
The fall pictures of ya’ll are heart warming, and I am so jealous of the ladies that have sewn such beautiful quits. Because of my business of binding quilts i don’t have much time for my own piecing. Thank you for sharing.
Mary, I was invited to be one of the first at an estate sale a few days ago, this wonderful woman passed seven years ago and her husband never touched her sewing room all those years. Her husband passed this past spring. Their daughter has worked for three months sorting material. I have never seen the likes of the amount of fabric in this room. The fabric needs washing as it is so dusty, we were all sneezing. But I found these patterns of yours in a little box. The numbers are 127,149, 154, 417. I probably will never get around to getting them done but its fun having them.
Notes from my friend and my lambs are doing awesome with there new friends. But I still miss their little faces. Sue Davis, Argyle, Tx.
Sue – what a fun sale! And some of our old patterns even – ha! So glad your lambs are doing well at their new home.
Journey is just adorable!!! Walking chickens!!! How did Red get them used harnesses? It is pretty amazing..
Becky – they still need practice walking nicely – we’ll start again next spring!
Another smile from Iowa!!! Love those red island reds, my Gr mother always had them on the farm Reed is amazing, so are you to be such a wonderful mentor.
What a fun post! Love the chickens on a leash, and Journey the gold3n doodle is adorable! And what an unusual name,
Love the pics! Wondering if the barn quilt is a
panel behind the “window”. Was thinking of trying that.
Janie – yes, it’s a panel. Very clever, huh?
Chicken harnesses, what will they think of next? I love it!! How nice you have offered to shelter his brood for the winter. Reed is a great friend to have!! Reed seems to be very patient, even around his younger siblings.
Mary,
I havnt seen any posts lately. I everything okay at the farm. ? We had just a bit of snow this morning here in New England. Hope all is well!
Diane