I was so wrapped up in the game last night I forgot to write a post! That win forced a Game 7 tonight. Connie says there will always be 7 games in a series – because it’s fixed that way! Ha!
Reader quilts – some repeats
Lucy and Owen were here this afternoon and I was happy to see they were normal kids who wanted to jump in this hole. Of course grandmothers allow things that mothers would not.
Looks like fun, doesn’t it?
It was time to harvest the sunflowers.
That’s a lot of miscellaneous for a blog about nothing!
What a grand day! Here’s to many more productive fall days. Enjoy, Mary. I can hardly wait to see the tepee in the spring. What a haul of sunflower seeds. Happy birds!!
How do you keep geranium over the winter? My MIL used to hang them upside down. I have wintered them in the garage, watering only occasionally. I had a plant that lasted 3 seasons. My plant from this summer is in the garage and doesn’t look so good since I brought it in. Suggestions anyone? I made doll blankets yesterday and today plan to sew a sleeper for a baby shower.
Judy – I have grow lights in the basement on a timer
Love the colors in Sandy’s quilt. It is interesting seeing color combinations that I don’t think of. How nice we all have our own outlook on color and design.
What a great day to be outdoors! We got garden hoses drained and put away for winter, dug up a few plants that had spread beyond what we wanted, patched a hole in the driveway, and bagged leaves. Our ash tree had lost 90% of its leaves and those are now picked up and put in our leaf pile to use as mulch on the veggie garden next spring. None of this was hard work, but kept us a steady busy. When it rains this week, I am hoping for quilting time. But when the weather is nice, we are outdoors doing needed work. Am glad to be able to do it.
Do you have grow lights in the basement?
Jay – yes, I have several grow lights in the basement on a timer
This was a fun blog to read and look at the pictures! Thank you for the quilt show and Three’s update. Sandy, your quilt is very pretty! Tina, that looks like a lot of tiny pieces of fabric in your little quilts! I wish I could guess what you are making, Mary! I think I am the only quilter who does not save little pieces of fabric. Can’t wait to see what you make out of your stash!
I’m curious about your sunflower harvest. Will you use the seeds to feed the birds or for something else?
Diane – just for the birds
I love the picture of the kids hopping in the big hole. When I was in grade school, living in the suburbs in a Southern California beach town, someone had the great idea of turning an empty lot with a huge hole into “Adventure Playground”. Kids came and climbed around in it, as I remember, clambering and building temporary “forts” or “tents” with random wood leaning against the dirt walls. Kids slid and scaled and got a little bit hurt but I don’t remember anyone getting acutely injured. My mom was a nurse and I’m sure I would have heard if there had been any grave injuries, because I heard about all the dangers and was then forbidden to do those things, but we were allowed to have great, dirty fun in the city’s big hole. Entry was not free, so the big hole made money for the town, presumably less than the insurance cost back in the 70’s. That must have changed because that place is no longer there, or maybe the lot just became too valuable for a bunch of kids to have fun and make memories. They need to be bussed out to the country these days, which they would love, I’m sure.
Beth – I think it would be fun to have kids bussed out here but the liability is just too great! Same with a dog park – I have the perfect place for both but wouldn’t take the chance. Love the story of the big hole!!! How perfect!! So much fun!
My husband supervised the gravel pit a half mile from us. When the grandkids were smaller, he would take them there just to climb the huge piles of rock and sand and gravel. No toys needed but did they ever have fun and get really dirty.
Oh, for sure, Mary. A private individual couldn’t take on the potential liability for a bunch of kids having a big time–there could always be an accident and somebody’s parent might be contentious. But if kids are going to find a big hole or an open place to play in the dirt they’re going have to leave the suburbs now, I’m pretty sure. Glad it’s not my job to work out the details. Also glad I can still play in the dirt in my older age. 🙂
Beth – I also dream about having a dog park if I’d fenced in my 2 acres of hay ground. The same liabilities exist however and I can’t leave myself open to the possibility of lawsuits. It would be so much fun to see dogs running in those two acres!!!
Beautiful quilts!! I am looking forward to seeing what you are piecing. I love seeing the kids playing outside. All kids need a pile of dirt and a couple of dogs to play with outside. All of the crops around me have been harvested and now snow in the forecast for Thursday – winter is on its way. Good sewing days ahead😊.
That’s a lot of sunflower seeds!
Are you working on a string quilt?
I’m glad Three is getting better, but it still looks painful to me!
Not a string quilt
A crumb quilt?
Not a crumb wuilt
A beautiful day! I finished binding a quilt and made some greeting cards today.
Jay spent the day chiseling and discing today, we had a t-bone and baked potato for supper. Yum! We ate about 8;pm which is late for us but so it goes. Now I am ready for a BIG nap! 😉. Chance of light rain tomorrow.
Loved all the quilts and activities Mary. Such an enjoyable blog about nothing/everything! Before we know it we will be talking about how much snow we got! 😝
Joy – thank you! Of all my readers you probably understand my days about nothing better than many others. Ha!
Tina, your miniatures fascinate me. I love them. And the cat & pumpkins, too. The range of quilts made by the readers is so wide. Great inspiration.
Kids of all ages need a big pile of dirt while growing up. So they get a dirty. That’s the fun. Keep them busy for hours, expecially with all the tonka toys.
Sounds like winter will hit on Thursday in the teens. It’s time. Still got outside work, but it will wait. My nieces fly in Thursday, so I hope it doesn’t get dicey. The ground is way to warm to freeze yet.
The sunflower seeds won’t last long.
Take care. Betty in Rapid City
Betty – our weather will change, too, and I know it’s time but these warm days have been so nice to be outside!!
your sunflower teepee would be a perfect site for sweetpeas. I have seen these and what a delight while we are waiting for Spring to finally show up.
Is it possible to still order the patterns bullseye and random rows ? or does this only work at the time they are featured ?
Brendalynne – both patterns remain available – any time
Hi Mary, the boxes of scraps are very tempting, surprised no cat has made herself comfortable there! The sunflowers are amazing,what do you do with the seeds?It’s nice to see kids outdoors and having fun,dogs too!Bit chilly today so going to make a beef and mushroom pie for dinner,take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Enjoyed the quilt show today. Do you give the sunflower seeds to the chickens? Mine love any little treat I give them. We may be getting a frost tonight so I brought in some of my plants.
Are you making a rug with the strips? I still haven’t finished the one from the last rug along – it’s about 2/3 finished. I hope I can find the instructions.
Lynne – nope, not a rug….but many of us have half finished rugs. Maybe we should stop and finish them? I grew the sunflower seeds for the wild birds – I like to put the whole head out for them but like you, I sometimes give my hens SF seeds for a treat.
I did hang a load of wash out today, but not the sheets. too windy. I bet those scraps are for a log cabin quilt. I think it would be perfect.
Bernadette – these strips are cut 3/4” wide. Not a log cabin quilt.
Hi Mary,
Glad to see JB3 is healing nicely – any leads yet on finding Fluffybuns a new home?
I think all your scraps of fabric are to make a rug.
Sandy, your quilt is beautiful – love the colors.
Tina, your wall hangings are very nice – my kind of projects.
I grew sunflowers like that when I was on the farm and you are right, they are like a post. It was so hard to get the stalks out of the ground but the birds just loved them, especially the goldfinches.
Do Greta and Gracie mind the dogs?
Melody – no leads for FluffyBun. No, not a rug. I cut the stalks off at ground level and the tiller will chew up the base before we plant again. Greta and Gracie are fine with my dogs – but Finn and Ivy are intense and get right in their faces and they don’t like that. They back away and are afraid. I have to watch closely. I told Sam that when they were looking for a pal for Ivy they should have gotten her a cat!
Your blog photos are so fun tonight. I have looked at them several times now. The reader’s quilts are so interesting. Tina…I love your little ones and the pumpkin and cat is a wonderful quilt. Sandy…your quilt is very special and is wonderful as well. Don’t you just love it?
I was going to guess Log Cabin like Bernadette did, but then you said NO, not a log cabin. Hmmm 3/4s wide. I don’t know the name of the quilt with random strips going across one after the other. Maybe that one??
My chickens are so spoiled. They get sunflower seeds every day.
I really like the third to last quilt, with the scrappy rectangles and the white squares. Does anyone know the name of the pattern?
Thanks again for your blog. I enjoy reading it and all the comments every day.
Teresa – no need for a pattern – it’s a rectangle and a square in rows. Pick a size and you’re ready to go. I’ll help you if you need it.
Thanks Mary. I will decide in sizes and start cutting my scraps. Have a wonderful day
I was going to guess a Log Cabin quilt too. With 3/4” strips, a Postage Stamp quilt? Lovely pictures. The fields are beautiful and the wilderness trail so inviting. What fun the kids and dogs have in the big hole! Game 7 was a great win, 11 to 4!!!
Some great ideas for quilts ideas ladies. Mary, I’m not so sure about your quilt but I know it will be fabulous. Tina, all are fabulous, such talent. Thank you everyone for sharing,
I tell you what, the first quilt will barely make a dent in one of those totes full of 2 1/2 strips. I would say, you look like Shelley’s twin with your totes, and you will make a variety of strip quilts. I think she does a new design every month. I can’t figure out how to cut all those strips so neat and tidy!
Harvest is all done for us in your county. Even the Hailed ground did much better than I guessed!
Everyone have a great day!
I missed those were 3/4” strips. Girl, you gotta be crazy! Is that the size to wrap around clothesline for baskets!
The sunflowers are incredible. CBS Sunday Morning just did a story about sunflowers. The Indians used the stalks for building, because of their strength. It was very interesting. I had some volunteer sunflowers and I could not pull them out!
Love them
Laura – so my idea of using them for a teepee is not original – ha! The stalks are like iron poles and they’re about 7-8 feet tall.
Never say about nothing. Kids and dogs, cats, quilts! Love it.
High winds predicted and “possibility” of rain in SW Iowa.
Three is healing very well! Those bites always look so awful.
We have done the pre-dig twice in recent years, so sad. I have a kitty cemetery here with the crews age and illnesses taking them away. 7 fur-kids in 9 years 😞. Too much for a lifelong cat lover. Wish we had done differently, but you do what you must. I just REALLY don’t like cemeteries, they make me think of the reality under the soil, so I avoid them. I keep my family in my heart ,and speak to them from everyday places.
Speaking of…does anyone else’s cat/dog do the “somebody’s hereditary at nothing? Our girl does it often, and always looks at the same place. I ask her if she sees her brothers/sisters, and she looks at me so serious! Who knows? Angel kitties 🙂
Ugh, correction-
“Somebody’s here” looking at nothing.
3/4 inch strips finish at 1/4 inch, that would be an insane quilt! So I’m guessing you are making dog beds.
Love all of the reader quilts today! What a great idea to put several small quilts on a wall in a pleasing arrangement! Love that! Hard to believe that harvest for most people is done the 24th of October!! My husband was so happy to be done!! Glad your cat is healing! Any ideas for a large heated house for my outside cats? Trying to find one that won’t cost me an arm and leg!!
Julie – many ideas online! Some use insulated coolers surrounded by insulation sheets – could be held in place by bales of straw.
Check out Bonnie Hunter’s blog (Quiltville) today … she shows an outdoor, winterized house for cats.
3/4″ wide? I’m stumped. My first thought was a log cabin quilt. Wrong. Hmm, maybe a weaving project? Well, we will be anxious to see what you have in the making!
Love the pix of the kids in the dirt, the nature trail, Ivy & Finn & friends, cats & quilts, and the huge sunflowers!
There is always something to provoke a thought, memory, or smile on this blog about nothing! Thank you, Mary and everyone who sends pictures and comments.
Our maples were beautiful this year – orange, pink, and gold. Yesterday the wind blew the fallen leaves down the street. Today, they are blowing back to our house! Kris
Mary…..Thanks so much for nothing..LOL. So many great readers’ quilts!
We Idahoans are under Winter Alert for SNOW…..sometimes it is worth waiting for! Love the kids enjoying the big hole with the dogs.
Wonder if Viv from Idaho lives close to me?
How long til you share what you are going to use 3/4” strips sewn together?
Launa in Idaho
Launa – I’m going to write that post tonight!
Hi Luana – I live near Idaho Falls
Wow! What a lot of info in this “Blog about nothing”!!! The quilt show is excellent and the outside shots are beautiful. Tina, those have to be the smallest 9 patches I have ever seen. They are tiny!
Mary, I am guessing you are making a mess–ha! Shouldn’t say that should I? Why are Finn and Ivy so obsessed with the cats? No kitties at home? Our grand dog, Finn, has to have Chemo pills, but he is doing well after his cancer surgeries. He is adorable and took it well.
It is beautiful here today. The reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees are stunning and it was 73*. Perfect.
Diane – I have always told Sam they should have gotten a cat for a pal for Ivy instead of Finn who is the most fidgety dog I’ve ever known. Brian doesn’t care for cats, so many people don’t, so it was another dog for them. But they are absolutely fascinated with my cats!
You are right. Our Irish Setter, Arsenic, loved all of our kitties. My husband would hold his collar while I held the newest kitty so he could sniff it. Then, they’d be buddies. He was warm so he often had cats sleeping on him😺 Buddy got out last night when my husband was bringing in the porch plants. Scared us! We drove, walked, and called for an hour and then he came home. Whew!
Diane – BUDDY!!! I’ll bet you were scared – I would have been. Even when I just don’t know where everybody is, I’m worried. Where do you suppose he was? Just out exploring?
YEP! We won our game 7 last night so will ‘patiently’ wait to see who our opponent will be in 3 days HERE!! SO EXCITING!!
Sherrill – watching that game now!
Dear Mary, yes I totally understand stand your love of your acreage/funny farm (😝). We have been asked when we were younger why we want to work so hard!?? Jay worked full time as an accountant, CFO, then the Property Manager and we farmed 500 acres plus I farrowed 26 sows and raised the pigs. Our children were involved from little on….in the feed bin playing with tonka trucks and loaders while we scooped shit! Plus, our oldest son was always in the tractor with his dad. We would not have survived with out the jays off farm job! Plus our dream was to retire and farm….so here we are! Did we have a social life? No, but did we want one? No. We have friends, but our main friends are our children! We love it here on the farm and now all the animals we have are our kitties. Our two sons come and farm with us and a good time is had during spring time and harvest. We have traveled in the winter for vacation, but get homesick after a couple weeks. Here on the farm is best! I hope and pray we may be here a few years yet! Our oldest son said don’t ever let anyone push you off! Love the peaceful country life and so do you! Don’t ever let anyone push you off!
Joy – I have my plan and nobody to boss me – no kids so I will live here – maybe in squalor as I age – until I die. I want to be taken from the farm to the funeral home, cremated and returned to the farm. That’s my plan and I’m stickin’ to it.
Retirement doesn’t have to mean sitting in the house – the farm, no matter how many acres, is the best!
We want to live in our farm until we can’t! Just like you. My mom would visit and say, it’s so peaceful here! And that is how it should be! You enjoy your farm and we will enjoy ours and we will chatter in your blog about nothing. Maybe we should get some chickens 😂😂😂😂
Joy – yes! Chickens are so great – I’m allowing myself to visit Fleet Farm next spring OR I’m going to place an order with MurrayMcMurray Hatchery in Webster City – you can pick them up or they will send through the mail. Haven’t ordered for several years but I love my chickens!!
Thanks everyone for your kind remarks about my mini quilts and wall hangings. I’ve always loved making the minis, and I’ve loved the Country Threads patterns. I’ve made many of them.
Our weather is turning cold with lows in the 30’s. My hubby and I brought most of the potted plants into the garage today and I cleaned up the yard a little. Finished just before a cold rain started. The low on Friday is supposed to be 24°. Brrrr. I’m not ready for snow yet!
Tina – 30’s in Oregon? I know what’s heading our way then. Brrrr
Tina – actually I meant 24 – I’m not ready!
Yep. 24°! There was snow on the mountain tops this morning and the wind is very cold. Makes the leaves fall faster.
10’48 PM 80 degrees.