I think we need updates from several of you who have had assorted surgeries and/or illness – leave a comment!
We got 1.75” of rain in a very loud booming thunderstorm at 4 am. Tornado sirens even went off in Clear Lake but no tornado. I think Hazel did a vertical jump right in bed after one big boom. I didn’t get much sleep – here’s parts of our yard this morning.
This was their best life late this afternoon-
I found this UFO that I decided to work on – Chicken Salad by Country Threads.
Yes, Chicken Salad can be available for $5.
Happy Easter to everybody. The sun is shining. It is 60 degrees and the wind isn’t blowing a gale.
When I was growing up in Iowa the man on the radio would always start by saying “It’s a beautiful day in Chicago” and that suits for Rapid City, too. We are very fortunate.
It’s good to hear how people are doing. It has always amazed me that the farm and ranch women just keep going doing EVERYTHING, whether it is men’s or women’s work. They are the salt of the earth. The town people are the same, doing all the things that must be done. Life does go on. Then I think of the song in “McLintock” — Life in the Country…….
Glad you are keeping the pond. The geese love it and we always liked the geese. They are also fun to watch. My husband really liked watching all the critters while he waited for me.
27 years ago I had open heart surgery with 4 bypasses and I am still alive and doing fine. At the time I was totally shocked because I had never even been in the hospital! I am getting older, but I don’t have many aches and pains, much better than many of my friends. I feel very lucky.
After the discussion of Chicken Salad, I looked and I that that kit AND the pattern plus 4 of your other kits, too. I did make the Snow Goose runner, all by hand, and it is basted ready to quilt probably 30 years later. Now I look at my living room which is covered with fabrics. Makes sense that I really like scrapy quilts. I do like all the colors. Even the icky colors come out looking good. And the remains are the results??
Mary, did you get that thimble and have you had a chance to try it? I’m sure it has been at the bottom of the list with all the other stuff to do. Variety is the spice of life? And you do have variety. This blog is part of the spice. Our lives may be rather dull and boring, but sharing is nice. Sometimes I’m laughing out loud at what people are enduring. The spice of life? To share. It keeps up knit together as we all about both the good and bad. Seems like this world is standing on end and is controlled by the extremes of life. I’m very thankful for my dull and boring life, the living room full of scraps and your blog for us to share and try to keep an even keel in our small part of the world.
Oh, a bit of news. We have a very nice quilt shop about 8 blocks from my house. The owners ‘inherited’ it from their parents and have been wanting to sell. Well, the City is buying the property for a new police station on the north side of Rapid!!! They have out grown the downtown station and also need to spread out to service parts of town. The building and parking is perfect for them. AND we will all miss the quilt shop, too. Time does march on.
Everybody, enjoy your day. Take Care. Betty in Rapid City
Betty – YES, I have the thimble and now I just need to finish something so I can use it on the binding. Looks like it will be comfortable. I can’t remember the name and can’t find the card it came in. I’ll show it on the next post if you’ll talk about it. Since I had no way of know the size, I might have gotten one too small.
Mary, we’re still here but omg sometimes life is a handful. We have had a tumultuous time since the end of December and your blog, everyone here and YOU have often been the only bright spot on the horizon. Thank you all for being the loving group you are. And Jamie in Phoenix, you are my special angel!
Pat in AZ – what has happened? Seems like everybody has had their lives turned upside down. We can be your support group!!
Thank you for that. I guess it’s just life when you get to be our age. My BIL died on my husband’s birthday, three weeks later his best friend’s wife died, both unexpected. Mid February another of his good friends had to have a quadruple bypass. Then John finally got to have his shoulder surgery (men are the worst patients!). All done with death and health challenges, fingers crossed, stuff started breaking. New toilet, new refrigerator and new car. It’s exhausting and I’m whiny and you ladies are a bright spot. Thanks for being so sweet
Pat – this group is here to listen – we are now in the age group that our friends and family members are passing on and everyone seems to have health issues. We’ll all have our turn to whine and our turn to listen. I am happy to listen and commiserate and help if I can. Your life will never be the same and none of us will ever be younger than we are at this moment. Good health and recovery to your husband. And patience for you.
Mary,
Loved the pictures of Hazel and Keeper today. I have a funny Biscuit story to share from today. My son has a pond on his property and the water level is low so there is a couple feet of dirt between the lawn and the water’s edge right now. It’s not really dirt, it’s kind of muck and so is soft. Well, biscuit heard some geese on the lawn and took off like a flash and jumped from the bridge into the muck. He planted himself in the muck up past his belly. He was stuck! My son said Biscuits facial expression was so shocked, and he was whining for help to get out of the muck. He was able to get himself out quickly though but he was a golden doodle on his top half and a black labradoodle on the bottom half. My son ended up tossing him into the lake to wash off. Of all days, my son’s water heater had a leak this morning so he had no water and couldn’t use the hose. Luckily the plumber came and he has water again. Biscuit got a bath tonight before bed!
On a personal note, my mom passed away this past Thursday. She was 89 and had a good long life with many many accomplishments. She was a farmers wife and often helped in the fields before my brothers were old enough to drive tractor. She was a township supervisor and property assessor for the Township for many years. She drove school bus for almost 20 years and started and owned a catering company. I never saw her not busy.She will be missed.
To all of the readers who shared their struggles, I’m thinking of all of you and sending prayers. This is such a wonderful community to share
Have a wonderful Easter everyone.🌻
Sunflower, I wish I could have met your mother. She sounds amazing. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Sunflower my sincere sympathy in the loss of your dear mother!
Kris in WI and all with medical challenges, my heart and prayers are with you.
On a happier note, it looked like Hazel was the ring leader with digging in the mud. That little dickens.
Here’s wishing everyone a nice Easter.
Mary, I love your Chicken Salad quilt! Do you have your Easter music already to go? Your congregation is fortunate to have you and Margaret. Our organist of 5 years will be leaving after Easter and will be missed.
Prayers to all of you facing medical situations and especially to Kris in WI with her recent diagnosis and dealing with her husband’s move and possible down sizing.
This is a beautiful time in Seattle with the azaleas and rhododendrons blooming surrounded by dogwoods and flowering fruit trees. Wishing you all a Blessed Easter!
Vicki – yes, we’re playing a beautiful arrangement of Because He Lives for the prelude. There’s also altar communion which takes lots of songs while it takes place. Easter is a lot of work.
Oh, Mary…please keep talking! We are facing medical issues at our house and your blog lifts my spirits. I’ve been diagnosed with kidney cancer and have started the recommended treatment. I can no longer care for my husband who has Parkinson’s disease, and he has moved to a nursing home. Thank goodness my children both came and helped with the paperwork and legalities of that transition, but they both live out-of-state and can’t be here.
I am feeling overwhelmed with the reality of keeping myself as healthy as possible, visiting my husband and keeping up to date with his care, and trying not to panic at the thought of de-cluttering the house and planning for the future, whatever that may bring.
So please, “keep talking.” I’m sure I’m not the only person who checks your blog for a smile, a chuckle, and the latest Hazel and Keeper antics. Oh, let’s not forget the wonderful photos of quilts, collections, scenic and garden pictures.
Speaking of gardens, my dandelions under the L.R. window are doing well. Their sunny faces
bring me a lot of pleasure but probably annoy the heck out of my neighbor with the golf course perfect lawn! There! Another smile that you are responsible for! Prayers continue for you and yours and all facing difficulties. Kris in WI.
Kris – I am so so sorry to hear your devastating news!! Is the nursing home far from your place? Can you still drive? Do you have anyone to help you? I wish I were close – I’d help you! Find an estate sale company to declutter and downsize your house. Will you move to a smaller place or declutter and stay there? Either way, you need help.
Dear Kris,
I’m so sorry to learn you have a difficult road ahead but we are here for you to listen what you’re tackling and connect with caring support. Stay strong and you’ll be well soon.
love seeing your dogs
Cynthia I love the quilting on your quilt.
so happy I finally figured out how to get to leave a message. LOL
Watching the rain come down here in Central Oregon. The snow is gone. It prevented all further work on the studio. I’ve wanted to move the rest of my furniture into the studio but I tore my rotator cuff several weeks ago and need to take it easy on that. I’ve been doing physical therapy and it’s improving. I’m aiming for the end of May now. It may not be in perfect order by then but I’ll try to send pictures of my new space. It’s been such a trial getting it done!
Colleen – how did you tear your rotator? I did it years ago as well. I had surgery and then lots of therapy. I’ll bet you can’t wait to settle into your new studio – we’ll want pictures!
Hi Mary, I tore it snow shoveling. My husband had high centered his truck in the driveway and I helped dig him out. Then, I went on to shovel more while he was gone. Our snow this year was very wet and heavy from rain.
Colleen – oh, for cryin out loud! I can just feel how that would happen!!
It’s been quite a week!
First…where will the geese go when you fill in the pond? I didn’t realize raccoons are so dangerous until your post. I throw out some peanuts for the crows. They have been the only thing that keeps the woodpeckers away. Last year I tried everything from shiny metal twirlers to bear spray. Nothing stopped them until they migrated. However…I took Loretta out this week and got a whiff of skunk! Not close, but I don’t want to attract unwanted visitors. Such a conundrum.
I went to the dr and got my hand checkup. I can start using it. Because the incision is so tight, I don’t want to split the stitches open. I had her burn the other spots off. Easier than letting one turn into a cancer. Then to my eye exam…I can either get new glasses, or have the cataracts removed and skip the glasses! I’ll have a consultation for surgery in a couple weeks. Then to the pelvic floor specialist. I went home with a page of exercises and eye opening information. Surprisingly, not uncomfortable.
Then I stopped at Costco. I haven’t cooked for a couple years. I was shocked at the price of fresh meat!! Shocked. $50-$90 for a package of roast at Costco!!!
Social Security needs a raise.
That’s an update about me.
I Hope you all have a wonderful Easter.
Jo – well, I hope Loretta doesn’t meet up with a skunk! Been there, done that! Is there some kind of feeder up in the air that you could feed peanuts to the crows? Skunks can’t climb, can they?
Glad your hand is making progress – I can’t imagine how you’ve managed without it. I had cataracts removed and still ended up needing glasses because I didn’t want to search for a pair of readers all the time. And meat – we buy a quarter of beef so I feel uninformed about prices. Ugh. How do families afford it?
The geese will keep the pond – I have calmed down and know I can close the gate every night so Hazel can’t get in that area. Otherwise the geese will have to be happy with a kiddie pool. Did you know geese can live 30-35 years?????? Sigh. Yes, raccoons are very dangerous – very strong and fearless.
I’m so glad to hear from you, Jo! Hugs to Loretta!
My eye is still not infection free since my eyelid surgery on February 27. I was in the ER again this past week as I thought it was getting worse again. They did a cat’s scan and it came back good, so was thankful for that. The ER doctor gave me two different oral antibiotics to take for one week. The infectious disease doctor in Des Moines approved it. They are the ones that dealt with the infection. So after one month of antibiotics through infusions, I still have swelling around my eye. It is not completley open yet. It isn’t as painful, but still tender. I see the infectious disease doctor in DM on May 1.
Our granddaughter, her husband, and their two little ones were here for a couple days. She was interviewing for a teacher’s job here, and even had to teach a math class (her major). It would be wonderful if she got the job and would be close by. God’s will be done.
Happy Easter, everyone! Have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Jeanine – I’ll bet you’re so sick of doctors and the ER!! And taking antibiotics – ugh. I hope you’re soon healed and healthy!!
I intended to mention the good life your dogs have on the farm. Hazel is just like a kid that likes to play in a mud puddle and come home covered in mud. Truly Hazel is in heaven when she is digging and every speck shows on her white coat. She is a real labor of love, all of the bathes she needs, and she repays you with her love!
Sometimes no news is good news. Our little dog hit his head and about a week later the eye started to protrude from the socket. So he had emergency surgery and his eye is stitched almost closed for another week (week3). Been busy with eye drops several times a day and poor little guy has been in a cone all this time. We are hopeful he will not have vision problems in that eye.
My husband has been diagnosed with Afib and his new cardiologist thinks that could be the reason he has had 2 TIA’s in the past.
On the good news side I finished a quilt this week that I started cutting out 2/14. I will send a picture to share.
Connie – Rick has had Afib and two ablations in the past 15-20 years. Oh, your poor little dog – a cone all this time???? If he does have vision problems, I’ve learned from JB that he has no issues since his right eye was surgically removed. Just FYI.
I wish we would get some rain and to get 1.75 “ how lovely. Had 2 breast surgeries in February and radiation therapy in March, so just now getting stronger. I still don’t sleep well, so I nap. Haven’t been quilting but I do read quilt books. I’ve been planting some lettuce and broccoli with my husbands help. The weather is cool now but the heat is right around the corner. I love the dog antics, my little terrier doesn’t like to get wet, such a diva. Have a great Easter
Deb – I am so sorry! Honestly this is such an eye opener – so many readers have had health problems since I’ve heard from them. This terrier doesn’t like the swimming pool or baths either. Quilt books are a nice distraction – I have boxes of them I’d like to get rid of. How about if I send you a few – give me your mailing address. Sending them book rate is cheap.
I love the Chicken Salad quilt. I’ll have to see if it’s in my On Behalf of Chickens book. What a great way to use up scraps! It’s a bummer about your buttonhole stitch not working. I would advise using a zigzag stitch. Fusible sometimes can come up on the edges over time and with washing. I use it to patch quilts with small rips made by cats. We put up with a lot for our pets. Ha!
So fun to see Hazel and Keeper having fun, although having to give them a bath every time would make me crazy! Going to be low 80’s today, first time here in NH, and now the wasps are all over my windows, yikes!
Love your Chicken Salad quilt, I can see the chickens appliqued in Wool too!
Hope you have a wonderful Easter!
Mary, you asked about our health issues/surgeries. I had a hysterectomy and bladder sling surgery in January. And I want to say I so appreciated your encouragement, as I was pretty scared. (74 yrs). And several other people also commented with encouragement. It meant the world to me, so Thank you all. What a caring group we are! It was the hardest physical challenge I have ever faced, but made it through and am now feeling back to myself again. Blessings!
Linda – YAY! Having a hysterectomy at 40 was the best thing that ever happened to me! I could do nothing but encourage you and I’m thrilled to hear you’ve recovered and back to normal. Yes, kindness matters.
We’ve had really nice weather lately in NE Oregon. It’s hard not to get out and plant new flowers. Unfortunately, there will probably be a few more freezing mornings and most new plants wouldn’t survive. And they’re really expensive! $7 for a little 4’ pot. Wow! Our daffodils have bloomed and are gone. The tulips are gorgeous right now. Wish they lasted longer.
The Chicken Salad quilt is really cute. When you quilt it (straight lines I assume) the quilting should hold them down.
Tina – I didn’t think about the quilting holding them down – good point. If you lived close to me I could give you any number of small succulents – free!
Wow! Amazing! 1.75” of rain! We had 0. 😢
Jay planted soybeans on Good Friday! That is something he has never done before! The guys are here this morning and trying to decide what to plant where. I got some hamburger out for lunch and I bought some sweet corn the other day. I have a grandson to help me, so all is good, I think he is waiting for my iPad. 😂. You know how 10 year olds are. I should just put it away and hide it. Techies are not good for developing brains!
I have been busy embroidering the labels for three graduates. I had the embroidery software on my machine figured out by the third label. 🙄. Well, better get to it!
Joy – Farmer Tim planted the beans around us last week and then got that nice rain. Yup, he wants your IPad – haha!! He should be outside climbing trees, digging holes, tromping thru the grove. Isn’t that what we did? But times have changed, I know.
Mary I let him have it for a while and then we played Rummikub. Then he helped with lunch and after lunch he could play for a while. Then we played Farkle and some phase 10. He loves to play games so that does help. I wanted to go for a ride to see when the guys were doing but he says that is boring! Ugh! Needless to say, I had a busy day cooking and playing games, fun!
My husband mowed our lawn yesterday with the 70’s and blue skies. He took our 20 yr old lawn mower apart, found the needed part to make it turn over, and put it back together. Just don’t want to spend $3500 right now for a new zero turn for our large lot. Fix it as long as he can.
I feel so bad for you , Sue, losing your cherished kitty cat. They become such a part of our daily lives.
I’d love to head to Buffalo to the Broadway Market which is a melting pot of ethnic food booths. We use to go for many years and buy specialty foods for Easter. But I have other church commitments and husband is heading to our camp to get some crushed stone down so off in different directions today.
Have a nice Easter everyone.
Kathy – wow – we are several weeks from mowing lawn. After the drought last year everyone’s lawn has brown dead patches. I hope they’ll turn green. My lawn has never been so ugly in the almost 50 years I’ve lived here.
Thanks, Kathy, Tenzin will really be missed!
Warm enough to sit on the porch and have my coffee. We hit 80 yesterday. Looking forward to seeing my granddaughter this week.
Fun quilt with the chickens!
Very sad day for us yesterday. We had to put our beloved kitty Tenzin to sleep. Our son adopted him in 2014 when he was a student at IU—and he was spoiled rotten. We took care of him for 3-4 weeks several times when Evan went to visit his girlfriend in Poland (she had been an exchange student here their senior year of high school). When Evan graduated from college, he spent nearly a year in Poland and we had sweet Tenzin. We got him permanently when Evan started his rotations in medical school and wasn’t home a lot. Tenzin was the sweetest, most affectionate cat we’ve ever had. He’d been sick since October—not sick/sick, but some vomiting, food issues, etc. We had him at the vet multiple times and an ultrasound a couple months ago—clear. He hadn’t eaten for a couple days, so took him in yesterday. The vet found a mass in his abdomen and blood tests showed it was cancer. Not treatable. Such a shock. He was our baby. We have two other lovely cats…but…. You all know how it feels.
Sue – yes, the majority of us do know that heartbreak and I’m so sorry for you. I did love Tenzin’s story – he really had two homes, didn’t he? He had an interesting name – does it have special meaning? I’ll bet your other cats will also notice his absence. I felt Heidi’s presence deeply for several days – but I knew it was her time to go. It was Tenzin’s time as well – cancer is a devil and you saved him from more pain. Thinking of you.
Tenzin is the Dalai Lama’s first name. Evan was studying Buddhism when he was in Bloomington. The Dalai Lama’s brother was the founder of the Tibetan studies program at IU and owned a Tibetan restaurant there for a long time. He retired and sold the restaurant awhile back. There are two Buddhist monasteries in Bloomington, open to the public. The Dalai Lama’s brother would visit occasionally.
The other cats do seem to notice Tenzin’s absence—Frankie was our daughter’s cat, and lived with Tenzin when Katie and Evan shared a house after college—he seems to look for Tenzin. And yes, thank goodness for a humane death.
Sue – oh, how interesting!!! I knew none of that, of course. I hope the cats adjust to Tenzin’s absence.
Hazel’s adventures always make me smile 😁
The movers are arriving shortly to fill the POD up. We’re leaving about 75% of the house intact including furniture etc. but that stills leaves alot to pack and move. Mostly everything in the house I bought to period which was 1884 when the Manson was built. The workers were brought from Italy to construct it. Beautiful workmanship. The closing is around May 1st, so I’ll have time to wrap everything up. NOT looking forward to today and the next 2 weeks. Will keep you all updated on how it’s going.
Barbara – I’ll be thinking of you and your beautiful mansion. Will the new owners keep it decorated as 1884? This summer they’ll be hosting all those special events on the lawn and you’ll be holding the grand baby. How did you find all those period pieces of furniture or were they in the house when you moved in? Maybe they were original to the house? Such a huge move for you – I can’t imagine the work!!
Mary, The one item in the house when I bought it was the Baby Grand Piano. I love to go and look for antiques and slowly filled the house over the years. The new owners want to keep it exactly as I have it. This house makes you want to entertain and give tours in it. 4 ladies showed up 3 days ago and wanted a tour. Since they lived in town & were friends of a friend, I gave my last tour; history of the house included. It was part of the Post Civil War Underground RR. Sitting on the front porch at present waiting for cocktail hour, and putting my feet up for a spell !
Barbara – just think of all those antiques you found, purchased and transported to your house!! I’m relieved to hear the new owners are appreciative of your decorating efforts – so you don’t have to dispose of all those furnishings! Can you imagine? Many of my readers are in the process of huge changes in their lives. I dread it myself – it’s just getting ready to die. So depressing. I’m so glad you got to give a last tour! I wish I could have had a tour! How soon will you be in SC for good?
Mary, We’re heading back to SC May 1st. Closing May 9th; we just signed the papers yesterday.. The local police will keep a close eye on the house until the 9th. You would have loved my tour. I even always added Ghist stories!!!!!!
Spring is poking up all over here. A lot of my plants are coming up, though it will be a bit before everything is in its glory. I do like this time of year, with everything coming up, it’s always so pretty.
My knee replacement knee is healing well but slower than expected, unfortunately I sprained my mcl on my other knee and have been suffering for a month. I’ve been going to physiotherapy and just want the pain to go away. Back to fitful sleep. It has slowed down my progress with my knee replacement knee, but there isn’t a lot I can do about that. I’m hoping for the pain to start to go away soon.
Teresa – I am familiar with pain and it’s not fun. I hope you have some painkillers and can take it easy for awhile yet. I don’t really remember how long it took for my knees to feel ok but today they do not hurt at all and they work really well so hang in there.
Chicken Salad, did you needle turn those chickens? I can’t imagine where you’d have time for that in your busy day!
We had beautiful blue skies and 70s today, the first beautiful blue skies, warm day, since October! What a joy!
I enjoy reading your posts, seeing life on the farm with all the good times and the occasional bad; you bring joy to a lot of people, Mary. The people you don’t hear from as much as others might be the people who need your stories most.
Carol, been thinking of you and knowing you see the building of that new huge Bills stadium. There’s always something going on in your area of NY just like the Finger Lakes which makes me think of how Joyce is doing.
I’m glad Mary asked how everyone was doing. It’s always a delight to me to know as I do care about ones here.
Kathy – yes, Joyce is another friend we need to hear from but I honestly don’t know if these gals are even reading so they’ll never see my plea.
Carol – no,not needle turn – they are actually fused and buttonhole stitched but there’s where the problem is – my old Bernina’s buttonhole stitch didn’t work! I couldn’t believe it – so now I’m not sure how to finish. Just zigzag? Or just leave them as is? Hazel had a very deep cleaning after her escapade. I have not thought about them needing my posts – I only think about how they don’t join in the conversation and that’s not what I want the blog to be. It’s almost embarrassing to keep talking and nobody answers.