Please do not send any more cards to Pam Kerns. Her Alzheimer’s condition makes receiving cards very upsetting and confusing. I was truly trying to help her and only made it worse. I do lots of things right but not this time.
Reader photos
Thank you for remembering not to send any more cards to Pam Kerns at Concord Care in Garner, IA.
I remember visiting a friend with dementia on her birthday. She kept saying it was not her birthday. She had one card in her basket. She’d open it. Read it and put it down. Later she’d look at it again as if she didn’t know it was there. We never know how people are going to take our gestures. You only did what you thought was best. You tried, and that was the important thing to remember. I want to hear how Lolly is in her new home in Missouri.
Oh my, I have been meaning to write to ask you why Pam was in a nursing home. I am devastated to hear of her condition. We were friends in high school, but lost touch. The last time I saw her was when she was working in your shop. I lost my younger sister to dementia and these diseases are so horrific. Not only for the patient, but for their families who suffer the devastating Slow loss of their beloved family member
Hi Jean – Pam is suffering from Alzheimers and has been in several care centers before coming to Concord in Garner. It is so sad to see her in such limbo. Im going there now to pick up the cards she received from readers. I had no idea they would upset her!!!
I’m sorry to hear the cards upset her. When my sister would get a card she would get so excited. She didn’t know how to open them, but she would kind of jump up and down and then put them in the drawer by her bedside…unopened. I hope Pam has family still around to visit with her. I don’t come to Garner anymore, but if I did, I would certainly spend time with her. Thank you for trying to lift her spirits..
Wonderful photos – love to see the quilts!
SO sorry about Pam – it’s so hard sometimes to know how Alzheimer’s patients will react. Thanks for the heads-up on this!
Loved all the photos today! Tina W’s strip quilt is so nice – the occasional diagonal seams add a lot. And I like Diane, Squeak and Buddy’s little triangle quilt. And I love star quilts, too.
Mortie is so funny! (Although naughty.) Since I never know my cats’ actual birthdays, I always celebrate their “gotcha” days – the day they became my companion. So you can have a little gotcha party on September 29. i hope your Millie and Deano are doing OK these days, in the sunset of their lives.
As I write this, my wild-child kitten Millie, who’s now 5 months old, is up on top of a 6-foot bookcase, looking out a high window.
I’m wishing for peaceful days for your friend Pam Kearns.
Dot – I hate to think of losing them! Theyre doing ok right now – i try to feed them both premium food – i wont let either if them suffer. Yes, Mortie’s gotcha day!!!’
Beautiful quilts for us all to admire. I bought your book,
Civil War Remembered. I have not made Devils Claw
but seeing it in a different colorway has my wheels spinning! I was lucky to have my copy autographed by you and Connie. A true treasure.
Mortie is always so cute and entertaining. I’m glad that most of your dogs and cats are able to tolerate each other. Stay cool everyone. Hot and humid here in Michigan.
Pat – Three hates Barney and it’s ok during the summer when Barney lives in the barn but when it gets cold he’ll be moving inside and Three will jump him whenever he can get by with it. I hate it when they all don’t get along.
So sorry to hear about Pam Kerns. I did send a card to her as well to Lolly.
The quilt show was great today, especially of the hexies with feet! I love doing hexies.
And Hank–great pic of him. His fur looks so soft.
In for another HOT day. I hate it and hoping that this run of heat ends soon. I did get some time in the sewing room yesterday and finished cutting my half hexies (8 1/2″) from Kaffe 10″ fabric and a white 10″ stack that I picked up at a thrift store, saving me from having to cut 72 – 10″ squares. A special ruler came in handy too. I knew there was a reason I bought that one!
Love seeing all of the posts. My DD#9 has been in it’s current unfinished state for about 3 years. I’m just stuck on the sashing. It was a mystery quilt and called for a thin aqua sashing, but I think I would prefer green….but what shade? Sometimes I am just not able to make decisions. I really want this one done, but of course, I’m onto my second quilt that’s not even on my DD list!!! I just have to go where the wind blows me I guess. I’m looking forward to fall, my favorite season!!! Mortie is so darn cute!
Ginger – here’s a thought – after you ad whichever border and finish the quilt, will you ever think about the other color again? I doubt it – just close your eyes and choose.
Great parade of quilts today! and flowers. thank you!
Mortie is such a character! You just never know where she’ll turn up. Who could have known that cards would upset Pam. My mother in law loved the cards she received. Hopefully they can intercept any additional cards that come her way. Mary, your heart was in the right place. Sometimes we just have no idea how things will affect someone. This has been one very hot, humid summer. Today will be another 90*+ day & no rain predicted until maybe the weekend. As hot as it is I have 2 tomato plants on my patio that are loaded with green tomatoes & I’ve only had maybe 8+10 ripen. This is Sept & everything should be ripe! Plenty of sun & water, I don’t understand this!!
Alice – i realize I wouldn’t know but I feel bad – yes, Mortie is a character all right!! Our tomatoes are not ripening either and I bought Big Boys, just waiting for that slice of tomato that would cover a slice of bread. I’m still waiting.
Green tomatoes reminds me of the “Green Tomato Mincemeat” my mother used to make … yum! Delicious in tarts! Great quilts today … thanks for sharing. Love your little “Devil’s Claw” quilt, Mary! I’m finishing a quilt right now, just need to get the label on, but the name for this quilt just won’t come to me!
So many lovely quilts! I’m always drawn to star quilts, so this was an extra treat. I think I may have found a copy of the Civil War quilt book, and now that Devil’s Claw is on my list of to-do’s.
Thanks for the laughs with Mortie very nearly hiding.
Does Mortie sneak into your bed at night? Our Clementine (Mortie’s twin) waits until we are asleep then stealthily climbs in the bed. She is very cunning but when she crawls up to snuggle with my husband she slips up and I discover her. She apparently dreams of her mother and starts needing biscuits, so, meany that I am,..out she goes. No worries…she does it again the next night! If she could just figure out how to not wake me up. Ha! I could only wish. Have a great day!
Bonnie – haha! Hazel sleeps in my bed and won’t allow a cat to join us. Waking up? Sigh. Every time I move my feet Hazel growls so I do not sleep well. But no, I won’t throw her out.
Probably additional cards will be able to be intercepted before Pam receives them. Your heart was definitely in the right place. Never change your wonderful intentions of helping and giving.
Jean – thanks for that thought – I’m going to Concord to pick up the cards today. Alzheimers is a cruel disease, isn’t it?
I never knew Hydrangeas had tails! Mortie is adorable😻. I have Civil War Remembered. I think I will use up some scraps and make Devil’s Claw. HOT here again. It is supposed to be 90*+ and 100+ heat index today. Odd summer this year. Sorry about Pam Kerns, but no one knew that the cards would be confusing. Love the blog😍
Diane – hydrangeas with tails! Hahaha! She’s a real corker, isn’t she? It’s going to be hot here, too, later but right now the porch is perfect.
Your hydrangeas grew a cat tail. Love it. Such beautiful quilts today!!!
Hi Mary, Morty is such a character! Wish she lived with me! I think you have had her for a year now, another little angel sent from heaven! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy, very windy today and tonight!
Sandy – Mortie appeared in the yard on September 29. You have a great memory!!!!!
Mortie’s playing hide and seek. Love seeing all the colorful quilts today. Thank you, Mary.
Beautiful star quilts! Will have to make some stars when I straighten my sewing room. That could take a while. Mortie does keep things interesting!