It’s A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood, 6-27-2020

It is such a gorgeous day – sunny, warm, low humidity, no wind! It doesn’t get much better than this and I want to soak it up! I mowed some lawn – I love to mow but didn’t get my turn at the church this month because it just didn’t need it. Darn.

Since we think the blog is now steady again, we’re discussing new patterns to post. Connie recently was cleaning in her sewing room and discovered many of our ideas from the past – I guess we still love to design and sew because we’re going to dig into some of them. When Connie has a finished project we will write an updated pattern and post the quilt on the blog. Connie loves fall, houses and Halloween so I’m guessing that’s where she’ll start. If you make a fall quilt this summer, you’ll have it to use in September/October this year. And that will be fun!

I took a photo tour around the farm this morning – one reader asked about the bad hair day chickens. Here they are:

And Rosie-

Betsy

Pinto with one horn

Dirty Dozen quilts:

Love this sailboat quilt!

And a friend, Pat Wys, posted this quilt that I just love and might have to make!

And the prairie mallow is in full bloom!

It’s just a beautiful time of the year – I hope you’re all well and this post arrives in your inbox without any issues! I’m going back to my unfinished strippy quilt this afternoon and sewing it together even if it’s wrong! Haha! How’s that for attitude?

52 thoughts on “It’s A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood, 6-27-2020

  1. Susan Boyd

    I love, love, love your Prairie Mallow. In a previous post you said you sold seeds when Country Threads was still open — do you still sell the seeds? I would love some if you’re still doing that!

  2. Sandy

    Hi Mary,have you seen the movie” chicken people” ? It’s about chicken exhibitors, loved all the different breeds of chickens in it.we all have our fingers crossed for no more blog problems.have a great day, best wishes from sandy

  3. Tammy Guerrero

    Could you tell me the name of the plant with the round leaves with the orange flowers. I love it. Would love to get some nextt year. Love all your posts. My geese have destroyed all my big flower pots. I have never had them destroy my flowers, UGH!

  4. Diane and Squeak in Central

    Beautiful post, Mary. I love seeing the goats and chickens. Our nasturtiums are just starting to bloom, but other things are going strong! Fun to see the DD’s and your pictures. I’ll look forward to Connie’s next creation😊

  5. quilting sister

    That’s an absolutely beautiful fence behind your Prairie Mallow, I hope it’s in an area that you can see all the time. How is Daddio doing in his new digs?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Quilting sister – that’s Daddio in the picture today – I know he’d like to go out but the other roosters will beat this ——- out of him!

  6. Jean

    Mary what a HAPPY post! I loved it. The farm, the quilts and the forthcoming patterns whoo hoo. I too like fall quilts so what fun will that be to see Connie’s quilts. Did she finish the tula pink quilt? What a beauty! Thanks for the day brightener.

  7. Rita in Iowa

    Beautiful post, pictures and quilts. I decided to start a quilt for a nephew whose getting married in October. Simple with Jolly Bars.
    Need to work on doodling and practice quilting. Wish me luck.

  8. Rhonda in Urbandale

    It really makes my day to hear about your day and see the photos from the farm. It reminds me of my childhood days at my Grandpa and Grandma’s farm in southwest Minnesota. I understand it’s been a struggle with the blog off-and-on but I am so impressed with how you seem to tackle it all. I’ve bragged about you to so many! About the blog and your energy every day to get so much done, even with those knees. It is so inspiring! Also love seeing the DD projects. Thinking about joining that endeavor this year. Anxious to see what Connie is working on. Thanks for sharing with us!

  9. Jo in Wyoming

    Your post is beautiful today, as always. The flowers are so pretty. Love the chickens. How about the geese? Last we saw they were sitting on eggs.
    We had hail yesterday afternoon ☹️, just about did in the garden. So sad. But, on the bright side, we got rain which we need badly. Fireworks season has started, every bit of rain is welcome.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jo in Wyoming – and they are STILL sitting on those eggs – I’m sure they must be rotten but if I start breaking them and find a little goose inside, which I’ve done in the past, I’ll be sick!

  10. Jan from SW Iowa

    Oh, I’m so glad for your joy with our Iowa weather (bit warmer & stickier here in southern Iowa). All of us are rejoicing that the blog is stable and continuing–even though I know how much work & worry it is for you. Thank you.

  11. Susan from Good Hope

    Lovely, lovely picture of such a beautiful place on a beautiful day!!! So glad your blog is back. I’ve noticed that there are light yellow boxes where the ads should Be (I’m using Safari as my browser on my iPad). Not sure if it’s just me, or if others are experiencing the same thing, but thought you would want to know, especially if everyone is having this issue.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Susan from a Good Hope – those boxes should have ads but were still working on that feature

  12. Barb P

    I am planning on the DD this year and have already started my UFO list. I may have to do 2 each month to whittle it down! It is hot today in Idaho, even had a wild fire less than a mile from our house that burned 8 acres before they got it contained. I fear we are in for a bad fire year ( on top of everything else). We are suppose to drop 30 degrees tomorrow when a front moves in. Your flowers are so joyful, thanks for sharing.

  13. Carol at Pin Oak Quilting

    The post was perfect, love your photos,, your prairie mallow are gorgeous!
    Looking forward to participating in the Dirty Dozen!

  14. Frances

    All the reasons why I follow you, chickens, goats, flowers and quilts! What else could there be? Great post, and I didn’t have any problems receiving it. (But, I never do.)

  15. Judy

    Thanks for your happy post. So glad you are back. It was a lovely Weather day by the lake in central Minnesota too.
    Can’t wait to see what patterns you and Connie Come up with. With so many of the usual summer activities cancelled this summer I’m sewing a lot more than usual. I’m grateful to have my hobbies!

  16. Connie R

    I love all the pictures you posted on your blog today. Besides all your other talents, you are a wonderful photographer. Each photo would make a great greeting card. Thanks for hanging in there with your blog.

  17. Sheila in WI

    What a fun post… full of colorful plants, quilts etc. Absolutely love your prairie Malloy!

  18. Lois Ann Johnson

    Mary: I loved all of your photos today! And it IS a beautiful day. Bailey and I have been out quite a lot. I am getting some new grass (from seed) to grow in my front lawn where all of my dogs have destroyed it. There used to be a flower bed there, but decided to give up and just have grass instead. Most of my gardening nowadays is in pots or they are perennials. I’m afraid most of my gardening days are few and far between.
    Bailey and I just took a drive around town, doing errands. We stopped in at the Dairy Queen and she got a Pup Cup. She looks forward to that trip at least once a week. She is a spoiled but well-loved dog. Have a good “rest-of-the-weekend.”

  19. Dee Dee Peterson

    Wow, those Prairie Mallow flowers are beautiful. I will have to look around here in Wyoming and see if I can find some.

  20. Dee

    Your post came through great. Didn’t even have to click read more to see the whole thing. Hope they continue to go smoothly because I will miss hearing from you if not.

    So excited about pumpkins and things falling. Can’t wait!
    Dee

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Dee – please don’t hurry falls arrival! You know what follows!

  21. Marj in Western Wisconsin

    Your blog is always something I look forward to reading each day. It is a quilter’s version of the “calm”. I am sorry I never gotr to your shop, but am looking forward to Connie’s new pattrn – I love doing Halloween or Fall quilts. Even though green and gold are my favorite colors, orange and brown are not far behnd. Wish I had your green thumb. Trying to keep two hanging baskets alive along with three plants indoors. Have a wonderful weekend, stay cool, it is supposed to be in the 80s for the next week here, so you may hit the 90s.

  22. mary jane

    this is why we live “UP NORTH”. in the midwest..We have these beautiful days to enjoy all the spender it has to offer.. Now, almost 6 pm, I am enjoying a gin and tonic after potting and repotting plants. My reward for the day.. I had a friend stop by earlier and I entertained her in my garage..I had moved out my car to the driveway, have folding chairs out there where I was potting plants. We sat 6’apart and had ice tea and enjoyed ourselves. I need to hang lites or balloons out there and make it my GIRLS CAVE.
    I love the sailboat quilt..I can just see some young man wanting to sleep under that. I have never seen the pattern.
    This is why we need to have your blog, it gathers spirit in all of us. Again thanks Mary for taking the time in your busy life to share it with us…Love the Bad Hair Chick…mjg

  23. Nancy TD

    The animals all look good, The prairie mallow is beautiful. The post came through great. Looking forward to a fall quilt idea.

  24. Peggy S

    How happy this post makes me feel. Good news, critters, flowers, quilts, lots of positive notes. Been another tough day of all the nasty news!! Enough already. Thanks so much Mary.
    Loving the prairie mallow.
    Peggy S

  25. Charlotte Shira

    Love the prairie mallow!! Of course I love purple and blue flowers. The pictures are all great and love the quilts. The bad hair day chickens are adorable. It looks like they have hats on! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

  26. Vickie Lemonds

    Your flowers are outstanding and I never heard of prairie mallow. Wonder if it would live in NC, if I could find it.
    I know Pat Wys. I took a class from her at Tennessee Quilts in Jonesborough, TN during QuiktFest about 7-8 years ago. Then, she was using various shades of neutrals. I see she’s jazzing things up w color now.
    Love seeing the animals, of course!

  27. Susan Moore

    Mary since you have the new format I see no ads, there is a yellow box where they should be.

  28. Kathy Hanson

    What a happy posting!!! Loved seeing the animals and your flowers are so gorgeous! I am not the gardener but Jerry does such a good job and the birds are happy here. I will have to show him your pictures, the Mallow is really beautiful, I don’t know if he has ever planted that one. I have been doing so much sewing of quilts this last 3 1/2 months that I have ended up with tendonitis in my left wrist. That is all I have to keep me sane so I don’t know what to do! I will have a cortisone injection on Monday but I suspect they will tell me to rest it for awhile…that’s a pain!! Oh well, we have to do what we have to do I guess. You are so right, it has been just a gorgeous day! Thank you, so much for your happy post!!!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kathy Hanson – oh no, tendonitis! It’s very painful! But reading can get old – oh dear, are you left handed?

      1. Kathy Hanson

        Thank heaven I am right handed but when I am putting binding on – and that is a heavy job, I am doing a lot with my left hand pushing it and lifting it so that must be the problem. I suspect I am going to have to be careful for awhile after the injection as well. I will check that with the doctor on Monday! You are right, it is very painful!!

  29. Joyce from NY

    Beautiful pictures today, your Prairie Mallows remind me of my old fashion Holly Hocks. Glad your blog is back, I know it’s frustrating when it goes down. Going to try to follow along with Dirty Dozen again, I keep getting sidetracked.

  30. Rita

    Can you send a picture of your transplanted hostess? Am wondering how they are doing?

  31. Martha Engstler Gettysburg

    I bought Prairie Mallow seeds from you at the shop but much to my sorrow they didn’t reseed and I didn’t collect any seeds to use. Will have to try to get some next spring. Love the “bad hair” chickens. I tried the trick using a straw to core and take off the stems of strawberries and wow! it really worked great.

  32. Carolyn Boutilier

    thank you Mary for such a happy post with animals and flowers. i have never heard of Prairie Mallow flowers. Would love to find some and put along our fence. I would love that pattern by Pat Wys. Did she say the name of it? I am looking forward to Connie’s idea of fall quilts. Last fall I bought some fall fabric and have been saving them for something special. glad the blog is up and running without problems. I missed your blogs. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley VA

  33. Gayle Shumaker

    I finished a twin size quilt for my 2 1/2 yr. old grandson who will be moving to Memphis in 2 weeks. I’m happy for my son getting his dream job with a full time fire department but hate that they will be 12 hours away. It’s been an unsettling couple of weeks with the unexpected loss of a sister-in-law and a great nephew. It’s a reminder to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you.

  34. Jeanie S, Central IL

    Thanks for the lovely posting, Mary. It was just like taking a walk around the yard with you. 🤗

  35. Kathy in western NY

    The pictures all bring smiles to our days so thank you for giving your readers joy with beauty and nice quilting skills. Inspires us all to create and enjoy our yards with the pictures. Today it will be good ole burgers on the grill and I will make a macaroni salad to go with them. It reminds me to enjoy simple. Have my checkbook waiting to buy some new patterns from you girls!!! Can’t wait to see some fall/ Halloween ideas as I still want to make your game board pattern from fall prints like Connie did and I sure don’t sew as fast as I use to so starting early is helpful.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kathy in western ny – your supper sounds delicious! Get that Gameboard pattern out today and pull some fabrics – there’s no time like the present!

  36. Marian F Stever

    I just love the chickens/roosters?, Rosie, the flowers–all of your little place in the universe! All’s well when I tour your farm. Just makes my day. Quilts are wonderful, too.

  37. Betty Klosterman

    Got to love the chickens!! Years ago Runnings had a huge variety of very exotic chickens and they were beautiful, like nothing I’d ever seen. It just goes to show that all the animals are perfectly happy with the way God made them. Lesson: we should be satisfied??
    As for your prairie mallo, I have something kind of similar. It grows in a large bush, not stalks like Holly Hawk, but has seeds just like holly hawks. From what I’ve found, it might be Rose Mallo. Any ideas? It is really pretty, too. The flowers are a lavender blue. I’ve got seeds.
    We’re waiting for Pres. Trump at Mt. Rushmore on Friday. Personally, I’m worried about fireworks as we are bone dry, protestors and the mass of people. We’ve already had several fires. Paper says you can park in Keystone for $50. Mt. Rushmore is 3 miles UP from Keystone. Last time lots of people walked the 3 miles in 90 degree heat……. Whatever will be. Everybody, have a safe, happy 4th. Betty in Rapid City

  38. CAROLYN BARNETT

    I know this sounds kind of goofy… but I think the chickens that are called “bad hair day” chickens should get a new PR representative!! They need a new name change. I think these lovely chickens look like all those English ladies that wear those outlandish hats at weddings and regal events!! Perhaps we could call them “Dress Up” chickens, or “Fashion Icons”, ” Regal Layers”… I hope you ladies can come up with some fun names for these chickens! (One way of keeping ourselves amused…)

  39. MartyCae

    Thanks for all the eye candy! I especially like the picture of Betsy. Summer in Iowa is the best!

Comments are closed.