Someone inquired about the jewelry tree quilt –
Even though there’s not much jewelry on it now I’m reminded of the times when our mom was in the care center. I sewed up this little tree and the activity director hung it in the hallway by the dining room where everyone would see it. Nearly all the residents and/or visitors left a piece of jewelry hanging on this little quilt and then they’d visit the quilt with their visitors to admire it. It’s such a simple little thing, this little tree quilt, but it holds huge memories for me!
In time this pattern will be in our online store but if you want it immediately, send $5 and a self addressed stamped envelope to Country Threads, 2345 Palm Ave. Garner, IA 50438.
It’s the start of Thanksgiving week – a good time to be still and enjoy the holiday with immediate family only. Please do not travel- I can’t believe the reports on the news of airports being so crowded! This, after the WHO begged people to stay home this holiday! These people do not care about the rest of us. One man belligerently declared it was his constitutional right not to wear a mask and to travel as he saw fit. I don’t know about you, but we’re staying home to eat ham, green bean casserole and heart attack potatoes!
I agree Mary, some people just don’t care or don’t get it. I’m staying home, my children & families are all celebrating separately this year & bringing me dinner, so nice of them. On the question of getting the vaccine, I think I will wait until I know it is proven safe! Happy Thanksgiving to all!
What an awesome idea! I have lots of my late mother’s jewelry and I am going to make this!! I live it!
Love the tree and my immediate thoughts were what a way to use the jewelry that my mother and mother-in-law left behind. It could be a family heirloom to be given to my family members.
Our thanksgiving will be spent with my sister and her husband. We both pretty much isolate ourselves except for the necessary shopping. We spent two months with them cleaning up after the derecho in Cedar Rapids. I think we’re good. It will certainly be a different year for the holidays. But we all need to think of others and not just ourselves.
Be still and safe. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.
Our kids and grandkids live within a mile of us and we’re still not having dinner together. My daughter said it’s the first Thanksgiving she’s missed in 44 years, of course she’s 44 as of last month. Have a safe and blessed holiday season. Love reading about your dog escapades, puts a smile on my face. 🙂
Love the tree idea! We are cooking for ourselves too as our children wish to keep us safe this year and I am capable of cooking our own meal. Think how much farther ahead we would have been this holiday season had masks been early on not turned into a political voice of their rights to freedom. The virus was never taken seriously and what an awful thing it’s turned out to be for many. I looked at the number of participants in the vaccine trials and thought it’s amazing that many around the world did this for all mankind.
Amen to your comments on masks. I had a poster in my HS classroom of kids of all colors joined together and it said, “Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.”. Why would people want to do something that hurts others? I don’t understand that thinking.🙁
Thank you Diane, it just upsets me what could have been spared if this virus was handled with unity at the beginning. How sad to hear of the Bills player who is out now for the season due to an enlarged heart as a result of covid. None of us know how our bodies will react to this.
Hahaha Heart Attack Potatoes!!! My favorite part of the meal. We are also not celebrating with anyone. Children from Chicago and Virginia cancelled their flights last month. 🙁
Melinda in CT
What is “heart attack potatoes “? Please share the recipe! Sounds like something I’d like to go with my heart stents!👍
I, too, am curious about heart attack potatoes. Please share the recipe.
I don’t know what heart attack potatoes are either. I’m guessing they’re pretty wonderful, Our Thanksgiving looks similar. My husband and I have become pretty good company for each other over the past several months. Not as much going off to our own thing.
What a great way to display jewelry from a mom or grandma that are no longer with us. So much better than leaving it in a box. Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Your jewelry tree is so wonderful. I have old costume jewelry from my Mother and my Mother-in-law. I can’t wait to do this. Thank you for your great idea! Happy Thanksgiving!
I am getting a turkey breast from honey baked ham and eating it by myself. The kids that live 2 miles from me texted to see if I wanted to have Thanksgiving with them. I told them, “not this year”.
Stay safe and be still!
What a fun way to display pieces of jewelry that have been broken or a single favorite earring. I am so going to try this idea. Mary, Thank You so much for sharing.
As for travel, I’m ordering groceries for delivery these days. BUT, I have also finally received permission to go back to Japan the end of December (I’ve been in the US since March and do have a residency Visa), so I will be traveling then.
Deb B – gosh, I have wondered about you so often and when you’d get to return to Japan!!! I’m so happy for you that it won’t be long now!
Will be a quiet Thanksgiving here. I don’t understand people who are going great distances to see family. Aren’t they worried they could infect these people whom they love so much? We have friends who are driving from Florida to Idaho! There’s a risk just to go to a local grocery store. I don’t understand why they would do this. No point in saying a word so didn’t waste my breath. They haven’t lived under a rock. Some people have few symptoms and others die. Who wants to find out which they may be? Stay well everyone. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Love the Christmas tree quilt. What a wonderful memory.
Staying home this year. Massachusetts has another spike happening and we’re not allowed to drive to NH where I would have liked to be for the holiday with my daughter and son in law. We could go to my other daughter’s in MA but they have six kids between them and I just don’t want to take a chance. Will miss them but as others are saying, I don’t want to find out whether one of us is the one who might die from this terrible virus. I hope you post your recipe for Heart Attack Potatoes Mary! Want to compare it to mine. I used to use “Southern Style Hash Browns” but I can’t find those anymore. Would love to know what others use. Oh, and I love the Jewelry Tree, what a great memory for you! Be still everyone, stay safe. Jan in MA
Janice: I use “Simply Potatoes” in my potato casserole. They are not frozen but refrigerated hash browns.
I love the jewelry Christmas tree! What a great idea! And to have it where others can add to and enjoy it makes it super special.
We just got home to Texas from visiting my son in Iowa. He and his wife have our first grandson. We drive the 13 hours, bring our lunch and snacks, and stop only for restroom and fuel. We wear our masks and use sanitizer. When we visit the guest room is in the basement so we’re away from their sleeping area. We don’t go out much while we’re there. We eat at their home instead of going out.
We won’t be gathering for thanksgiving other than my husband and I with our other two sons – one lives local and one in Oklahoma. The two sons are very careful of where they go and wear masks too.
A normal thanksgiving with my family is around 35-40 people – that’s not happening this year and we won’t be gathering for Christmas either.
Love the jewelry tree. I bet the ladies had fun decorating it with their jewelry.
I plan to cook a turkey breast in my Instant Pot. Stovetop stuffing from a box. Sweet potatoes that we grew last summer. Cranberry sauce that I made. And, pumpkin pie from a pie pumpkin we grew last summer. We are two old homesteaders still gardening and canning. It has kept us busy during this long pandemic.
Sad that our daughter won’t be here this year. She lives only 1 hour away but is out in public every day and doesn’t want to take the chance.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you. Be Still….
Love the tree! We hear often about people who scoffed at masks singing a different song when they come down with the virus! It’s sometimes hard not to feel judgmental toward them. We are getting together with a friend who is self isolating as we are and it will just be the three of us for a simple celebration. Our children are all being careful as well and hoping we can get through this until the vaccine is available to all. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 to all and be still.
Yikes..I don’t know what I did wrong, but Anonymous is me.
About 2 weeks ago a very long time family friend called to see if I was still staying home. The answer is yes. He then told me because of older friends and family who were also staying home, his family had decided to fix Thanksgiving dinner and DELIVER it to everybody. Now just isn’t that pretty nice? It will be appreciated, especially the thoughts for us. A very nice Thanksgiving to be thankful for what we have and to be safe for all of us.
Take care everybody and be careful.
Betty Klosterman in Rapid City, SD
Betty K – what a grand idea – delivering Thanksgiving dinner to friends and family! Enjoy!
Your menu looks delicious! Will you tell us more about Heart Attack potatoes? We are staying home for Thanksgiving. We are having incredibly nice weather in Texas. Cool nights, but no freezing temps so far. My summer plants are still going strong. I have Morning Glories blooming each morning! They are a bit wind worn, but still very pretty. We usually have had at least one cold night that kills the summer plants. A great opportunity to sit outside and enjoy our summer labors…….without the heat and humidity. Counting my Blessings today!
We are staying home for Thanksgiving and making a roast chicken for two. I still go to the grocery store, but that’s all. I can’t understand the people traveling for Thanksgiving. It’s just not worth the risk. Then we have Christmas coming up. We are agonizing about going from FL to VT. We won’t fly and have an elaborate plan to drive, cook all dinners in the hotel microwave in our room after wiping everything down with Lysol wipes followed by a two week quarantine in VT! Our daughter lives there alone and we feel we need to lend support, but have told her we may have to stay here in the end. What are heart attack potatoes? Sounds like a recipe we’d love!
I love your recommendation and for those who refuse masks, please also refuse healthcare.
Cheryl Regan – I love that idea – “refuse healthcare”! It’s only fair!
Mary,
Saw a nurse on tv news comment! WOULD YOU RATHER WEAR A MASK OR END UP HAVING A TUBE PUSHED DOWN YOUR THROAT. Please wear masks!
Love the little tree quilt and especially the memories!
We are staying home and will have Cornish game hens and continue to look at each other and maybe start a quilt puzzle that I bought at the quilt store that I stopped at to pick up some background fabric for yet another quilt! Putting together the Christmas mystery quilt that I have been working on. Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Staying Home!!!
Such a wonderful way to use older jewelry on a cute tree pattern. Bright idea.
I’ll be home alone for Thanksgiving, but that’s ok with me. Getting my dinner from a local restaurant…..going thru their drive through. Had to sign up and state your time of pick up.
Way better than cooking!!
Heart attack potatoes!!! Do tell!!! Never heard of such a dish. Funeral potatoes I’ve heard of.
I’m liking the idea of delivering dinner to my kids. They are an hour away. They could come outside with masks, we could hug and shed a tear, then come home and pretend we’re together. It’s not much, but better than nothing.
Mary, I’m am so thankful for your blog, ideas, inspiration your readers. Please, let’s all be still.
Rub her ears for me.
Jo in Wyoming – yes, I’ll rub her ears for you! How many kids do you have? Do they live close?
I have one son and one significant daughter-in-law. They have one cat. My grand dog, Loki crossed the rainbow bridge a few months ago. He was 17 y/o German Shepard.
Your tree is so cute. Brings back memories of my MIL making these. On another subject, your shy rescue dog..have you thought about putting something like a soft flannel blanket in with pup? One that you’ve had around you for awhile so when he’s in his kennel, your scent is right there with him. I remember that’s what we did for the dog when we brought new baby home. The dog had the scent of baby for a few days before the baby got home. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Beth – I gave her my bathrobe.
I love the jewelry tree idea. I’ll wait till you have it in the online shop. No time to make it now! Heart attack potatoes sound good!
Charlotte – any tree shape will do – in case you already have one at home.
The jewery is wonderful idea My! My cousin wants me with him who was a firefighters paramedic. Wife a nurse. Going there for Thanksgiving. B only 8. I wear mask when everywhere. No biggy! I agree that guy should not have Healthcare! Covid not to play around with at all. Be still be safe.
Mary,
What a sweet memory. Thank you for sharing it.
I’m with you about the travel. I don’t understand why people would want to take such a big risk.
There are too many people with the rules are for everyone else attitude. What happened to we are in this together?
We are staying home and having smoked turkey, hash brown casserole, glazed carrots, corn, rolls and pie.
What are heart attack potatoes?
How is sweet Jo? I would like to get a hold of the person or persons responsible for her being so scared.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and be still.
Debbie
We are staying home also, kids coming for dinner, we have been interacting with them through out this pandemic. Heart attack potatoes?!?! Sounds great, do you have the recipe to share?
I Googled “Heart Attack Potatoes” and presto..the recipe! I have had these many times but never knew them by this name. They are yummy! Enjoy!
I can’t believe you published the picture of the Jewelry Tree and the story today. Just this very morning, I was looking at my Mom’s jewelry. She passed in 2007 and I’ve had her jewelry put away. Can’t wear her clip on earrings because they give me a headache. Now I know what to do with all her lovely pieces. I’ll be sending for that pattern soon!! Thank you, Mary
Regarding Thanksgiving. Of course we are staying home where we’ve been for months. Haven’t seen our boys, in-law kids or grandchildren for months either. Our daughter, next door, gets our groceries, leaves them outside. We are happy for the telephone, email and texts.
This too shall pass.
Bonnie – any tree pattern will do if you happen to have one already. Just cut out a tree shape and stitch to a background – mine is even raw – edged! So glad this made your morning!!!
P.S. from Bonnie re: Heart Attack Potatoes
I have the recipe. Got it from my daughter-in-law’s sister who lives in Iowa. We call them Iowa Potatoes. They are so yummy!
Mary you absolutely make me laugh! What on earth are heart attack potatoes? Do tell!
Can’t wait to make the jewelry tree quilt. I have so many odds and ends and broken pieces of jewelry that is just what I’ve been looking for to use them. In Fairfield, Pennsylvania we have a 1757 inn that has been in constant use since then. A new owner has taken it over and the food is fabulous. They are doing a take out meal with everything traditional. It will be just my husband and me and I’m told there will be left over turkey for sandwiches. I’m really looking forward to this and I don’t have to cook or go out among other people.
I, too, love the Redwork, Jewelry Tree, and Christmas quilts. Our kids and grandkids live here in Ohio, but we are not getting together. Both of our kids are HS teachers. My husband says that’s like being in a Covid petri dish. So far, they and their HS children have had scares of students in class who have Covid or have been exposed. Therefore, our daughter and family are preparing dinner and we’ll meet them to get ours—like “Meals on Wheels”!!😃😃.
Vaccines—my FIL always said, “Don’t be the first to do something and don’t be the last,”. We’ll wait until it is our turn which should put us about in the middle.
My husband and I are staying home also. I will call my brother who lives by himself and see if his daughters don’t make a plate for him I will take a plate and put it on his back porch to pick up.
MY grandmother made a jewelry tree for each of her 4 daughters and they are a family treasure, great memories are in of the 4 trees. We will travel from TN to Wisc to stay with our daughter for a week. We have been home for 12 days and she has worked from home since March. We both do grocery for pickup only or we do with out. We will stop for gas and bathrooms as needed and I will pack a lunch for on the road. We sanitize in excess and we wear our masks. Its easier for us to travel to her since we can go when traffic is less and she can be available if needed for her job. I’m grateful that she does everything to keep us safe and we do the same. Her home is decorated for the Christmas season because we wont be back once the snow flies. We plan to bake and watch movies. We anxiously wait for a vaccine.
Love your jewelry tree haven’t seen anything like this before. What a great idea.
I completely agree about the staying home and wearing masks. What about our rights not to be infected by people who don’t think there is COVID.
We really want to see our daughters and granddaughters but we aren’t going so we all stay safe.
I will in a heartbeat get the vaccine when it is safe because my husband has no immune system. And because of his Wegeners he will be at the top of the need list. Love your blog