And it’s done – I think we should call it Bow Wow – a very simple quilt made with a main focus fabric and 16 – 1-1/2” strips plus binding. I think the fabric is so cute and I’ve had it for several years, bought with nothing in mind except that I loved it. Bow Wow pattern is $5 with a SASE.
I even had enough for the back!
And here’s my next grouping – as of now I don’t know what I’m going to make with it.
Ivy and Finn were here again this afternoon – here’s Sweet Ivy. I’d take her in a minute – Finn is too wild for an old lady.
Look at these two monster plants that I had to bring in tonight – they are both night blooming cereus plants that have those huge blooms once a year in the summer.
Got this new plant yesterday when I traded a pencil tree with Doug – he names his plants so this plant is now named Doug.
This is going to be a full time job keeping all these plants alive through the winter!! As Connie says “plant addiction is real!”
A huge thanks to 35 of you who sent cards to Norma – her daughter warned the manager that a number of cards would be coming for her mom. We did a good thing sending cards to a senior citizen in the care center. Thank you!!!
Could not read comments on 10/10. I’m posting this hoping it goes through.
Love the Bow Wow quilt, plants, and all of the post.
So glad Norma received all of the cards! It was an honor to send her one.
I got a contractor lined up to help me finish the interior work in my house – beginning in January 2024.
Take care everyone.
Sharon G – you found a contractor? Well done!!!
Mary how do you keep with watering all these plants and take care of the farm & Rick? I have had a cerus plant for 2 years and it has never bloomed. How do you make yours bloom? During the summer weather I put it on a table on our deck getting indirect light. there is a roof over this deck.
Carolyn b Shenandoah valley VA
Carolyn – I don’t know why it blooms but as you can see both plants are huge and potbound – maybe that’s the reason? I’ll try to read up in my succulent book to see if I can find an answer. There are days I am overwhelmed with what’s on my plate but what would I change?????
Love love love your dog quilt. Just so cute!!! When I sent my card from New Hampshire, I forgot that the post office was closed on Monday. Norma may be receiving more cards throughout the week. Such a nice idea.
Yes, Norma won’t have received my card yet, either, because it is on its way from th Netherlands, so her tally will grow some yet!
The dog quilt is adorable! I would have bought that fabric too. I often do just that. Then the fabric sits until I find the right project for it. I think “Doug” is quite handsome on your table with that really nice table topper underneath. It’s great to hear that Norma got so much mail! It warms my heart.
Bow Wowzers is a cute quilt. Of course you just played by ear dreaming up a pattern for it.
I went to jail today…they are so excited for us to come. They did so much show and tell. The girls have been very busy making crazy quilt blocks and 6” strip quilts. My partner ask if more batting could be ordered, yes, they will order more!!! I ask if the quilts could be put on the Facebook page. They will check. If that happens, somehow I’ll get it to all you.
It’s starting soup weather.
Jo – oh, we would ll love to see their quilts! What a wonderful outlet for them! Are they allowed only a few hours at a time to sew? Or whenever they want? I just know they’re all thankful for you, Jo! You being some fun to their lives in jail.
love your new bow-wow quilt. your sun room looks perfect with all those plants in it. so much work keeping them alive. your new plant ‘doug’ is really nice. patti in FL expecting bad weather the next couple days
You name your plants! haha I thought I was the only one who did that. My George got his name because he got so big. He is a bromeliad. He’s not looking so good now, tho. I took 3 pups from him and hoped he would recover and generate more pups, but he may not recover nor generate more pups. I suppose I really should call the plant Gerogie and refer to it as her considering the pups and all. oh well. I love that bow wow fabric and the quilt. And Ivy looks like such a sweet doggie. I’m more of a cat person, but I believe Ivy could steal my heart. Yes, I would guess it would take some time and thought to keep all those plants happy over the winter, but I can imagine how cheering they would be on a dark and dreary winter day. Thanks for sharing all the pretty pictures today!
Hi Mary, happy day! Visited the dentist with no work to be done! My new overlocker is being rethreaded by my daughter in law, the old eyes aren’t up to the job these days! Now l can start to use up all the sweat shirting l have for kids in need. Love the cute dog fabric too! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – did you find the items you were looking for yesterday? Good luck with your sewing today. You hit the jackpot at the dentist –
I love your bow wow quilt. I had that fabric and I believe my quilt went to a child at Project Linus. I’m like you…if I really like a fabric, I have to buy it because I know I won’t find it later. That’s why my stash is out of control. I’m boxing up my sewing room because I want to have new flooring put in 3 rooms. It is really a job but I’m finding things that I had forgotten about and some things that I no longer need.
Ivy does look like such a sweet dog!
Charlotte – boxing up your sewing room???? Oh, what a big job but imagine what you’ll come across! My Bow Wow quilt will go to some special kid – some day. I’ll need to keep it for awhile since I’m making the pattern available.
Love the pictures! My card is on the way to Norma, so she’s getting more.
Mary your Bow Wow quilt has gone to the dogs, beautiful in the way you have put it together. The pictures of the dogs go with the quilt. You do have a lot of plants. You may get you rain barrel full in the next few days to fill more of your jugs. I am sending a card out to Norma today so she will have more to open. Thanks for thinking of this and making it happen.
Rita – Rick said the same thing – about the rain barrel! I think I need 2-3 jugs per week and I need enough to get me through to spring. Rain water is one of the reasons my plants do so well. I can’t believe you remember my whole rain barrel operation!!
Mary,
I love the striped binding on the Bow Wow quilt. And the focus fabric is adorable. It’s nice to have a simple pattern to use fabric that you love and buy but don’t have a project in mind when you buy it!!
I love the Bow Wow quilt. That is on my list to make now. And all your plants make a room so inviting. When I was a florist years ago and owned a flower shop I had so many too. When I hit the road last winter I had to give away my plants and have since resisted buying more since I am on the move. Now I only have a beautiful jade plant that a friend keeps for me as needed.
I am here at the rescue until next Monday when I will head home again. I hate leaving and my dogs will be disappointed too. There are several dogs that have wormed their way into my heart but I am doing my best to resist adding a fourth to my pack.
Pattie – I showed the picture of the sad golden boy to my friends – has he been adopted yet? Traveling would be harder with a 4th dog but I understand your desire and the temptation. My rescue is having a fundraising auction and I had to ask Rick to drop off my donations. I just cannot go there without getting so upset and so sad. Are you going to AZ this winter?
Love the Bow Wow quilt: the main fabric, strips, and binding make it very eye catching. I used to have indoor plants, but I gave them all away several years ago. That made my life easier. The outdoor plants consume my time spring, summer, and fall. We are to get rain the next 3 days. I hope it is a gentle, long soaking.
Oh, I would have bought that fabric also. Love it!! I also don’t know how you do everything you do. You have the energy of 10! I am not a plant person, as I just can’t keep them going, but I do appreciate others who can. My daughter really got into it during the Covid school shut down and has over 100 now. Some go into her classroom during the school year but there isn’t a spot in her house that is not covered in plants. Love your sunroom!
Bow wow quilt is cute! I have plenty of plants too. Every year when we close our campsite for the winter, people throw there plants out that they have grown thru the summer. This year I picked up a fern and starts is an angel wing begonia. Will have to see if I can get them to root. There were a couple others I thought about picking up, but I didn’t. I don’t like that they will die, but I can’t handle any more.
Margie – some of my friends just leave them outside to freeze and I just can’t do that. I have recently found two new plant friends/addicts – we can share!
Mary, Connie is right as plant addiction is REAL!!!
One more card is heading to Norma, mine was late due to busy, busy life.
Love your latest quilt sewn with that cute fabric!!
My card to Norma is on the way!! Love the Bow Wow quilt!!
You are just like me Mary pulling fabric from our stashes to think of something next! Love the dog fabric and quilt.
Norma will be getting more cards this week to enjoy. I have a Halloween card I am sending her.
Your blog today was entertaining today. Love how you share. Love the pics and your quilt.
We are expecting rain here in SW Iowa.
Bow wow is so cute!
Rain is suppose to move in. We need the moisture bad! Combine broke down. No parts anywhere….have to be overnighted! Blah!
Maybe Jay will be able to dig his potatoes before the rain. There are only a few hills out there. I think I will hide in my cave 😉
Cute, cute Bow Wow quilt. Sometimes simple really is better. I can see it in about any focus fabric. What size did it work up to? I really need to go through your available patterns and order some. Going by your house next week on the way to my friend in St Benedict so will wave from the highway.
Cute dog quilt and would work for any fabric that you don’t want to cut too small! My hardy hibiscus has finally quit blooming. I miss seeing it’s huge red blooms. It will be back in spring! I only have one indoor plant, pothos vine, low maintenance!
Mary, I sent a postcard yesterday to Norma!
My card is on the way to Norma! Just dropped it in the mail.
Great pictures, Mary. I love the Bow Wow quilt–so cute. Ivy is adorable.
I am loving these cooler temps. I have been trying to reorganize my sewing room, so I can find things.
Thanks for this wonderful blog!
What a sweet quilt! Do you think you can use up your fabric stash? There’s no possibility for me. Anyone else?
Jan – not unless I live to 150! Haha!
Mary, Ivy looks like our Biscuit! They do have such sweet dispositions.
I really love the bow wow quilt too. I bet I could find a lovely cat fabric as the focus fabric and make a smaller quilt for my daughters cat shelter’s fundraiser. Might have to put aside what I’m doing! I’m currently finishing a baby quilt, working on a counted cross stitch project and am hand quilting a Christmas quilt..so you see, I need another project!!
Three of my sisters and I took our mom out to lunch and to the cemetery to honor another of our sisters on her birthday today. We shared many laughs and a good meal. She would have been 65 today. 🙁 I still miss her everyday.
I’m watching the baseball playoffs. I just love Justin Verlander. When he was a Tiger, he paid for different veterans to come to every home game. They had a special area called Verlander for Veterans. And they were acknowledged by the announcers every game. It was a wonderful tribute.
Have a good weekend!
Sunflower – I’m watching baseball, too, since I got home from choir. I didn’t know that about Verlander – really a nice gesture! Yes, we all have too many projects but Bow Wow is pretty easy and fast. I’m going to use it for a beautiful floral fabric I’ve been saving. Your sister died young, sadly.
Mary, she surely did die too young. Sunflower
I LOVE the bow wow fabric
I have been ruminating about your “plant addiction,” wondering what you could do other than throwing away your trimmings. There have got to be organizations or individuals who will take them and turn them into $$ for their use. Maybe 4H? Maybe some other school or church fundraiser? You can do as much as you wish starting the plants OR just give away the trimmings. Your plants will be all over the community and you will have done a good deal. I may be too late for this year but next year???
Love your blog, thanks for it. Stay well and enjoy the Fall sports season!
Sydney – good idea for next year!
Sydney – have been thinking about this – the Garner high school has a greenhouse and I think I should contact the school about starting plants for their sale when they have their geranium campaign . It killed me to throw so many away last week. Thanks for this incentive – I’ve tried youth groups in the past and I’ve been very disappointed –
I hope it works out well for everybody this coming year. I wish I were in a position to adopt a few, especially the succulents. I live in an assisted living facility and don’t have the space or energy to have as many plants as I would like. It’s a good place and where I have to be now but I will always miss the “old days”……….things like having my own home, driving, being self-sufficient. But as that great philosopher Jimminy Cricket said, “It’s what you do with what you’ve got {left} that counts.”
Sydney – oh my! I will be you some day and I will miss this life I’m living now. Realizing this I try to appreciate my everyday life “about nothing” and find all the good in it. You don’t live around me, do you? Because if you do, I’m coming!
Oh, that would be great. I live in North Carolina. I have lived all over in my 85 years but have been in NC — first Charlotte and now Asheville — about 25 years now. If you and your husband ever plan to visit Asheville, please let me know and we’ll get together. What fun that would be.
Take care. Regards, Sydney
Sydney – if you’re a long time blog reader you know I don’t go anywhere but I love to hear from my readers around the world!!!
PS: you could have a work day/reward day where the 4H come and help you with the plant cleanup and moving indoors, they earn points for their helping you, and they leave with PLENTY of trimmings!