Keeping My Fingers Crossed

I am so encouraged I’m going to write another short post. You cannot believe how relieved I am and how thankful I am that this torture has ended. I celebrated by making one of our favorite summer meals – stir fried green beans!

Read more

These delicious green beans are not your healthy meal, however we eat them a couple times every green bean season. Fry bacon with chopped onions and drain leaving some bacon grease in the skillet. Have green beans already cooked and drained. Put green beans into bacon and onion skillet and stir. Add about a T. Vinegar and a t. Sugar. Stir all together and enjoy during green bean season.

I told the barn animals I was back to taking pictures of them so the goats got together with the geese – the baby goose is doing very well keeping up with the adults but is never far from Mom’s watchful eye so I can never get a good picture.

And that goes for the baby chicks, too. Nobody wants their picture taken it seems.

Reed’s quilt with Hazel appreciating all his hard work.

This was something I cut from my 2″ strips when I was so frustrated with the blog, I didn’t know where to turn. Every single piece was cut from that tub of 2″ strips I cut late last winter. I’ll have to look up the name of this quilt – it’s another by Bonnie Hunter. And I’ll show it again when I finish.

Tomorrow is Novel Idea at the library – hope somebody’s got a good book to recommend.

I’ll get the Rug Along restarted toward the end of this week – are you still with me?

Guess I’ll head to the sewing room for the evening and work on the Bonnie Hunter project. I think I’ll sleep better tonight!

86 thoughts on “Keeping My Fingers Crossed

  1. Carol at Pin Oak Quilting

    You’re back! Two posts complete with photos! Hurrah! I love you’re Bonnie Hunter quilt, it’s so pretty!
    Love your animal photos, and recipes. Thanks for sharing.

    1. Dorothy in So CAL

      So happy your blog is up and working again – you have no idea how many of us missed your farm postings! Closed 4 ads!

  2. Lisa in eastern Washington state

    I just finished reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I think you might enjoy it.
    Glad the blog is working! Enjoy your evening sewing, the scrappy quilt is lovely.

  3. Vicky Montag

    Green beans with bacon and onion is the way my family has eaten them for 42 years. Sometimes I have to leave the onion out as a few of the grandchildren don’t like onion.

  4. Janice Hebert

    Oh I hope you sleep well Mary! Such a nice post. I wish I had chickens still. Maybe in the spring. Your green bean recipe sounds awesome! We’ve just been steaming them. But BACON! Bacon makes everything better! Thanks for the recipe! Jan from MA

  5. Teresa

    I make the green beans too except I cook up a pound of bacon and onions and do not drain a drop of grease off. Add the cooked fresh green beans and toss a lot to thoroughly coat with bacon grease! Yum-Yum

  6. Brenda C

    So glad your frustration is over.
    I checked Bonnie’s site and the quilt you are making is called Carolina Chain. Yours is going to be wonderful!

  7. Jane Dumler

    Wonderful wonderful! Two great posts in one day. Love the pictures—I would call your quilt a 9 patch scramble. Enjoy your sewing! The green beans look so good—I will try that!

  8. Rosie Westerhold

    That onnie pattern is Carolina Chain. I have one going as well! Can’t remember which book.

  9. Nancy Norris

    Welcome back Mary. I always love reading whatever you have to post. You are an inspiration with all that you do. My last 5 weeks have been spent caring for a husband who was sent home from the hospital on hospice. Last night he returned home to Father. This week is busy with funeral arrangements and the funeral.

    1. patti leal

      nancy, i’m sorry for your loss. turn to the Father and he will get you through this. give yourself time to grief and do’t rush yourself. quilti hugs, patti in florida

      1. Bonnie McKee

        Nancy, I am so sorry for you great loss.
        I will hold you up in prayer. May God comfort you and give you peace and rest.

        Mary, congrats on getting your blog under control again! Your farm pictures were greatly missed!
        I’m glad you can now get back to doing the things you are so good at! Loving animals, gardening and quilt/rug making!
        Bonnie In Oregon

    2. Kathy Hanson

      So sorry, Nancy, thoughts and prayers for your loss and sadness. Yes, he did return home to his Father.

    3. Katie

      Nancy, Sorry for your loss..Peace of the Lord be with You…💐

      Mary glad u r back , look forward to your sharing Always..🎈
      Katie in Gilbert, AZ.

    4. Caryn Goulden

      Nancy, I am so sorry for your loss. I know you have many memories and the love of the Father to comfort you. Prayers for strength and peace. ❤️

      1. Diane, Squeak's Mom

        Nancy, I am sorry for the loss of your husband. Peace be with you as you go through this hard time

    5. MarleneT upstate NY

      Dear Nancy,
      Please know that I will keep you in my prayers. So sad to lose a loved one. Such a blessing that you could bring him home to familiar surroundings for his last days and such a peace for all. I have many quilting friends who have lost loved ones and no matter if they know each other or not, there is some kind of special bond. God Bless and take care. Just know that many of us care and will pray for you.

      1. Carolyn Rector

        Sorry for your loss and I am glad you were able to bring him home, too. I was unable to do that for my husband whom I lost in March of this year. I was still working and he was unable to walk or sit up. I too pray to the Father to comfort me in my grief knowing my husband is in heaven. God bless you for all that you did.

  10. Rosie Westerhold

    Obviously I don’t read what I type. HaHaHa. Should be Bonnie pattern. Sheesh!!

  11. Jan VanDeWalle

    The green beans look very good will have to try that recipe. Quilt is pretty too. Glad this blog is working again so you can have fun with it
    Jan, Oregon

    1. Sue davis

      Love the pictures of hazel. And her hair is beautiful, does she comb it with a mixer! LOL🐩🎈

      1. CountryThreads Post author

        Sue Davis – yes, sometimes I think she does comb it with a mixer – haha! It is very coarse and wouldn’t lay smooth for anything. I’d have to shave her.

  12. Tammy Guerrero

    We missed you and your farm pictures! Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. I so enjoy hearing from you!

  13. mjg

    OH yes, green beans, bacon, onions one of my late husbands very favorite meals. He was lucky when the garden produced a fair amount of green beans. We also pickled green beans with garlic cloves. Something our family expects on the Thanksgiving table…so good.

    I am reading a book called LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, I am almost finished with it and would recommend it.. another one is WOMEN ROWING NORTH by Mary Pipher. One I have not read yet is THE YORKSHIRE SHEPHERDESS by Amanda Owen.

    I again thankyou for all your hard work in getting your blog back in order and to us so we can once again ejoy the IA farm life…

    Our little rain storm here in Hudson Wi left a wonderful cool breeze, sleep good tonite…

  14. Joyce from NY

    Will have to try the green bean recipe, sounds yummy! Love your Bonnie quilt too, love scrappy. Closed 2 ads. Glad your back.

  15. Sue in Oregon

    Thanks for the green bean recipe. I have never made that dish even though I have grown them for years. I think it sounds healthy if you are on a low carb diet, or watching carbs. Whatever. I just don’t think about it anymore. I like what I like and my vanity days are long gone. lol
    Love that Bonnie Hunter quilt you are showing. Brenda says it is Carolina Chain. Must look that up.

    Glad you are back in full force. SO happy for you.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Sue in Oregon – thanks so much! I know my blood pressure is much lower tonight. Yes, our vanity days are gone, too – and good riddance!

  16. Cheryl in St. Paul

    You made it! Three cheers for your success! So happy you are back.

    My grandma made that same green bean dish every summer. I’ve been busy making soups for the freezer using our tomato and pepper bounty. I toss in a couple handful of dehydrated mixed veggies and beef or not.

    I love Reed’s quilt so much!

  17. Martha Engstler

    Welcome back, we do appreciate your blogs so much, always look forward to them. The beans look great, can’t wait to try them. I love sweet and sour food.

  18. Carolyn Boutilier

    Glad things are getting back to normal. Love the animals and Reed’s quilt with Hazel. Bonnie Hunter’s quilt like a good stash quilt. This week is our county fair and I won 2 Blue ribbons on my rug hooking and a red for my wool applique wall hanging. There lots of quilts and I am a newbie at quilting so I stick to rug hooking for fair entries. This is a huge Mennonite community here in the valley and they all quilt.
    Carolyn B Shenandoah Valley VA.

  19. Ellie

    Reed’s quilt is so pretty! Love your Carolina Chain. I made one a couple of years ago for our grandson’s graduation. Soon he’ll be graduating from college and I’ll have another to make!
    Really glad you have solved the problems on the blog. It is such a treat to see all you’re doing and the animals.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Ellie – thanks for promoting my memory on Carolina Chain! This is really hodgepodge but it kept me occupied. Ha!

      1. CountryThreads Post author

        Ellie – darn auto correct – should have said Thanks for prompting my memory – not promoting!!!!!!

  20. Sharon Ernst

    I’m so glad your stress is over! I can feel the relief in your post!
    It’s always so fun to see what you’re doing!

  21. Arrowhead Gramma

    Fingers crossed that you are good to go! Appreciate everyone’s efforts that went into making this happen – especially yours! ❣️🤗❣️

  22. Nikki M in Tx

    Kudo’s to Reed….wonderful & beautiful quilt. Remember it is just one ( or whatever # is) judges opinion when it comes to the prize awarded…keep on quilting. As long as your enjoy the process that is all that matters.
    Green bean recipe sounds really good… with lots of black pepper. I cook something very similar except use yellow crookneck squash. Fish the squash and cook it along with bacon & onion. Serve with cornbread & you’d think you were in high cotton!

  23. ada

    Well,, success at last! It looks like it is fixed.
    I’m working on the same Bonnie Hunter. Can’t recall the name but it is in Addicted to Scraps.

      1. Nikki M in Tx

        Couldn’t stop thinking about Bloody Mary’s after you mentioned booth at upcoming Junk Fair…so just gave in & made one, wish you could have joined me. Friend said shouldn’t drink alone as is sign of problem….well I don’t Drink alone as Ms Maci is always about….lol

  24. MaryLou

    I am so very very happy your post are coming through & know you will sleep well without having to think about all the frustration this has caused you . Look forward to your post each day. Glad your back!!!
    MsryLou

  25. Jo in Wyoming

    Oh! What a great day. Glad everything is going in the right direction.
    Wonderful pictures, I shall try the green bean dish soon.
    As they say…when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and make a swing!
    Keep swinging Mary.
    I have no good books to listen to, so I put on an old Willie Nelson cd. Danced and sang all morning. It was such fun, I’m doing it again tomorrow.

  26. Kathy in western NY

    At our age Mary, we like normal. It’s hard to deal with what we can’t control so our stress levels are high all day long when we have to relearn and change. Hoping it’s all behind you. Nice you can now clean out for the sale with a clear mind. I make the same bacon/ onion / green bean recipe too only mine has about a tablespoon or two of tomato paste stirred into it.

  27. Sarah, northern California

    Nancy Norris, condolences on the loss of your husband. Often during some of the worse and busiest times of our life we seek what brings us comfort and joy even if it’s just for a moment. Peace be with you.

    Mary, it’s so good to have you up and running full-steam ahead.

  28. Brenda

    Nancy Norris … So sorry on your loss of your husband. Please know that there are people praying for your peace and healing.

  29. Pat Smith

    Great news as we all missed your posts and could hear the suffering in your voice. Loved the animal pictures. Funny, my parents made green beans boiled with bacon and onion for years, but I think I’d like your recipe that is more stir fried with crisp bacon and that sweet and sour taste..

  30. Diane Bauer

    Glad to see such a beautiful quilt emerging from the hassle and heartache of the hacked blog!! It really is gorgeous! I love the pattern! And I’m so happy to hear your relief and hope that the mess is finally behind you!

  31. Mary N.

    Glad you are back up and running. I always look forward to your posts. Your Bonnie Hunter quilt is Carolina Chain. I love it, I made one too.

  32. Dianna

    Thanks for your perseverance. Love the pictures! We are getting beans from the garden too! I will try your recipe, it sounds so good.

    This is an old Weight Watchers one that we enjoy.

    1 1/2 pounds green beans, trimmed
    3 T. soy sauce
    1T. Oriental sesame oil
    1t. Sugar
    6 garlic cloves, minced

    Cook beans till tender, drain. Sauté garlic until soft in nonstick skillet treated with nonstick cooking spray. Add green beans, cook stirring constantly for about two minutes. Add soy sauce,sesame oil, and sugar. Continue to stir until most of liquid is absorbed, 1-2 minutes. 6 servings: 1 point per serving

  33. Jennie

    Really enjoyed all of your post today. Will try cooking the green beans that way. Looks good. Blessings Jennie

  34. Kathy Hanson

    Loved seeing your farm/animals again – So happy for you and for your lovely animal family – as well as happy that you are back “in business” with the blog again! The quilt that you are putting together is great! What fun and what a good way to use up those strips! I am trying to use up fabrics from other quilts that I have made and are left over. I will send you a picture of the one that I am binding now that used up fabrics left from a quilt I made several years ago when Asian fabrics were “in”!

  35. Kathy Schwartz in SW MN

    Sorry for Nancy’s loss. May God grant the family peace and assurance during this time.

  36. Caryn Goulden

    Mary, so glad to see pictures of the critters again! Love the quilt you are working on.
    Our family has always just simmered fresh green beans with a little ham and onions. Going to have to try them your way! The picture of Reed’s beautiful quilt with Hazel “appreciating his hard work” is great. Hazel obviously has much more sense than the judge!
    Glad you’re back!

  37. Jean

    OMG Mary. I don’t even know what to say! Thank you for all the hard work hardly seems adequate. Nevertheless I am sooooo thankful that the blog is back and that you persevered.
    I really like the bonnie hunter quilt!

  38. Rita AM in CT

    Welcome back I think all of our blood pressures will improve now. I felt so bad for all your frustrations Mary.
    Nancy I am so sorry for your loss.

  39. Sharon Lowy

    Love seeing Reed’s beautiful quilt again! Those green beans look so good! I could eat the whole pan full! Lol

  40. Norma Gebhardt

    Can’t wait to try the green bean recipe. ” The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton is one of my favorite books. I have read it several times and still enjoy it. It is an older book that makes you think and pay attention to the dates listed before each chapter.

  41. Sue in Marion, In

    Love your Carolina Chain quilt! It’s on my list! I made the corn on Sunday…made my DH go back to the farmer’s market and get a second baker’s dozen of My Dad’s Best Sweet Corn. Did it in half batches in my cast iron kettle on the stovetop. Yum! Might have to get more corn on Saturday…although we’re running out of room in the freezer…we have frozen 24 2-lb. boxes of blueberries and roasted and frozen bags and bags of corn already. So good!

  42. Diane in WI

    Nancy, I’m sorry for your loss. Everything looks to be normal on the blog. I was able to close quite a few ads. Reed’s quilt is wonderful; he can be very proud of all the hard work he put into it. I love all the colors in the Carolina Chain. I’ll be sending for Frank. Have a stress free day.

  43. Marcia Rocheleau

    If you haven’t read Fragile Beasts, check it out.My book club maintains that it was one of our best finds, and we are dedicated to only reading GOOD books!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Marcia R – I read your comment to our book club this morning! Thanks!

  44. Tanya T. in Houston

    Hugs from us all to Nancy Norris.

    I just finished and enjoyed a historical fiction novel called THE GUEST BOOK by Sarah Blake. It’s about a wealthy family who buy an island off the coast of Maine and what happens in later generations…sounded like it had SUMMER written all over it to me!

    Love both your Bonnie Hunter quilt and Reed’s quilt! How is his 1930’s project going?

  45. Andi

    Hi Mary!
    Oh, that green bean recipe – YUM! My mom used to make this when I was a kid – try adding a tiny bit of liquid smoke to that some time, its so yummy. Glad to see you are back in working order, could certainly feel your frustrations! Not fun when technology stumps us. I just cut out 288 blocks for Bonnie Hunters year long challenge – trying to use up Christmas scrap fabrics. Now to decide whether those will be two smaller quilts, or one gigantic one – – –
    Glad you are back!

  46. Mary M Rhodes

    The quilt top of Bonnie’s pattern is garden party. Have not made it yet on bucket list. Looks like blog coming along. Enjoy the pictures of everything. Thank you Mary!

  47. Mrs. Goodneedle

    I, too, love that green bean recipe; it never fails to bring dinnertime raves. I love the back of Reed’s gorgeous log cabin quilt; I continued to be SEW impressed! Everything’s getting back to normal (it appears so) with your blog, Mary! I had to break down (after having one of my own!!) and buy a new printer. It’s nice, an HP; it was on a good sale. The set up was simple enough (thank goodness!!) but there’s no manual or written reference guide. There was a step-by-step tutorial from an app that I had to download onto my phone. This made me wonder what people do without that capability (like my elderly parents) and made me sad to think about how quickly things are changing around us; I believe that’s one reason I love to quilt, it’s a sanctuary space for me in an ever-changing, technology-driven world; something that seems to constantly frustrate and challenge me.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Mrs. Goodneedle – having more issues this morning so I’ll reply while I can. This hack job has controlled my .life since July 24 and I’m sick of it. Did you see the green bean recipe from a reader yesterday? I’m going to try it!

  48. Darlene from Texas

    So glad to have you back with the quilts and animals and lovely views of the farm land. Being a girl from the South, I knew exactly how those green beans would taste when I saw the photo. With the first picking from the garden, we would have a plate of green beans and cornbread for lunch. Made my mouth water.

  49. dona,va.

    Mary, Mary quite contrary, you showed that hacker who you are. you showed us your strength.
    this blog is my living book, something different every day. it’s like going on vacation in a northern state I will never go to but visiting there thru this blog is like being there. love your farm. my book got lost and now it’s found.

  50. Felicia Hamlin

    I love the pictures of the geese and goats and of course Reed’s quilt with darling Hazel. Don’t forget the quilt show is this week end. Your new quilt is very pretty, I love all the colors.. I have been busy closing adds, so that is good. The beans look good!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Felicia Hamlin – I just can’t come to the quilt show – I am too upset and depressed about this blog. I don’t want to do anything!

  51. Felicia Hamlin

    Nancy Norris, my deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband. Sending prayers for comfort, hope and consolation. “The Lord is my Sheperd…”

Comments are closed.