Thank you to all who have sent cards to the ladies I’ve listed here on the blog. I’m guessing it means a lot to them to know somebody “out there” is thinking about them. I only have to think about myself at a very old age – no kids to look in on me and all my family has their own family to keep track of. I’ll be alone. Wouldn’t I just love to receive happy cards in the mail? I do wonder about one thing. Many card recipients send thank you notes and I wonder if they can afford the stamps. And I also think if the card recipient sends thank you notes, it’s a positive thing – writing those notes gave her a purpose.
It’s been a really hot day – just perfect for having the oven on for an hour, right?
Here’s 16-20 cups of sweet corn with butter and half and half ready to go in the oven for an hour. You will never taste better frozen corn.
And she said her search said this was a hickory tree but my search said it was locust.
Reader quilts
More fair quilts
Around the farm this hot day
After Connie showed her log cabin, I’m feeling like making one, too. We have several patterns for log cabin quilts – here’s a different setting:
Anybody interested in a pattern? I’ll find it if you are.
No new jokes to leave you with – darn. I’ll have to look for some new ones.
What a lovely blog today. Loved all the pictures and the quilts were very nice. The star border on the John Wayne quilt is really attractive. After someone commented on it, I went back and looked at the bird quilt. I see that It is made from plaid shirts. How clever. I’d be interested in the name of that pattern if the maker could share.
Hanks eyes are so soulful! he could get any treat in my house at any time with those eyes. I have biscuit today and tonight as my husband, my son and his wife went on a salmon charter fishing trip this afternoon and evening. The charter is on Lake Michigan about 3 1/2 hours from our house. Biscuit and I will be sleeping before they get home for sure.
I took a picture of the corn recipe and hope to try it soon. I’m going up into the thumb of Michigan next week and there is a guy who has a wonderful sweet corn stand there. I may buy some and try the recipe. My tomatoes are just starting to ripen and we were able to have BLTs once already. They were so good. I have a roaster of tomatoes and veggies in my oven right now. After it’s roasted, I will cool it and then blend it to freeze for sauce for the winter. I use it in my chili and for other recipes that call for tomato sauce. I used my last frozen bag just last week so it’s great timing for Me to start making the tomato sauce Again.
We have had two days in the upper 70s in Southeast Michigan, and it’s such a relief from the heat. I am starting to cut things back in the garden and prepare for fall!
I hope you all have a great day. 🌻
Hi Mary – thank you for posting your corn recipe – I had forgotten about it so far this year! Yesterday must have been the hot day for making the kitchen hotter – we chopped up our windfall apples, cooked and canned applesauce, adding heat to a hot day.
I could eat BLTs every day – and we did twice in the last few days. Then I made a pasta and garden vegetable salad and added meat, cheese, and beans to make it a meal. Nice to eat when it is hot and cooking a meal seems like too much work.
It’s raining again, but we only got 2.25″ last night – so many around us got 7 to 8 inches, but it is raining again tonight.
I’ve released 31 Monarchs so far this year! My grandson Joey has ridden his bike over almost every day to help take care of them and he’s an expert showing them to the neighbor’s day care kids. And another grandson Ben and I got the borders on his original design quilt today.
In between rainy days, smokey days, hot/humid days – Al and I have put 300-400 miles on our bikes. We really have some lovely trails in Minnesota and Iowa!
Off to bed for me – so fun reading the blog! Sherry W. from Kasson MN
Sherry – I love hearing from you because you do so many things!!! I especially thought of you since I, going to do a post about log cabin quilts and I know you so one each winter. I think I should adopt that idea! 400 miles on your bikes? Unreal and I wish I could do it – my fingers suffer – all those trips to Mayo are hardest on my hands gripping the steering wheel. Will you join in the comments when I write the log cabin post? You can send pics to my email if you want. Even after I get the post written would be fine – I’m sure we’ll “discuss” for awhile. I, too, love this blog about nothing – you readers are my best friends!
Hi Mary – I will gather a few log cabin photos and send them to you tomorrow! I need to sew some log cabin blocks together – I have a pile of them made and the box that I store the precut pieces in is full again. Time for this girl to go to bed. Sherry W.
Mary, I remember my hands gripping the steering wheel coming home from Manassas to Maryland years ago. I would have “claws” and couldn’t straighten out my fingers easily. I found that after I got home, if I laid flat on the couch and stretched my arms and hands above my head for 30 minutes (while watching tv), that the tenseness went out of my arms and hands, and I could use them normally. Take care, we all love this blog about nothing!
Ruth – you just said it – my hands turn into claws! People ask how I can still play the piano – easy! I’m not gripping anything with my fingers and they’re slightly curved to play which is the only comfortable position. The same thing happens when I rake or shovel – it’s the gripping.
I agree with you Mary that sending cards is a kind gesture by thinking if it were ourselves. Getting mail is something I’ve enjoyed so much through my life. I had a devoted pen pal for many years till we started emailing. How I loved getting those letters to sit down and read. I appreciate you sharing some interesting people we’ve been honored to share in their lives and send a card to.
I would love a different log cabin pattern. What can I do with all the fabric I have collected? I’ll never use it all! I’m embarrassed over the amount that I have. Do I put kits together and sell on Etsy? Have a garage sale for quilters only? Help!
Donna – Etsy is certainly an option. Do you belong to a quilt guild? Do they sell things at meetings? Many churches make quilts for missions. Just a couple ideas.
Mary, I got a thank you card yesterday and was thrilled. Would our ladies be offended if I put stamps in return cards? I want them to know we are here for them and we need them too. Thank you.
E Rodgers – I just don’t know. You could include some stamps and say no thank you card is necessary. The stamps are for her own personal use. What do you think?
There are lots of common ordinary people who don’t ride motorcycles but enjoying going to the Sturgis Rally to watch people, etc.
Plus, thinking about the 50th Rally. I hadn’t thought about this in years, but I’ll share. Please don’t be offended —– or will that really make you want to read it?
The 50th Rally was going to be a biggie. The husband of a girl who worked in our office, a well respected man, was between jobs. He was known to play pranks and lots of jokes. He was trying to think what he could do for the rally.
He came up with the idea to sell a nicely packaged Official 50th Rally Cond
om! His wife, a sweet little red headed, freckled Catholic girl , and he had a spot at the Rally and were selling condoms!!! They had a land office business and everybody laughed at her great smile while selling the all the big, hairy bikers souvenirs. A bunch of girls from the office went to the Rally and brought one back for me. And I still have it!!!!!
Betty in Rapid City
Betty, that is funny!! I’ve heard it’s not unusual for good lookin bartenders to make about $40k in tips during the rally. Not bad.
I believe $40k in tips. I don’t know how tips normally range, but with that many people tipping $1 a drink, it would add up fast. And being pretty doesn’t hurt. Some charities have their only fund during the rally. Lots of money.
Betty in Rapid City
Looks like the bird quilt was made from men’s shirts. Really cute!
Hi Mary,
The bird quilt is amazing, wow!!!!
I love all the pics!💜💜💜
Bea knight
I love the parking pictures, reminds me to be a better parker. Folks who don’t often tow a trailer or camper tend to park farther away and take up more space because they struggle with parking a rig. It takes practice. Mary, its your blog keep doing it your way. Is that morning glories climbing the telephone line? what a lovely plant and its gorgeous. We plan to go to the Minnesota State Fair this weekend and I have the quilts on my agenda. I love all the 4H and exhibit halls. I look for a cream puff and mini donuts to share. Managed to get a 2 mile walk in today, great air quality and cool temps, finally! The corn recipe is on my to do list.
Kim – yes, it’s morning glory and just huge! All the rain, I suppose.
Mary, it’s your blog, put whatever you want in it. I love it!! Surprise us. I always like it when you provide a recipe. That corn sound delicious!
The applique flower arrangement is right up my alley. Very nice.
I love having a person to send a card to. It’s special and thoughtful.
As always Hank is a welcome visitor on the blog. He’s as cute as can be. Thank you, Michelle, for sending the picture of him with his bone.
And the BLT reminds me of summers at home.
Carolyn – I have two dog friends named Hank – the Hank with the bone lives in Kansas and the other Hank, the golden retriever, lives about 6 miles from me.
Thanks for clarifying that Mary. I’ve been getting confused about the Hanks and Hanks’ Moms.
Mary, I have a feeling your “entitled parker” was trying to keep his truck and trailer out of the lanes. Looks like there was plenty of parking in that lot!
I also received a thank you card from a birthday girl. Sure wasn’t expecting it. Nice to know she enjoyed all of the cards. Looking forward to making the corn. Wrote the recipe down in my cookbook.
I thought the nest was from a sparrow. The cross block looks like a good way to use up scraps. Another one for the bucket list. Watching the Fever playing against the Sun. Can I say I’m annoyed? Maybe the Fever will catch up. Sure looking forward to Caitlyn’s return.
Funny that you were freezing corn yesterday – that’s what I was doing too. Haven’t done that in a few years. I forgot what a mess it makes. This winter when I’m enjoying the corn I’ll forget about the mess. Any tips on cutting the corn off the cob? I hold the cob on the center of an angel food cake pan, then cut the corn off the cob with an electric knife. Guess I’ve done that too many times, had to toss my pan after yesterday’s job. Sure would be nice if we could do that job on a cold winter day. As I was doing the corn, my sister in law texted me that she was making refrigerator pickles. Perhaps we could negotiate a trade?
Sue – we cut the kernels the same way- Rick does that part in his shop, thank goodness, because it is a real mess. That angel food cake pan is still good to go for awhile…
Mary, I love your low volume log cabin quilt! I looked at the pictures several times before I realized that what I thought were very narrow strips, actually were quilted down the center of each strip … very effective! The only log cabin quilt I’ve made is also the only one I’ve spiral quilted … what a lot of work! I was wondering how much corn can you get off an average sized cob of corn … approximately? Thanks for the recipe.
Candy – we figure 20 ears for 16 cups of corn so almost a cup per ear.
Candy – that pastel log cabin quilt also has white sashing between blocks
For all who’ve not tried Mary’s corn recipe, it’s the best corn recipe! Nothing like it! Try it, you’ll love it! Precious Hank & his bone! If he lived close I’d love for him to come visit me!! Love all the quilts! I’m still working on the QOV quilt for our friend. I would be done by now but I spent yesterday cooking for a friend who had a “spiral fracture” of her leg. Like me she is always busy & on the go. No weight bearing on that leg for at least 6 wks. She & hubby were happy for the visit & food! Gives him a few days of not having to cook! Yes, kindness really does matter!! I’m always happy to send cards to the ladies you give us addresses for! I would say that’s a locust tree, too. We had quite a few on my parent’s farm. Another interesting thing, the locust trees were the only trees that got struck by lightening! The birds nest doesn’t look like a Robin’s nest to me. They always try to build above my front door in that transom window. Love your blog about everything, Mary!!
Thank you for sharing your freezer corn recipe! I think that’s what I’ll do with the rest of of our sweet corn crop. I’d love to purchase the log cabin pattern! Enjoy the hot humid weather we’ve got going on.
I love reading your blog, Mary, and also the comments! I personally like the bad parking pics! When I see an example out in my community I always think of the blog! lol. I’d love to try a log cabin pattern! Love the low volume one. I also send cards to the ladies you post. I appreciate the details that their families share as it helps me to share things of my life we may have in common.
Delicious BLT reminds me of my Dad, Hank with his bone is so sweet, I love the John Wayne quilt, and parking pictures! We have many terrible parkers here! I house sat for a friend and she had 2 hummingbird nests with baby birds. Their nests were very tiny and smooth. Your log cabin on point is very pretty.
I was surprised that someone would criticize your posting parking pictures. I enjoy seeing the pictures and most times, have a good laugh. Besides that, you’re doing a community service as, I’m much more careful how I park now and have moved my car a few times when my parking was not the best 😂😂😂.
Great time of year for BLT’s. I had one yesterday too. Nothing like fresh tomatoes from the garden! The corn recipe sounds delicious.
Thanks for continuing to introduce us to new friends through the “card showers”. Always nice to know someone is thinking about you.
Beautiful quilt pictures today! Your sandwich looks delicious. You can’t make a good BLT unless you have good homegrown, or maybe local farm stand, tomatoes.
I’m excited I’m going to finish a quilt today, just as soon as I finish my tea and stitch the last few inches of binding. I’ll send a picture.
I’d love to do a log cabin quilt! Yours is lovely with the low volume colors and being on-point. The nest – doesn’t look like a robin’s nest to me. We have lots of robins nests each year in our trees and found on the ground later, they usually have mud holding things together and to the tree branches. They do usually have strands of fibers or hairs in them though so maybe you just have cleaner nest maker than ours, haha. I also have hickory trees, and the bark doesn’t look anything like that. There are shag bark hickories, but they have bark that looks like it’s lifting, very shaggy. I think you’re right – locust. Love the quilts shown – that little birdie one is so cute! I’m staying inside mostly, recovering from my Pulsed Field Ablation to my heart that happened on Friday. It was first scheduled for the end of July and was bumped to August 29th. On Thursday around 3 pm the doctor’s office called, they had had a cancellation and could I come in the next day! Well, I did and here I am! I’m tired but otherwise feel very good. There are some random flutters, but they said that’s normal and could happen as far as three months out. Hopefully, it will work and the afib will be gone for a long time. Mary, that corn sounds so good! Jan in MA
Mary, the movers came on Thursday to put all our things in storage. The owner of the company said we were the most organized people they had moved this year. We had all our boxes in a room in the basement and only furniture was upstairs. We had done that because we still had to live even though we were packing and I couldn’t have boxes all over the kitchen living room and bedrooms. We are still at our neighbours for 2 more nights dog sitting Max, then off to my moms till we can move into our new home sept 12th. I’m still hoping the current owners move into their rental place earlier so we can get in earlier but that is out of our control. I am enjoying NOT packing. Our son is having surgery on Tuesday to repair the torn bicep tendon. I may have to drive down there next weekend. I have an injection scheduled for Thursday for the knee I injured in March and the surgeon said I’d probably be in a lot of pain through the weekend, so that will be the deciding factor on when I can go. My son is left handed, and it is his left bicep so that makes it difficult. He will have a splint from his shoulder to his fingertips because he can’t move anything for two weeks. That’s why they need help.
I too enjoy the blog, dog pictures and quilt pictures. Thank you again for continuing your “blog about nothing”.
Yes, kindness does matter. I enjoy sending cards to the lovely women you recommend. I’m the one who likes putting little red wool hearts in the cards. I did receive a thank you note recently. It absolutely made my day! And I thought I was bring happiness. What I found out was that we all need each other. Always be kind.
I love Hanks eyes. Too cute.
The pictures of quilts & Hank are so nice today, thank you! I would love a log cabin pattern, thank you.
Lovely quilts today as usual. And seeing Hank with his bone makes me smile. Your corn looks very tasty & I always say lots of work during garden season makes good eating in the winter. Our quilt guild is making a 250 anniversary quilt for 2026. I think I will make a log cabin. Thanks for the inspiration.
Des – do you mean your guild is making a sampler quilt and your block will be a log cabin? Is it a raffle quilt? I don’t quite understand.
We are making a 250th anniversary quilt for America’s founding. This is for our little town to display during the celebrations of the birthday of our great country,July 4th 2026. We have a beautiful eagle as a centerpiece & all of the members of our guild will be making blocks to surround the center. I’ll send a pic when it’s done.
Des – oh, that is a wonderful project! You are really thinking ahead – but it will take time so it’s good you’re starting.
What! Only one animal (dog) photo today! These are the dog days of summer. Why? I mean why do they call it dog days of summer?
I am enjoying being home but wish I could be outside. This heat does not agree with me. So, every day I spend a couple hours in the basement where my sewing room is. I got a wall hanging quilted in under an hr. The day before I had to rip out for over an hr because the tension was not right. I was using a prewound bobbin, The light bulb lit up. I wound that prewound thread onto a reg machine bobbin. Viola! Thought I would post this here as someone might experience the same thing.
I hope you can end the pictures with bad parking. The picture from today is an example. The truck and trailer would have been to long to park straight. Parking at an angle kept it from sticking out into the driving lane. I am sure by the lack of vehicles parked by it that it was not taking up prime parking close to the business.
Let focus on quilting and the good in our lives instead of “looking for” things that irritate us.
Penny – well, I sorta questioned it, too, but a reader sent it to me so she must have thought it was not acceptable so I posted it. I will not post anymore parking pictures. On the other hand this is not necessarily a quilting blog – it’s a chat among friends and I still think it’s ok to talk about things that irritate us. This is my blog – please unsubscribe if I offend you. Life isn’t all good or all bad.
Oh, Mary, keep posting anything you want! I think that particular parking picture showed a considerate parker, but there are still plenty of bad parkers out there. And there was certainly no lack of quilts today. And there was a delicious sandwich, And a handsome dog.
The fun of this blog is that we never know what we’ll see tomorrow.
Absolutely yes! Would love a pattern for the log cabin. I think the setting on point makes it interesting especially with the low volume fabric. Thanks!
Glad that you found some time to sew Mary. I love the dogwood fabric. Also love the appliqued basket quilt from the fair. The log cabin you showed is so pretty, I’d love to make one in those soft colors.
I’d love a pattern, and thank you for the frozen corn recipe. I’m doing that today!
Recovery here in Tosa is slow, but steady. The devastation is massive, but neighbors are helping each other and community leaders are on the ground daily.
About the cards: when I was 4, I had TB and was in the hospital for 18 months. One of my mom’s friends sent me a card every single day I was there. It meant so much to get them, even as a very little girl. I had that scrapbook of cards until just a few years ago. I am sure these ladies treasure them.
Thank you to whoever Googled the bird nest. I found that mowing Friday & it’s only 3″ across so I thought maybe it was a hummingbird nest. Most of the nests I find are much bigger so that’s what stumped me. I actually saw a robin the other day which was the 1st time in a long time. Normally I wouldn’t have done anything with the nest other than leave it where I found it but this time I saw the net wrap from a big hay bale & I thought it made the nest look like the bird wanted some color in her life!!
Jane – I noticed the green twine, too, but like you, I do not see robins in my yard. It’s really not that big but I do think it’s too big for a hummingbird nest – saw my first hummingbird of the season yesterday.
I think you may have been right when I emailed the picture to you about it being a house finch or goldfinch nest. I don’t think it’s a robin’s nest. Whichever bird made it did a good job until the wind decided to knock it down! Just an interesting find during a hot boring mowing job!!
I believe that nest is a chipping sparrows nest. Alot of times they will line it with animal hair. Too small for a robin’s nest and as another reader pointed out, robins will usually use some mud in their nest.
Melody – I agree about the nest – I think Google got it wrong.
I’d love the log cabin pattern. Very hot here in Ohio too! BLT’s are so good this time of the year!
I really liked the setting on your log cabin quilt. I’ve not seen one set on point before. Very interesting and I like the calm colorway. A winner. Thanks for sharing.
I had realized how much I love to get mail. So I’ve been sending cards to the ladies you suggest. Today I got a Thank You note also. It made my day! Then I went to lunch with friends, then we were going to shop, but one of my long time friends I don’t see often was sitting on the bench outside the shop, so I sat down and visited with her. We covered the people in her family that I know, talked about my family and then I went inside the shop. Oh yeah, we looked at her shopping. When I came out, her husband had just arrived to pick her up, so it was so good to see him also. Old friends. We need them in our life.
Dee – maybe we’re helping to save the USPS! Haha! What a sweet gesture to send a thank you – I’m going to try to get cards out to these ladies throughout the year – maybe Christmas? I’d better start early.
It’s only 139 days until Christmas!!! Best start mailing now before the postal goes up or they quit altogether and we have to buy horses to get our mail delivered. No..not horses… pigeon carriers!!! Oh my word!!! We’re reverting in time…😂😂😂. Not sure that’s funny!!
Love your blog. I look forward to it everyday and all the news, but of course love the animals. Hazel reminds me of my Sadie. But my Sadie thinks she’s a Diva!!!
Sherry in HOT Texas!!
Probably the next way to deliver the mail will be drones … and that’s definitely NOT funny! Can you imagine?
So much eye candy tonight! I love all the quilts and am interested in your log cabin pattern.
Oh Hank, you and your bone are a match made in Heaven.
Mary, I’ve always hated creamed corn because my mother only served the canned type, which was awful. Your recipe sounds so good I’m going to make some. Thanks for providing it!
Christine – the corn doesn’t have the consistency of canned creamed corn. I hope you try it and like it. It’s like candy!