I have spent several hours on organizing my cards and will start posting some of my favorites. Remember what I always say about sending a card – it’s a big deal and it’s a kindness that the recipient will not forget. Sending a card takes lots of effort on the sender’s part – shopping for the card, paying for it, addressing it, writing a note inside, stamping it and getting it into the mail – all for the recipient to enjoy. It’s an act of kindness.
When I was searching for a computer guru to help me (and you, too) a reader named Peggy from Eagan, MN (a Mpls suburb) contacted me about her grandson Richard. Yes, Richard who helps us all when the blog falls apart – I am thankful for Richard and for Peggy, too.
Peggy lost her husband Richard (our Richard was named for him) somewhat unexpectedly earlier this week and I’m going to send her a card. Would you like to join me?
Peggy Sanford
2083 Shale Lane
Eagan, Mn 55122
Thanks to those of you who do send her a card.
***************************************
Another Hazel Escapade
As I walked to the living room late last night to close the dog door before retiring, I didn’t see Hazel in her chair. I quickly looked outside and there she was down by the barn. What?? As I went outside she ran to the fence just outside the barn door and barked incessantly. So of course I got the flashlight and headed her way. Obviously there was something in that east chicken yard that she wanted to get at. Yup, she ran right behind the hydrangeas and dived at some furry varmint crouched there. After several tense moments I got her attention and grabbed her – yup, a possum was hiding in the hydrangeas. I carried her to the house afraid if I put her down she’d run right back. She was muddy from digging at the fence to get into the pen and she stunk like varmint so that meant a bath before she got into bed with me. She ran away from me knowing a bath was coming! I actually chased her all the way upstairs yelling “You’d better not get into MY bed smelling like you do!” And of course she did. I grabbed her so fast and headed back downstairs to the sink – at 11:30 pm. Ugh. After the bath and drying and playing “towel”, the sink had to be cleaned thoroughly and after all that I knew a fitful night lay ahead.
My world is pretty small here on the farm. Is it any wonder I’m not involved in politics? It just isn’t in my radar – farmlife, dogs, cats, chickens, quilts, books, piano and church is my world.
Cards
AND this from the quilt shop – these are all tiny stars already cut out – probably for pincushions. Ugh. I suppose I really should sew them up.
What’s on your agenda today and the weekend? By Sunday it’s supposed to be in the mid 90’s here – we go from sweatshirts to bikinis (not me!) in just a few days.
P.S. I spend more time in the porch each morning when the birds are so active – I don’t think I’ve ever had this many outstanding birds all at once. Now, THIS interest me – I’m a pretty simple person who likes to journal and write. That’s where the blog about nothing comes from.
Mary – This is a test. On 8/27 I could reply to this blog post – 8/23. The ones before this have the comments shut off….so it looks like a 4 day window to reply. That seems new.
What a lovely group of cards. By any chance, does it list the artist on the back of the “dairy cow with calf” card. It’s lovely. A dear friend who used to have a dairy farm would love that print.
Thanks. San / Murphy, NC
Loved your cards! I sent one to Peggy, too, just now. For a moment, I thought that sunflower was actually the sunflower in the card, very beautiful.
My raspberries are just starting to come in for the fall. About two weeks early this year. I made a raspberry pie and it was so delicious. Picked enough this morning for raspberry pancakes and also for a small dessert later tonight. They’ll be ready to pick again on Monday. The raspberry patch, just like my flower garden, is at my son’s house next-door. All four of us picking the patch so sometimes I don’t have enough to bring home to use in cooking! But that’s OK because they are so very good picked straight out of the garden and into your mouth!
Will probably be working in the house and hope to get into the sewing room today. Going to be very hot here, in the upper 80s.
Going with my son and his fiancé to a concert in our downtown this evening. The band that is playing at their wedding is playing at our city’s festival, Dragon on the Lake tonight. This is in Lake Orion, Michigan, where we live. My soon to be daughter-in-law is friends with the people in the band. It will be fun to hear them. Last night the festival had a boat parade around Lake Orion, it was very fun. Lots of decorated and lit up boats.
I hope everyone has a great day. And I know that the Indiana Fever play tonight.
Thank you so much, Sunflower!!🌻
So many wonderful cards and lovely wishes of good health. The blog about nothing keeps us all connected, it is a kindness to meet all of you on the blog, thank you Mary. I did chuckle with the cow card, oh my! and the lighthouse card was a delight to see how our fabric scraps can be used in another artistic way. I will put a card in the mail for Peggy and Richard Jr, how sad for them and their family. My prayers are for them to lift them up and let them know they are not alone; grief is a sneaky emotion.
I finally killed the poison ivy in our woods and began to clean up under the trees. So many pieces of metal from when it was a railroad behind our house. Lots of glass bottles, paper, even an old seat bench from a car. We made one trip to the recycle center with metal. I have done more raking this summer than in the past 10 years. I have piles up branches (6) and piled up leaves (8) and have a few more to work on. We will rent a trailer to haul it all to the landfill recycle center and then hopefully never have to do it again. The cleaned-up areas are sprouting some pink lady slippers and ferns, so I know it’s an improvement to get it cleaned up. Off to a family graduation party this afternoon for 4 great nieces and nephews.
Kim – I understand from experience how much work you’re having to do. When I moved to this farm place in 1979 it had been a short term rental for years and the last owner/renter had thrown their garbage out the back door all winter. Every part of the yard was neglected as well as every single building. There was trash at the edge of the grove – piles of it and we had it all buried. Today I would have gone thru it all looking for vintage pieces. Haha!
How awful that they tossed it all out the back door, goodness. It will be worth it all in the end. We have a pair of pileated woodpeckers in our woods. They are marvelous.
Thank you for your prayers, Kim
Beautiful cards for a beautiful lady who has a big loving heart.
mary, i tried one block of the potato chip quilt block. i love it. have you tried it? love that there are no seams to match. no more quilts for me, but i still make blocks. i like to hand quilt a single block, slow stitching is nice. my kitty quinn is resting in the crook of my left arm as i lay in bed early morning to read your blog, which is why i can’t make capital letters with one hand. ha. take care. linda in colorado. hugs
Linda – perfect reason for no capital letters! I have made one block – haven’t done more because I dread cutting all those rectangles. Ha!! I tired an uneven (Duckworth) log cabin block last nite. Don’t think I can do it after years of precise piecing!!!!!
Mary you certainly have received some unique cards. I agree that it’s wonderful when people take the time to send a card. My mother has enjoyed receiving cards from the blog readers…twice now. Your note was so sweet. Thank you to the readers who took time to brighten her day. Unfortunately, she has taken a turn for the worse. Fluid was accumulating in her lungs again. So tonight she is in the hospital and on an IV diuretic. Hopefully, it will give her a little more time. I’m on my way back to WY. I haven’t been home for two months. Then I’ll return to MN. Prayers for Peggy and Richard, Jr. BTW that cow card is so cute…but I had to read the inside line a couple of times to get it. I must be too tired. Good night!
Martha – oh, Elaine, I am so sorry! I know it’s expected at her age but I also understand wanting to get back to her home. I remember when Mom came to the conclusion she’d never go home. I’ll never forget where she was sitting and the expression on her face,
Martha, So sorry to hear that your Mom had a setback. Praying that she improves quickly. Take care.
Thank you so much, Martha, for your prayers.
I love the cards, thanks for sharing. I laughed outloud at the cow and her udder. I saw Frankie Valli in Moline with the granddaughter. A gentleman there complimented my 20 something for bringing her grandma. She looked at him and said, well, I asked to her to come with me. He was floored. We both loved it. Great concert, good dinner, spent the night. Amazing!
Dee – we’re all wishing we were in your shoes! Fun!!
Mary, I just hollered reading about Hazel’s latest escapade. I could just see you in my mind’s eye yelling after her not to get in your bed. So funny! You’re a saint!
Hi Mary, what lovely cards, people are clever, l would be covered in glue and losing bits and pieces! I think you could make an improv quilt. Just some mindless sewing, they look like they would blend together. Hazel is a handful! I hope she is not too heavy to carry, l had to carry Bella across the room yesterday so she could have a bath in the sink, that was enough for me! Looking forward to seeing Frankie Valli and 4 seasons show from Los Vagas on Friday night,my favorite music. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Your cards are beautiful and so creative! I can follow a pattern that someone else designed and maybe change a few things, but I really admire those who can come up with an original idea.
I’m working on a quilt for a granddaughter who just moved into a full-sized bed and needs a bigger quilt. Hope to get it made into a top by Monday, although that’s probably too ambitious. I seem to get more done if I make a big goal…
Loved seeing the cards – laughed out loud at the cow card with older udders. I always enjoy seeing the creative hand-crafted cards. Thanks for sharing. Peggy’s card is going out this afternoon., so sorry for the sudden loss for the family.
I know I wouldn’t have the energy to keep up with Hazel! But, I do enjoy seeing her antics from afar.
Weekend ? church, watching Dbacks baseball, going through family slides, notations made by family relatives about my ancestors, reading, and, of course quilting.
I actually walked in the neighborhood this morning because it was “cool” enough (in the low 80’s), for the first time since May. That was a huge blessing all around.
Jan
Thank you so much, Jan for your concern
The card pics are all great; I especially love the lighthouse. The first time we went to Michigan in 2005, I fell in love with lighthouses and beach grass!
Have a great weekend, Mary 🥰
Jeanie – and she made that nice card!!! I should look at my fabric
Beautiful cards Mary and Hazel sure does still have so much energy – keeps you on your toes for sure!!
Mary you are the kindest and most thoughtful person I know!
Hugs and prayers!!!
good morning, everyone. mary, your cards are lovely. i can see where they give you laughter, smiles, encouragement and love. thanks for sharing with us.
first off thanks for the encouragement on my retina situation. not as bad as expected. the distortion is coming from scar tissue from the cataract surgery many years ago (had both eyes done – only left has a problem). was told this can be repaired with a laser so the evaluation by the other doc is next tuesday morning. there is an issue with epiretinal membrane (google it, link is long). if the distortion is fixed with the laser, no problem. just watch it. sometimes surgery will help, but sometimes makes it worse. if not a problem, we watch. i vote we watch. so all in all, good news for that. the bad news is that now tuesday and wednesday morning and thursday afternoon are doc visits. i say get them out of the way, but it does reguire mr. ed to take me because i can’t walk the distance from the car, through the buildings, etc. but he will survive. over the course of our marriage i have done this and more for him. ha!
so not much stitching. i’ve been sitting with the cat in the evenings watching the convention. i have a few small things on the sewing table, lots in planning stages, hoping to get upstairs to load a quilt on the longarm. also look for borders for the pineapple blossom – hope i have a blender in a deep blue, if so, it is upstairs.
you know, mary, just because those pieces were cut to make stars, doesn’t mean they ‘have’ to be stars. they can be checkerboards or whatever else you choose. even turn into 4-patches like the other piece you just made. i repurpose lots of things.
my thoughts and prayers are with peggy.
happy stitching all, patti in florida
I hope you have the same success with the laser that I have been enjoying. It is so fast and not at all unpleasant. Waiting on my turn on ophth laser day at the surgi-center was the only drawback. Not bad huh ??
thanks, brenda. had the laser with the cataracts, had them take care of the astigmatism at the same time. anxious to have this one done. don’t like straight lines turning into ‘z’. patti in florida
Thank you so much Patti, for your thoughts & prayers
I love cards! Every time I go to Target, I buy a couple for my stash.
Making curtains today for my church pre-school. Another class was added, so I volunteered for the job.
My grandson started Transitional Kindergarten this morning. Don’t know why I’m crying!
Such a beautiful morning! Coffee on the patio – retirement at its best.
Diana – I saw his picture! He looked happy and excited to be going to school so remember that when you’re missing him during the day.
Your cards are beautiful & the homemade ones WOW! Your right kindness does matter! I’m going to clean out my car & then my house & hopefully a little quilting& out to dinner tonight!
Be lucky if I get it all in, oh well. 😊
You’ve received some awesome cards. You deserve them for sharing your blog about nothing with us. Today, I have a sick girl (bad cough) while mom and brothers are at the state fair and dad is at work. Hubby and I will go out to the fair tomorrow and watch four of the grands show their pigs and sheep, and check out the quilts (I entered 2 in the show). Hope to get some sewing done here today, in between loads of laundry and entertaining granddaughter. HUGS… and stitches
Christie – we would love to see your quilts that you entered!!!
Was so glad to read your blog this morning. I needed a good laugh!!!!!
Ellen