I’m glad I’m not a camper – it’s in the 50’s and rainy! I’ll need to turn my furnace back on – bummer.
Before I forget – thank you to those who remember to click on the ads for me! The money goes directly to the blog bank account. This income is what pays for the blog and we all love the blog
Since I got the valances done for the front room, I cleaned it and put lights along the window sills. At night it’s magical – hard to get a nice picture but you get the idea.
Before valances:
After valances:
Remember this big discussion about valances or no valances? Even tho the majority voted against valances I just couldn’t get over wanting them and now I’m so glad I made them. If I can just get rid of some of these plants, I’ll really love this room again.
Reader photos
I follow Louisa Enbright’s blog and she just had a bunch of fat quarters that she was determined to use up – four -4! quilts later this is what she ended up with. I did not get her permission to actually post these but I don’t think she’d mind. In fact I think you’d all enjoy her blog. She’s a very productive and inspirational quilter! And she pieces simple things that I love!
I had planned to mow today but it’s now raining again! Oh, darn, I’ll have to sew!
I love the $24 quilt!!! It’s beautiful! And it looks amazing hanging on the door – is that two french doors together to form a “room divider”? It looks great, whatever it is! I follow Louisa as well, love her quilts and her posts about food! The valances are very sweet – the room looks so cozy with the lights. I’m thinking that I will try lights around the top of my breezeway. Might be just enough light to eat by. We sometimes use candles on the table, but the overhead light is just too bright. Enjoyed the pictures of Bisquit and his dad and Mackenzie with Kratos! Well, all of the pictures are great and I appreciate that people share them. Jan in MA
Jan – the thing with the lights is just what you said – overhead is too much and these tiny lights are almost like candlelight but easier. When I close the dog door on my way to bed and the room is dark with only the white lights on the window sill, it’s almost magical to me. I don’t know why I didn’t do it before. I did have lights in a swag from one window to the next but I like this better.
Yes, those are a pair of French doors I bought at an auction for very little money. Great room divider.
I loved everything about this post! Wonderful pictures! I like your valances and the lights along the window sill. Also love your plants. The reader’s roses are beautiful! The little girl with her chain piecing is adorable and made me miss the days with my granddaughters! They couldn’t reach the sewing pedal when they began and we put it up on a block. Those days went by too fast.
Diane – how’s Trice and his menagerie? Haven’t heard you mention him in a long time.
Mary that red white and blue lone pstar quilt is magnificent! $24? Just wow. Great blog today.
I love the pictures, all of them! Kids, animals, quilts, favorite places. I put a string of lights across the top of my kitchen cupboards, looks so nice. Husband laughed at me when I put them up there, but then he discovered he could read his diabetic numbers and give himself a shot without having to turn on the bright light. I also have a string of solar dragonfly lights on the curtain rod in my bedroom. Just a little mood. very welcoming. Have a great week!
Dee – why is it that husbands tend to make fun of any decorating we might do? I have to leave Rick’s tv room with the fireplace alone – no decorating or moving stuff! White lights are the easiest way to dress up a room and love them! When I put the valances up I took down the lights.
I can sympathize! For nearly 40 years, I have been dis-allowed from having floral sheets or floral quilts on the bed. LOL I’m trying to edge a little bit of pink in though — can’t stop trying!
On Netflix- this is us, behind her eyes , atypical ❤️
We haven’t had rain in weeks. I’ll watch the radar and I swear the storms split when they get to us and go all around! Today was 98 degrees with a heat index of 112. Supposedly, it will be in the lower 90s the rest of the week. Oh, and we’re also getting all the smoke from the agricultural burns in Mexico. I just get out and work out back anyway! Hate staying inside all day long. Love the photos today!
Paula – I wouldn’t like your hot dry weather although today was cool and rainy – too cool to even sit in the porch!!!
Love the new look in the room!
The valances look great! AND that porch IS magical!! You rocked it, Mary!!!
Love the valances you made. I think a bit of something at a window really finishes it off. Such pretty quilts Louisa was able to make but my first thought was it was one heck of a tall stack of fat quarters. I have a single wedding ring quilt in kit stage but it never got any farther.
We finally had some rain so hope to get the rest of the garden planted. Found some really nice large flowering pots on clearance for $15 each at HyVee so 4 of them came home with me. I had quite a car load as I had 4 large pots of flowers, 6 more plants, 4 large empty pots, and groceries. It must have been good luck as we have had rain since. Now I’m moving plants around to keep them out of heavy rain and winds. Just can’t win.
I really like your valances as well. I have them in my kitchen, bathrooms, and quilt room. I enjoyed all the pictures today, and I think I clicked on eight ads. I usually have quite a few on my computer, where I read your blog.
Our kids were here over Memorial Day, and we celebrated our Christmas in May. There were 19 in our house most of the time. We borrowed our pastor’s camper for some, and we have a utility shed we fixed up for some as well. It started out for our 6 granddaughters, but then they started getting married. Two of our granddaughters were not able to come. The kids came from OH and ND. We are about in the middle of them. It was a good time.
I am also thankful for our military and for those that gave their lives for our freedom. God bless America.
Thank you for all the wonderful pictures of bunches of stuff. We enjoy all of them. As for valances, I’m for them. The before looks like you have your panties on. The valance is finishing putting on your clothes. I have a strange imagination??
We’ve had several spring showers and wonderful moisture. I think we’re even out of the extreme drough for awhile. Everything looks nice and green. Hard to keep up with the lawn mowing and the rain showers. We ARE NOT complaning.
The very complicated quilts are great, but I seem to motivate to the simple patterns. And always scrappy.
I remember the scrappy quilt my great grandmother, age 70, gave to my Mom dated December 25, 1929, The great grandparents got married in Germany and came to the United States in September, 1881–about 15 years after the Civil War was over. I remember them, but wasn’t old enough to wish I could ask them 100’s of questions. We have to be very happy to live in the United States. Happy Memorial Day.
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – And Happy Memorial Day to you, too! Yes, there’s nobody luckier than us who live in America. Oh,the things I take for granted!
Such beautiful pictures today!! Louisa’s quilts are beautiful. I love the valences in your front room with the lights. I have a valence in my sewing room. I need to make a new one as this one is starting to fade a little. Some day!!
What a great post today…quilts, kids, flowers and pets. Windows are a welcome change. Refreshing a space makes a surprising difference.
I have mom’s old ironing board. Heavy cast iron legs and wood board…I think the flag will be a great refresher for it.
I’m doing yard work this morning and longarming jobs this afternoon.
Mary: Your valences look really nice. Your front room is such a cozy-looking room. You must have a hard time choosing a room to sit in at times. . . the screened porch or the front room. I really like the Lone Star quilt. Today’s weather? For us, rain, cold and windy. The rain started last night and it has been raining pretty much since then. Louisa Enbright: Those are four really nice quilts. I read your blog regularly, by I can’t comment because I don’t have a proper ID set up. Janice B in Traverse City area
The valences turned out great and the lights are perfect. Makes the room very inviting and cozy. Loved all the photos today. And so nice to see the young girl making a quilt-a hobby that will last a lifetime.
I have been following Louisa’s blog for several years. She makes some awesome quilts and is a very busy gal.
I’m glad that quilt found a good home with you! Must have been made with a lot of love.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!🇺🇸.
I agree on the valances and lights. Your porch is so comfy and inviting. I love the lights😀. All of the quilts, kids, dogs, and flowers are great! It is very nice here today. Breezy, sunny, and about 74*.
Thanks for your blog, Mary💕
I agree Mary, your valances look great! Of course its a lovely room either way.
Love the photo of the little girl chain piecing in that well stocked sewing room. Also love that quilt with the stars and strips. I sketched it out to use for a veteran’s donation quilt.
Yesterday a tornado came right through between our place and the neighbor’s. Thankfully it wasn’t on the ground right here but it still took out several trees and tree tops. The house and outbuildings were untouched though, praise God. The power has come back on now so I can sew!
I love the valances! They were a lot of work but they really look nice. We are very hot and humid here along the south Texas coast. You can’t mow because of the rain and I can’t putter around in my garden because of the high heat index, looks like a good sewing day for both of us. As I am sewing, I am thinking of how grateful I am for our armed forces and our veterans and for the many sacrifices they all have made for us. God bless them and their families.
I love the valances! They look so good in your room and the lights are a great addition too. I enjoy your emails every day and always read them first!
I know I posted earlier but had to comment on the valances, great look!
The valances are lovely and really cozy up the room! I love the series of quilts made from FQ—so creative! I saved the pictures to my phone for inspiration. I’ve always liked the single wedding ring pattern, but haven’t made one—need to get cutting!
As to our weather, we got major thunderstorms yesterday which delayed the Indy 500 by 4 hours. Then we got more rain overnight for almost an inch. I went out around 11 am to work on flower beds and just about froze in a t-shirt and shorts. It’s 60 here with wind and it’s COLD. DD and her DH are moving from Indy to Duluth in mid-June so we didn’t plan a cookout—they have plenty to do and Katie worked all weekend (ICU nurse). I’m going back out to work some more but had to change clothes!
The valances look great! Just had a storm go through here, storm warnings until 10:00 tonight. Was going to the cemetery, guess I’ll hold off until tomorrow! Happy Memorial Day everyone!
I love your valences. It softens the room and warms it.
Louisa, love your fat quarter quilts. Motivation to start a FQ project too!
Love the valances with the lights! So pretty. I also love that patriotic quilt
I love the postage stamp quilt so much. I have been working towards putting one together in a leader-ender sort of way with no immediate end in sight.
As for your plants, could you have a plant sale or put some by the road with a “FREE” sign or advertise them on Marketplace? I am sure there are lots of people who would love to give them a good home.
I like that you went with the valences because you wanted them. Sometimes it just takes someone telling us not to do something to help us know that we really want that thing! Does that even make sense?!?! Our temperature was 80 degrees at 7:30 this morning and it felt like it was in the 90’s. I live in the part of Texas that did not get all that rain, so we are still in a severe drought. I’ve been in a quilting slump lately. I decided I might see if I can find the scraps needed to make a patriotic mini quilt! We’ll see!
Jill – a small patriotic quilt made on Memorial Day should get your quilting mojo in gear!
Loved today’s pictures and your whole blog. The valances look great.
I’m a valance person and make them seasonal for a small kitchen window I have from cute cotton fabric. I love the look of yours so good you kept at it cause with the lights looks like a very cozy room.
Gosh what a swing of weather you’ve had there. Makes each day interesting. I went to a bridal shower yesterday at an arboretum I never knew was 1/2 hour away from me. What beautiful grounds! All well groomed and plantings with benches, bridges, babbling creeks, gazebos and loads of color all open to the public and maintained by a local town. I’m going back for a walk with my dogs some day and take it all in more.
Kathy – and you never knew it was there? Wow
Honesty I never heard of this park before and lived here all my life. I am wondering if a family endowed this property to the town to keep all the beauty and plantings for generations to see. Granted the town is a half hour from me and we now travel through it to go to camp. A wedding was happening as we finished a short walk so I got to see a lovely white gown on a darling girl as she walked with her groom down a pathway towards an arch. Her family and friends were all along the path. So original. Some community group has kept this place meticulously going to rent out and preserve.
Mary and friends…I have to read the blog on Facebook to find the ads to click on.
Mary it rained here during the night sometime, it only rained a tenth. Now it is sunny and breezy and going to get really windy!
11 am and finally finished with breakfast! Had neighbor men visiting Jay and son Scott outside. Makes for a long morning waiting….. but I read your blog 🥰
I love your valances and your lights. Makes for a cozy spot!
Have a good Memorial Day!
We had several big tornadoes go through here last night, scary indeed. Thought of the ones in Iowa. Damage but no one perished that we know of, thankfully! They stayed on ground for several counties. We are in Southern Illinois, not far from Ohio River, about 50 miles.
Well, I am very sad to add to my post that they did find four deceased victims in the tornadoes that went through. It is a sad bit of news to add after I said none were found. They are still searching the wreckage and I hope no others are found.
Dee – so tragic. We heard some stats on the news tonight that were mind boggling!!
Your valances look great! Gives the room a fresh summery look. Fun pictures and nice projects. Love seeing it all.
Love Louisa’s single wedding ring, beautiful! The pictures of biscuit and kratos 😻. The second pic of awesome multicolored squares is so pretty! I love your front room, valances and lights 🥰! Happy Memorial Day everyone!
I love your valances. It makes your room look so cozy and comfy.
Good job on the valances. Looks homey. Love all the quilts. we are 74 degrees at 11:30 am and cloudy. We did get a storm last evening with 1/2 inch of rain.
Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va
I was worried about you this morning when I didn’t see a post! Just shows you, I have no life! LOL
Wonderful quilt photos today!
Rain heading our way in about 1/2 hour, so off I go to sew. Working on a paper pieced mini that will hang on my mom’s door. Birdhouses made from 30’s prints.
I am one who loves valances – just old-fashioned I guess
The porch looks so inviting! I love the valances and lights! A beautiful quilt for $24.
Love the new look of your room with valances and lights on the windowsills, so inviting. I especially like your lone star quilt. Interesting that it is bordered in green. What a stunner and perfect for the patriotic holidays ahead. The quilt that produced 3 additional quilts is very pretty too.
Thank you to all veterans for your service.
Love your antique quilt find! I also love the red, white & blue quilt pic from a reader. Wow! You have much cooler weather than we do but we are supposed to be cooler & dryer (🤞🤞🤞) this week. We have had SO MUCH RAIN & SO many storms over the past week or so. Luckily NO tornadoes! Poor Brody. He hates storms & he just shakes & drools & nothing will make him stop. We’ve even tried “calming” pills, thunder shirt, etc. I was up most of the night with him. Lucky for him, I love him! 😉🐾
Have a nice day! I’ll be sewing today too.
I scrolled thru this whole blog post & found no ads to click. Sorry.
I love the valances! They bring coziness and comfort to the room. The lights are magical.
Love the picture of Biscuit, but missing Hank.
Happy Memorial Day Mary and all!
God bless.
Love your quilt find, what a bargain. Looks just like you. The valances make it look so good and homey, such a special touch.
I love love love your new look of the valences. Such a wonderful space you have to live live in.