Yes, where else would you read about quilts, bowls and skunky dogs? Keeper is handling it all much better – he doesn’t hide out in the van and seems just more relaxed and happy. I finally ordered a DNA kit to find out just what he is. He’s a sweetheart, is what he is!
My day didn’t start out well – I let Keeper out and he saw Barney down by the barn and he chased him! I was beside myself with terror that he might actually catch Barney and that alone would likely kill the terrified cat.
I came back to the house to make my coffee and my pantry and coffee pot was swarming with ants! I put 4 ant trap stations out just yesterday because I saw a couple (isn’t this too early for ants in the house?) but this was a nightmare. I have run vinegar and water thru my Keuirg 6 times and each time there are a few ants in the cup. Ugh.
And at my Medicare doctor’s appointment yesterday, he asked me why I’m so stressed. That doesn’t even deserve an answer.
So here’s the Georgetown Circle block.
Only three measurements – 4-1/2, 2-1/2 and 3-1/4. To write a formal pattern will take a bit of time. Please do not assume I’m going to write the pattern and send me money. Use the block shown here.
I want you to meet a reader we hear from often – Vicki from Seattle. She just celebrated a big birthday with an extra big party. She laid out quilts for her guests to choose from! So kind!!
Reader quilts
Remember Alice’s little rescue, Boots, who had surgery for cherry eye? He spent two weeks with a cone on and here he is today – I think he’s giving Alice the evil eye.
Greta thinks it’s fine on the couch.
If YOUR Bullseye quilt hasn’t been shown, please resend the picture. I could easily have misplaced it.
I look forward to the cake recipe since our farmers market has fresh rhubarb available. I love the block, and have it printed out so I can give it a try. Sandy, I’m sorry to read of the flooded house, what a mess to wake up to, so glad you are not alone with the cleanup process. It was a beautiful day here today, 70 and perfect for a nice bike ride and grilling chicken for dinner.
Kim – the recipe appeared in the post a couple days ago.
Mary, thanks for the Georgetown Circle pattern! Your directions are easy enough to follow & I would like to make at least one block. I have a suitcase full of Civil War reproduction fabrics & that would be a great way to use them. Boots is definitely a very active puppy & a real character. I’ve learned to make my bed with one hand with him tucked under the opposite arm! I’m currently trying to break him from biting which is just part of his playing. I’m also another one that really enjoys reading the blog & seeing all the beautiful quilts. Really love all the variety of Bullseye quilts. Wishing Vicki a very Happy Birthday! What a lovely idea to give away quilts for your birthday!!
Oh, mercy! Those ants are so horrible. In my part of the South, the ladies call them “sugar ants”, but the men call them something a bit more rude LOL We put a tiny bowl of vinegar with a drop of dish soap on the kitchen counter near the sink, and on a windowsill or where we think they are coming from, and that usually takes care of the problem for a while. You can also make a spray with the vinegar and soap and spray it around window frames and door sills; they won’t usually cross the spray line.
Hi Mary, so glad to have your blog to remind me that I’m not the only one with stress in my life. Within one week, I had to replace my washing machine and the brakes on my car. Yesterday, I took a friend shopping and she said, “bad things come in threes”. I gave her the evil eye for that. Then, on the way home, we noticed a column of smoke not far from my house! Wild fire!! It was 3.4 acres and 2 miles from home. Thank God for our fire fighters, and it rained like crazy all night and is no longer a problem.
Because of your blog, I am sipping a cup of cocoa made by my dear husband, I have Matilda asleep in my lap. I’m enjoying looking at beautiful quilts and seeing Vicki’s lovely smile (happy birthday!) and giggling at Greta all stretched out for a cat nap. I can’t thank you enough! God bless you!
Colleen – good grief! Fire terrifies me, I imagine driving west and seeing smoke only to come over the hill to discover it’s my place! I don’t know what I’d do. And my van is over 10 years old with low mileage but things will probably start to fall apart any time now.
Love your blog Mary. So sorry about the ants. They are a real pain! Not like skunks….that’s the worst! I don’t understand what a “connector block” is. Could you explain that one? I too want to make this block. It is so pretty in the repro fabrics. I don’t keep a lot of scraps but do have lots of civil war fabrics I love to work with. Hope I can make this one. Have a lovely day! Cooler and rainy in south Georgia today. We need rain so badly!!
Helen – I’ll draw it out in tonight’s post – you probably call it something else but I learned from Mary Ellen Hopkins. You lay a square in the corner of the bigger square, stitch diagonally, cut away the small square underneath. Voila! A corner triangle!
Glad things are smelling better around your home place! We recently caught a skunk in a live trap and he sprayed so we have been “airing it out” for the past few weeks. I put horse manure on my rhubarb last fall and it is looking great! I’m going to harvest it soon and look forward to your rhubarb cake recipe. Thanks for your blog – look forward to it and appreciate your time and effort!
I so enjoy seeing quilts from the readers here! It feels a bit like a family to see the work everyone does and hear about the lives of others.
Erin – I agree! I love to receive pictures from readers!
just picked up your aunt amy’s quilt book with the bullseye pattern on the front. found it at the greater st louis book fair! (marking inside indicated it was formerly owned by the public library) couldn’t be happier.
—oh, and yes, the skunks are out in force this spring. (we live in the -burbs) so strong. think i scared one putting out the trash. walked through the house to let the dogs out the back, and just that quickly, it stunk!! … made me thankful for all the nights it was just “stink weed” coming from my neighbor’s car. seriously. skunk smell took HOURS to dissipate and had to close all the windows. nobody enjoyed that!! BIG difference LOL .
Kit – Score on the book!!! I’m hoping we won’t have any more run-ins with a skunk. If I get real close to Keeper, I can still smell it.
Thank you for those measurements!! I think I’ll give it a try – after I take care of a few things here. I was away for 6 days to visit my daughter in NY, home long enough to mow and do laundry, then off for 8 days with friends to SC. Things always happen at once, don’t they? I returned home this time to find that the nasty groundhog that’s been chewing on my siding had finally gotten itself in the live trap – now to get it out! It has been raining most of the time here in central Ohio (some storms were severe) since Tuesday. As you well know, that means trying to get the mowing and other things done in between raindrops, so it’ll have to wait a bit… I swear the grass grew another inch by the time I finished mowing yesterday! Yay, Spring!
Our chorus has a performance tomorrow and I need to study my music a bit more by then – maybe some sewing time on Monday. Fingers crossed!
Gail – hope you got rid of the varmint! You mentioned chorus – do you sing or play?
I got rid of it – the varmint won’t be chewing on my siding any more, or anyone else’s, for that matter!
I sing (tenor, the high harmony) in a Sweet Adeliines chorus – 4-part a cappella, barbershop style music – and can’t imagine NOT doing that! I used to play piano, but haven’t played much lately except to pick out my part when needed. I enjoyed the recordings of your playing when you shared them a while back!!
Gail – I always think I’m going to play the piano again and put on the blog but I always forget and then I need to practice, yada yada! I’ll try to do it again. I love listening to Sweet Adelines!
Mary, I love your blog. I only follow 3 and yours is the best. I’m recuperating from knee replacement and have been reading a few more. No one’s is as good and entertaining although not so much for you. Thank you for the measurements for Georgetown. I did what Vicki did, quilt giveaway last Mother’s Day and at Christmas. What didn’t get taken I donated and they will go to kids in foster care. I still have too many but a day without sewing is a wasted day.
Suzanne – thank you for that compliment – this blog would be just as ordinary as all the rest if not for readers sending me pictures of quilts – honestly, I live a simple life and without the readers helping out, this blog will die. Id be lost without it, too, actually – I look forward to sitting by the window with my morning coffee and reading comments – like talking with old friends. Knee replacement is not for the faint of heart but it’s so worth it – do your exercises and go to therapy religiously.
Suzanne – I’m curious about the other blogs you follow – can you tell me the names? I’d love to see their layout – mine became an extension of the opening letter of the Goat Gazette that I’d been writing for many years. It was just online instead of a paper newsletter sent in the mail.
The other two blogs I read are Quiltville and Jo’s Country Junction. I also like AgileJack she has great dogs and wild quilts. KatandCat quilts; Confessions of a fabric addict. There are a few I really liked but they have stopped blogging.
I doubt I will have my other knee done. Couldn’t do this without my husband.
Nothing ordinary about your blog LOL. I love reader photos and comments.
There is always a lot to see on https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/.
Li …going to check it out. I am so bored not being able to do much.
Suzanne – I could spend many hours reading blogs – when I should be working. Jo is a friend and lives just a couple hours from me.
Hey Suzanne! I read Quiltville, Jo’s Country Junction, Agile Jack too. I love Bender and Rico 🥰.
I am set to have my right knee replaced end of June. Bone on bone and bad arthritis. I have seen a few posts of people saying they would not have surgery if they knew how bad the recovery was. Others have been ok. I am a chicken about some things and recently was a colonoscopy. I asked the nurse if the lady before me made it ok and she laughed. I will also have my husband to take care of me but he doesn’t cook. Any hints or tips on after care? Thanks 😊
Pamela, as Mary said do the exercises and physical therapy. It is worth it. It does take some time. It is so nice that I no longer have pain in my knee. I too was bone on bone and no cartilage left in my knee. I remember saying to my dr at two weeks I didn’t think it was worth having the surgery and he laughed at me and said it was too soon to have an opinion like that. He was so right.
I made a bunch of meals and froze them as my husband isn’t a good cook. a friend brought me some muffins and they were so handy. I froze them and when I needed a snack they were there. Last bit of advice is rent or buy an ice machine, it is the best contraption there is. Just google ice machine for knee replacement if you aren’t sure what it is. As the dr said to me – your ice machine will become your best friend. And he was so right.
Best of luck. It is worth it.
Thank you Teresa! Frozen meals sound like a good idea, he can microwave!😻 Yes, I am planning on following doctors’ instructions!
Pamela – I’ve had both knees replaced 8 weeks apart and I didn’t think the recovery was so bad – I went to therapy religiously however. It was in late 1999 and early 2000. Today my knees don’t hurt at all and I can run but slowly. I’m so glad I did it. You’ll do great – just think of having no knee pain. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Yes! No knee pain would be a Godsend! Darrell and I spread out 15 bags of mulch and first pulled grass and weeds. I almost fell once and kept getting dizzy. I can’t do as much with my knee hurting so bad. Thanks for the encouragement 🥰
Love the quilt with the square within a square. It is so colorful and beautiful. I haven’t seen for a week. I’ve been working on getting flower beds in shape.
Marie – it’s been too cold, windy and rainy this past week to work outside – people in town are mowing however!
Wow is all I can say about the quilt show. Thank you for the information on you Georgetown Circle.
Ants, oh how I do hate them in the house!! Sorry for that added stress!!
Yesterday Buster surprised me with his aggressive barking, and I screamed out of surprise. Never did that before. Someone was moving their trash container and he didn’t like it.
Rhubarb cream cake. Yum!!
Carolyn – Buster was on watch to protect you!
Spring! Brings joy and woes.
I so enjoyed this morning’s photos and gab. Happy Birthday Vickie. Good idea on celebrating and giving away. I just had a big birthday too but I wasn’t home to give away quilts. I went to HI! But I love to give away quilts and must remember that idea.
Fran – now that’s a birthday – Hawaii! It’s always been at the top of my bucket list but I don’t care anymore. It would be too stressful to leave the farm. Giving quilts away – I gave a queen size red and scraps Bonnie Hunter quilt to a friend and she’s never used it that I know of, I’ve never seen it again and I wish I had it back.
I laughed out loud at the doctor asking why you’re so stressed! You should have told him to read your blog! 😂😂😂
Do you think Keeper is picturing Barney as the skunk who made his life so miserable so that’s why he went after him?
Thanks Mary for the block measurements. And now a big favor is could we have your rhubarb cream cake recipe that Becky is enjoying???? My husband loves fresh rhubarb this time of year.
Happy birthday Vicki and many many more so we can selfishly see your quilting treasures. I know you make a lot.
Kathy – I’ll post the recipe tonight – I make it only once a year – soooo good with a scoop of ice cream on the side.
I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE that first quilt that looks like blocks inside blocks. What is the name of it? Is there a pattern? Boy that could use up a lot is scraps couldn’t it?
Holly – my friend Rose made that beauty – I can figure the measurements right here – center is 1-1/2 x 1-1/2, first row is also 2 of 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 and the third row, is two 1-1/2 x 3-1/2. It’s a 3” block so just think how many you have to make. But so spectacular!!
Rose, here. My quilt is based on Terry Rowland’s Cokir Challenge 2022 and my version is more controlled than hers who’s is improv. All I of my cuts are 1.5″ square and 1.5×3.5″ so the blocks measure 3″ finish. You can find tutorials on Terry’s quilt on YouTube and see her patches and strips vary in size with the blocks being trimmed down to 3.5″. I don’t do improv very well.
So sorry about the blasted ants 🐜! Frustrating!
Happy Birthday Miss Vickie! Love your quilt 🥰. I love the big one below it too, so big and colorful rainbow squares. Did you make that one too?
I’m glad Barney is still hanging around and will forget about being scared. Keeper is definitely 💯 % sweetheart!
Greta is beautiful against that gorgeous quilt 😻
Oh Mary your blog is just priceless! Thanks for the Georgetown circle measurements. That block has such possibilities. I’m always on the lookout for patterns where I can use up scraps. The quilt Greta is laying on is another possibility. Rhubarb cream cake? I have a pack of frozen rhubarb in my freezer. Recipe? Would be wonderful.
Jean – I’ll post the recipe tonight – it is so good and I make it only once a year.
Hi Mary, have had a couple of dreadful days, we had a big storm Thursday and Friday, my pump didn’t automatically work overnight, so l woke to soggy carpet in lounge area and got 5 buckets full of water from my small kitchen area!. So have been busy with dehumidifiers and moving boxes of fabric off shelves so we can dry carpet, thank goodness I have my son to help me,but l can barely walk! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sorry about your dreadful days, Sandy.
Happy Birthday to Vicki!
We get ants in our master bathroom, but I have never heard of them in the coffee machine, Hang in there, Mary.
Greta so cute sleeping on the quilt. Sweet dreams.
Sandy, Sorry for your problems. It’s so much work to clean up after flood problems. Especially when you’re not feeling the best. So thankful your son is able to help you out,
Sandy – OH NO!!! That’s awful – what a clean up ahead of you and your son! I can just imagine your horror to get out of bed to a mess – stepping on soggy carpet as you go! Let us know!
Hi Mary, the dehumidifiers are doing their job, carpet not so soggy now! Giving my sofa away as Bella finds it hard to jump up now, more space in room ,how many cobwebs behind sofa as l can’t move it to vacuum. I just want to get back to my sewing machine!
Sandy – I don’t blame you – sewing will restore you!!
Thank you for the sizes of the various pieces for Georgetown Circle, it’s such a pretty block. I’m going to make one (at least & possibly more). As I was writing down the sizes I got to the gray printed fabric surrounding the center. The notes show ‘cut 4 – 2.5’ but I’m thinking it might be ‘cut 2 – 2.5’ as there are only 4 triangles. I could be wrong (often am!), but will give it a go next week and see how it works out. Thank you everybody for all the sharing — it’s like a daily quilt show! I love the quilt on the sofa that Greta is sprawled against…she has great taste!
: ) Deb / N. California
Deb – it’s a connector square on each corner of the center square – a “c” in a box indicates connector square
deb, i am FAR from an expert, but it must be the california brain that i too share!!. yes, your thinking is workable. so many ways to create the same block. (the written way most likely limits bias edges) i do believe that you would have to cut the square larger to accommodate for the loss in seam allowance if you go the route of dividing two squares.,, or even one big one as done for the outer units. im a big fan of going larger and trimming down (and or dividing) as I’m always looking for a way to create that fits my brain style. …and hey, if we are wrong, then we learned something new (never too old for that) and had fun creating while we did. win,