Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019

Our church was filled to the brim this morning for confirmation of 8 freshmen who brought lots of visitors. It was a wonderful feeling to see every pew filled, the Friendship Room and the balcony. I missed Confirmation last year on Palm Sunday.

Continue reading

This is why I missed last year. Remember that 17″ of snow and high winds?

This afternoon, after I watched Tiger’s comeback, I went to a surprise 90th birthday party for Ina. Here is Ina with her daughter Deb and granddaughters Courtney and Cassie.

Ina with the grands and greats.

Ina would not have agreed to have this party because she wouldn’t want a “fuss” but she had no choice in the matter. Emma planned the party and Ina was very surprised when Emma delivered her to the door and we were all waiting inside. Great fun!

If you remember Ina and would like to send her a birthday card, send it to Ina Lofy, 1317 — 3rd Ave. N. Clear Lake, IA 50428. Her 90th birthday is April 19.

Here are the blocks from Friday night on the cruise.

When the weather got over that storm from last week I went after Betty and brought her to the farm. I started training her in the barn to leave the chickens alone and she has done just great! It always goes better when the owner isn’t with us – just like kids who behave better with the grandma, aunt or babysitter . Here’s Telly and Betty play rassling!

Here’s Cheryl K’s Harvey.

And a quick review of the goat patterns for those who have asked.

Louise and Friends, 24″ x 35″, pattern cost is $10.00

Goat Sampler, 29″ x 49″, pattern cost is $10.00.

You just wouldn’t believe all the sticks down in my yard and I know I can’t work a full day picking them up. I have several old body parts that just can’t do it! Haha!

21 thoughts on “Palm Sunday, April 14, 2019

  1. Diane Bauer

    What fun to celebrate Ina with a surprise party in her honor!
    We had snow again yesterday, but today’s highs got up near 60.
    My daughter lost a childhood riding buddy to an overdose on Wednesday evening. Taeler spent a good bit of time at our house during those years and I am just sick at the unnecessary loss and the pain her parents are dealing with now. Her memorial service will be Wednesday at 11. Jen will come home and we will attend together. In the meantime, I have spent hours at my machine, stitching my pain into pincushions. Quilting got me through Justin’s deployment last year, and it will get me through this. I am so grateful for the coping mechanism of seeing and creating!!!
    Love the cruise quilts!!!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Diane Bauer – I am so sorry! I saw this mentioned on FB and wondered. Tragic!

  2. Jeanie from sw Illinois

    So glad the weather did not mess with Ina’s party; looks like a good time was had by all.
    I love the picture of Telly and Betty, who does not look like a puppy anymore. I am sure she appreciates coming to farm and playing with her friends.
    An hour south of Springfield IL, we had rain and wind during the night and lost power for a couple hours, typically spring.

  3. Jo in Wyoming

    Ina is proof quilting is good for your health. Yes Diane, quilting will get you through many dark times.
    Mary, I remember the snow storm you had last year. It was a showstopper!
    I’m having lunch with the telephone operators tomorrow, always a good time. One of them is going to get a quilt…what a surprise.

  4. Rosemary W

    I hear they were trying to get Ina to visit our guild meeting in clear lake too….you could meet up with her once a month at the meeting! My sister that lives in mason city quilts too, so we usually get to meet up each month on this common ground!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Rosemary W – and we talked about this today! Reed and I are going to come in May and ask Grandma Cheryl if she wants to come with us.

  5. Margaret

    One of those grabbers works great for picking small sticks! No more bending over. You can even pick up 2 or 3 sticks at a time. Try it. Beautiful weather in North TX today!

    1. Tina W.

      I was just going to suggest one of those grabbers when I read Margaret’s reply! They work really well.

      Due to all the melting snow and lots of rain here in northeast Oregon, they’re letting a LOT of water out of the dam and a lot of people are being flooded out of their homes. Seems to me, they knew it was coming and could have let water out sooner instead of all at once. I guess common sense isn’t so common!

  6. Kathy Schwartz in SW MN

    Those “gold balloons” are very impressive. I have never seen those before.
    Cruise quilts are beautiful. I like that Harvey–he kind of looks like a farmer Harvey.
    The Mpls. TV station said all people have power now except for 40 people in SW MN. I think they better fact check that. We are still on the generator. The local restrauant (sp?) was loaded with people today at noon because the country people don’t have power yet. There are about 600 workers in this area from NE, Kansas and Iowa.
    Maybe Reed can help with the sticks.
    How wonderful to have 9 get confirmed. This year we had 0.

  7. Diane in Central Ohio

    This fell off my refrigerator this AM. When I turned it over, I discovered it was from the Goat Gazette because there is a recipe from Ina on it:) I am sending her card today. Here it is:
    “Whenever I’m disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a spot in the school play. His mother told me he had set his heart on being in it, though she feared that he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. ‘Guess what, Mom’ he shouted and then said those words that will remain lesson to me…’I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.'”
    This must have been on my refrigerator for years:) We’ve lived here since 2005. Thanks, Mary. It also has this on the bottom. A true test of friendship: If you died, which of your friends would you trust to clean out your drawers? Your sewing room?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Diane in Central Ohio – that is quite a coincidence, isn’t it? That the recipe was from Ina, that the paragraph was from the GG AND that you still have it on your frig! Wow! It takes me back to the quilt shop and all those years of being on business! Thanks for a walk down memory lane today!

  8. Sue in Oregon

    We use the grabbers as well. We have a stand of alder that tend to lose limbs in every blow. My husband attaches his cart to his mower and then out come the grabbers. Laughingly, we have grabbers all over our place. In the barns, the basement, and other stashes here and there, and especially one in my sewing room with a magnet on the end.
    We have had nothing but rain and more rain to the point of flooding. Here on the west side of Oregon, we do not have much snow melt or overflowing dams. We have very high tides and never-ending rain. If the rivers are higher than the tide gates, the water doesn’t go out. Then, we have what we call waterfront property. Our house sits on the highest point of our land, so it is fine. But, some of our fields are actually below sea level. Opps…sorry about the book.

  9. Janine

    I just got my daily cry in after reading the Jamie Scott post (thanks, Diane. for sharing it)… what a great lesson for us. I didn’t comment after all the cruise quilt pictures Connie sent, but I love all three quilts – I am going to set a goal of going on next year’s cruise (Connie, are you teaching again, I hope?). It looked like a great time!

  10. Annie Miksch

    Mary – I’ve just mailed you a check for the Louise and Friends pattern. Is it okay if I make a king-sized bed quilt from the block for a benefit being held for Puget Sound Goat Rescue? Thanks!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Annie – king size? Holy cow! The block only measures 7×9! Feel free to enlarge it!

      1. Annie Miksch

        You mean Holy Goat! Will alternate with a different block. Yup, king sized. Have made quilts for their online fundraiser the last three years and it lets me support their amazing work much more than I could afford to send them. Will send a picture when I get it done.

  11. Mrs. Goodneedle

    Always fun to see what you’re up to on the farm. My Dad turned 91 on Palm Sunday, he wouldn’t want a fuss made over him either, just like Ina; he made us promise last year that there would be NO PARTY. We had no choice but to honor his wishes. It looks like Ina had fun. Your goat quilts are just precious.

Comments are closed.