That’s my day! My new stove in the kitchen and frig in the quilt shop arrived today.
I just know I’m probably not going to love this black top but I guess they don’t make the white ones anymore. The new frig is just a plain regular refrigerator freezer – not huge.
Plants – man, does it take a long time to carefully water all my houseplants! There’s one fancy philodendron that I really like – it’s called Golden Crocodile.
Look at this new leaf coming – almost like a crocodile teeth!
Got the last grow light hooked up last night – I walk outside and admire them after dark. Just think when I bring all the hanging geraniums inside and there’s snow outside! Oh my! I just love this setup so much.
And this is my most profound failure! Hank’s mom and dad gave me this huge gorgeous jade and I killed it with too much water. I haven’t done this too many times in my life with such a huge plant but wow, does this make me sad.
This afternoon we headed to the hayground again – Hazel ran as fast as she could to a specific spot – stopped – reached down and got that same darned snake in her mouth again. Is it the same snake? She threw it around, chomped on it, shook it, tossed it up in the air and then promptly threw up green bile with snake saliva pouring out of her mouth! Hahahahahahaha!!!!!! Honestly, there was nothing I could do – she would not come with me and kept circling that snake. Then she’d roll on it. I thought it was dead three days ago – now I don’t know. Maybe it’s another snake. This is all new to me – we’ve never had snakes here before. (I’m sorry, Connie – I know this is making you sick!)
So after a nice bath she and Keeper played towel until she moved to her spot on the back of the big chair.
You can’t make this stuff up! But wouldn’t it make a great kids book?
One last bit of “housekeeping”. These two orders arrived today – if you recognize your handwriting, I’ll be waiting for your SASE before I mail your pattern. Each pattern needs its own SASE. This is the only way I know to get my point across – I will keep your money until you follow directions. Sigh.
Sender on the left – do not address to Country Threads!!
Alice K. in ID- you didn’t sign your check! I’m sending your pattern but you owe me $5.00.
Good heavens!! Can this possibly be worth it?
…….. . . . . . . . . . . .
I have accepted Betty’s apology – it’s too hard to make a NEW old friend again at this age.
Did you notice I had not even one quilt photo to post?? Can anybody help me with that?
I love all those plants and can see why you work so hard keeping them all. Your room will be a true enjoyment come this winter. I do imagine watering is a big job. I have one Christmas cactus that manages to live under my care. It’s a fighter. I just took a quilt to the longarmer, will send pictures when I get it back. Its the first one I managed to finish this year. It feels so good to have my quilting space set up and unpacked.
Alice-in SW Ohio…Where on earth have you donated all of your quilting magazines. I love Quilt Samplers and wish they were still around.
Mary, I love your sun porch/sunroom/plant room!!! Reminds me of my grandmother who could grow a plant out of a weed! I’m struggling with 3 violets! I can’t find the right window with the light they need.
Pat-in AZ… A good hammer would help your cooktop!!!
Some mornings I sit here and howl after reading and hearing what Hazel has done the day before! Does her skin get dry from all the baths she needs weekly?!? Bless you Mary, you’re a good human!
Arlene – I think Hazel needs her own Instagram page, don’t you? Today was a quiet day – threatening thunderstorms and she’s terrified of thunder so we spent a lot of time”we” time – and I really wanted to sew!! I still have stacks of magazines – what I did sell was during our closing business sale
Arlene, I haven’t found anyone who wanted my magazines. I’ve taken them to retreats & they look through them & I’ve had to bring them back home. Most of us took the same ones. So I’ve put them in the recycle bin, I simply can’t keep them. I have plenty of books & patterns that I can use. I have to say I don’t see much in the newer magazines I want to make. I will not be renewing any of my magazines.
Alice – I won’t be renewing anything either which I hate because I loved getting a new magazine in the mail – it was a real treat.
Your porch…or plant room…is stunning! It is beautiful inside and outside. You must be so pleased with it.
I have never had a glass top stove. I do quite a bit of canning so did not even concider a glass top. Then, I bought an electric canner. HaHa Who knew they would come out with electric ones. Today I am making pizza sauce. Our tomato harvest has been huge this year.
I was happy to read about Betty. You two are good friends.
Like you I am a plant killer! I have a baby avocado plsnt that I trimmed and now it’s just a stalk. Hopefully it will grow back!
Thanks for the pics of your gorgeous plants!
I bought a new stove about 3 years ago. When we moved here there was a jenn-air stove with coil burners. When we bought our new one, they no longer made them with the coil burners so had to go to a glass top. And stayed with the Jenn Air brand since it had a down draft (boy was that expensive!)
I was worried that I would drop something on it and break the glass but so far so good. I clean mine with Weiman glass cook top cleaner and it does a very good job. A friend (who I told you about yesterday) said-you are going to hate that! Why I asked? She said-because you won’t be able to can produce on a glass top. I don’t can anyway so no problem.
It’s easy peasy to order Mary’s pattern. Put her address on a regular envelope (3 5/8 x 6 1/2) then put your address on an envelope (size 4” x 9 1/2”) I also put my address in the return. Put a stamp on it-fold it in thirds and put it, along with your payment in the smaller envelope and mail it off. Not confusing at all.
Love your porch filled with plants. And looks so nice and inviting with the clean windows.
Your plant room is outstanding, especially with all of those bright shiny windows. That philodendron is a real prize. I love plants although I am running out of room in my house. And as always Hazel keeps us all entertained. That girl is all terrier!
Des – those fancy philodendrons are my favorites and I’m hoping that since they are just philodendrons I’ll be able to
Keep them
Alive and become more beautiful. Yes, Hazel is terrier thru and thru! Wish you could meet her!
Cooktop tip….if you use a lid on a pot do not put it down on the stove top. I read that it is cause of breaking the top. Maybe it is the suction it creates or the heat on the cold. I love my stove that is just like yours. It is so much better than cleaning the drip pans that corrode after awhile.
Good tip. I bought a silicone mat to put on my top when not in use. Now I can use my pressure cooker and slow cooker on the stove top without scratching the glass. I just roll it up and set it to the side when I use my burners.
I love everything about this posts. How do you keep your plants watered and it doesn’t run out of pot?
Nancy – oh, running out of the bottom is key to correct watering! Each plant has a saucer or bowl of some kind. On the other hand, don’t leave your plant sitting in leftover water for long – causes root rot.
I should tell you about my contractor who suggested the cement window sills – because he knew I loved plants. Maybe I can do that next.
So glad you forgave Betty, she was probably just having a bad day.
I’ve got a nice pumpkin patch, but cannot see any of the pumpkins until after a frost. I don’t know how pumpkin farmers harvest with the vines still growing.
Mary, I noticed on your side bar, your address says, Country Threads. Maybe if you updated that along with the mailing instructions that would help.
Good morning Mary,
I read your blog to my husband while we have our first cup of coffee together. He asked me to tell you he thinks you are amazing!
Judy
Judy – hahaha! Where was he 50 years ago when I was looking for somebody who thought I was amazing???🤣. Tell Mr. Judy, thank you! Hmmm…. If he reads the blog every morning, what would he like to chat about? I’m always interested in new subject matters.
I’m with Connie – no snakes allowed. HA HA!
I did taste alligator bites this last weekend. It helped that I had a gin and tonic to wash it down. It was like a bite of a chicken nugget. It was a summer memory siting outside watching all the sailboats in the bay on the water.
I love your plant/ sunroom porch you get to admire through the winter.
Kathy, gin and tonic is my go to a few times each summer. I buy Fevertree and make tonic ice cubes so that it is nice and cold while I sip one.
LI – Thanks. I’ll have to check Fevertree out. I like something that quenches thirst and I am finding wine anymore isn’t my thing.
Mary, you are much more patient with us when it comes to following directions for ordering patterns. I would have given it up long ago!
I do get a hoot out of Hazel. She has the true terrier personality! She reminds me of my Riley who has been gone for almost 7 years now and I still miss him everyday. He was a cairn terrier and looked like Toto.
Paula – I would like to give it up but if I don’t provide the Country Threads pattern when someone requests it, that pattern will be “up for grabs” and other designers will simply take it or change one small thing and call it their own design. See why I try my darndest to be patient?
Hazel’s antics are such fun to read! Like you said, shed be great for a children’s book 🤣🐾🐶
Mary, I have that stovetop and I love it. I really don’t find it difficult to keep clean. Just be mindful of what you clean it with so you don’t scratch it. Beats cleaning around those burner grates in my opinion!!!!!
Hazel is a hoot, that’s for sure. I had a pup who was constantly going after creatures….. did I say I am terrified of snakes??? 😳 She would even run across the yard chasing birds in the sky barking at them! That did give me a good laugh every time. It absolutely WOULD make a really great book — maybe in your spare time – HA!
I’m sorry I have no quilt photos to send. I have not sewn in ages. For some reason that juju just isn’t there. Been working on cross stitch projects. Happy to send some pictures of those to you.
Can I just say I LOVE your “plant room” (that’s what I call it). I can totally see sitting in there, enjoying it whilst there is snow and cold outside! Just lovely.
Mother Nature and her crayons — I always say God paints the best pictures…. 😃
Glad you’re moving around well after your surgery. I’m also happy you received an apology. I try to give people grace as you never know what they are going through, but sometimes people just need to keep their mouths shut.
Oh Mary I’m so happy that you accepted Betty’s apology. I just knew that her words had come out wrong. Praise God!
I have the exact same stove you’ve purchased and yes that black top is a challenge to keep clean. I clean mine daily as part of the end of day kitchen cleanup. If I could by an electric stove with elements I would in a heartbeat.
Those envelope instructions. Oh my. I’m certain that those who send the wrong size envelope aren’t disrespecting you but are merely old. Yet I’m just as certain that you are sick of the challenge! I take care of A friend who has Alzheimer’s and he wouldn’t get the envelope thing at all. God is aware of the good that you do Mary.
Jean – if they can’t understand the size of the envelope they sure can’t understand how to make the quilt! What 80 year old thinks it’s just easier to do it their way? It might be easier all the way around to discontinue patterns for sale. My hands are too painful to write all the addresses out on the envelope that I could provide and put a stamp on so that’s not an option.
Mary – I’m so glad you are recovering. Your porch is so nice. The plants are wonderful.
Good grief! I was stunned when I read Betty’s comment. Where did that come from? Holy cow!
Unfortunately another relative is ill. My older sister, she’ll be 79 in November, had a massive stroke Sept. 6th. She is progressing very well. I saw her last Thursday at the hospital and today I talked to her on the phone at the rehab facility. The losses and illnesses that have plagued my family have been overwhelming. We are praying my sister fully recovers, but at this point there are too many unknowns. Next week my younger sister, ache 74, is having a cyst removed from her kidney. It’s a robotic surgery, so once again we are praying for a full recovery and benign pathology report. She had to postpone the surgery twice so the cyst has grown.
Take care everyone.
Sharon – oh, good heavens!! Why is it that your family continues to have such serious issues? And now your younger sister? I sure do hope she can get this done next week. And how are YOU?
Sharon G – forgot to say that Sept 6 is my mom’s birthday. If your 79 year old sister is at a rehab facility, will she come home asap? Is she married? Your family has been hit way too hard.
Mary – My sister will be in rehab for 2-3 weeks or possibly as long as 1 month depending on her response to physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Yesterday was day one of therapy after her transfer to the rehab facility on Friday. Yes, our
family has endured a lot, but we are holding on so far. My sister lost her husband of 51 years in June 2024 and her son in March 2025. She’s been through a lot. She has a daughter and 3 grandsons as well as me and our younger sister and our brother who lives in Ohio.
Every stove I’ve seen with a white top has yellowed over time. I have the black top & do like it! When I moved here over 7 yrs ago the former owner had just bought all new appliances…new stove, microwave, dishwasher, & refrigerator. I’m thinking she wanted everything to match. I clean my stovetop with barkeeper’s friend. It does a great job. And Mary, I quit teaching quilting classes because of really smart ladies that couldn’t follow directions! It’s important to sew 1/4″ seams! 3/8-1/2″ just won’t work. Then they wonder why things don’t turn out as they should! These are people with college educations!
I’ve spent 3 days working on my sewing room. It needed a complete reorganization. My sewing room is a sunroom & I need new blinds as well. It’s been quite a job that’s almost done! I’ve found fabric that has been given to me & I’m donating to a group that makes donation quilts for 3rd world countries. Next will be reorganizing my garage. I need to get this done before cold weather. This summer has been so hot it’s been impossible to accomplish this. It’s Sept & we’re still having temps near 90*! I promised not to complain about the hot weather because I hate winter! It truly amazes me that people like Betty feel it’s okay to make nasty comments to you! I never felt you were complaining at all. Makes me wonder if she’s someone who trolls different blogs trying to upset everyone. Surgery is never easy & as we get older we don’t heal as quickly. I think you’re doing amazingly well, Mary! Hazel & her antics keep me smiling! I believe some dogs remain puppies! This seems to be the case with Boots as well!! He’s just so full of energy!
Alice — you’re inspiring me — I’ve lost my desire to sew and I think it’s because my sewing room is just so disorganized and a total mess!! You made me see I need to take the time to clean, CLEAN, it and then I think I’ll enjoy being in there again. Seeing you have spent 3 days, tells me I need to suck it up and just get it done no matter how many days it takes me to do it!!!! Thanks Alice!
Lynette
Lynette, this has been an eyeopener for me! I certainly don’t need to be buying anymore fabric! I’ve had a lot donated to me & I’m passing on anything I don’t absolutely love! I simply don’t have anymore room to keep things neat! I will still make quilts for the new babies at church and make quilts using my extensive stash. I am loving having things organized! When I moved here 7+ yrs ago I didn’t have time to organize things. Our home sold in one day & I had a sick husband who couldn’t help. Love it here even though I don’t have all the room I had before. I can’t wait to get busy & start sewing again! I’ve also gotten rid of years of magazines, but kept all the Quilt Sampler magazines.
Alice – I discovered Barkeepers friend a few years ago when we got the cooktop stove like Mary’s too. I label myself a messy cook so that stuff helps with surface cleanup. I prefer it over cleaning grates.
Kathy – I like that cleaning product, too – I’ve had cooktop stoves for 40 years – I never said I love them but I also never said I love to cook. I need the oven.
Alice – I just can’t get rid of the Quilt Samplers either – I wish they still published it.
Mary, it was my favorite of all the magazines! I still enjoy going through those magazines & there were some very nice patterns in them, too! I’m sure many of those shops are out of business now or online only.
Alice – I kept the first couple years of APQ – we had projects in nearly every issue – memories.
Lynette – every time I do a major cleaning I lose stuff – I always think I’ll remember where I put things but sadly, I don’t. Sigh
Lynette, I will join you in a sewing room clean-up if you need an accountability partner, LOL. I love sewing in a bit of what I call a “creative mess.” But yesterday, I went to my room to sew and thought, “I don’t think I can work in this mess.” I took a nap on the daybed instead. That got me nowhere. Today I’ll be tidying up and thinking of you.
Alice – YES! Finally someone who understands a teacher’s frustration with 1/4” seams!!! I had one student who, when things didn’t match up, say she’d just trim it off. Good luck with that.
Congratulations on the new stove. If it’s an induction stove it is great and much faster to boil than a regular stove. I used one in Europe when we stayed at a vrbo. It boiled water for two cups of tea in one minute.
We’ve unpacked lots, our living room, dining room and our bedroom are pretty organized. I tackled my sewing room/guest room today and it’s as organized as I care at this moment.
Kitchen is probably 1/3 done. Back to that tomorrow. I’m so exhausted it’s unreal.
Have a great Tuesday everyone. Next Monday I go to a quilt retreat. It will be a wonderful break.
Mary, your porch room is so inviting, I can see why you love to sit out there.
I got an induction cooktop a few years ago. It’s black and I love it. I put a piece of parchment paper under my skillet or pot to keep from scratching it. I don’t think you can do that, but it’s cool to show people how to cook on a piece of paper. But, I don’t cook much anymore.
Seeing that snake would freak me out. I’ve seen a snake skin, one in the pond, and this summer 1/2 one. Its head was cut off. Just the thought of them gives me the Willy’s.
There was a glass cooktop in the home when we moved in 20 years ago. Fortunately for me, ordered just a cooktop with four coiled burners. Yes. It’s crazy. Spooked after seeing a glass cooktop after it broke apart while my friend was cooking a syrup, I think. She hosted the most extraordinary dinner parties. Pomegranates in the salads, popover rolls.
Your plant room & your plants are just beautiful & of course Hazel is a sketch!!
I have had a white ceramic cooktop, and now have a black one. The black ones don’t yellow with age, but I think you have to be a little more careful not to scratch it. It does clean up nicely with Weidman stovetop cleaner. I’m glad you warned us about the legless creatures, so I didn’t look at any pictures. I don’t know if I would throw up on my iPad, or throw it across the room! If Hazel could kill all those rats, she could surely kill those horrible creatures too! Go, Hazel!
Candy – Hazel is the girl for the job!! She lives for it! I think she needs her own Instagram page, don’t you?
That would be fun … as long as there are no pictures of legless creatures! I have to tell you, I saved a rat last week! I was checking along our fence for leaves, so the mower could get at them, when I saw something moving. When I go closer, I saw it was a very small rat. I got DH to check it out … it squeaked a little, but couldn’t seem to move away. DH went to the neighbour’s house, and sure enough, there was a trap by the fence, with a tail stuck in it. When he released the trap, off ran the little rat … out of our yard, thankfully! Those neighbours have a pond and a hot tub, and they grow grapes in their yard … rat magnets! I hate rats (who doesn’t?), but I just couldn’t let that little thing die there.
Candy – oh, thank you for saving him from a long tortured death. I hate rats but I would have had to get him out of that trap, too.
That Hazel is so fun…I would have felt kind of funny after the snake run in…I have garter snakes now and then..If they eat mice, I hate to kill them…I am afraid my Zoe Rose is a little like Hazel.🙂
You are doing so well after surgery…I might not be moving around as much as you are.
All the plants are just gorgeous…if you have grow lights with all that natural light, I should have grow lights up too…It must be heaven sitting in that room in January…
Linda – I’ll let you know when January gets here!
I know it’s hard to give directions over and over regarding pattern ordering… I taught elementary school so I can relate.
I have mealy bugs for the first time on outdoor plants in a planter… what a sticky, fuzzy mess!
Tina – if this is like elementary school, just think how I feel when these are all older women who should know better. I have always “fixed” the problems – for years – but now I’m just sick of it.
PS when we bought our house (16 years ago) it came with a ceramic cooktop. I absolutely am not a fan and the darn thing Will. Not. Die!
After 16 years, you can buy a new stove. I give you permission. I would start looking now so you can be ready when the pre holiday sales hit. We moved here 5 years ago and I finally got my gas stove back in March and I love it. I was so tired of cooking on electric. My new stove has a proofing setting so I may, at long last, learn to bake bread.
Thanks, Deb! I’ll show this to my skin flint husband! Lol
That Hazel is a hoot! She just never stops, does she? I always imagine Keeper standing back with a head shake and a sigh. Our Springer is a nut case too but doesn’t hold a candle to Hazel. Lol
Sound like you are holding up well after your surgery, for which all of us are grateful. I know it must be driving you crazy to not be back to normal yet but you are doing so disciplined! Good job!
I wish I had a quilt to share but this hasn’t been a very productive year for me. I finally drug out a 2 year old UFO and started puttering with it. Ten more blocks and a session on the longarm and I will have something to share.
Take care and know we have you in our thoughts
Pat – I can see Keeper stepping back and letting her run the show – he is so calm and lets her take the lead on most everything. It’s pretty funny.
I love your chicken towel. I hope to have a new quilt picture soon. I’m making a flag quilt . I have all of the stripes made, but not sewn together. It took me all summer to make the stars, all 50 of them. I will not be making stars for a while. Today I canned pizza sauce. The next three days cutting down trees. My husband in a 50 foot lift and me on the ground with a long rope so the large branches fall on the right place. The emerald ash beetle hit us hard . We have around 10 left to come down. We’re hoping to get 3 down this time.
Marie C – isn’t that just the saddest thing?!!!! All those big trees! I know how much work this is for you – our trees are so big that are on the ground that we’re still waiting for the tree service. We’ve pretty much done what we can. The chicken towel was a gift – a great one, isn’t it?
My goodness, Marie…. that’s so many trees to lose. I have been feeling sorry for myself because we have lost so many trees this year – a couple California Spruces after a spring storm, two gigantice, beautiful beech trees this summer, and now, two huge oaks are dying from oak wilt fungus. Your comment gives me perspective, as we still have many trees left to enjoy.