Here is Porch Swing, our pattern in the Country Living series – a reader requested it and if anyone else is interested, please send a SASE and cash or check for $5.00.
The picture is very dear to my heart – it’s Heidi in 2008, 17 years ago at 3 years old. She is now 20 years old and even though she looks awful, she’s alert and eating. She lives almost completely on Gerber meat baby food.
I took this picture just now – see the rock fireplace on the right side of the picture? This area was the porch in the picture of Porch Swing.
Susan – please let me know what I owe you for the pattern? I have searched for your email and can’t find it.
I was at Walmart today and I’ve said if you happen to be shopping when they’ve just gotten a new plant shipment, buy them before the employees have had a chance to drown them or let them die of thirst. I look at plant posts on Facebook all the time and never have seen many of the plants shown. Today I found several and yes, I bought them. As I was checking out a friend from Garner was also checking out and she said she should have known it was me who was buying plants. I said she caught me!!!! Dang. But here’s three of the pots all marked fancy philodendrons.
Aren’t they great? And so healthy looking – now it’s up to me. If anyone can identify these plants other than fancy philodendrons, please leave a comment.
Watching March Madness tonight – fun!!!
Thank you for the reminder about the baby food. A recent outbreak over a few weeks necessitates the need to keep a go bag inside my kitty’s carrier. Food is a problem as I make her cat food and both freezer and refrigerator and necessary. It has been a long time since I had an elderly cat who ate baby food and I’ve forgotten all about it.
This story about Chris is so sad. He proved to the world that he loved his cats. Too tragic.
I looked up the plants on an app that we use in the local botanical garden where we volunteer. The plant in the center is shown as Chinese Evergreen or Poison Dart plant. The plant on the right is shown as Goeppertia “Beauty Star”. The plant on the left is Xanadu Philodendron. They probably have several names besides. Kinds like quilt block patterns. 😀
Mary, you owe me nothing for the pattern; I’m delighted that it brings happy memories forward. The name alone is a happy memory for me 🙂
I’m missing Alabama right now; in spite of the many sometimes truly awful storms and the waves of pollen, Spring is such a beautiful season. We’re heading into month 7 of winter here in Colorado, with snow and ice forecast on and off all week, and the cats and plants and quilts are so cheering.
The picture of the Porch Swing quilt and Heidi is beautiful. At 20, Heidi still looks like a sweet kitty. It’s hard to see our pets age, but they still have things to teach us. When the time comes, I know you will do the right thing for her, Mary.
I just love your new plants. Every so often our Walmart surprises my with some nice new plants but you are right that you have to get them quickly. Poor Heidi is the opposite of me. I was very skinny when I was young & now the pounds just glue themselves to my body!
Porch Swing is the 2nd quilt I ever made-10 years ago. I made it from charm packs and in the middle of sewing the quilt our oldest granddaughter was at our home visiting. She was a freshman in college at the time. She told me she loved it-so naturally I gave it to her. The quilt was the right size for her dorm room bed. Fast forward she is now a DVM, married, and has a newborn son. She now uses that same blanket in Graham’s nursery. How sweet is that? Goes to prove that it’s not how hard the quilt pattern is as to how much a quilt is loved.
Hanks mom – isn’t that just the sweetest story? I never knew this!
Heidi is very sweet. She only looks very skinny like my Maury who will be twenty in May. He was a really big boy but the last two years he has turned very skinny, actually boney. He eats like a little piggy, I feed him canned cat food and some of the dog’s chicken and rice 4-6 times a day. He is always hungry and I notice he drinks a lot of water. I understand senior cats are prone to diabetes and thyroid conditions but he is happy, seems to feel ok so I will let him be without a bunch of test and possibly shots.
Love your new house plants, I’m concerned Bette or Olivia would chew on them. I just saw where the long leaf green stiped one is wonderful for absorbing carbon dioxide in the house so good purchase. And I don’t think the yellow one is a hosta.
Linda – I also read up about the plants and learned that one is toxic to cats but I have many that are and my cats have never shown any interest. Yes, I feed Heidi constantly and she’s nothing but bones. I don’t think it’s time to put her down however – she’s too alert and with it – I hope she gives me the sign that she’s ready to go. Please keep me updated about Maury so I’ll have an idea what to expect. Is he a housecat? As you can see by the picture, Heidi was a sturdy little cat but she was given to me by a cousin’s daughter who as a young girl was traveling to MD Anderson in Houston for cancer treatments. Heidi found the small kitten before she left one time and brought her to me to keep alive. Heidi died at age 16 and the weak little kitten has outlived her. Sad.
I agree, you need to grab Walmart plants as they’re unloaded off the truck. Love your selections.
We had a severe ice storm Saturday and Sunday. Our power went out before midnight on Saturday and, day 3 and still no power. We live in a small town rural area so no city water and sewer. Luckily we have some wood heat since it is 15 degrees right now. No lights, water, flushing toilet . Back to pioneer days. Rumor is we may not have power until Thursday or Friday.
You certainly are roughing it. It reminded me of some Minnesota snowstorms that I lived through in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s while on the farm. Storms like those make one appreciate the kitchen appliances that we use daily. I remember sleeping under many blankets under the dining room table. Ha! The good old days!
Connie – !!!!!!! No power is the worst part of living in the country. The evenings are so long and there’s nothing to do except read and 4-5 days is way too many. I’d be crazy carrying water from town for all the animals and wood heat is only warm right in front of the fire – we have a fan on our fireplace that of course doesn’t work without power. Ugh. I feel for you – way too many days without power!!!!
The time to shop plants at our Wal Mart is when they are putting out new plants. They mark down what has been there. I have found some very good buys. There were only 2 candy tufts left, yesterday, and she made them $3.00 each. They were 6.97 each.
Laura VS – I have also bought marked down plants and brought them back to life. Several of these new plants were $24.97!!! But I splurged.
Mary, my kitty Quinn is an identical twin to your Heidi. Brings a tear to my eye. My Quinn is 14 now, she’s the life of our home. Don’t know who spoils her more, me or my husband. I’m always happy when I see a photo of Heidi. You take such good care of all your pets.
Linda – and I know what’s coming and I’m dreading it but I’m also a realist. She has had a fabulous life.
install the “seek” app on your phone. great for identifying plants and trees.
(it even identified a fish in a pond!)
Dear Jessica, thinking of you, such a sad day for you. Hope the days ahead are happy ones.
Mary, lovely photos of Heidi, 20 years is a wonderful achievement. I certainly share Susan’s comments, wish they could live forever.
I bought this kit and the quilt lives in my living room. One of my favorites. First lesson in you do not need to “love” and the fabrics and sometime the ones you were going to switch are the best ones!
Oh Jessica. I’m sorry your birthday wasn’t a happy one. That is so sad about the cat man Chris. What an awful fire to lose both his life and the life of his rescue cats. And to miss your mom and dad too. May tomorrow be a better day.
Mary what a special picture of Heidi. I sure wish our furry family members could last longer. It’s so hard to say goodbye and to watch them age.
I haven’t gone to a plant nursery yet this year. I’m afraid I’ll bring more plants home! Yours are all neat and I would have been tempted for sure.
Mary, I have a miniature hosta similar to your yellow hosta. Mine is called a munchkin fire hosta and blooms pretty purple flowers midsummer. I’ve planted mine in a flower bed and it does well. There’s another miniature variety called curly fries hosta that also has yellow leaves. Your new plants look beautiful and healthy! Makes me excited to start working in my flowerbeds again. 😍
Mary Beth – these were sold as houseplants – do you really think they’re hostas?
I was curious about the yellow one, never seen that before. I googled fancy philodendron and it looks like that one is called ring of fire. HTH.
What a precious picture to have of Heidi! I wish our furry family members lived longer, it seems that no matter how long we have them, it’s just never enough. It’s hard to see how young and vibrant she was compared to now. As long as she’s still eating and being ‘Heidi’ , I’d say she’s content.
It’s been a hard day. Today is my 55th birthday and I’m really missing my Mom and Dad. I’m kind of getting used to not being able to get through a celebration/holiday without tears! Then I heard from a friend of mine in NY that a cat rescue caught fire this morning. The founder, a man named Chris, tried to put the fire out and when that failed, he made repeated trips back into the building to get as many cats as he could out. He lost his life trying to save them all. They also lost around 100 cats.
Jessica, I’m so sorry you are having a rough day, on your birthday, no less! Sometimes Life seems too hard to bear, and yet we go on, and hope that things get better eventually. Let yourself grieve if you need to, just try not to dwell too long in that state of mind. Take care, and I hope tomorrow is better.
Jessica – oh that is just horrible to hear! Sounds like Chris was absolutely dedicated to his rescue – and he died proving that. Oh, think how desperate he must have felt knowing his cats were dying in the fire – only to lose the fight himself. I can’t think of anything worse to hear on your birthday. I am so sorry.
Happy birthday Jessica – I’m sorry it was a sad day for you. Chris was a true hero for saving as many cats as he did. I hope your week gets better – big hugs sent from AZ.
Jessica, it’s tough losing parents who gave you your special day but please celebrate the life you have been given. You have a wonderful heart. A belated Happy Birthday. The man Chris truly cared for his mission in life and so sad he died trying to save his rescues. A true hero who walked the walk and talked the talk to live by humane beliefs. Wish there were many more like him who took care of the vulnerable.
Looking at Heidi’s pictures , doesn’t she have the sweetest face.
Kathy – isn’t Chris’s story the most amazing thing you’ve ever heard? The man gave his life for a bunch of homeless cats – he’s my hero!
Mary, I had to go on the internet to learn more about this man and his sanctuary in Long Island area. Some amazing stories of what a good man he was. And to think he lost his son, and nursed back to health a colony of sick kittens.
Yes he was a hero and now I think of Suffolk County animal services stepping in to help with the surviving cats. What saviors they are.
The yellow green plant is so striking. I don’t have good luck with indoor plants. I seem to have excellent luck with my outside perennials. I’m always trying to give the extras away. I really enjoy starting them from seed.