A friend is searching for this pattern by Cheri Payne. If you have a copy, please let me know.
I’m a bit under the weather with a lousy cough – I’ll probably have to miss church because of it. It’s a terrible feeling playing along and a cough starts forming. You swallow, hold your breath, breathe in and out quickly – anything to stop the cough and sometimes it works and your eyes just fill with water instead and you can’t see the page in front of you. And when you cough while you keep playing, the droplets are being spewed out into the air. So, you see, I’ll probably have to miss church. And then my whole week is messed up.
Reader photos
And guess who’s back after at least 10 days – TIM! Yesterday I drove to every neighbor within what I would call a reasonable distance for a cat to travel and not one neighbor had seen Tim. But tonight he’s back!
So sorry you are not feeling the best and have to miss church, Mary. I hope Sunday brings sunshine and warmer temps. We are looking forward to a nice warm day and an afternoon drive/errand.
I’m glad Tim stopped by for a meal and graced you with his presence—crazy guy!
Thanks Mary/Take Care, 🥰
Ah, Mary, your description of a pianist’s difficulties with playing while suffering a cold just gave me the “willies” as my mom would say. I am not a musician, but the cough/itch/sneeze/etc always come at the worst time. I say, give yourself permission to stay home with a warm quilt and a hot cup of tea, and let the healing do it’s thing. Your parishioners will appreciate your consideration.
Beautiful photos today. I had to bring the one with the serenity prayer to my husband’s attention. As he nears his 86th birthday, he is finding it so very easy to over-stress, over-strain his body. Much pain that he need not have had, if he had remembered that his brain is “stuck” on thinking like a 40 year old while his body is sighing and complaining for less stressful activity. It’s hard for the go-getter.
Are you looking forward to spring? It will soon be here!
Blessings! Feel well soon.
Lindah – it’s such a hard thing – wanting to do the things we did 40 years ago and then realizing we can’t. I go thru it every day! Tonight I’m still sneezing and blowing my nose so I made the right decision.
About that star block made in Chicken Scratch gingham embroidery: it is the bib of an apron I made years ago. If you embroider white or red double-X’s over the dark blue squares, and blue double-X’s over the white squares, you can make large areas that look white, red or blue.
Between the double cross stitches, you first embroider straight stitches, then lace the thread in a diamond shape under those straight stitches. I’m not sure where the pattern came from; perhaps it was in McCall’s Needlework and Crafts. It’s made on 1/8″ gingham. “Chicken Scratch” is a rather new name for this technique. Another term is “Broderie Suisse”. Do a search for that term, and you’ll find lots of inspiration from Europe. It’s also been called “Gingham Lace”, “Depression Lace” and more.
I’m so happy that Tim has appeared again, and sorry that you have a cold, Mary.
Tim reminds me of Tramp in Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp”. Tramp had a different family to visit each day of the week. He would get fed by them and he moved on. LOL Love the pictures. I hope your cough goes away. It’s best to stay home and not spread the germs or pick up many more new germs.
Sharon – well, Tim got a good meal and has moved on again. The mystery is what farm does he go to- I’ve talked to all of them in my section. I should change his name to Tramp!
Here is a story to go with the little white dress. A number of years ago my husband’s friend’s mother passed away. I was invited to go through her sewing room and take anything I could use. Jeff’s mom did ballroom dancing with the local Arthur Murray studio, and she made all of her costumes. There weren’t any fabrics I could use for quilting but there were buttons, ribbons and all kinds of fun stuff. As I was looking through it all, I came across this little dress. It is adorable. Jeff didn’t know who it had belonged to and said if I didn’t take it, it would be donated to a thrift store. I couldn’t let it end up there, so I enjoy seeing it every day. In the bodice of the dress there are 31 tiny pleats on each side and lace and embroidery to make it so sweet.
Mary, hope that cough gets better soon, that is no fun. Love all the photos, too!
Colds are sure going around. I’ve had a head cold for days but not fever etc. so it’s all manageable. Attorneys are sure a problem aren’t they. My son needed advice which cost him $2500. for her to do absolutely nothing. My husband was going to a guy for taxes which cost $2000/yearly. We get the better service from an accountant for $200. Then attorneys get upset with having a bad reputation. It’s too bad.
Some great pictures today – thanks everyone.
I do have this pattern. It’s my favorite. You can share my email address with your friend.
I made the Sweet Land of Liberty quilt years ago, doubt that I still have the pattern. Would have to do a deep dive to locate it😂. There is a Qulits by Cheri group on Facebook that has a lot of her patterns available, do not know if this one is there.
Mary, I’m happy to see Tim back home for some supper! If only cats could talk and tell us of their adventures.
Sorry to hear about your cough, there is some nasty crap going around!
This was my Grandma Hartt’s cough remedy…rub some Vicks on the soles of your feet, then put socks on and go to bed. You will not cough throughout the night, it works!
Hope ya get rid of that cough soon!
Tim is beautiful. He looks like he’s being fed. Glad you have a little peace of mind.
Hope your cough is temporary and not something that hangs on.
Interesting needlework displayed. The quilt design on the gingham looks quite intricate. Had me wondering how it’s made. Always liked to look at needlework when I would go ‘antiquing’.
Carolyn, I posted an explanation of the star design in a separate reply, just now.
Wonderful that Tim is back! Tom cats roam, but he knows where he can find a good meal and warm place to rest up for his next adventure.
I’m enjoying all the lovely needlework and quilts these past few days. So pretty!
Mary, I hope your cough goes away soon. My husband has a case of the “sniffles”. No coughing, sneezing or anything else-he just says it feels like his nose is about to run-so he sniffles. I think it is this crazy changing weather affecting everyone. we’re supposed to be in the high 70’s in a few days. I LOVE the picture of the pincushions on the sewing machine and especially the tall upright strawberry with the baby strawberries around the base. Is this a pattern that anyone knows? I would like to make one if a pattern is available.
So glad that time is back, he is a rascal to be gone so long and cause such worry. So many cute pin cushions on a darling treadle machine. Sweet
So happy to see Tim the Tom! He’s so handsome. He is quite the traveler!
It was 5* above zero this morning at 7:30!! Yippee!
Nasty coughing is so annoying, not only to you but to everyone around you in church! It hasn’t been too bad lately, but there was a lot of coughing in January! Staying home is the best idea.
Yesterday Jay had to be at the retina specialist for shots for his macular degeneration at 3 p.m. I drove over to Aldi for a few things, they rearranged most of the store! There was a young gal shopping and looking bewildered….we discussed the change and we didn’t appreciate it! We both know why they do that but! Grrr😂😂.
I love the quilts and clothes. Have a great Saturday!!
Hi Joy, I was at an Aldi in Indiana on Friday. I had the same experience you had with several things moved around. After the checkout clerk asked if I found everything okay, I commented about the changes. She said they are trying to make the stores uniform so that if you go to another state for example, they will all be set up the same.
So happy to see that Traveling Tim is back. i would love to know where he goes and how he spends his time. I love the quilt made with the half square triangles. Has bolt of lightning effect. Great way to use up those little trash triangles. I hope that cough doesn’t hang on too long. Good to stay home and keep from spreading it.
Hopefully a day of rest will help that cold..
Cheri Payne patterns are so hard to find. Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine website does offer a few of her patterns in digital form, that have a similar look.
Very glad to see Tim is back too!
That cough you have is going around here and it can last for weeks, so you are doing the right thing not to take the chance of spreading it!
Love seeing all the baby clothes and all the different handworks!
Thank You Mary for this blog about nothing!
Tim should be put in solitary confinement. It’s so much worry for you Mary to look for him and honestly I’d be stressed out just like you. You’re a gem looking out for his care and safety. I can see you out in the barn having a strict conversation with him this morning! Does he let you pick him up and pet him cause I’d never leave those kitties if I could just walk around and pet them all.
You’ll be all goofed up next week with not having your routine but it’s wise to stay in and not spread the cough to someone. I hope it’s over soon for you.
Kathy – I have picked Tim up but he’s very tense so I don’t try anymore. He loves to be petted over and over and he’s got the whitest fur I’ve ever seen – never dirty!
Mary, please take of yourself. And thanks for staying home even though you will miss church because it’s important not to spread germs to our friends & neighbors. Looking at all of the lovely needlework really starts my day on the right note. Glad your Tim made an appearance. We have adopted various cats who just showed up at our home & they all seemed to have their own agenda. I have all of my sewing stuff ready to load into my car. Once a month a group of sewing friends meets at a local fire hall to sew, eat & visit. Quilters are the best.
We have a few cats like Tim. They are neighborhood cats that don’t really belong to anyone, although I’d gladly take them if they’d agree to it. They will come by and eat and stick around for a bit and then we won’t see them for a week or a month or more! But they never seem to be starving so they are eating and taking shelter somewhere. I don’t like it and I wish that they would stay here but…
I’ve been enjoying all the beautiful photos of the last week or more. Its been so cold and snowy here that I’m just in hibernation mode, knitting and stitching and snuggling on the couch with the dog. Feel better soon, Mary!
I was going to ask about Tim in my comment, so I am so happy to see him coming around to you again. I really want to have a camera around his neck to see where he goes. He must lead an interesting life! I am still loving everyone’s photos. The baby clothes are precious! I love that half square triangle quilt that looks puffy. It gives me an idea to make protectors for my magnifying glasses that I have everywhere because my nearsightedness has become so much worse. Thanks so much for your daily blog about so much!
Or perhaps one of those Apple air tags so you can track him!
That “Sweet land of liberty” (Cheri Payne) pattern is very hard to find. Many people have made it following Lori DeJarnatt’s blog Humblequilts. She did a sew along a few years ago where you made the pattern yourself. She showed each section to study.
Welcome home Tim. He doesn’t look like he has been starving for 10 days, so someone cares for him while hes out and about. Think he likes being a community cat, loved by all. (Hard on you though)
You could always wear a mask while you’re playing just in case a cough comes on. Sad you’d have to miss church because of a cough
Mary – Take care! It’s okay to take Sunday off to help get rid of the cough. Hope it goes away soon.
I finished sewing the 9 rows together on my hydrangea quilt. I’ll email you a photo soon. I’m prepping the 2 border fabrics. Almost ready to cut.
It’s taken me 16 years to get this far. Next project is the no cut, no trim quilt. All the blocks are done, just need to sew them together.
Love the children’s clothing that you’ve shared. My mother had some baby clothes for years. I’m not sure what happened to them. I’ll have to ask my sisters who inherited them if they know.
Earlier this week, I had an appointment with an attorney to update my will. Imagine my surprise when I found out after the initial consultation with the attorney that not only did she do a background check on me and my finances, but the attorney informed me that she charges $550 per hour! That seems excessive to me. May be shopping around.
Take care everyone.
Sharon, that sounds crazy, Never had an attorney do a background on us or our finances. I think I would look for another to person. Wonder if she would like you to do the same to her before doing business?
Sharon, attorneys are expensive! 4 yrs ago after my husband passed I decided to update the trust that we had. The original lawyer had retired & recommended a particular lawyer. He was also recommended by my financial advisor. Long story short, I figured I paid him & his paralegal $1500 just to read over the old trust…I informed him if it took that long he must be a slow reader! We no longer had that home, the truck, or the camper. It cost me thousands for what I thought was a pretty simple irrevocable trust! I wasn’t happy with him & even though I could have paid him in full, I chose to pay him over a 3 month period!
Sharon,
Thank you for mentioning this not so small detail.
$550. Enlightening.
So glad that Tim is back! Take care and rest up.