I don’t know about you guys but I have loved this conversation about cross stitching vs quilting and all other forms of needlework! I have to admit cross stitching does not appeal to me personally but it’s a great pastime while watching tv. And it’s plain to see that many people love it!
I mowed and mowed today because it’s supposed to rain tomorrow and Thursday. Tomorrow I’ll start preparing the tutorial about improv piecing. I took the big quilt top outside for a photo – these are all extra or rejected blocks combined for a one of a kind quilt. I’m not sure I’ll ever quilt it – no bed to use it on.
And I have several other similar quilts that I’ll find for a future post.
Here is the picture I forgot last night – the quilt that’s been missing since the early 90s.
The dogs and I checked out Farmer Tim’s corn and all I had to measure with was a garden trowel. But you get the idea.
Lots of photos today. Diane just got home from Iceland – here are a couple from her.
In the “I do not care category” –
I can’t find the I do not care photo of the grass in the sidewalk – who sent it and was it email?
Reader photos
Meet Kailey Baly!
I said I mowed all day – I have a favorite mower but last year I bought a backup zero turn mower just in case one breaks down. Zero turn mowers are sorta great and fun to run but they tear up the grass so badly. I can’t even use the zero turn feature unless I want to dig a hole in the lawn so I have to drive to the gravel area to turn around. Anybody understand this? How do you handle it?
Yup, we each prefer something different. Not surprised, are you?
Goodnight!
Mary, hubby says slooow down on the turns!! When you’re using both levers one wheel locks up and digs in. Also if the ground is wet, slow down even more on turns. That’s his bit of wisdom for the day.
Marsha – and he’s absolutely right and I know it! I hate mowing if it’s sorta wet, too, but I do like to do things fast if I can! Tell him I’ll slow down and thanks!
We took a quick trip to visit a friend and to lend her a hand with some outside yard work, all of which is too much for her. We pressured washed her deck and got it ready to stain, patched a few holes in her home and put door stops in. (Now her doorknobs won’t put holes in the walls). Managed to lay a new floor in her small bathroom and replace the toilet. We hope to go back in few weeks and get the deck stained for her. Nice to be home and some wonderful posts about hobbies, pets, medical updates and how is Tims corn doing. I learned to sew in high school and was forever hooked. I did try crewel stitching, counted cross stitching, pottery, jewelry making, stamping, knitting, crocheting, and quilting. Today I quilt and have a lifetime supply of textiles to keep me busy. Most of my finished quilts get donated or given away. I don’t wish to die and leave a room of finished quilts for my kids. I don’t care if my house has a kitchen, for me it’s a room I prefer to dust! I cooked for over 40 years for this clan, and I just don’t care to keep on doing it. I love the deli and can make do with cereal or cheese & crackers. I have done almost all of our yard work, and I grew up with JD equipment, it’s something I understand and can maintain myself, but my husband bought a new hand mower for this new house, and I refuse to help with the lawn. He thinks walking behind the mower is good exercise, he can do it himself. We have just under an acre of grass. I have just a few flowerpots to water and maintain which is fine with me. I keep reminding him we are getting older and less stuff to trim or fertilize will be better in the long run. Keep it simple. We have woods behind our home, and I prefer to work on cleaning that up and planting some native shade plants to enjoy in the years to come. The walking trail is behind our woods (it used to be a railroad bed) and I think folks enjoyed tossing bottles and garbage off the train since I keep uncovering lots of glass and rusty metal items. I have trimmed low hanging branches, dead branches and just tidied the woods to make it better and more colorful with plantings. My husband says we will have the best manicured natural woods in the neighborhood, haha. I spend most of last year killing the poison ivy that grew everywhere, even climbed the trees! I hope to hang some bird feeder and put 2 birdbaths in the woods and give us a good viewing of wildlife to watch and enjoy for years to come.
KIM – How old are you? You did the work of 10 men for your friend – all of that home maintenance and care is the epitome of kindness because you didn’t have to do any of it. She could have hired it done or gotten along without the holes being patched! Sounds like years of non-maintenance fixed by you and your husband. You laid. New floor and replaced the toilet? How do you know how to do that? And how strong are you? I am in awe of what you did for your friend – truly. You deserve a gold star and then some. More later.
We are both pushing 70 and some days it shows, lol. We have learned how to do lots of home repairs from the years when we had to do it ourselves because there was no money to hire it all done. We have also acquired lots of different tools for lots of jobs. I think the fact that we both grew up on farms was helpful, you learn to problem solve and work it out. My father firmly believed that his daughters could learn welding, power tools, give animals shots etc and mom made sure her sons could clean a bathroom better than her daughters. When my husband and I were dating my dad told him that if he wanted to see me he could come help roof our barn, because I would be up on the roof until it was done. All hands on deck. We still chuckle about that.
Hi Kim – I think our dads were brothers! They sound very much alike. I really believe that my problem solving skills were learned on the farm – where we could McGuyver almost everything and that was before duct tape and google! Shingling, building chicken houses, repairing machinery, driving any tractor, delivering animals, giving shots, baling hay, milking cows – my dad knew girls could do it all. My FIL was also very much like that so my husband also has handyman skills. We’ve remodeled a couple of houses and done a majority of the work ourselves. I think I was 30 years old when I discovered that people – especially guys – didn’t know how to do all of those things, when I had a friend who was going to hire a someone to fix a doorknob because neither of them knew how to fix it. It was simple – only a screwdriver needed. The couple didn’t even own a screw driver. I walked to my house, picked up a screw driver and fixed it in a couple of minutes…I still remember that revelation.
You are a wonderful friend to help her out!
Sherry – somehow I’ve always known this about you – ha! You could tackle most anything and the two of you can remodel houses!!! Well done!!!
I agree our dads could of been brothers! Us girls have done pretty much all of the farm jobs, and I still recall backing a tractor with 2 wagons of hay behind it into the barn so we could off load the bales. We never had dairy animals but raised lots of other farm animals over the years and learned a lot of responsibility. My dad was an electrician and our parents built a few homes to sell so we learned lots of jobs doing work with them. Drywall, plumbing, roofing, installing cabinets, putting on trim, installing windows etc. It seems the work never ended between the farm and their side adventures. They always knew where we were, lol. I never did learn to hang wallpaper. I also find it amazing the number of folks who don’t have a decent toolbox in their home. I’m grateful that I can be handy, but I also hire somethings done because I don’t want to bother doing them.
OMG you are a trooper!! Love how you and your husband helped your friend with her house. My walls were torn up from snapshots taped to the walls by my granddaughter. I debated doing the drywall repair myself, but finally found a company that said they’d restore and paint so I did that this winter. They did such a good job. I’m glad I got that finished!!! I love the story of you planting in the woods. Must be beautiful.
Years ago, I displayed some of my miniature quilts in our local quilt shop and one went missing. Several months later it was sent thru the mail back to the quilt shop. Guess their conscience got the better of them. It’s just amazing to think another quilter(?) would steal someone else’s work.
I used to cross stitch and have several framed and hanging. Don’t have time for it anymore – I’d rather be sewing/quilting. Wonderful quilts and “I don’t care” pictures lately. I look forward to your blog every day!
I used to do cross stitch, and loved it, but now that I am older my eyes just can’t do it anymore. My husband got a zero turn mower, and I hate it!! I never could get the hang of it. And yes, it tears up the yard, but he doesn’t CARE!! Because he can mow so much faster!!
Debra – I love my zero turn mower but I do hate tearing up the grass. I don’t care if it’s faster – I actually drive to the gravel to turn around. Practice driving the mower when nobody is watching – you’ll get it!
Driving thru Iowa in the summer is beautiful with all the mowed yards. Everything is so green and the dirt is so black. In the fall everybody has so many decorations set up in their yards. Even more than Christmas.
I just have to try and make new blocks to see how they fit. Don’t want to make a quilt, just the blocks. It’s kind of been in my mind to put them plus all the left over blocks into a big quilt……. Oh, the great challenge to make all the different blocks.
Finally got my geraniums planted. That’s it for this year. And my back is beginning to feel better after all the standing at the quilt show.
We haven’t got any rain in town lately. North of town had rain and lightning last night that started fires yesterday. Everybody was watching and jumped right on the fires so they stayed small.
About 30 years ago when I was learning paper piecing, I drew my own pattern of a basket block about
1 1/4″ square. The whole thing was about 5″ x 7.” The locxal quilt shop wanted to put it on display. One day it came up missing. I’ve always wondered who took it and hope they won’t do that again.
Tomorrow’s another day. Carry on, everybody. Betty in Rapid City
Betty – I’m so sorry your precious little quilt was stolen! I hope it bothers the person who stole it.
So many of the I don’t care items are what I say all the time! In fact I have a t-shirt that says “Fun Fact…I don’t care”!!! I don’t have time for weeds….a clean house or windows. I’m not worried about my gray hair that is more ivory than gray….or a perfectly mowed yard! I have a Snapper zero turn mower that I love. The deck is out front so I can get under trees way better or close to plants & I do have the arms that I wouldn’t trade for a steering wheel. It took me a few grumbling moments until I got the hang of it & there is no way I would ever go back to anything but this style mower. In fact when we got a new one about 3 yrs ago I had all my requirements laid out & refused any mowers that didn’t meet those requirements! I also agree that going slower would help with the tires not messing up the yard but again….my goal is to get it done so the faster I can go the better!!
And at one time I did a lot of counted cross stitch & embroidery cross stitch but with age my eyes finally said nope…..you can’t do that anymore so I quit. Yes I miss it but I’ve got a lot of books that need read so that’s my new drug of choice!!
Lots to look at and learn here today; your closing photo, the peonies, I could just smell them from here. Beautiful! The watering can wall quilt~ “Is This Heaven?… No, It’s Iowa in Spring” from the Country Threads TPP Quilt Shop Series is one of my most treasured books. Believe it or not, I have that one cut out and shelved somewhere, it’s likely partially pieced too. I need to go and find it now! I did Fall and Winter many years ago. These wallhangings are timeless.
Mrs. Goodneedle – thank you soooo much! I love those old quilts, too, and so wish we hadn’t gotten rid of so many – I do still have those. That book is what made us successful – what a great memory!
Thank u for all the sharing, I enjoy it all..
Looking so green and beautiful
Katie in Gilbert,AZ🥵
The pictures are wonderful as always. That dog is totally relaxed. We should all be so lucky. I read somewhere that African violets don’t like treated water. I started watering with spring water and have had great success. I’m sorry you have had things stolen. How do people think that stealing is OK ? I, too, hope they are feeling guilty. I am having my AFib ablation tomorrow. I can’t wait until it is over. Hope everyone is having a good day.
Diane – hang in there – Rick did very well with his ablation! You will, too! And then let us know how you’re doing.
I, too, don’t care about my grey hair. Like Gail, mine is more of an ivory color. But, I was a blonde naturally. and think that might be part of the reason. I don’t remember my mom with anything but grey/silver hair. It was beautiful.
Jan
Mary I am DISGUSTED to learn that quilters stole your items. Shocked also that people would do that. As needle workers they know exactly what kind of work went into a project. Our civilization is messed up and uncivil…and becoming worse!
On a sweeter note. My dear grandmother grew African violets with abandon. She had them everywhere in her house. As I grew up I wanted to grow them also in memory of her. I was never successful. Not one. I bought books. I talked to master gardeners. I spoke with other violet growers and not once was I successful. What’s the magic do you suppose?
I have your exact toro mower. To prevent it from digging up the turf I stop and backup when I have a tight turn.
Great photos – love the dog’s leg up on the arm of the chair, looks so comfy!
I have a zero-turn Cub Cadet – my husband’s choice after he test drove one. Now that he has passed, I’ve gotten used to it since the mowing is up to me! It has a steering wheel instead of hand controls. We were told it would be much safer on slopes which our east-central Ohio yard has. I find that I dig in if I turn the wheels too sharply – especially if the ground is damp (which is often due to clay soils…). Other than that, I’m pleased with it. I had a couple of John Deere’s in the past and liked them too.
I stopped covering up my gray hair a few years ago – turns out it is kind of an ivory color, not silver or bright-white. Add that to my “I don’t care” list… which is growing as I achieve more experience…. 🙂
We have a 60” zero turn mower -John Deere of course- and we don’t have any problems of digging in. Kudos to Rick for having JD mowers. Tell him that his JD
loyalty keeps my retirement checks coming every month.
Ha!
Gloria – I’ll tell him! Did you have your back surgery? How are you???
I had right shoulder surgery. It will be 4 weeks this Friday. 12 weeks of PT and six months until complete use of my arm. I’m hoping I get my sling off next week. PT is so painful I almost pass out. I can’t wait until this is over. Thanks for asking.😊
Gloria – I lost track of the time! 3-1/2 weeks ago? Was it a replacement?
I had numerous tears which they repaired and they had to put a patch on my bicep tendon.
We have a zero turn mower that we got about 3 years ago. It is red but has a knob to operate it with two fingers instead of the two bars and arm rests. I wanted to be able to operate it if necessary but didn’t feel coordinated enough to use two bars. My husband enjoys mowing so much I haven’t mowed yet. We got it from an Ace hardware in Clear Lake, but will have to ask my husband the name of it. Several people have stopped to watch him mow because he goes so fast with it.
p.s. My hair keeps getting lighter and lighter as the gray continues to become more common. I won’t color it as I am not interested in the work and wasted time of that for me. I don’t care.
Vicki – kudos to you! I really like my gray hair and also don’t want the bother of coloring it.
At the DMV I wrote “gray” on the application. The employee at the counter changed it to “brown”. Go figure.
I love the gray hair and wrinkled neck and the comments that with those come knowledge and wisdom. Years ago, when I turned 40, a young work colleague asked me if I could go back to age 25, would I? I asked her, “If I went back, would I know only what I knew at age 25?” She replied, “yes”. I said I would not go back. I wouldn’t give up what I had learned. She looked at me kind of funny, but that was the truth of it.
Vicki – so true – I was pretty stupid at age 25 and would never want to go back – unless I kept my experience.
Vicki,
Do you ever wonder if when that co-worker turned 40, she thought of your wise words???
Yes, I have wondered. But she moved on, so I will always just wonder and not know.
I just love your “one of a kind “ quilt. You always have such a wonderful eye for color.
Regarding your missing watering can quilt. Do you think someone purposely took it from your trunk show years ago? And, is that a problem you ran into when you did shows?
We got some much needed rain this week and I finished planting the last of the annuals in my flower garden. I’m trying a few different plants this year in hopes that they will do well in my shady yard. Impatients are pretty but limited.
Connie – we, me and all you readers, are a trusting bunch. Years ago when punchneedle was brand new, we took many wonderful, fabulous finished projects to Quilt Market in Houston and set them on our tables. It was crowded and our booth was swamped. When the dust cleared all those fabulous punchneedle projects were gone! No, they weren’t tied down in any way. I hope those who have them in their possession are reeling with guilt. I also made a very cute dog quilt by Whole Country Caboodle which hung towards the back of the shop. One day it was gone – right under our noses! Same with a quilted vest I made – it was quilted with gold metallic thread! Gone. GOD KNOWS.
That’s so sad and shocking that people would just take/steal your hard work and livelihood. How could you possibly enjoy something that is not rightfully yours! (Just like, during Christmas, when people steal trees and decorations from someone’s yard. Talk about forgetting the reason for the season.) I guess people like that don’t feel guilt .
Love the dog’s foot on the chair 😁 and such beautiful quilts! Your blog is such a delight – and the I Don’t Care photos – keep them coming! They make me feel like I have a lot of good old friends 🥰 have a great day everyone!
Kelli – I agree 100%! I love the “I do not care!” photos so readers – keep sending them.
My husband just got a new zero turn lawnmower. I prefer my John Deere garden tractor. I’ve had it now for 14 years. It works wonderful for me. It’s like having a ride in the country every time I get on it. I can go slow enough to look at all the flowers, the neighbors cows, the neighbors, horses, and the hayfields.. I will use the zero turn, but it’s not my favorite. But it’s good for my husband because it’s got a really good suspension in the seat and it won’t hurt his back. By the way, I’m Linda’s sister in Kentucky, who is doing the Quilt of valor Quilt for her son.
Nancy – I can’t keep you sisters together in my mind. I think there’s another Nancy and Linda duo that reads and I get you guys mixed up. So keep reminding me!
My lead foot – or hands with a zero turn – show I like speed. And with the huge around the house, pond and farm areas we cut, when I have to cut the faster the better. I have discovered if I slow down the motor and take a bit more time and never turn a corner fast, I don’t dig up the grass. When I turn around or corner fast the blades are not level and tip and them plow up the grass. If you are digging up the yard on a straight run, something is wrong and you need a repair.
Love the put-together quilt. I think it is genius, using up odd blocks, snippets from piecing and odds and ends. I have too many quilts to finish and those I want to make to make one but I really like it and the idea. I will watch how you make them and just maybe one day! I am currently working on a quilt of valor sister Nancy and I are making together for my son who was in the air force. And in the middle of that I have started making English paper pieced hexagon blocks, 3- and 8-inch hexies from scraps. Not sure how they will end up, but I enjoy making them, super quick and fun like working puzzles.
Today will be in the low 80s so the ladies and I are going to quilt in the park where we sew in the summer. We have a wonderful pavilion to keep out of direct sun and there is always a nice breeze through the pavilion. There are super clean bathrooms for us to use too, which is important because all four of us are of that age! We are celebrating two birthdays with a peanut butter cake my friend’s nephew made for us from his great grandmother’s secret recipe of long ago. I’m taking my applique block of poppies I am making for a very unusual quilt for me! This pattern is called “Bliss”, all appliqued big flowers that are easy to applique and a lot of fun. I am using batiks! I never thought I would ever by batiks for anything other than adding a small bit of color here or there but the batiks are perfect for the wild colors used in the quilt. Eventually, when done, I will send a picture. I love needle turn applique!
Have a great day everyone, enjoy your Wednesday!
Linda – you told me what I wanted to know – it does dig up the grass! I can’t go fast except in our pasture. I actually don’t have so much to mow but I have many fences creating different yards from years ago when I had many animals. They’re really nice chain link fences and when I’m gone I hope somebody with kids who are in 4-H buys this place. It’s set up great for animals.
My lead foot – or hands with a zero turn – show I like speed. And with the huge around the house, pond and farm areas we cut, when I have to cut the faster the better. I have discovered if I slow down the motor and take a bit more time and never turn a corner fast, I don’t dig up the grass. When I turn around or corner fast the blades are not level and tip and them plow up the grass. If you are digging up the yard on a straight run, something is wrong and you need a repair.
Love the put-together quilt. I think it is genius, using up odd blocks, snippets from piecing and odds and ends. I have too many quilts to finish and those I want to make to make one but I really like it and the idea. I will watch how you make them and just maybe one day! I am currently working on a quilt of valor sister Nancy and I are making together for my son who was in the air force. And in the middle of that I have started making English paper pieced hexagon blocks, 3- and 8-inch hexies from scraps. Not sure how they will end up, but I enjoy making them, super quick and fun like working puzzles.
Today will be in the low 80s so the ladies and I are going to quilt in the park where we sew in the summer. We have a wonderful pavilion to keep out of direct sun and there is always a nice breeze through the pavilion. There are super clean bathrooms for us to use too, which is important because all four of us are of that age! Today we are celebrating two birthdays with a peanut butter cake my friend’s nephew made for us from his great grandmother’s secret recipe of long ago. I’m taking my applique block of poppies I am making for a very unusual quilt for me! This pattern is called “Bliss”, all appliqued big flowers that are easy to applique and a lot of fun. I am using batiks! I never thought I would ever by batiks for anything other than adding a small bit of color here or there but the batiks are perfect for the wild colors used in the quilt. Eventually, when done, I will send a picture. I love needle turn applique!
Have a great day everyone, enjoy your Wednesday!
All the pictures are terrific! I’m so happy to always see such variety when I read your blog. It’s not a “blog about nothing,” but a blog about a little of everything!
Quite the eye candy today. Love that bright color quilt. Like a wall of art for the house. Ada is cute at her improv design space. Love the picture of the girl learning to see a blouse. I remember home ec in 7th and 8th grade. I regret not taking more in the high school.Another thing of the past that I miss. My daughter with the five children sewed a lot when her children were young. She’s too busy to turn around and think now!!
Interesting pictures of Iceland. I need an explanation of the first picture.
I had to laugh at all the mowers! To each his own. And all the chickens getting their treat. “They expect it” Animals are smarter than we realize. I think my Buster asks to go outside more because I have been giving him a treat when he comes in. He had been ignoring me when I called.
Hi Carolyn, The first picture was from the Textile Museum. They had about 15 mannequins all dressed in dresses and hats from the time period they represented. Very interesting museum. Lots of weavings and wool items and 2 quilts! It is too cold for cotton and the cost would be too high. It is a wonderful place to visit.
Thanks for the explanation. What fun! A textile museum. I always wanted to go to Kent State and see their textile museum!
Carolyn – Buster’s got you figured out!! Haha!
Love that leg up on the arm! Ha! My husband prefers the John Deere zero turn mower. He got the new style of tires that don’t need air. The old mower we had would pop the bead on the front tires when he went over a hole or bump in the yard. They tear up the grass though still. I don’t know the answer to that.
Amy – Gloria, who is retired from JD, says her zero turn does not tear up the grass. Is she giving me propaganda? Ha!
Hi Mary, first world problem ,which ride on mower to use! Love the dog leg on the chair,l got rid of my sofa Bella would sit on an she couldn’t jump up any more, so now she has quilts,sheepskin rug and dog bed for naps. Fabulous quilts again, l like cross stitch, but take years to do, so quilting is my thing! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Great pictures of a little bit of everything tonight! Love it! I had to cut my peony blooms off last week. They were done for the year. I wish they bloomed longer. Love the dog with the side-eye look!
That dog’s foot is funny … but how about the side-eye he’s giving … lol! Great pictures and fun here on the blog today!
Thank you for a wonderful blog. It is such an insight to so many lives that I will never fully understand
Dorothy in W WA
I like the extra blocks quilt. And all of the other quilts too. Keeper looks comfortable! My husband wants to get a new mower-a zero turn. I’m not the best at steering those. John Deere brought me a loaner zero turn to use while they fixed mine and I prefer a steering wheel. I had a neighbor who had a zero turn and she loved it.
Cindy K,
We switched to a zero turn about 10 years ago. The first time I got on it I HATED it. I told my husband and salesman/friend that I wanted my old mower back. They told me to just try it and see. I cussed under my breath the entire time I mowed that first time. The next time I mowed I cussed again for the first 5 minutes and then I kind of figured it out. After that there was no turning back. Your brain starts to work with your hands after a bit and it’s kind of intuitive once you get the hang of it. I would NOT go back to a steering wheel today if you gave me a free one. It’s quicker, way easier to trim, and a better ride. So, maybe you just need to try it a few times. With that said, we also have an acreage so we have more to mow than you do, but also quite a bit to trim around. The zero turn cut our mowing time down by 25%.
I really enjoyed your blog tonight. It encompassed everything- from quilts to Iceland to the farm and flowers (I hope my peonies will be blooming when we get home later this week).