I put this picture on Instagram which also posted on Facebook and I’ve had so many comments about it. I was outside at 11 pm walking the dogs and I turned around in the yard and there it was.
So this dull ugly picture of the yard is today.
I have our next card recipient all lined up and I’ll introduce her to you right after New Years – her 93rd birthday is in January. Won’t this be perfect timing?
This was printed on the back of a card I received—
A handwritten card is an act of kindness and kindness matters, doesn’t it?
Here’s a note from Jamie:
Please post to the blog:
Another great mail day! Many thanks to:
Sharon in Illinois
Suzanne in Michigan
Carolyn in Ohio. (The Ombudsman is the one helping me)
Cynthia in Minnesota
Mary in Minnesota
Our “Queen” Mary. (Love the tiny prayer quilt!)
Delia in Iowa (Your extra gift is needed and very much appreciated)
Debra in Minnesota
Donna in Florida
Barb in Wisconsin. ( I Love Gnomes!)
Dee in Ohio
Again, every card contained handwritten inspirational and uplifting notes. Thank you!!
I was putting Christmas away and these two quilts headed to the dryer to be dusted – I use them all the time and thought I should show them to you. They are just strips the width of the fabric sewn together and quilted. Not very big – about 40” wide and as long as you like. I always round the corners and sometimes use a distinctive plaid cut on the bias for binding. So easy and so fast for the car or the cats!
Here’s what’s on the rest of the shelf:
There – that was just a sample of what’s to come in January. Points of Interest are just casual pictures of your collections or something that’s special to you. We all love to enlarge the photos to see better – mine includes dust!
Great pictures. I love looking at all of the interesting items. I’m glad I’m not the only one with dust. I had to dust my horses before I took the pictures I sent you. I spent the day catching up on paper work. Tomorrow I will take all the 2024 papers out to make room for 2025. If I feel especially ambitious I might start pulling tax papers. Yesterday I sewed the first block of my Dear Jane quilt. It is something I’ve been wanting to do for a little my time. It will be a long term project. Happy New Year to all.
The foggy picture is lovely and isn’t it just so special when these pictures just happen like that. I believe the best pictures can be taken when you don’t plan them. I look forward to everyone sharing their favourite points of interest in January. Happy new year to you, Mary and to everyone that reads this blog.
what a lovely post today. i’m going to write this in a hurry. have been trying my best to get ready for friend’s visit. she should be here any time now (i talked to her as she crossed into florida). i may be out of touch for a couple days but know you will all understand. she has told me she will be cutting and i will be stitching so don’t know what she has in mind. we are like sisters with a different mother cause we are alot a like. think nothing of jumping in the car and driving cross country to see family/friends or whatever. both of us are very independent and self starting. we will have so much fun. and yes, my table finally got cleaned off. hope i can find my stuff later. >grins>
mary, thanks for showing your pictures of our width of fabric quilts for the car or cats. such a simple idea but one i don’t think of. now i will. talking about the turning twenty quilt – that is a great donation quilt. i saw my pattern just the other day. they are so quick to make and a lovely size to donate.
i also appreciate the sharing of points of interest. your dogs are so nice. of course, your real dogs are also along with all the cats. people used to give me cat trinkets all the time. still have most of them. just recently i got a stuffed snow leopard from the world wildlife fund. thought the cat would like it but he isn’t interested. guess that means it is mine.
i hope everyone has a safe new year’s eve and a great new year’s day. i plan to stitch since what you do that day means you will do it all year long. do i need more encouragement? not really but i’ll take it anyway. no stitching for 2-3 days now and i’m itching.
blessings to all, patti in florida
Patti – I know you two will have a great time!!!! When you make those width of fabric quilts and then trim them a bit your backing right off the bolt will fit – another win/win for this great project, easy, fast and a great finish.
I would rather spend the day with you Mary and friends then watching any tv. So much happier and interesting. Thank you all. Oh, can someone tell me name of quilt pattern on long arm she finished? So beautiful.
E Rodgers – the one I finished? It’s an eneven log cabin which I found very very hard to do. I’m used to sewing straight and having things precise which isn’t the case for this quilt. I’ll never attempt another one. This quilt is one and done.
Yes, it is just beautiful, you did great.
That picture of the fog is just beautiful, Mary. The one of the barn with your chickens is sweet too. I appreciate seeing your collections, and envy all of your display pieces! I think my favorite thing in the black – is it a pie safe? – small cabinet, is the tiny rabbit in the blue plaid dress, how sweet is she? I do have your pattern for the larger rabbit in her red checked dress and apron. I think I’ve made a couple of them years ago. I can’t wait to see the log cabin all quilted, I love the colors you used. Sandy, your scones sound so yummy! Happy, safe, healthy New Year to all. I’m afraid it’s going to be a really wet night here in New England. It’s 50 degrees for the second day in a row! But cold temperatures coming back next week. Jan in MA
Hi Mary and everyone! It rained and rained yesterday! It was so welcome! We had a nice lunch with our daughter and son-in-law. Really good Mexican!
Jamie you have received so many cards! Wow!
It’s gotten windy and below 30*. I guess we are just going to have to bundle up! Could use some sunshine and that would help!
I need to make masculine cards for get well and birthday. Our grandson is going to be 18 on the 10 of January. That’s my project for today.
Oh wow!!! I love your collections, but especially your dog figurines!
When I was just a little girl, my best friend was very much younger than her older sisters. Her family raised pugs and enjoyed taking them to dog shows. My friend’s mother always asked me to come along to help keep my friend company, and I loved to go. My mother would give me a dollar to spend on a snack so I didn’t pester my friend LOL but I always spent it on the booth with the china dogs. I need to find my collection, which must certainly be packed away in one of my treasure bins, probably labelled something like “Tools” so my dh wouldn’t be tempted to make it all disappear LOL
Mary, are your chickens still laying eggs? Even in the cold weather? Out here in CO, they have passed a law requiring all eggs sold in the state to be “Cage Free”. I couldn’t tell the difference just by looking at the eggs 🙂 but I surely can by looking at the price. Just last week, at the “cheap” grocery store (and not the posh grocery or the health food grocery) eggs were $8.72 for a dozen: nearly a dollar per egg!!!
Susan – yes, my chickens are laying over a dozen eggs a day because my barn is heated and they have light 24/7. I give eggs away to all my friends and at current prices it’s a real gift but certainly not $1 per egg – that’s unbelievable!
Get your dog collection out and show it to us.
Hope they like the things Hazel’s is supposed to be resistant and I thought Keeper could chew to his heart’s content.
May 2025 be the best.
Angie – they DO like their gifts – I see the chew toy has already moved to the living room!!! And I found the duck near the porch so yes, they have each claimed their prize! Thank you again!!
The pink log cabin is just gorgeous! And I love the red/cream width-of-fabric quilts! It’s such an easy do and your rounded corners add so much. As always you dona great job!
I so enjoy looking at everyone’s collections or special do dads – it’s such fun and I feel like I’m getting invited to so many “friends” homes. Very comforting 🥰
I love the card ministry you provide for us – thank you so much!! Looking forward to hearing about the next recipient.
Happy New Year everyone! 🎉🥳
Mary, love your collection of dog figurines. Very nostalgic. Mom would give us figurines when we were little. A memory. Grateful for her for encouraging us to sew, craft, paint. She taught me to knit when I was young. It’s a very relaxing thing for me today. I’m also grateful for all the how-to books that I grew up with.
After the lovely day we had yesterday we may get some snow tonight. Be safe and have a Happy New Year to everyone.
That photo is definitely a blue ribbon winner. I’ve been sharing it with everyone I know and they are loving it. I concur that the other photo is great because it includes Rocky and his girls. The story about Charlie is so devastating. I thank God that he is now in a loving home and will only feel love for the rest of his life. I need to look up that card company to see if I can order cards online.
Mary, this is NOT a blog about nothing. Your blog rocks my world, and the world of all your readers. Please let me pass first, I don’t want to live in a world without you!
Much love
Yes that is a Turning Twenty & looks much better than what is printed on the 1st pattern booklet.
Yes, that looks like a Turning Twenty quilt to me.
Sally – thanks – I want to make it again and now I have to search for my pattern
Mary, Sally and Vickie, As i was scrolling through the pictures I said to myself, “Oh, that’s a Turning Twenty!” Then I saw Mary’s question. Now I want to run upstairs to my sewing room and find my pattern booklet. LOL They are fun to make. ~ Suzanne in Michigan
I love the night foggy tree picture, and yes it should be used in a card. But the the “dreary” day photo has the chickens which brings a smile to my face
I so love your blog, even though I may not post often, I read you every day.
May you and Rick and all the animals have a blessed, safe, healthy and happy new year
And that goes to all of the commenters too. After all, we are “family”
Dorothy in W WA
Awesome picture with the tree. Should be a post card. Love all your collections. I too, have many but don
t have room to display all of them. Maybe I can work something out to show some of my collections. Hope you Hazel, Keeper and Rick and all your fur babies have a Happy New Year. What about JB how is he doing?
Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley VA.
The night fog picture is outstanding! I loved seeing the chickens out and about. So glad your longarm is fixed; the pink quilt is beautiful.
Thanks, Mary 🥰
Hi Mary, l am in the process of spring cleaning my little granny flat, dust and cobwebs certainly build up over the year!Finished sewing down the binding on my great nieces quilt today, so it needs to be washed tomorrow with some dye catcher sheets as l spilt coffee on the quilt. Made some cones today with leftover cream and tonic water(scones!),yummy served with jam, cream, slices of strawberry and blueberries! Your roʻster is very handsome Mary, do you get many eggs at the moment?
Wintery today,rain,wind and cold,2 quilts on my knees as lwatched tv and stitched, too lazy to get the heater out! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy