My window washers are coming tomorrow and this year I’m having them wash the insides, too, which I swear I’ll not do again for 5 years. Everything has to be moved away from the windows inside and out and that means furniture, knick knacks, books, plants, pictures – everything.
I’ve never been in such a mess – at the same time the plants need to be coming inside! Well, not to worry – I’ll get it all back in place with sparkling windows before the weekend.
I shouldn’t even tell you these things I do but today I also cut down all the Sweet Annie – some of the stems were like tree saplings. I had to use the chain saw! Next year any Sweet Annie that comes up in my rock pile will get a big dose of RoundUp!
I visited a garden center in Mason City today looking for a coir pole – something for a trailing plant to latch onto and climb. I found a bendable one at Blanchard’s Blossoms and Garden Center.
So many fun gardening things here! I’m going back.
The sky isn’t always so blue in North Iowa.
Alice has told me about their trip to South Carolina where Ron was honored and Alice was able to present her wonderful red, white and blue QOV quilt to another retired Marine.
Reader photos
My plant mover will get a workout!
Hazel’s adventure tonight is making me move the garage frig out because she’s sure there’s a mouse there somewhere and if she thinks there is I trust her to know.
I wonder if she’ll give up and let me go to bed.
And how could I resist passing this joke on?
husband and wife are shopping in their local Wal-Mart.
The husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife.
'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans he replies.
'Put them back, we can't afford them demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.
A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.
What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband.
'It's my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the wife.
Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.'
Clean windows are the best, makes the whole house look clean I agree. So glad you are having someone else do it for you! Love the joke! Mary at one time you had a mixture that you used for washing windows, I know I wrote it down but misplaced it. Would love to have it again if you have time.
Thank you
Best joke ever! Hubby and I both laughed at that one 🙂
Great joke. Made me laugh!!
Mary you have the best blog!!! 😊 thank you!!
Little Hazel…you are one and only!! go girl…get em.
Those Iowa sky pictures were beautiful 😍 and that Shelbyville sunrise – stunning!
Laughed so hard at that joke!🤣 And Hazel’s antics always make me smile!
Mary, I bought a little bundle of Sweet Annie from you at the Houston quilt show many years ago. It does have such a nice smell😊
I would rather scrub toilets than clean windows! Fortunate my husband has a lower tolerance for filth than I do. Haha
Pat in AZ – love it!
I too love clean windows. The house we are moving into has many more windows than our old house and that makes me happy because it will be much brighter. This house also has lighter paint colours than the old house too. One of the reasons our old house was darker was because of the trees in the neighbours yard that were way too big for our city lots and now I won’t have that issue. Eventually I will repaint the three bedrooms as they are darker than I want, but for now I can live with it. There is carpet upstairs and I will change it over to laminate when we can. Hoping to do that over the winter, and then I would paint. We are very excited, 8 days to go.
Also trying to find a recent picture of my MIL then I will send it to you Mary, with her address too.
Teresa – you must be very excited! It’s always fun to see your things in a different house – I have way too many things but since I haven’t moved in nearly 40 years I haven’t been forced to downsize!!! I have all these windows because I wanted to feel like I was living in a porch so with all that light comes major window washing
Mary I bought a little bundle of Sweet Annie from you at the Houston quilt show many years ago. It does have a sweet smell.
Dale – OMG! Yes, it does smell nice but it’s so invasive that it becomes a nuisance. I bought my first bundle at the Country Living Fair in Columbus – haha! It’s all over 6 acres now.
Nothing better than clean windows and blue skies. The QOV is gorgeous and such a wonderful gift. I love Hazel’s persistence and cute butt. The joke was another coffee snorter. I should be going to the quilt show in Madison today but the traffic and crowds are too much to handle. So I will play with fabric instead. I pulled out my Country Threads charm school books for inspiration. Thank you as always for a fun kick start of the day.
Mary, thank you for sharing the pictures of Ron with his coin & the picture of James & Amy with his QOV quilt. They’re such a lovely couple & very down to earth. We enjoyed our time with them & we’re hoping they make a trip to Ohio to visit Wright Patterson Air Base in Dayton, Ohio in the near future. We finally have rain here in SW Ohio. It’s been over 2 wks since we had any, so we decided not to walk this morning. Boots has thoroughly enjoyed the morning walks & it’s calmed him down a bit. He also has a new squishy ball that he loves over the plush toys. Love Menards for dog toys! Enjoy those sparkling clean windows, Mary. There are just some things I can justify spending $$’s for at my age if it makes my life easier. One thing I loved about this place when I bought it was all the windows! Including the sunroom I have 18. So far I’m able to still do all of them myself, but when I can’t, you can be sure I’ll hire someone to do it for me! My 95 yr old neighbor has someone come in twice a yr & do his windows inside & out. He also has his home cleaned twice a month.
Alice, sent comment earlier wondering if you could share pattern name for that quilt? I know you shared it before but I am unable to find it now, should have written it down! It is beautifully done & I know your friend will cherish it. Thank you. Pat Williams
Alice – your neighbor has the right idea! Too bad I can’t find a cleaning lady.
I love clean windows. I don’t have many here but I still can do them. I have friends who say they never clean their windows and asked me why I do it. I laugh. They keep curtains and blinds drawn. Not me!
That gifted quilt was beautiful!
Enjoyed the blog today as I rush out the door to retreat–last two days of day time retreats.
Fran – I chose 20 new windows so I could see out and have all that natural light – I would never put up drapes. So depressing without sunlight!
I agree with you Mary. I don’t like blocking the light. I did have drapes at our other house but really they were side panels. I never closed them. I just like how they softened the look in our living room. There isn’t one curtain in our new house. Only blinds on some windows that are at an angle in the family room(sort of like skylights but they are windows.) Other than that, only the three bedrooms have window coverings.
Alice’s quilt is so stunning and so nice she could hand it to the well deserving recipient to see the joy.
You work so hard, you put me to shame! I always look forward to your updates. Thank you!
This message is for Alice in Ohio, the Quilt of Valor is beautiful & I know you posted name of pattern, of course now I can’t find it. Should have written it down at the time. Hope you could post it again.
It is a crisp morning but have that beautiful blue sky here in Ia City. Mary, those clean windows will be so nice, I agree it makes the whole house feel clean. Everyone have a good day. Pat in Iowa City
Pat, it’s called ” Stars on Point” & can be made with a jelly roll. By Whistlepig Creek Productions.
Thank you!
It’s amazing how much brighter it is in the house after the windows are cleaned. Mine need it too. Lots of dog and cat nose prints on them!
Ah, the windows!! Mine are so dusty because we are so dry here – until today. We finally got a little rain overnight with the promise of more today – all the crops and gardens need it! I have a jelly feeder for the orioles (and other birds) in front of my big front window that really needs a cleaning – the birds have spattered jelly all over it as they indulged!
It’s a good day here to stay inside – I have sorting to do, but maybe I can find a little sewing time. A gal can hope!!
Mary, your daily post is so interesting and inspiring! I love your quilt sharing, your kind efforts to cheer others with cards and messages, your animal antics, your plant caring and sharing, It’s just the BEST morning blog for us to read and be inspired to do good! Blessings!
Mary – and comments like yours make it all worthwhile. There hasn’t been much quilt sharing lately but now that the weather is changing I’m looking forward to getting back to it.
My grandma always said if your windows are clean, the whole house looks clean! So true.
My plants are coming in soon also. Gaylen’s knee replacement is October 16 so all the fall work has to be done in six weeks instead of over 3 months and 1-1/2 weeks of the six weeks we’ll be shutting down our place in WI. Where did the summer go?
Love the joke at the end – great way to start my morning.
Gloria – my panic takes place before yours and this morning it’s in the mid 40’s – tropical plants do not like this. It will take me awhile to put the house back together so I can bring the plants in. Good luck to Gaylen with his knee replacement – he will be so glad he did it!! No more pain – at least in his knee – ha!
I’ve always wanted someone to come in and do all my windows but can’t justify the price. I’m so glad for you and maybe, just maybe I’ll splurge some day. You deserve it you’re always working so hard and finding time to share your adventures with us.❤️
Sandy – it’s not cheap but I justify it by knowing I never go on vacation, I’m not into clothes or jewelry – I’m into sparkling clean windows twice a year.
Having your windows clean all at once is pretty cool!
The beautiful, blue sky picture is lovely.
We are loving these lower temps.
Thanks, Mary 🥰
You will love your sparking clean inside and out windows!…… so worth it!🥰Enjoy!