Millie went to the vet today for itchy ears – not ear mites but she just scratches at her ears and I know she’s uncomfortable. Our vet, Leslie, gave her a shot and some high powered ear drops that will last 4 weeks. Deano will go next because his ears are itchy, too. While there we looked at my pet records – on April 24, 2025 Heidi will turn 20 years old!!! Pam will be 19 in the spring. Oh my. Pam is in great shape but Heidi is so tiny – just skin and bones. I’m feeding her baby food and anything she’ll eat. She got aggressive to FluffyBun this afternoon so I know she’s still got spirit. Watching over elderly cats is work – I just try to get her to eat but like humans, she doesn’t seem to have any appetite.
This dog needs a home – the owner went to hospice and the foster put the dog in quarantine due to a bite. I personally don’t think dogs bite unless abused or threatened. If I thought Hazel would be OK with this dog, I’d take her in a minute! She’s only 6 years old.
A reader said she didn’t get my post on the 21st – does anybody have an idea as to why that happened? Just looking for some clues.
Here’s another way I work – I trim off the connector squares and keep them. Next I’m going to sew these together.
I also save small pieces like these because when I do make a scrap quilt or piece blocks with small pieces, I don’t have to unfold pieces of yardage. I lay the pieces in the box flat so I don’t have to iron them before using them. Many people have bins of strips and pieces but it’s a lot of work to then prepare those pieces again.
Making scrap quilts is certainly more work than making every block alike from yardage. This is a choice I make and not necessary because I do have lots of fabric. It’s just what I like to do. I love to sew quilt blocks but putting them together, quilting and binding needs to follow so those blocks become a quilt. I don’t like those steps nearly as well. Anybody with me?
This is another way I work – I like to combine fabrics – I’ll put them together in a basket or line them up on the cutting table. It’s the best part of making a quilt. I have always liked doing this – just ask Connie.
Sigh. So many quilts, so little time.
Here’s your next question:
Leave your answer in the comments.
P.S. Patti – we’re all thinking about you.
Hi Mary and gang!
My cat has had itchy ears for over a year! I keep bringing him to the vet, say it’s not mites and they give me drops to put in daily. He hates it and I end up wearing and, unfortunately, tasting the ear drops. Out of all the cats we’ve had, he’s the only one I can’t give ear drops to. Would it be major trouble to find out the name of the shot and drops your vet administered? I can’t stand to see Noah scratching all day and night and I’d like to see if my vet can use the same medicine yours did. Thank you very much for all you do. Your blog truly cheers me up. Prayers to all who need them.
Where is the dog in the picture located? Do you know what breed it is?
Lynn – it’s in Algona. It looks like a border collie – but it could already be gone. It would take a phone call to Algona, IA police dept.
Thanks for the info!
another quick note. concentration is short lived these days. phone calls and appointments being made. mapping of body for radiation is next tuesday. followed by mri of total spine oh friday. new pet scan is feb 4th. my ‘rad doc’ is not letting much grass grow under his feet. the sooner he knocks out the pain, the sooner i will be back to normal. in the mean time i will try to pop in off and on. thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts. always appreciated. hugs and thanks to mary for sharing her blog with all of us.
I’ve always had light red hair and the complexion to match. Telling even the slightest fib or white lie, why, I could light up a room! My mother used this info to straighten me out more than once as a youngster and I just never bothered to tempt the fates after a while. I might try to deflect a direct question with, “What do you think?” Or “That’s an important topic; I think you need to talk to someone else about that.” I know, not the smoothest escape, but sometimes it works.
Loving all the different ways folks gather their scraps and set them up for a new project. I think I need to check those plastic drawer units and pull the matched and stray triangles out. I seem to remember a scrapy quilt made of 4″ white squares with a contrasting triangle set in one corner. Hmm, could be fun!
Take care everyone. Prayers for everyone with health cares and travel plans, even the dog that needs a loving home. Kris in WI
Name *
Here is the link if you want to take another look.
https://www.joscountryjunction.com/quilt-finish-leftover-triangles/
Yes! That’s it. Thanks, Li. Kris in WI
I love piecing blocks together, that is my favorite part of the quilting process. Putting the blocks together into the quilt top depends– if it’s a quilt where I’m trying to balance colors, fabrics, etc,, then sometimes I get overwhelmed when I try to put the blocks together into a quilt. I don’t like the sandwiching of the quilt top, batting, & backing, and it’s so hard to figure out what design to use to quilt on a quilt!! I just can’t seem to get the hang of free motion quilting, so tend to stick with grid type designs. But once I get to the binding, I like putting that on!! Maybe because at that point I know I’m almost done!! Today’s question is a hard one, I don’t like to lie, but will tell a little white lie if necessary to make someone feel better!!
Hi Mary. I didn’t see this on anyone else’s comments, so — On the From the Strawberry Patch by Mrs. Goodneedle blog, she has a memory about her mom and the quilt that helped her get her mojo back. I think you’ll like the piece for sure.
Basically, I don’t lie . . but . . when my mil was in a nursing home with alzheimer’s, she would cry when we had to leave. It tore your heart out until one day I told her we had to get home because it was time to do the chores. It was magic. The caregivers told us that’s important to keep the patients happy which makes sense. I guess that’s true for the rest of us also, if a fib makes someone happy, let it go but a blatant lie – no.
Have a good weekend everyone.
I tend to put fabrics together that I feel belong together and wait for a project to come along. Sometimes I find a pattern that I like and then I find the fabrics to make it, hoping to use what I have on hand (basically a life time supply). The question of the day is a tricky one for sure. I don’t wish to hurt anyone’s feelings and there are kind ways to answer difficult questions. My mother-in-law had dementia and we often just let things go rather than correct her. A simple hmmm was often our response. Lies are hard to keep track of when you start telling them.
Kim – I use “I don’t know” a lot
I’m wishy washy on lies. I don’t lie to hurt people but I might say a white lie to make them feel good. I often make suggestions or distract instead of answering directly.
As for how I work, I have bundles of fabrics ready for projects. I keep like fabrics together. Scraps are stored as flat as I can get them – squares in containers and strips stored flat in other containers. I tend to wait on borders, backing, and binding until I’m finished which has gotten me in trouble in the past so have tried at least having borders and binding chosen. I love choosing fabrics, cutting, piecing, and binding. The quilting isn’t my favorite but I can’t afford to have all of my projects quilted by check so I go ahead and quilt them. I do pay for king size quilts to be quilted.
Poor pup, I’m sure it is just feeling lost and confused and that results in a very short fuse. Looks like the type of dog I’ve always loved. The get out, stay out, have the run of the farm and keep all the other critters in line! They don’t need a LOT of human attention, just space to roam and burn off all the energy in those small bodies. I would take the pup in a heartbeat if I still had my acreage. Alas, now a “townie” and the yard isn’t even fenced.
I have the habit of putting fabric in “bundles” when I find ones that I love how the look together. Store them that way . . . just fabric in search of the perfect pattern. I really like every aspect of quilting except making the quilt sandwich. My head always make it out to be way worse than what it actually is . . . but I STILL procrastinate. I do like the quilting, both sit down at my domestic machine and hand quilting, and I really enjoy the binding, basic double fold French hand stitched to the back. Trimming the quilt and sewing on the binding to the front goes quickly. Then, look for a movie I can watch or call an old friend and chat for a couple hours, before you know it, it’s done. My biggest binding tip is after machine stitching to the front, roll the binding out so it is right side up and give in a really good press, even into the corners. It will fold over to the back much easier as you hand stitch it down. I like a really full binding, so I cut mine at 2″.
Speaking of lying, have you noticed all the books that have characters who lie? From GIRL ON THE TRAIN to WE WERE LIARS by Lockhart that sort of started this genre, there are so many now! I have decided not to read more unreliable narrator stories these days!
And, yes, I LOVE all those little half triangles arranged and ready to use! I’m working on a scrappy quilt that uses only 2 by 3 1/2 inch rectangles…like a “potato chip” quilt…better sewing than eating! 🙂
Hi Tanya,
Yes. Sewing rather than eating. Four blocks to go. These past two weeks I am focusing my attention to counting grams of sugar. Been gluten free for years so that should help.
I read a book recently, “None of This is True” by Lisa Jewell. Rather disturbing. I say at the hospital waiting for my daughter’s surgery to be done. I read most of it in one sitting.
The question you posed opened up a can of worms for me. I try my hardest not to lie by not getting in a situation or complimenting the person on something near enough to answer the question. I would never want to hurt someone’s feelings. Telling the unvarnished truth bit me once. I told a close family member who at the end of a terrible relationship what I thought of the other person. Guess what, they got back together and my family member told the other person what I didn’t like about them. Now I get to see that person at all the family gatherings. Needless to say I’m very careful what I talk to my family member about. I used to have a very close relationship with the family member
We used to have a very close relationship.
Marie – well, now that IS a pickle! Very unfortunate but I’ve done something similar and it came back to bite me in the butt and yet I still don’t know how to shut up!!
I think I was watching “Big Bang Theory” where the character Sheldon talked to himself “be less like me, be less like me”. In order to pause I have silently used this phrase many times since.
I know of a lady in a nearby town who writes about her farm life on her daily blog and her cats go in and out of the barn when she’s in there with her horses. Then come inside to sleep and get warm. They too have itchy ears and needing meds to help with. With the furnace running constantly here as I refuse to have cold fingers trying to sew, I’m using a nasal spray to help and I’ll be glad when I’m back outside in fresh air more.
Love seeing your groupings of fabrics (especially that shirt you cut up for a focus fabric) and I’m like Jo with tieing my pieces together. I keep a little bag of selvage ties for that reason. We have two craft thrift stores in our area that one benefits seniors with transportation, etc and the other for fresh water in South America so I find older pieces of line of fabric and this way I can untie and add them to “my collection “. Maybe it’s my way of longing to have been you and Connie and having a fabulous quilt store.
What is the lady with the cay and horses daily blog address?
Carol,
It’s Skoog Farm Journal.
Thanks for sharing your organized triangle and scrap storage tips, Mary as I cannot throw those small accurately cut pieces away! Like you, I love piecing blocks. Currently I am so tempted to start a new project of 5” blocks recognizing it is just for the joy and relaxation of precision machine piecing.
All of your animals are so fortunate to be under your loving care.
That is a difficult question. With an Alzheimer’s patient or dementia you can try to change the subject. But the rest is difficult.
Well, the weather is warmer. We spent most of the day in SF yesterday. I’m still tired.
Jay bought a new suit so I have hemming to do.
Have a Good Friday!
My favorite part of quilting is the piecing. I have a long arm, but do not enjoy the quilting part near as much as the piecing. I don’t like the binding either, but I do it on the machine, so at least it doesn’t take as long to get it done. I figure most of my quilts go to charity, so they will be washed a lot, and I feel the machine binding is stronger.
I’m with others who have said they would not lie. I just can’t do it.
It’s suppose to warm up this weekend…..yay for that.
Patti, I am praying for you.
Mary you work a lot like I do. I’m not a fan of ironing fabric so my scraps are stored flat so I don’t have to do it again. My favorite part is finding a pattern and then pulling the fabrics for it. I rarely make a pattern with the suggested colors so I can spend hours finding just the right combinations. Thankfully I have a pretty healthy stash so I can make all kinds of messes. I’m not a fan of binding but I’ve started making it as soon as I finish the top and for some reason it isn’t as hateful that way. What I really really dread is the backing. Whether it’s pieced or a wide back it all has to be ironed and that is not fun for me (see above) haha
And lies…I gave up blatantly lying when I was a small child. Apparently I have a neon sign that flashes on my forehead when I try so I just gave up. My preference for white lies is to divert and deflect but sometimes they are needed.
Patti in Fl, I’m thinking of you this morning.
Stay warm everyone. It’s 22 here this morning.
I’m with you in regard to piecing blocks for quilts. I love doing that. Not so much the rest. i hate putting on borders. this is probably why I have so many UFOs. I do love to bind a quilt thought, especially on cold evenings.
I try not to bold face lie but maybe a white lie here or there, especially to spare hurting someone’s feelings.
I do the same-gather supplies for quilts and dream of the finished quilt. Sometimes, I need to ‘audition’ a project. Love Villa Rosa patterns for a quick
finish and sense of completion.
Is there a difference between a little white lie and a lie?? A lie is a lie. I guess I take the road of avoidance so not to hurt someone’s feelings. My husband has taught me to put a filter on my mouth before speaking. I taught high school for 35 years so I trained myself to remain neutral about situations. I had a quilting friend who was an excellent piecer but had no ‘color sense’ so her quilts were
not appealing to me. I complimented her on her piecing and not the all over finished quilts. She was happy with her quilt.
I have a grand pup who has a ‘narrow circle of human friends’. It is the nature of the breed. My granddaughters have friends in and out all of the time. He loves my husband and I so we are in his circle. The neighbor lady/friend is in his circle too. Last fall, she went in to feed him lunch & give him attention as the family was gone for the day. . He quickly and with no warning bit her on the lip. He was mad because he got left at home. She may have to have cosmetic surgery yet to be determined. He is 3 1/2 years old so this very concerning. The vet has put him on Prozac which has helped him so much with his anxiety.
He has never been mistreated and they have had him since he was a puppy.
Mary, a person after my own heart. I have bolts of fabric from my quilt shop and make scrap quilts using many of your ideas. I have strips and triangle etc, etc. When doing a quilt I can use up many of these small pieces and yes it is very time consuming. I do some planed quilts but still are scrapy. Have a good day.
Morning all. Mary my Maury is 19 and has become really skinny but is always hungry and drinks a lot of water. From what I discovered online elderly cats often become diabetic. Maury was my first barn cat, all other cats were only in the house and never allowed outside. The only time he has been in a car was when I brought him home from the woman who would humanize ferals and have them neutered so I think he would be over-stressed if I took him to the vet now. He is happy and other than thin, seems healthy, has a huge loud meow when he wants something so I am taking the best care of him I can here at home. And it seems it’s at least $300 every time I step in my vet’s office.
Telling lies – we were taught it wasn’t sinful to tell a little white lie to keep from hurting someone’s feelings, but telling a lie or a fib was tabu. I cannot stand people who lie and you discover they look right at you and lied! We were also taught lies catch up with you, if you tell a lie it will be found out you did and one lie leads to another and another and so on. I try my best to avert the conversation if someone asks me something direct so I won’t hurt feelings. I can always rely on – it’s your choice – if someone asks how something looks or if I like something they want to buy. And of course you can always suggest something different if the opportunity arrises, like a new hair style or cut, I have a friend who would look much cuter with a different hairstyle so I just suggest she try something different rather than say no your hair looks terrible!!
I had an elderly cat that was given medication to increase her appetite. Vet said because they weren’t sure if it worked on humans. Trust me I wore gloves. Unfortunately it really didn’t work and I lost her a few months later.
As to lies I won’t lie to cover something up but I will tell the truth if it involves money. “Should I buy this fabric?” Of COURSE. To keep someone from being hurt definitely. It really all depends on the circumstances
Boy how wish washy is that?
Angie – my answer would fall in the wish washy category as well.
It’s such a personal question, I think if it’s going to hurt the person maybe a little stretch is okay. I also think each person is their own person. I often will think in my mind what a might say but know saying nothing is best. You pick your battles.
Our trip south is on hold as my daughter caught the flu and her surgery was move to Feb.
My brother has 2 more treatments for his latest cancer and then another Pet Scan but doing well.
We also just found out my husband’s brother has lung and brain cancer. He had a tumor removed from his brain and has a smaller mass also. He will start radiation and see how it works.
Patti know that prayers are being said for you.
Rita, you have sure had a handful lately. I’m sending you a big hug! With all you have going on, remember to take care of yourself too
Rita – oh, it never ends, does it? I so hope I don’t get the flu – it sounds terrible. This is Kim’s surgery you’re talking about? The waiting is the worst.
Mary it is Kim’s surgery. She said just now she is feeling a little better. I’m glad it was delayed as she will need all the strength she can get.
Rita – so it’s actually a good thing it’s delayed? I hope so for her sake.
I finally found the Jan. 21st blog. I could not find it yesterday, but tonight it is there. Very odd or else my eyesight is going.
Patti…it was hard to read about your pain. I can hardly bear other people’s pain. I am so sorry. Sounds like you are in good hands with your Rad Doctor, at least. And, I pray he can help you manage your pain. I want to tell you, also, that I have always admired your quilts and hope you can sew again soon.
I think sometimes we must tell white lies to save another person’s feelings. Not that I make a practice of it, but push come to shove, I would probably do it.
You’re such a good pet Momma! Sorry that Millie has ear issues – hopefully that vet’s plan fixes her up!
My favorite part of quilting is selecting/combining the fabrics then getting them organized and out in a container with the pattern! So much fun and very satisfying for me. Problem is I have way too many projects containers 🤣
The question is a good one and believe it our not, just yesterday I was listening to a podcast about it! I think it’s a difficult dilemma – we don’t want to lie to protect wrong doing and such but if a person says “do I look good in this?” We can always find a way to sidestep it like replying “it’s not your best look, I really like you in this . …” Not sure if I’ve figured out this question fully even at my age!!
I love to see how you work. It makes sense how you can get so much done. You’re always planning, prepping. I used to toss all my scraps in a bag even though they had been pressed at one time! Once 40 years ago I bought a bag of scrap fabric through the mail. It opened my eyes to new possibilities seeing what could be used. It was a funny way to buy fabric. I made a baby quilt that used plaid similar to shirtting and gave my quilt a scrapy look. I was just learning. I used to love Hancock Fabrics and buy fabric that wasn’t so called “quilting fabric.”
About lying, when my mother had AlzheImer’s i would tell her lies to keep the peace. Like telling her she had her own money to spend by putting my money into her wallet. ‘Sure you can buy that, you’ve got money’ She wouldn’t let me spend my money on her. I also wouldn’t tell her she was sick. And I definitely wouldn’t correct her. I definitely wouldn’t argue with her, which was hard for my Dad. He kept wanting to tell her the correct date. And I never told her Dad had died. Or that her mother had died. So, yes, I would lie.
Hi Carolyn, understand you completely as i was my Mums carer for last 11 years of her life. To her constant question of Where’s Denise?, easier to say she’s gone shopping rather than constantly explain who i was. What we do for love…..
Denise – you mean to tell me your mom lived with you for the last 11 years of her life – in your home where she kept asking where you were? I know I couldn’t do it. How could you not lie to her when she needed an answer?
Gosh I tell white lies all the time. I think of it as boosting someone’s ego, no actually I don’t give it a thought.
Good to hear from you ( could have done something else this last hour but you needed to talk)
Nice new blouse you’re wearing (not my style but you live alone like me and it’s nice to get a compliment.)
The coffee is lovely thanks (weak for me but who cares)
If you can make someone happy, I’m all for it!
Thanks for sharing the way you work, Mary. I love hearing how you handle quilt leftovers for scrappy quilts, which are my favorite.
Maybe the cute homeless dog could come out for a play date to see Hazel’s reaction.
As for the question of the day, that is a tough one. As I have gotten older, I usually can be pretty diplomatic in dealing with the facts. I would rather not lie.
I am thinking of you, Patti.
Thanks For This Blog 🥰
Jeanie – I would be incapable of returning the dog to certain death and what if Keeper wanted to play with the new dog like he does with Hank? And if Hazel decided to hate the dog my life would be miserable. I will also say before we got married I always had 5-7 dogs – you read between those lines
What I see between those lines is a very, very beautiful person.
I love selecting fabrics that go together for a quilt! It is especially fun if I manage to pick a fabric or two that surprise the viewer and move a quilt from “pretty” to “stunning” or “striking.” Coming up with a bunch of fabrics that seem to have always been together reminds me of a piece of music with a close harmony so special that it brings tears to my eyes.
I am not a good liar! On the other hand, I cannot be intentionally cruel to anyone; it is just not in my nature to do that. Sometimes it is possible to avoid telling the truth or lying. Change the subject to truthfully say something positive and kind about the person that you admire.
I didn’t get the email about the 1-21 post either. I really wish our thermostat would read higher than 68! Heat pump running non stop but just won’t go any higher. I love the fabric hunt also Mary. I think hunting and gathering are in my DNA-I think that is why I love to go thrift stores and collect stuff-HA! Cutting is not a favorite because even with the rotary cutters, rulers and assorted gadgets-I can’t cut straight nor can I sew straight-even with the 1/4″ foot on my machine and all the guides-go figure. I do like the piecing even though there can be some “fudging” when sewing blocks. My least favorite part is the quilting because due to arthritis, I can’t hand quilt any more so I have to pay to longarm. But binding-I love to hand bind! I do lots of hand binding for Quilts of Valor quilts, Habitat quilts and even bind for lots of my friends.
About the question of the day-a dilemma. I don’t normally lie and also because my face gives me away. My husband says he knows exactly what I’m thinking by looking at me. But on the other hand, I never try to intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings. Maybe it all goes back to my Mama’s saying: If you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.
Oh., I love grouping fabrics together. Tying them together. Storing them in my stash as “special bundles “. I rarely figure out what to do with them, which pattern to use or where to place the dark print…the light print, the tone on tone, etc. I probably enjoy that as much as any other part, except binding. I LOVE BINDING.
Some of your kitties are 20 years old, how time flies.
Telling a lie. I think it depends. If I could change the subject, walk away, somehow distract, I prefer that. After my husband got sick, on days I could tell he didn’t feel good. He’d be rather cranky, I’d agree with whatever he said. At that point, what difference would it make?
However, if you’re going to lie, you better have a perfect memory!!
This is hilarious! I have a sister who wouldn’t know the truth if it was staring at her but she also can’t keep her stories straight to save her soul. She’s a constant source of entertainment for us.
I received your email on the 21st. Hmmm, I can’t say I could lie to protect someone’s feelings. I personally think it’s wrong to lie, The truth always comes out. I just try to avoid getting into those situations.
Leaving for FL in the morning! Hope it warms up & that snow melts!
My sister is immersed in the idea of “crumb” quilts. I looked here and there and found several groupings of small pieces to sew together. Rather than send pieces of fabric I am sewing them in to 3-1/2″ to 4″ squares. This is an awfully broad question of the day. I would say nothing or work on timing and phrasing to tell the truth.
I received the email on the 21st and read it on the blog. Thanks for showing your various ways you work. To answer the question: I don’t think I could lie in any situation.