I finally got to the library to make copies of 30 Stars so your order will be on its way very soon. I made this available and will honor orders until January 1. Most of you understand that I am not a retail store and do not have a website with all the Country Threads patterns listed. My offerings are limited to what I can handle and must remain limited. I recently got orders for past patterns offered in late summer and one from September 2023, one I had just made myself and not a formal pattern.
I cannot fill such old pattern requests. Order while the pattern is available or don’t order.
Reader photos
All of these Christmas pictures are from Lora.
And when I get up in the morning and look over the loft railing this is what I see –
A few pictures from my upstairs
And here’s another small runner I’m quilting.
Look at the back!
And this picture is part of a Country Threads collage put together in the early 90s – look at that cat! His name was also Tim! I had forgotten that! And today my current Tim, the wood shed cat, is gone again. I just fed him really well in the barn yesterday – evidently he was full and took off to places unknown. Oh, the worry of a cat mom in the cold winter.
Many hugs to Jamie. Lora, I love the nutcrackers. I’ve got a few. I also have a music box like the one pictured. The angel playing the organ. It was originally my grandmother’s. Your’s is in better condition. Mine had lots of grandchildren winding it up to hear it play.
Thank you for the hugs.
One week ago the cook screamed the F word at a resident. I report it on an “anonymous “ kiosk we have, as did others. As I was writing it, one of the servers loooked over my shoulder and read it. At the next meal the cook came to me and tried to intimidate me. They then ganged up on me told management that I was always causing trouble and was abusive to the staff which is a total lie! I later learned the cook threatened to beat up a different resident. This is elder abuse in AZ.
I had to bring in someone from the state to defend me. I have more than 15 witnesses, they only have the 3 employees but management is siding with them. The lady from the state is going to interview MY witnesses.
Last Wednesday we had carolers come in. When they got to I’ll be home for Christmas I started bawling. I was finally able to release all those emotions inside of me, probably because I have no home or family to go to. That’s why I Love Mary and the blog, it’s my only happy place, and I’m not even a quilter!
Thank you for being so supportive to those of us who are going through rough times.
Oh, Jamie! I’m so sorry! I hope you can get support from the state. And I hope you can quickly find another nursing home to work in. In most places, there is a shortage of good people like you.
Jamie – NO! How can this be happening ? Yes, I agree this sounds like elder abuse and we will all support you! Please leave me your name and address so we can support you with cards – do this right now so we can start. I wish we were closer so you had us there in physical support to defend and protect you. I will tell the others. You always have use thru the blog – always.
Jamie – just to be clear, you’re a resident not an employee, right? Someone here got confused.
jamie, i am so sorry for your situation. it seems that the good people that try to protect others are always the ones who end up in deep trouble themselves. please feel lifted up by the readers of mary’s blog. we are cheering for you and praying for you. bless you, patti in florida
Appreciate the wisdom imparted and support through readers on this blog. Mary, your forum is a blessing to us all. Jamie, sorry to hear of difficult times. Believe that you are being lifted up by these “golden retrievers” in this blog.
Patti, you never cease to amaze me with creations. I’m planning to start out 2025 knowing exactly how much yardage I have and work to not surpass that in purchases for the coming year. It’s another tool to help me work at lowering my stash. Thank you.
Mary, I’m so glad to hear of your continued improvement. I totally get wanting to eat something of substance. When I was 18 all four impacted wisdom teeth were removed. I remember gnawing, literally, on a hamburger and finally giving up. It was several weeks after my surgery before I could really eat one normally. You’re closer to eating foods with substance than you were a week before. Look how far you have come in your recovery.! Hang in there! You’ve got this.
Jan
Jan – thank you for the amazing snow globe card!
jan in az, good luck on knowing how much yardage you have. i don’t and don’t think i want to know. mr ed could probably tell you. he’s the math person in this house. i just know that i need to be more mindful of what i bring in and what i actually use. i just love looking at fabric. i can no longer shop in the stores or go to the quilt shows where i used to get tons of inspiration and also spend tons of $$$. i am hoping to do better next year. equilter and the fat quarter shop are my downfall. their sales are great. thanks for the compliments. patti in florida
A heavy cold frost here this morning. In your upstairs pictures, I spotted the milk glass pitcher with grape clusters. I had had the set with eight glasses since I was twelve. My mother gave me the S&H green stamps from shopping which I licked and glued into the savings books. Not sure how many books the set cost or really why a twelve year old would want them but that’s what I got and they promptly went into my cedar hope chest. That cedar chest belonged to my grandmother. Well, I turned 72 Thursday and three months ago when we started some repair work in our home and had to empty and move some furniture, my oldest granddaughter wanted the cedar chest. She is actually named Lillie after my grandmother that owned the cedar chest first. My son wanted the pitcher and glass set out of the china cabinet. It looks beautiful in their formal dining room in their china buffet. The cedar chest needed a little repair to the top, but I’m sure it will shine again once repaired. It is good to know these lifetime treasures live on in the family.
Debbie – I, too have the entire set that was my mom’s – acquired with green stamps!!!! The rest of the set is stored in the playhouse right now.
this comment reminded me that my mother had those milk glass lamps that she had by the beds. i had forgotten about those. will have to think on them. thanks for the reminder. patti in florida
I really enjoyed the photos today. I love the decorations. Collections of things that are simple.
14 degrees this morning. The wind and then now cold has kept me off the streets. Having to do inside exercises the past few days. 40s are to return tho.
Past two evenings has been binding. But I did get to the long arm yesterday and got a throw quilt quilted. This one I think I will machine bind. I also sat at the domestic machine for an hr stitching down applique. 10 more blocks to go! It’s so boring I can only do one a day! And I signed up for a mystery quilt. I have organized and led several mysteries. I was hoping to use my stash but the requirements are in large yardage and I had nothing in large yardage that matched and I wanted to use. Doubtful I can find my way to a quilt store or even JoAnns before the first clue comes out. Bit the bullet and ordered a kit from Bear Creek in Oregon. They had about 4 colorways to choose from. There were at least 4 stores to choose from also for a kit. Needs a special ruler too. If I don’t have it, I will borrow or buy.
I love Lora’s Nutcracker collection. She’s quite the collector too. Love the vintage quilts also. The backs always make me realize that I don’t have that much patience. Sorry Tim bolted again, but he knows where he can find his next meal when he’s ready. So glad is on the mend as well as you!
I delivered 3 tins of Christmas cookies to neighbors yesterday. We had snow which made it seem like the perfect time for delivery. I have one more to deliver to the newest neighbors. Have a great weekend everyone.
Absolutely love the old runner you are quilting – those tiny hand stitches on the back are incredible! I love the scrappy look – I have an old quilt that is a nish mash of fabrics and there is no real pattern to it. I am always amazed at the ingenuity that past quilters had to make a utility quilt and get the into a workable size! Thanks for sharing 😊
Another great post!
I had to zero in on the Snoopy cartoon and cried when I read it because I’m going through a bad situation at my assistant living right now. Here’s what it said:
She had always been kind
Sometimes however she wondered if she was appreciated
Even so, I shall always smile and be kind.
Once a golden retriever, always a golden retriever.
Apparently, I’m a golden retriever.
And now I need an “ice tea” and a tissue!
{{ hugs }} to you, Jamie! Is there something that we can do to help fix your bad situation?
Sending a gentle hug to you Jamie – so sorry that you had a bad experience 😥
Jamie, Isn’t it amazing how you’re led to what you need at the time . The Snoopy cartoon was there to help you at that moment.Praying that your situation improves. Stay a “Golden Retriever “. We need more of those in this world. Take care.
I’m so sorry for whatever is going on. Life can be hard sometimes, and always because of other people. Prayers for you.
Hi Mary today l made mincemeat pies, soaked the dried raisins etc in leftover red wine,made with flaky pastry, big mistake! They puffed up,spilt mincemeat everywhere, but tasted ok as dessert! Need to buy short,sweet pastry tomorrow! Spent some time cutting fabric for wild goose chase quilt l want to start soon. We had half hour of thunder this afternoon, not a normal occurrence for us.l hope tim comes back soon.Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
i love the decorations from lora. what a great decorating job! i like the small trees sitting in the snow.
what a nice display of photos from your house. i really like the angel quilt. lovely view of some of your collections. thanks for sharing them.
well, at least tim has had a good meal. i’m sure he’ll be back in his own time. amazing the resemblance between him and the prior tim.
was a quiet day here. moving books and going through magazines, etc. tossing some pulled patterns from magazines, saving the papers of applique, quilting type things. didn’t really get very far. trying to tame some of the stacks. the cat wanted attention.
sweet dreams to all, patti in florida who did not sew at all today
Love all the Lora pictures. Sorry Tim is out on the prowl again. Hope JB is getting better. Love your patchwork piece you are quilting. Love scrappy quilts. I finished the hooked piece for a friend. She does not know it was for her. Now to make some cookies. Not a whole lot this year with the oxygen 24/7. Take care of yourself. You need to heal. Merry Christmas. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va
carolyn, as you adjust to being on oxygen, you will learn to pace yourself. (i hate that sentence.) after a while you will know what you can do and how quickly you can do it. i think you said this was fairly new to you. it does get easier but i agree, it is a heck of an adjustment to life. bless you, patti in florida
last Christmas neighbors and acquaintances received glass cases and mug rugs made with the pattern you gave us. This year I winged it with patterns or instructions found here and there. It was really nice having the pattrn last year and challenging myself with colors and variations. Not sure if i ever thanked you.
Brenda – Mug rug pattern? From me? I don’t even remember it. Hmmm
Brenda, it’s funny you mention eye glass cases Mary made last year. Couple days ago I was at a hallmark store and yesterday at a Barnes and nobles store and saw many eyeglass cases for sale. I thought it seemed like more out for sale that I never realized before and said to myself maybe I missed the boat this year and should have quilted some orphan blocks up for eye glass cases. I have 2 family who use readers and might have wanted a new case. I do use orphan blocks for mug rugs in whatever size I wish. That seems to be my go to gift. Sure wouldn’t mind being Teresa in IN neighbor as home made cookies are the best, especially when batches of cookies do not get made here anymore.
Great photos today. Sure enjoyed a look around your upstairs. And the table runner is going to be fun to use once quilted-I like it!
The young Tim looks somewhat like your past Tim. Perhaps a descendent?
Paula – that’s what I’m wondering, too!!
Mary, I was wondering is Tim is neutered. If not, maybe that is why he is AOL. It is wicked cold in Southern MN. I hope you stay warm in Iowa.
Martha – oh, no, he’s not neutered – he’s feral but when I get him tamed he’ll be visiting the vet.
I love your patchwork runner Mary! I am glad JB is done with surgery and healing. He is one tough 19 year old! Your vintage animal pics are lovely…. I have lots also but would have trouble picking a favorite as they are all so sweet!