Country Threads – a unique quilt shop in Iowa

Susannah likes to venture out from the barn after I do chores.  I never let her into the yard during business hours because she likes no one but me.

My chickens enjoy the scraps leftover from the box lunch we served the bus group from Omaha, NE last Friday.  What a handsome bunch of chickens!

Spools of thread – on the right is a new spool.  On the left is a spool that became a dog toy without my permission.

Maggie got a short summer haircut last week and was feeling the chill over the weekend.  She is really showing her age.

Thanks to all of you who sent condolences to Rick and me regarding Izzy.  We are still somewhat numb and shocked that she’s gone.  Several of you have been in this same situation and I appreciated your kind words.

Here is one of my very favorite poems:

A Dog Lover’s Prayer

My prayer book’s unconventional,

An album scarred with age.

The dogs who shared their lives with mine

Stand out on every page.

Though some folks picture Heaven’s gates

Atop a golden stair,

The precious photos in my book

Inspire this humble prayer:

Lord, lead me to a sun-washed field,

Then send them one by one;

Let yelps of joy lead wagging tails

As to my arms they run.

This Heaven that I pray for, Lord,

Where lilacs scent the air,

Is blessed with all the dogs I’ve loved

Who come to greet me there.

Toni Fulco

Mary

Izzy playing in the playhouse

Rick and I are saddened to tell you that we had Izzy put down last week after she attacked Telly once again.  We are devastated to not have been able to solve this problem.  Euthanasia was our last resort.  When Izzy got very, very excited, it was like an atomic bomb of adrenaline going off in her brain.  She did not know what to do with all that adrenaline so she attacked another dog.  When it was all over, she was so ashamed and we were at a loss as to what to do.  We forgave her time and time again because we loved her.

On the first day of camp last week, it happened again and Rick and I tried to think of anything we could to avoid such drastic measures.  But that night God spoke to me in a very vivid dream…and I listened.  I saw Izzy attacking a small child at the end of our sidewalk!  We could no longer avoid the obvious solution.  Our hearts are broken but better our hearts than someone’s child’s life.

The dynamics of our family have changed – we are all adjusting and we buried Izzy’s ashes in our pet cemetery behind the house.  We will always wonder what went wrong with Izzy.   We will never know for sure but doing the right thing is not always the easiest thing.  We loved Izzy and we are saddened by her loss.  Since I talk about our dogs so much, it was only right that I told you and explained the whole situation.  In due time there will be another dog who needs us but for now we are grieving the loss of our beloved dog.

Mary

Ah, camping season at the farm!  Last year during this same camp we almost died of the heat.  This year we had a 2” rainstorm with high wind that forced the rain under the steel siding.  Not only was it wet, it was only 57 degrees!  You have to be tough to come to camp at Country Threads.  We had a great time and the second day was the perfect temperature – everybody got several projects completed.

Susannah likes to sleep in this plastic tote that I keep hay in and I just thought she looked so cute I had to take her picture.  She will be 12 years old this October – as a 1.9lb. baby, I thought she was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.

The Bridal Wreath is blooming – I just love it for the short time it’s in bloom.

I spent one whole day this week moving the houseplants outside.  My new porch looks deserted without all that greenery!

Just look at this stormy sky over North Iowa.

Two weeks from today we leave for Chicago and International Quilt Festival – will we be seeing you?

Mary

Three funerals in one week.  I told you about Charlie last week and last weekend was the funeral for my sister-in-law’s mother-in-law and family friend, Gladys Cink, whom Rick and I have known for over 50 years.  Today Becky and I drove to Minneapolis for Mom’s older sister, Florence Steiff Carlson’s funeral service.  She would have been 100 years old June 14.  We have lots of first cousins since Mom had 5 sisters and 2 brothers and many of us gathered in Minneapolis today.  Florence was a beloved aunt to us all.

While in Minneapolis I had the opportunity to visit Sam and Lucy at the Mother Baby Center where Little Lucy hit 4 lbs. 2 ounces today.  She was not due to be born until July 10 – have you ever seen such a sweet baby with a cat hat?  I was thrilled to see Sam looking so great, too.

Another visit to Becky’s friend, Pam Christian who has a dog named Ode.  Ode was rescued by Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue and transported to the Minneapolis area several years ago where Becky’s friend Pam adopted her.  As a young dog on the Indian reservation in Northern Minnesota, Ode was tortured by several young men who burned her ears off with a blowtorch.    Don’t think about that too much – it’s horrendous.  Just take a look at how happy she is today!

And last but not least – here is the clean haymow where we’ll be sewing next week, June 4-5.  Looks very inviting, doesn’t it?  We are looking forward to our 30^th Anniversary Camp – we’ve got about 15 projects planned!

Rick’s sister was here from California for the funeral last weekend and spent Memorial Day here along with Rick’s younger brother, Mike and older sister, Shirley and their respective spouses.  What a week it has been!  Do you think I’ll ever get any flowers planted?  The All Iowa Shop Hop starts this Saturday – we are READY and looking forward to meeting and greeting new customers and visitors.  See you at the farm!

Mary

I mowed the grass yesterday – I never thought I’d have grass again after our drought last summer when it all burned up in the hot sun without any rain.  I could have baled the grass in the ditch!  Today it is raining once again – otherwise I was going to re-mow the ditch with all the clumps of grass.  You will never hear me complain about a rainy day ever again after last year. 

I have pretty much finished cleaning in the haymow – the chairs remain to be cleaned but I have a new procedure this year.  When you arrive, you clean your own chair with rags provided.  The chairs simply will not stay clean and it’s a waste of time and energy for me to continue to wash them.  Now I am busy marking rummage for our Big Event in July.

We had a fast but productive trip to Portland, OR.  Quilts are “far out” and traditional/reproduction fabric is scarce.  Even Jo Morton is doing a batik line of fabric.  We won’t abandon our roots but will be adding more contemporary fabrics in the months to come.

Sunday morning and early Monday morning brought two new babies to my dear friends, Samantha and Kate.  Sam’s baby girl, Lucy Jane, weighed 3 lbs. 14 oz. and Kate’s baby girl, Quinn Theresa, weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz.  Everyone is doing well as far as I know.  Both of my young friends will be outstanding mothers!

A dear friend, Charlie Thomas, DVM, died last weekend and I will provide the piano music at his funeral Thursday.  As the family has requested, I will play the  songs

“Happy Trails” and “Back in the Saddle Again”

for the recessional.  It is just perfect for Charlie!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend everybody!  Would love to hear from any of you at marye@ncn.net.

Mary

P.S.  Don’t forget that this Saturday, May 25th is our $5 Quilt Saturday.  Not only will you get a free block pattern and fabric for the block, if you bring in your finished April block, but you will get to see the new things in the shop since last month.  If you have missed a month but would like to still come and get the block pattern and fabric you still can, you will just have to pay $5.  Plus, if you are a part of the Club you get 10% off of all of your non-sale priced items.  We hope to see you there.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Portland Quilt Market – a whirlwind trip in 3 days, a very expensive 3 days, I might add but we need inventory for the shop to arrive next fall and that’s what we’ll be shopping for.  I always hate to leave but always come home inspired by new quilts, books, fabrics and ideas.

Here’s what’s new on the farm – rocks and more rocks.  Actually I think I’m nearing the end and thanks to Rick, I am now driving the tractor to the rock piles, loading into the bucket and then just dumping the bucket on the rock pile – much easier!  One of my neighbors stopped me on the road and said, (his voice incredible) “do you need rocks?”  When I answered that I did, he showed me his rock pile much closer to home – thanks, Mark R.!

The AC units were installed yesterday – we could have used them on Tuesday when the temps went to 102 degrees here.  Just think, 2 weeks ago today we were closed due to 12” of snow!  This has been such a goofy spring that I don’t even have the screens on yet – I’m sure we will have no spring and cross right into summer temperatures requiring AC.

I almost hate to write this down – Telly has not been outside the fence for almost a week now.  I’ve probably jinxed her and she’ll be out today.  After cleaning the constructions debris, I still have branches and limbs that have to be picked up before we can mow the grass.

Last weekend I cleaned the haymow in the barn – this is what it looked like when I started – the tarp which covered the floor had to be carried outside, dusted and refolded for storage.  The dirt comes up from the chickens on the first floor and I mean a lot of dirt.  This is what the floor looked like under the tarp – little piles of dirt that all needed to be cleaned up.  The cobwebs going up the walls were thick and I couldn’t reach very high so it’s dusted about 8’ up the walls and then it’s cobwebs again.  When I get all the quilts hung, I’ll show you.

Here is Telly in my “new” chair – yes, it’s purple and it cost $25.00 at the thrift store.  I’m going to have it recovered when I can – but it won’t be done before the tour so look for the nice purple chair in the porch.  Ha!

Here is a quick peak at the porch – all the plants will soon move outside for the summer.  All our customers are invited on Wednesday night, July 17, from 5-9 pm for the tour.  The public is invited Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 18, 19, 20 for a self guided tour.

Don’t forget the All Iowa Shop Hop that starts May 31, camp June 4-5, International Quilt Festival in Chicago June 20-23 and then the Big Event, July 17-20.

Every year people ask me if my hen and chicks are for sale and I have to say “no”.  This is what I’ve been putting together this year – tiny little hen and chicks in vintage containers, priced from $5 – $20.  If we can get them, we’ll be selling small succulent plugs during the Big Event.  I’ll let you know.

Here’s a quick shout out to Sam in the Mother Baby Center in Minneapolis – we’re all missing you and can’t wait till Baby Lund arrives on June 1.

Until next week on the farm,

Mary

So much hard work to do and I am killing myself trying to get it all done.  I’m still hauling rocks and yesterday I finished filling the big dumpster with construction debris that was left in my yard.  It was almost more than I could physically handle but the dumpster was rented for only 2 weeks and the first week was spent with 12 inches of snow on the ground so I couldn’t do it then.  I was glad it rained today because I am exhausted.

We are missing Leo tonight because he went to Sam’s parents’ home.  He has been a very good boy and has learned our routine in the 8 days he’s been here.  He is such a happy guy!  Bentley went home last Sunday night and Telly looked for him repeatedly the next day.

Tonight I plan to work on the Iowa Shop Hop quilt.  Here is a picture of the 2 blocks using the feature fabric and solids.  Find out more about the shop hop by visiting AISH and “liking” us on Facebook.

We are preparing for the Chicago show in June and Connie and I are sewing as fast as we can.  There are just not that many days between now and the show and next weekend we will be in Portland, OR for quilt market.  I think I will try staying up one hour longer each night to see if I could make some progress that way.

We are enjoying our new contemporary fabrics more than we ever thought we could!  It’s such fun to go to that part of the shop and pick bolts for a new quilt.  We have started a new club called “Inspired by Pinterest” because we are so in love with all the quilts we see on Pinterest.  They are all simple designs with gorgeous contemporary fabrics.  Maybe you’re interested?

Time to move on – tomorrow is a busy day in the shop because we’re going to be working on the next Goat Gazette.

Thanks for being interested in Country Threads!

Here is what’s happening on the farm this week.  The carpenters are waiting for another shipment of siding so they can finish.  A large dumpster was delivered and I am busy filling it with all the construction debris in my yard.  Yes, the carpenters could do it but their hourly wage is lots more than mine – and it’s good exercise!

I’ve been gathering more rocks which is also good exercise – I can eat chips and drink beer on those nights.  We have had lots of rain (and now snow) which keeps me out of the fields as well as the farmers.  My friend, Sam, has had some complications with her pregnancy and has been hospitalized so Leo is staying here.  Had choir practice tonight and I really need some time to practice – we have 2 very hard songs to perform before the end of May and in June Margaret and I will play at an all-church event which means I need to practice those songs, too.  Rick is doing well – walking with a cane now and even riding his bike.  Connie is babysitting in Chicago so I am walking Hope each afternoon.

In a recent blog I talked about the hops vine and someone asked if I used the hops – no, I don’t use them for anything except decorating.  And yes, I think animal dumpers are the lowest form of humanity.

I read every single comment on the blog and enjoy them all – you guys are so faithful to Country Threads and it’s one of the best parts of my job.  My personal email is marye@ncn.net if you wish to reach only me.

Kind of a boring week, huh?  No good rat stories or cats in the frig – ha!!

Mary

Postscript

We’re havin’ a party!  May 2 and we have 12” of heavy wet snow with trees, limbs, branches and shrubs broken and twisted all over the yard.  To make it an even happier party, Bentley Greiman arrived this morning to spend the weekend.  His mom walked him up the hill from the highway because our road is not plowed yet.  Bentley is the golden retriever in this picture with Telly who is in her glory with all these friends to play with and in the snow no less.  Perfect!  This is all we’re doing today – having a party with 7 dogs!  Yay!!!

The word is out – it might be spring this weekend!  We never get enough spring to get all the yard work done and this year will be even worse.  I started last Saturday and got the rock garden cleaned, with help, of course.  I started to clean the leaves away from the hydrangeas and wondered why I’d remove such great mulch so I stopped.  So much clean up!

Yesterday I got an offer I could not refuse – Cheryl and Ed Barkema would help me get a load of rock in their hydraulic wagon using a backhoe and skidloader.  If I had realized the extent of the work involved in laying fieldstone around the foundation of the house, I’m quite sure I would have said “no”.  But as the siding is on from the windows to the roof and nothing from the bottom of the windows to the ground, it’s too late to turn back now.  I could go with brick or fake stone but I know I wouldn’t be happy with the end result.  And purchasing the stone is simply out of the question!  The siding is nearly completed and the carpenters will leave for awhile giving me time to gather the rock.  Did you know that every rock has to be power washed?????  Oh, what have I gotten myself into?

My friend Kate in NYC is having a baby in about 2 weeks and I just learned her name which is a highly guarded secret.  I love her name so much I made a little quilt last night with just her name in pieced block letters.  I’m hoping I can sneak it to one of our quilters so it will arrive before she’s born.

Many of you read the blog this week about my trials with the cats.  And lots of you could identify with the problem – it has been such fun to read your comments!

Rick is doing really well – the incision is healed and this morning he even got his sock on by himself – Yeah!!  When he trades his walker for a cane, we’ll know he is ready to get in the car.  Today is 3 weeks since surgery.

And yesterday I found the very first guinea egg – it is shown here on the right next to the assorted dozen I gathered from the laying hens in shades of white, brown, green, tan and pink.  It is much smaller and has a very different shape  than a chicken egg.

This Saturday is $5.00 quilt day at the shop so we’ll be seeing many of you at 10 am for the meeting.  We will be explaining our new “Inspired by Pinterest” Club – have you joined Pinterest yet?  I still love it and love the quilts on the boards – my contemporary quilt board is the biggest board I have!  Don’t ever say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!  Ha!

By next week I hope to have the yard cleaned and then it’s on to the haymow and barn!  Oh, I would love to hire someone to help me but have not had any luck.  It’s not a fun job, for sure, and it’s also very dirty, making it an unpopular event.  It needs to look good for the All Iowa Shop Hop in June – are you coming to see us?

Enough for this week – check the blog for more chatter until the next Farm News comes your way on Thursday, May 2.

Mary E.

I can’t say that this post is all Farm News but is a barrage of “stuff” that’s keeping me busy.  We’ve had quite a bit of rain that I am thankful for and will not complain about the dreary days, one after another.  The rain has kept the carpenters away which is a double edged sword.  The next hourly paychecks won’t be so high to pay but we’re not making any progress on the siding either.  There is no chance we will be finished by The Big Event Tour…but that just means I’ll have to offer another tour the following year when it will be finished inside and out.  I cannot imagine how long the landscaping and grass is going to take.  Ugh!

Rick is doing well but had a severe allergic reaction to his pain pills last weekend so he didn’t sleep and could not get comfortable.  He got a new script and is doing better – also the staples were removed – all 50 of them!  The visiting nurse tests his blood every few days and Izzy wants to get up close and personal with her.  Faye sleeps with him and is content with this rainy weather but Izzy and Telly are restless and can’t settle down.  Telly was missing for 2-1/2 hours a couple days ago.  That dog must be part gazelle to get over that fence so easily!

Recently I blogged about the spring issue of the Goat Gazette and the fact that it isn’t written and won’t be.  I simply cannot find the time right now to write it so I will ask your indulgence and forgiveness as I will be combining the spring and summer issues.  I am meeting myself coming and going right now with carpenters, a husband recuperating, the weather, the shop, church music for a June concert, the fieldstone problem, cooking 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, and more that you can probably imagine.

Here are several projects I’ve been working on for upcoming Charm School mailings.  If you don’t know, Charm School has been “in session” for almost 6 years and each month members receive a charm pack and new pattern – all for $45 per quarter.  I have really enjoyed the new trendy charm packs I’ve been using.

Our anniversary camp June 4-5 still has openings for either beginners or intermediates.  It has been decided that we will make this quilt called “Tell Me A Story” from the Hibernation book.  Everyone loves it and we have kits available in the shop (we also have a 10% off special going on right now until May 1!).  The 2 day camp is only $30 for local students and $30 for out of town students who stay at the new Garner Inn.  This will be our first camp of the season and probably the most desirable temps in the barn.  If you are a “quilter wanna be”, we will get you started and have a great time in the barn, too.  My church group is attending and they’re already planning fun drinks and snacks for our group!

And I will end with a smile – a photo of BC (you remember BC, Barn Cat, who realized we all lived in the house except him so he came in, too).  I took the water pitcher out of the frig to fill it and left the doors wide open only to turn around and find BC perched in the corner on the top shelf.  Yup, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another!!

Watch the blog – I’ll try another recipe next week and hopefully get it right this time.  I should stick to animal stories, shouldn’t I?  You can sign up for blog posts on the home page of Country Threads’ Chicken Scratch.

Connie is bringing lunch today for Ina’s birthday – we love Ina – what a gal!

Mary

Here is the Telly story that exemplifies Farm News at its best!

Last Friday night after my bathroom floor installer left at 9pm (!) I was pretty “wound up” and knew I couldn’t go to sleep. Rick was in the hospital in Rochester so it was just me and the dogs at home. Finally about midnight I showered and got ready for bed, turned out all the lights downstairs and started counting dogs – yup, 2 missing and that would be Telly and Izzy. I paced the floor and waited impatiently until Izzy finally came in. No Telly! I sat down in the porch area to wait, thinking she was possibly outside the fence again. About 1 am Telly rounded the corner by the porch and came in the dog door which I immediately closed and headed up to bed. I slept great that night, not even getting up to go to the bathroom – in fact, I didn’t wake up until almost 9 am Saturday morning. Realizing how late it was, I jumped out of bed and walked around the corner and laying on the floor in the hallway was a gift from Telly – a dead RAT!! Evidently she had it in her mouth the night before when she came in so late and the house was dark. I didn’t see it in her mouth, nor did I think to even look. What if I had stepped on it with my bare feet in the night? Oh, I shudder to think! I have not seen a rat on this property for over 20 years but Telly’s feet were very muddy telling me she dug that rat out of wherever he was hiding. Oh, my heart nearly stopped when I saw it! Telly is my only explanation – I do not think she found it in the house nor do I think the cats killed it. I think Telly brought it in and I did not see it. I called Rick in the hospital right away and he couldn’t believe it either. Like I said, Farm News at its best! Ha!

Thanks for all the get well wishes for Rick – he’s doing much better after a scare of infection in his knee incision. The swelling has gone down and we are being extra diligent about keeping his leg elevated at all times. I’m getting the hang of this nursing stuff. My friend, Kathy, brought us a pizza last night which was the highlight of our day. Today I’m going to get some work done – tomorrow is our Urban Farmhouse event and I want to be there to help – around my nursing duties, of course.

Mary

You’re not wrong – this is being written for Friday.  My day was spent in Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN, where Rick had  total knee replacement surgery.  I attempted to send the photos to the shop from there but just couldn’t do it.  The surgery went well and he will come home on Sunday, the 7^th.

For those of you who didn’t see the “happy” picture of Telly, here she is again.  She has forgotten the incident from last week and we are best friends once again.

The ice is nearly out of our little pond and that makes the geese very happy.  That water has to be really cold but they love swimming in it already.

The goats are enjoying the 40 degree weather, too.  Spring can’t come soon enough for any of us!

The chickens, guineas and Lucky the duck have ventured outside but the guineas are just plain stupid birds.  They can’t ever find the opening under the fence or the open gate to get back “home” again so I’m always herding them.

This framed needlework/crewel/embroidery of birds is hanging in the orthopedic hallway.  The bright spot is a reflection but I wish I knew the story behind this piece of fascinating artwork.  It is horizontal rows of embroidered birds that don’t even look possible to stitch.  Any ideas?

The carpenters are still working on the siding and tomorrow the new bathroom vinyl flooring will be installed – just in time for Rick to move into the guest room and adjoining bath.  You simply cannot imagine how much I want these carpenters to be gone!

Next weekend is our Urban Farmhouse event with deep discounts found in the balloon of your choice.  We hope you can join us to see how hard we’ve worked all winter on new quilts, projects, and kits.

Mary E.

Connie took this sweet picture of me holding Ben at Barb’s funeral.  I love babies who let me hold them!

I’m binding this quilt from our old book “Hibernation” which we will have for sale during our Urban Farmhouse Renewal event April 12 and 13.  Kit should be available as well as many other new projects.  You will pop a balloon to see if your discount is between 10% and 30%.  We are also giving everyone an introduction “kit” for a pincushion.  We are planning to start a new “fabriholics” club with only contemporary fabrics which means you would get several pieces of our newest arrivals every month.  Since we are so enamored of Pinterest, we will take our inspiration from the quilts we see there and the only rule for this club is that it will always be under $20.00 – meaning you might get a magazine or a pattern with your fabric.  We are still working out these details which will be available during our April event.

I also just finished piecing the May charm school project which is shown here.  I am really tickled with the result and hope to make it again in a different color way.  It is a winner in my book!

The night blooming cereus is done for now.  There is another bloom that seems like it might bloom and 4 more tiny ones that are also sprouting.  This has been exciting for me – I hope I didn’t bore you too much with it.

My sad farm news is regarding the guineas which I let outside yesterday for the first time this spring.  Remember they went out once last winter and flew up into a tree?  I counted 12 the day before yesterday so I know they were all there but I discovered Telly with just a guinea head in her mouth Wednesday afternoon and I punished her severely.

Rick and I have tried to figure this out – where is the entire body, wings, feet, etc?  Maybe Telly didn’t actually kill it but just found the head?  Is that possible?  I’m going to walk through the grove to see if I can find the body.  She surely couldn’t have eaten all those feathers and feet so what really happened?  She lived here last summer and never killed a bird or even chased one that I’m aware of.  I’ll let you know if we solve this mystery.

I am moving in a bit every day, washing plants, hanging quilts, and enjoying the whole process.  I am relieved that the carpenters are now working outside and not in the same rooms with me.  I am downright thankful for that!

Happy Easter to you and yours!  He Is Risen!

Mary

Britney Brooks is helping me dust – Telly wants to help Britney – ha!  There is dirt everywhere in this house – every plate, picture, piece of clothing, rug, jewelry, chair and incidental! 

Here is the size of one bloom on the night blooming cereus plant – it’s getting close to opening, I think, and I will be there with my camera to document the event!

Lucky the duck came to live in the barn with the chickens last week.  His 2 companions were killed in a friend’s backyard and it would have been his turn next so he came here to live where it’s safe.  When the weather is better, he’ll get to go outside with the other birds that live here.

As I’m cleaning this filthy house, I’m sorting things out for the rummage sale next summer.  These old wool quilts are not good for much except the fabric in the top so I started to take one of them apart.  Inside is another quilt that is almost completely worn out but I’m determined to look at the old fabrics.  What a sweet surprise! 

Connie, Nina and Ben visited last Saturday and Ben was a happy baby that was not afraid of me.  I love babies that let me hold them!  Here he is with Grandma Connie.  Isn’t he cute?

Connie’s mother-in-law passed away this week at the age of 88 – she was a sweet lady who met Roy’s dad during the war and was married for over 60 years.  My sympathies to the Tesene family.

Time to go to work!

Mary E.

Maybe our drought is over – we’ve had more snow in March than in the past 2 years!  Wouldn’t it be nice to expect it to rain this spring….and it does?

Carpenters are finishing in both rooms – lots of trim, corners, baseboard, etc. and yes, for those who asked, I will definitely show you the rest of the piano room and the living room porch area.  Remodeling is a love-hate relationship with the contractor and his crew.

Since I can’t clean, I’ve been sewing like mad.  I remade a quilt from our old book “Hibernation” using lots of the fabric line “Comma” and I just love it.  Here it is in pieces on the floor.  Watch the blog for the picture of the finished quilt.

Remember the night blooming cereus plant that started to produce buds?  Here’s an updated picture of one of the buds that will get bigger before it opens.  I’ll take pictures when the flower appears – it’s really quite amazing!

Until next Thursday, watch the blog for updates!

Kindness is contagious!

Mary E.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The dogs have learned to use their new doggie door whenever they want to go outside.  Sometimes I realize they’ve disappeared from the house and they’re out in the grove.  And yes, Telly is still going under any little spot where the fence is not frozen into the ground.  I have hauled more concrete patio pavers but evidently I haven’t found all the spots yet.

Here is the mess in the living room – can you also see the inch of dust on the TV?  Note the rustic log mantel.

This is the old mantel I bought last fall at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, OH.  I’m taking down the rustic log and putting this up instead.

The goats said to tell you all “hi”!

And can you believe this is my Christmas poinsettia from Walmart?  It is just beautiful, isn’t it?  And I think I know the reason why.  On the very day I brought it home around Thanksgiving time, I repotted it into a clay pot with new potting soil.  I have kept it evenly moist but not wet and given it lots of light.  Those plastic pots they come in just let the water run through and don’t let the roots spread out to absorb the water.  Try this next year!

I had a great time at Ironwood Springs and look forward to going again next November …. unless we’re in Houston at Quilt Festival.

Until next Thursday,

Mary

It’s probably safe to say that most of you reading this are also experiencing cold weather.  It’s noon and our wind chill is still minus 20.  Brrrrr………I’ll just keep sewing!  I didn’t even let the goats out of the barn today because there is such a pecking order going on that several of those goats at the bottom of the order would have been forced outside.

I get this poem every winter and every winter I love re-reading it.  It’s a beautiful poem and very well written.

A poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

S_____

It’s cold.

The end.

If you have not done so already, please register your email on our blog so that you will be notified when we post something new. There’s a spot on the right hand side of the blog page for your email address. We have gotten several photos from Connie’s game, project #5.

Tomorrow is the day she draws the number for February so register your email. This has proved to be very popular and I have to be honest, I thought it was a stupid idea that Connie had. How wrong I was! People love to be challenged and finishing a project is always rewarding. Share a photo of your finished project by sending it to us at info@countrythreads.com and Mandy will post it on our Pinterest account. To find these photos on Pinterest, search for cthreadsqs and then search under people. It should pop up and you can see what others have been working on.

Bentley, my first boarder, went home Tuesday night after being here for a whole week.  He was such a good boy and at 7 months old, he was just a happy play boy who loved rough housing with Telly.

More plants blooming in the basement!  This is a Moses in a Basket plant that I started last fall – just look at all those baskets!  And here is another Hoya bloom ready to open.  Can’t wait till they move upstairs again!

Remember how the concrete windowsills looked after the texture was troweled in?  Well, here is an update after acid staining.  Next comes a finish coat.

Today Lori made lunch for Joan’s birthday – chicken taco chili with cheese, sour cream, green onions, jalapenos and tortilla strips and a Kondike bar to top it off.  It was a perfect lunch for such a cold day.  After marking sale bolts all morning, we were thrilled to have lunch provided.

And this is how we felt after lunch!  Now that’s a muffin top – ha!!!

Will we see you at the Bolt Sale that starts tomorrow morning?

Mary

We are COLD in North Iowa! Makes you just want to stay inside and sew, doesn’t it? Barn chores are real chores when it’s this cold.
So much happening inside the quilt shop – discontinued patterns for $1 each, a kit reduced drastically, a Valentine Brunch Tablerunner, and the best of all for our customers: FREE SHIPPING until the end of January. All of these items can be found online.

Saturday is our first $5.00 Quilt Saturday and we’re hoping for a big crowd. I think this deserves kettle corn, don’t you? Come at 10 am for a tutorial on our first block and see what’s new in the quilt shop.

My day disappeared yesterday but I will post some hints and tip on the blog about Month 1 of Wear Warm Clothes for those of you in this club. We have also opened a Pinterest account for you to post your pictures – there will be various boards including Wear Warm Clothes, the Free Online Quilt Sampler, Connie’s UFO Challenge and several others. Take a picture of your blocks or progress and post them on the appropriate Pinterest board for everyone so view. This is exciting!!

Here is a closeup of the window sill showing the texture in the concrete produced by troweling in a piece of lightweight plastic. Next step is acid staining and sealing – I hope that will be next week.

And finally, my first boarder is here while his parents are in Florida. Bentley is the perfect gentleman and Telly loves to play with him which is good exercise for both of them. His bed is in the kennel and he can get outside via the doggie door which is closed at night and opened again first thing in the morning. This is working out great!

I am posting more blogs all the time and if you choose, you can sign up for an email notification. Stay with us – this is a big year for us – 30 years in business! Camp dates were announced last week and as projects get finished, the blog will be the place to visit.
Mary