Thursday's This and That: October 1, 2026

 

How are you doing this week?  Sorry I've been AWOL but I've been busy.  This week I'll start with quilting news.

Have you seen the Stolen Neighbors Quilt?  It was made in Minnesota and is quite impressive.  It took about 28 people to carry and featured 11,000 squares--one for each Minnesota immigrant who was stolen.  The quilt was initiated and worked on by 150 (or more) quilters.  I believe it was supported by an  interfaith coalition and some humanitarian groups.  You can see the video here.

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My husband's cluster headaches have faded...for now.  I've been doing most of the work around here since he retired because he has been sick.   Once the headaches ceased, he complained of a toothache.  I handed him a phone and told him to call the dentist.  

I've also been cooking a lot so that there is food in the freezer for after my hand surgery (in 19 days).  This weekend I made  Tarragon Chicken which I hadn't made for 15 years or so.  Hubby and my mom loved it and I had enough to freeze some for later.  A recipe for it is here.  I didn't have the lemon on hand and used dried tarragon (about 2 T) but it was really good.  I served mine over rice.

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On Monday I was at Mom's--making her breakfast and getting her pills ready.  Lucky went into the family room and I thought he was getting one of his toys.  He started growling and doing the "danger" bark.  I went into the family room right away and there he was barking at the window.  It was weird because he can't really see out the window because it is higher than his height.

Then I realized what he was warning us about:

This cheeky squirrel kept walking on the outdoor window sill.  I have no idea why.  My mom doesn't have a bird feeder or anything. 

I told Lucky he was good watch dog and he seemed pleased with himself.

***

My great niece Remi loves cats and has been bugging her parents for one for years.  She's 4.  Maggie (her mom) finally broke down and now Remi has Shadow a nice boy cat that she adores.  Maggie sent me lots of photos of them together but I think this one says the most.  Shadow clearly loves and trusts her as well.

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

Nor'ester

 

How did you make during the Nor'easter?

We are in Eastern Pennsylvania so we did get a lot of rain and wind but not nearly the flooding problems the east coast experienced.  We had a power outage for 5 hours on Saturday but otherwise, we made out pretty well.

Lucky hates this weather.  When we first got him, he went out in all weather.  Now he's become a full fledged poodle.  He loves toys, treats and sunny weather.  Like most of my poodles he doesn't want to step out in the rain.   He literally tries to drag me back into the house.  

I am hoping that you all are doing okay and haven't had flooding or other weather related problems.  Keep safe!

A Weird Flower Friday

 

Apologies.  

Normally I take photos or receive them and then transfer them to the computer.  This week, only one transferred and the rest... I have no idea where they went.

The only one that seems to have transferred and not disappeared is this one full of salvia and zinnias and very blurry. 😟

The rest of the photos seemed to have drifted off to space...

I'll try to do better next week.  We don't have that long until the first frost!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Happy Autumn!

 

Autumn begins tonight and I think most of us are relieved.  It seems like everyone is dealing with hot and dry conditions this year.

Brad is beginning to recover from the round of cluster headaches he experienced.  Some days he had up to 7 headaches in 24 hours.  Fortunately, our GP had an impressive knowledge of this.  She readjusted his medication and he seems to be getting better.  He still can't drive and is hesitant to go anywhere (the headaches come on super fast).  But some progress is better than none!

I'm hoping to get some work done in the sewing room because the temperature has dropped (for now).  It's a nice 55 degrees (Farenheit) out.  

I hope you are all doing well and I hope to catch up on blogs and everything else soon.  

Have a safe and happy day! 

Flower Friday: September 18,2026

 

Autumn is quickly approaching and one can see it in the gardens.  Many flowers have faded but the ones that are shining right now are very vibrant! 

And there are always surprises!  Sue was surprised by this late blooming gladiola!

Here's a flower Sue said she calls a "False Sunflower"; she said AI called it a sunflower.

Thanks Sue!  💗💗

Marigolds are everywhere right now and catch my eye each time Lucky and I walk.  

We've also been noticing a lot of Morning Glories in the neighborhood.  I don't remember people planting them until this year.

Another great star these days is Celosia:

Have a safe and happy weekend!

25 Years

 

Early Flower Friday

 

I don't want to post Flower Friday on 9/11 so I'm here a day earlier.

Sue sent this lovely photo of her Butterfly bush "in action"  😀

And also her perenial Ageratum:

Below is a neighbor's plant that I have admired.  It is called Begoina Angel Wing:

Anyway that is all for this week!

Have a safe and happy day!

Flower Friday: September 4, 2026

 

Happy Flower Friday!

Have you ever noticed how some plants come into their own in September?  Many of my neighbors have marigolds and this is the time of year they look fantastic!

The roses are coming back as well.  The seem to bloom the most in spring and autumn.  My neighbor told me the name of this rose but I can't remember it today :(  But it sure is lovely!

The zinnias are stunning but unfortunatley they are getting powdery mildew now:

That's it for this week!

Have a safe and happy weekend!

More Caregiving

 

I was supposed to have surgery last Wednesday.  I was a little nervous about it because my husband had been getting cluster headaches the week before.  He seemed to curb the headaches with hot compresses and advil and he assured me he would be able to pick me up for the surgery and care for things.

Well the postponement of the surgery turned out be fortuitous.  By 11 a.m. my husband had a really bad cluster headache for hours.  I contacted our GP.  She prescribed medication for him that is supposed to help prevent the headache from happening.  She referred him to a neurologist and he has an appointment for November.

It had been about 14 years since my husband's last group of cluster headaches.  No one knows why they start and the number one treatment is--believe it or not--oxygen.  I've been taking my husband to the ER 3 times since the really bad attack last week (on our GP instructions).  He gets O2 and is better in less than an hour.  We finally got a prescription for an oxygen tank at home and hopefully that will be able to give him instant relief.

These headaches are so bad they are referred to as "suicide headaches" because the pain is so bad that the rate of suicides or suicidal thoughts is very high.  The headaches come on really fast.  He can't drive right now incase one should happen.  He is also wary of any little twinge right now.  This is common for people suffering from this terrible ailment.

So I'm taking care of everything.  The hospital (who now know him by name) and the GP are trying to arrange an earlier neurology appointment.  Actually, I was surprised we got a November appointment.  The usual wait is 9-12 months. 😠

I'll keep you posted.  At least my mom is doing pretty well these days so it's not too much for my brother to be looking after her.  In return, he kidnaps Lucky.  

Hoping you have a safe and happy day!

Thistles, Burdock, and Nettles

 

Lucky has been having a pretty good summer except for his problems with thistles, burdocks, and nettles.

"I don't like it, Sam-I-Am...and I don't like the removal of the burrs either. "  

Our biggest challenge is at my mother's house.  Behind the shed there is an area of brush and weeds that no one visits except the bunnies.  That's the problem.  Lucky has discovered they go back there and is always trying to sneak in despite it being fenced off.  And...he often succeeds.  It is nothing for him to surface from there with 40 burs on his face and even more on the rest of his body.

Mom's house has predominately thistles and burdock.  Burdock (above)  starts out with big leaves and then develops burs.

The nettles are a different matter.  We realized that they were very close to the sidewalk on our daily evening walk.  I just can't go that way anymore and that's a shame because we only see those neighbors sitting outside in the summer.  Nettles below:

What's interesting is that some people actually sow these plants.  They all have medicinal benefits and the nettles are actually beneficial to butterflies and moths.

I was wondering this morning why the Scottish national flower is the thistle.  My mom has sooooo much thistle jewelry because of her Scottish roots.  

One of the most interesting anecdotes was the Battle of Largs in the 13th century.  Apparently Norse invaders were hoping to attack sleeping Scottish warriors one evening and even took their shoes off to creep up on the lads.  One Norseman yelped as he stepped on thistles and woke the Scots who won the battle.  Thistles to the rescue...

Flower Friday is coming up and if you have any flowers to share, please email me the photo at allentownquilter@gmail.com

Have a safe and happy day!