Happy Groundhog's Day!

 

Good morning and happy Groundhog's Day!

My mom's birthday is today and she always says that whether or not the groundhog sees his shadow, we have 6 more weeks of winter.  Statistics show that mom is often correct.  According to one article I read, Punxsutawney Phil has been right 39% of the time since predictions began in 1887.  

Still, there is a certain relief when Groundhog's Day occurs.  There's more light in the evening and now that the snow has melted, more of the spring bulbs are beginning to surface; don't worry, if there is even more snow, the bulbs survive.

I like this particular quote:

These days I find myself musing about the garden more because I know the warm weather will be here soon. 

I think the thing I look forward to the most is clearing out the garden and walking Lucky more often.  I love the longer days of spring and summer and the various colors of green of the spring.

I was once told that green is the color of healing and perhaps that is why I love spring so much.

I do love the colors of spring and summer flowers but I think my favorite time of year is the early part of the spring when the garden displays so much promise.

How are you feeling about the pending spring?

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Crossword Puzzle

 

Happy Wednesday!

 One of the new kinds of quilts in the late 20th century and early 21st century are crossword puzzle quilts.  Quilters use the puzzle layout to spell important words:  family, together, memories, and the names of family members as well.  Today I thought we would take a look at earlier versions of crossword puzzle quilts.

I can see why the crossword puzzles may have inspired quilters.  Here's a common early 20th century lay-out:

Or this one:

The crossword puzzle was actually introduced into the states by a British journalist in the 1890s.  By the 20th century, more newspapers adopted the word game.  It's hard to figure out when exactly crossword puzzles patterns were created by quilters.  This seems to be a movement that started from the ground up and was later imitated by pattern designers.

A 1925 Pittsburgh newspaper noted that this particular quilt predated the "crossword puzzle quilt pattern craze."

According to the paper, this quilt was made around 1920 and therefore was considered to predate the pattern fad.  It must have been quite popular because jokes were even published about the quilts:

Here's a 1929 quilt from North Carolina:

In 1941 Florence La Ganke designed this quilt pattern for Nancy Page:

I can see why the puzzles inspired quilters.  I read that one woman in Kentucky saved boxes of the puzzles to use for quilt designs.  We quilters find inspiration everywhere!

Have a safe and happy day!

Hubby humor

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

Next week my hubby is leaving for another business trip.  He's pretty happy right now because his wife made him a couple of meals while he was home.  Let me explain...

For many years, especially after his brain injury, he would critique the meal I made him:

"This is good but you should have done this." or "I would have done this..."

"A little bland but okay."

Or when a meal was really good, he would say, "Boy, you just can't beat the (fill-in-the-company) meat, vegetable or whatever from this place or that."

As you can imagine, after a while this grated my nerves.  My husband can make a decent stir-fry but to be honest, he's not a very good cook (although he thinks so).  He's one of those cooks who thinks if a little chili pepper is part of the recipe, then a whole lot will make it even better.  

So little by little...I stopped cooking for the two of us.  I still made big meals to feed my mom, brother and sick sister-in-law.  Hubby ate those and was happy for them.  But I just gave up on meals outside of that for the two of us.  

It sounds mean but I was just exhausted and he fended for himself.  I never thought of it as going on strike although I had.

But lately  I found some recipes I wanted to try.  And actually there appears to have been a method to my madness rebellion.  

There's been a change in our household.  Every time he comes to the dinner table now, he is so appreciative, and even THANKS  me before we sit down.  One of my recipes was so-so but he thought it was wonderful:  "I'd eat this again!"

So hubby is happy and I'm happy too.  I don't know if you've ever experienced this but it sure makes me laugh every time I think of how appreciative he's been.

Can you relate?

Have a safe and happy day!

 

Early 20th Century Sewing Tips

 

Did you have a nice weekend?  We are mostly pleased that the weather has been warmer than past weeks and the snow is melted.

I thought I would start the week with these sewing tips from the first half of the 20th century.  I find these tips a fascinating peak into the day to day lives of homemakers then.  Enjoy!

Flower Friday: January 26, 2024

 

Each winter, I sing the praises of the snowdrop.  For the most part, the plant begins to sprout in January and it is the most delightful reminder that spring is around the corner.  It is only 53 days until spring and I for one can't wait.

Here's what my snowdrops look like now as the snow is melting:

The seed catalogs have begun to arrive and it's time to dream about gardening and maintaining our plants.  Here's a clever meme for you to remember later this year:

And another about planting for our dear bee friends:

Are you dreaming of spring flowers?

Wishing you a happy weekend!

Thursday's This and That: January 25, 2024

 

Good morning and happy Thursday!

Barbara Brackman had a really interesting post on her Civil War Quilts blog.  Even if you aren't interested in Civil War quilts, it's a good reminder of what can happen in the world of quilt sales.  You can read the article here.

These kinds of shenanigans go on all the time but it's always a good reminder.

***

On the other hand, you may want to learn more about quilt history and here's a program that might be of interest to you if you are near eastern Pennsylvania.  The Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg, PA is having their annual Penn Dry Goods Market.  Lots of lectures, reputable merchants and a good time for all.  Here is some information on the program and schedule.

***

And lastly, a quilt top from the turn of the 20th century:

Have a great day!

Phillies Baseball Quilt

 

Good morning!  How are you today?

My husband has been working down south for most of the month.  Last Friday he called me and asked what Lucky and I were doing.

"I miss baseball," I told him.  

Hubby likes hockey and football but those sports don't appeal to me.  I love everything baseball and if I can't watch a game, I'll take one of the amazing baseball movies that have been made through the decades.  Still, I longed for a good Phillies game.

Lucky would like baseball and his spring shirt is hanging in the sewing room as we await warmer weather.

Over the weekend, in between watching Moneyball and A League of Their Own, I spent some time in the sewing room.  I made a Phillies quilt for Chase, age 5 and am now working on a baby quilt for Brody, not quite 4 months.  I decided to make these because Justin (their Dad) is a Phillies fanatic like me.  I'm hoping that Justin and Chase (and someday Brody), like the quilts.  Here is the top I finished for Chase.  It's about 55 x65 inches:

The fabric has been sitting in my sewing room since last fall.  My husband came with me when I purchased it; it's the only time he expressed any interest in a quilt fabric and he even became a bit bossy about fabric choices.

One day last week, I dreamt I assembled the quilt with rail fence type blocks flanking the Phillies fabric.  The very next day I plugged in "baseball quilt" and this layout came up on Pinterest.  Magic, just like the game of baseball.

Have you made any sports themed quilts?

Wishing you a safe and happy day!