Category Archives: Uncategorized

Good morning from a snowy Kansas. We are on the good side of a blizzard–much worse out west.  The snow is lovely to look at from inside a warm kitchen; the winds are what make it dangerous. I do feel for all those who must be out in this caring for animals, providing essential services, and thoseContinue reading “Stages of a Quilt”

Last Wednesday we celebrated the end of our quilting year and prepared for a new year in the sewing room! We partied, worked and dreamed. At noon we had lunch with the hand quilters and presented our checks from the 2023 sales to representatives of the two missions we support.  The Quilters at First were proud toContinue reading “It is a Wrap!”

It is all about balance! I envy persons who have a figured out how to balance all their needs, wants, and obligations. I struggle daily with what I think “I should do”—volunteer with groups that delivery food or meals, deliver flowers to homebound persons, visit an ailing member of my extended family and what “IContinue reading “Balancing Acts”

I look forward to cold weather every year, and not just because I live through August in Kansas! One very important reason is meal planning. I have a rotation of soups that have been tested over the years that are perfect for cold weather. All these recipes make a large quantity, especially for two people.Continue reading “Soups On!”

Fall and especially the month of November is magical. I walked the dog this morning in fog , not so dense that I couldn’t enjoy the trees that are showing off their colors, but it added to the ambiance. The autumn smells seem more intense with the dampness fog brings. Kansas will never compete withContinue reading “November Magic”

The start of a new year is different for different groups of people. We start a new calendar on January 1 and for a period of time, try to remember to write the new year’s date. The first day of the Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 andContinue reading “Thank you–and here we go again!”

Tomorrow is the big day! The quilts are hung for view, the lights have been strung and the “Square”- credit card reader- has been tested! We are ready to go! Here is a quick preview of Wilke Family Life Center after Quilters at First spend two days hammering, pinning and re-arranging. A few lap sizeContinue reading “We are ready!”

The wind has been howling across Kansas for the past two days and the local meteorologists tell us it will last two more days. This a yearly occurrence on the high plains, and every time I wonder how those early pioneer women living in a sod dugout or basic log cabin kept their sanity. WhatContinue reading “Windy Days”

I bought my first pumpkins of the fall today. Even though they were picked from the pile in front of Dillons, I still enjoy selecting the best ones! I do miss the trips to the pumpkin patch with the kids and grandkids. And my pumpkins will never become jack o’ lanterns; it is much moreContinue reading “The Popular Pumpkin”

Are you a list maker? I am. That is not to say I am organized, but I do make grocery lists, “to-do” lists for the day and for the long term and especially Christmas card and gift lists. Approximately fifty percent of the time I will leave my grocery list at home, but creating theContinue reading “Making a list and checking it twice”