This week has been a bit worrisome, as smoke has filled the skies, getting worse each day. There are now seven fires burning in this area – three in Polk county southeast of us, two just south of us in South Carolina, and two more in counties north and west of us. The Black Cove fire is burning over 3400 acres and is only 23% contained as of yesterday. The Deep Woods fire is over 3700 acres and only 32% contained. The smoke is noticeable and has put our county into the worse air quality rating that there is, code purple for Friday meaning ‘very unhealthful’ and we are told not to spend time outside for more than just essential movement. These two fires are in hard hit areas from Hurricane Helene, and have huge amounts of dead, downed trees and dry brush from that disaster. So far the evacuation zone is well south of us, but we have suitcases packed just in case another one breaks out. A huge Chinook helicopter goes back and forth all day from a lake just north of us, trailing a large hose to pump water from the lake so it can release the water onto the fires. I managed to get a distant photo of one as it went by. I have put a circle on it so you can find it.
This is our valley view on Thursday. The smoke obscures the ridge that is usually visible. The air is full of the smell of burning wood. The difficulty with these two fires is their remote locations, mostly in the Green River Gorge area where there are only narrow one lane roads, and huge amounts of debris still there. Plus, there is no ready source of water other than helicopter drops. It becomes clear how hard it is to get these fires under control. We are expecting rain today and tomorrow, which will help, but won’t be enough to put the fires out. We need steady rain for days to be of real help.
The birds still need to be fed, and this cardinal came by for a meal.
A titmouse was happy to find a bit of suet left. I have to wonder how the birds and animals are faring as they are breathing with all the smoke in the air.
Inside, there are two developments on my flowering plants in the kitchen. First, the orchid is making progress, and may actually have three blooms working. If it actually makes it all the way to blooming, it will be the best I’ve ever seen for this plant.
The amaryllis is going to bloom too! I am excited about this, as it didn’t bloom last year.
This week I got some happy mail. It is always fun to get a surprise package, and I opened this one to find the taco seasoning mix that I cannot buy here, sent by Trish. She is obviously a long time reader to know this tidbit of information, as I complain about it from time to time. I was pretty impressed with the new food storage container she sent them in as well. Thanks, Trish!
The mail also brought these two quilts a little while ago, sent by Suzanne. They will be added to another shipment I am expecting in June, and will be delivered then. With the wildfires now displacing some of the same people, quilts will be welcomed.
Today, I’ll work on adding the buttons to the thread catchers I made at retreat. Here are the bowl cozies and thread catchers I finished at retreat, not including the two that I sold. Woohoo, fabric out for Stashbusters, coming this Friday.
On Friday, the day was pretty much taken up with organizing my sewing space again, putting away things I had taken to retreat, and setting up my machine again. While all that was going on, I loaded up the embroidery machine and stitched out this sentiment on a kitchen towel.
The towel has black stripes on its sides. This doesn’t make sense to me, as I fold the edges back to hang them up so the embroidery will show. Ah, well.
It turned out well, so I did a second one. These will be gifts for two hard working friends who need to know that they are appreciated. I used Sulky’s Sticky Fabri-Solvy on them. I can embroider one, then use a patch to save stabilizer as I showed on my post Money Saving Embroidery Tip.
I stamped cards to go with their gifts, too. Then I stamped a pretty paper, and glued it over the logo already on the bag. Now it is a custom bag, right? I added another little goodie, and will deliver them this week.
The next Virtual Retreat is scheduled for Friday, April 11, Thursday, April 24, starting at 9:30 am Eastern Time to about 3:00 pm. It’s a fun way to spend a day! You will be sewing in your own sewing space, yet have all the benefits of show and tell, advice on projects, and general chat time with friends old and new, from all over the country. You can work on whatever you like. You can sew, knit, paint or just come to chat. Also, you do not need to commit to the whole day, come and go as you can. Come for a little while, or all day, pop in and out as your schedule allows! Click HERE to register.
This coming week is pretty light on meetings, just one on Thursday. So, maybe I can make progress on the Japanese Quilt and the Twist quilt in the pretty butter yellow and sky blue. We’ll see!
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Last chance for March deals at Fat Quarter Shop – 20% off the Basic of the Month Bee Vintage by Lori Holt (perfect for the Bee projects I have coming up!), 30% Off the Notions of the Month from Sewline, 30% off Patterns of the Month from A Quilting Life Patterns, and see the Book of the Month Simply Half Yards. Check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week, plus The Cross Stitch Sale of the Month will be from Hands on Design.
Sulky just released their Garden Party Mystery Box for Spring 2025!! The Garden Party theme echoes throughout the items in the Mystery Box, with floral motifs and pastel hues. You’re sure to enjoy the brand new designer fabrics inside, with threads to match in different types and weights for endless creative options. It comes with pretty fabrics, stabilizer, needles, 7 spools of thread, digital downloads and more. Check it out!! Hurry, these sell out fast!
Check out the Amazing Spring Sale at Milk Street! Deep discounts available on all their fabulous cookbooks – like my favorite World In A Skillet for $19.95 (over 50% off!), and Tuesday Nights for $21, and Tuesday Nights Mediterranean for $23.95. Their older annual cookbooks are going for just $1.50 – $2.00! Plus kitchenware, cooking school videos, sauces, spices, confits and more. Keep scrolling as there are almost 200 items on sale and it takes the page a minute to load. Sale ends next week.
From My Carolina Home 
I’m sorry to hear about your fires in the area, Carole. I hope and pray they are put out soon and no harm is done to people. I always enjoy your bird, flower and sewing updates, too!
Praying for both NC and SC from further damage by fire.
Thanks for the updates on the fires. We are heading to SC in mid-April, and keeping an eye on weather, etc. I sure hope the fires are contained soon without loss of lives. Always fun to see what’s happening at your bird feeders and in your sewing room!
We know the devastation from those wildfires so well here in California, The smoke travels so far. We are praying for the rain you need to help put them out and safety for all those escaping the fires and those helping with the work.
I’m so sorry that your area is dealing with those fires and the smoky air. We have such weather extremes lately. I hope they are under control soon. That’s a beautiful cardinal you caught at the feeder! Your bowl cozies and fabric boxes are so fun with the fabric you’ve used for them. Have a good Sunday, Carole!
Prayers for all
Hi Carole, Thank you for keeping us all up to date on your community and area. I have a few quilts ready to be mailed to you, but can’t find your address. Would you please send it to me.
Also I finally convinced my quilt guild that with all the natural disasters in the USA we need to make more quilts. When my husband passed 3 yrs ago, I decided to use some of the money that he spent on his “toys”. So I have enough fabric to open my own shop now. I love to cut out quilts so might cut for a month or so before I sew anything. The girls have decided to pitch in and put some together so we can get them to whoever might need them. We are starting with just sewing on Saturdays.
Your friend from Iowa, Penny Meyers
Hi Penny,
My address is on my contact page on the blog in case you need it later, but here it is for your convenience. Thank you so much for helping with this effort!!
Carole Carter
PO Box 524
Mountain Home, NC 28758
We had a fire here last week, but they did get it contained. It’s worrisome to have fires when we are still getting a spot of snow most weeks. I hope you all stay safe and don’t have to evacuate! You did get quite a bit accomplished at your retreat even if it wasn’t all you hoped for! I intend to start quilting when I get home from the recital this afternoon. I am looking forward to NOT having to clean up the fellowship area, so should be home earlier than usual. (We are doing a food drive instead of a reception this year.) I thought it more productive than me throwing away a bunch of extra store bought treats.
I am sorry to hear of fires in your area. I hope the rains come and winds subside to help control these fires. Love seeing your birds…I will be at a quilt show the next sew along but one day I will be able to hop on!
Thanks for the fire update. I recognized some of the place names as areas devastated by the hurricane. It’s tragic having to deal with another natural disaster. At Tuesday’s club sit & sew we were offered a basket with batting & enough fabric for a twin size quilt – score! It won’t be finished by Friday’s stashbuster count, but as a net zero donation I’m going to ignore it {wink wink}.
glad you are prepared to leave fast if needed but I hope it won’t come to that for you. I have been watching the news each evening – I have a brother in SC but he is on the coastal area near Myrtle Beach close to the area that burned last month.
The area seems to be plagued with fire, flood and hopefully you will be free of anymore tradgedies. I live across the street from the fire station and seems like they get very busy during rain and snow storms as well. Take care.
I keep seeing fires reported in North & South Carolina. We are under a fire watch in Delaware due to strong winds and very low humidity. Any rain we get we are grateful for. Spent yesterday cleaning up dry leaves and pine needles on the street side of our fence. Just one little spark in all that dry debris would not be good. Take good care of your little spot in paradise, and I hope the air clears soon.
I’m concerned about your fire and smoke danger and hope things are under control soon and that you stay very safe.
Your part of the country has had its fair share of disasters and now fire threatening! Bring on the rain but not too much that it brings floods. It’s a fine line between just enough and too much. Just wish for your safety.
You’ve made a lovely cache of pretty little things which somebody will love to have. The birds are always good to see and hope they and the other animals stay safe with all the smoke and fire. They still need your offerings in the bird feeders.
Stay safe!
Mary :))
Oh dear, those fires must certainly be a worry to you, I do hope you get enough rain to douse them. Keep safe.
I have been thinking about you when watching the Weather Channel and seeing all the fires in the Carolinas. I hope the rains do enough to do a good job of dampening down the fires so that they can be put down. Please keep us posted.
I love the cozies you’ve made and I hope they sell well. I make little bowls to hold various sewing items using a pattern for paper pieced bowls. I fussy cut leftover fabrics for them. That’s much too intensive for making items to sell at a craft fair but paper piecing is one of my choices for evening hand work while I listen mostly to whatever my husband chooses to watch on TV. I like to alternate amongst projects although currently I’m in three knit clubs that I joined to help me keep my mind off the world these days so my hands are mostly busy with knitting in the evenings for awhile.
We are all sending our personal choice of well wishes your way, whether through prayers, positive energy, requests to Mother Nature to cease and desist please…for you and for all in harm’s way.
I’ve been worried about you and the fires. We have a friend with a home within a couple of miles of the fire. I hope there’s some rain coming to help control it. If you need to get out you are welcome here!
I am a little late catching up with this news, and am hoping there has been some improvement during the week. We try to keep up with new in the Carolinas, but can’t always get local content. It is not a pleasant feeling having fires all around.