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[No Time on My Hands] [Author: Snyder, Grace] [May, 1986]
'No Time on My Hands' is a remarkable chronicle of the sod house era and of Grace Snyder's married life on a ranch in Nebraska's sandhills. From there she finally flies above the clouds to exhibits where her quilts contribute to a worldwide revival of quiltmaking.
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First published January 1, 1963
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About the author
Grace Snyder
8 books3 followersGrace Bell McCance Snyder was an American quilter, former pioneer and centenarian. She went to Nebraska with her parents in 1885 to homestead in a sod house in Custer County. She had nine siblings. As a small child, she pieced quilt blocks while tending the family's cows
McCance married Bert Snyder in 1903 and lived on a ranch forty miles (70 km) northwest of North Platte, where they raised four children: Nellie, Miles, Billie, and Bertie.
The relatively isolated ranch life gave her ample time for quilting, and she became nationally recognized for the skill and complexity of her quilts. The Congress of Quilters Hall of Fame in Arlington, Virginia, inducted her in 1980, as did the Nebraska Quilters Hall of Fame in 1986.
Grace made 300 quilts over her 100 years of life. She died in her sleep. She is remembered by her own memoir All Roads Lead West Bound Set. Her story is told in the children's biography Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie by Andrea Warren (Morrow Junior Books, 1998).
McCance married Bert Snyder in 1903 and lived on a ranch forty miles (70 km) northwest of North Platte, where they raised four children: Nellie, Miles, Billie, and Bertie.
The relatively isolated ranch life gave her ample time for quilting, and she became nationally recognized for the skill and complexity of her quilts. The Congress of Quilters Hall of Fame in Arlington, Virginia, inducted her in 1980, as did the Nebraska Quilters Hall of Fame in 1986.
Grace made 300 quilts over her 100 years of life. She died in her sleep. She is remembered by her own memoir All Roads Lead West Bound Set. Her story is told in the children's biography Pioneer Girl: Growing Up on the Prairie by Andrea Warren (Morrow Junior Books, 1998).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 13, 2022
This was recommended as a truer depiction of the old west than Lonesome Dove and it didn't disappoint.
It also was very readable! The hardships that Grace endured during her lifetime have no match with my current life. Yet she had a good life. Something to remember the next time I obsess about the living room paint color not being exactly what I'd like.
It also was very readable! The hardships that Grace endured during her lifetime have no match with my current life. Yet she had a good life. Something to remember the next time I obsess about the living room paint color not being exactly what I'd like.
October 9, 2013
Fabulous! Grace McCance Snyder is one of the true Master Quilters of all time, and this is her story. She had three goals in life: make the most beautiful quilts she could, marry a cowboy, and look down on the top of a cloud. She achieved all three. Huzzah!
June 24, 2011
Beginning in 1884, and winding its way through 1963, Grace McCance Snyder, in her biography "No Time on My Hands" pieces together the story of her life similar to the way she pieced together the quilts that she became famous for. As the story unfolds, you feel as if you are rereading the "Little House" books, but Grace continues her story until her eightieth year. She actually went on to live to be 100 years of age.
Grace moved to western Nebraska with her parents when she was only three, and lived for most of the rest of her life in the vicinity of the Platte River and the Nebraska Sandhills. She describes the hardships that she and her family lived through, such as wind, hail, and snowstorms, range fires, dust storms, and droughts. She tells of the many illnesses which were so dangerous during a time when doctors and medicine were scarce, such as whooping cough, typhoid fever, measles, pneumonia, and the flu. She also describes the accidents that befell people such as rattlesnake bites, frost bite, and falling off of horses. But one of the most interesting parts is to hear her tell of the technological advances as they acquired them. She describes their first encounters with cars, the telephone, radio, and airplanes, as well as the trials of getting the railroad to come though the sandhills, and the fight for better roads.
When Grace was little she had three dreams that she hoped to fulfill: 1) to grow up to make beautiful quilts that she would be famous for; 2) to marry a cowboy; and 3) to see the clouds from above. She was able to achieve all three of these dreams. Being the second oldest of nine children, seven of which were girls, she helped her father and mother with a lot of the work around the farm, as well as caring for the younger children. She was somewhat of a tomboy, so she was not afraid to herd the cattle or help to plant the crops. Later when she married her cowboy, the skills she acquired as a child would benefit her on the ranch and in raising her own four children.
Grace mentions some other famous Nebraskans that she was acquainted with. She mentions Jules Sandoz, who was 'Old Jules' in the book written by his daughter Mari Sandoz. She mentions Willa Cather, another famous Nebraska author, as well as Glenn Miller, whose family had settled in the area for a short while. Grace also makes a short reference to North Platte being famous during World War II, but she didn't say why. It was because for five years, the people of North Platte fed all of the soldiers passing through on their way to the war, which you can read about in the book "Once Upon a Town" by Bob Greene.
I think that the biggest thing that amazes me about this book was how Grace was able to remember in such detail all of the things that happened to her throughout her life. It can't be because she was any less busy than we are, for the title of this book tells you that she had "No Time on My Hands."
Grace moved to western Nebraska with her parents when she was only three, and lived for most of the rest of her life in the vicinity of the Platte River and the Nebraska Sandhills. She describes the hardships that she and her family lived through, such as wind, hail, and snowstorms, range fires, dust storms, and droughts. She tells of the many illnesses which were so dangerous during a time when doctors and medicine were scarce, such as whooping cough, typhoid fever, measles, pneumonia, and the flu. She also describes the accidents that befell people such as rattlesnake bites, frost bite, and falling off of horses. But one of the most interesting parts is to hear her tell of the technological advances as they acquired them. She describes their first encounters with cars, the telephone, radio, and airplanes, as well as the trials of getting the railroad to come though the sandhills, and the fight for better roads.
When Grace was little she had three dreams that she hoped to fulfill: 1) to grow up to make beautiful quilts that she would be famous for; 2) to marry a cowboy; and 3) to see the clouds from above. She was able to achieve all three of these dreams. Being the second oldest of nine children, seven of which were girls, she helped her father and mother with a lot of the work around the farm, as well as caring for the younger children. She was somewhat of a tomboy, so she was not afraid to herd the cattle or help to plant the crops. Later when she married her cowboy, the skills she acquired as a child would benefit her on the ranch and in raising her own four children.
Grace mentions some other famous Nebraskans that she was acquainted with. She mentions Jules Sandoz, who was 'Old Jules' in the book written by his daughter Mari Sandoz. She mentions Willa Cather, another famous Nebraska author, as well as Glenn Miller, whose family had settled in the area for a short while. Grace also makes a short reference to North Platte being famous during World War II, but she didn't say why. It was because for five years, the people of North Platte fed all of the soldiers passing through on their way to the war, which you can read about in the book "Once Upon a Town" by Bob Greene.
I think that the biggest thing that amazes me about this book was how Grace was able to remember in such detail all of the things that happened to her throughout her life. It can't be because she was any less busy than we are, for the title of this book tells you that she had "No Time on My Hands."
April 21, 2016
I really enjoyed No Time on My Hands. As other reviewers have noted, Snyder's story is reminiscent of many of Laura Ingalls Wilder's experiences in the Little House series. At points in the narrative, I felt like I was in elementary school again - with the same childlike wonder of life on the prairie.
Having lived most of my life in Nebraska & with relatives still living in Cozad, it was such a treat to read about central Nebraska in its settled infancy and learn a little of how it grew into the towns as I know them today.
I was surprised at how small a presence quilting had throughout a majority of the narrative, but it's a wonder Snyder had time for it at all - even more so that her quilts grew to such renown. I would love to see them up close.
Having lived most of my life in Nebraska & with relatives still living in Cozad, it was such a treat to read about central Nebraska in its settled infancy and learn a little of how it grew into the towns as I know them today.
I was surprised at how small a presence quilting had throughout a majority of the narrative, but it's a wonder Snyder had time for it at all - even more so that her quilts grew to such renown. I would love to see them up close.
June 1, 2022
This a is a good history of growing up in the pionneer period. It gets repetitive as real life does. And not enough of her quilting to my taste.
December 6, 2020
Simply written yet engrossing, this 545-page memoir of a homesteader in the late 1800s and early 1900s was easy enough for me to put down at the end of the day, but I still looked forward to picking it up each new day. In it, Grace Snyder tells of growing up in a large family with mostly girls, tending cattle and growing crops on the Nebraska frontier. She describes using historical farming equipment like threshers and binders and the hardships homesteaders faced, like extreme weather and disease. On one day described, the weather went from warm sunshine to white-out blizzard, dropping 70 degrees and killing people and animals caught outdoors. Homesteaders also dealt with measles, tubercolosis, rubella, and a host of other illnesses--not to mention injuries from accidents.
Throughout the memoir, Grace proves capable of fulfilling three wishes from her childhood: to marry a cowboy, sew beautiful quilts, and see the clouds from above. She becomes a schoolteacher, marries a rancher in the sandhills, and sews the quilts that eventually lead her to quilt shows all over the world. She gets to those shows flying above the clouds in a new invention, the airplane.
No Time on My Hands, is remniscient of the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder. A very enjoyable read, suitable for all ages.
Throughout the memoir, Grace proves capable of fulfilling three wishes from her childhood: to marry a cowboy, sew beautiful quilts, and see the clouds from above. She becomes a schoolteacher, marries a rancher in the sandhills, and sews the quilts that eventually lead her to quilt shows all over the world. She gets to those shows flying above the clouds in a new invention, the airplane.
No Time on My Hands, is remniscient of the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder. A very enjoyable read, suitable for all ages.
August 30, 2018
In 1885 when her parents homesteaded on the Nebraska prairie, her first years were in a "soddie", a sod hut. Through her eyes, you see the development of the area. She had 3 dreams: 1) to marry a cowboy, 2.) to make a prize-winning quilt, and 3) to see the top of the clouds. Yes, all of her dreams came true and she watched the country change through the 100 years she lived including the space flights of John Glenn. Many of her quilts won prizes and are cherished works of art, but one was chosen as one of the 100 greatest quilts of the 100 Best Quilts of the Twentieth Century. It has been shown many times including at the Houston International Quilt Festival. It resides in the Nebraska Historical Society Museum, Lincoln, NE.
Her entire life is fascinating
Her entire life is fascinating
October 8, 2018
I love this book. I'm intrigued by life in pioneer days, and this book gave me such a good sense of what life was like for those brave and hard-working people. The Little House on the Prairie books were my favorite childhood books, so it was great to read a more in-depth depiction of pioneer life. It's interesting how much life changed in Grace's life span - from horse and buggy to cars, the addition of telephones and electricity. Ranching in the sand hills of Nebraska was different from growing fields of corn and soybeans in Iowa, but I felt like I was getting a look at what life was like for my grandparents and great-grandparents farming in Iowa in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They would have had many similar experiences.
August 19, 2022
Once again this book was overdue and I was determined to finish it. I thought I would “skim” it- but was intrigued by both when will it be about quilts and the details of her life on the NE plains/Sandhills.
I was honestly surprised that I found this so interesting- but it is such a great history of NE, the weather! The daily life. If she were writing today I know she would have mentioned Native Americans, even if by the time she was living in NE they may have already been removed.
About the last 80 pages talks about her quilts. And honestly, how she ever had time to do any stitching of squares over the years is mind boggling!
I was honestly surprised that I found this so interesting- but it is such a great history of NE, the weather! The daily life. If she were writing today I know she would have mentioned Native Americans, even if by the time she was living in NE they may have already been removed.
About the last 80 pages talks about her quilts. And honestly, how she ever had time to do any stitching of squares over the years is mind boggling!
December 26, 2018
It seems I can't get enough of the pioneers. This is a woman's story, as told to her grand-daughter, about her life homesteading with her family in the Nebraska Sandhills. Her name was Grace Snyder and she went on to become a world famous quilter but this book is about her Nebraska life. The hardships these people put themselves through could not be tolerated today. She had multiple children and of course had to do everything herself just to survive and seemed to love every minute of it. Could be humbling for some who complain about so much. Highly recommended for Old West fans.
March 22, 2023
If you love the Little House on the Prairie books, this one's for you. The memoirs of a true Nebraska homesteader. I found it delightful. This Grace Snyder's life spanned almost 100 years and her memories, as told to a descendant, were spot on. I really enjoyed it. The first half especially. In the very last chapters, you learn a bit more about her world-class quilting, which she did a bit here and a bit there, because she had "no time on her hands." I got the feeling by the end of the book, it was not quite as crisp, more just get the job done, but it was still a delightful read.
August 6, 2023
Grace Snyder led a very interesting life. I was impressed with her memory of past events--and equally impressed with her daughter's skill at translating it all into this book and making it so readable. Side note--Grace Snyder made some amazing quilts that you can see online. One of them is made up of more that 87,875 tiny pieces. How she had time to create that (and so many more) while doing all that was told in this book is amazing.
August 9, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this book - I love quilting and history. I couldn't imagine myself living during the years Grace lived, especially in the Nebraska plains.
This biography showed how much women went through during their lives and also what an integral part they were is the survival of their family.
This biography showed how much women went through during their lives and also what an integral part they were is the survival of their family.
April 6, 2023
The first half reminded me of Little House on the Prairie and was a joy to read. The last 1/4 of the book dragged for me but overall it was a memoir I enjoyed. I was disappointed the book did not cover more about her quilts, the patterns and stories of those. Still, an interesting read and a historical treasure!
July 13, 2022
One of the best books I’ve ever read! I love the detailed stories of every day life in the 1880s and beyond. Some of the stories are stranger than fiction. Will the ram headbutt the visiting pastor? Will Dovey fall for Florry’s ghost prank? Will the family survive the drought years?
December 18, 2022
What a wonderful story. As a native Nebraskan, I know the areas where Grace Snyder and recognize the places and some of the incidents she talks about. What a courageous woman. I have seen pictures of her quilts and they are breathtaking!
December 13, 2025
A wonderful, wholesome book so rare in our culture of filth. The language is vivid and unconceited, the storyline from smallest observation to life changing event is compelling. A book to read and re-read over ones lifetime.
September 16, 2023
I love this. The message rings true
February 10, 2024
Not really a full 4 stars, more like 3.75.
I enjoyed this book. But .... 🤷
I enjoyed this book. But .... 🤷
August 5, 2024
Loved the first half of this book when she was growing up in tough times Nebraska.
June 8, 2021
Fantastic book
June 21, 2015
This is the second time I have read this book and will probably not be the last. Nellie, Grace Snyder's daughter wrote out the story of her mother's life as it was told to her. It is a story of hardship, courage, strength and endurance. It is the story of a little girl whose pioneer family moves to Nebraska to start a new life. It charts her life as a child, change to adulthood and her first job as a teacher, a young wife setting up a home on a ranch and later moving from her home on the sandhills to the ease of living in town and being a grandmother. She was a master quilter who was part of the quilt revival that took place in America. As a quilter who started quilting during that revival, it is an inspiring story of a remarkable woman.
May 6, 2012
Memoir of her life growing up on the Nebraska plains, from her childhood living in a soddy with her pioneer parents & family, to her marriage to a cattle rancher & raising her own family. Wonderful descriptions of pioneer times. Still didn't cover the things I'd like to know - daily routines, what did they cook, how did they do certain things - but she led a marvelous life and this is a great book. Loved it! Hubby was surprised I was actually reading a "paper" book as most books I read now are on my Kindle Fire.
January 21, 2015
What an incredible adventure! I loved following the author on her life journey, made even more awesome by the fact that it's true. I especially enjoyed the author's tales of her childhood. Reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie - except with rougher edges. I didn't know anything about the author before I started reading this biography, but I discovered she's a renowned quilter, which causes me to reminisce about the women in my own history who quilted!
December 7, 2015
If you were raised in Nebraska or love quilting, this is an amazing book! Those of you who quilt probably know the name Grace Snyder who has quilts displayed in Lincoln. This is her story of growing up in NE in the late 1800s in Dawson County then in the sandhills. It gives a beautiful description of what life was like then-not sure I could have done it but then she didn't know anything else. Highly recommend this book.
May 2, 2012
This is one of my all time favorite books. Grace Snyder tells the story of her childhood homesteading in the Nebraska sandhills, her teaching career, her marriage to Bert Snyder and their life raising cattle. She shares her love of quilting, and how she pieced some of the most intricate quilts ever made while going along with Bert while he fixed windmills and checked cattle.
June 7, 2012
I learned more in this book about Nebraska history than what I was taught in class. Wish that teacher had read the book, but it was way before this book was published.
I couldn't put this book down. Loved her stories. Her Petit Point quilt has always been my most favorite quilt. I wish I had inherited it.
I couldn't put this book down. Loved her stories. Her Petit Point quilt has always been my most favorite quilt. I wish I had inherited it.
May 31, 2013
Really enjoyed this book about Grace McCance Snyder who lived from the 1880's to the 1980's in the plains of Nebraska. Tells of her life homesteading, living in a sod house, getting married to a rancher and all the hardships that went into this lifestyle. Among all this, she managed to find time to hand quilt prize winning quilts.
March 30, 2009
I was again reminded how glad I am that I was born in this century - what hard lives they lived in the early days of this country. The style of this book reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie series - if i remembered more about their style. Interesting story.
October 6, 2010
Remarkable.
Grace's story spans eighty years filled with change, and is full of life and reality, and the windswept beauty of her home.
I'm no quilter, but when I finished the book I had to go and find photos of the quilts she made -- amazing.
Grace's story spans eighty years filled with change, and is full of life and reality, and the windswept beauty of her home.
I'm no quilter, but when I finished the book I had to go and find photos of the quilts she made -- amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews