What could be more pleasant than going to the barn on a May morning? A little cool this morning – 40 degrees – but nice just the same.
Quilts from our readers:
I have more to catch up on – maybe later today!
A Morning In May, 5-4-21
Country Threads Chicken Scratch
Farm life
I have a birdbath like yours and don’t use it as I thought the same thing might happen!
I dearly love that beautiful little fence! And what a GREAT picture of the whole outside of the house! Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us all.
Thank you for the lovely tour of your place. I am so jealous of your green thumb. Part of my problem is I let my sewing get in the way of my gardening.
Mary, I bought a barn quilt from your shop many years ago and it is showing its age. I’m wondering if you have any for sale or know somewhere to get one? Thanks!
I love your blog and follow it daily.
Wanda Brotherton – I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone who sells these lightweight barn quilts – we considered doing them again but the shipping was going to cost more than the barn quilt!
There’s a seller on Etsy, Hillbilly Prints, that makes lightweight barn quilts.
The deer go right over my 6 ft fences, no problem. 🙁
Lynne from NJ – I can’t believe deer go over your 6’ fence! Wow! And thank you for the barn quilt info.
I love the scenes you set up around and outside at your house! I have some pictures that I took when we visited 2 years ago—the clay chicken, the gourds hanging in front of the red building, the American flag with the little red house in front of it, and the watering cans. They are just so creative and a pleasure to look at.
Pat Smith – gosh, my memory is bad – I can’t remember half of those you mentioned. The gourds are still hanging tho’
Thank you for sharing the pictures of your home. I love seeing your creative ideas and you certainly have a green thumb!
Oh, Mary!
Enjoyed all the scenery there this morning. Like a rebirth to see all the plants popping up from winter’s sleep!
Both dogs are on their way to their groomer this morning. Pepper barked and frightened three White Tail Deer earlier. They know things are greening up now that snow is really melting and they are hungry!
Please show the succulents planter when you are finished planting them.
I enjoy viewing your outside spring fever, Mary!
Launa – yes, I will definitely show you the desk when it’s planted – I have a couple very cool rocks I’m going to include, too. Send me a new picture of Pepper – I havent seen her in awhile and for the life of me, I can’t even remember your other dog!
Love seeing the picture tour of your farm! I miss coming to your shop, but all good things come to an end and thank goodness we can still enjoy Country Threads through your blog and ordering online! I’m thankful for both of these things! I also have really enjoyed the Dirty Dozen challenge each month. I have really tried hard this year to participate every month-so rewarding having a finished project to enjoy!!! I also love, love, love seeing everyone else’s talent and their project. You all amaze me and are so talented!!! Thank you Mary and Connie for starting Country Threads and Mary for keeping Chicken Scratch alive and well!!!
Julie D – I, too, simply LOVE the quilt photos from readers that arrive in my email! It’s the best part of the blog!
Your yard looks great and I’m glad you love to do ALL that work.
It was chilly here this morning, lots of rain yesterday. Crabapple trees are starting to show a little color, just a little. When I worked in Ft. Collins, their spring was about 3 week’s ahead of ours. So, I got to enjoy spring longer and fall was later also. Season extenders.
Mary, I think we enjoy your tours as much as you do. Thanks
I rolled far quarters yesterday and found quite a surprise, I’ll send a picture.
Jo in Wyoming – as soon as I get past this sale I’ll mail your blocks – good thing I hadn’t sent them yet because I keep finding more!! Can’t wait to see what you found!
Love all your pictures! What is a barn quilt?
This weekend I saw at a nursery where they had planted a succulent garden in a large broken shard of a terra cotta pot. I should have taken a picture. You could do the same with the broken bird bath (unless you can glue the pieces back together).
What will you use the top of the school desk for?
Tina in Oregon – the underside of the wooden desktop is quite nice – I did save it but don’t know what I’ll do with it just yet.
I think you should sing to all your critters, Come Out Come Out Wherever you Are. Its so sweet to see them hustling out of the shed to the warm sunlight and a new adventure in the yard. I think I loved seeing all of them when I would come to your shop. My husband got some glue and fixed our daughters concrete bird bath (Expanding gorilla glue I believe) It is still water tight after 3 years and she lives with Wisconsin winters. Just a thought. The little desk is going to be so cute planted, your green thumb amazes me.
I have an old school desk I was thinking of planting flowers in. I’m wondering if you’ve ever left the lid on and kept it propped open with flowers in it? That’s what I was thinking of doing, think it would work?
Holly Christian – yes, I think it would be lovely as long as it’s propped open securely and doesn’t come down and break all the plants. I have done this before but gave it away so now I want to do it again. I just have way too many things I like to do!
Your broken bird bath will make a good succulent planter to.
Mary, it is wonderful to see what you do “decorating” all the different stuff outside and inside. You really have a talent, especially for staging displays. Very impressive. I love to see all the pictures you send and especially all the pictures I took when we would visit Country Threads on our trips to Iowa. Such wonderful memories.
I forgot to get the pictures printed of the wall hangings of Harvey and your snow man. I’ll have to remember to do it. Got them sent to my niece in Missouri. Her daughter hung Harvey for Easter. Gramma noticed Charlie (about 4 years old) looking at Harvey longingly asked Gramma if that was a blanket because he’d like to cover up with it……. It’s alright with me. I wonder if they will ever get to see the movie “Harvey” and know it’s history.
Your trees are looking so good. We’re behind you and our trees are just budding out with leaves.
Right now we’ve been having light rains, maybe snow in the higher hills. But it is all moisture and so welcome. Take care. Spring is here. Betty in Rapid City
Betty Klosterman – I can’t believe we’re ahead of you in leafing out the trees! Seems slow to me – I’m so ready for some warm weather – we’re under a frost warning tonight – had to bring plants in! Thank goodness I haven’t moved all the houseplants outside yet!!!
What a great idea, planting in the old school desk — it will be an eye catching planter in your yard. Loved all the pictures, it looks like life in your area is very comfortable
Deb E – you nailed it! Life in my area IS very comfortable!
First, thanks to Kim J. LeMere for suggesting expanding gorilla glue for the bird bath. I bought my husband a beautiful cobalt blue one, but the raccoons broke it. Ours are Fat! Everything looks great at your house, Mary. I think Hazel’s middle name should be Snoopy😺. She and Telly are so cute. Good to hear about Telly. Rainy and cloudy all day today, 70 and humid.
I loved seeing all your barn and outdoor pics. Mama Kitty is very beautiful.
My husband repaired our birdbath with Gorilla Concrete Cement.
Thanks for sharing your life with us. 🥰
Do you have deer? They knock over my bird bath all the time! The ate my asparagus! I am so sick of them!
Joy – there are deer in the area but we are fenced in with 6’ chain link so they can’t get in our yard.
Mary, a beautiful tour of your home and garden! Coincidentally, my birdbath broke this winter also. Only it was the column that broke. I saved the 3 biggest parts and planted hens and chicks in each.
At my sons house where I have a large flower garden, the deer ate all our tulips this past week. We did get to enjoy them for a few weeks. Love the finishes today and the smile on the young mans face in Carla’s picture! Take care.
Loved the tour of the farm! What a wonderful place you have! I do look forward to your blog! Always something uplifting! Thank you!