A Preschool Visit, 5-19-22

Sam brought her preschool class to visit the quilt shop today because they’re studying the letter Q. Then we walked on the wilderness trail to the garden. The kids loved Hazel and Hazel loved the kids!

We also visited the barnyard and looked for eggs.

The visit ended with a game of miniature golf.

See the bucket of soapy water – the kids washed their hands after touching everything in the barn!

FYI – the Orkin supervisor was here to inspect the work done in April – all was as it should be. They checked the bait traps in the barn, too, especially where it smelled like dead rodents and sure enough there was a dead rat in the bait trap. They warned me again that this will not be a quick fix which I of course hated to hear. But it is what it is and Orkin knows what they’re doing.

I enjoyed one nice warm day on the porch – today it’s just 60 degrees – too cold for the porch so I’ll sew instead. I found two more projects that need finishing so instead of starting something new I’ll have to work on a UFO. For those wondering if we’ll do the Dirty Dozen again starting July 1, YES! We definitely will start again so be looking for those 12 projects to number 1-12.

We unexpectedly have a funeral at our church Monday – Patty lived at Concord Care and every time we played there she came to the dining room to listen.

Here are 3 reader quilts – I haven’t gotten many pictures lately and for those trying to post your own pictures in the blog comments section, you can’t. How could I control content if nearly 4000 readers started posting hundreds of pictures? The blog would crash for sure. Send your quilt photos to my email – found in the blog home page.

Did I tell you Hazel got rat #46 the other day? The one that Orkin found in the trap was #45. Now that doesn’t mean Hazel killed 46 rats because I got some of them in the electric trap which I’m going to start using again if I can get it to work with new batteries.

Do any of you follow Louisa Enright’s blog? She lost her little dog named AC Slater two days ago – I know she is grief stricken right now as he was only 4 years old and died of complications of Lyme Disease. I hate that she lost him so young and so very loved.

I know as soon as I hit “publish” I’ll think of something else to tell you but for now I’ll head to my sewing room to work on those UFOs.

25 thoughts on “A Preschool Visit, 5-19-22

  1. Charlotte Shira

    Oh what a fun day with the preschool kids visiting your shop!! I always loved going on field trips with my kids. My daughter-in-law, granddaughter and I are excited about going on the quilt shop hop next month. This oldie still loves field trips!!
    Beautiful quilts today! Keep catching those rats Hazel and Mary.

  2. Kathy in western NY

    What a happy post with the kids and gosh Mary, I didn’t know you had a Minature golf area!!! How fun that looks. Fantastic idea with the bucket of water.
    Very nice quilts to show us! It’s been too nice here for me to even sew binding yet on mine. I just want to be outside.
    I have followed Louise’s blog since before she brought home AC Slater. They were best friends to each other, and my heart broke reading what happened so suddenly. What a beautiful post she wrote on growing older, being alone without a pet now. She’s a prolific quilter with lots of color. I grieve with her knowing he’s gone.
    Glad Orkin is staying on top of your situation.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Kathy – did you notice her 9 patch made with oranges and pinks? So unusual but I loved it as well as her churn dash quilt!

      1. Kathy in western NY

        Yes I do remember that gorgeous one too. Louise does a great job of colors with her quilts. I bet you can compare critter stories as didn’t she have the flying squirrels in her ceilings making noises and needed an exterminator come back a couple times?

        1. Mary Etherington Post author

          Kathy – haha! I think we might have lots in common!

  3. Margie

    Can’t believe that Hazel. She is just quite the gal! Like the photos. You take care and get all the porch time in that you can. I have been cross stitching more than sewing/quilting. With trying to get the garden planted and mowing 2 yards, I just don’t have the energy. I do have several quilting projects on my list though, but might be fall before I begin.

  4. Jo in Wyoming

    That has to be the best day for you and the kids. What a great time. Hazel is happy to get her belly rubbed.

    We are enjoying the day at our retreat quilting during a spring snow storm. Most of it is melting on the roads, but the grass is covered.
    Have a great weekend.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Jo in Wyoming – May 20 and it’s snowing! Enough already!!!! What are you working on at the retreat?

  5. Mary Markert

    I love reading your posts. So much going on! Seeing the pictures of the kids having such a good time made me smile! Cooler weather is on its way here in Wisconsin! Enjoy your weekend.

  6. Carolyn Boutilier

    Wonderful that you have youngsters come to learn the Q letter and quilts. Thank you for keeping us update on farms goings on and beautiful quilts pictured. We are 91 degrees this afternoon but we have a nice breeze blowing through our house. I would like to start your numbered quilts to finish as I have many, but I will be working on a wedding quilt for my granddaughter. I will be using Kaffee Fassett fabrics as she loves color. Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley Va.

  7. Pat Smith

    I used to be a teacher and loved seeing the kids at your farm. I always longed to live on a farm with all the animals I could want (as long as none of them were eaten). Of course, that’s not a very realistic view of a farm. Those kids will remember the day with you. You have such an array of things for a group of kids to do at your farm. My heart aches for anyone losing a much loved pet, especially if that animal hasn’t had the chance to live out it’s full life. When we lost out Jack several years ago at way too young an age, I thought I’d never get past it. But time does help. I’ve never done the Dirty Dozen, but I’m going to gather up the UFO’s and try this year. Maybe I’ll be disciplined enough to get some finishes, you never know!

  8. Ann in PA

    I just love your blog posts! Those kiddos will never forget that wonderful field trip to your farm. Hazel is such a love-bug! Miniature golf? You never cease to amaze me with all the great “attractions” on your farm. I was not familiar with Louise’s blog but I checked it out. How sad to lose her young friend. It really leaves a hole in your heart to say good-bye.
    I need to gather my UFOs and WIP and join in “the Dirty Dozen”…I have way more than a dozen but at least it will be a start. I’ve been working outside to rid our two acres of invasive trees, shrubs, and weeds ~ still need to do some planting and I have no fingernails; however, the heat is on it’s way so that will be time to hunker in and sew. xxoo

  9. Rita in Iowa

    Such a wonderful time for the kids to visit the farm. You gave them so much to see and do. A very special day for them to remember. My 8 year old grandson got to visit a one room school house this week. He even dressed the part. He asked his mom what punishment was like in the old days. She had him stand in a corner with his nose touching the wall for a minute. It’s not the kind of punishment I would of received.
    She went easy on him, lol

  10. Marylou

    The picture of the preschool kids rubbing Hazel’s belly is adorable! That picture would make even the grumpiest person smile! Your day with the children was so much fun to read about.
    Your blog makes me smile!

  11. Kris in WI

    What a great day of memories you provided, Mary. I used to love letter “Q” story time at the library! I spread quilts out on the floor and invited everyone hugging the back of the story room to sit on them. The kids came forward, sprawled on their tummies, or wrapped themselves up, but the parents and caregivers would sit in the chairs! I finally convinced a few adults that participating with the children was what our program was all about. Some even picked up a quilt and wrapped it around both themselves and a child. Smiles all around!
    One more thing…I thought the pattern of the first quilt was bowls of ice cream! Hmmm…No, I’d better take a walk instead.

  12. Diane, Squeak, and Buddy in Central Ohio.

    What a wonderful day! They will remember it for a long time!! I loved being room mother and going on field trips with my two kids😃. You shared a lot with them and Hazel seemed to love it. The quilts are pretty today. Please remember to include your name, ladies😃
    I don”t know Louise’s blog, but feel sorry for anyone losing a pet especially one so young. I hope she is doing okay. It’s hard. We did NOT reach 90 today—yippee.

  13. Launa

    Busy weekend here! Snow has really melted. Still wonderful to have a fire in wood stove! Nice to see Deer n Elk visiting around, too! Noticed wild turkeys 🦃 out along our drive home yesterday from a college graduation party. Enjoyed a wonderful group of local musicians playing great bluegrass music there. I wasn’t the only old gal using a walker either. Sat out in sun a while eating n chatting, but wind was chilly 🥶 so moved inside near the live music. A few rain drops on the hour drive up the mountains, but none @ our elevation!
    Golf has started around here even tho mornings are still in 30 degrees.
    Very sorry about Lime disease taking a much loved young dog.
    So much fun seeing the youngsters learning about Q…n washing hands after the barn trip. Hazel certainly enjoyed their tummy rubs! Smiles all around!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Launa – I’ve been at several graduation parties where a guest was using a walker – so glad you went! Ooh, chilly! It’s going to be 37 here tomorrow morning and I know some of my succulents will suffer a shock but I’m not going to haul them back inside – it’s going to be survival of the fittest! Ha! Our furnaces have been turned off for awhile now but we’ll wish they were on tonight.

  14. Linda from Georgia

    I love the picture of Hazel with the kids. She is as happy as they are.

  15. Diane from Colorado

    What fun to have the Preschool visit!!! So much to see and do on a farm. I’m sure they all enjoyed the day!

    46 rats. I can’t even imagine. Kind of funny that you hadn’t had this issue all the years you have been there and this year is when they showed up. Glad you’ve got the pros helping you.

    No snow here, but Denver and points south got over a foot. I’m glad we got moisture that didn’t require a shovel!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Diane from CO – I’ve been told that rats move as a community and when a neighbor tears down a building for example the rats move on to a new home – this time it’s my barn that has become home. No, I’ve never in all these years had anything like this happen. I’ll bet you’re glad you didn’t get all that snow!!!

      1. Diane from Colorado

        Ugh. That makes sense. We have similar issues here with colonies of prairie dogs. We once had one take up residence in our window well when we built a new home in a new neighborhood. Their “home” had been disrupted, so they moved in with us.

        Definitely glad the snow didn’t come our way. My back does not like to shovel wet, heavy, spring snow. I do wish we would have gotten more rain as we certainly do need the moisture. I will hope for more spring rainstorms.

  16. Betty Klosterman

    Oh, what fun with all the kids. They are all so full of energy and always have a good time. It is forecast to be 27 degrees tonight so everybody has covered up the plants. I even wore my winter coat and scarf yesterday and it felt good. We’ve got a bit of moisture but nothing heavy. Lead has snow, but it will melt fast.
    Me, I haven’t planted anything yet. Haven’t even bought anything as I usually wait til June, hopefully past freezing. Take care everybody, we’ll be complaining about the 90’s real soon. Betty in Rapid City

    1. Kathy in western NY

      Betty,
      When we got up this morning at 6:30 am to let the dogs out to poddy, it was already 75 degrees here. What’s up with this crazy weather!!! We got to 87 and my planting is done but I went to a new garden store to support them and did pay $29 for a petunia hanging basket which seemed soooo high. We do need rain here badly but glad we had good snow falls over the winter to help our grounds.

  17. Diane in WI

    Love the pictures of the kids and Hazel. What a fun day for everyone! I had my students make a quilt using paper. They each made an Ohio Star block and then we tied the blocks together with yarn. It always turned out so well. It is very chilly here tonight. Hopefully we will have a sunny day tomorrow. I am busy cleaning out my fabric stash. My new sewing room isn’t big enough for all of it. I may as well share the wealth. Have a good day tomorrow.

Comments are closed.