Be My Valentine Tablerunner, 1-28-22

This cold weekend would be perfect for a fast and easy runner – just big flying geese!

And here’s the pattern!

Mine is bound but directions tell how to turn it right side out.

Connie and I planned out the entire month of February and we are going to change things up a bit and make some of those patterns in the drawers available by mail. I think it’s a whole lot easier than downloading and I’m happy to do it! Each pattern will be $5.00 and there will be a new one offered every Friday, right before the weekend so you can get right on it!

To kick this off we’re giving you the Be My Valentine Tablerunner free and next Friday I’ll post the first $5.00 pattern. Are you with me?

Sad news – Hazel’s favorite toy, the Ifetch ball launcher, wore out and it’s back ordered on Chewy! She still looks for it every night at supper time.

Yesterday morning and this morning I caught a rat – ick. When Hazel and I sit in the goat pen at night, the rat sits right inside the hole where Hazel can’t get to him. It’s so frustrating! I have a flashlight so I can see what’s happening. Grrr…..

Right now I’m remaking “Sewing Room” and I’ll show you and make the pattern available as soon as I finish. This will be a regular $15 pattern.

So on that note I’m off to church to practice for Sunday. My “other” church called and needs me the next two Sundays so I’ll be very busy.

If you have questions about all of this, send me an email or put your question in the comment section where you will also find the answer.

PS – I’m hoping for rat #4 tonight!

61 thoughts on “Be My Valentine Tablerunner, 1-28-22

  1. Lauren Haisley

    Thank you so much for the free pattern. So many things are back ordered it’s so frustrating! Stay warm and hop you catch #4!

  2. Dorothy

    Nice flying geese table runner. And I really like the “Sewing Room” pattern. Will have to keep my eyes open for it. Good luck with the rats. YUCKY !! We have roof rats. And wharf rats. All super YUCKY to me

    1. Carol Eberhardt

      I am glad I do not know the terms “wharf rat” and “roof rat”, but my ability to comprehend basic usage is giving me a rather clear picture!

    2. Marilyn

      Thank you so much for the valentine table runner. Love the sewing room pattern. And what a great opportunity for the patterns. Yes super excited.

  3. Joyce from NY

    Glad you are catching your rats! Little warmer here today 18 degrees. Made cookies yesterday for my kids next door that clear my driveway!

  4. Carol Eberhardt

    Dear Mary,
    You’ve set a low bar for “hope”!
    I hope #4 enters the ratty pearly gates tonight, too!

    It’s 16 degrees, feels like 3, and it makes me wonder, how DO little animals survive these temps!? Thinking particularly of chipmunks as they are the worst vermin on our property. As soon as I see one lounging and sunning himself on our rocks, the traps come out. They eat my garden like it’s their personal buffet. Two years ago my husband buried 25 of them under an old pine tree. He complained that he was running out of plots, and I politely pointed to the other 17 pine trees! The next year, 17 more chipmunks were added to the burial site. Last year there were only 15 funerals, so perhaps our murderous attitudes have warned some of them off?
    PS: lest there are PETA readers crying for the dead… I know they are cute, and Chip and Dale would be appalled, but once you have them in your garage destroying your wallboard to get at the insulation for their nests, and when they’ve eaten three clematis in one day ($25 apiece) that you planted yesterday, well then, we’ll talk! Never mind the astilbe, their favorite dessert…

    1. Teresa in Port Coquitlam

      My father in law called squirrels “ rats with fuzzy tails”. And he was pretty much right

    2. Mary Etherington Post author

      Carol E – I’m a true animal lover but I love my barn and chickens more – this has just about gagged me a couple times but I think I’ll probably always have this trap baited and turned on. I hate rats but can stand mice. What I’m terrified of are bats!

      1. Pamela in Missouri

        One evening several years ago I opened the back door to let my dog out and a bird flew in. It flew into the dining room and landed on the drapes. With the lights on in that room I realized it wasn’t a bird but a bat. Yikes. I called a neighbor and told him my problem. He came right over with a long heavy glove and removed the bat. Thank goodness for helpful neighbors. After that episode I always called him Batman.

  5. Diana in Des Moines

    Thanks for the pattern, so cute!!
    I can’t even imagine your frustration at the rats. I would be a freaked out mess! I had a mouse in the sewing room – set a trap and waited by the door till he was caught. EWEEE!!!

  6. Susan Moore in Ohio

    Mary,
    It is so nice to give us the table runner pattern, Thank you.
    I want to make a baby quilt out of men’s shirts do you have any suggestions for a quick easy pattern that will work well With those patterns?

  7. Jo in Wyoming

    Carole, I’m with you and those “cute” little monsters. They destroy everything they can get their teeth around.
    Mary, thanks for the pattern. Have a good practice today.
    If chewy knew how much Hazel loves her toy, they’d have it in reserve for her.
    Everyone, have a great weekend

  8. Launa

    Congrats on catching another rat 🐀!
    I noticed the cute dog in the quilt n thought it was Hazel!
    21o here after 1pm….late for lunch today!

  9. JoAnne Kittleson

    Oh Mary I once read that for every rat you see there are 7 more you don’t see on a farm. If that’s true you will be busy for awhile yet. I know there one of God’s creatures to but I hate rats and mice too! Good luck with your trap!

  10. Kathy Hanson

    Thank you so much for the pattern, will try to get it done soon! How nice of you. Looking for the Sewing Room pattern and will be happy to purchase it! Poor Hazel, they so count on having their favorite things as usual, but, hopefully they will have it in stock again. Sounds like you will have some good things coming up!
    As for the rats…….glad you are catching them and eliminating them, hope they are all gone soon!!!
    Just took 3 quilts to the Quilter, one for my bed I think and two others to donate to the Llama Winter Conference Auction. Will a Market basket as well. I will have to send a picture of that!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Kathy Hanson – the Sewing Room pattern won’t be available until I get it remade.

  11. Kathy in western NY

    Thanks Mary and Connie for the nice runner pattern. Very kind of you and I look forward to Friday’s posts to see what patterns available to purchase. Stay warm everyone north and south and East and west this coming weekend. I ran to our village grocery store this morning for a few things and temp was dropping then. I hope people think twice before they get on I95 and start driving like what happened a few weeks ago when 1-2 “ an hour fell and cars became stranded. This time they are saying it could be 3-4” an hour coming down fast. Glad I am happy in my warm home. Husband is building me a shorter but wider ironing board to pull down from the wall in my sewing room as I don’t have a lot of room to keep a large one set up. I get so excited about things like that!!

  12. Linette Stewart

    Thank you for the pattern Mary!! As Lynette in Orlando mentioned Amazon seems to have the Ifetch in stock for the same price. Happy rat 🐀 hunting!

  13. Kim from TN

    Fridays in February sound like fun and the rats better be careful because you have a trap!

  14. Marylou Krish

    Thank you for the runner pattern! It will be fun to see the patterns offered in February.
    The rat catcher is sure worth the money you had to spend for it. Good luck with finding another dead one tonight.
    Marylou

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Marylou – that trap that I thought was expensive has really earned its keep so far!

  15. Teresa in Port Coquitlam, BC

    Mary, thank you for the free pattern, simple yet very effective. I really like the striped binding.
    Last fall we got 8 rats, I think mom was the second to last. It was the biggest at least. I hate them too. We try our best not to have chicken food on the ground placing a tub under the feeder and bring in both the tub and the food container every night.

  16. Jill Klop

    Thanks for the cute runner pattern. I’m still busy working on my Christmas quilt that I started on New Year’s Day. This is simple and easy, I can’t wait to while it up! Dogs really get into their routine and don’t like it when things are off. I hope that you find a replacement! So glad you are catching rats! They have to be so awful!

  17. Cathy — southeast Alabama

    Thanks for the pattern. How fun. I cannot wait for Friday. Each week. Hope I don’t have a rat problem. Although you make it sound like a sport for the puppy.

  18. Tina in Oregon

    Hearing about the rat infestation made me remember when I was growing up in central California. There was an over abundance of coyotes so the “government” put a bounty on them. Once they began to be pared down, we were over run with ground squirrels! They really reek havoc with cattle grazing land. Under federal direction, poison was spread to eliminate some of the squirrel population. Eventually, things got evened out again. I think people shouldn’t mess around so much with Mother Nature!

  19. Terry J Vlademar

    Hi mary! That quilt with white dog that the flying geese is in front of it, do you have that pattern? Yuck about the rats! Terry

  20. Terry Vlademar

    Hi mary! That quilt with white dog that the flying geese is in front of it, do you have that pattern? Yuck about the rats! Terry

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Terry Vlademar- it comes from the book of the same name Wear Warm Clothes – you can probably find a copy on Amazon or a used book site.

  21. Mary M Rhodes

    Thank you for free Valentine pattern. My grandma used to practice every Wednesday with another lady from church. The wonderful memories. I miss her so much. Understand about rats. Grandparents lived block below farm store in town. They would get them they are big! Can’t stand them n mice! Snowing again here in Bethel, ugh. Going to get down to 9 degrees. 2 sick cats from flees. Third one dont act sick. Tried get myb10 year old to vet- she got tired waiting wentvoff somewhere to sleep. Came out 5 minutes before appointment! Takes 30 minutes get there so reschedule. Stay warm n have fun

  22. Diane, Squeak, and Buddy in Central Ohio

    I have that pattern because I bought your kit. I finished it as part of my 2020 Dirty Dozen. I think I will make another😃.
    Poor Hazel. It’s like her “ blanking”. Would Petsmart have it? I could look here and mail it to you.
    My husband took 13 chipmunks to “ another zip code” one year. He live trapped them. We just can’t kill something . But, if we had them, we would kill rats! Ugh.
    27* here today with wind chills in teens, but going down tonight. I am ready for warmer weather, but I do love the snow.

      1. Diane and the gang

        Oh good. Hazel,will be sooo happy🐶😃. Buddy lost his favorite mouse. Sad day. He has others, but that one squeaked, too.😹

  23. Susan K in Texas

    That rat trap was a good buy I would say! I like the runner pattern. Simple and effective. No sewing for me as I totally blew out my back. ER on Wednesday, doctor today, MRI tomorrow, and back to the doctor Wednesday for treatment plan. The good news is that I finished the two commission quilts before it went totally out. I’ll send pictures.
    I’m having problems finding canned cat food – at least the kind my kitties like – they say it’s supply chain issues. Probably what’s happening with Hazel’s toy. I sure hope you can find one soon.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Susan K – SUSAN!! How did you hurt your back?? Oh my, it sounds serious – please keep us updated. I just found Hazel’s ball launcher toy on Amazon and ordered it!

      1. Susan K in Texas

        The back has been an ongoing problem for the last 10 years or so. I had surgery on a disc in 2016 so I’ve been able to maintain for a five and a half years. It started acting up again around Thanksgiving. Pinched nerve issues sent me to the ER. I currently can’t drive due to the shooting pain down my right leg so Gary gets to be my driver.
        I’m so glad you found the ball launcher toy for Hazel. Our pets sure need their routine and their special toys!

        1. Mary Etherington Post author

          Susan K – please keep us all updated and tell Gary to drive carefully!😌

  24. NancyTD

    Thanks for the pattern, Looking forward to Fridays in February. You keep us motivated.
    Glad you are catching rats with your fancy trap. I couldn’t empty it. More power to you!

  25. Sheila in WI

    Thanks for the pattern, Mary. Wishing you the best catching those rats. I had enough trouble emptying a mouse trap. I can’t even imagine taking care of a rat. Ewww!!! More power to you!

  26. Vickie in CO

    Thank you for the runner pattern. I think I have the book the quilt is in & will have to check it over again.

  27. Jeanie S, Central Illinois

    Thanks for the Flying Geese runner pattern; I love it and so appreciate your kindness.
    Our high today was 27 and sunny, but it was windy feeling much colder; our low tonight is 7.
    In early January, we coaxed an eight-month-old male kitten indoors. In spite of his trip to the vet for “the works,” Tommy seems to like his new digs. 🤗

  28. ChristieB from SE Nebraska

    Thank you for the free pattern. Looking forward to the February Friday pattern offers, as well as the rest of your blog – you keep us supplied with good entertainment – LOL! I don’t remember, has Hazel ever caught a rat? – would she know what to do with it? My cats catch mice, but they play with them until they die and then leave them on the patio! Ick!
    It’s supposed to be in the 50*s today and tomorrow and then cold again. Crazy January weather. Beats getting 2 feet of snow as predicted for the East Coast areas. Thanks again! HUGS… and stitches

  29. Sally J.

    Thanks for the quilt pattern and looking forward to the Friday’s in February!!!
    I’m getting ready to cut bias binding for my Dresden Plate quilt which has scalloped edges.
    This is my first attempt at binding a scalloped edge so i’m a bit nervous about doing it!!
    Keep warm everyone!! Not getting out of the 50’s here in SW Florida today and 30’s expected for Sunday morning. Brr for Fl. Hugs

  30. Candy

    Mary, thanks so much for the table runner pattern. I’ll have to search my stash for a red & white stripe to use for binding as you did … it’s so cute! I have a bat story for you. A number of years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night hearing something fluttering back & forth over the bed. Somehow, I just knew it didn’t sound like a bird! I woke up my husband, pulled the covers over my head & stayed put! DH found the bat on the curtain in the bathroom, knocked it to the floor, then threw a towel over it and carried it outside to freedom! I was so glad he caught it and it was gone. BUT … that’s not the end of the story! Next night … exact same time … same story! OMG! After it was outside, I took my pillow and blanket and spent the rest of the night locked in the bathroom … in the (empty) tub! Next day my husband called a friend who was a house inspector and had him come & check out how it might have gotten in … twice! They decided it (they?) must have come down the cold air return by the furnace. I think they covered it with mesh so it didn’t happen again … whew! That’s only 1 of 3 bat stories I have … but I’ll spare you any more horror for today … LOL!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Candy – here’s mine. We were remodeling and I was on the phone when something swooped over my head and yelled to Rick to come and help me – there was a bat in the house! He yelled back that he couldn’t come right then because “son of a b________ Walker, Texas Ranger was on !” He got the bat later after we got into bed and I, too, jumped under the covers while he killed it with a tennis racket. And he showed no remorse.

      1. Candy

        Next … I called DH at work and made him come home because I could hear a bat fluttering around in our daughter’s bedroom (the door was closed & no one was in there). When he ‘cracked’ the door open, he found out the window was open and the breeze coming in was catching the corner of a poster she had hung up, ,making it flutter … LOL! Oops!

        1. Mary Etherington Post author

          Candy – oh, no!! That really is a good story – Rick would never let me live it down.

  31. Michele

    Good luck rat hunting.
    Could I add something that makes me almost as crazy as those dang blister packs. How about the laundry detergent that says Fill to Line 2 for normal loads. Supposedly there is a line somewhere inside that dark cap that is line 2. Why isn’t the cap clear with dark markings on the outside of the cap? Or does someone out there have a better idea?

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Michele – no better idea – I think yours is great – I end up just guessing or buying pods so I don’t have to measure. Someone called it packaging rage and that’s what it is!!!

    2. Mary Etherington Post author

      Btw – I got #6 and 7 last night and this morning! And I saw one pop up by the hydrant – can’t wait till I get my second trap on Monday! This is getting close to being fun!! I cannot believe I think that!

  32. Billie

    Thanks for the table runner pattern! I going to make one on Monday!! Hope you get rat # 4!
    Keep warm…

  33. Denise

    Thank you Mary for the runner pattern. Hope to work on it today.
    Good going on the rat hunt. My son has the smaller mice and small rodent one. Has had it for a few years. One year chipmunks were rampant around here. Neighbor across the street caught over sixty thru the summer. We had lots here too but not quite that much. That was a prime year, hardly any this year. They are cute but they can do tons of damage.
    Survived the snow here in Central Conn. Around 6 inches. We missed the heavy stuff. Wind has blown it all over.

  34. Polly Perkins

    Just got back from the store and many shelves were empty! There was not Bakers German Chocolate so no brownies for me until it is back in stock. I make gluten free brownies with German Chocolate. No frozen hash browns or fries and hardly any pizza. I can make my own hash browns and I cannot eat frozen pizza because so garlic, onion or gluten for me so I can live without those items. BUT poor Hazel and her toy!

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