Farm News could be called Prison News because that’s how I feel being confined to the house week after week. The animals on the farm are surviving but as you can see by these pictures, they look cold and bored. The chicken side of the barn where Susannah and Emma also live is heated by this small “furnace” that hangs from the ceiling. It is not warm in this part of the barn by any means but much better than the goat pen on the west side. The geese sit outside most of the day in the cold wind but at chore time, I water and feed them in a protected outside area where they spend the night. I wish I could offer them more comfort. We are all so tired of this bitter cold. It’s 10:30 am as I write this and the wind chill outside is 28 below zero.
Bentley is visiting for the week while his mom and dad are enjoying Arizona weather and friends. He and Telly play outside for long periods of time and I begin to worry about them. When they come in, their feet are full of frozen snow and their noses and faces are covered with ice. They thaw out, have a short nap and then take off again. Having Bentley here is like having another of my own dogs move back in. He is adaptable to all my routines and Telly loves having a playmate. I think they are pacing themselves this time and not playing so hard they hurt themselves. That’s a good thing!
I’ve been asked about my eyes – they are pretty good but still swollen on the lids. I cannot put my eye makeup on just yet and I feel naked without it. The areas around my eyes and forehead are very tender to the touch and I was told I might see swelling for several months. That’s OK – by then it will be spring. Because of the swelling, I’m not sure I have noticed better eyesight yet especially playing the piano – that is where I noticed it the most.
Last Thursday was the big blizzard and we didn’t even get to send out Farm News. Today it’s just cold so I may venture out to the grocery store and Subway. Doesn’t a sub sound good?
I have sewed and sewed because there isn’t much else to do. Everyday on the blog I am posting one of the projects I have recently finished. Right now I will have to stop and clean up my sewing room so I can find the notes on all of these projects.
Thanks to all of you who comment or write to me – I love hearing where you’re from and what you’re doing to survive this awful winter.
Mary
Here’s a joke from one of our blog readers:
Hi Mary,
When I read that Rick wouldn’t take you shopping for fear that he’d be accused of physically abusing you it reminded me of this joke I received a couple weeks ago. When you get to the end substitute Tylenol for tampons and you’ll know why I thought to send this to you. So don’t send Rick or it could be an expensive errand!
Karen
North Dakota SALESMAN
A young guy from North Dakota moves to Florida and goes to a big “everything under one roof” department store looking for a job.
The Manager says, “Do you have any sales experience?” The kid says “Yeah. I was a vacuum salesman back in North Dakota .”
Well, the boss was unsure, but he liked the kid and figured he’d give him a shot, so he gave him the job.
“You start tomorrow. I’ll come down after we close and see how you did.”
His first day on the job was rough, but he got through it. After the store was locked up, the boss came down to the sales floor.
“How many customers bought something from you today son?”
The kid frowns and looks at the floor and mutters, “One”.
The boss says “Just one?!!? Our sales people average sales to 20 to 30 customers a day.
That will have to change, and soon, if you’d like to continue your employment here. We have very strict standards for our sales force here in Florida . One sale a day might have been acceptable in North Dakota , but you’re not on the farm anymore, son.”
The kid took his beating, but continued to look at his shoes, so the boss felt kinda bad for chewing him out on his first day. He asked (semi-sarcastically), “So, how much was your one sale for?”
The kid looks up at his boss and says “$101,237.65″.
The boss, astonished, says $101,237.65?!? What the heck did you sell?”
The kid says, “Well, first, I sold him some new fish hooks. Then I sold him a new fishing rod to go with his new hooks.
Then I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast, so I told him he was going to need a boat, so we went down to the boat department and I sold him a twin engine Chris Craft.
Then he said he didn’t think his Honda Civic would pull it, so I took him down to the automotive department and sold him that Ford 4×4 Expedition.”
The boss said “A guy came in here to buy a fish hook and you sold him a boat and a TRUCK!?”
The kid said “No, the guy came in here to buy tampons for his wife, and I said, ‘Dude, your weekend’s shot, you should go fishing.’ ”
Hi Mary!! We are back to freezing temps again here in Illinois. It’s 9˚ and -6˚ tonight!
I agree, we fell like we’re in prison, day after day of staying inside – which actually is a good thing when you’re a quilter. I’m getting a lot done, prepping projects for our March quilt camp in Michigan, leaving next Wed. So far weather looks good for travel — but first we will have yet another snowstorm this weekend. Moe, Geri, Winnie, Kathy and I were going to a quilt show this Sunday, but I think we have to cancel it. I feel bad for the quilt guild – so much work and now they might no have a good turnout.
I feel so guilty. We left to run some errands and I was complaining about the cold – the temp at that time was 47. When I read your Farm News, I scolded myself for complaining. It is supposed to be 74 tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, then cools down again.
Maybe you need to come winter in Texas with us! You probably don’t want to summer with us – it is brutal then.
HI Mary–My friend had the same eye surgery. It took about a month for him to look normal again and now he looks great. He looks ten years younger:)
Cold and WINDY here in Central Ohio, too. We are expecting a big snow on Sat./Sun./Mon. Of course, my husband always says he wants to be a weatherman–they are wrong half the time and still get paid!! Hang in there–it’ll be spring SOON.
That’s exactly what my mom used to say about being a weatherman – only job you could have, be wrong all the time and still get paid! I can still hear her saying it.
I dont know about all you guys, but that joke was what I needed today!! Thank you for sharing
Love the joke! What a salesman.
I’ve been holed up at home sewing too. And not because of the weather. I threw out my back so can’t stand or walk. I can sit so I can sew. Don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t do that. My hubby has been good at helping with cooking and shopping which I could get used to.
Hi, Mary,
Greetings from Circle Pines, MN. I, too, have had just about enough winter. I usually don’t mind the winters that much, but, this year takes the cake. So much snow and so many extremely cold days. You may not remember me. Two summers ago, I rented a car to make the trip to visit you. The air conditioning had died in my 13 year old car. I loved meeting you and seeing the animals. I plan on repeating the trip this summer with my sister. See you sometime this summer!
I too have “cabin fever” but I’m stuck in Assisted Living. Was thinking today – if I had a rambler instead of a split-entry, I could have gone home on my 13th day here (today marks 401st day).
Was showing one of the gals one of my stack-n-whack quilts and she wants to see it when it’s finished. CRAP ~ now they expect me to finish something?!?!?! I am a topper and proud of it. I have a roll of batting sitting in the corner of my room, but starting something new sounds like WAY more fun than finishing some of these tops!!
Current project – a Dragon quilt. The pillow case is completed! And the blocks just need to be squared up and stitched together. Then I will think about completely a few, just to get some of these people off my back!! 🙂
The pictures make me miss the farm even more!! Let’s hope spring makes an appearance sooner than later! Also, what did you use to do that circular quilting??? Love it!!!
Hi Mary, love hearing all your farm and quilt shop news. I’m loving this snow, I know, you think I’m crazy, I still have to go to work everyday but because of the snow I’m snowbound on the weekends and getting plenty of sewing done. The snow is falling heavy again tonight so hubby and I went outside and danced to the Mills Brothers singing … “the snow is snowing, the wind is blowing, but I can weather the storm! What do I care how much it may storm? I’ve got my love to keep me warm!” P.D. The Pet Dog thought we were crazy but it was fun! Stay warm Mary, Love Moe
Hi, Moe !
I do love being snowed in but the brutal temps are making life hard for my goats and geese. I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your recent interview. I did try to leave a comment but was not successful. You are without a doubt a master quilter and I now understand how you get all that handwork done going to and from work. What a guy that Jay is – Rick would probably make me drive!
Pet PD for me – I always love hearing about her!
Mary