The DIRTY DOZEN NUMBER FOR FEBRUARY IS NUMBER FIVE!
5 – 5-5-5-5-5-5-!!!!
You have a short month to finish your project numbered 5 before we pull another number on March 1. I must confess, my project from January is still sitting in the bag BUT I will have a couple other finishes to show you very soon.
I am much improved tonight – as unbelievable as it sounds, I could not get a rapid test yesterday anywhere in Garner! I ordered two rapid tests from Amazon which will get here tomorrow but tonight I feel fine so why bother? It started last Saturday morning with a cough which got worse on Sunday and added a headache as well as body aches. By this morning all I have left is an occasional cough.
So what do you think? Was it Covid? I have had all 3 vaccinations so maybe if it really was Covid, I got over it very fast. I am feeling very normal tonight!
Hazel’s new IFetch came and she has been playing hard!
Reader quilts
I want to make this scrappy trip so bad!
Nighttime with the goats…and in this corner is……HAZEL!
Here’s our catch this morning – is this #6 or #7? I honestly have lost track!
The crows devour these dead rats like they’re candy! Haha!! I ordered a second trap and put it in another spot tonight. I can hardly wait till morning to see if I have two more dead rats!
So what do you do when you live with a lively terrier who wants to play when you’re too sick to get out of the recliner?
She has not been happy with me.
Soaking up the sun.
I’m good tonight! Hope you are, too!
Mary I’m so glad your cough or what ever you had was short lived. stay well.
Good report! I’m glad you are feeling so much better.
I am so happy to hear you are feeling better!!! I was worried about you! Take care and stay healthy!!!
Was the scrappy trip around the world Ten Sisters/Carmen Geddes easy piecing grid? That would simplify it and make scraps easier.
Marcia – I think it was from Bonnie Hunter
So glad you are feeling better. Wonder how many of us have had Covid/Omicron and didn’t know? My son thinks we all had it at Christmas – him, his wife, 2 kids, my hubby and I. We were ALL sick so spent the day together. I did order tests online so will have those if needed. Hopefully, we are on the downward swing of this pandemic.
I need to order this rat trap for the mice we have. My cats are not very good mousers. lol. Maybe I need a Hazel.
I’m of the opinion that many have had it but didn’t test, or the tests have been false negatives. I’m pretty sure it’s been in our family, which is fairly large, but every time someone has gotten a test it’s been negative, so either this family is some sort of statistical anomaly, or the tests really are crap. Either way, as long as it’s not my parents, I’m happy. Rest up!
Carla – every time you write I think about your family of boys!
Diana in DM – well, Hazel hasn’t been too effective lately – I’d go with the trap!! Sounds like the Christmas from H——! Everybody sick!
Glad you are feeling better! My husband had fever, chills, cough, headache, fatigue and nausea. Rapid test said no to Covid, but we heard they were unreliable, so got tested by our county’s health department. No Covid. Other stuff is still lurking around.
So glad you are feeling better. I bet you had vivid and light case. There are so many different symptoms. So do you quarenteen or what! ? It sure isn’t cut and dried. I LOVE the pic of Hazel wanting to play. I miss my Rosie who I lost in Nov. She was 15 yr.old lhasapoo.. I along w everyone else look forward to your post daily!
Pamela F – will you get another little dog? I’ll bet you’re lonely without your Rosie!
Could have been Covid – I have a friend who tested positive and felt terrible for a couple days. I would still test if I were you – my friend still tested positive after two weeks but she felt good. I am glad you are feeling better.
I love the reader quilts today – wish there were names on them :>) . The snowman with the long hat made me smile. We are supposed to get 6 to 12 inches of snow tonight. It’s been raining for a while, so I imagine that will turn to ice soon. We will be hunkered down at least for tomorrow. My sewing room is in the basement but I can’t leave my hubby alone upstairs without worrying about him so I brought one of my machines up and set up a sewing station so I can feel like I am getting something done. Looking forward to working on number 5!
Sounds like you are having a good time catching the rats and making progress for sure!
Snowman with the funny hat is from a “patchability” pattern! They have lots of cute ones! You can find them online.
Peggy S
Thank you! I have one of those patterns – I think it is “NOEL” and it was fun to make. I will look for the snowman with the hat – it is so cute!!
I’ve made that snowman from Patchability. It is really cute. I have another pattern of theirs but haven’t made it….that is my problem. I fall in love with a pattern and never get around to making it.
Kay Crandall – I never thought catching rats could be so much fun in the dead of winter! Haha!!!
Mary it was good to hear that your illness didn’t hang on. Still take care an rest also.
The quilts and wall quilts were lovely.
Thanks for sharing!
Yay!!! I’m so happy you are recovering.
All the quilts are fun to see.
My quilt workroom is in need of organizing, but I’m still cross stitching . I took up cross stitching again after many years. With the Covid experience…. sitting and quietly stitching kept me calm. Threads to finish my Christmas piece finally came in. While I was waiting I stitched a piece,
“Entwined Hearts “, during January. I do need to make a baby quilt for another great grand son soon. So, soon I’ll organize that workspace .
Again, I am so glad for your feeling better. Continued prayers for you.
How does an Ifetch work? Knowing Hazel, if it will tire her out, great! I’ve been trying to figure out what is in the picture that has Hazel staring into the camera—It looks like a dead animal but I know it isn’t. I see eyes and a nose. For awhile I thought it was bedroom slippers, but now I don’t think so. Glad you are feeling better. If it was Covid and you are already feeling better, It’s a testimony to the effectiveness of the vaccines and boosters. So glad that rat zapper works! Our problem in Vermont is mice getting in the kitchen drawers. As great a hunters as our cats are, they just can’t get to therm in that spot. Although, there are traps, we are sick of having to then wash all the contents of the drawers. Sigh…
Pat Smith – know what you’re referring to in the picture – it’s a fuzzy toy that she wants me to tug on – she is so insistent! The IFetch has a motor inside that kicks the ball out the mouth of the toy. You can set it on 3 different distances and she can hear the motor revving up to shoot! She goes after the ball and then drops it in the top opening of the toy where it engages all over again. I should try a video!! The ball gets so soggy and slobbery that after awhile I have to replace it – I recently bought 15 extra balls because she usually destroys one almost every day that I let her play. They’re tiny little balls resembling a tennis ball but called IFetch balls – expensive of course – about $3 a piece! There’s not her Fetch toy that throws regular size tennis balls – too dangerous in the house
Pat Smith – dang – my reply took off – there’s another fetch toy that uses regular size tennis balls – too dangerous in the house!
The picture of Hazel looks like she is wearing a flower pot on her head. She sure is a fun dog!
So happy to hear that you are on the up swing!!! I am on jury duty this week and I was sitting with a gal who was telling me that she had gotten Covid as well as the rest of her adult family. The rapid test showed negative so the doctor wanted the other test done. The second test showed positive. That’s crazy! She also had had the shots. Did you ever imagine you would have caught that many rats??? And it’s funny that the birds are feasting on them.
Debbie G – if I had known there were that many rats in my barn, I would have been freaked out to go in there to do chores – and I LOVE my barn!! Ick – I wonder how many more I’ll catch.
Lots of junk going around. If you feel better I would not bother with a test. What good would it do? Maybe just stay in another day or two.
Jane E – you are the first person I’ve agreed with!! It won’t do any good to test now, will it? And nobody could be bothered to see me when I was really sick – you can’t even reach them on the phone! I think I’m good. Thank you.
Glad to hear you’re better,Mary. My daughter had covid 2 weeks ago and she even had the booster. No one in her family got it. It is a strange illness. I’m afraid it is here to stay in one form or another. Can’t wait for it to warm up. Winter has outlasted her welcome as far as I’m concerned. Hope Rick stays well.
Diane Deibler – I think this is just about the most miserable January I can remember! Connie arrived in Florida today – poor thing.
Glad to hear you are feeling better. There is a virus going around that has the body aches, cough, sore throat and so on. We were exposed to Covid, our daughter and SIL had it, grandson tested positive on the rapid test and then negative on the one at the doctor’s office. (Daughter said right off “the tech didn’t get a good swab.”) My husband and I tested negative twice on the rapid test. So we are putting it down to a virus. My husband was better in 3 or 4 days while my cough is still lingering just enough to be annoying.
So glad you are feeling better and so soon. It isn’t fun to be sick. I am a real grumpy person when I am sick.
Mary, actually it does sound like Covid, at least what boosted people here are experiencing. It would be a good idea to test because one friend of ours was boosted,, had Covid, but he tested positive for TWELVE days! His Dr said to quarantine the whole time because he was still contagious even though he felt ok. You wouldn’t want to pass it on to,someone🙀🙀.
The tests have been scarce for a while, but more are becoming available.
I love the quilts and seeing little Hazel with her toy😺. She makes me smile. Also, the little dogs on the quilts are cute. Freezing rain and 4 to 8 inches os snow coming!!
I am so happy you feel better.
Diane – and I am glad you’re getting 4-8” of snow and not us!
Mary, so happy to hear that you are on the mend and feeling better! I say you may have had covid, and maybe not. Once the symptoms subside there’s a strong possibility the test will be negative. There’s all kinds of crud going around. I’ve been vaccinated and boosted and still got it. 🙁 It was short lived and I give the vaccine credit for that.
So glad you are feeling better Mary. While I have never had any form of Covid (knock on wood), what you had sounds like break through Omicron. Many of my (vaxed and boosted) friends have had it and their description was just like yours. I personally think that our vaccines and boosters help prevent a terrible bout, and make it a much smaller case. Either way, I am so glad that you are on the mend.
I am so glad the crows are loving the” treats” you are leaving for them. They need to eat as well, especially when it is so cold.
Stay warm and safe.
Jan in WI – feeding the rats to the crows is the circle of life, isn’t it?
Sounds like covid to me. Since you had all 3 of your shots, it showed up as mild case. I would still test
Love all the quilts. Hope Rick is healing
So glad you are feeling better, Mary. We were all so worried.
Our weather event is starting here west of Peoria IL, rain turning to snow. We are having crockpot stew tomorrow.
Hope you continue to improve. 🥰
Jeanie s – I’ll be thinking of all of you getting that storm – it sounds pretty bad and we’re lucky not to be included!
Mary, I am so glad you’re feeling better. You’ve been on my mind and in my prayers. I wonder if you had the omicron variant.
I love your blog. When I see you’ve posted an entry, everything stops until I read it.
hugs!
Sue McG – yes, I’m well and sewing away tonight! Watching college BB on TV and life is good!
I remain very confused about the kill “limit” on the traps- “up to 20”? How does that work?? Hazel is so precious sitting there wanting you to play fetch with her; those eyes! I would imagine you may have had a form of COVID and the very reason you bounced back so quickly is precisely those three vaccinations. But, who knows? So, so glad to hear that you’re on the mend!!
Mrs. Goodneedle – we wonder about that “up to 20”, too and maybe the electronic plates become less effective after several “kills”. There is nothing else to wear out in this trap – that’s the only thing we can think it might mean – I’m counting but so hope I don’t get to 18, 19, 20!!! Ick! The batteries should be replaced when a light turns red showing there isn’t enough battery power to kill the rodent. I put new batteries in yesterday, just in case! Haha!!
There is so much Covid going around, I’d assume that’s what you had. Glad you’re feeling much better. 🙂
A friend shared that her doctor recommended to take Tylenol with Sudafed for the Covid sore throat.
Oh, Mary!! So happy to get your post today!! Was afraid you were too sick to send one!!
Happy days for you and all of the rest of us. Hope Rick doesn’t get whatever you had too!! Could possibly have been the CRUD19!!
Peggy S
Hi Mary – so glad you’re feeling better!
So happy to know you are feeling better!!! No doubt the vaccines keep these viruses milder. My husband is proof when he caught that strange virus last summer and the doctors said during his 14 days in the hospital and ICU that it was a good thing he had the vaccines to fight whatever was going through his body or he could have eventually picked up covid there too which thankfully didn’t happen. I never got sick sitting next to him for hours but saw enough people deathly ill and on ventilators, that it still bothers me. I would still get tested. Did you order your free tests from the government website? You can get four of them for free. Many here are doing their test kits before getting together to play cards or sew even with being vaccinated as you can still pass the virus on. Wiser to play it safe rather than regret.
Such nice quilts as always!!
Kathy in NY – where do I find the free tests? I paid $10 each! And to think you never got it after being exposed for so long! I never want sit in the hospital with a sick family member!!!!
There’s a new federal website covidtests.gov where you can request free test kits. My husband did it and said it was easy but we have not received them yet. You should probably get tested so you know whether to quarantine yourself from others so you don’t spread it even though you are feeling better. I am so glad you feel much better – I was worried about you.
I ordered the test kits from the government too and haven’t received them….I’m not holding my breath either!
I thought being in a medical field helped me cope with what I knew I was facing at the time, but now I have flashbacks which concerns me. He was touch and go for 5 days while they were trying to find out what virus he had and after 89 tests, still nothing definitive and staff appreciated my extra hands. It is very easy to go on the federal government website and just enter your address for the 4 free tests.
Our state has been distributing free tests to counties and you went thru a drive thru to get them. We got ours before Christmas. Covid testing is being offered to all at college campus’s near us as well.
Our libraries here have free Covid tests to give out. The supply runs out now and then, but we can call around to other libraries and find some (two really, as there are two in one box.)
Mary
Glad your feeling better. I was sick last week with sinuses. Finally feeling better. Everyone else is getting sick now. Think I had flu with it. Did a covid test was negative. Yes Radar was bored laying around with me being sick. They love playing fetch.
I couldn’t dump those rat traps out. Yuck.
Kay S – Of course you could empty those traps! You just dump them out on the ground – the rat isn’t caught on anything, he’s just been electrocuted and just falls out. I don’t look – I just dump it. I think Rick is getting sick now – so glad I’m over it!!
Mary, I had Covid for 4 week in November-December and then Influenza A 2 weeks after that over New Year’s for a week. And I was vaccinated for it all. Similar symptoms but not quite as severe or long lasting with Influ A. I got tested both times so knew what I had.
I think the reoccurring theme is no loss of taste or smell with Influ A. That was absolutely gone with Covid. My guess is you might have had Influenza A. Either way, you are fortunate you got over whatever it was fast. My cough lasted for weeks even after i started feeling better. Spring can’t come soon enough!!
So glad you feel better!! I can’t stand a rat so am happy with each kill! Love the pictures of Hazel and the quilt show.
I am never surprised when say you have caught another rat…I was told years ago, if there is one rat there is 50 more…hoping you don’t have that many. Glad the crows are enjoying dinner. Love your little Hazel, such a busy girl. And happy you are feeling better.
It sounds like you have connections to Mayo Health Systems, they would do the tests, that is where my husband and I got ours, there was no charge, and it was the reliable PCR testing. My quilting partner, went yesterday, had symptions just like yours, she is positive. She started the three day remdesiver infusions today, and because of her asthma, Mayo is sending equipment from Rochester that she is to monitor her oxygen levels, blood pressure, temperatuve three or four times a day and report in.
In last picture are birds little finches with yellow?
Hi Mary, great to hear you are feeling better, take it easy, you don’t want to have a relapse! The trip round the world is fabulous, love the doggies 🐕 too! Take care everyone,best wishes from Sandy
Mary, I ordered the free tests at COVIDtests.gov. You can get 4 per household. They haven’t arrived yet and thankfully we aren’t in need of them at this time. Just think it’s good to have them on hand as it is so difficult to find them when you do need them. Glad you’re feeling better. Like everyone else, I was worried. And the rats!!!!! Yuck.
Been thinking of you. Glad you are doing better. Time to see.
Thanks for the update on how you are feeling. We have all been wondering and concerned. Good news!
I have to machine quilt and bind #6 so I will finish that and dig out #5.
I’ve been ironing the stabilizer on my grandsons t-shirts today. Took time to go for a walk before the lake effect snow hits tomorrow.
Enjoy seeing Hazel. Take care and get plenty of rest.
So glad to hear you are feeling better.
So glad you’re feeling better Mary! Sorry to hear Rick might be getting it though. Hopefully he will be over it quick too, whatever it is. That little girl Hazel is just so cute, those eyes! You can just see her thinking, Come on Mom! Let’s play! I miss my little Louie so much – right now we’re dog sitting my daughter’s dog Rocky. He’s a good dog but has so many skin issues. I had to get him Benadryl and a donut to keep him from licking constantly. He goes home Sunday – and I’m looking forward to that! We got two feet of snow over the weekend! Well, it’s drifted so much that in one place it’s three feet and another it’s six inches! But, luckily, it’s dry and easily shoveled. Just take it a little at a time. It’s been so cold! I’m not used to this much cold. I love that Scrappy Trip too! Would love to make one… Jan in MA
OMGosh….So happy you are feeling better now. I have been worrying about you and so I was delighted to see Country Threads in my email just now. Yah!!
Rat trap is working really well. The one pictured looks huge.
Take good care of yourself and rest the most that you can so it won’t come back.
Mary, so very glad to know you are feeling better. yes, take the test! If you have had Covid, won’t you be glad to know you have this added protection? Thank you for another great quilt show. I love the dogs with quilts, really helpful to understand scale, and they are so sweet bested.
Mary it could very well be Covid. My 2 yr old grandson got it from daycare. Both parents are essential workers. We thought he was teething which started with a runny nose. Couple days later the cough started. He was tested and it was positive. Good this is it only lasted about a week or so. Take care, Linda
Hazel has the sweetest face! Love seeing the pictures of all the animal babies minus the rats! 🤣
Glad to hear you are feeling better!! I’ve had several friends who are quite convinced you have a very narrow window to test when you’d get a positive result. Many who swear they’ve had it but always tested negative. The important thing is you’re feeling better! I had to test when I got to MN in January as my daughter-in-law had it (fully vaxed and boosted) and we had been together over Christmas. We have home tests provided by the state, but think they expire pretty quickly.
We are under storm warnings, expect 6-8” of snow. Bible Study will meet via Zoom in the morning. Schools are closed. The grocery stores were packed this afternoon with folks stocking up. I have projects for Valentine’s Day, so I’ll keep busy!
I love that scrappy trip quilt too. It’s huge. I have one in the works with some fat quarters. It’s not exactly scrappy but it’s fun to do. It’s strip pieced.
I’m glad you’re feeling better and that Hazel has her toy again. I can’t believe how many rats – that trap was a good investment!
Tomorrow is doctor day for me to get a treatment plan for my back. I sewed a little today but spent the rest of the day in my recliner. I’m getting a little bored but have been planning some more quilts.
My brother had pneumonia from covid and spent 5-6 days in the hospital. He’s home now and will be off work another week at least. He was vaccinated. The doctor said she has 4 patients like him but he is doing the best.
Take care of yourself and hopefully Rick will only feel bad a couple of days too if he is sick.
Susan K – I’m hearing so much about vaccinated people getting sick. We’re going to have to watch Rick since he has appts at Mayo next Tuesday. So hope you get a plan in place for your back – will it be surgery? Treatments of some kind? Oh, dear.
So glad you are feeling better Mary. Hopefully Rick won’t be too sick. I love the scrappy quilts too.
I love Hazel and hearing stories about her. Great job killing those rats and the crows are getting rid of them for you. Much better than using poison. Glad the bad weather is missing you guys.
So far, neither my husband nor I have had covid (knock on wood) but pretty much since it has started, as soon as we get back home from an outing, I wash my hands and we both take a vitamin C chewable. It may not help but it doesn’t hurt either. We don’t go out a lot but you still have to get groceries etc.
About your rats, my dad claimed, if you kill all the rats in a location, they never come back. So good luck and keep feeding the crows.
Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Trips is one of my all- time favorite patterns. I’ve made it at least 3 times. Glad your sickness didn’t last long. Lots of people sick now it seems. Great rat count! Sharon
We ordered the COVID rapid tests from the government and received them on Monday. They do come in, so hopefully everyone here who hasn’t received them will get them soon. Mary – about your COVID. If you intend to stay in a few more days I wouldn’t worry about testing. If you’re curious and just want to know if you’ve had it, go ahead and test. It should show positive for a couple weeks, I’ve heard. My husband and I had it over Christmas, but we never really felt bad. Just cold symptoms.
Glad you’re feeling better. Absolutely love your blog and love the quilt pictures!
So very glad you are feeling better! Glad those rat traps are working! I just love little Hazel’s face! I’m very behind on my monthly projects! Trying to clean my sewing room so I feel happy working when I’m in there. I have to let go of some things! Hope to get more done this month. Love all of the projects that people have finished–you are an inspiration to me!
I am so glad you are feeling better but probably not as glad as Hazel. You make me want a Jack Russell so badly but at 80 I am probably not up to raising one. My two cats keep me hopping already.
Love Hazel’s toy. I wonder if cats would like it? My little Star likes to remove votive candles from their holders!
sharon from Illinois
I felt the same way you did about getting a dog at my age. I misses having a dog though. We adopted a“senior” dog from the humane society. It has been one of the best things we have done!
Vivian from Idaho – good for you! Any dog I adopt from now on will be a senior! For obvious reasons and also because how could anyone live through two Hazels?
So glad you are feeling better.
You mention the crows. I live in town. Last week when my husband put the garbage out we watched the crows attack the garbage and actually peck through the plastic. My husband thinks they were attracted to the smell of cat food cans! It was something to watch.
Take care.
MartyCae – yes, the crows are hungry, too.
So glad to hear you are better. I so enjoy your blog. I hit delete without looking many times a day – but not yours!!! You are therapy! Linda from Temecula, CA
Linda from Temecula – I’ll take that as a compliment! Thank you!
Love your Hazel! and hate those rats. So glad you are having such good luck getting those scoundrels. I love quilting, coffee, animals and the great outdoors (as long as it is NOT winter!) Enjoy your blog sooooo much. Keep busy and keep writing!
Judy – I must be whittling down the rat population because I didn’t catch any the last 2 nights! I’m almost disappointed!
So glad to hear that you are feeling better!!
Oh but Hazel has been so good for you too!! I am older than you but we think that Penny is our “fountain of youth!” Not that she isn’t a challenge sometimes too! lol !!
So glad that your rats are becoming crow food!!!
Love to hear more about the iFetch Game. How much trouble could you email me your video. I’m sure it’s hilarious. I recently adopted a younger dog than I’ve ever had before. His predecessor was 17 and did not do much but eat and sleep. And I just got this dog DNA test back and he’s four breeds Chihuahua, dachshund, Yorkshire terrier and Biewer terrier. He is really really active. He can play fetch for two hours. Especially if the ball has food in it. . He wants to play (whines to get with the big dogs at the dog park), fetch and chew. Would you recommend this device? Obviously if you bought a second one. How long did your first one last?
Lucky for him he’s very very cute. Dog’s name is Chip.
(Cannot figure out how to add photo)
I have tested positive for the new covid, had my shots, but no booster. Did take flu shot. Hubby had knee replacement surgery the 25th, set all day at hospital, I think that’s where I got it I always wear mask & use hand sanitizer. Just a light cast only quarantine 5 days. It makes you feel so sick, but not for long.
Hope you’re feeling better. Stay warm & safe
Virtual hugs
Linda
Linda. – I am so sorry but hope you’re on the mend!