Hazel’s socialization on the farm increases every day. She goes to the barn with me…
where she met Charlene,
and Colton and all the chickens. By introducing her to the chickens at this young age, she will likely never chase them or kill them because they’re just ordinary “things” in the barn. I’ve trained all our dogs and all my boarders the same way – take them with me to do chores and it takes all the mystery out of those chickens!
Then she encountered Emma in the yard.
Can’t you just hear her little mind working overtime? She and Telly are beginning to play together. How can you blame Telly for not wanting to play with a piranha?
Here’s the piranha pose.
Every year in March and April I become so overwhelmed with the amount of yardwork that needs to be done – the millions of twigs and sticks in the yard to be picked up. We’ve got old trees so we get sticks all the time. Repairing the ravages of winter – Rick’s love of moving snow digs up my precious grass and leaves piles of gravel in the yard and I spend the next 6 months trying to make it look good again only to have it all repeated the following winter. All the leaves that fell or blew in after the snow covered the ground need to be cleared off flower beds, along fence lines and dirt has settled just about everywhere. Then there’s the barn to clean as well which I do hire 2 teenagers to help with. All of this is overwhelming and each year I wonder if I can still handle it.
I always think it has to be done fast but I’m retired so I can do a bit everyday until I get it done. This was my job today by the east fence. I cut all the trumpet vines down to the ground because they’re just messy and they make it hard to mow. I should have taken the picture before I cut them down.
I think I got the “after” pictures first – ugh!
Hazel helped – if she’s outside with me then everything is fun!
My nephew, Danny Rose, is getting married in June and I’m working on their wedding quilt. Once again, Hazel helped.
The bride, Virginia, requested soft yellows, greens and white. I did the hardest section first – the names, pieced free form.
They requested contemporary so I’m designing it as I go. This is going to be very fun! I have 2-1/2 months to complete it so if I’m not doing yardwork or playing with Hazel, I’m working on the wedding quilt. Hazel naps several times a day – that’s when I run errands or sew.
Honestly the days go so fast that I forget to post – it’s the most wonderful time of the year – spring with the promise of summer on its heals. I can’t wait to tackle the dirty screened porch – maybe this week!
Oh my, you and Hazel have got your work cut out for you! So far, I’ve cleaned one flower bed.
I am in love with Hazel. She is the cutest thing and I look forward to your daily posts just so I get the latest on that sweet girl. She is so tiny and I don’t think I know how old she is or what she is,or where she came from. Lucky little girl to be Mary’s baby!
I too get overwhelmed! Can’t wait for spring so I can work out side but forgot how much there is to do. Ah,it will all get done eventually. Enjoy the sun and warm weather. Hazel is a cutie for sure.
The quilt will be exceptional and they are going to LOVE it. Spring brings flowers as well as much work until everything gets established. My problem is that I want to plant flowers and hang ferns but it is still too early.
Hazel seems like she has moved in and made friends with everyone.
Little Hazel has the cutest face! If I thought my two spoiled house cats would adjust, I would get a dog just like her! (But I don’t think that they would.)
Hazel has had a very busy and educational day. She will sleep well and have sweet dreams all night,
I don’t know how you have the time for all you do–you must fall into bed face down at night! Thanks so much for fitting time for this blog in. It gives me a little taste of the Iowa I remember and miss. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a cute puppy as Hazel!
Pat – if truth be told, I’d go into detail about how I can’t sleep! But that would be boring!
I know just what you mean with all that yard work. I don’t have nearly as much as you do and I’m tired before I start.. what kind of dog is Hazel. I’m going to start working at our pound as a v0lunteer soon. love following all the workings of your place.. We are farmers.
Beverly – Hazel is a Jack Russell Terrier and will be 12 weeks old this week.
I so enjoy the pictures of Hazel. What a total sweetheart she must be. Those piranha poses completely cracked me up!
Oh, what a fun place to live. I really enjoy reading about your everyday fun!!!
That little dog is such a cutie! I would love to have a little dog but I’m not sure how the cats would .
And I want you to know that I really enjoy reading your posts. Thanks so much.
I just about died laughing from the piranha pose! Those pictures made my day! I picked up sticks yesterday and had a “helper” in the form of my cat, Harry S. Truman. All Truman wanted to do was play!
Hazel is adorable. I’m so glad you found her. She will have a wonderful, happy and full life on the farm with loving parents.
Ahh. I forgot about the puppy teeth…they are so sharp! I am wondering if Hazel is barking at all the strange animals in the barn. I know my Westie will bark at a leaf blowing. HA! I think it is so great that you are socializing Hazel with everyone. I wish you luck with the yard work…I haven’t started yet due to allergies, but I need to very soon! Thanks for all the Hazel postings! And…I love the quilt! Will be fun to see your finished product!
What fun to see Hazel every day! How does she stay so white?!
What kind of dog is Hazel, she is precious–I am so happy for you. You are such a good fur momma!
Hazel is cute until the fangs come out….I’ll take 5 Telly’s over 1 Hazel (bigger is better, in my book). Wonderful that she is being introduced to the barn family.
Love your contemporary wedding quilt, can’t wait to see more.
You are such a hard worker!! Just LOVE your posts every day. That Hazel is a doll!
Happy Easter to you and yours!!
I look at Hazel and see the same sharp little teeth my 10 week old Shetland Sheepdog puppy “Scamp” has and they are probably thinking alike too! In Scamp’s case he only has a 11 year old cat to try to play with! I wish I had half as much energy as they do!
Ginny – you got a puppy?
YoU are such a busy bee! I was outside while we still had nice weather. I did the same thing, clearing the garden which was full of leaves and branches. I’m exhausted, but like they say it’s a “good tired” and I got some exercise and fresh air. I love seeing the animals! Julie
Hazel is such a joy! I love the piranha poses….I laughed out loud when I saw them 🙂
really enjoy your posts!
I know what you mean about the days going by so fast. Don’t you wonder sometimes HOW you found time to WORK (at the quilt shop)?!? I know I wonder about it sometimes.
My screened porch also needs “Spring” cleaning but I’m waiting till after our yellow pollen “snow”. This usually occurs here in TN early May but I suspect it might come much sooner since we had such a mild winter (yay!) & a lot of stuff started blooming late February/early March. That yellow pollen “snow”, I;ve been told is from our many oak trees in the area. It literally looks like it’s snowing when it comes down. It lasts usually a few days to a week & EVERYTHING gets covered & it’s kinda sticky. Yuck! So, I wait to clean the porch, wash windows, etc. More sewing time for me! Hazel is tooooo cute!
I am convinced that Hazel could not be any cuter. What a little doll.
Love Hazel next to the sewing machine. Gives me an idea of how big she is!!!
I just love hearing about all you do and about your little piranha ☺️❗thank you❗❗
I have been following your page for a while but this is my first post. I adore the pics of Hazel, Telly and all your furry and feathered loves. I am very new to the world of quilting. My aunt taught me to sew at the age of 7 and, 40 years later, I’m working up to trying to do a wall hanging!
This next section can be for anyone here who can answer. I don’t mean to sound stupid, but what is a contemporary quilt, or rather, what makes it contemporary? Is it color, pattern, the quilted design?
Happy Spring to you!
Tracy – this is a great discussion topic. I think it could be any of those or all of them. Contemporary quilts many times use free-form and/or liberated piecing. Traditional quilts are mostly made up of blocks. That’s one point – I hope there are more comments about this.
Thank you for replying. That cleared it up for me. Contemporary sounds like something I would be pretty good at, squares and rectangles are not my friends. I made a beach blanket using 2 layer cakes – I’m still mystified as to how every row came out so wonky! I don’t give up easily though and I’m still stitching away!
Tracy – atta girl!
We have a younger kitty, and when she was smaller my husband said that every time she got near you, she tried to bite! Thankfully, she has outgrown that stage, and I’m sure Hazel will too!!