It’s Friday Already!

It’s been a busy stressful three days. I’ll tell you about Rick’s appointment in another post with pictures to explain.

Yesterday was Daryl’s funeral, attended by 375 people in a church that holds 300. What a tribute to this nice man! Margaret and I were very nervous playing for such a large crowd and we had to play for 50 minutes straight. My nerves settled down and it was fine – until Pastor came and told us to play the last song, How Great Thou Art. For some reason I had a brain fart and started the introduction in 4 flats instead of 2 flats! It sounded horrible! Once Margaret started playing with me, it was fine – back to two flats. Now what in the world possessed me to do that?

When I got home I went to the shop where I had left Hazel and Telly in a kennel with a small outside pen. Hazel was the only dog in there! What????? I called for Telly and she came out of the house! I honestly think she climbed over the 6′ fence.

On with the story of yesterday – it was a pretty nice day and since our yard looked like this – with sticks everywhere

I decided I’d better start the cleanup. The greenery was still out front, too, so I hauled that to the goats.

So with my load of sticks, I headed out to the grove where I saw Hazel jumping up and down by the north fence, the closest to the highway.

That could only mean Telly was outside the fence and sure enough she was. I guided her to the gate and got her inside and started my search for the spot where she got out and I believe this is it.

There was white hair in the mud and if in fact she got out there, she managed to separate the 6′ fence and the 8″ section that is in the ground although I swear it wasn’t wide enough. Maybe she climbed over?

So back to the golf cart. You gotta know the mud is deep around here and as careful as I was, it wasn’t careful enough. I got it stuck and it’s going to have to stay there until the ground dries up so I can drive it out!

My anxiety level is high – I do not know another person who would spend as much money as I have for fencing to keep my dogs safe and I guess I’ll have to accept the fact that I cannot keep Telly from getting out. I don’t want her to teach Hazel however – I’m not sure I can survive scraping her off the highway. So last night I did nothing except drink beer and I have a headache this morning. It’s raining and I see a glimmer of hope in the grass – can you see a little. It of green grass? I can!

Tonight and tomorrow we have 6-8″ of snow predicted so the golf cart will be covered. Right now I’m going to the store to buy chips to eat with my beer when I get snowed in – again. This time I am prepared because I was able to move Rick’s pickup to the parking area in case the gate can’t open due to a snow bank.

Everything will be fine – thanks for listening.

56 thoughts on “It’s Friday Already!

  1. Mozzie's Grandma

    I think chips and beer sound perfect for the weather we are to have this weekend. Go for it!!!

  2. Bonnie

    God bless you Mary. Snow in April. That’s just wrong. I do recall all the wintry weather while growing up in northwestern Wisconsin.

    Have a safe trip to the store to get chips. Enjoy your beer. You deserve it.

  3. Brenda archambault

    It was all a precursor to Friday the 13th! What a week you’ve had, and, in retrospect, I’m sure you’ll look back on the week and laugh, once you stop crying. I hope things are looking up and once this April snowstorm is over, spring will be here.

  4. Linda

    Eat, drink and just stay in. Spring will come, it always has. Hang in there. I wish I lived close so I could help you in some way.

  5. Sue

    OMGosh….Why do troubles have to heap up on a person all at once??? There certainly are times like that around here, but then they pass and it levels out again. Good thing, or we would all be looney toons.
    Hope your days smooth out soon.
    Has Telly always been an escape artist? Dogs can totally flatten out. I remember seeing one of mine do that to get under a wood fence. Couldn’t believe it! He came back on his own side with the neighbor dogs bone in his mouth. Little rascal!

  6. Fiona at Ice Bear Quilts

    Hang in there, Mary. Spring is just around the corner, and everything will feel better when the sun begins to shine and the grass begins to grow.

  7. Cheryl regan

    I read your column faithfully. It must be so difficult to have so much on your plate with the weather the way its been. Sure hope your dogs stay inside the fence. That would be a big worru!

  8. Michele Greiman

    I swear Telly has some white tail deer in her. She’s like a magician that can magically appear and disappear across a fence no matter how much you try to prevent her from doing that. Beer and chips solve a lot of problems. Keep the pantry stocked.

    P.S. Your music yesterday was wonderful. No worries, I didn’t notice the change in keys in your intro to How Great Thou Art.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Michele – I appreciate you saying you didn’t notice but you’re a musician, how could you not notice? Darn it.

  9. Diane

    Oh gosh, Mary. Yes, Telly could have climbed the fence. We had one that climbed ours. He was good at it. She must not teach Hazel!! 4 flats–that is just 2 times 2 flats and since two of you played, it makes perfect sense to me!! Hang in there; Spring is almost here in Central Ohio so you’ll get it, too, although we are scheduled for snow on Monday, too. Is Rick ok? Hugs to both of you!!!

  10. Lynn

    So sorry for your stress. Having a loved one recovering from surgery is so hard.
    Visiting him at the care center takes so much time. You are dealing with so much.

  11. Carol Reese

    I don’t like beer, but I might learn to with weather like you have had. We gals in Ankeny said we have no room to whine when we hear your woes up north. And yes, I am seeing the green grass, too. Hope springs eternal!!

  12. MaryLee

    You are going through a really stressful time. Enjoy the beer but make sure you drink water too. Keep hydrated. Here’s to no headache.

  13. Donna Sproston

    Thank you for the uplifting reminder that when life hands you lemons, drink beer! Or in my case, a glass of Reisling or Marguerita mix ready to pour from Costco. I suggest their Sanders Dark Chocolate Salted Caramels too, but you might want to clear your palate first with chips. My day brightens when your posts pop up.

  14. Carol

    I haven’t responded in quite a while….life with mom, sigh…..but today, I feel your pain….by which I mean, the beer headache! I had such a week….beer and popcorn were the medication of choice last night. Tonight….it’s back to water for sure!

  15. Martha Engstler

    April snows bring May flowers, No, guess that isn’t the way it’s supposed to go but this year even in the east that is what’s happening. In Washington DC the cherry blossoms are beautiful along with a lot of other flowers. We had snow on the 9th here in PA but today is fabulous. Dogs are tricky so hope you can figure out how to plug up those holes.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Martha – that’s the thing – there are no holes -how does she do it????

  16. Diane Deibler

    I’m sure no one noticed the music error except you and Margaret. At a funeral, people’s minds are elsewhere. You have lost a lot of younger people in your church lately; makes me ever so mindful to live each day to the fullest. Hopefully, the snow and mud will be gone soon and we will have some warm spring days before we are complaining about the heat!

  17. Jo

    As the old saying goes, “When life hands you lemons, stick ‘em in your bra!” Now we can add “drink beer and eat chips”.
    When spring gets here, it will be glorious!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jo – now that’s an old saying I’ve never heard but I’m going to adopt it as my new motto! Hahaha!

  18. Synthia Noble

    You definitely have too much on your plate right now! Be good to yourself; slow down; breath deeply. Blessings to you. Love, S.

  19. Kathy

    When you don’t do something repetitively it’s very easy as our ages to forget so don’t worry about it.
    I felt your anguish over the dogs and fencing. I worry slats in our white fence not being close enough if our little dog sees a deer out back and tries to wedge between them. So I now go out each time with my sweatshirt or jacket right next to the door and follow them around the back yard. I know it’s what I can live with and gets me outside for fresh air even if it’s cold out there. And here in western NY we are hoping the weather forecast is wrong for an ice storm here starting tomorrow afternoon.

  20. Becky from TX

    You have a lot going on…..but you are doing great! That darn Telly!!! You’ll have to admit climbing the fence is pretty amazing….. God will take care of you!!!

  21. Janie

    The weather this spring has been unbelievable to say the least! We are also supposed to get snow. Had hail and a brief thunderstorm this morning.

  22. Betty Klosterman

    Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think our snow storm is headed for you??? Right now here in Rapid City we are getting heavy, wet snow. I-90 was closed early morning. The wind is supposed to 55 mph this afternoon. Just east of us they are getting strong winds with white out conditions. They will have BIG drifts. You usually get our storms the next day. It started last night with rain. Guess we are prepared in case the electricity goes out. It is spring?
    An be glad Rick is in the nursing home.

  23. Lynn Handberg

    Certainly has been a never ending winter, I live in m pls area but I have family in Lake Mills area. I am also a church organist, and I understand you’re 4 flats issue. Sometimes my brain goes blank with liturgy I have played for 50 years. Stay safe this weekend and hope we don’t have to shovel too much!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Lynn – I have been a church pianist since I was a fifth grader – I know you understand the flats issue! Thanks!

  24. Paula

    Oh my word. You sound calm with the beer and now snacks but I bet you have had about all you can take. Hoping you do not get anymore snow! When is the snow usually over up there? Paula in KY

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Paula – it’s usually over by midMarch although a few years ago we had 8″ or so in May!

  25. Sharon Lowy

    Snow is almost over! Isn’t it??? It is April!!! Springtime! This is brutal. Take care!

  26. Diane from California

    Wow! You make me tired just reading about all your chores to keep everything going!
    Keep it up, Mary, you are doing great!

  27. Lee Bowers

    Mary, always glad to hear from you.
    We had a dog that liked to get out. Regardless of our best efforts.
    She waited around and got out. Finally we just got resigned to the fact that she enjoyed being out and if she got killed on the road it was her choice.
    You are doing your best…. have a great snowstorm. Warmer weather is out there someplace.
    Blessings Lee

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Lee – how fun to hear from you! Are you a regular blog reader? Winds are sustained at 45 mph tonite – kinda scary!

      1. Lee

        Yes been following you since your shop first appeared in the ” best shops” magazine. Then it was…gosh I can’t think of the name of the first newspaper before the Goat Gazzett. And your shop has quilted many Quilts for me. I have a pinwheel quilt made from Wear Warm Clothes. We go back a long way. Lol. Blessings to you. Be careful…we’re not getting any younger. I will be 70 in June.

        1. CountryThreads Post author

          Lee – you’re so right about not getting any younger – I’ll be 70 in July!

  28. Kay Price

    Bless your heart. It seems like nothing goes wrong until our husbands are layed up or they are gone.
    Hang in there things will get better. Which I could join you for some chips and beer. My husband is in Houston, TX for the weekend. So Benji (my 7 lb ShitZu dog) and I are keeping everything going. I hope!

  29. Colleen

    Yes a big can climb a wire fence. We had a lovely yellow Labrador dog who found she could launch herself at an angle and up and over. I was sure someone was leaving a door/gate open until the day I saw her do it. Our fix was to put a narrow strip of chicken wire across the top of the fence so her weight would cause her to fall back in the yard. We also had a small “digger” dog escape so we used the same type of chicken wire attached to the bottom of the fence then laying across the dirt so the digger dog was always trying to dig through the children wire.
    I swear we were good to our dogs/animals they just wanted to join us on the other side of the fence at times when we had work to do and could not watch them properly

  30. Ann Gupton

    Oh Mary…I love you…you have had so much on your plate
    lately…it can only get better…well…maybe after this latest snow storm coming..,we
    have had a lot of rain and is snowing out now…strong winds…ugh…our yard is so wet…
    nothing standing on its own…muddy…Tom made popcorn and we are having a
    beer or two…take care.

  31. Mareen

    Was nice to sit and have a beer with you…..oh the stories we have…..take care this too shall pass!

  32. Vickie E from Snellville

    Take care, it will get better! There’s always good to be found. You discovered she was out before you knew she was missing! You have a temporary solution to the snow and the gate. It’s a pain but it’s workable. We just have to look for the positive and remember – the glass is always half full!

    I love your blog, pictures and the farm! And of course sewing!

    Enjoy your snacks and beer!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jo – I’d love that – and just so you know – I can be in a beer drinking mood on very short notice!

  33. Karen

    s Telly of a dog breed that was bred for digging into burrows and/or just plaing digging for critters? That would explain that feat performed that you found…
    Have no solution for that ….

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Karen – Telly is a labradoodle – not bred for digging necessarily while Hazel, a Jack Russell Terrier is and that’s why we buried fencing 8″ deep.

  34. Ann Barlament

    I’m in love with Telly!!! I just hooted when you said she came out of the house!!! Hahaha
    My grandma always said, “where there’s a will, there is a way!”

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