Mother Cluckers New Arrivals

We received our order of chicks and ducklings last Wednesday. So far everyone is doing really well and the white rocks are already feathering out. They have provided much entertainment in the last few days. We received 50 white rocks, 6 rhode island reds, 6 barred plymouths and 3 ducks. Everyone is getting along thus far, though I have heard that we'll have to split the white rocks from the rest of the bunch soon as they get bigger and start to pick on the smaller chicks.

Here is a pic of Tom setting the chicks up in their new home and another showing just HOW excited Miss G was to see the chicks.

Bobble Diaper Cover

Just finished knitting this cute little diaper cover for the new babes last night (I still have to sew in the thread ends but let's face it, I never get that done anyways!). I've been eyeing up this Manos del Uruguay yarn for ages waiting for the right project. As soon as I saw this project in "Boho Baby Knits: Groovy Patterns for Cool Tots" by Kat Coyle I knew it was meant to be. The yarn is 30% silk and 70% merino and is oh so soft. It is hand-dyed by women in Uruguay. The organization's aim is to bring economic and social opportunities to rural women in the country. I've started knitting the bobble top hat that goes with the diaper cover. After all, every baby needs a special knit. I can't wait to see his/her little bum wrapped up in this! The flash made this second picture a little wonky but I wanted to show how cute the cuff looks undone.

Let's Learn to Button!

Since I am now home with Miss G every day I thought I'd create a few learning activities that we can practice together. I sewed this button-hole activity in less than 5 minutes (I knew I was saving those buttons for a reason!). It provides a couple of learning experiences. Firstly, the toddler learns to associate like colours with eachother by matching the different coloured squares of felt. Secondly, the toddler learns to do and un-do buttons by putting the squares together and passing the button through the hole. I like that the felt is easy to work with, required very little sewing and that the button holes are not too rigid for her little fingers. I'm hoping to create some dressing frames similar to the ones at montessorimom.com so we can practice zippers, laces and velcro next!