Nicer Chick Photos and Questions on their Parentage

There is some question about whether these guys are actually what they were sold to me as. I don't much care either way, as long as they all end up laying breeds and not meat breeds. Anyway, the Tractor Supply guy said that the yellow chicks were New Hampshire Reds. I don't think they are, because I don't think New Hampshire Reds are yellow as chicks! I may have lucked out (I'm hoping) and have Buff Orpingtons, which was what I wanted in the first place. I ordered Buffs from a chicken breeder, but she didn't get them incubated and it was going to be another 6 weeks, so just got chicks at TSC and canceled my order with the breeder. Anyway, I have five yellow chicks of uncertain parentage:

And then I have three of these little guys with dark red and darker wings:
And two of these little softer looking red chicks with lighter wings:
I've posted a question on my Backyard Chicken Forum with the hopes that someone has some insight. I don't really care what they are as long as they're not all roosters, but it would be nice to know, and I'm hoping that I lucked out and some are Orpingtons. To tell the truth, the TSC folks were nice, but didn't seem to know diddly-squat about chickens!

Sleepy Peepies

They're not dead, just asleep! They're growing fast and doing well so far.

Look what I got!

I have five Rhode Island Reds and five New Hampshire Reds! Look at that little one on the right, happily pecking at the thermometer. It's amazing how much poop they produced in a few hours, too. These little guys and gals came from the feed store this afternoon.

Alice and the Cupcake

Alice is in her Re-Ment Kitchen, showing off her new pink dress with lace.


Then she spied a cupcake on the table!

MMM! Cupcakes!

(The dress will be posted to my etsy shop within the next few days.)

Book Mooch

I have a new love and its name is Book Mooch! It's just fantastic. I have a number of books sitting around that I have read but don't really want to keep. I have a number of books that I would like to read. I loaded my list of books that I don't want into Book Mooch, and people who want those books can request them. I ship them out by Media Mail, usually about $2.50 or less per book. I get points for them, which I can then "spend" on requesting books from other people! Great for all you literary types who lead busy lives and can never get your library books back to the library on time! So all of you--join up. I want to see what books you have that I can mooch!

Frogs!

I love this froggy fabric! It's from LeelaLouDesigns on etsy. She was de-stashing, much to my benefit. This pair of jammies is listed in my etsy shop, and I think they're suitable for either a boy or a girl.

Pretty in Blue and White

Here's Lei Li looking winsome in the dress I finished on Thursday.

Japanese Craft Book Bunny

Today's project was a bunny made of linen and flannel with embroidered eyes and face. The bunny is for my niece for her 2nd birthday. The pattern was from For Sweet Baby, which I ordered from Yes Asia about a year ago. The background book is a vintage Peter Cottontail that I found at the Friends of the Library Book Sale in Ithaca in the fall.

Spring Finery

I'm absolutely ready for Spring to come. It's been fairly Spring-like around here lately, and my daffodils are starting to peek up through last year's leafy mess that's covering the yard. Everything's soggy outside, still too soggy to rake. Today it's supposed to snow, though, typical of upstate NY in the spring. Above, Kerry (Mandy by Heidi Plusczok) is sporting a new dress I made and embellished with spring chicks. Below is Song by Helen Kish, wearing the spring frock that I made from the pattern that was included with her when she arrived.

Pounce!

This was today's project. I crocheted this little guy from a Planet June pattern. Isn't he stinkin' cute?! He's taken up residence on top of my craft shelves to keep me company.

Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream Frosting!

This is a cake I made for my boss' birthday tomorrow. He turns 65! It's an orange flavored white cake with marmalade filling and orange buttercream frosting, decorated with orange gummies. It's 100% homemade (except the gummies, of course). Here's the recipe:

Orange Cake

2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs
3 teaspoons orange extract
1 1/2 tablespoons orange zest
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup milk

Grease and flour two 9" cake pans and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the sugar and butter and then add the eggs one at a time and beat till smooth. Stir in the orange extract and the orange zest. Add the orange juice and stir. Mix the flour and baking powder in a separate small bowl and then add to the batter. Add the milk, beat till smooth and then place in the two prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until it tests done. Turn out onto wire racks after they cool for a few minutes and allow to cool thoroughly.

I filled my cake with marmalade (prepared) between the two layers. I then frosted the whole thing with buttercream frosting. I didn't measure anything so I can't exactly say how much sugar or milk I used in my buttercream, but I softened two sticks of butter and then added confectioner's sugar to make a stiff dough. I then drizzled in milk, maybe about 2 tablespoons' worth, mixed, and then added more sugar until it became the right consistency. I colored mine soft orange and then frosted the cake. I put orange gummies on, then piped leaves and writing onto the cake. Hope it tastes good!

Etsy Outfit

I made this outfit for a gal on etsy. I hope she loves it! Poppy certainly does. The little bunny blankie is made of a doll sock and a scrap of flannel. I turned the sock inside out, cut down from the toe end and then stitched around the slit to make ears. I turned it right side in, stuffed with a tiny scrap of stuffing, and then added beads and embroidery to make a face. I then sewed it to the flannel and now Poppy has a little friend.

My Cat Ate my Pincushion

Well. Here is the culprit.

And here is the nice pincushion, made just on Thursday, that she "enjoyed." It was so nice and NOT RIPPED UP before. The spots are even loose. I at least hope she had fun.

Lark's New Jumper

Lark's got a new jumper in feather-wale corduroy. The pattern was from Adams-Harris Patterns and the dog is by Barlee Rumburg.

Pretty in Pink

I've been meaning to make a case for my mp3 player (Zen Stone Plus) forever...or for at least a whole year, which is as long as I've had it. It's so tiny that it gets lost and it's hard to find somewhere to put it when you're listening to it, since putting it in a pants pocket usually results in its buttons getting pushed at the most inopportune moments! So today, I designed and made it a case, finally, while listening to This American Life. The case is made of wool felt, with embroidered details, and it has a giant brass safety pin on the back to clip it to my clothes.

Incidentally, the episode that I downloaded and listened to while making this was a very good one, but rather sad. It was Episode 352, "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar." It's about a kid that went missing in 1912 and then turned up 8 months later with a tinker. He was then claimed by two different families, a trial ensued, and he ended up with the Dunbars. Many years later, his granddaughter, curious about the story, started to investigate and came to a very interesting conclusion.

Alice also insisted on a new outfit yesterday. Today I photographed her with some Re-Ment. Alice is just too cute.

Great Backyard Bird Count

I'll be participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count this year and I hope you do, too. It's a great activity to do with kids, but equally fun to do by yourself! Just count the birds in your backyard for only 15 minutes over this weekend, sticking to a few easy guidelines. Your data helps scientists keep track of backyard bird populations and how they're doing. You can also enter photographs of your backyard birds to win prizes. It's easy, fun, helps nature and contributes to science! Enjoy!

More Sewing Fun

I spent yesterday sewing outfits for these two dolls. The doll above is Dawn, one of the Tuesday's Child sculpts by Dianna Effner for Boneka. The doll below is Poppy, an 8" companion doll for the Chrysalis dolls by Helen Kish. Poppy's PJ's are on etsy.

Pretty Birds All in a Row

This winter, I have been visited by several Pine Siskins. Last week's flock was about 25 birds. I count birds for Project Feederwatch, and this has made me so much more aware of who's at my feeder. The siskins are some of my favorites. They have an understated appearance until they spread their wings, and then they show their glorious yellow underfeathers. They are also scrappy little things and have frequent dust-ups with their friends and the other birds over who can have the best seed. The best part about the siskins is that they are not afraid of me at all. My siskins and chickadees always sit right there and look me in the eye curiously while I fill their feeders, and sometimes even will land on them (or my hands) before I have put them up again. If the feeders are empty, you can bet someone will tell me next time I go out the door! And they (siskins and chickadees) can tell me from the other two people who live here. They fly away when the others go out, but never for me.


Aren't they just the cutest things?

Etsy Shop Update and Newest Sewing

Well, it's been a great weekend! I finally had time to update my Etsy Shop. I also had time to make Alice Cherry Blossom an outfit. She's DARLING! I love her and I thank Biscuitbear so much for giving her up. I had wanted her for a long time, but had a terrible time finding one. I think she'll be happy here! She has Mushroom Nursery Re-Ment to play with and I'm planning to either get her a Re-Ment roombox to live in or else make up the dollhouse scale roombox that I have had sitting around here forever into a nice room for her.

These Helen Kish dolls photograph so beautifully. Tompkin's pajamas are on etsy. His fabulous dog is by Barlee Rumburg of Fog City Designs. He's a portrait of my dear Toby, who incidentally (the real Toby, that is!) smells lovely like lavender now because giving him a bath also happened this weekend! I realized on Friday night that this was the first weekend I had had to just rest and do what I wanted to do since before Christmas. Ahhh...so pleasant!

Bunnies and Dollies

A brave and hungry bunny was out most of the day under the feeder right under our kitchen window, eating the hulls from the sunflower seeds that the birds dropped. He's pretty cute. I wonder if he's the same guy who was a baby last spring?

I think this Dianna Effner little girl (Mei Ling) is just adorable and I had to make her a new outfit. She's about 10" tall, all vinyl, and made by Boneka. I renamed mine Olivia. Her dress is a pattern by Claudia Ionker, and her pinafore is an original design by me, with an embroidery from Floresita's site.

Happy 2009

It's the New Year again. It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by. I just reread last year's New Year post. I wonder how I did with my resolutions? Here they are:

1. Be sure to remember my seven habits, especially BE PROACTIVE!

I think I did OK with this one.

2. Spend more time traveling this year and visiting family, especially.

I visited family at least quarterly, and also went to Georgia for CE in September.

3. Always make time for crafting something, anything, at least once a week.

4. Play my dulcimer at least twice a week.

Hmm...could have done better with both of these; only so much time in a week. I am, however, much better overall at playing my dulcimer. Last year I could play NONE of the Christmas songs in my song book and this year I can play all of them, even though I'm slow at some of them.

5. Draw, watercolor or pastel something at least quarterly.

I didn't manage to make a fall artwork, but I did do something in all of the other quarters.

6. Cut down on the number of grocery bags we use this year. Try this instead.

I did manage to cut down on the grocery bags and have the handmade bag made out of Plarn MOSTLY done, but not 100%. I have been saving and collecting bags all year to make it out of. It's time-consuming.

7. Buy handmade or make most gifts this year.

I did pretty well with most gifts for my nieces' birthdays this year, but ran out of time on the Christmas ones. Again, only so much time in a week.

So, on to this year's resolutions. I may add to this over the next few days.

1. Work on time management. I never feel like I have enough time to do any of the things that I want to do, and my life is suffering for it. I seem to spend most of my life chronically stressed. My free time always feels like it's consumed with chores and errands and I rarely get to do the things I REALLY want to do, which are generally craft projects. In my ideal world, I'd love to add lots of things to my etsy shop and become a successful craft entrepreneur.

2. Keep trying to craft something at least once a week. See resolution 1.

3. Finish some of my unfinished projects. Again, see resolution 1.

4. Clean and organize my cabinets in the kitchen.

5. Paint the craft room! I'm so tired of looking at the icky painted kid hand prints on the wall from the last family that lived here!

6. Spend more quality time with Aaron.

We'll see what this next year brings. I intend also to keep working on my dulcimer playing and my artwork.

I've Been Sewing Doll Clothes...

Making pretty things for dolls is my favorite activity in all the world. Piper's dress isn't new, but Poppy's (the baby) is. My new camera is definitely good at taking closeup photos.


This dress was made for Ellery back in the fall, right before my camera quit. It's hand-embroidered and the bonnet and booties are hand-crocheted. The props are by Re-Ment.

Brr!

This was the scene in upstate NY this morning. It's so pretty!

Small Toys

My camera was back. It worked for two days then died the same miserable death it had before. I gave up with the hassle of trying to keep a 5-year-old camera alive and just bought a new one. The new one is a Canon Powershot A1000IS and it's great--better than my old one, but don't tell my old one! I can finally blog some of the things I've been working on for a while.

This cupcake is part of a gift for my niece Alexis for Christmas. I made her smell like strawberry and she has glass seed beads for "sprinkles." The pattern is from Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli.

The hedgehog is a gift for my vision-impaired nephew, Noah. In order to add interest, I put a bell inside so he jingles when he's shaken. He's from a pattern from Tiny Yarn Animals.

Also for Noah, a bright-colored Scottie Dog toy with crinkly stuff inside. He's embroidered on corduroy with fleece on the back for extra texture. The pattern was from Sublime Stitching.

Hooray, Camera's Back!

And here's The Brother to demonstrate how adorable gray cats sitting at the top of cat towers can be. He's not so sure about the camera in his face, but right after this picture, he came down and sat in my lap while I uploaded the photo to the computer. He has his ear at quite a jaunty angle in the photo!

Phooey, no camera!

Well, my trusty Canon is in the shop AGAIN being repaired and was supposed to be back two weeks ago but still is not. I have a lot of things to photograph but no camera to photograph with! I have recently made some super-cute hedgehog themed things for my baby nephew, Noah, who is vision-impaired and needs some toys with texture. I made him a hedgehog toy that has bells inside for sound and is made of eyelash yarn for texture. I've also made a few new things for my 14" Kish girls, and hope to share photos soon.

It's SNOWING here. We have about two inches on the ground. And it's cold, too. Winter has arrived early this year.

On the new project front (just what I needed, a new project!) I have finally purchased a new dollhouse kit for myself. I have not been happy with my old dollhouse for years, because I assembled it when I was 18 and it's not put together well. I have gotten the April Cottage from Dolls House Emporium in England and can't wait to get to work on it. It's a massive undertaking, though, and I'm still in the materials-gathering stage. The photos of the house are here:

April Cottage

Autumn in Upstate

Autumn in Upstate NY is a gorgeous blaze of color, especially this year. These photos are from about a month ago, at the peak of the leaf color. Above is the ramshackle tree house in the corner of my lawn.
My front door with the mums (which have now been frosted and don't look anywhere near as nice!).

And sunset's last rays accent the warm colors of the hillside behind my house.

Don't Forget to Vote!

It's election day! I voted! I hope you do, too!

Don't mess with crafters!

Hey, someone just pulled up beside my house and pulled out my yard sign for Obama and Biden! I was here when they did it, at about 1:40 PM today! I heard a car idling outside, so I went to the window to look and someone was pulling away in an SUV (Bronco II or Cherokee-sized, dark colored, possibly burgundy or black) and my sign was GONE! I went up to the road to see if I could catch the license plate, but I couldn't, so I hopped in the car and drove madly down the road to see if I could figure it out, and the only person I saw even roughly matching that description was a lady pulled over past the next intersection down in a Bronco which was black and had some Sunoco stickers on the back. Not sure if that was the culprit or not.

So I came home, boiling mad and reported it to the County Sheriff's office. I'm waiting for one of them to arrive to take the official report. Now here's where I'm glad I have a well-stocked craft room. I googled up Obama printable yard signs, printed off one and mounted it on foam-core board with some YES glue. I have used a pencil sharpener to sharpen some dowels and glued them into the bottom so I have my own, new Obama sign. Lickety-split--new sign. And I'm tempted to print off fifteen more and make a giant banner of signs across my front yard. Stupid idiots.

THE NERVE OF SOMEONE TO STEAL MY YARD SIGN RIGHT OFF MY FRONT YARD! YOU CREEP! SHAME ON YOU.

There, that's about as excited as I ever get.

Now back to waiting for the sheriff, and I'll post my homemade sign when he leaves.

Here's the link to the printable Obama signs for anyone who might have a need.

Free Printable Obama Yard Signs