Chickens Dance

Last night Moira and I worked on this poem together.

Chickens dance,

Chickens prance,

Chickens in their underpants.

Late at night

Oh! What a sight

Chickens in delight.

Every day

They hide away

And wait for night to play.

Liam's Second Birthday

Today is my boy's second birthday. It's hard to believe that the day has come. He's no longer my baby, no matter how hard I wish it was true. We had a quiet day today. Liam got to open his presents in the morning before Moira and Will left for the day. I made a light dinner so that we could pig out on dessert.

This is the fire truck that Moira picked out for him. It was by far his favourite gift.

Kyla picked out a toy airplane and a Thomas the Tank Engine book.

Will and I got him some new pants, shirts and socks.

And the piece de resistance, a new scooter. Liam loves the girls' but they are two-wheelers and he can't balance on them. This one allows him to be able to scoot all by himself.

From the Strattons, a tractor book with wheels.

We had ice cream sundaes for dessert. The kids got to make their own which was probably just as fun as eating them.

Yummy!

Cat Love

Moira and I are still volunteering at Simply Cats on Sundays. The last two times Kyla has come with us. The girls are a big help taking out the garbage, mopping and taking the dirty linens to the laundry and getting clean ones. They enjoy petting the cats and playing with them.

This is Branden. He is a sweet boy and is fascinated with my runners. He is a long-haired cat, but he was so matted when he came in that they had to clip off his fur. He looks like a lion with his mane and little tuft at the end of his tail.

This is Dolmas. He is a very big boy, and, yes, he is hanging upside down.

This was how Kyla saw him.

This is Licorice and is in room #3, the kitten room. He is so sweet.

This is Badger. He is very curious and liked to explore inside the cupboard. He is also in the kitten room.

This is Tiny and looks very much like our own Sugar. Kyla was disappointed that he didn't share Sugar's name and couldn't understand why we couldn't just change it.

New Additions

Last night Will and the kids went to get some firewood that someone was selling and brought home three baby chicks. I've wanted to get some chickens for a while because they are good for the garden, plus I think it would be so fun to look out the back window and see them running around.

Our three little chicks.

We were ill prepared for these babies so Will made a makeshift home for them out of a plastic tub. They're food dish was a coffee can lid filled with bird seed and crushed up crackers. The water dish was a small lamp cover. This morning we went to the farm store and got some real food and feeders and a heat lamp for them. It's amazing the difference warmth makes for them. At first they were huddled together, but when they got warm, they moved around and explored their new home.

This one perched on my finger.

Suki says, "Let me at 'em!" We have the chicks on top of our table so Suki can't get them. I think she is mostly curious, but until they are bigger, I don't want her to get too close. I'm never quite sure what she'll do. The cats have left them alone so far. Last night, Sugar lay down beside the tub, but didn't show any interest as to what was inside. When we can't keep an eye on the chicks, we put the lid on the tub to keep them safe.

We'll build them a proper coop outside soon. I want them to be all settled and safe before the cold weather comes. I'll make sure to post more photos as the chicks grow.

My Very First Treasury

Today I was included in my first Etsy treasury. I am SO excited. Make sure to check it out here.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with an Etsy treasury, it is a group of items for sale on Etsy and the group is chosen from a seller or buyer. There is one posted on the home page and there is a link on the left for more of them. There are usually themes for the treasuries, like a colour or motif. Not only is it a big deal just to be singled out from all of the millions of items for sale on Etsy, but it's also free publicity for your shop. Not all treasuries make it to the front page, but a lot of people still look through them.

To Erin of the silver dog jewelry, thank you so much for including my necklace in your beautiful treasury.

It's Fair Time Again

Last night I took Moira to the fair, just the two of us. The day before Kyla got to go with the cousins while Moira was at school so I thought this would be a good way to make it up to her - a trip to the fair and have some Mummy time.

This was dinner - a Nerd ice cream cone.

The petting zoo is always a highlight.

We rode on the Lollipop Swings.

Moira's favourite, the carousal.

This was taken from the top of the ferris wheel.

We had a good time together. Besides the rides and the petting zoo, Moira entered a colouring contest, I checked out my ribbons again (just to make sure that it wasn't just a dream), we looked through the expo building and admired all of the interesting and unusual entries. Moira played a few of the fair games and got more prizes than her sister, which was more important to her than just playing. We had a fun evening and I was so ready for bed when we got home.

I WON!

On Monday, Aimee and I submitted some of our jewelry to the fair to be judged. I'm so excited to say that we both won! I dragged Kyla and Liam to the fair grounds this afternoon in the heat because I couldn't wait to see how we did. I bribed them with lemonade so they happily obliged.

I've been playing with chainmaille lately. This is a 4-in-1 Japanese pattern bracelet. It won third place.

These are the earrings that I submitted. I got second place. You can just make out my ring on the left side

This one is hard to see, but it's a 6-in-1 Japanese pattern necklace. It won second place.

These are Aimee's entries. All of her jewelry is recycled from different plastic bottles, like from dishwasher detergent, coffee containers and laundry soap. I'm proud to say that she won first for her bracelet, second for her pin cushion ring and third for her earrings and necklace.

I had also submitted a ring, but it didn't win anything. First, second and third places all win a small monetary prize, but it's the cheezy ribbons and bragging rights that Aimee and I were after. Plus, I think it was brave of us just to enter. While we were standing in line, I almost chickened out. I wasn't sure what some of the other entries would look like and I was afraid that mine wouldn't stand a chance.

While looking at all of the other entries, it dawned on me that judging is subjective. There were a few pieces there that I was shocked to see hadn't won anything. They were complex - more like works of art than jewelry. And some of the pieces that won, like the first place prize for earrings, were boring and unimaginative. What does that say about the judge?

We plan on going back to the fair as a family some time next week. I'm excited to have a look around at everything else.