Every habit...

Valentine Hearts

I found the pattern for these on a website called Skip to My Lou. I have a friend who used to crochet alot and loves to decorate her house for the holidays. She is a wonderful woman who loves to do things for others when she can, is upbeat and happy, sees the good in each situation, and always asks how your family and children are doing. I wanted to do something for her to show her I love her and appreciate all she does for her neighbors.

 

A simple, easy to make crochet heart garland.

You can find the directions and better photos here:
Crochet Heart Garland
If you like crafting and crafting with kids, you will really like Skip to My Lou. Lots of fun ideas and great tutorials on crafting.

This project was so fast and fun that I may make a garland for our home, as well.

Lamb Diapers

Vet2Be named the little lamb Amanda Lynne (a mandolin) because he loves mandolin. She still loves running around with the dogs, but is definitely not house trained! I looked at preemie diapers the last time I was at the store. $9 for 30 diapers! Nope! Not spending that much money on diapers for a lamb.

I had some flannel on hand and decided to make some diapers for her.

 

Its a little hard to see in this photo, but there is a hole in the diaper for her tail!

A better photo with her tail coming through the diaper.

Here is the pattern I drafted. The instructions follow.

Click on the picture, it will come up full size. Then print to your printer. You may have to resize the pattern for your ewe lamb. Our lamb is very small.

 

Printable directions - click and print.

 Instructions for Ewe Lamb Diapers (This diaper will not work for a ram lamb)

1. Wash the flannel in hot water before you start to cut out or sew. Flannel will shrink. If you cut and sew before you wash the fabric, your diapers will shrink the first time you wash them,
2. Cut out both pattern pieces and overlap where indicated. Tape pieces together.
3. Cut out (2) diapers on fold.
4. Cut out (4) 3” x 3 ½” squares of flannel for the absorbent pad.
5. Zig-zag or serge around the edges of the absorbent pad.
6. Place absorbent pad on dotted lines on diaper and sew around the edge to attach it to the diaper.
7. Place other diaper piece on top of the one with the pad (the pad should be on the inside) then serge around the entire edge of the front and back of the diaper to make one diaper.
8. Mark placement for tail hole and sew a buttonhole there. Cut buttonhole open.
9. Pin velcro where indicated--strap pieces should be on one side, tummy pieces should be on the opposite side of the diaper. Before you sew, make sure that you can fold and the diaper and the velcro will come together to hold the diaper on.
10. Sew velcro onto diaper
11. Match dotted lines for darts. Serge or sew along dotted lines. You do not have to do this step, it makes the diaper fit better, but the diaper will still work if you don’t sew the dart. I serge the dart, you can also zig-zag at the dart and trim the excess.
    

These would probably fit doeling goat kids, as well. Hopefully we won't have any problems this year and have a 'house goat' as well as a 'house lamb'!

The diapers last about 2-3 hours before we have to change them. I need to make a few more to last us a few more weeks. They only take about 10 minutes to make. Finding the 10 minutes can be a problem some days!

Shift your attitude...

Dogs DO Like Lamb!

Vet2Be took this photo today, what a great shot of the new lamb and our dog, Sam.

Emma's Casket

Carpenter built the casket for Emma. He is Emma's uncle and our son-in-law. I lined it with the same fabric as I used to make the dress and the hankies for the women. I wasn't sure if they would want a pillow lined with pink or white, so I lined one side with pink and the other with white. They can use whichever side they want that way.

I left the pink side of the pillow up in the picture so you could see the pillow better. I stapled the bottom of the lining to the bottom of the casket along the seams so you can't see it. I had to use hot glue to attach the top of the lining to the inside wall. I couldn't figure out any other way to do it.

 

 The trim isn't caulked yet. It will look much better when you can't see any cracks at the corners. I used a bit of the ribbon, trim detail, and pearl that I used on the women's hankies.

The lid is a bit too tight this morning. The trim won't fit inside the casket box. Carpenter will have to fix that before he brings it to the mortuary sometime in the next day or two.

I love the walnut and the maple together. I think the casket is beautiful. I hope the family will like it and that knowing that there were so many people who cared to use their hands to make things for their little girl will bring them comfort during this difficult time.

New Lamb

Our friend started lambing season early. Not on purpose, the ram got in with a ewe early so there were early lambs! Our friend said the ewe didn't like this little ewe, so she asked if Vet2Be wanted to bottle raise her. Of course he said yes!

She came yesterday afternoon and stayed in a large plastic storage tote all night near the wood stove. Vet2Be slept by her, he has always thought that would be great fun. He decided it really wasn't any fun at all because the little lamb kept whining most of the night. Every two hours she cried until he fed her a little bit. Hopefully we will be able to get her out in the barn tonight. If she seems like she is eating well and staying warm today, then we will give it a try.

Sam and the new lamb

 

 Vet2Be trying to keep her a little quieter this morning :)