E is for Eggs

This post isn't craft related but I had to share.

                                                                   April 7th 9:30pm

We placed these duck eggs in the incubator 29 days ago. They started pipping yesterday morning so we should have baby ducklings sometime this evening.

                                                                 UPDATE April 8th 1:30pm
                                                                        Almost there!

 

UPDATE April 8th 4:30pm

We have our first baby duck!

 

We started with almost 20 eggs. After the 7 day candle test we found that only 4 were fertile. We ended with 2 baby ducklings, giving us a 50% hatch rate which isn't so bad on our first try. Below is a picture of the cute little ones.

 

 

D is for Dog Toy

This pattern is a cheap and quick alternative to buying your dog store bought toys.

Supplies:
Yarn for Small Dogs

Old T-shirt Strips for Large Dogs
Scissors

 

I used yarn to make this dog toy, as my toy is for a smaller dog. If you have a medium to large sized dog replace yarn with old t-shirt strips so that the end result will be more durable.

 

Step 1: Cut (18) 40" strands of yarn.

Step 2: Bunch the strands into 2 groups, 9 strands in each group.

Step 2: Form an X by crisscrossing the 2 groups of yarn. (I grouped mine by the colors red, white, & blue)

 

Step 3: Tie knot into the center of X.

Step 4: Braid each section, 4 sections total. Trim ends to even length.

 

You may add more strands of yarn to increase the overall thickness of the toy.

 

Please do not copy or distribute this pattern. You are welcome to make this item, using my pattern, for both personal and business use. If you sell items made using this pattern, please provide a link back to this post. Thank you! J

Duck...Duck...PEN!

When I first met the man in my life he was very anti-pets. There was only one fuzzy creature on this planet he tolerated and that was HIS cat Hot Rod.

 

Fast forward 5 years and look how well trained my hubby is. :) This is the duck pen that he built me this past summer. He added a perfect little gate for easy access. He also built a hutch on the side, so that I can lock the ducks up at night.

 

I currently have a khaki campbell drake, pekin hen, black swedish hen, and a crested blue swedish hen.

 

For the record, he has built me a chicken coop, rabbit hutch, raccoon hutch, and this duck pen. I think it's safe to say that I've converted him into an animal lover!