Bird seed cookie ornaments

I promised a few friends I'd post the instructions on the bird seed ornaments we made as party favors for James and Clara's birthday bash.These favors were among one of many ideas pinned for the event and it was also the only one that was attempted.  Here is the link to the original pin.

Our first batch was a flop, maybe because we used a coarser blend of bird seed, or maybe we made them too thick? Either way we found we needed more wet mixture than what was called for in the original recipe.  We also found it was very helpful to have a package of wipes on hand and essential to use cooking spray on the cookie cutter.

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water

1 envelope unflavored gelatin (2.5 teaspoons)

3 tbsp corn syrup

4 cups birdseed

We poked a hole in them with a chop stick while they were still sticky then let them sit over night. 

This was a great messy project for kids and good alternative party favor.  

But did the birds like it?  I don't know because I must have hung ours too low,  our dog Archie got to them and all that is left is nasty pile of bird seed (with string) dog throw up by our side walk way.  I'm hoping some birds will come and clean that up and planning to make another batch this winter.  The kids are even talking about decorating one of our evergreens in Christmas shaped ornaments for the holidays. 

Fall Birthday Bash

This past weekend we celebrated Clara and James' birthday with a bunch of our friends and family.  This was our first big farm party with over 50 guests and the kids had so much fun they are already making plans for the next big party here.

My mom is a very experienced entertainer, she still hosts crowds of 50 or even 100+ guests every few months and does so effortlessly.  I don't have as much experience and still feeling like I dropped the ball on the decorations, food spread and planned activities.  But no one seemed to notice except me.  It was a perfectly beautiful day so most the kids were happy to just run free, visit the animals and climb trees.

James did manage to organize a few games for the older kids including eating doughnuts off a string and toilet paper dodge ball.

Clara had helped me make her pink cupcakes that morning and James baked two batches of brownies instead of a cake.

But by the time all the toilet paper was cleaned up from dodge ball, all the brownies were already devoured and there was nothing left to light a candle in for James.  So we made due with a plate of whip cream.

 And I'm sure you can guess what happened next.

Then this.

And it didn't stop until two cans of whip cream were empty.

Instead of gifts we had requested a small donation of food that we plan to deliver to Food Gathers, instead of party favors we made bird seed cookie ornaments. 

We wound it down by the camp fire and are grateful to all who made the effort to travel out to the country and help celebrate with our family.

Birthday Sewing -a Waldorf inspired doll

 Clara's been asking to go to Build a Bear for her birthday but I somehow convinced her we'd "build a doll" instead.   

I've been eyeing the bamboletta dolls for over a year and have yet to be quick enough to add one to my cart, it seems they sell out in less than 10 seconds.  Over that time the demand has pushed the price high enough that I decided we'd try to make one ourselves.  But even making it ourselves was not inexpensive, I think I spent over $50 on supplies and I'm sure later down the page I may mention the hours of concentration involved.  All that said this was a worthwhile project and Maryanna almost has me convinced to make her one as well.  

This was not mindless sewing. One day in the middle of it I had to put two Netflix on in a row for the younger kids to allow me the concentration I needed for sculpting the wool stuffing and hand sewing.  And then the hair kept me up till 12 am until I got it the way I liked it.

I did use a pattern and that helped, but I didn't like the body proportions so I ended up taking the doll apart and remaking it.  I used Joy's 16"Honey doll pattern and though I made adjustments to the actual pattern I found the booklet of instructions invaluable.

All of the supplies were ordered from Weir Crafts, as of now they are only selling online but since they are located right below my midwife's office I was able to hand pick up the supplies and get a peak at all the great products they offer.  The fabric is a cotton knit and the hair is a combination of mohair and worsted wool.  The body is stuffed with wool batting, the shoes are felt and the outfit was put together from my scrap pile.  

She even has a set of underwear which were also made from my scrap pile (that's what I love about doll clothes)!

Clara has named her Rosie and has already requested a ballet outfit, night gown and a few more pairs of underwear for her.  

She has already been played with, danced with, hugged, in the swing, to the chickens, to the fire pit, dressed and undressed, slept with and gotten dirty and wiped clean.  Which makes me think it was worth the effort in making it.  

Warm wooly gnome hats

Good news - I finally set up my sewing room yesterday.  In the meantime however, I took to knitting to fill some of my creative urges.  

I found this pattern on etsy and when I went to pick out the yarn at a shop in Ann Arbor, the owner informed me it was designed by a local woman, I think that makes me love it even more.  

The hats were quick and easy to knit up.  As I was knitting them I kept singing Heather Forest's song The Cap that Mother Made from this story.  I would sometimes work on the hats while tucking Henry in bed and while laying next to him make up all sorts of stories about a magical cap that would make him invisible and able to chase down dragons, he was the most excited for me to finish. 

I experimented with different yarns and sizes and after three I think I have it figured out. George's was the first one done, I used the Malabrigo Rios super wash Merino and size 6 & 8 needles for the children's size but it was too small for anyone but him.  Here he is trying to break into the sheep's pen. 

  For Henry's I went up to the adult size but it is too big, I used another merino worsted weight called  artful yarns water fall.

Clara picked out her own yarn, it is a Malabrigo worsted weight.  I went back to the children's size for hers adding a few inches to the neck length and it was just right.

I love how adorable they each look but I am especially pleased with the insulation it provides for their necks.  Paul's mom is making a few more for Maryanna and Peter but I don't think I could persuade the older two to wear one, maybe if they felt how warm and cozy they were.

While Maryanna is waiting for Nanny to finish hers, she's opted for more of a city girl look for outside play.  I am cracked up by the way she's been carrying her purse around just in case she found an egg or something.

A week in review

This week has been wonderfully full, so full that there's been no time to blog the highlights.  But here's a quick review.

Kitty playtime.

Chicken playtime.

Ped (William's aracauna, "Pedius Viridis") starting laying.

The girls built a primitive shelter.  

Set my sewing machine up outside and Peter helped sew another scrap quilt top.

School work distraction.

Visited a dairy goat farm and was unsuccessful in persuading Paul to bring one home (only because the one available doe is due the same week as I am).

Went to Tillers and purchased three ewes (all due to lamb this winter).  The fiber snob in me chose the merino, but my more practical side simply put down a few tarps, a pile of straw and loaded them right in the back of the van.  This gave all our more experienced neighbors a good laugh. 

Paul was laughing the whole hour+ drive home.

Got them comfortable in their new home.  Then aired out the van for two days.

DIY Swing

Maryanna approached James yesterday with a hand sketched diagram of how to make a rope swing.  She had tried one out at a friend's house and has been begging to set one up just like it ever since.

  

So we picked up the simple supplies, rope and a garden hose segment, then begged James to climb up to secure it.  Here he is reviewing how to tie a bowline knot from the Dangerous Book for Boys, I think this project was exciting for him because it did feel just a little dangerous.  

 

But is James an expert tree climber and has much experience reading books way up high, and actually this branch was not too high.  

This swing is as simple as a loop around the branch tied with a bowline knot and covered with a bit of garden hose to protect the branch.  The bottom foot loop is also tied with a bowline knot and covered with a bit of garden hose to make it comfortable on the foot.  Here it is in action, and it saw much action on this beautiful autumn day.  I think we're going to have to make a few more.

Thanks Maryanna for sharing your idea and not letting this season pass us by without swinging.

Now we've got to come up with a design that is easier for the little ones to use.