And Then There Were Five....

When we started out wonderful chicken hatching journey we were blessed with 6 chicks, which we named Henrietta, Lizzie, Emma, Fanny, Juniper, and Penelope. We've greatly enjoyed watching them grow, and learning about each one's personalities.  First we found that Lizzie and Emma were actually Cock-a-doodle-do, and Bubba (yes, our little hens are actually roosters).

Then we observed that they love eating bread, jumping around wildly when let out of their brooder, and LOVE going outside and ranging around the big pine tree.  That is were out sad story begins.

They also love the mulch around my laundry line

Here's Bubba

Easter Sunday, after all the fun and frivolities, we came home and decided it was nice enough to let you chickens outside to play for a little bit. WORST MISTAKE EVER! They enjoyed wondering around the yard, especially the large pine tree we have near our driveway.  Aren't they adorable?

After about an hour, the kids wanted to take our dogs for a walk.  Ty and I decided the chicks were having such a good time, and the weather was nice for the first time in weeks, that we would let them stay out while we walked the dogs.   Half an hour later when we returned home, the kids and I could only find 5 chickens.  After much panicking and frantic searching, we found out that my mother-in-law's dog, who lives 2 houses away, came frolicking by and ate Fanny.  

OK, as if, her dog eating my chicken wasn't bad enough, try explaining that grandma's dog ate your beloved chicken to a 2 and 4 year old.  It did not go well. There were many tears shed.  Here is our last picture of our beloved Fanny. 

Fanny is the large one, Penelope is the small one.

Beautiful little Fanny you will be remembered by the Moser household.

A Labor of Love and bloody fingers

I did it! I finished Lilly's Easter sweater with one day to spare.  Mind you I have been working on this sweater jacket for over a month.  As the deadline was looming I spent more and more time knitting.....I felt like my fingers were going to bleed.  It was all worth it when I finally wrangled her into it.

And yes, I did have to wrangle her into it. More like chase her down the hall, pin her legs down and force her to try it on. After the initial fiasco of trying it on, she loves it.  I must admit I am proud as punch of it.  So, because I am so proud of myself,  I am now going to display hundreds, OK that might be and exaggeration, of pictures of Lilly and her sweater.

You can find the awesome pattern by Kate Gilbert here

New Home and New Hat

Yes, we frequently stay in our pajamas all day. Sue me

We now have 6 chicks, Penelope and Juniper hatched this week, living with us, and I decided it was time to get a bigger brooder. Having no more  boxes I went online and saw that someone had made a brooder out of a dog kennel, so that's what the kids and I set out to do.  The kids loved the project, but I'm not sure how much they really helped. We are all very proud of our new creation, and the chicks seem to love their new home.  I love walking past the room and glancing in to see what the chicks are doing. They are such adorable little creatures.

My son just sits and watches them now that he doesn't have to stand on a stool to see them

On a totally different not I've recently finished a hat for a lady who gave me to pictures and said, "put them together."  I did just that, and this is what it became.

This is not my hair arm or hand, this is my husbands. I just had to put that out there.

I think it turned out pretty cute.  I think it will look even better on the baby.  If I get picture I will be sure to post them up here.  

Lilly's Sweater Update: I am now shaping the armholes and am pretty happy with the project so far.  There are a few mistakes, and I don't love the yarn.  But the pattern is so beautiful that even my own ineptitude cannot ruin it.  I would like to have it done by Easter.  We'll see how that goes.

Hanging with the Chicks

On Tuesday afternoon, we became the proud owners of 4 little chicks.  After three long weeks of anxiously watching the incubator, our first batch of eggs hatched. I don't know who was more excited me or the kids.

 We were lucky enough to be able to watch them hatch.  The kids couldn't believe how big they were in comparison to the eggs. What a great learning experience for them, but who cares about that? Have you ever held a cute fluffy yellow little chick? They melted the heart of even my stubborn husband who wanted no part of having chickens.

We have no idea if they are girls or boys, but we're pretending they're girls.  We named them Hen (Henrietta), Lizzie (Elizabeth Bennett), Emma , and Fanny. Just take a gander.........

I think they might be a little frightened by the huge face in the corner

Adorable right? Sorry the pictures aren't great. I was do busy adoring them to take great pictures. I'll keep you updated with better pictures as they grow.