When I Lived In Modern Times

I bought this book last week when it was drastically reduced on Kindle Daily Deal.  An interesting insight into a period and place I know very little about.

Lampshade Makeover

Earlier in the week when I was waiting by the phone for hospital test results, (which thankfully were fine), I fixated upon the frivolous.  It's a common coping strategy round  here!

I decided that I could no longer live with such a naff and uninspiring lampshade on the upstairs landing dresser.  It was plastic-like and although we live in a  smoke free home, it looked like it had spent a good ten years living alongside someone who smoked thirty woodbines a day!  It wasn't cream and it wasn't beige; it was just downright awful.

Anyway, here it is now, having been wrapped in some mulberry paper with glittered butterflies which I picked up in the Paperchase sale, knowing it would come in very useful one day.  I cut it to size and attached it with watered down PVA glue - no posh modge podge stuff here.

It's not perfect and wouldn't stand up to close scrutiny, but it's bright and cheery.  If crafting had to be perfect and precise I'd never craft.

First swim

 Taking it easy...you have to be very careful as ducklings can easily drown.

Mummy dried all the creases with a fluffy towel.

Last but not least

Spot the odd one out!  This little fella arrived shortly after breakfast today and Miles has claimed him as his own.  So, there we have it, two golden and one black duckling from a clutch of seven eggs.  Not bad considering the other four never showed any signs of being fertile.

I'm off to put my feet up now.  I'm off duty, chilling, trying to feel for a deeper ease.  I've test results to collect tomorrow, and hospital appointments to make; it's fair to say I'm rather uptight.  Ah, off to find solace in my wool basket......

New arrivals

 The first hatchling arrived shortly before breakfast; the second not long before lunch.

They stayed in the incubator for a few hours till their downy feathers dried out.

It's incredible to think that they came out of an egg just hours ago; they seem so big in comparison to the eggs now.

They're different to hen chicks.  They take time to find their feet and were much more sleepy for the first couple of hours.  They're much louder and imagine that's something that will only get worse!  Here's hoping we have mild weather so they can migrate from the kitchen to the garden soon.

After the initial couple of hours they were more alert than any other hatchlings we've had.  This one was determined to try to peck the button off the cushion!

Awww, they have the makings of Easter card models!

The other girls seemed to sense there was something going on today.  Perhaps they heard the tiny cheeps?

The biggest difference we've noticed is how cuddly they are and how they seem to really want to be picked up and close to skin.  This one was determined to snuggle into Hermione's neck and go to sleep.

One more egg in the incubator.  Keeping everything crossed and hoping we can score a hat trick!

Pipping and zipping

Quick update on our duckling eggs.

We woke this morning to find one of the three eggs had 'pipped'.  This means that they had pushed the shell outwards and cracked it in one small area.  I've tried to photograph our eggs but they've not photographed well.  Here is a picture of a pipped egg to show you.

Since then another has pipped, and the one which pipped first has now begun to 'zip'.  When birds are hatching out of an egg, they don't just flex their wings and push the shell off, they make lots of little cracks around the shell, usually in a zig zag (zip like) type pattern, which weakens the shell and enables them to push it open.  Ah, here's a better picture to show the difference...

We're shocked by how long it's all taking.  Chickens are usually out well within 24 hours of the first pip.  Seems the ducks are going to take much longer; apparently they rest for longer periods between stages.

Oh, very exciting.  I'm trying to really savor this hatch as once it's done we will have hatched chickens, quail and ducks.  I'm not sure if I can justify further hatches for educational purposes - what do you think?

Textile landscapes, yarns and roses

It must be said, although I'm not actually doing the Arts Award, I'm certainly enjoying the ride! I have been joining in some textiles workshops Hermione has been partaking in.  I've always wanted to create textile landscapes, I love the landscapes by Helen Cowans, but I've not even had the confidence to try before.

We started out with a piece of cream cotton sheeting and painted it with silk paints and acrylics.  We then stitched on organza which we later fused and burned.

I made seed pod beads from copper wire and learned how to stitch a french knot (and various adaptations of a french knot!).

Incidentally, for those who live in my area, you may be interested to know the Pound Shop has some bright and cheery wool/acrylic blends in at the moment.   I love it when my crochet basket is over flowing with choice!

Ah another recent prurchase; the largest rose candle I could afford.  Rose is supposed to banish negativity.

My landscape as it progresses.  Can you see how the organza has shriveled and pulled away from the stitching in response to strong heat?  Not quite sure what possessed me to put that green piece in the sky.  It looks very seaweed like.  Ho hum......

The yellow flowers are made from an old thin cleaning cloth.  It's thinner than felt and lets the light filter through.  I'm amazed by how strongly I'm drawn to reds in this little piece of creation.  I don't usually use any true red at all in decorating my home, save for a wee touch in the kitchen.  I often feel too much red in my home stimulates energies which I'd rather temper, but it somehow feels right here.  I think it may be destined for a shady area of my bedroom landing which could do with an energy boost!

Whoops, almost forgot to say, remember I told you a wee while back that we set seven fertile duck eggs in the incubator?  Well, it turned out that only three were fertile.  We got rid of those so as they didn't explode and jeopardise the well being of the others.  They aren't due to hatch till Tuesday/Wednesday but when we arrived home from a Jubilee gathering a short while ago, we heard tiny cheeps and a quick candling revealed that one has broken through into the air sack.  This is an indication that it will probably hatch within the next 24-48 hours.  Eggciting stuff!!!