Then there were 4....

The dogs seem to be having a hard time understanding that Ducks are friends, not food.
Our 6 friends are now just 4, alas, some loss was expected and we are now super cautious about our remaining chums, and the dogs and ducks are only allowed out at the same time under strict supervision, until the hounds get the message, it is debatable they will.

It doesn't help that the ducks, despite seeing two of their friends savagely eaten, have no fear of the dogs, and stroll past them at leisure, really, they are asking for trouble.
You would think they might realise that water = safety, swim little friends swim! But no, they seem to prefer sunbathing to swimming, and the dogs are constantly sniffing their butts and planning their next move, le sigh.

In my long absence, I neglected to tell you all about the arrival of the ducks and new chickens. New pets are always met with great suspicion by the hounds, the main question quivering on their lips, is, predictably "Can I eat them?".
Despite the answer being a resounding NO, some casualties are always expected, and honestly there have been many.

On Mothers day I was presented with two pretty Sussex Chickens and two very handsome Labrador Ducks. I will refrain from going into too much detail because really it is quite upsetting, shall we just say that one of our Sussex Chickens now has just one leg (which she seems to hop around rather well on!), and is thus named Peggy - or Peg Leg. The two Labrador Ducks (which cost a small fortune) lasted less than an hour, we consoled ourselves with the fact that at least they got to swim on a very real lake before their passing, having been previously raised in something akin to a Chicken Battery farm.

Two more little ducklings (this time plain old CHEAP white ones) were introduced to the brood, one of which met it's end when The Hoozel accidentally left the door to their house open, and one of the dogs accidentally found it's way in.
5 more were purchased, which makes six, and there are 4 now remaining. For those of you who are trying to do the sums, the dogs killed 5 ducks :(

Here they are, little sweethearts!



They are incredibly tame, and allow us to pick them up and give them a wee stroke, so we try to enjoy that, whilst it lasts!

I was supposed to be back over a week ago, posting more dotee dolls. I have no excuse, because there are none to make, what can I say? The days just drift one in to the other and before I know it, a week has passed!
So here they are, albeit one week late!

First up, the second in the Shabby Chic theme, this little baby is already on her way to the USA.







Now, I was very excited to make this next little poppet, she is the first Icicle Doll I have made, the theme was Spring. I found the perfect scrap of fabric in my stash, which was sent by a swap partner some time ago, and has finally come into use....



I am really pleased with how it turned out, it is slightly larger than planned, as I really wanted to incorporate as much of the fabric pattern as possible, and I love her little face, Spring like and cheerful me thinks, I reckon this is what flowers would look like, if they had faces :)



This little darling is for another swap, there was no theme so I was free to let my creativity run loose. Since this one is um, eeek, about 8 weeks late, I gave her a "Ooops I'm late!" kinda face!





I really hope my swap partners like their new buddies, I certainly had fun making them.

So many Dotee swaps still to make, and so little time. I have been so inspired lately to create other things, but must catch up with the Dotee's before I can start anything else and I am now literally itching to get new projects under way, so my sewing hands are working as fast as they can to catch up with late swaps, alas, I shall be back with more shortly!

Before I go, I wanted to share these, Bluebells! Spanish Bluebells, but better than none, apparently, where there are Bluebells, there are fairies!



FankoOOoo, as always, for your lovely comments and congratulations! It is always a joy to know you are reading, and for the record, the bump is doing just fine :)