Bows are Blooming

Welcome

We're glad you stopped by to visit us at the Blue Rabbit Cottage.  We've been working on some new jewelry and bows for you.  We also have a short video blurb that will be going up on the new Etsy.  What have you been getting into this April?

New At the Cottage

Bows are up.
Always Owl Bow- 8.99

Funshine Hair Bow- 8.99

Something's Fishy Hair Bow-$6.00

Sherbet Surprise- $7.00



Check back soon for some jewelry like this gorgeous owl necklace

On the Bookshelf

Miss Peregrine's Home for the Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.  I had heard that this book was going to be a movie and that peaked my interest.  I found a copy and gave it a quick flip through, hm lots of creepy pictures, sounds neat.  If I had to summarize the book in one word it would be creepy.  It wasn't like a horror book type creepy, it is a young adult novel after all. 

A young boy finds out that the stories his grandpa used to tell him about monsters and powered children are not just stories.  After some tragedy he sets out to find the home on a small island across the world.  That is when the adventure really begins. 

My only complaint about this book was that I did not know it was part of a series.  This book is just the call to adventure and nothing truly gets resolved, that doesn't sit well with me because I haven't gotten a hold of the other two books yet. 

Coming Soon

Some jewelry still on the drawing board.

On the needles right now is a purse.

What do you think? I love the colors.

We hope you come back and visit again soon!  We have enjoyed your visit.

Happy Easter

Welcome

Welcome back to our cozy corner of the world.  Sorry for the confusion last week.  I run two blogs, Blue Rabbit Cottage and Blue Rabbit Academy and I crossed a wire last week and gave you all a peek into our homeschool life.  If you like to read more about our school feel free to join us over at the Blue Rabbit Academy: www.bluerabbitacademy.blogspot.com, and if you really just come for the crafts I apologize.

Reminder

For the month of March you can receive 10% off your Etsy order by entering the code EASTER16 at checkout.  Let your friends know.

New

Blue Rabbit is now on twitter. Follow us for news, specials and well tweets in general.  @rabbitcottage

Crafting

Besides a special order I've not been doing too much crafting.  As you saw last week we've been spending a lot of time outside soaking up the sun.

This blanket is a special order for a special mother for mother's day this year.  I think she'll love it.  It reminds me of spring.  It made me think of these flowers from the back yard.

Mom has this lovely owl necklace about to go onto Etsy.  Check our shop soon for updates!

We also will have bunny hats in more colors! If there are any other color types you'd like to see comment below and let me know.





Outside

 Since I've not been spending as much time crafting lately I thought I'd share a few pictures of what I have been up to.

We got a new hen named Nutmeg, we had to trade the white rooster for her because we can't keep a rooster in city limits. That's Ginger in the front and Nutmeg in the back.

We've also been watching the strawberry plant bloom and the pea plats shoot up.

Once some of the newness wears off spring I'll get back to my regularly scheduled crafting.

On the Bookshelf

 Paper, Scissors, Death by Joanna Campbell Slan was on my bookshelf this week.  This was a really fun murder mystery.  I hate to use those words in the same sentence, but for readers of cozy mysteries you understand what I mean. 
This is the first book in Ms. Slan's Kiki Lowenstein Scap-n-Craft Mystery Series.  Kiki's husband turns up dead and Kiki's life is turned upside down. She finds a job selling scrapbooking supplies and teaching classes while trying to solve her husband's murder and keep her little family together. 
This was a very promising first book and I'm looking forward to reading some more in this series.  There are scrapbooking tips at the end of some chapters for you to try out as well.







Happy Easter



 Thank you for stopping in and visiting us this week.  We hope you've enjoyed our chat.  Have a Happy Easter and enjoy your family.  Come back and see us again soon!

Fresh Air and Sunshine

Since the weather has been so lovely lately we've been doing school and spending most of our days outside.  We've had bugs go to school with us and chickens steal our breakfast and scope out our lunches.  We've climbed trees, dug in the dirt and swung on the swings.  It has been a really nice time.  

Ro-bear of all people decided to catch worms, slugs and the little black and red bugs.  The kid who hates to have her hands dirty.  I was very surprised.  She's hold them and watch them then go wash her hands and come back out to play.

Boo likes to follow the chickens around the yard.  She's pretty good about getting them back into the yard when they wander off as well.

One morning Ro-bear had a waffle on the picnic table and the chickens stole it.  They loved it so much they now go check out the table every time we're outside to see what we might have left in reach for them.  That day it was pizza. Amazingly, they did not make a move for the pizza.

 Here's are both chickens on the bench.

 Here's the slug that Ro-bear had working on a worksheet with her a different morning.

 Wednesday was up in the high 80s, and the girls decided to take the garden watering can to splash each other after school and gymnastics.  When they were tired of splashing around L-bug and Boo started to swing on the swing set.  Ro-bear went inside and put on clean pjs and brought out her blanket and pillow and laid in the grass. 

Tonight while L-bug and I were watching tv, I look over and she was winding my grey yarn into a ball for me. What a sweet child.  Of course, I found out she was winding it up so she could steal it and make a scarf, but still a sweet child.

If you haven't tried schooling outside I would highly recommend it.  We fit nature study in with the rest of our book work.  Everything from identifying the bird in the tree beside us, to the hawks eyeballing our chickens, to watching the pea shoots sprout is fit in seamlessly with physics and English.

Another added benefit of so many hours outside is the that the girls are sleeping through the night again.  We'd gone through a phase where Boo was waking up at 11-12 crying and then Ro-bear would get up at 5-6 and want to sleep with us.  It is a very draining cycle.  It is nice to know that fresh air and sunshine can help reset their little bodies and help everyone get some much needed sleep.

Let me know what your favorite outdoor activities are on a nice sunny day.  Its been nice having you visit.  I hope you stop by again soon. 

Fishy Friday

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by to visit.  Don't forget to use the code EASTER16 for 10% off your order!  I hope your weather has been lovely and everyone is healthy and happy where you are. 

New At Cottage

We have a couple of new things up at the cottage. 


Here is a newborn baby fox hat and diaper cover set- $35.00



Washcloth and bath salt set- $10.00

In our Kitchen

Since it is Lent for those of you who observe Lent, we decided to have a Friday night dinner recipe.


Spicy Fish Tacos


You will need,
1 small package Cole Slaw Mix
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 packet Taco Seasoning
Fish of choice (I recommend a packaged breaded fish)
Tortilla shells
Hot Sauce (optional)


Preheat oven to package indicated on box, or if cooking your own fish preheat oven or pan to prepare fish. 
While oven is preheating take a medium size bowl and add the cole slaw mix, mayo, and taco seasoning.  Mix well and set in fridge to cool.  The mix will become saucier as it sets.

Cook fish for time indicated on box.

Put a piece of fish and a liberal scoop of slaw on a tortilla shell and top with hot sauce for a spicier taco. 

Enjoy.














Thanks for stopping by our cottage for a visit.  We're glad to spend some time with you.  Let us know what you want to see on the blog coming up in the comments below. Have a lovely week and we hope to see you again soon.

February Contest Reminder

Welcome

I hope you have been enjoying our new recipe section.  We won't have one every edition, but hope to bring you some yummy recipes frequently. Have you been keeping warm while baking lately or have you been going out and enjoying the early burst of spring?

We're having 60 degrees one day and 30 with snow the next.  The girls and I have passed around a cold and our dishwasher broke, so I was not in the mood to cook or bake anything the past two weeks. We've all recovered and got a new dishwasher installed, so I hope to be back baking soon.  There is a mocha cake my oldest wants to recreate since we can't find the recipe we used before.  If we happen on something tasty we'll let you know.  Is there any type of food you have been craving lately?

Final Reminder

These are the final days for our February contest.  Don't forget to head over to the Blue Rabbit Cottage Facebook page- then 'like' and 'share' the contest post to be entered.  Winner will be announced Monday.

On the Drawing Board

I found some cute new ribbons I'm anxious to use.  The hardest part of bow making, for me at least, is decided what style bow to make.  There are so many cute styles its hard to choose a place to start. 

I will also be starting a blue garter set with white ribbon. 

Mom is working on an Easter wreath. 

On the Bookshelf

I'm on the third book of the series I've been reading, so not much for me to add.  I think its time for you to share.  What's been on your bookshelf and would you recommend it to others?  Let us know your current read in the comments below.

Coming Soon

The white garter set with blue ribbon, and a necklace and earring-wedding set will be available on Etsy in a few days.  Check out Etsy page later this weekend for details. 

We will also be selling bath salt and washcloth sets coming soon.  Check out page for more details on these as well. 

6 Things to Like About Snow



I know that some of you hate snow, as soon as winter hits you're ready for summer and sunshine (hit it Olaf) but really there are some things about snow that melt my heart and remind me that each season if wonderful in its own way.  Here are the top six reasons to love the snow as much as your children do...

 

Snowmen.  Look at that cute little face and tell me you don't like snow men. 

Sledding.  We very rarely have enough snow to sled so when we do it is all the more special. This year we bought two sleds. A small one and one large enough for most of us to fit on together.

Snow angels.  My middle child watches out the window every time it snows. As soon as there is an even spread on the grass she pulls on her boots and asks to go out and make a snow angel.  

 

Views like this. Before anyone walks through the snow and it is crisp and beautiful.  I could stare at this view for hours. This day was especially lovely because a layer of ice had formed on the tree before the snow and added an extra layer of winter wonder.

Playing with snowballs.  We learned this winter that puppies and chickens like to eat snowballs.  Puppies, our neighbors', like to catch them in midair and chickens like to eat them... all around snowballs are fun for all- except cats. Our cats would not be amused.



Finally, the last thing we love about snow... knowing it will soon melt and spring will come.


And if you still can't stand the snow, or are chilly just reading this article, come over to our Etsy page and treat yourself to a warm blanket. 

Love is in the Air-- no wait that's cookies

Welcome

I hope that you have been doing well! Welcome back to our blog, we're glad to see you.  Do you have any plans for Valentine's day yet?  If not, why not bake your loved one a batch of our favorite cookies.  Who doesn't love loaded cookies?

Triple Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick of butter softened
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 TBS  vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup marshmallows

1. In a medium bowl cream your butter, apple sauce and sugars together until smooth.

 2. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix with a spoon.

 3. If you have a sifter, add all dry ingredients to the sifter and sift into the creamed mixture. 

 Otherwise in a second medium sized bowl mix together the flour, baking soda and salt together and gently pour into the wet bowl.

 Stir until smooth.

 4. Add the chips and marshmallows to batter and fold.

5.  Use a non stick spray on your cookie sheet and put 12 spoonfuls of batter onto tray evenly spaced. 

Cook at 375 for 9-11 minutes, until cookies are golden brown. 



 6. Let cool on tray for 10 minutes, remove and put on plate or cooling rack to finish cooling completely.



7. Enjoy!

Reminder for Contest

Don't forget to head over to our Facebook page to enter our February contest.  Just 'like' and 'share' the post with this bow on it for a chance to win said bow.

New at the Blue Rabbit

For the little bunnies in your life we have baby bunny hats. There is a white hat with pink accents and a little pink bow and a grey hat with blue accents.  These are newborn sized hats.

Pink and White Bunny Hat- $10

Grey and Blue Bunny Hat- $10

Just around the corner at the Blue Rabbit Cottage

If you are as tired of this cold weather as we are, here are some summer bows that will be coming to blue rabbit cottage soon. These bright colors remind me of days at the beach and summer vacation, I hope you like them as much as we do!



On the Bookshelf

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

So, I'm on a Rick Riordan kick now. I decided even though I've heard so-so reviews on the Kane series I wanted to give it a go.  The Red Pyramid is the first book of a three book series about two children working to save the world from evil Egyptian gods, with the help of some not so evil Egyptian gods.  It does not have the same pizazz as his other series, but I am enjoying it overall.  The Egyptian gods are not as well known as the other pantheons, so they seem a little less user friendly. On the other hand I've always enjoyed Egyptian mythology, so I'm happy.  The book has two main characters who are siblings and it switches POV between the two, which gives it some interesting depth. Overall I would recommend this series based off the first book. I know I'm going to finish the series to see if the siblings can save the world.

Until Next Time

I hope you had a nice visit to our cottage.  We hope you'll come visit us again soon! Until then well wishes to you.