Popsicle is a funny calf.

Seriously, this 5-week-old wonder has a wicked sense of humor, having taken to chasing the other barnyard animals around and herding them for the farm hands on a whim.

Cattle aren’t typically the rounding-up sort of kind, which makes him even funnier in a charming sort of way.

In fact, it appears that Popsicle fancies himself a sheep - in honour of his best pal Annie (a sheep) who I am starting to suspect has talked him into believing they are not so different.

When he’s not at Annie’s beckon call, Popsicle spends a fair bit of time grinning and bolting around, proving his sensibility is one of silliness.

Impetuous youth:)

He, Annie, Teddy the donkey (who is quite docile, I promise Aryo) and the crew of crazy goats are joined this week by a new rooster and the extra, super mega cuteness of two sweet ducklings.

All of this soft cuddliness left me with some serious need to do super cute barnyard crafting. So, the tiny person and I rehashed some oldie-but-goodies pulled out of the Easter craft closet.

Here’s what we came up with:

THE TOILET PAPER ROLL SHEEP

This silly, fun creature made from recyclable goodness comes from Kaboose.com.

Can there be a better use for an old toilet paper roll?:)

Here’s what you need:

* TP rolls
* A bag of white cotton balls or pompoms
* Craft glue (or hot glue for the eyes with kiddos under 3)
* Google eyes (two per lamb)
* Black felt
* black or brown pipe cleaners
* Hole punch
* Scissors

Directions:

1. Take one pipe cleaner. Cut it into even thirds. Then, take the hole punch and punch four holes in one end of the tube, two side-by-side in front and two of the same in back, to make holes for the legs. Take two of the pipe cleaner thirds. Thread one through the front and one through the back to make the legs. (It’s not the sturdiest craft. But, he does stand up if you work it a little)
2. Take the black felt and cut a square that will fit over one end of the tube. Put glue around the edge of that end and stick the felt on. Trim around the edges of the felt to get more of a circle shape or leave it as is for a lamb with a bit of character.
3. Take the TP roll, cottton balls and glue. Then, start gluing the cotton balls all over the roll, making sure to complete a ring around the front where you put the felt to frame his face.
4. Glue the google eyes on.

There you have it.

An homage to Annie.

BUNNIES AND CHICKS

Here’s what you need:

* 1 cardboard egg carton cut up into individual egg cups (leave the backs and the sides on so that you have a place to attach ribbon)
* Cotton balls or pompoms in pink, white, yellow or whatever colour sounds fun (enough for two on each creature) plus little ones for the bunny’s nose and tail.
* Ribbon in Spring colours (I used 7 to 10 inches on each side of the cup to tie together. So, it’s a fair bit of ribbon. Thrifting is a great way to score this)
* Google eyes (two per creature)
* A hole punch
* Craft Glue (a hot glue gun works best for attaching the eyes if you are making these for a toddler or preschooler since they are a choking hazard and you want them attached as solidly as possible. Take extra caution using the glue gun with a toddler or preschooler around.)
* Craft paper for bunny ears and the chick’s beak.
* Scissors
Directions:

1. Cut egg carton up into individual cups.
2. Take the hole punch and punch a hole in the cardboard on either side of cup so that you have two to put ribbon through for hanging.
3. Cut ribbon into 7 to 10-inch strips. Take two strips. Tie one through each hole (I stuck it through the bottom, knotted it and then pulled it tight). Then, tie them together at the top.
4. Take two big cotton balls/pompoms and glue the first one to the bottom of the cup. The second to the top of the first one.
5. Take two google eyes. Glue them on.
6. Grab the craft paper (I used colourful scrapbooking paper for some added colour and design) and cut out a set of ears for the bunny or a diamond to fold over for the chick’s beak. When Gluing the bunny ears on, I recommend also gluing them to the back of the cup if you can for a bit more stability. Glue everything on.
7. Take two small pompoms and glue one on the bunny face for a nose and one on the back of the cup for a tail.

That’s it.

Popsicle and his pals are out at the Hands-On Farm over at The Filberg in Comox from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily this Summer. Admission is $2 for folks over age 5 and $1 for kiddos under 5. To get to The Filberg from Courtenay, take the 17th Street bridge and make a right onto the dyke road. Follow it all the way through Comox until you come to the bend in the road where there is a sign marking The Filberg. The petting farm is just a bit of a walk inside the first entrance after the sign.