Over the years I have learned one thing. Children seem to get some many stuffed animals. I do not know how many times I would bag up stuffed animals and haul them off to the Salvation Army Store. I have known many people that bag them up for the trash.

Recently We started using stuffed animals to make our latest item that we sell here at Homestead.

We have learned that children rest much better if they have something warm next to them. If they have a tummy ache or a ear ache are newest item works for them.

What we do is cut a small hole into the body of the stuffed toy. We then take out all the stuffing and bag that for latter use. We wash the empy toy and then we mix up our stuffing material.

We take rice and a little oatmeal, some lavender and/of vaniella. Then we decide if we want the arms and legs stuffed with cotton or if we wish to stuff the whole item with the mixture.

After it is done, we then sew it up. On days that a child complains of a tummy ache. You can heat it in the microwave and it will hold a relaxing smell and the warmth of the rice and oatmeal will comfort the child.

We have sold several of these. Infact, some of the people have returned to purchase more of these. They say that the children sleep really good with them warm. I know that they are soft and like beany babies.