Sunday, January 27, 2008

The Good and Bad of raising bunnies


Well this week once again showed us the good and bad of having rabbits to raise and show:
The good was harvesting over 100 ounces of angora and the safe arrival of 8 beautiful healthy satin angoras ending a drought of new bunnies in the barn.
The bad was after going out to check on Jared's rhinelander doe she had her babies (4) and promptly left them to die - she didn't clean them up and pulled little fluff. Jared was disapointed but took it in stride. He wants to raise his own rabbit from a baby to show so we'll try again and hopefully he'll get to take one to the fall shows. He LOVES the rhinleanders but they are so hard to find -we have a pair after two years of searching!! They are on the top 10 rare breeds -leave it to my kid to want something different (grin)
Here's a picture of a really nice rhinelander! Now if only I could get one that looks like this for Jared -he's kick butt! They have some of the nicest personalities too -a major plus for a kids rabbit -now if only they had spinable wool :)

Monday, January 21, 2008

Phooey on Winter and on Pictures too ;)


Well was out at the barn today harvesting angora with Peggy -the bunnies were NOT impressed as usual -can't blame them -its bloody cold out there but they are chewing their coats so they have to come off. Decided to get some pictures of the last French angoras we had -here's what the little buck thought of the whole experience -he is no word of a lie sticking his tounge out at me LOL. He's a stunning little buck with attitude to spare :) Thats a keeper if ever I saw one!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

New post :)



sorry haven't posted in a bit -I'm trying to teach myself how to knit something new ;) Somebody asked for lamb coats and provided me with the instructions :) Now to make them -wish I could knit like other people I watch but oh no -I'm knitting challenged I'm afraid. Spinning now that I can handle!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Something to think about :)




Old Age, I decided, is gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always
wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the
wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback
by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but
I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family
for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind
to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my
bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so
avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be
extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they
understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM
and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes
of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love
... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a
bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to,
despite the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's
beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength
and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and
sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and
to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.
So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could
turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the
right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like
the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am
still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or
worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If
I feel like it)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE
HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART
FOREVER AND EVER!

FRIENDS FOREVER!

Friday, January 04, 2008

600 pairs of Knitting Needles


Well 2008 has arrived and it brought the first supplier order of 2008 -600 pairs of bamboo knitting needles -I kid you not. These are fabulous quality and the price is great! Circulars, double points, single points and even crochet hooks all in wonderful bamboo -soft on the hands and great to work with. Here's a picture of 1 pair of each of the sizes -don't ask how many boxes there was LOL.
These will be great come spring when the fiber events roll out again! For now they'll sit in the storage boxes I bought after Christmas!