April showers...

bring May flowers or so the saying goes? So far we have had so much rain I figure when the flowers finally grow I'll be living in the rain forest! Raining again today with high winds too. Not much use going outside to try to clean up the messes so good day to work on some in the house projects.  Hmm can't do dishes -cat in sink, llaudry hamper has dog sleeping in it -better not disturb him, vacumn and watch dos run around the house in terror NAHHH. Oh well guess I'd better spin some more yarn ;)

Meet Calisto

Here's the other lucky now named bunny "Calisto" -she is a stunning black satin doe who will also be staying here at Rocky Meadow Rabbits.

Name Winners :)

Kids have chosen not one but twonames as they pointed out we have another unnamed rabbit in the barn :)

The new satin girl is now Awen
the other winner is Calisto.

Can the winners contact me and we'll get the prizes out asap!

I need a Name!!!

I am stunning and beautiful :) I am an opal satin angora doe and need a name? Please post your best suggestion in the comments -winner will recieve their choice of:

Infinkit Gauntlet pattern with 50/50 merino/silk yarn
or
Custom blended batt containing wool/angora/silk and sparkle!

Winner will be announced next week!!!

A Teenager in the House

It's official. Jared turned 13 today. I'm asking for a recount -how could it be that long already.  From the moment I laid eyes of him I was helplessly in love with him. He is bright, caring and so darn smart. He is also stubborn and opinionated and a bottomless pit when it comes to pizza.
Happy 13th Jared and welcome to your next step on the road to adulthood!

We love you always!

Finished Cardi-Shrug

Here it is :) Its Polwarth Fleece from Treenway Silks - dyed, spun and knit by hand. Finished with sheep's horn buttons of course. It was leftover dyes from Jared's one of a kind rovings. I am in LOVE!!!

An ambitious new spinning/knitting project

Am finishing up my cropped cardigan this week and am already looking at another project :) Here's what I want to knit with handspun yarn and sheeps horn buttons. It could take awhile to spin the approx 3000 yards needed to complete it though.

Here's the question coloured or natural? Any suggestions or comments greatly welcome!

Button mad

So Daryl and his dad have been makine me sheep's horn buttons. They are incredible and I am in love.

Its so neat to see something that people once did as common practice made new once again. To me it completes the whole use fo the sheep and its amazing products.  I can't wait to finish my knitting project and pick out the "perfect buttons" to go with it!

Dreaming of spring

16 years ago when Daryl and I had out long awaited honeymoon we went to Holland to visit family and friends. I will never forget how GREEN everything was and the flowers! Tulips everywhere like big swatches of colour laid out like a quilt.  I can still see it all -its keeping me going during this grey and muddy spring that we are having here.
HUGS all

Happy Birthday to my one and Only Dad!!!

To the man who has been my measure of what a man should be and the kind of man I wanted to marry Happy Happy Birthday and many many more!!!!!  There are so many words to describe you but Incredible is the best one :) I love you always!!!!

The new girl to come to Rocky Meadow

This is Bonnwill's Sienna 90+ %German -she arriving next week to Rocky Meadow Rabbits -she's bred to Dark Starz's Healthcliff (chestnut) 90+% German. I'm hoping for another high producing fibre line from her in colours.

She's currently sucking up to my dear friend Julianna who is bringing her to the Port Hope fibre gathering next Saturday. Can't wait to see her and the rabbit too ;)

Oh spring where art thou???

Grass is brown, bulbs are trying to make their way up, skys are predominately grey. Its April can I please have spring now???  Please?? The darn squirrels dug up my bulbs so I see them peeking here and there in the grass.  I'm hoping Easter will show its beautiful spring colours of green, pinks, yellows and blues for me -but look there I found a little spring frog!! LOL
Upside we got back test results today from the latest skin biopsy on yours truly -no signs of the bad cells that were in the shoulder lump of two year ago. This one was removed from the left hip so its good its not everywhere.
HUGS all

My handsome new boyfriend

So we got the new puppy a week ago -long enough for him to decide who he wants to be with ME :) Or Java -he's a ladies man thats for sure. If he's not with me I can find him snuggled down with his girlfriend . Only thing is I cannot get a picture of them as Java runs everytime I break out the camera -I keep telling her she's not going to get stuffed into a costume LOL. Here's a picture of the new fellow though. He reminds me of Maggie's Izzy -loves to be with people and LOVES snuggling down at bedtime under the covers.  How they do not suffocate or get squished at night is beyond me.

Lovely ladies

.Here's RM's Juliett -white satin angora and RM's Moxie -broken chocolate french angora fresh off the show circuit and ready for their first haircuts :) I'm waiting axiously to get spinning this lovely fibre!

Common Sense

A dear friend of mine sent this to me after I complained about the number of phone calls I had gotten about "Easter rabbits" a very sore point with me as I know these people have put no thought into a rabbits needs before deciding they want a "cute fuzzy little baby" for Easter.  These are the same people who will buy baby chicks and ducks not realizing that hey after Easter they magically grow up into very large birds that require attention and a safe place to live. Sigh.... But I did enjoy this and it is so very very true.

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn't always fair;

- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;

and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;

I Know My Rights

I Want It Now

Someone Else Is To Blame

I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Education... has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.
G. M. Trevelyan (1876 - 1962), English Social History (1942)

Back from the show with the newest Parkinson addition

Okay I am bad - I admit it - I decided that Java was lonely and needed a friend for when I am busy. And Daryl decided we need a snuggle dog for at night to sleep with us like Maggie's Izzy does -sooooo meet Dutch the newest Parkinson. Dutch is a three month old chihuaua and is soo darn cute and snuggly. and not a barky little nightmare that I was worried about  only problem is I think we may need a bigger bed or I am sleeping on the couch :)  Java is so terrified of him it is hilarious -she keeps watching him walk around with a worried look as it to say "but what if I step on him?" No worried Java you are still #1 doggie here always!

Getting ready to show rabbits again :)

Spent the day grooming the girls for show on Saturday -here they are all pretty :) RM's Moxie -broken chocolate french angora and RM's Juliette - REW Satin Angora. They are both entered in the open show and the wool specialty. Moxie's length of coat is almost 7 inches!!! She is a just turned senior doe (6 months and one week)!!!

Back to dyeing -silk caps

Put the kids to work again -such a mean mommy LOL But look at the results drying outside -can't wait till they dry and the colours are able to shine :)  Best of all these are Peace silk caps meaning the moths were allowed to hatch out before the silk was harvested. There are sight colouring differences and the edges are a little more ragged but you can't tell as they are dyed :)

Happy Birthday to my beautiful little girl

Lindsay turned 9 yesterday -where did the time go?  She was such a tiny little baby when she arrived and now -she is a stunning young lady :)  She brings so much to my life I cannot imagine it without her. She came screaming into the world at 4:04 am and announced here I am!  She is named for her daddy and my Beppe -the two greatest influences on my life -I hope she can be half the person they both were to me.  Life is so very precious -Lindsay's arrival just heralded that even more as the person in the room to me did not get to take her baby home safe and sound.  Her son was born completely brainfunctionless after a difficult delivery that in so many ways echoed Jared's 4 years before. By what measure does one baby turn out so beautiful and clever and smart and another one never even get to see their parents faces?

Life is so short and so precious - I cannot be thankful enough for my precious daughter~!  She is stubborn and strong, opinionated and loving, a real unique and freethinking person and I wouldn't trade her for anything!!!
HUGS baby girl!!!!

Can I live here when I retire??

Here's my new job site :) Part time receptionist at the Waterford Retirement home. These folks have a wonderful place here -lots to do and see. They are a lively bunch too - love it!