Well after a fabulous spring and summer there are few bunnies left for sale here at Rocky Meadow Rabbits. We have one satin angora buck -tort, one Jersey Wooly (registered smoke pearl), one German Hybrid (broken Black) and 4 French angoras left to sell - 2 sable bucks, chocolate agouti buck and a really smart broken sable doe who might still stay. Here's some pics of the available bunnies.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Bunnies for Sale
Well after a fabulous spring and summer there are few bunnies left for sale here at Rocky Meadow Rabbits. We have one satin angora buck -tort, one Jersey Wooly (registered smoke pearl), one German Hybrid (broken Black) and 4 French angoras left to sell - 2 sable bucks, chocolate agouti buck and a really smart broken sable doe who might still stay. Here's some pics of the available bunnies.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Getting ready for the fall shows
We've been busy here trying to get ready for fall shows -not very sucessfully mind you. Today I finally finished my first hat/scarf set of 100% pure angora -handdyed, spun and knit. Lindsay was my reluctant model - I mean how rough is it to stand and look cute :)
I hope to make a few more and some of my long scarves -mine gets rave reviews everytime I wear it!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Time and Friday
Here's new bunny number one Fuzzies Timely Manner AKA Time a stunning smoke pearl doe from Sue Needles along with her soon to be boyfriend RM's Friday the 13th a rich and deep sable buck. Both will be shown this fall as juniors and then clipped down to get ready for the 2009 Angora Nationals ~~Here's two promising and amazing French Angoras we're proudly housing and breeding at Rocky Meadow Rabbits.
We also aquired Fuzzies Class Act -an amazing junior REW Doe and Fuzzies BCB a really nice blue pointed white buck.
Back from the Dog Trials
We're back after the fun and the rain (laugh). What a action packed three days -busy too. We cheered not only the dogs on but the 4 sheep to shawl teams as well. We bid (unsucessfully) on the shawls -the highest one sold for $225 I believe. Kingston my hometown girls placed second!!! They had an amazing desing with green and dark natural fleece -very striking. All the teams seemed very happy to spend the GCs we had donated for prizes. Its always fun to have 25 spinners and weavers at your booth at one time :) Of couse Jared's dyed items were hotly contested and fought over.
The Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners also ran demos all weekend long -here's Mary teaching tow young men the joy of spinning. They were very enthusiastic to learn all about it! Drop spindle kits were a huge seller this weekend and I gave lessons to get them started all weekend long.
The trials themselves were won by Amanda Milliken (fom Kingston) and her incredible dog Ethel. it had to be a run worthy of a film. They have to gather 10 sheep run the course then gather 10 more to finish the fist part. They then have to seperate 5 sheep with collars and send the rest over the hill. You then finish by penning your 5 collared sheep. Well did we ever get a show!! Amanda and Ethel had sucessfully shed off 14 of the sheep needed with one rebel left. This sheep left the group and returned twice before they sent her off. We thought she was done but oh no down the hill she trucked -JUMPING over Ethel who rightly hit the ground. The sheep then attempted to kick her with a rodeo horse worth kick. Amanda yelled at Ethel who got up off the ground looked at the sheep and then at her as if to say "can you see what I am dealing with here." Amanda stopped yelled "sorry" and away they went again to get one of the few pens of the day! Ehtel is coming on 10 and I know without a doubt that girl could do the whole run herself but its still wonderful to see true partners on the field.
I love going to Grass Creek -its so wodnerful to be a part of it all -but its nice to come home too. Today I'm off to get three new French angoras -and I remembered to charge the camera so new pictures of them will be up shortly!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Let the Sheep Dog Trials begin!

They're off and running and so are we. The 20th annual Kingston Sheep Dog trials start for us tomorrow. There are over 120 dogs running in this finishing off in the
exciting and thrilling double lift championship on Sunday. The dogs started their runs on Wednesday -crappy weather for them -poor things and mean mean nasty sheep. The sheep are run wild on Waupoos Island and never see a dog till the trials -they rerally make the dog and handler work. We'll be there Friday through Sunday manning the booth, fighting over who gets to watch the dogs (laugh) and cheering on the 4 teams at the sheep to shawl cometition on Saturday. More pictures to follow as events unfold. I love watching the dogs run -makes me miss Scamper -not that she would ever deign to herd sheep -she was above all that :)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Jazzy Jared loose again
Heading down to Maggies Farm
Yesterday we made the drive down to a little patch of heaven on earth -Maggies Farm. We met up with all the cast and crew of Maggies blog - her grandkids Hannah and Luke, the dogs, the sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens and of course the kitties!
Kids had a grand time in the creek, in the pond and of course in the barn. Lindsay was so upset when we had to leave and asked why we couldn't have a nice house like Maggies does
Maggies Farm is a wonderful place to go! You can visit her via her blog at:
http://www.bundaflicka.blogspot.com/
Here's some pictures of the day!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
OHS Angora Discussion
This year the OHS master spinners program is in Belleville. One of their homework assignments is angora in all its glory. I was asked to come show off some rabbits and talk about their different fibres and structures. Of course I was thrilled and flattered -19 soon to be master spinners interested in my knowledge of spinning and rabbits. It felt good and of course the bunnies thrived under all the attention and petting. They were also facinated to see so many different colours of angora fibre -most ofthem had only every seen black white or fawn!! No at Rocky Meadow Rabbits -chinchillas, steels, brokens and more all here. Of course I do have some white and black ones too. But I love the variety of shades and tones that occur naturally in angoras.
Angora is so much fun to spin too - when i first started spinning I didn't want to waste "good" fibre so I used leftover angora -it took a while but now any fibre is easy to spin LOL.
Life is good as my friend Bill at Willow Garden shetlands always says. And it is.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
I get by with a little help from my friends :)


Well after this morning and feeling down I got a lovely surprise in the mail. My dear friend and very talented potter Tammy had created some stunning mugs and I had asked her to trade for a couple. They arrived today with a darling little Raku sheep who is now sitting proudly on my curio shelf. Dragonflies are special to me whenever I have needed a boost one has appeared to send hope and sunshine and here two arrived!
Thanks Tammy!!!!
Her blog is at:
http://kalwataureshetlands-tammy.blogspot.com
check it all out she's a talented potter as well as a shepherd of stunning shetland sheep
10 years...............and I still miss you
10 years ago my Beppe left me. It was one of the hardest days of my life. She was my mentor, friend and confidant.
Growing up as a child there was no better place to be than at Pakke and Beppes house a small wartime house in Kingston with huge (at least to me) gardens in the front and back. Hours were spent just talking or watching the world grow. My grandfather was a gardener and nothing gave him more pleasure than bringing flowers to my Beppe. He loved her so very much as did I. The day he died he took me out to the gardens that were bare awaiting winter to cover them in deep snow. He looked at the house and then at me and said "if something happens to me you'll look after her until I can come to get her again". I was 13 and confused but of course agreed. 4 hours later we got the call that he had passed on a massive heart attack that happened to him on the couch sitting with the woman he had loved and cherished for 55 years.
We were both devestated and clung to each other in the dark days that followed.
As time went on so I grew always looking for her love and approval in my life.
When I got my drivers license she was the first person I chaffeured to town for lunch to celebrate. When she turned 8o we had our birthdays together (being born one day apart), when Daryl and I got engaged it was to see Beppe first to recieve her blessing on us both. Our wedding was planned carefully so that she could be a part of it -we held a small reception at the nursing home with the entire wedding party so pictures with Beppe could be a part of my day. When I found out I was going to be a mom (miracle beyond all else) she was the first to know. When Jared arrived safe and sound after a rough delivery she was the first person we took him to visit -her look of delight and joy at that little perfect life nested in her arms was more joy than I could ever know.
Three months to the day after Jared arrived she left me. I said goodbye to her that afternoon -she told me to go home and not come back. I knew she didn't want me to see her suffer and wanted it to be easier for me to deal with. My mother tells me she looked to the end of the bed and smiled and then left this world peacefully. I have no doubt in my mind that my Pakke was waiting there arm outstretched to take her to her final home so they could be together again.
I promised her I would not cry when she is gone -I cannot always keep that promise but I try to remember all the joy we shared together. When my daughter was born there was no other choice for her names Lindsay Gertrude named for her daddy and for the woman who ment so much to me. May Lindsay grow to be as beautiful and strong a woman as her great grandmother.
So 10 years later I take this time to share with you my grandmother Gertrude Jansen,
born September 12, 1902 -died July 16th 1998 at the age of 92. A truer lady there never was.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Oh no not the fleece.........

Well superior blond moment occurring here. SOMEBODY thought to soak a fleece in the washing maching and then that certain somebody thought it was laundry and ran it though the machine and if that wasn't bad enough when that SOMEBODY relized what she had done she hauled the whole wet thing outside -right into the waiting jaws of the monster baby AKA "Java". Wet stinky fleece =one happy dog rolling all over it!LOL well at least I think I saved part of it. But somebody is waiting for it to come back on the back porch. UH UH.....
In other news we have baseball photos tonight for both kids -they are loving the summertime play -swimming, climbing, and just beign kids. Our latest adventure is with two HUGE boxes in the basement -best toys ever made!
Daryl has a meeting with disability on Thursday =pray that he'll be to go back to school to retrain in a new field. He can no longer work over his head so mechanical work is very very difficult.
Bunnies are hard at work -three litters due this month and we have some darling little satin angoras and rhinelanders bopping around and having fun.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Canada Day Fishing.
We had the best time on Canada Day -we all trucked out to the family cottage for bbq, fishing, sea doo rides and fireworks. Jared has definetely inherited his namesakes fishing genes -here he is with his catches of the day a stunning 6.5lb channel cat and a gorgeous 3lb largemouth bass!!! What did I catch -nothing LOL but I had one of the best hours of my life with my dad just sitting on the dock chatting and catching nothing at all. Growing up I spent so little time with my dad -this memory will be in my mind forever as one of the best ones with him. Funny how the best moments in your life just happen......
Sunday, June 22, 2008
We only have one Dog really ;)
We often get phone calls from treed hydro men or gas readers who cannot figure out why they gate is closed with a "Dog on Loose" sign. We are often asked to contain both our dogs....but we only have one we reply -the other one only comes to visit LOL.
Our neighbours dog Zigi -a stunning Hungarian Viizla and Java our own maurading baby have formed a deep friendship. they were not content playing side by side at the fence so we now have a dog friendly pass through in the fence so they have free run of both yards.
Of course this means we must be free to throw balls and toys and provide treats for the "kids". Here they are - aren't they a pretty pair??? We worry if the neighbours ever leave and they have said the same. Both dogs are inseperable -they mope when they are not together :)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
BASEBALL!!!!!!
As I said in my previous post both kids are into baseball. Jared plays Kingston Thunder Mosquito division and is a member of the "Blue Jays". Lindsay is playing Kingston Thunder Timbit Tykes and is on the Orange team. They both wear the number 7 jersey! Daryl is convenor of the mosquito division and I got volenteered (read shanghaied) into the convenor of Tykes -oh well at least we know what is going on at the meetings LOL. The kids love it so we're happy to be able to help out and make it possible for all the kids to play.
Here they are ready to play -are they not growing WAY too fast?? Their cousin Brianne is always ready to head out to the ballpark and cheer them on :)
First Capital Days here in Kingston
We've been busy here both at the house and on the road. Sunday I went down to the Jefferson Sheep and Wool Festival in NY at the stone mills ag museum -beautiful location to see but not much in sales I'm afraid. The cost of gas is so crippling.
Monday I took part in my guilds spinning and weaving demos at First Capital Days at Market Square. Kingston was the first offical capital of Canada until it was moved to Ottawa. Lots of demos and the Fort Henry Guard were out in their stunning red tunics "recruiting" the kids into Her Majesty's Army LOL.
Here's me in my costume with Doreen Jeffers a fabulous spiner and wonderful guild instructor. Doreen is loads of fun to be with all day!
This Saturday I'm off to the annual Distaff Day celebrations in Almonte.
On top of that we have ball 4 nights a week -Jared plays two nights and practices one. Lindsay plays one night. Can we say busy????
Monday, June 09, 2008
No pictures we're NEKKID!!!!
Well it was hair or is that hare cut day here at the barn -EVERYBODY got clipped or plucked down to the skin -its just too hot!!! But there is no sadder or funnier sight that a NEKKID Bunny -too bad the camera batteries died. Oh well they're much better and cooler now thats what matters.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Silk Glorious Silk!!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Jared's new rabbits!!!!!
He's so excited he had to take the pictures himself -I pointed out he wouldn't be in the pictures but he was more excited to run the camera than to pose for it. Fortunately the Diva was more than willing :)
Here's Jareds two newest bunny friends brought back to us by a fellow Rhinelander breeder here in Ontario from Top Note Calico Rabbitry in Michigan. Thank you to all who made Jared's rabbit dreams come true!
Intress is the doe and she's bred to an unrelated buck for a June 15th litter. She's very social and outgoing and has discovered that 10 year olds = treats and head pats. She's the one preening for the camera too -she knows she's beautiful!
Medeenu is the buck and he's a real little spitfire! The names are from Jared's favorite TV show of right now CHAOTIC. Which is why his rabbitry name is CHAOTIC Rabbitry. Hmmm I thought it was in reference to me LOL.
Anyways these beautiful Rhinelanders are an amazing breed. Want to know more ask Jared -he'd be happy to tell you all about them!
New Goodies -part two
Well i'm still going -boxes and orders are coming in fast and furious -spring is so much fun to get all the new items and rabbits coming in :)
Here's the next load of goodies:
Custom dyed ready to knit and felt tote bags - in a wide range of colours! Kit contains everything to make a bag -fibre, pattern and needles. Really fun and easy to make. Retailing at $40 Beautifully modelled by the house diva Lindsay - notice the gap -yes my baby lost her two front teeth -sigh where did my little ones go.....
We're not even talking about her older brother who went to his first dance last week -he had 4 girls call him and ask him to be their date. Do you see all the grey hairs I'm dealing with?
Ready to dye sock kits from Louet - includes three 50 gram skiens of merino yarn, dyes, instructions and pattern! Colours available are Browns, Blues, Pinks, Greens and Blues. Retailing at $35 for a kit.
more still to come........
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
New Goodies -part one




Trying to update with pictures all the new items here at Cornerstone Fibres:
Dyed bamboo rovings in assorted grab bags
Pastel dyed mohair locks in grab bags
Dyed Mohair Roving by the Dyewizard himself -packaged in 8 ounce lots
Sari Silk Scarf and Hat kits -one skien will make either a hat or a scarf includes patterns and needles for one of them
Sunday, May 18, 2008
A day out with the kids

Today we took the kids down to the docks to see the HMCS Kingston. She was in harbour visiting her namesake city. She is the first of her line -commissioned in 1995 and this is only her second visit to the city. Her primary function is a minesweeper but she does so much more. We took the kids on the tour through and on the ship. Jared and Lindsay were both impressed with the ship and her crew.
Hats off to the men and women in the Canadian Navy!!!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
A fibre event cross post-Willow Garden Shetland Shearing Day!
A friend of mine hjere raises some amazing shetland sheep -his fleeces are always gorgeous!!! Here's the information on how you too can get sucked in and end up coming home with more fleece than you really needed :) Get to know your sheep and the fleece you spin !
Willow Garden Shetlands
Fifth Annual Sheep Shearing, Lamb Ramp, Open House, and 4H Barbeque
Monday, May 19 (Victoria Day)
10 am until 2 pm
2033 Salem Rd, Consecon, ON
Take 401 to exit 522 (Wooler Road/County Rd 40). Follow Wooler Road south towards Trenton until it ends at Loyalist Parkway (#33). Turn right on to Loyalist Parkway and follow it into Prince Edward County. Once you pass the 'Welcome to Prince Edward County' sign, you are almost there. You will pass Victoria Road on the left, then Cnty Rd. 19 on the left and then Salem Road. Turn left on Salem Road. We are about 2 km in on the right hand side, just past the first set of jogs in the road.
Admission is free.
Colourful and playful lambs.
Fun for the whole family.
A chance to buy the fleece of your choice, as it comes off the sheep
Call for further details.
Bill Stearman
www.willowgardenshetlands.com
... visit my blog and keep up with what is happening ...
http://willowgardenshetlands.blogspot.com/
Willow Garden Shetlands
Fifth Annual Sheep Shearing, Lamb Ramp, Open House, and 4H Barbeque
Monday, May 19 (Victoria Day)
10 am until 2 pm
2033 Salem Rd, Consecon, ON
Take 401 to exit 522 (Wooler Road/County Rd 40). Follow Wooler Road south towards Trenton until it ends at Loyalist Parkway (#33). Turn right on to Loyalist Parkway and follow it into Prince Edward County. Once you pass the 'Welcome to Prince Edward County' sign, you are almost there. You will pass Victoria Road on the left, then Cnty Rd. 19 on the left and then Salem Road. Turn left on Salem Road. We are about 2 km in on the right hand side, just past the first set of jogs in the road.
Admission is free.
Colourful and playful lambs.
Fun for the whole family.
A chance to buy the fleece of your choice, as it comes off the sheep
Call for further details.
Bill Stearman
www.willowgardenshetlands.com
... visit my blog and keep up with what is happening ...
http://willowgardenshetlands.blogspot.com/
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in my life!!

Today is mothers day - hmm what does that really mean to us moms? A day off (snicker), a holiday of pampering NOT. To me Mother's day is a day to reflect on what it is to be a mother and of all the mothers in my life. So here is my rambling thoughts on some of the women who I think of this mother's day!!
My mother a wonderful woman- but we'll never understand each other. my life revolves around my family, my work and my passion for fibre and animals. My mother is Martha Stewart on steroids. Both lives are wonderful but are very different in terms of priority and comfort. I respect my mother very much - I look like her -I've come to realize that but inside we are seperate people. I hope I share many of her good qualities -strength, love of family, endurance for the long road and deep abiding faith. I wish someday she understands that I have to be who I am - I am so happy now being mom to Jared and Lindsay and wife to Daryl. Nothing in this life that I do will ever mean more than this.
My mother in law -the woman who gave me my husband - I respect her deeply and have much more in common with her than my real mother. She too loves fibre and the arts that go with it. She too is a great example to me in terms of resilency and strength.
My aunts -My Aunt Karla who has never been a mother herself but has given me more love and mothering than I ever has deserved. To her I salute her dedication to life and the santity of the earth and all that it pocesses. To the other who I am proud to call my friend and mentor Peggy I salute her hard work ethic and her ability to never give up even when life is so bleak it is scary.
To my adopted mother "Jane" I salute her power and ability to keep going when life throws her curves of epic proportions and thank her for being my shoulder to cry on when the world seem tough.
To my grandmothers -all three of them these thoughts.
My Beppe who survived so much terror and pain throughout life and still maintained a smile and the words "God is looking out for us always -life is a joy never a curse" I sit and cry at my loss of you -my mentor and life path guardian.
To my other grandmother who I never met in this life I shake my head and cry at the strength you had to let my dad go to be raised by two strangers knowing he would have a better life elsewhere than with you. I cannot even begin to imagine how much it must have hurt for you to go on, never seeing him face to face. You too have left an imprint on me -to cherish each day with my children knowing they are a true gift of God.
To my Oma who rasied my dad I give you my thanks for raising my dad to be the man he is -he is a rock in my life. He learned to be tough from you and to be strong. He also learned how to be hurt though - you hurt him deeply and for that I can never forget. I also wonder even now why I was never good enough for you?? What had I done to you to always be left out from the others -was it I looked like my mother?? Was it I didn't fit your mold?? We'll never know but I look back now and realize that who I am is who I am -if you couldn't be proud of me then too bad -I am ME!!
I never thought I would be a mom. I was told at 24 that I could never have children -that scarring from fibroids would never allow me to give birth. Well guess what they were wrong - I don't need to win the lottery - I have more wealth than I could ever imagine. Of course I also swore I would never get married and have kids so God is laughing his head off up there.
I have learned strength from being a mom, I have learned soul crashing hurt and pain, I have learned patience (can I please have lots more of this God??), and most of all I have learned there is so much Joy in this world that I never would have seen or felt had I not become a mom.
So to all of you MOMs on this earth (and to the Earth herself -our greatest mother) -I salute you this mothers day. Mom are not the people who give birth to you -there are the people who help shape you and love you, comfort and guide you, and are always there for you!
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