Chubby Bunny

Becoming

"There is hardly anything in the world more exciting than something which is on the verge of becoming.



When this something is a human being,



a human personality on the verge of declaring itself,



the excitement doubles." -Louise Bates Ames

Happy Fourth of July!

Rabbitry

The new boys in town -we haven't named them yet. The Soup Queen brought them last time she visited. They are to replace Fat Charlie (click here) and (click here) as breeding sires for our rabbit meat production. Though he can't ever really be replaced -he's one of those special one-of-a-kind animals that steals your heart and keeps it- he no longer produces offspring and is retired from breeding, but not from being petted.



A new little female that my son named Hester. He says she is just how he imagines Hazel, the main character (a male rabbit) in Watership Down to look.



I keep thinking that if I was this small and tasty, I would look scared all the time too. These four rabbits are all cross breeds, which is fine for our meat production purposes. They are New Zealand and Palomino breed crosses and I'm hoping they will be great producers.

It is important to pay attention when caring for animals, but life sometimes overwhelms me and I don't always do a good job of it. I forgot to put in our Pea Patch rescued rabbit, Elle's nest box when I was suppose to (day BEFORE yesterday). I realized this at 5 AM this morning and have severely chastised myself all morning. Luckily, there were no dead newborn rabbits lying on the wire as I had imagined finding. She immediately set to work nesting and rearranging the bedding when I put her box in. I'm hoping to find newborn bunnies tomorrow morning, which I will sell in a couple months on Craigslist for pet bunnies when they look like these adorable black and white ones (click here).

Baby Bunnies

From Buckley to Baja

My cousin, Michelle lives in Buckley, an hour and a half drive from me. Yesterday, she brought her two little girls to visit. Last year, one of her little darlings wanted only two things for Christmas. One was a bunny, which absolutely melts my heart. Mom is holding firm though, and instead of having their own, she says they can come to my house and hold the bunnies here.



So they come to visit and hold the bunnies. Yesterday, they almost got their mom to take this one home. Almost, but not quite. My cousin has always lived near Seattle, but when we were kids she visited the ranch often. There is a symmetry to her bringing her girls to visit me now.



I got some good belly laughs while swinging with them: going high (but not too high because I might get scared), almost falling off the swing, and almost getting close enough to mom to get their mucky boots on her. For whatever reason, kids find this absolutely hilarious -moms not so much.



And we went to see the new lamb, of course. And of course, they wanted to pet it, but we didn't get even close to almost. Our mother's are sisters. My aunt lives in Eastern Washington, but comes over to visit her granddaughters often, and will be with them in just a few days. Her birthday was yesterday -Happy Birthday, Auntie Marilyn! I'm sending her the best hugs possible, grandchildren hugs. Our family is far-flung, but technology and travel keep us in touch.



My mom (in red) was part of an annual paella competition last week in Baja Mexico, and she sent me pictures. She bought this impressive 32" paella pan for the occasion. If you are inspired, Your Best Paella, is a weekly on-line contest with all the past winning paella recipes available. They ALL look really scrumptious (I'm thinking the Rabbit on the Range recipe is one I want to try, just don't tell the little girls).



This is Team Rattlesnake in action. They didn't win, but it sounds like they had quite an experience, and now mom knows the nuances of making paella.

Michelle says we should definitely make one with both our moms this summer when we all get together in August. Oh definitely, I say.

Cutest

My cousin, Lona just sent me this photo titled Cutest ASS contest winner (trust me, do not goggle this) and it is TOO CUTE to not share. Possibly, this little guy is even cuter than any of the Farmgirl Fare posts this past month of their new baby donkey. Possibly, but not definitely. And every morning now, when I see our Elle's latest box of baby bunnies, I think they are just about the cutest little things EVER (I know I'll change my mind at lambing time). Whether cute, cuter or cutest, baby farm animals are all pretty darned adorable.

The Chicks Have Hatched!

The arrival of new babies is one of the best things about raising animals. The 'Oh my gosh, they are so cute!' thrill never goes away -no matter how many times you experience it. These guys were hatched in our incubator from eggs collected from our own layer hens. In the incubator now and expected to hatch in 28 days is the turkey poults.



The only question is which is cuter? A box of baby chicks...



... or a box of baby bunnies?