I know for a lot of people, time by themselves is common. For me, the mother of many, extended time alone is extremely rare, and not entirely desirable. I find that I do get lonely, very much so, when my children and partner are not home. Especially when they are gone overnight. Of course, the current youngest is still home with me, but it's not exactly stimulating conversation when you're conversing with a toddler. The nights are always the hardest, I find myself putting the youngster to bed, then bringing her out of it when I retire myself so that the loneliness is held at bay. That and she also provides a valuable service as bedwarmer, in spite of her night-time restlessness.
I find lately that I try more and more to live in the present and not think about the immediate future. Depression is altogether too close for me to bear thoughts that inevitably lead to it's return. And the future is altogether too bleak to consider at this time. Based on the current economic instability, I can expect to go back out into the workforce and start from the beginning. It doesn't seem to matter how much education I have behind me or how much experience in my chosen field. The companies out there are struggling to survive and with them, their employees. So I look around me and wonder, are there any safe avenues to pursue? The medical field? Government workers? Is anyone really safe? And in the meanwhile, while pondering these potentially life altering queries, how will I pay my bills in a few months, especially if I'm incapacitated with a newborn. If I must lower myself to taking a job at a significantly lower rate of pay, how will I afford to pay for childcare? I'm sure it is evident how these unending questions can quickly lead to a depressing mood and improper ability to find restful slumber at night. So I hack away trying to find something, anything that will pay the bills, and avoid all consideration of what will happen if something doesn't break for me soon.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Gardening
I'm not sure what's gotten into me. Perhaps the prospect of no income in just a few months has my subconscious worried. Whatever it is, I seem to be more in the mood for gardening this year than I have been in a very long time. Several years in fact. So today, while out I decided to pick up a few things to start some plants inside. I picked up a bale of peat moss and some starter pots and several packets of fresh seeds. I also have plans to try starting some things from seeds I had saved from a few things last summer. Since Sunday is forecast to be quite warm, that is when I plan to begin. Included in the lineup are Roma tomatoes, several varieties of pepper, a few different herbs, butternut squash from saved seeds, and a request from my oldest to try some watermelon seeds that are a bit more aged. Now, of course, I simply have to decide whether I want to soak any of these seeds prior to planting to aid in germination. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. We shall see.
Since I have 2 does that have palpated positive, I also picked up a couple bales of wheat straw. Though I've yet to decide where to store them out of the weather. Straw, like hay, can be so messy that I'm not terribly keen on simply putting it on the floor in one of the buildings. I'd much prefer to have it store in some kind of bin or tub. That would keep it dry and keep most of the mess contained.
Since I have 2 does that have palpated positive, I also picked up a couple bales of wheat straw. Though I've yet to decide where to store them out of the weather. Straw, like hay, can be so messy that I'm not terribly keen on simply putting it on the floor in one of the buildings. I'd much prefer to have it store in some kind of bin or tub. That would keep it dry and keep most of the mess contained.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Transporter
Somehow I seem to have become a sort of on/off rabbit transporter. I don't really mind, at least I get to enjoy rabbits for a short while without the pressure of trying to feed them for extended time periods. Currently I'm temporarily housing a trio of fluffy bunnies: a pair of Fuzzy lops and a Jersey Wooly affectionately designated as 'Jaws', not for disposition, but rather owing to an unusual series of events involving photographs. These particular rabbits have had a rather long and drawn out transport beginning all the way out in sunny California. I admit, at first it didn't seem they were too keen on having traveled such a distance only to be subjected to a much colder and wetter climate. When they finally reach their new owner they will have traveled nearly 4000 miles extended over nearly a month with stopovers in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
This isn't the first time I've transported or held rabbits. A while back I held a pair of rather robust English Lops for nearly 3 weeks while they waited for the next leg of their journey. Though I don't believe they traveled nearly as far as the current set will have done. If I recall correctly, they were picked up in Rhode Island.
I've even been the recipient of a transport that also began in California, but which involved ground transport to Texas and then to Virginia. That was more than 2 weeks of traveling for the poor rabbit, who turned out to be the best acquisition ever! Definitely worth the expense and trouble of arranging transport. Indeed it's not entirely uncommon for rabbit folk to assist with transporting, often over great distances. It's nearly always worth it to help out a fellow fancier.
This isn't the first time I've transported or held rabbits. A while back I held a pair of rather robust English Lops for nearly 3 weeks while they waited for the next leg of their journey. Though I don't believe they traveled nearly as far as the current set will have done. If I recall correctly, they were picked up in Rhode Island.
I've even been the recipient of a transport that also began in California, but which involved ground transport to Texas and then to Virginia. That was more than 2 weeks of traveling for the poor rabbit, who turned out to be the best acquisition ever! Definitely worth the expense and trouble of arranging transport. Indeed it's not entirely uncommon for rabbit folk to assist with transporting, often over great distances. It's nearly always worth it to help out a fellow fancier.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Rabbit Additions
We went to the show intending to come home with some new stock. I'm not really looking to outcross my Mini-rex at this time, but having only a single Holland doe was definitely a handicap to improvement in that herd. So I brought home 2 little ladies, a broken tort and a broken blue tort. At the moment, the bkn blue tort is the better looking, but she is young and likely will end up as a brood only (going to be a big girl). This is her:
We also picked up a few raffle rabbits, including this youngster:
This is an English Spot, of which I have no intentions of raising whatsoever! There was also a Jersey Wooly and a Lionhead, all bucks. I really wanted the Lops that were in the raffle, less fur to have to deal with when butchering.
However, an interesting event did occur, as my eldest was observing the raffle, a lady came over with 3 Mini-lops for the raffle. Before she could donate them, my eldest had talked her into letting her have them instead, in exchange of a minimal donation to the club. Of course we agreed, it was a great opportunity to try something new. My eldest was very excited about the prospect of raising these slightly larger rabbits. I later found a set of young Mini-lops for sale for an extremely reasonable amount, all does. I purchased 2 out of the 3. Though looking back, I probably ought to have gotten all of the baby girls. So we now have 5 Mini-lops in all, 3 seniors and 2 juniors, 4 does and a buck. The 2 senior does are already bred. These are intended to be a dual purpose breed for us, showing and meat. While I know they aren't strictly a meat breed, I'm excited nonetheless. Here's one of the youngsters:
Finally, my eldest found a nice buck for her Fuzzy doe, but as a consequence my second was wanting something at the show. There were none of her chosen breed to be had, so she went with something a bit... different. Have a look at what she brought home from the show:
She named him Arthur and he currently resides with her old boy, Baja. I'll admit he is rather cute and she seems very dedicated to him.
We also picked up a few raffle rabbits, including this youngster:
This is an English Spot, of which I have no intentions of raising whatsoever! There was also a Jersey Wooly and a Lionhead, all bucks. I really wanted the Lops that were in the raffle, less fur to have to deal with when butchering.
However, an interesting event did occur, as my eldest was observing the raffle, a lady came over with 3 Mini-lops for the raffle. Before she could donate them, my eldest had talked her into letting her have them instead, in exchange of a minimal donation to the club. Of course we agreed, it was a great opportunity to try something new. My eldest was very excited about the prospect of raising these slightly larger rabbits. I later found a set of young Mini-lops for sale for an extremely reasonable amount, all does. I purchased 2 out of the 3. Though looking back, I probably ought to have gotten all of the baby girls. So we now have 5 Mini-lops in all, 3 seniors and 2 juniors, 4 does and a buck. The 2 senior does are already bred. These are intended to be a dual purpose breed for us, showing and meat. While I know they aren't strictly a meat breed, I'm excited nonetheless. Here's one of the youngsters:
Finally, my eldest found a nice buck for her Fuzzy doe, but as a consequence my second was wanting something at the show. There were none of her chosen breed to be had, so she went with something a bit... different. Have a look at what she brought home from the show:
She named him Arthur and he currently resides with her old boy, Baja. I'll admit he is rather cute and she seems very dedicated to him.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
More Breedings... & a Winter Storm
Finally got all the rabbits in their newly appropriated cages, fed and watered everyone, and paired up a few rabbits with minimal success. I honestly expected more from rabbits that had just been through the stress of a rabbit show. Usually they are more receptive, though perhaps it was too much stress. In that case I'll try them again tomorrow. The following were breedings done today:
Hazel to Justice (ML breeding)
Jewel to Phoenix... again (HV breeding)
Cinderella to Dynomite (HL breeding)
Of course, this was all done before I found out that we are effectively on a winter storm warning until Wednesday. I was just thinking earlier how odd it was for it to be this late in January, this cold, and still have yet to have really had a good snow storm. Apparently, the thought came too early, because they are now calling for just that very thing early this next week. I'm still on the fence about whether or not school will continue or be canceled, they tend to use better sense when determining that, so it'll have to be a wait-and-see situation as they decide each day. I kind of hope we do get a good solid storm. We usually have at least one every year, it would be handy to have it out and done with sooner than later. February tends to be cold, but usually out worst of winter is in January. With only a week to go in this month, Mother Nature had better get going!
Hazel to Justice (ML breeding)
Jewel to Phoenix... again (HV breeding)
Cinderella to Dynomite (HL breeding)
Of course, this was all done before I found out that we are effectively on a winter storm warning until Wednesday. I was just thinking earlier how odd it was for it to be this late in January, this cold, and still have yet to have really had a good snow storm. Apparently, the thought came too early, because they are now calling for just that very thing early this next week. I'm still on the fence about whether or not school will continue or be canceled, they tend to use better sense when determining that, so it'll have to be a wait-and-see situation as they decide each day. I kind of hope we do get a good solid storm. We usually have at least one every year, it would be handy to have it out and done with sooner than later. February tends to be cold, but usually out worst of winter is in January. With only a week to go in this month, Mother Nature had better get going!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ahh, the Misery!
I had forgotten just how hard rabbit shows can be for me. I take medications to control my sinuses, but there's nothing I have at the moment that can make my breathing problems easier. This is why I claim that rabbits will shorten my life. I had a wonderful time at the show, the friends were plentiful, the competition was good, the rabbits were beautiful. We walked away with 3 BOB and 1 BOV award, which really wasn't bad considering just how long it's been since we showed.
My eldest picked up a new AFL buck, not showable due to late onset eye spot, but a lot of greatness in him (had a BIS once). My second picked up... a rat. *sigh* Another boy, thankfully, but still it's yet another little mouth to feed and look after. Someone also gave my eldest a senior trio of Mini-lop rabbits and I picked her up another pair of young does, rounding that group out to 5 total. She thinks she'll be showing those sub-standard rabbits, I'm thinking potential meat source. We'll see.
Speaking of meat source, the pickings were slim at the raffle table today, which is unusual. However even so we walked away with 3 rabbits and a bottle of homemade strawberry wine. The rabbits will likely be gracing the freezer soon as none are breeds we currently raise (1 English spot, 1 Jersey wooly, 1 Lionhead). I may have to do the butchering some weekday morning however, as I ran into quite a bit of resistance to their being eaten by my eldest. What she doesn't know won't bother me.
Now if only I could recover enough to be comfortable about going on to sleep...
My eldest picked up a new AFL buck, not showable due to late onset eye spot, but a lot of greatness in him (had a BIS once). My second picked up... a rat. *sigh* Another boy, thankfully, but still it's yet another little mouth to feed and look after. Someone also gave my eldest a senior trio of Mini-lop rabbits and I picked her up another pair of young does, rounding that group out to 5 total. She thinks she'll be showing those sub-standard rabbits, I'm thinking potential meat source. We'll see.
Speaking of meat source, the pickings were slim at the raffle table today, which is unusual. However even so we walked away with 3 rabbits and a bottle of homemade strawberry wine. The rabbits will likely be gracing the freezer soon as none are breeds we currently raise (1 English spot, 1 Jersey wooly, 1 Lionhead). I may have to do the butchering some weekday morning however, as I ran into quite a bit of resistance to their being eaten by my eldest. What she doesn't know won't bother me.
Now if only I could recover enough to be comfortable about going on to sleep...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Looaded Up!
Okay, the only thing left to put in the car for the show tomorrow is the rabbits themselves and the kids. This should be an interesting event at the least for the simple reason that it's been such a very long time for us showing. About a year now actually. So we have some rabbits expecting soon and we have a (very) tentative show schedule set. I'm going to enjoy the spring as much as I can, because I really don't know that everything will hold as we move towards the end of the year. Plus adding another little face to the family always makes things difficult.
I've had rabbits for a very long time, however when I first started showing, my eldest children were already toddlers. I remember just how hard it was back then, trying to take them with me to shows. It's a little different now, having some older kids to help out a little bit. Still, I'm wary about the whole 'showing with young children' aspects. That and I genuinely suspect my current youngest to have allergies similar to my own. I'll have to keep a close watch on her. I don't want her to suffer as I did way back before I knew what was happening.
I've had rabbits for a very long time, however when I first started showing, my eldest children were already toddlers. I remember just how hard it was back then, trying to take them with me to shows. It's a little different now, having some older kids to help out a little bit. Still, I'm wary about the whole 'showing with young children' aspects. That and I genuinely suspect my current youngest to have allergies similar to my own. I'll have to keep a close watch on her. I don't want her to suffer as I did way back before I knew what was happening.
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