An Odd Situation

So I had an appointment today. I was supposed to go to a breastfeeding class, which I thought was utterly ridiculous. Having nursed 3 children successfully for 2 years each should certainly qualify me to skip such a class. Geez, I could probably teach the class! When I mentioned this to the lady, she looked at me for a moment, then asked me if I'd be interested in a job as a breastfeeding peer counselor. I told her "sure," because even though it would be part-time, every little bit would help. We'll see if anything comes of it though. I've become quite skeptical of employment opportunities of late, and with good reason.

I hear that in the city nearby there has been talk of switching to a 4-day school week, or alternatively simply mass school closings and layoffs. What kind of education will those children be receiving if that happens? Bussed outrageous distances and crammed into already overcrowded classrooms. How does that help this struggling economy. Putting even more people out of work. That's fewer taxes being paid, more people having to request government assistance, and a heavier burden on our already overburdened economy. it's a snowball, the problem will only keep getting bigger if something doesn't give soon. I hope these short-sighted officials think through the long-term consequences before doing anything rash. Though I doubt that will happen, I don't think it ever has in the entire history of this country! But I'll get off my soapbox about this particular issue. I leave most of the political smearing to my eminently intelligent other half, who has... shall we say, very decided opinions on all things political in this country.

It's Snowing!!!

I just wanted to say that. LOL

So Bored

I am so utterly bored at the moment! Honestly, how do people do it? I had a busy morning, put in for several jobs, checked on the expectant does, put in a pick-up order with the cage supply place, and soon I'll be leaving to pick up the girls from their various after-school functions. Other than that though there's been a lot of down-time today. Not fun at all. It's to the point that I'm thinking of casting on another pair of capri or shorts just for something to do! Now that's bad.

Incidentally, the does are both still pregnant. No babies yet, but it is still quite early. The Angora doe removed every bit of straw material from the nest and had strewn it all over her cage and the ground. The other doe was slightly better, she even pulled some hair and partly lined her nest, but then I suppose either she got cold or bored and she was just sitting in the front part of the nest when I last checked. Probably trying to keep her tootsies warm.

It is cold, but not devastatingly so, like it has been earlier this season. The weather place is still calling for snow, but at this rate, I highly suspect the only flakes we're likely to see are the guys doing the forecasting!

Uh oh... I'm off to get the girls! TTFN

Rabbits, Gardening, & the Wacky Weather

Wow, it's hard to believe that in just 4 days I'll be expecting the first litters of rabbits that have been born here in a very long time. The expectant moms-to-be are a Mini-rex and an Angora. I'm not sure why, since I was so close to selling them, I chose instead to let the Angora reproduce. Though perhaps it was because I made the actual sales decision after she was bred. And the thought of selling a bred doe doesn't sit too well with me. I'm sure if I were to get unhappy enough, I would sell a bred rabbit, but then I would have just a single doe expecting. The Mini-rex girl is a nice doe, but not a great mother, and expecting a small litter too. So this is the Angora's chance to prove to me she deserves to stay. Neither are first time moms, but for both it has been a very long time between litters. Though that's true for all my rabbits these days.

I finally got the seeds planted yesterday that I wanted. Except for about 5 seed types, because they have been soaking overnight to aid in germination. I think I went a bit overboard though, I planted between 4 & 8 pots for each plant type. Three different kinds of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, plus squash, watermelon, cucumber, and beans. Now a lot really will depend on whether or not anything comes up from these plantings. So I'm not as concerned as I possibly ought to be. My indoor gardening skills are somewhat lacking, but I am trying to improve them. Of course, even with all these advance plantings, there are still 3 packets of seeds that have yet to be opened. The beets, onion, collards, and lettuce need to be sown directly into the soil after all danger of frost has passed. Therefore, it will be at least another month for those. Now what worries me is where to put everything, if indeed the plants germinate and thrive.

What's been really interesting though is the past day or so. Saturday was as cold as could be, yet yesterday was warm and sunny. And even though the weather station is calling for rain today, it has dawned warm and sunny, with nary a cloud in sight. Naturally that doesn't preclude the possibility for a rainstorm to come in later, but I refuse to dwell on possibilities and will instead enjoy the present beautiful weather conditions. It truly does lend itself to working outside, processing rabbits, breeding rabbits, cultivating soil, or even just a bit of spring cleaning. I'm sure I can find something useful to occupy myself outside so I can enjoy the unseasonable temperatures. Especially since they are then forecasting snow for tomorrow. I did warn that this weather is being wacky!

Lonely

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.

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.

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.