TEARS FOR A BUNNY

     It was her time. I knew it. She was quieter than usual last night, her little nose not twitching like her sisters, and she didn't run to her hay. She looked tired. I knew and at the same time I didn't want to know.

By morning she was gone and had crossed rainbow bridge.


Death IS a part of life, but knowing doesn't make it any easier. Animals become our family and it is a loss when they leave us.


Angora rabbits live about six years. We have had them about four years and were not sure of their age when we got them. We already lost her sister . There are three sisters left.


We will treasure the memories and someday will have something to keep us warm from her angora, when we spin her fiber into yarn and knit something with it.


Rest in peace, Chocolate Chip Muffin.  Love you forever.

{this moment}

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." 

Inspiration from SouleMama:

                                                                                      happy day!

FARM FRIDAY - PLUCKING

Our French Angora rabbits were in need of "plucking", so we brought Chocolate Chip Muffin (above) and Poof! inside the house to let the children try their hand at it.

The rabbit sat in their lap on a towel. They are used to being handled and are docile and friendly. 


The children took turns pulling the fiber ever so gently. Once pressure is exerted, the loose hairs easily come out. The more you pull, the more comes out. It does not hurt the rabbit.

                 It's soft. . dreamy. . . fuzzy. . . silky.

We save the fiber for felting projects and for spinning, which we plan to learn soon.


Angora fiber is seven times warmer then sheep wool.


  Our rabbits must be plucked every 8-10 weeks , to remove the loose hairs.  If they try to take care of it themselves , they could end up with *wool block", wool stuck in their intestines.

 We feed them timothy hay, in addition to their other food, Hay is fiber and helps break down any wool they may ingest. We also give them a few slices of fresh pineapple from time to time. An enzyme in the pineapple helps breaks down wool too.


  French Angoras weigh between 7.5-10 lbs. They require the least grooming as they have guard hairs on top and their wool  underneath is protected by those guard hairs.


  Some people shear the rabbits or cut with scissors. We pluck ours. Plucking is best to get the long fibers that are best for spinning.


The Angora is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, originating in Ankara, Turkey, along with the Angora cat and Angora goat. The rabbits were popular pets with French royalty in the mid 1700's, and spread to other parts of Europe by the end of the century. They first appeared in the U.S. in the early 1900's.


Check out the other sat Farm Friday, hosted by Wabi-Sabi Wanderings.


happy day!

KITTEN MEETS BUNNY

  We brought two of our French Angora rabbits, Poof! and Chocolate Chip Muffin, in the house today for the children. 


Poof! was the last one inside when Juliet, the kitten, strolled in. Juliet only comes out when she is sure all company has gone home.


First, there was some sniffing.

and an even closer sniff, nose to nose.

Then a reaching 

next, a bit of silliness,
 "Look at me I can turn upside down,can you?"

and then another reaching, even closer, with paw inside the gate, 

and finally satisfied and content and resting. . .together.

happy day!

GHOSTS IN A TREE

We love to use natural materials in many of our projects, and this time we decided on the fiber from our French Angora rabbits. 


 (Thank you for the fiber, Poof !)

It's dreamy and soft. . .  and a little bit *ghostly*, don't you think?

We took some of the angora, rolled and shaped it into *ghost form*, and tried our hands at needle felting, to make the fibers take form and stick together. Needle felting ( vs wet felting) allowed it to be wispy and still flow, like a ghost.

Once in desired shape, we glued on some eyes that we cut from black felt.

We made a loop to hang the ghosts with fishing line (because it's clear) and arranged them on a large branch we found in the woodlands. 

We leaned the branch against the wall and stretched some polyester batting for a "spooky" feel.

BOO !

If you want to see some absolutely glorious needle felted art, go here to Marie's inspiring blog, Softearth's World. It will take your breath away.


    happy day!