MIA

I am sending this post from my smartphone and basically am experimenting with the procedure.  I have also included a picture of our border collie mix Mia which I think is a very nice picture.  She is out in the backfield this fall.

Cameo

I love you and miss you, my little cuddle kitty! 

Shy Anne

A few weeks ago, just after Fall’s  first heavy snowfall, I heard a meowing coming from just outside the rabbit barn.  Shivering and hungry, the little kitten was scared, lonely and hiding under my brother’s snowmobile trailer.  I could not coax her out with a dish of dry cat food, but she greedily devoured the morsels as soon as I walk back to the barn.  The next day, I found her in the barn with my three other cats and rabbits.  We named her Shy Anne and she has become quite friendly at dinner time but the rest of the time she stays away from us.  She’s a tiny cat, probably only 6 months old.  She is also a very good mouser. 

Grow Old With Me

My sweetheart husband just went thru emergency surgery for a brain tumor, right in the middle of our move to our dream home. He is doing much better, is out of the hospital and recuperating up north in the new home. I love him so much and tear up just thinking how close of a call this crisis had been. Thank you Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital for taking such good care of him and getting him back on his feet so quickly.

Just a little reminder of what our winters were like at the old farmhouse...

New Stuff in my life

Sorry about dropping out of sight for so long. Life is a changin' and I've been just trucking along, taking the curves with some degree of caution but still with the courage to explore new lands. DH and I are finally lucky to grab a new farm UpNorth near Gladwin and an Amish community, 20 acres, barns, 3 bed/2 bath ranch.

I saw my first two Amish buggy sightings this week riding along the shoulder of the road. Let me tell you, they are not that noticable until you get right up to one and its going to be harder at dusk or later in the evening. I love shopping for handmade amish baskets to display my fibers and yarn in. They are signed and dated on the bottom by the maker.

So this summer is going to be so much fun packing, scaling back on old stuff, buying new stuff and moving. While we were UpNorth this week, we could see the plume of smoke from the forest fire raging near Roscommon.

The Perception Personality Test Results

Believe me, I'm not crazy about taking tests, but sometimes I get hooked. I was amazed that it picked up the part about liking things to be predictable.

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

HFDS - The Coach

Humanity, Foreground, Detail, and Shape

You perceive the world with particular attention to humanity. You focus on what's in front of you (the foreground) and how that is affected by the details of life. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on humanity, you tend to seek out other people and get energized by being around others. You like to deal directly with whatever comes your way without dealing with speculating possibilities or outcomes you can't control. You are highly focused on specific goals or tasks and find meaning in life by pursuing those goals. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

New Angora Babies

Well, I finally had a chance to take some pictures of the new litter of German/English cross angora bunnies, which are now 7 weeks old. Hailey and Bailey (see earlier post) are the proud parents. Introducing Oreo, a black sport buck.




Next is Beijing, a tort sport buck.



As I understand it, a sport is the markings seen above resulting from a combination of the blue-eyed white (BEW) gene with the red-eyed white (REW) gene. Hailey, the dam, is a REW and Bailey, the sire, appears to be a self-black out of a BEW/REW cross. In this new litter of six, there was also three REWs bucks and one self-black doe.

Dog Daze of Summer

This was recently forwarded to me by my SIL Cheryl... I thought it was too funny not to share.

To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door pet nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats:
The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.
The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years --canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it "fur"niture.
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, they are an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: Dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and...
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children

For Real Pains in the But!

So, it's an inflamed nerve end... and now for the YouTube video

How I rate as a 1930's Wife

EXCUSE ME? Am I old-fashion or what? It's got to be all those 'children' of mine (64 and counting)... yeah, that's it... and also, probably, the willingness to work... I O...I O... it's off to work I GO! 'pout'

338 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Bunny Jumping Is So Cute

Hmmm, I can dig it...

When it's cold, think wool!

While I would admit to not being very talkative for a blogger, I finally took a moment to take some pictures of most recent handspun yarns, most of which is from fibers purchased at The Spinning Loft, Howell, Michigan the last couple of months.

This is 8 oz, 300yds+ spun from Northern Lights Thunderstorm roving.
This is alpaca silk yarns.

Some more Northern Lights roving, but a combination of Sunset and Pastels plyed on Burning Bush.

Very pretty Northern Lights roving called Marmalade.

Here is 450 yds+ of Northern Lights Sunset and Pastels plyed on romney and mohair roving.


Here is some very soft, white merino plyed on some Ashland Bay merino/silk top.

Another Northern Lights roving from The Spinning Loft called Picasso.

This is some of my handpainted merino top, called Victorian Rose, spun purposely to be lumpy bumpy.

Chunky mohair wool blend yarn.

We Fall Back Finally...

Wow, I can't believe that it has been almost a month since my last post. Been kinda busy... poor excuse, right? Well, let's see... besides getting married, there is a new (Vista) computer to explore and 16 new baby bunnies which will be ready for new homes after Thanksgiving....

Here is a picture of a new mom, Scratch, who is a broken chocolate French Angora....

and her look-alike broken lilac daughters that I will be hanging on to. I'm thrilled that Scratch is throwing her markings so well.

Amaretto is a new mom too... she is a rare Lynx (color) French Angora. More baby bunny pics next post, promise.... maybe even a video... fun, fun...

It's Time My Love

The Spinning Wheel

As I sat at my spinning wheel,

A handsome lad was passing by;

I viewed him round,

and liked him well,

For truth he had a glancing eye,

My heart now panting 'gan to feel,

But still I turned the spinning wheel.

With looks all kindness he drew near,

And still more lovely did appear,

And round about my slender waist,

He clasped his arms,

and me embraced,

To kiss my hand,

he down did kneel,

As I sat at my spinning-wheel.

My milk-white hands he did extol,

And praised my fingers long and small,

And said there was no lady fair,

That ever could with me compare:

Those words into my heart did steal,

But still I turned my spinning-wheel.

Although I seemingly did chide,

Yet he would never be denied;

But still declared his love the more,

Until my heart was wounded sore;

That my love could scarce conceal,

Yet still I turned my spinning-wheel

My hanks of yarn, my rock and reel,

My winnels and my spinning-wheel;

He bid me leave them all with speed,

And go with him to yonder mead;

My yielding heart strange flames did feel

Yet still I turned my spinning-wheel

About my neck his arm he laid,

And whispered: Rise, my bonny maid,

And with me to that hay cock go,

I'll teach you better work to do;

In truth I lov'd the motion well,

And let alone my spinning-wheel.

Among the pleasant cocks of hay,

There with my bonny lad I lay.

What lass, so young and soft as I,

Could such a handsome lad deny?

These pleasures I cannot reveal,

That far surpass the spinning-wheel.

Old folksong - Author unknown

See http://ingeb.org/songs/asisatat.html

And for Cats on Tuesdays

Obsidian Kitten is to blame for getting me involved with this.














"
Is that your BO, Bubba?"

Could this be ... a ghost?

Here's a strange picture taken at my home with a webcam.






Believe it or not... it is actually potted plants hanging in front of an east window at dusk.

Here's a really spooky close up of the picture. Scary!!!

Would it be Rabbits on Fridays?

We're alot of work but ...WAY TOO CUTE!

Hailey, a BEW German Hybred Angora doe, 5 months old and Bailey, a Black German Hybred Angora Buck, 5 months old.

Here's a pic from Michigan Fiber Festival 2007 of Kate and Gary Zeilinger, who we love seeing. Believe me, they work miracles with all our trashy "fluff". Click on pic to get a better view.

Spinning Wheels are so addictive

Hey 'Coon, while you're up there do you mind oilin' that squeeky wheel?