A Little Taste of Winter

It is just way too hot today. I needed a reminder that yes, winter will come again.

Baby Rabbits!

This is Darth! He is the proud father of six new baby rabbits! They are still little, so we aren't bothering them until Mama rabbit (Hoolaroo) is comfortable. She is a good mama, as long as we give her the 8x8 chicken tractor to mother in. We don't bother her very much at this stage, she needs plenty of food and water and lots of privacy. We give her a large box so the kits can stay in there until they are big enough to wander around. This box also serves her well when they start to move around and she wants to be alone. She can climb on top and watch the kits while having them out of her hair. Rabbits are wonderful pets, but when mama rabbit gets stressed out in the least she will kill her kittens.

These little rabbits are awful cute. We've got three that look similar to Darth, two that are white with black eye patches and ears, and a tiny black one. I love it when there are black kits! I am hoping to have a line of all black rabbits. This was the first litter that produced kits with eye patches. I'm excited about that as well!

We are going to EAT these rabbits eventually. These rex crosses grow a bit slower but are ready to eat around 3-4 months of age. Last month we incorporated a few Californian meat rabbits into the mix. We are hoping to get a bigger rabbit that still has the nice fur.

 Once we have our own place we plan on making a leather floor with the pelts. Well, a combination of solid wood with small squares of leather. The hair itself will probably have to go, we are after all - allergic.

Our Family

We have been so busy this year.

In February we welcomed a new little marvel into our family, Arthur Ross. He has been such a pleasure to have around. His smiles light up the day and his little toes... well I can`t say I`ve ever seen such precious things!

I can`t wait to have another little child, next time I will have a midwife and give birth at home. The hospital here is quite scary. It was filthy, they didn`t have enough beds for everyone, the nurses didn`t know anything and tried to strap me down. Everyone kept trying to coerce me into taking medication. I am so grateful for my husband and mother, who strengthened me and helped me to remember my wish of a natural birth.

After all that headache little Arthur was born sans medication and we went home before 24 hours were up. Phew.

Despite all the confusion, giving birth was seriously one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I am so excited to be a mother. I am so happy that I can help this young boy turn into who he`s going to be! We love reading together, and he loves to be outside with me, hollering at the chickens!

Lately we have been enjoying bananas, butternut squash, peas and carrots, and hollering. Next month we will be able to butcher a few rabbits, just in time for little Arthur to start eating meat!