Bernard the Angora Bunny

Bernard joined our team in October 2011. When he came home, he was an adorable year old black buck, with his full winter coat still on! After tangling with plucking and shaving fro two weeks we finally got him uncovered. we bought a good slicker brush and have tried over the last 4 1/2 months to keep his coat combed and mat free, which isn't easy! Once to twice weekly brushing still couldn't contend with the growth of his underside fur. This week we started plucking and shaving again, and I can finally see the fruits of my brushing efforts: it took hours to clear his back instead of days! In one short week we have plucked and shaved him clean, and I have more usable fiber this time around! Bernie was an inside bunny this winter, but we hope to get him a nice outdoor hutch for next year. I am crossing my fingers that his fur will stay combed and relatively mat free for the next harvest, either way I'll let you know!

A special note from Bernard:

I wanted to share some important information about bunny health that Matt & Kirsten learned the hard way this week. It's very difficult to tell that something is wrong with your bunny. Pay close attention to any differences in their behavior, especially their water and food consumption. Even the smallest changes can mean something big is happening inside your bunny. Two weeks ago I started eating fewer pellets, Kirsten thought I was being a picky bunny because I was eating my fresh vegetables and some of the seeds that are in my pellet food. But then on Monday I stopped drinking my water and stopped eating my pellet food completely. They took me to a nice lady pet doctor who said the cause was most likely wool block - I love to groom myself and ate too much of my own hair and now I have a hairball in my tummy. It makes me feel full so I don't eat, drink, or poop much. Dehydration becomes the major concern for a bunny with a blockage, because in a few days time your bunny can go from super healthy to super sick. I still look and feel fine, I'm active and my usual sweet self, but I'm seriously sick right now. If you have one of me at home, don't dismiss any strange behavior and keep a close watch on my poo, the smaller they get, the worse I'm feeling!!

I'll keep you updated on the size of my poo, today it's still pretty small, less than half the normal size.

Lots of Love & Affection,

Bernard the bunny  

We've been busy

I thought it was about time I wrote about our latest trip.  Since our blog is all about knitting I thought I'd start with a picture of me knitting on the train to New Orleans.  I had a cold so I always had a box of tissues close at hand! The train was great, and so was the trip, I would love to go again!  The hardest decision was what to take with - which yarn and projects?  As Randy put it, I took half a sheep with me!  I must admit it was close, but you never know what you might want to knit!  I didn't knit as much as I thought I would, I was too busy looking out the windows of the train and then walking all over the French Quarter!  We rode the train from Tomah, Wisconsin to Chicago, and then had a several hour wait till we headed to New Orleans.  We left the train station and found an awesome Chicago style pizza place. Someone asked me what my favorite part of New Orleans was and it's hard to say, the architecture was amazing, it was warm and sunny, we went to a plantation, we rode a river boat, did a bus tour of the city, went on a ghost walk, ate lots of food and of course we spent some time listening to great jazz music.  I hate to admit, but the top of my list isn't much of an activity.  Saturday morning everyone broke off and did different things, my knee hurt and I didn't feel like walking for miles, so I met the group at Jackson Square.  I took my knitting and sat in the sun, watched people, and knit for a while!  Here's Jackson Square at night.

On our way home we had a four hour layover in Chicago, this time we went to the top of the "Sears" Tower.  I know its new name is Willis Tower, but everyone knows it as the Sears Tower.  They have a place where you can stand in glass and look 1100 feet down to the ground!   I didn't think I would step out on the glass, but here's a picture to prove we all did!  Notice I have a knitting bag with me!  I have a picture with just my feet but it's on my phone.

Sheila went to K 9 Country Lodge while we were gone, she had a massage and was groomed! I think she was pampered quite a bit, and really had a nice time.  I'm sure she's ready for us to go on vacation again!  One of my best friends, Auntie Gayle, came out to feed the sheep and Gracie every day we were gone.  She sent me pictures one day - she was trying to catch the sheep with hay on their faces!  They all love when Auntie Gayle comes to feed them because she gives them extra grain.  I love it because I know I don't have to worry about my girls!

Even though it is winter, we've been getting ready for a few craft shows here in the area.  The next one is going to be at Molly's in Black River Falls the first Saturday of March.  I'm busy knitting wristlets and mice.  I'm doing a lot of them in my new color way - Mardis Gras!  Look for them on Etsy soon.

I'm off to work on some cleaning.  We put in new windows and I need to get things put back in place!

Pam - in Wisconsin

Yarn

I spent the last week spinning up some fiber that's been sitting in a Burnstad's grocery bag for years. It's a blend of Bjorn the llama and our brown girls wool. It is sooooo soft! I've got to wash it and set the twist yet, then figure out what I want to make with it :) Any suggestions?

I love spinning, it is my favorite thing in the world. It's relaxing and fun, and then I have this beautiful yarn that I can knit into anything I want. Now that I have my wheel back, I plan on spending a lot more time with it. Especially since Bernard the bunny keeps producing more and more angora fiber for me! :) Have a great weekend everyone!