Please Welcome Our Newest Addtions!!!

Kylie and I have been waiting for Angora Bunnies for some time now! We had made a trek to the Lewiston/Auburn area to learn about Angoras, and the care they needed.  This business is the one that we selected to buy our bunnies from, and we had been waiting three months for a successful breeding to occur, and for the bunnies to be old enough to leave their mommies.  This business choose to sell all of their bunnies locally, and I was saddened by this, we had been promised that she would hold two for us..:(

I was not sure how I was going to tell Kylie that we were not going to get bunnies this spring.  Two rabbits that we had rescued from elderly people (who kept forgetting that they had them,) about seven years ago, passed away early this spring, and she was looking forward to having bunnies become part of our little farm again.

Upon entering our favorite local yarn shop, Kylie found an add for angora bunnies, about 40 minutes away from us! (The other business was over three hours away!)  I called from the store, and was told that she had a page on line, still had 12 bunnies to sell, and would look forward to me coming to look, and possibly buy a couple from her!  She had French/German Angora crosses, and the colors of the bunnies were black, white, and torte (tri-colored, black white and tan.)

Oh, happy day!!!

Initially we were getting two, a torte for Kylie and an albino for me.  But when we got there, and saw that the black will turn a more gray color with white undercoat, and the sample that she showed of the fiber that she had just plucked, and so soft...okay, now we have three!

So please let me introduce:

Shanti (F)

Felix (M)

Our albino bunny (M), and yet to be named...Please help us with this one!!!  We cannot come to an agreement on this little one's name, and quite frankly what we have come up this does just not suit at the moment!

Here area all three together...I have to create another cage to hang on the wall!  I was lucky to have this other cage just lying around from years ago when we rescued other bunnies. For now Shanti is on the floor, but still very comfy!!!

Sorry that these first pictures are bunnies in the cages.  Their ride away from there Mommies, and familiar surroundings can stress the little ones.  We pet them, talked softly, and put them into cages with water, food, and hay so they know they are safe.  We will work on holding, and petting daily, and grooming weekly.  They like to be held close, and it will take a little time to adjust to their new surroundings. 

More is to come as we get to know our bunnies, and learn how to take care of them, and spin their lovely fiber!!!

The Girls Are Getting Bigger!

The baby chicks are getting bigger by the minute!  Last weekend I noticed that there legs were no longer thin, and fragile looking.  Feathers are slowly replacing the down they hatch with, and the beginnings of combs can be seen on some of the babies.  Feathers come in coated in wax, and preening is the biggest activity of the day!!!

Below is a Plymouth Rock, she will be totally white.  The feathers on her bum are just coming in, and are still half coated in wax.  These are Kylie's chickens she has named them Maura, Martha (after the Diva grandmother in the show Castle), and Margo.  Kylie is the only one that can tell the difference!

The chick in the middle of the picture below is a Rhode Island Red.  These chicks seem to be the most mild mannered, and go with the flow no matter what is going on!  They will comfort other chicks who seem to be a little more stressed.  I noticed this when they went from their box to the hen house.  Ky and I have named these three Diana, Katherine, and Elsbeth, cause ya know red heads are strong headed women!

My Araucana's seem to be the fastest ones to feather in, and area the ones that like to be held the best.  These girls are also called Easter Eggers, because there eggs are pastel colours.  I wonder what colours we will have?  They only lay one color egg, but they each have the potential to be different.  These three are yet to be named!  We started with flower names, but they do not seem to suit, they each have a   varying degree of black out line around the eye, and one looks like she took makeup tips from Cleopatra herself! (You can clearly see her in the first picture!)

Our last type of chick is a Buff Orpington, below in the middle, looking forward toward the camera.  They are the slowest to feather in, and are the most prone to run away from the camera and hide under other chicks.  Still they do like to be held, and settle in quickly when you pick them up.  There is very little difference in there colouring, and there are subtle enough differences to tell them apart now, but we will see if that remains to be true when they totally feather in. These little girls are know as the Bronte sisters.

This Plymouth Rock seems to be the Queen of the Hen House! I believe that this is Martha!  Kylie says she has been in charge since day one, and she will only leave that little perch to eat (after she has flapped enough to make everyone else leave the feeder or waterer,) or get warm.  We have to pick her up immediately upon entering the hen house to avoid a peck, and show her who is in charge!  Figures that one of Ky's would rule the roost! 

All chicks are being held daily, and there is very little protesting now.  They are used to Kylie and I, and due to feathers coming in, do not get too cold too quickly.

Stay tuned, new friends coming to the farm soon!

Mother's Day, Our New Family Tradition!

As my sister has said, this year Mother's Day was a family affair! I consented to make sure that I could walk a 5K by Mother's Day this year!  And I did!  This was a large task for me, and it was one that I accomplished for myself!  Next year, hopefully I will be at least jogging some of it, and beat this year's time.

Here is Kylie, she managed to sprain her ankle and pull a tendon the week before, but we still made sure that she got to participate.  Note, never use a wheel chair to push someone in a race, down hill is very unnerving!!!  Kylie was an excellent brakeman though!

Here we are at the end of the race...  

It started and ended at Hadlock Field, the home of the Portland Sea Dogs!!!  At the end of the race you enter the ball field in center field, and walk around the field to home plate.  Kylie had her name announced as well crossed the finish line, and the little one had the presence of mind to tell me that she beat me, because she was in front of me being pushed! 

They gave all the Mommies carnations at the finish line as well! :) 

What I did not know is this is the biggest foot race in the State of Maine!  3,000 people entered, and it was sold out!  I have never seen so many people in the same place at the same time, with the same intention!  Everyone was nice, the atmosphere was festive, friendly, and supportive! Looking forward for doing this years to come!

Thank you to my sister Andrea for setting this up, and giving me this goal!  It was much needed, and appreciated! Love you!

Spring Blooms Have Finally Arrived!!!

Waiting for spring this year has been a lesson in patience!  A few weeks ago I went four hours south to visit my mother and sister for Mother's Day, and to run a 5K for Mother's Day.  Things were in full bloom there and I marveled in abundance of flowers.  I got home to trees just staring to bud, and nary a bloom in sight! Ohhh, I did not want to wait any longer.  However, as much as I wish,  Mother Nature does not do my bidding.  Wait, I shall...

I do not know what this tree is, but around here they are every where, and it was the among the first to bloom.

Below is the crab apple tree that Kylie gave her father two years ago for his birthday!  This was its year for loads of blooms!!!

Kylie had chosen a pink blooming crab apple for her daddy, because she is a girl!  And besides it was the one she liked!

Lilacs everywhere!  With there deep, heady scent that filled the backyard, and house when the windows were open.  Just delightful!  And reminds me of my childhood, I was very pleased the spring after we had bought the house and found that these were on the property!

Logan has been following me around while I was taking these pictures.  Not very impressed with me when the door was closed before he could follow me inside...sorry!

Blooms from the old massive crab apple tree that has been here since 1948, when the house was built.  This was not its year to be heavy in bloom, and they were not that visible when the tree's picture was taken in its entirety. This tree is massive, and we have even had to trim it of massive limbs to keep it from splitting the main trunks.  It had not been maintained for decades when be bought the house.  To trim it properly would be a massive undertaking!

My hosta from Kylie for Mother's day several years ago.  This had grown from a 6-8 leaved plan to this!  It has a matching partner, and they live underneath the white crab apple tree.

Now that all of my blooms are popping and springing up from their winter slumber, its time to get the garden going!  But that will be another day's post...

Our Newest Additions to the Farm!

Welcome to our new brood of baby chicks!  Here is Ky with her one of her Plymouth Rocks! We just picked them up this morning from Auntie Dawn's!  (A big thanks to her because they were not dropped off at the post office we thought they were coming to, harder and more worrisome than tracking Santa on NORAD Christmas Eve!)

Lucy is wondering what is going here!  There is a lot of squeaking coming out of that box!  She watched them for over ten minutes before trying to nudge the box, and was gated from the room.  She is also not a fan of us playing with them and not her at the moment!  This is going to require extra attention and cookies!

Here is one of Ky's taking a nap while she holds her chick.  All three of Ky's seem to want to nap in her hands!  <3<3<3

So, we have started here with twelve chicks, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Plymouth Rocks (Ky's), 3 Rhode Island Reds, and 3 Araucana's (or Easter Eggers.)

I have been impatiently waiting for today!  I look forward to them feathering in, getting bigger, and by the end of the summer starting to lay eggs! We will keep you all apprised!

As She Grows...

As the glasses were slipped on my daughter's face for the last fitting before leaving the doctor's office, she aged right before my eyes.  My breath caught, my mouth went into a smile, and my heart swelled.  There was a tear or two that threatened to break its tension over my eyelid, but did not. How is it that I am always taken aback when I realize that she has grown oh, so much more than when I noticed it last?  Here is my baby taking her next step into becoming a young adult.

I Am Still Here! Part 3

Easter was very festive, and egg hunt oriented this year!

The second that Ky awoke it was, "let the games begin!"

Such a smart Easter Bunny to give a awesome re-useable shopping bag for a basket! :)  Also gave her Legos for girls, bubbles, and that much needed chocolate bunny!

Easter Egg Hunts happened inside,

and out at home!

After eggs were opened, and a little treat before breakfast, and a clothing change, it was off to Grammie and Pops' house! There Ky was joined by her aunt and cousins.

There, the Easter Bunny's helper Auntie Dawn had cupcakes to precede lunch, and another Easter Egg Hunt ensued as well! Yes, even the boys who thought they were too old to participate were inspired to take part!  

Because here the Easter Bunny's helper hid a little bit of another type of green, not grass for the basket, but a little lining for a wallet perhaps!

The best part of the day for me was family, and warm soup!  The simple things! Ky's fav, finding the five dollar bill in the "special egg!"

I Am Really Still Here! Part 2

Taking care of me...sometimes it is easier said then done.  This time however, I made plans a couple weeks in advance!  My sister-in-law let me know about a Woman's Retreat in the area, and we signed up immediately! Great women to hang out with, lovely conversation, yoga, relaxing music, guided meditation, hot rock foot massages,

a healthy and delicious lunch (even walked away with the rice recipe!),

and then to wrap up the day, we learned to give one another head, hand, and arm massages!  Wish I had more photos, but I was too busy loving the day and living in the moment!

I Am Really Still Here! Part 1

Oh, My! I have have not been here in a month of sundays! Things have been happening, and I have been doing a lot living, and no so much on reflecting and sharing.

Ky started Pee-Wee Basket Ball this year!  I am so glad that whatever is in my genetic make up that makes sure I miss ever basket was not passed on.  Ky practiced hard, ran so much she noticed that it was getting easier, and can sink most baskets once "in the groove!"

Here is Ky making her first foul shots! She went one for two!  Momma was making a scene in the bleachers!  Could not help myself, I was soooo excited!

Love #25! She's quick, and followed that orange ball everywhere it went!

The girls won all of their games, and came away with an undefeated season! They also won all of their games in the playoffs, and also won a trophy for that as well!

Do to Ky's enthusiasm over this sport, she also received a basketball hoop at home, and was out there playing everyday before the bus came, and after school until I made her come in to eat dinner! I have never seen her so excited about a sport before!  All that hard work really paid off!

Till next season...

Finishing-Up Winter Some Winter Knits

I have a couple of projects that have just been waiting on me to finish them!

Here is the last of the Cowl/Scarves that I have made this winter.  My sister got the test model, and after her nod of approval, on I went to make more!

I still have to finish a couple of owl fuzzy hats, can't wait to show them off!  I always find myself slacking a bit when it comes to hand sewing the pieces together. Then as I was  rummaging around I found some flip-top mittens that I was experimenting with, combining techniques from a few different patterns/ideas to get the mitten I wanted.  I wonder if I can still find the thought patterns I was having while creating them?

Spring is going to arrive next week, right!? Our half an inch weather for cast was already up to three when we went to take the dogs out for there last "walkies" before bed last night!  Gonna have to rewash that bath mat I had air drying in the sun just hours before!

Off I go to finish a project or two (if I do not get too distracted,)  then I can start making new lovely things with some of the stash below! I think that I will forget to tell Shawn that I just ordered more colors!

Springtime is land awakening.  The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in the Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

Do What You Love!!!

About nine months ago I let a lot of things go in my life!  My job (who doesn't like working up to 65-70 hours in a week and getting paid for 40?), people who were negative, and satellite TV.  The world did not stop because an income was missing, I became nicer to myself, and not being bombarded by negative, scary breaking news and their cooperate sponsors, I believe that is called relaxing.

Being a stay at home Mom with my daughter all summer was awesome! And to be honest it really took me that long to actually let the job, and the things that I felt responsible for, go.

Fall came around, and I volunteered at her school one day a week, and became the room mother for her class.

What about the other four days?

I was not feeling useful, I was not sure how to define myself.  So, I did what any respectable woman with yarn would do.  I made a Christmas that was entirely hand made (until the dog ate several presents, but really, I did it!)

After Christmas, same issue...

"Do what you love, love what you do!!!"  This has been said a myriad of different ways, by people of success, and compassion.  Origin of the quote, I do not know, if you do let me know, and I will put the credit where it is do.

That little saying kept popping up everywhere, email, blogs, websites, books, and straight from a friends mouth!

But how! My mind kept asking.

First, I had to get honest, what do I love doing?  Knitting, crocheting, sewing, gardening, and being with my family.

Second, I did not need to make a million dollar business in two days, and understand clearly how it all worked. (Still learning things in all areas daily!)

Third, I had to actually do it!  

So, I have done it!

I have opened a little store on Etsy, created my FaceBook page for my business as well.  I will have the links placed on my blog (one of the things that I am still learning to do!) as soon as possible.

Until then my Etsy shop is called LadybugHillFarm, and my page is Ladybug Hill Farm on FB as well. Hopefully by the time you read this it will not be an issue! But sometimes this computer has an off sense of humor!

I have spent more time at the computer lately, putting all of this together, and knitting as such has taken a back seat! So, I am hoping that this will start to even itself out soon as everything is finally put together.  

What I have noticed is that I have been very busy, given myself a new way to define myself, and have not felt like I have been "working" yet!  I have sold two hats so far, and that cash went straight back into the yarn supply.  However, for now, slow is good...let's see where this may go, shall we?

Doing what I love, and loving what I am doing!!!

I do have to give one huge note of thanks, to my sister, my lovely hand model below!  This was a present, nearly a month late, for her birthday.  She posted her wares online, and the response!  That was the moment that started this whole adventure in motion!  She is my best tester (the pay is not so good, but if she gets to keep the goods she is a willing participant!) She has a good eye for what's gonna be "hot" this year, and the colors she suggests to me makes sure I do not just use my own favorites, and thus will be eye catching to others that do not share my tastes!

So, needless to say, she has been a huge support!  I would like her to take a closer look at the twists that I did put into the  fingerless gloves themselves.  Because when stretched they are x's and o's!!! Love you, and thank you!  I think I need to find a really good name for that pattern!

Thanks for checking in with my ramblings! 

Namaste` Everyone!

A Little Green...

...a little hope.

I do not know about you, but I am very excited (whatdaya mean impatient!?) for spring to arrive! Taking the dogs out for walkies, I have begun to notice that there is indeed a lot of dirt mixed with water out there! Mother Nature is trying to awaken, however Old Man Winter is becoming the house guest that has over-stayed his welcome!

Our family has ordered our 12 chicks, sent out and received our seeds for our veggie garden, and now we have to wait!  So, not to be proven wrong (that I am not impatient?), on went the Muck Boots, camera in hand, and off to find some green in the back 10, so to speak.

Pine and spruce do not count for what it is that I am trying to find, and I think I see something peeking out at me, through the snow!

Yay!  I actually think that I have found something, and it is not an old tennis ball that has been thrown into the woods for a lazy doggie to find!

Wooo-hooo!  I never thought that I would be so excited about moss, or rather it's probably lichen.  I have many friends who will kindly let me know!  The neon green of spring to come!  I am excited as I am frozen!  The wind chill today...brrr...

So, for now this will have to suffice, or so I think...

Inside while getting warm, I notice something else...

This week one of my husband's customer's said thank you buy giving him some forsythia, and cherry blossom cuttings.  Today, they have started to open their buds!

Hark! the hours are softly calling

Bidding Spring arise

To listen to the rain-drops falling

From the cloudy skies

To listen to Earth's weary voices

Louder every day

Bidding her no longer linger

On her charm'd way

But hasten to her task of beauty

Scarcely yet begun.

~Adelaide Anne Procter