A quite day of rest...

Chrysler and Dad "rest" together after a LONG week at work.

Stress has its' Price

Seems to be that the harder I try in life to be at peace within the more the Devil dances upon me. I've tried desperately to seek sanctuary in my life, in my home yet STRESS seems to consume me. Simple things to many over take me. The children have no clue so it seems NOR do they care. The young are easily led to wrong doing, are oblivious to common courtesy and respect. It should be easy to say "Clean the Kitchen" and I assume in most families it probably still is simple. Yet in my family when they are told to do the kitchen I must provide a 3 page detailed outline on what steps it takes to clean the kitchen! To me it makes sense to want to keep a tedious job simple, something as easy as picking up whatever in the room you are in; keeping things neat as you go. However, that is not the thinking pattern of "kids" today. "If it lays there long enough "someone" else will take care of it. Why go out of my way?" They assume if something is within their room~ be it theirs or another s belonging they can "dispose" of it through various means for monetary or other gain, One specific child will trade it or sell items that do not belong to him. Items that he "KNOWS" is on loan from another family member regardless of potential consequences. I have older children that claim "they are working on getting a job". They live here "scott free" with their "extended" new family. Yet despite the enormous costs of maintaining our home will ask for money. "I can work for it". Why is it I remain so generous and now suffer alone?! With this amount of Stress I'm losing my control and as a result am fighting a nasty Shingles outbreak. It rears it's ugly head during times of enormous stress. Luckily for me it's been over 15 years since my last outbreak, but the pain this time is 10 fold! Imagine the feel of a dagger being plunged from your spine through your body~ that is the beginning. About 3 days later the rash begins to develop. The blisters follow shortly thereafter~ that is the contagious stage IF touched. The entire episode can last 3-4 weeks. The potential for prolonged continued pain can last the rest of ones life from a single attack. In advanced stages shingles can shut down organs. GOD, PLEASE don't let this go this far!




These pictures show the blister stage as well as the path of travel. By Wednesday I predict it will have made it to my mid-line on my tummy.














The rash stage began Friday. By Sunday it has traveled from my spine around my side as seen below. * NOTE extreme difficulty in taking pictures of my back single handedly. LOL

Stopped in the "Tracks"

TRULY? Did you expect something to reach out and "GRAB" you. AFTER YESTERDAY? After-all I AM THE Nutty Buckeye for a reason....

So... I WAS "thrown off my BUNNY TRACKS" yesterday. Sure that after the long eventful day it was undoubtedly clear; I had to follow immediately with a relaxing shower and a little of my ice cream, "that" would provide my "revenge"! :-) lol

The French "Old Maid" she "thinks"

Upon closing of the days tasks yesterday I was given such a giggle it only seems appropriate to share it based on the "unexpected" arrivals of the days preceding event. It was a uneventful evening, nothing out of the ordinary as I ventured through my nightly duties of ensuring the herd status. I came to the end of the duty at hand and was given quite a jolt! With a mouth full of hay my young Sr. Chestnut has DECLARED her interest in nesting! Tiki was PROUDLY carrying around hay :-0... LIKE "Hey Mom, is it my turn for breeding now or what? I'm getting to be an Old Maid here!" I told her not yet and to quit that behavior! She'll have to wait a little longer for now it's grooming time. ;-)

UNEXPECTED delivery!

Well, My lovely daughter has "struck" again! On the 24th of June after Kat and I had discussed a "problem" Lionhead doe the decision was made that I would bring her home. Which in fact, I DID. Well... I got a really HUGE surprise this morning as I went to feed and water. Now mind you... Kat had not bred her. BUT she has 2 little girls that come over to "play" with the bunnies! (Need I say more?!) These girls are in the 10-12 yr. old range and Kat "says" "They know not to put bunnies together!" Well now I have 5 bouncing examples of how "THEY KNOW not to put them together". Just in time I got the nest box and HAY in. Sweet Dreamer "frantically" built her nest and in less than a half an hour "blessed" us with these kits. Showstopper (the ONLY available buck in the herd at her house) is the sire is out of a breeding from my herd. Thank GOD I can recreate things like this!

I "beg" to differ...

Where did "Shagg" get "HIS" information?! LOL I think "we" should correct that guy....
Aunt Gail clipped & shared this fun (and fitting) comic.

Only every 3 YEARS!

In the eyes of his sister he does no wrong. He lives the way WE were taught! A Semi-truck driver by profession with a heart built strong. He has served OUR country proudly. My Brother (Scott) and I have a unique bond that most siblings never have the joy of experiencing. YET, at the same time we are cursed. Living several states apart interferes with our ability to enjoy each others company frequently. We only average a short visit about every 3 years. Yesterday, was a blessed moment to share. Mom was in HEAVEN as her children shared the day together!









What really made the day fun was sharing the hummingbirds as well as talking about the Angora and Lionheads. He's in LOVE with the Lionhead, never had he seen one till yesterday. Maybe (LOL) one could grace the dash of the rig to keep him company. (I can see its' little bobbin' head now!) ;-)

Aunt Gail also shared the day with us all and there was to be a "mean" Othello match between Aunt Gail and Scott after I left to come home. Can't wait to hear the results....




I can't believe the bunny in this picture over my shoulder! LOL How funny is that?! No, it was not a planned thing. :-)

Hummer MAGIC

It amazes me the magic of a simple beating wing! For they seem to be able to stop many of us in our tracks. These beauties visit Mom's feeders several times a day, HOWEVER... only I (so far) have the patience to be still long enough to get any pics.

Be-still the MAGIC .

THE "new" babies in the BOX

I know I've been slacking on posting much with the
babies in the box. LOL As I was getting ready for a day in
Columbus yesterday it became apparent I "had" to show
Mom "her" bunnys' new litter. That gave me an excellent
opportunity to take some to upload as well. So with little "ado" here are the "NEW" kids in the barn. I think I see CREAM could be in here (could be a fawn) and IF so I be real excited as it's out of Hopscotch and Queen! :-)





















The litter (left) I'm pretty excited about as well. Course ANY time CHOCOLATE is involved I get that way. LOL This litter is out of Sunny and Choco (below left). I'm expecting SUPER things out of Choco this fall. He has a dreamy coat and a nice dense muscular body with what feels to be a super shoulder and incredible hindquarter.

The culling truth

What started out to be a simple tangled foot has ended in a 8 day old kit being culled. A hard decision it was. It took confirmation with another rabbitry to make the final decision. This tort youngster unfortunately reinforced another lesson of wool bearing breeds. The importance of making sure the dams wool is short in lengths after nesting/delivery is completed. As I'm sure many of you reading this can predict this little one got wool twisted around an extremity causing loss of circulation. For how long? Less than 12 hours. BUT ultimately TO long. The sad little ones foot (left front) had sustained damage. I took a wait and watch approach to determine the extent. Hoping that it was only bruised (such a skeptic I am). However as you can see in the photos atrophy and eventual young death was inevitable.
I've yet to grow enough to be heartless and cull swiftly, I took the cowardly way out (so I feel). I'd hung on to long and had bonded to this little "LEFTY" ; that's what makes me though.

With many tears and frustration I tucked my little tort into its' soon to be coffin and put it in the freezer where it will stay ~ quietly life slipping away as it becomes cool and falls asleep forever! Hopefully, hardening this overly sensitive heart of mine in the process.

Cranberry Bog

A true treat for the nature enthusiast is a trip to the Cranberry Bog located in Buckeye Lake which I was provided the pleasure of exploring a couple of weekends ago. Free to visit but a permit is required to do so normally. However, once a year a pre-planned trip is available through the Department of Natural Resources.

This "island" is a BOG comprised not of dirt but sphagnum moss. Being so unique as to the be the only know occurrence in which the lake surrounds the Bog instead of the bog surrounding the lake. "Our" bog is home to some very interesting vegetation including of course the Large Cranberry which does produce the edible berry with a very short harvest period.




Present and growing on the island naturally are the Northern Pitcher Plant.


The Calopogon Orchid as well as the Rose Pogonia Orchid (2 very RARE orchids).














The Cinnamon Fern (below left) as well as the Royal Fern (below right).


















Indigenous UNFORTUNATELY to the island is also the Poison Sumac (shown below)! Growing abundantly in tree form it is the most poisonous of the woody plants and should be avoided at all costs.

Kingwood Center

Located in Mansfield are the beautiful Lush gardens of Kingwood Estates. A once private garden that is now enjoyed by the public. Featured are the beautiful flowering Dogwoods lining the main walkway to the Mansion that was the home of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kelley King.


Well know for their beautiful displays of Tulips in the Spring and Poinsettias in the Winter it becomes easy to miss the extensive Tropical Greenhouse garden. The cost of admission is a modest $5 per car and makes for a pleasant family activity.
















These gardens can be enjoyed from the various benches throughout the park or quietly around the clear blue pond with the Mallards and Peacocks.

Fantastic Mansfield Carousel

Mansfield’s carousel is one of 16 active carousels in Ohio and features 52 animal figures. Each of the pieces are hand carved and/or painted just up the road from the Carousel by Carousel Works. Carousel Works is the world's largest manufacturer of wooden carousels and they design & paint in the style of G. A. Dentzel, one of the most revered carvers of the early 1900s. What a treasure it is to find something affordable for the family to enjoy with such dedication of so many craftsmen to carry on the fine skills of the artists before our time.

A Child at heart can never be to old to enjoy a Carousel ride, especially on a bunny OF COURSE. :-)

Westeria- a powerful force

In the yard at "HOME" is a powerful force. One that has proven Nature will always prevail and find a way to survive. This BEAUTIFUL Vine has proven to Grandmother, Grandfather, Neighbors and Mother that NOTHING will ever take it out or remove it from it's home! It has been "dug" out, chopped down and poisoned! Yet today MY beautiful Westeria, which in its glory days was home to Cecropia Moths measuring the width of my Grandfather hand and larger, still blooms profusely at "HOME" for a short time in late May with such fragrance it's unmistakable for anything else.

the Missing Link...

Scott returning to work has been a blessing and means I can get back to "normal". But "catching" up is the hard part! Finances, well I won't even go there; lol. But, bunny activity, website updating and what I've been up to seems like it will take forever to get everything back to "normal". Stay tuned.... over the next couple of weeks I'll be getting seriously busy and updating my blog, website and activities I've been participating in. It's sure to bring laughter and tears to you.

GLITCH- the newest addition

Hand-feeding our newest Baby will provide the best bond for her with us. Glitch is a 9 week old weaning baby Cockatiel.
Scott has already spoiled her!! She loves showers daily and he is all but to happy to let her perch on his hand while she does so. When he comes home from work he MUST speak to her, I am beginning to think she is training him instead of the other way around... :-)

By the way... YES, she was the 'Teil spoken about at the Canton show this past weekend.

Tulips at Mom's gardens

So gone are the Tulips that ushered in Spring. But the bright colors will stay forever in our hearts.
The Parrots is Mom's favorite... seen here with a Hosta background...




Also, not to be outdone of course is her Lilac Bush; which, by the way bunnies CAN eat, although I'm not sure I want to tell Mom that...LOL














Personally, I'm rather fond of the this lone red and yellow guy with cinnamon ferns being his background.





As always a dazzling display from her bleeding hearts was to be held.

Short & Fragrant

My FAVORITE flower is so fragrant but small. It only blooms the end of April and first part of May then is gone. Lily-of-the-Valley... This has been growing along Mom's drive for MANY, MANY years. Planted by my Grandfather it brings so much joy to my heart each year.

Gone are the Guineas

Hard as it may have been to say goodbye it was a necessity. With Hubby apparently being very allergic to them the last left on Sunday. I hope Freedom can enjoy his new life.....

The ENDING School Year

"It matters not what possessions are had nor amount of money in ones accounts IF one makes a single difference in the life of a child."

This is the one thing that seems to keep my hopes up as I struggle with each child through the battles of school and success. It paid off just a little this year. Last night we attended the "Appreciation banquet and Awards dinner" held for the Students of Holy Trinity Virtual Learning Center and School. I was over-whelmed into tears when Patrick received the "STUDENT OF THE YEAR" for being the most improved student last night!! What a joy it brought to my heart and it makes all those stepping stones and battles seem a little easier to reach!