Bad planning

I've got 5 does bred right now. Three are due in a week. Tha' heck was I thinking? I was actually thinking I would have time this week during Spring Break to build my barn...wrong!! I mean, it's conceivable that I could have the area cleared out by the end of the week, but it's becoming pretty evident that there won't be a completed barn at the end of the week. I guess I can let them kindle under the deck next week...at least the weather should be warm enough. My unrealistic planning is frustrating me once again...

Great time in Greensboro!

I really, really enjoyed our trip up to the NCRBA Convention in Greensboro. So much fun to see fellow breeders. There really aren't that many around here. I took Houston & Raindrop to get some judges' opinions. They both placed about as well as could be expected, but the experience was really fun anyways. It makes me really reflect on the quality of my herd and the outcome of breeding particular bunnies. Qwill & Aeropostale are both beautiful bunnies, but I just don't think their genetics are going go line up for a show-winner. Taking the best of their offspring (that I've seen) to the show was really an eye-opener for me. I still think Houston is a great looking rabbit, but when you compare him to the rest of the field, I realize I have a lot more work to do. Going to the show really refueled my enthusiasm for the hobby. Of course, the beautiful weather today doesn't hurt, either!

I can finally be excited for Greensboro!

It seems like I always wait until the last minute to make rabbit trips...whether it is to take a table to someone or go to a show, there always seem to be other priorities that get in the way. I finally took my microbiology test this morning, which has been hampering my enthusiasm all week for going to the Greensboro show. Now that it is over, I can devote a lot more of the day to preparing to leave in the morning. So now, rather that blog for a long time...I think I'm going to get ready so I can be excited when I go to bed tonight instead of stressed about what all I have to accomplish in the morning!

Two more bunnies...

After driving to Virginia twice for bunnies in January, I had decided I was done bringing new bunnies into the herd and I would just breed what I've got for a while. Yesterday I drove down to Camden to pick up a couple more bunnies from Poyfair Farms since they're moving...hey just doing what I can to help a fellow breeder out, right? So anyway, I'm pleased to welcome Hamilton's Zebbie and Hamilton's Rob Roy to the herd, a sable point doe and a sable point buck. (and we're looking forward to the arrival of Hamilton's Laredo later this month) Wow...I'm starting to think I need therapy.

Stupid Dog

I took a shot at a dog tonight with the 12 gauge shotgun. I heard it barking awfully close to the house so I grabbed the gun and headed out to the deck. When I got out there the only thing I heard at first was the rabbits thumping under the deck, signaling that a dog had at least been close by recently. I had decided the dog must have left the premises, when all of a sudden a big German Shepherd comes running out from under the deck. I would have never guessed there was still a dog under the deck or I would have had the gun cocked and ready. By the time I had flipped the safety and got a shot off the dog was already at the back corner of the yard. Since I only had a skeet load in the gun I doubt it got more than a sting, but I guarantee he'll remember my place next time. If not, I'll be happy to remind him. Stupid dog. At least all the bunnies are okay...pretty stressed out, but okay.

Updating websites

When I first got into Hollands I used to get really annoyed when people didn't update their websites. I hated seeing a "for sale" page with a rabbit that was pictured as a junior, but was actually 3 years old now. I started my website very shortly after I starting breeding Hollands, and I kept every thing very current and updated. It didn't take long, however, to fall into the same category of people I had previously been frustrated by. I found that it wasn't the most terribly convenient thing to update a website, and I realized that these rabbits grow and change so much that by the time you do get it updated, it is just time to update it again. So now, I just do the best I can with the time I've got. I recently purchased the full Microsoft Office suite, which includes Microsoft Publisher, and I'll see if that makes it any easier to keep a website current. I don't like using the built in "web builder" software the comes with purchasing a domain--it simply takes too long and it is slow. It is likely, that (like so many other initiatives) I'll end up using it for a little while, then the newness will wear off, and I'll fall back into my old habbits of updating less frequently. Until then, I hope to be a little more current, and I apologize to all of those I may have been frustrated with in the past, as well as to those who expect to see more current pictures from me. I totally understand now.