Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New babies!

We had another litter of Holland Lop kits (babies) born last night!  **woohoo** I am doing the bunny dance! This is a first time momma and she is doing a great job...not a real big doe but she had four.  One was stillborn but she has 2 black and 1 black tort...they are cute and fat.  Momma and babies are doing great. Will post pics soon. Blessings, Angie

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sarah's Quilt

We have the sweetest kids in the world...really, we do! Of course, we are slightly bias but they are really good kids and we could not be more proud of them.  While they each have they own personalities and "ways" about them...Sarah is our "sweet" child.  She is only 6 but is very polite, sweet, smart and usually thinks of others before herself. 

One example of her actions was Halloween when we went Trick-or-Treating with friends on a hayride.  My husband, son Nate (who has autism and does not like load noise/ & crowds but LOVES candy) and myself followed the hay wagon in our car, to make sure some unconsiderate motorist didn't tailgate/run up on them. Anway, after a few houses, Nate decided he didn't want to get out anymore, so he sat in the back eating his stash (his bucket was already filled after 3 houses!? He was the oldest kid and the last to go...well that has it perks...he got EVERYTHING that was left as no one wanted to keep it in their homes...he made out like a candy-bandit) **LOL**

We continue to follow the wagon, where our two daughters, Sarah, and her little sister, Samantha (2.11 yrs) were riding.  I started to notice that Sarah would run up to the house, get her take, run back to the wagon and then turn around and go back up to this house?! I was starting to get a little upset that she was "double dipping", so I got out, called her over and looked in her bucket...that thing was overflowing and must have weight 5 lbs! I knealed down and gently asked, "Sarah, why do you keep going back up to the houses...your bucket so full?"  She looked at me and said, "Momma, this isn't all mine...I got my candy this first time up and then thought of Nate and ran back up to get some for my brother...see I got him two cans of playdough...I know how much he loves it."  All, I could do was hug that sweet little thing!

Oh, and you have to hear her pray! It will melt your heart. I got to church early one night to pick her up and stood quitely in the background, as they asked who would like to say the closing prayer. Much to my surprise, Sarah's hand shot up like a rocket...she was the ONLY child who offered to pray...most were too shy.  Well, I got to hear her pray for the first time away from home...my heart swelled with pride, while silent tears fell down my face. She thanked God for all her friends, her mommy, daddy, sister and brother, all her pets and her little friend, Jansen, who had a tummyach that night.  Then she closed by thanking God for giving us his son to die for all our sins...and then said, "Please tell Jesus thank you and I love him".  WOW! Why can't adults be so thankful and sincere.

Here is a picture of the quilt I made for Sarah for her 6th birthday (well, she actually got it a few months after). It is a "quilt as you go" type quilt, using handy little tool called the "Batting Buddy"...this is a great step for those that are wanting to quilt some of their own quilts on their home machines...perfect for crib, lap and twin size! (you can quilt larger quilts but it can get a little heavy/bulky...more on that later).  I kinda used a pattern for the outside of the quilt...almost like a border and then decided I wanted to embroider the 24 middle blocks with designs that were all Sarah...there is a poodle block, complete with her puppy's name, Ginger, on it...a bunny block that says "Hoppy Kisses" (that is a special little saying between me and Sarah),  Noah's Ark and some of her favorite animals, kitten, ballerina, princess, castle unicorn, pony, crown, cross and two of her favorite Bible verses from school last year...oh and a few of her favorite Disney Princesses! All, done with fabrics in PINK! (with a little purple thrown in). :) She loved it and sleeps under it everynight!







Thanks for letting me share a few special stories about one of my very special kids. Now, off to pick out 24 designs that scream Samantha!

God Bless,
Angie

Monday, November 7, 2011

Busy...busy...busy!

   Another great weekend here at home...lots to keep me busy.  Saturday I was able to worm and get our goats hooves trimmed...first time I have ever attempted this and truthfully, it wasn't too bad...much, much easier than trying to trim horses! **LOL** One of our does, just layed right down in front of my husband and closed her eyes while he rubbed her tummy and I trimmed her hooves! I guess that makes him the Goat Whisperer! :)

   Worked on the future "Bunny barn" too! Got most of the dirt-daber nests knocked down and swept out...tossed out some trash and decided how I might set up the cages.  I may wait to move the Hollands until all the litters are born and weaned...don't want to traumitize anyone right now.

   Goats are SO cool...most people don't realize how smart, cute and funny these little clowns can be...it is like having your very own circus in your backyard!  They never cease to make me smile. Hubby has promised to get me a buck for my birthday this spring...so maybe, we will have goat kids here next fall...and some fresh milk, cheese, soap and ice-cream! **woohoo** I'm going to need a few more does....
Here are a few pics of our Nigerian Dwarf does..the tan/white paint is "Tinkerbell" (aka, the ring leader, Ms. Nosey, Ms. Bossy and PITA)...the B/W dalmation spotted is "Gypsy Rose" (aka, sweetie, momma's girl, Ms. Nosey II and No-don't-eat-my-shrit) **LOL**



Blessings, Angie

Friday, November 4, 2011

**WARNING** New applique embroidery addiction...

I LOVE to machine embroider! I am self-taught (graduated from the school of Trial-n-Error *lol*) and have been machine embroidering burp cloths for family, friends and customers this past year.. but I have never tried applique embroidery...until this week, and I must say, I am ADDICTED! It is soo easy and fun to do...and I LOVE to be able to rummage around through my scraps to find that perfect piece.  Here are some pictures of the very first ones I did for a customer in Tennessee! Hate to toot my own horn, but **toot toot** they turned out great!
So, if you have never tried applique embroidery and have lots of fabric scraps, I HIGHLY recommend you try it.  If you are a "visual learner", like I am, then watch some video tutorials online at places like Youtube.
Oh, and the only tool/notion I recommend having for applique embroider, is a pair of applique (aka "duckbill") scissors...these will help you get VERY close to the fabric when you trim it away from the hoop, without fear of cutting through your background/materials.

Have to give a shout-out to two of my very favorite places to download embroidery:

BunnyCup Embroidery
**Alesha has the cutest embroidery designs with a touch of whimsy and they stitch out perfectly! Different sales are offered each month, so be sure to sign up for the Bunnycup Newsletter.**

BC Embrotique
**Love the large selection of fonts and frames! Also, offered are adorable and unique seasonal designs and "In the Hoop" projects. Again, these designs stitch out perfectly!**
Remember: Sit back, relax and HAVE FUN!
Blessings,
Angie

Boxwood Babies...

We have FINALLY had a successful and live litter born here at Boxwood Acres...one plump and healthy Holland Lop kit! **yay** It is a broken tort (the term "broken" refers to white and another color)...I am hoping for a really nice doe, so I can keep her and retire her momma, Charity (broken tort).  The sire is one of our best herd bucks, Raney's Blackjack (black) out of Schwandt's Last Bean (26th SSB  out of 199 at the 2008 ARBA Convention!).  Since "it" was born on Halloween morning and is mostly white, I think we should name it Boxwood's Ghost.
Here is a picture of Charity and her nesting box...you can't see the kit, as she had pilled all her fur on top to keep it warm.
Hoping for more litters next week and the week after Thanksgiving....more pics to come soon.
Makes you think...isn't God amazing?
God Bless,
Angie