Flea Market Weekend

Memorial Day, 2005

We spent the weekend working the annual flea market down at the antique shop where I help out. Three tables; two of just junk and one of nice stuff. Not many people out this year, though. Sold a lot of cheap books and some ceramic frogs; not much else.


We pulled out a lot of the stuff that I would love to just get away from here the first day, because I had just Dad to help me set up. The on Saturday the SO came down and we got into some nicer things. I have some gorgeous cruets that were blown in a mold. There's a hint of amethyst to the glass and the stoppers look like little jewels. Love those. Pulled out some silver, too; that always gets a lot of attention.


My sister-in-law set up a booth with some of her artistic pieces. They were up at the other end of the parking lot so I didn't see much of them. Hope she did well!


More people, more stuff. There are a few folks that just come out with outgrown clothes and toys to move out for a little spending money, but most of the people that come to Jerry's are antique dealers. There was a bluegrass band there, which was fun. It was so cold most of the weekend, though, that we all pretty much huddled under blankets and tried to keep our stuff from getting wet in the rain. Memorial Day was gorgeous, though. Most people were tired by then and heading home, though.


Even when it's not busy, I'm busy. I worked on the crocheted poncho that I'm making in the brown chenille. Nice to have it out in the light; the stitches look much better and I can see what I'm doing with the dark yarn. Along with the usual bunny chores, we took Dad to town for dinner. The bunnies are all out of their nest boxes and having a good time playing. I opened Joy's cage one morning and a fat little bunny tumbled out, to his surprise. I caught him scampering off to explore the rest of the bunny house. A bold Maple baby played tug of war with her for a dandelion leaf and won, leaving her hunting around for it in dismay. Joy likes to lay down in front of her feeder to eat. Bunnies eat alongside of her and some crawl up on top to cuddle in her fur.

The Interview

Long delayed but I finally have the answers to the questions Chris posed for me. The rules of the game are below. It's a fun challenge! The first two people that ask will be interviewed.

1. What's the best thing about being single?

Being able to have the dog on the bed! No, really, I know there are some great marriages out there but I'm just not good at it. I guess I prefer to put my major energies into other areas of my life. Creative work, writing, living peacefully and contemplatively, all mean a great deal to me. Too much to give up, I think. The only person I've had a very long term relationship with was a very tempestuous and demanding one; we both knew we could never live together. The current SO is very generous and giving of space but it still works great that he is four hours away. Of course, now that Dad is here, I'm still having to clean up the bathroom sink after someone else!

2. Let's say money's no object, so what do you do with the rest of your life?

I would come back to the family farm and buy some good German Angoras and build a nice bunny house in the barn that my grandfather built a half-century ago. I'd spin and make things to sell or give away and probably do some craft and fiber shows. I'd probably get interested in antique smalls and start selling those on the Internet, and maybe eventually even open up a shop here by the house. I'm already interested in books, so I would probably sell those as well. Occasionally I'd like to travel, and I would probably have my Dad move in. Sound familiar?

3. You say you enjoy the challenge of selling. Why?

Oddly enough, this was the hardest question for me. I guess it's hard to analyze something that has become almost second nature. There is certainly a challenge to it, getting the right item that someone will appreciate and just have to own, in these days of hard times and high prices. In spite of my reclusive tendencies I enjoy people and selling is one way to interact with a lot of people on different levels. It's fun to gauge what a stranger might want from you; some want to just pay, some want to chat, and some need counseling!

4. You obviously have great affection for your mountains. What's so special about them?

Easy one and I could go on for pages but I won't. There is the beauty, of course, of changing seasons in the highlands with gorgeous bloom of rhododendron and blazing leaves in autumn, with frost and snow in the winter. These mountains are old and worn down and friendly, in contrast to the raw beauty of Western mountains and the chill sharp ridges North. We live on a broad plateau with room for small farms and land rich enough to feed us for generations. But the main reason I love the mountains here is the people. With all their faults and virtues, the Southern Highlander is a breed apart. Hard to describe in just a few words. Maybe the sense of story that has flowed down through the generations is the easiest trait to describe. There are generations of memory imprinted in the land and remembered in the stories that people know about the past. Scandal and scorn, generousity and courage, every acre has stories of ghosts and vision, of hard work and children, of plowing and gathering. This can be said of almost everywhere, of course, but the difference here is that we know the stories.

5. Who has been the most influential person in your life?

Another easy one, and you knew that, Chris! I would have to say my cousin Ruth Jean. Of all the Wise Women I know, and there are many, she is the wisest. Mainly because she knows herself so well and is so willing to share from her deep experience. A teacher all her life by career and also by example, she should have been an architect and is an artist. Her interests are broad, her opinions sensible and entertaining, and she has a sense of humor that is both cutting and earthy. Not only do I greatly enjoy her company, I also learn from her every time I see her. She has taught me to appreciate many things about our mountains from her interests in botany and biology, many things about literature, architecture and more that has helped me to understand and enjoy them, and she has taught me how to deal with the Idiot Child within us all!

The Rules of The Interview

1. Leave me a comment saying “interview me.”

2. I will respond by asking you five questions here. They will be different questions than the ones above.

3. You will update YOUR blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

Baby Pictures

As requested by Josephine, here are a few peeks into nest boxes in the bunny barn.


Joy's bunnies, two and a half weeks

Eager for attention, these little ones run right to the front of the cage. This is a chocolate chinchilla on the left and a lilac on the right. You can see where they are already developing a lot of longer fur around their faces that will be the furnishings.


Crystal's bunnies

Woolybun's Crystal is taking great care of her nice litter. These bunnies are younger, just venturing out and appreciative of their warm nest on cool mornings. The two in the front are torts, probably black tort or maybe chocolate tort.


Angel's bunnies

Younger still, Angel's litter is still piling cozily in the nest box away from any possibility of chill. All of their eyes are open and they come out to eat, but they haven't been playing much yet. The litter is mostly black but there are two blue bunnies. You can see one here, piled on top!

Gifts

A Gift from Chris

The sunshine this morning is a treasure, especially after so many rainy cool days. It's still cold. Lily is upstairs snuggled under her afgan. I threw it over her to tease and she just cuddled under it instead of objecting!

Despite the chilly days the bearded iris are blooming. Chris at Woolybuns gave me several iris roots that I planted two years ago. This year the one by the back door is raising elegant purple bud spears and one opened yesterday in the late evening sun. I ran out to take a picture before something could happen to it. Who could but love such lasting and generous gifts? Cathy has offered me another such treasure, from a special lady I have never met! Sharing plants has been a tradition among country women for a long time. I appreciate being gifted by these lovely women and hope I can return the honor someday!

A neighbor here told me about her mother, a very young woman who came to the community when she married an older man with children. The neighbor women discovered her love for flowers when she planted roots and cuttings she brought with her, and welcomed her to the community by sharing plants from their own little gardens. Ms. Lois (the daughter) said her mother had a beautiful garden of flowers, which she tended while caring for many children and dealing with all the other hard work of farm, house and family.

Had a wonderful afternoon with RJ as we ventured off the mountain to town for bunny feed and lots of lovely talk. Nice dinner in town to complete the trip; very important. We touched on politics and lack of common sense, old family scandals (and possible new ones) movies, books, music. It's not hard to come up with conversation with such a companionable person!

Time for bunny chores. The smallest bunnies have retreated back into the nest boxes with the cool weather. Had a shock the other day, though. Mary has four big fluffy bunnies, but when I went in to feed one evening there were only two. They are too large to slip through the wires but I searched the floors and trays in vain. Other cages, no extra bunnies. Crawled under the barn; no sign of babies. Finally I decided that I must have a black snake visiting, which upset me very much. The other rabbits, including the mother, didn't seem a bit disturbed. I gave up and started feeding pellets. When I picked up Mary's overturned bowl to fill it, out popped two fat little bunnies! They had been snuggled together there the entire time!

Uninspired Days

Two days of rain, off and on, with cold temperatures have kept me inside on the computer or down at the antique shop. With the cold people aren't moving around very much. Yesterday a few people wandered into the shop, including a delightful young lady that I knew years ago. She wants to start a business here in the community, an admirable if tough ambition!

Bunnies were all huddled together this morning; snug against the cold. When I started putting hay in, they scampered over to say hello and dive into the crisp piles. Funny to watch such little rabbits, almost lost in the hay as they munch away!

Last night Dad and I went to dinner with a couple of young friends. Lovely to catch up with Kym's vacation and work news and Trinity's tales about friends and family. His young niece is driving and has a boyfriend; it seems just yesterday that she was starting school!

Early morning to head back to the antique shop, then a trip to town with RJ. Haven't seen her in awhile so it will be great to visit. Stocking up on bunny feed is the purported purpose of the trip but visiting, and dinner, are more important still!

Very busy working on web sites but that doesn't make for much blog interest. Hopefully the sun will stay out for awhile and the temperatures will get warm. It's so cool I've been worried about shearing bunnies!

After Morning Chores

Bunnies were not so demanding this morning. Nice play time and not so many chores, after catching up last week. The does are now looking after active bunnies that romp around the cages, doing binkies and climbing all over the patient mothers. Only one doe still has the bunnies in the nest, but they will be out soon!

Lily's ready to go along as I take a walk around the yard, discovering the changes a day can bring. She sniffs along everywhere, her sensitive nose revealing a world that is hidden to me. Two very large dogs roamed through the fields yesterday evening, circling the bunny barn as I shouted to drive them away. The bunny house is safely built to keep them out but I don't want them here, just in case. It's rare to see a strange dog these days. Lily was annoyed by the intruders and checks carefully to find traces of their passing.

Buttercups in the field dance in the breezes, adding a golden glow to the fresh green of the grass. Closer to home, bright buttercups grow by my path to the bunny house.

Early Iris are out, gracing the long bed by the grape arbor with their handsome blooms and spears of new growth. This iris is a rather ordinary specimen, just plain purple with no flash. But it is an old one in this area and blooms early, speading color in the beds while later iris tease me with closed buds.


Shy and bold, there are so many flowers out right now. I saw fire pinks on my trip north and lots of pink and flame azalea on the roadsides. Tulip poplar is still blooming alongside the haze of locust blossom. There is a dogwood across the road from the farm that stands brilliant in the sun against the dark shadows of a pine and hardwood stand of trees. In warmer areas peony is bragging in lawns, with brilliant hues of red and white.

Here we still have rhododendron, glowing with purple in the sun on large evergreen shrubs. I remember playing in the rhododendron when we were children. It grows large in the wild, shrubs that tower over my head even now. In the little woods on the farm the rhododendron made secretive caverns over the creek, and we played for hours in the shadows of green.

The green things are as beautiful as the blossoms. Mayapple is spreading across low banks and hills in curtains of green. Last night I saw a stand of tall ferns under the trees, lacy and elegant in the twilight. Some plants shoot up, seemingly overnight, while others unfurl in graceful stages as they seek the sun. My grape vines are bursting out of bud in sturdy tendrils, ready to wrap themselves around the arbor and grow rapidly through the season.
One of my favorite mountain plants is deciduous azalea, or flame azalea. The brilliant orange of this wild flower makes an uncommon statement in the mountain forests, while the pink version of the same tree compliments the many white blossoms of dogwood and other trees. There is an evergreen azalea that grows well in some places on the mountain, but prefers a more sheltered and warmer space than these wild natives.
The sky this morning is a stunning blue, with loftly white clouds soaring lazily overhead, moving with the breeze. The grass is billowing in the wind as cloud shadows drift across the fields while buttercups dance. The tall spruce in the front yard, planted by my grandmother many years ago, stand tall with branches whispering in the wind. New green needles at the tips of the darker branches are capped with a papery protective cover that is being thrown off into the new breezes with the universal plant longing for the sun.


Today will be a day of watching the fields from my window as I work on the computer. Later a few hours spent at the antique shop will be a fun change, with people involved. My mother is promising more strawberries after a visit with an aunt that is ailing in the hospital. Somewhere along the way a beautiful fawn doe should get a haircut.

And a surprise for me this morning at the end of my little walk, accompanied by Lily and a curious calico cat. My bleeding heart bloomed early this year, only to be cruelly treated by frost. The blooms were gone and the leaves damaged, yet it has raised sprays of delicate pink blossoms again above the lacy green.

Shy Bridesmaid

azalea
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Flame Azalea (or deciduous azalea) greeting the sun.

Maid of Honor

rhody
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Rhododendron by the front door.

Speaking of Brides

viburnum
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

The viburnum, or snowball bush, out in the back yard. Bit of a cliche, of course. But the white bursts of bloom are glowing in the morning sun and dancing in the breeze.

Weddings

Came home last night from a trip to Northern Virginia to attend the wedding of the SO's son. Lovely young couple that seem very much in love. Her grandfather, who is a really neat guy, worried that they're both a bit naive. Life will take care of that soon enough.

Sweet wedding and the young people included their extended families very well. It's complicated these days with step-parents, step-siblings, SOs and so on. Sweet to see the bride dancing with the groom's dad and step-dad (Dad dances better!). Also sweet to see people put aside their family quarrels and minor differences to unite in their love for a beautiful young couple.

I don't go to many weddings; most people my age have children that are already married. This was the most old-fashioned wedding I've been to in awhile and quite charming. The sweetest wedding I've been to in a long time was my mother's when she married my step-father. The most interesting was my brother's bluegrass formal wedding in the church on the hill!

The drive up the Valley was a bit wet with rain coming in bursts along the way. I try to manage it so I can take my time and not feel rushed; there is SO much traffic on the Interstate these days. Locust is blooming around Roanoke, along with the dogwood and I saw fire pinks along the roadsides in Floyd County. I drove my truck up but we picked up friend Kym's car in New Market. She was on vacation and then worked at a wine festival in Front Royal. I brought her car back yesterday under sunny skies with a lot less traffic on the road.

I came back through Floyd County in the late evening and surprised a fox in a curve on the narrow road leading home. He scampered across in front of me and then sat down on a rock at the top of the bank to recover his dignity. A big red fox that looked back at me with curiousity as I stopped to watch him. This one was all orange, with black ears and legs. I've seen some that were more gray than orange. I don't know if the fur changes with the seasons. You can tell I'm a fiber person because I was thinking how beautiful the color would look as yarn!

Morning here is cool and sunny; nice after all the rain. Looking forward to settling back into the routines of bunnies and books. Lily seems to be finally accepting her new haircut; she was happy to see me when I picked her up from the babysitter. Looked like she had fun watching the pet birds, playing with small dogs and watching TV from the couch!

Strawberries and Storms

Early morning bunny chores found all of Crystal's bunnies tumbled out of the nest. I moved her with the bunnies to a bigger cage and fixed the box so that they can go in and out. One tort's eyes are opening but they're all still snuggling together in the box. Mom seemed very proud of the new situation as the bunnies wobbled around her!

Dad is bunny wrangling tomorrow, so he got lessons with the rabbits. They are very calm and don't seem to mind new people, especially if food is involved! A few days before kindling the mothers are sometimes a little nervous of someone new. So I try to be here myself during that time. But generally they are quite placid. I remember once when I had chickens I had a 'free' chick that grew up to be so nervous that he went wild every time I came into the henhouse. The rest of the flock panicked because he did. That rooster didn't stay. An easily frightened rabbit would affect the herd in a similar fashion, I think, and I wouldn't keep a rabbit that wasn't calm.

Spent a few hours at the antique shop yesterday morning, working on the computer and visiting with the terrific people there. The morning was warm and sunny, but the minute I got home clouds rolled in and the thunder started rumbling. I capped strawberries standing at my kitchen window and watching the rain on the pond. There's something very satisfying about 'putting food by' and I like the think about strawberries in the freezer, waiting to enrich our winter meals.

Between storms I cleaned in the bunny house, getting up hay and droppings from the floor and trays. I have a wedding to attend tomorrow in Northern Virginia so I want to leave things tidy for Dad and the bunnies. After that another rain came in so I went upstairs to curl up on the bed with sulky Lily. She's still very unhappy with her haircut!


I also washed the Cormo skein I did for Alyssa in New Castle. She sent 3 ounces for me to try and I love the way it spins up. Soft, with lots of loft. The skein is still wet so I can't send it back yet; probably it can go on Monday. I'm going to hate letting it go!

Last night I started a crocheted poncho, to have something to carry along for my little trip north. I'm using a commercially dyed nylon chenille in dark brown. it's hard to get a good picture of the stitch pattern; I'm using the same design I did for the green poncho, with some modifications I thought of after the first one was done!


A sudden roar of thunder in the night surprised Lily and she woke me with a woof of mild alarm. I dashed down and unplugged the computer; can't afford to lose that. It was nice to snuggle back down under the covers with Lily's chin on my ankle, while the rain battered the tin roof and lightning flashed in the windows. Loud cracks of thunder shook the house and I fell asleep to the rumble as the storm moved away into the distance. This morning it was raining, but now it looks like the sky might be clearing. Bunny chore time!

Strawberry Day

Overcast and cool this morning, with a haze in the air that is not quite a fog. Starlings are busy in the air, soaring away and returning to their nests with a rumbling flutter. Nothing else is moving in the day; the neighbor's cattle are spread across the hill in repose.

Yesterday I took my time over the morning bunny chores, playing with babies that are alert and interested in the world. My favorite is a pushy chocolate agouti from Joy's litter; all curiousity and friendliness. He has a white foot, which means he won't stay here, but he will be a delightful pet or wooler for someone. Mary's bunnies are cheerful and friendly; I'll be keeping a daughter from her as well as one from Maple, if she has one.

Yesterday was also the big day for Lily to go to the groomers. I've been combing her out twice a day and still can't keep up with all the hair she sheds. I don't worry about the house; I'd rather have the dog than an immaculate place to live (that will NEVER happen here anyway). But with my allergies housekeeping is tough to begin with and the hair doesn't help. So I packed her off down the road to Zoomin' Groomin' and Sandy gave her an extreme haircut! I really like the way she looks, all sleek and neat, but Lily hasn't gotten used to it. She's hiding out in her crate right now! Sandy left some of her tail, which was very well-furred!

When I brought Lily back home my brother had brought over the strawberries my mom picked up from the fields below the mountain. So I spent part of the afternoon packing them away in the freezer. They look like fragrant jewels and taste wonderful. As I think I've said before, we're trying to make some changes around here to combat a genetic tendency to carrying around too much weight. Fruit in the grocery stores just doesn't thrill me. I love it when the local stuff starts coming in!

I put a few books up on the Internet yesterday and hope to get more work done today. Things are working great with our web host and it's time to get back to working on web pages. www.meadowsofdanva.com is up and running and I'm getting details about the Folk Festival on August 13th together to post there.

Last night I went with Mom to her church's revival at Burk's Fork in Floyd County. The old Brethren Church has been there since 1892 and it has the wonderful, sacred peace that I find in many old places of worship. The building is white sided frame in the style of many older churches in the area, and the interior is much like it has been for generations. Brown painted wooden benches are arranged around two small wood stoves. The ceilings are high and there are white columns by the aisles with oil lanterns hanging on them. White walls are decorated with pictures from the churches history and old religious prints. The pulpit stands in a beautiful windowed alcove, just a step up from the floor on a low platform. A table with a huge Bible in a glass case stands before the pulpit. The congregation is small but the church and its history has been part of these families for generations. There is a picture of a singing school in about 1915; one of my great-aunts is captured there in youth with many of her family. An older man there pointed out people to me; his grandparents, uncles and other relatives.

My mom plays the piano and both my mother and my step-father are much involved in the activities of the church. The service was simple, hymns, prayer, special singing from a talented choir from another Brethren Church, a sermon by a guest speaker. I held the Bible from the pew rack before me and thought about all the generations of Floyd County people that have united to worship there.

We came out together under a glowing evening, with Floyd County hills above us. Surrounded by Floyd County faces and talk of strawberries and family, I stood under the sky and watched the pastor secure the door to the old building. The faint rush of the creek just below the building echoed around the solid white walls. I came home to spin peacefully in my quiet sitting room, thinking of past days and unity.

After

After
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

My baby!

Who is this strange, sleek Foxhound that came back from Zoomin' Groomin'?

Before

Before
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

joy babies

joy babies
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Another cool morning but the sky is clear and it looks like another beautiful day. I went down early to check on the bunnies and the little ones were out that were born at the end of April. Some are still a bit wobbly and uncertain but the big fellow pictured on the right is curious and ready to be petted or play!

Yesterday I went to town to check out a health club. Like most of us, I weigh far too much and it's starting to affect how I feel. I've been trying to eat more sensibly but I felt healthier when my friend Kym and I were going to the gym several times a week. Now I have to see if I can get up enough ambition to do that again!

The rest of the day was spent visiting. I dropped in on Cousin RJ, hoping to catch cousin Jane but knowing that she would be busy. Had a nice visit in RJ's lovely porch room, decorated with wicker and soft pastels as we discussed our favorite interests thoroughly.

Then I headed up to the Woodberry Inn to shear a friend's rabbit. Hannah is a beautiful chestnut that is mostly French with a little German. So I often have to pluck her wool. I pluck what comes off easily and shear the rest. Her wool is wonderful; not a high yield but rich in color.

Hurried home to do bunny chores and then headed up to the Merchant's Association meeting. They're putting together a Folk fair in the community for August 13; if there are any crafters out there interested in participating it should be a wonderful opportunity to show off your skills and sell your wares. No fees, since this is the first year. Lots of promotion and we have thousands of people through here every year!

Dad came home from an extended trip back to Georgia to take care of business. We fed the fish and admired my brother's remodeling job on his house. It was dusk and the red winged black birds had settled into their night places. Their calls as they soar across the field, guarding their precious nests, usually accompany our visits to the pond.

A late evening check on the babies in the bunny house under a sky drifting with clouds and stars. Later when I looked out the moon was shining on the apple tree by the window, reflecting from the scattering of white petals on the grass.

During the Storms

rhododendron
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Two days of fog, storms and rain kept me off the computer, along with some work that I had been putting off. So I took the opportunity of wet weather to dive into getting books out of boxes and onto shelves in the sitting room. When I get it done it will be easier to find the books that I sell and also have them more accessible when we start up the shop.

In between thunderstorms I hurridly priced a few more books and got a few items up on Tias.com. But the weather did not cooperate!

Bunnies are doing well despite the cooler weather. All of the older bunnies are out of the nest box now, huddling together during the cool nights and scampering around the cages. Moms use the tops of the turned up nest boxes to retreat from demanding bunnies now. I have one new litter from the weekend, Living Waters Farm Angel produced a lovely litter of seven from a breeding with ISeeSpots Elwood Blues. There are some blue bunnies in the litter, always popular!

Th rhododendron are blooming in the yard. I haven't been up the Parkway to check, but just imagine the picture above multiplied by dozens of large green shrubs, covered with beautiful purple bloom. Here and there you'll see the blaze of flame azalea. This is the Parkway in late Spring!

When I was a child people called the rhododenron mountain laurel. There is another shrub that is mountain laurel, but people called that mountain ivy. And the deciduous azalea, also known as flame azalea, was called honeysuckle by people here. The sweet smelling honeysuckle vine doesn't grow here.

Last night I settled down to a little spinning, of some nice Cormo batts from a shepherd near Roanoke. I have never worked with Cormo before. Very soft and spins easy.

Chore Day

Shetland/mohair roving
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Lovely day yesterday, with a nice breeze and warm temperatures. I got out my ambition and headed for the bunny house to clean neglected floors and trays. I'm just not inspired during wind and cool weather to tackle those projects.

Between loads of manure and spoiled hay, I sheared a delightful buck named Chocolat. The afternoon was hot and he was a little cranky, but settled down when I started shearing. This fellow is a German cross chocolate buck, but he has enough German to have the instinct to settle quietly in my lap while I shear him. He had a beautiful clip but I discovered that he had a little mess behind. Probably why he was cranky. Sometimes sudden weather changes can affect the rabbits digestion. After I cleaned Chocolat and clipped the heavy wool away, he was happy to run around in the pen.

Afternoon storms interrupted my chores and also prevented me from working on the computer. A good excuse to get out the dye pots and delve into the riches of roving I bought from Lura. The results are pictured; green and gold for the chain stitch shawl. Or poncho, whatever it becomes!

Chocolat was outside when the rain started with a rumble of thunder. I was upstairs hanging up clothes and rushed down to rescue him. Lily thought I was frightened of the thunder, I guess, and spent the rest of the day by my feet, growling whenever she heard a noise!

The rest of the day was spent packing up angora to fill an order for a customer in Pennsylvania. I took some pictures of the colors for the web page to jazz it up a little.

This morning I'm surrounded by fog. It's so still outside I can't hear a single sound and so dark I have to have a light in the computer room. I ran down to check on the bunnies early. Several out of the nest and their eyes are opening! It's so much fun watching them explore their new world.

Lily's Evening Walk

Yesterday was beautiful; warm with some clouds passing through and a nice breeze. This morning looks to be just as lovely. Bunny chores and laundry day!

I spent most of the day on the computer yesterday, updating the web page for Poor Farmer's Market and All Seasons. Poor Farmer's is a terrific country store here in Meadows of Dan. They have a wonderful sandwich shop and great gifts and country foods. My dad is hooked on the fried apple pies!

There was a glitch in the All Seasons set-up, so I switched off and cleaned up my living room by listing the fiber I was planning to take to New Hampshire on my web page. I can't go to New Hampshire this year; I'll be pouting here at home while Chris and Kim talk bunnies! The fiber I was going to sell is posted at Greenberry House fibers.

After spending all day at the computer, with a couple of breaks to play with bunnies, I took Lily for a walk to clear our heads. She and I both need to do some tummy reducing! We stopped by the pond to feed the fish while the neighbor's cows watched us curiously over the wire fence. Lily tries to sneak the fish food out of the water when it floats close to the bank. She darted back in alarm when the big catfish glided in, intent on the same food!

We continued our walk along the Parkway. Along the way we past neighbors houses that belong to people who are kin as well as neighbors. Sadly most of my neighbors along this stretch of road are stuggling with health issues and age. There's a new house with a new neighbor, who is a distant cousin. She has a pet rabbit and I get many reports about how much fun she has with him. It's charming when a beautifully dignified older woman is telling about binkies on the couch!

Lily got tired. She has some arthritis in her hips and exercise is hard sometimes for her. So we didn't go far up the road. We did find a patch of Mayapple spread under a small stand of trees, and a tiny white wildflower that looked like stars spread across a hill.

I did the last bunny check under a blue-black sky dotted with stars and graced by a sliver of moon. The air was cool and the rabbits were calm in their cages, enjoying the quiet weather. Baby bunnies were snug in their nests and a black cat coiled around my legs as I secured the bunny house door. I came back up to finish a few computer chores while a worn out spaniel snored at my feet.

Bundles of Autumn Joy

Bundles of Autumn Joy
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Yesterday after a wonderful hour of bunny chores, which of course included playing with new bunnies, I traveled down the mountain. My friend Kym was having car problems and I went down to take her to retrieve it from the mechanic. Early summer has arrived in the lowlands. Kym has iris blooming and the pink deciduous azalea is blooming down in Squirrel Spur.

We had a nice early lunch at the Claudville Cafe. Food was good but even better was catching up with all the news and girl talk. Kym is planning a special little vacation and excited about her trip.

Came back home to the not-so-much-fun task of paying bills, then cleared my head with a walk with Lily down Concord Road. Wildflowers are blooming at the edges of the woods along the way. Wild strawberries seem to be everywhere and dogwood rivals the apple trees for bloom.

Tulip poplar, with blooms that look like magnolia, stands tall. Against the still-bare branches, the golden cups look like they are floating in the air.

Violets are blooming by Concord Spring but there is no sign that the rhododendron will bloom yet. At my mom's house, a beautiful little dogwood cheered the corner below the ice factory. Handsome gold and red tulips stand proudly in her flower beds, sheltered near the house.

I came back by to visit with Mom and Wendell before heading to Christiansburg for the rabbit food. I will be needing a lot! The first babies are growing fast and will be eating very soon. They start by nibbling hay in their nest but as soon as their eyes are open I offer uncooked oatmeal. The mothers eat most of it at first but by the time the babies are out of the nest they will be sharing pellets with their mothers.

Home late; did a little computer work, trying to straighten out a few glitches that the web page server is having. Then to bed. I awoke in the night to find Lily and Malachi, the black cat, curled up together on my feet. Apparently Lily didn't know he was there for awhile, because later she barked him off the bed!

Mountain Morning

Mountain Morning
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Sometimes its nice to get out early, in the wet grass that is so heavy with dew it often doesn't dry until noon. There's a freshness to the scents in the air.

Last night I drove home from town and watched lightning flash across the mountains. By the time I reached the high ridge close to home, mist was rising from the wet pavement, casting strange shadows in the headlights.

Apple Blossoms

appleblossoms
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

And then we came home, picking up a delighted Lily on the way. Everyone here was happy to see us, from the screeching cockatiel to the fawning cats. Bunnies have grown SO much; will try to get pictures later today. There's a new litter from my lovely Woolybuns Crystal, neatly placed in the nest box and with interesting colors that Chris says might be tort! Six lovely bunnies that were fine this morning.

The neighbors have put cattle in their field, only half a dozen but it's nice to see them when I look out from my computer room. All the apple trees are beautifully covered in bloom and the rhododendron in the window garden is hinting at some color. The warm weather is back at last and I'm looking forward to bunny chores and starting some gardening.

Visited with my brother for a few minutes last night; he's making great progress in his remodeling job. The little house is going to be charming!

Ohio Farm

Ohio Farm
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

I like traveling, or rather, I enjoy being somewhere new. Sometimes the trip to get there seems far too long. But when we reached the back roads of our trip in the Amish country of Ohio, there was plenty to see. The terrain is much flatter than I am used to here in the mountains, but there are still enough hills to feel comfortable. The farms are larger and look prosperous, with big barns and nice farmhouses. There are small towns along the way with a little different architecture than our mountain styles. And, of course, it's always fascinating to see the horse-drawns wagons and carriages of the Amish. I wanted more pictures but the camera charge didn't hold out.

Our Booth in Ohio

Ohiobooth
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

We mostly deal in books, prints and paper, with a few Civil War artifacts. We had a good show and met some nice people. While the crowds flowed through the wide isles inside, there were reenactors outside demonstrating artillery, hospital scenes and the Gettysburg Address. Ladies paraded in their Civil War finery; much grander than my simple camp dresses when I sit and spin during reenactments. But the North was more well-to-do during the War than the South.

There was a Sutler's Row, which I browsed, selling reproduction items for use during reenactments. And good food! sold by local groups to benefit organizations.

Civil War Show, Mansfield, Ohio

OhioCivilWar
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

My weekend in mid-state Ohio, Amish country and home to one of the nicest Civil War Shows I've been to. We set up in the Richlands County Fairground in the Arts and Crafts Building.

Another Day Out

It turned out to be a beautiful day yesterday, cool and bright and wonderful for travel. After a morning of bunny counting and chores and some wild emailing over the club controversy, Mom and I headed west and south to pick up Lura's roving down in Ashe County. It was a lovely trip and we enjoyed it very much.

Nice to see Lura again, after what must be two or three years! She was working and we had to head back so we didn't get to visit long. I hope to go back soon and meet the herd that produces all this lovely fiber and the guard dogs! And have a real visit.

We headed back with a stop to get Wendell a special treat, hurrying home before it melted! Lily was waiting for me when I got here, happy to have me back. I'm at home so much now she misses me when I'm gone! Bunnies were cozy in their nests and the cat came in to curl up on my lap while I tackled the backlog of email for the day. The evening flew by and soon I heard Lily heading up the stairs. She had given up on me and gone to bed!

Cold Spring

Frost again yesterday morning. The wind blew most of the day and the temperatures were cold. Except for a visit with my mom to arrange our day out today, I didn't leave the house. Spent most of the day sorting through angora for New Hampshire and watching the arrogance of the officers in an organization I belong to. But we won't go there!

The apple trees are trying to bloom. The big one is covered with buds and one of the small ones I planted has a halo of white. Another of my small ones only has a couple of buds and still another has none. I think they are not happy, for some reason. The pear has a few blooms that may give up the fight if the cold continues. After such warm winter days, these cool days seem like an insult!

Bunnies are fine this morning. Mary was right up front this morning when I came in to check, and very annoyed when I didn't give her anything to eat! I usually just run down to make sure everything is all right throughout the day, but when they see me they're always hopeful of food! It's been so windy and chilly that I haven't been exercising them as much as I would like.

Today Mom and I are going to Ashe County to pick up some more of that gorgeous Shetland/mohair roving from Lura. I'll have some to sell for her at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool, and some for me!

Fiber Day

Caught it!
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

Lily was in a fun mood this morning, starting the day by enticing me to hug and play with her on the bed. Then when she went outside she found a stick to toss around.

Spent the day yesterday packing up wool and angora for New Hampshire Sheep and Wool. Lura has hers packed up already and I'll be heading down tomorrow to pick it up. It will be great to see her; it's been years!

Mary lost one bunny yesterday. Things do go wrong, as I said. It's always a little sad to lose one but so far Mary is doing well with her first litter. The other does are also carrying on just fine.

Last night my friend Kym called and we went down to have dinner and see a movie. I liked the movie, Upside of Anger; not sure that she did, as much. Interesting themes, though, with a bit more depth than either of us expected. Glad we went!

Late night coming home, under star lit skies. There was a herd of deer at the top of a hill not far from home, drifting across the road and a neighbor's yard.

Waiting for Breakfast

Waiting for Breakfast
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

An old rabbit hutch makes a fine feeding station for the three official cats here at Greenberry House!

Beginnings

new life
Originally uploaded by Greenberry House.

New baby bunnies, two days old. It's amazing how fast they develop. This is Greenberry's Autumn Joy's nest, with six little chocolate bunnies. Already the skin that was bare a day ago has grown a brown coat of hair. They look like tiny sleek brown seals. Mary's bunnies are getting a faint haze of white and the fawns are just showing a trace of color. Exciting when they start looking like little rabbits!

All was well in the bunny house this morning. Last night was cold, and all three does, even rookie Mary, had added wool to the nests to keep the babies warmer. The air is dry so the bunnies seemed fine despite the cold, with full little tummies and warm angora lined nests to cuddle together in.

I'm thinking about putting together a little craft flea market here at the house for Memorial Day. We get a lot of traffic from the Parkway and from a larger flea market nearby. If anyone is interested in participating that lives close enough, you may reach me at the email on my profile, or through my web site, www.greenberryhouse.com.

Sunny Day!

Yesterday I was finally able to get out and see what damage had been done by the cold weather last weekend. There are a few things that aren't going to bloom as beautifully as usual. The quince usually has more blooms, but it was fooled into blooming by warm-ups during the winter more than once. My sweet shrub has many little buds that were killed by the cold and my bleeding heart is going to have lovely leaves but the blooms are gone, except for one sprig that was protected. The viburnum has a few drooping and blackened sprays but it looks like it will be pretty.

All is well in the bunny house. The first four or five days are the hardest for a baby bunny; if he survives that long they usually do well. I'm supplementing the diet of the moms with broccoli for added calcium. They love to nibble the green treat and it's a distraction while I check that all is well in the nest.

Spent most of the day at the antique shop down the road and visited with my sister-in-law. Then I went over to a restaurant where the lovely people save their scrap greens for the rabbits. An abundance of riches! Greg and Nancy have only been at the Woodberry Inn for a couple of years. They are so nice and the food is terrific!

This morning I checked on a new venue for selling books. Lily is out in the sun and it's time I was heading down to check on bunnies. I'm hoping to get out the dye pots today!

Sweet Shrub

An old-fashioned shrub; you can dry the little blooms and they have a delicate scent. People used to use them as sachets. It's hard to tell but some of them were damaged by the cold last week.

Spring Window

My favorite garden.

Spring Quince

Old-fashioned quince. It has huge fruits, not very many, that nothing will touch. But it bloomed in December during a warm spell, then the blooms froze. Dozens of little birds descended on the twiggy bare shrub and nipped off all the dead blooms during the cold.

Gifts from Abroad

Sweet little presents from Ellen, mementos from her home in Holland. The greater gift, of course, is a new friendship! The background is the revised version of the Shetland/mohair crocheted shawl. I m planning to add another strip of green, hoping to dye more roving in the orangy tone and pick up some of the other colors. The shape of it is looking like it might want to become a poncho!

Another little adventure I intended to add to the previous post was meeting some newcomers to the area that have Irish Water Spaniels. I love dogs and read about the breeds. I had never seen this breed, which is beautiful and looks a little like a Standard Poodle. The owner says they are quite active and full of energy. Much like Springers, even crosses. I also "met" Dream, a Basenji at http://www.geocities.com/irishsenji/thedogspage.html recently, another breed I've read about but have never actually seen. Dinah, Dream's pal the Irish Setter, is a more familiar breed but looks like a beautiful specimen!

Day of Adventures!

Went to work yesterday morning thinking it would be a dull day because of the rain. People are usually interested in staying in on days like this and I can't blame them.

My mom and my stepdad, Wendell, were my first customers and it was fun showing them the shop and looking for a small desk for my mother. If anyone knows where we can get a desk with drawers on the left side, we'd appreciate a tip!

Then a really nice visit from a wonderful lady and her companions that found out about me through the blog. Really fun. Dawn in Nova Scotia has been corresponding with me and she happened to have a friend, Ellen from Holland, that was visiting nearby. So they came down to the shop and it was great meeting them. She gave me some sweet little gifts and we took pictures out on the porch.

And things went so well in the bunny house. When I got home, with the rain still falling, I went down to find that Mary was cleaning up after kindling. I went back to the house to let her finish, after seeing that she had put the bunnies in the nest box. I gave her an hour and went back down with an offering of broccoli, which she greedily took. While she was busy with that I checked out the nest. She had nine bunnies tucked nicely away in a pile of wool big enough to supply the next six does! I got my flower pot lined with hay and wool and put her bunnies in it while I straightened out the nest. One bunny had already wound wool around his leg; a hazard when the wool is too long. I removed most of the wool and cut up the rest, making a nice nest for the bunnies to squirm down into. Through all this Mary placidly ate her pellets and broccoli. Some first time mothers don't put the bunnies in the box or have other problems, so I was happy that everything went well with Mary's first litter.

Maple is an older doe and she kindled during the day yesterday as well. She had two live bunnies and three that weren't quite right so they were born dead. I may foster some of Mary's to her, if it looks like she is doing well caring for her two. More bunnies in the nest will keep them warmer. Maple's nest was nice and I only had to remove the dead bunnies to help her.

As I was leaving after feeding Joy started pulling wool. I went down to my mom's with a printing project for her and came back to find Joy in the middle of kindling. So late in the evening I went back down to find that she had placed six bunnies in a perfect nest in her box. She watched while I checked the nest and then nosed into it to wash the bunnies. Joy is the sort that runs to the front of the cage after kindling as if to announce "Look what I did!". Other does just take it in stride; a few will get protective and you have to be cautious about interfering.

Things don't always go this well during kindling season, so I'm very happy with the results of yesterday! This morning the sun is out and I'm looking forward to a day of tending bunnies, straightening up this house and working down at the shop.