Frankly speaking....... I'm ready for my close-up Mr. deMille!

In those famous words of the great Marilyn Monroe (I think), I posed for a picture with a gentleman who came to the Mountain Top to film a portion of a Heifer International documentary about local food.  He was very nice, and fed me cookies, which always makes me love someone:

His name is Steven Bailey and he came to interview my wench and builder about their role in supplying food to the local area.  I know it's not something we talk about openly in the barn, but, the American Chinchillas are primarily a meat breed of rabbit.  I suppose you have to be good at something, and they don't have fiber, so meat it is.  I will be addressing this phenomenon in my first book to be released later this year aimed at children, and telling it like it is:  your corn doesn't grow in a can.  We are in the research stage right now, so be looking for that probably around Christmastime.

When the film is ready, I'll let you know and you can look for me and my new buddy Steven

We've been busy here - having babies and watching them grow.  The last of this year's babies was born just this morning to Hope.  As of yet, he doesn't have a name, and either does Faith's baby.  Wench has been wracking her brain to come up with some suitable names, but we've had SO MANY BOYS born this year, her brain stopped coming up with cute names.  (doesn't take much for her brain to stop in any event...)(did I say that out loud?)

I'm sure if you follow us on facebook you've seen the pictures, but I'll recap:  Jett and Valentine:

Willis:

Hope's boy:

and finally, the one kidd who stands out from the crowd this year:  (although each kidd has its strong points and is very handsome and/or beautiful just because they are from this flerd and they are baby goats) Garbo:

I am really hoping someone wants Garbo for a herdsire, because he is just built beautifully.

In other news:  The rabbits are movin on up to the porch, and seem to be pretty happy up there!

they get the view of the mountains and the cool mountain breeze blowing their way.  When it's cold (like it has been these past few days) and windy, wench covers the ends of the cages so there is no draft.  Once the windows are in, this won't be necessary, but for now...

and so with those pesky rabbits leaving the downstairs, builder is making our stalls over on the other side:

each stall will be 4 x 8 which is considerably bigger than our current accommodations.

More and more happens around here every day, it's getting hard to keep up.  Wench is taking a few of the girls and going to the North Carolina Rabbit Breeders convention this weekend.  Eva the Diva, Julianna, Bellatrix, Janis Joplin, Manoah and Glimmer will be going to the shows, and Atticus will be moving on to a new home as will Leviticus, and the pair of sport rabbits sired by Brandon, the Californian who lives in West Virginia.  He's going back to his house after having spent six months with us in our meat program.  Thanks Brandon! 

Well, that's it for this edition of Frankly speaking.  I'll keep in touch, and hopefully next time I'll be posting some of the exciting yarns that just came back from Gurdy Run Woolen Mill.  They are pretty nice!  but then, they came from my fleece.  so, what. did. you. expect?