Mingo Ranch

Our first successful litter!!! It's been massive worry & anxiety hoping something finally would go right. Like, I don't sleep at night & have checked on them during the Witching Hour just to make sure everything was ok so I could blame my panic attack on something else. It has been a harsh learning curve getting into these meat rabbits but part of it was the situation I was dumped into for a few months. I lost a few does having babies & Magic lost 2 litters of 9.

This go has been so much more rewarding. These 6 babies are just over 4wks old now & when I open the door to feed/see/anything, they crawl up it like demons clawing thru a portal from Hell. There were no problems, have only had to make it so they couldn't slip between the cage bars & other than that, it has been so fun to watch them. There are a few locals that seem to be emotionally invested in this batch of babies & I'd get asked daily around her due date if she'd popped yet. All I had to say was "31 days gestation" when I mentioned she'd been in with her boyfriend (Roger White) & about day 28 the messages started coming in for the Baby Bunny Brigade. Now their adoring fans stop by for a peek & to feed them dandelions.

I am planning on keeping a buck & doe (1 will be a gray), I'm trading a doe back with a guy in town for 1 of his babies in a few weeks to keep the gene pool less murky (he's been kind & thoughtful with helping me), & the rest I'd like to sell as pets. Eventually these meat rabbits will be part of how I feed my dogs & myself, but the funds would benefit me more now than only feeding a couple dogs for 1 meal. & I've had plenty practice recently with pelting & processing hides cuz that's also a purpose these bunnies will serve: the whole animal will be used, nothing will be thrown out....hides/bones are inventory, they'll feed us, & the guts go to baiting my traps.

The guy in town who helps me has pipe dreams of my rabbitry cuz he knows just what a castle it's gonna hafta be to feed 14 & fluctuating dogs. I will be adding other things to their meals (cow donations will still be appreciated, fresh enough roadkill deer will still be exciting, & I have garden plans for next year to hopefully get to where I never buy dog food again), but I figure a whole rabbit/dog/day is what will be needed to supply the demand. It'll be more learning figuring out the balance of these creatures I've decided our traveling ecosystem needs so it doesn't become a runaway, but I'm excited about it & I haven't looked forward to much in years.

I am looking forward to this homesteading thing, tho.

Charlee would have been 10 today. I'm busting adulting out as fast as I can so I can have the evening off with the cake I made. It's been a nice day.

Happy birthday, Little Mingo!!!
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It's been quite the past 2mo....so much has happened: getting settled somewhere, my hand stuck in limbo between healing but not feeling better, my feet flaring up, building an actual yard (with the best dog houses & bunny hutch ever), a slight mental breakdown, failing to keep some wild bunny babies alive (which broke Ryot's heart) but Black Magic having 6 babies recently that are finally a success after a rough winter (they're so cute).

I've been extremely busy but that's a good thing. I've almost reached my weight goal a bit healthier this time than starving it off & going too far the other direction. Fancy still has pants & needs me to finish her hair cut.

LacieLu looks & feels good. The animals are happy. This is the nicest, biggest yard we've ever had. I live in a pretty great place.

Enjoy the photo dump check in.
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I love it here & the people make the difference. The sunset is pretty no matter where I've been & I make friends everywhere I go, but a sense of community & being cared about isn't something I know much of except for a taste of it here or there & it's part of what's been my driving force to battle on to find somewhere I could heal. I have all of that & then some here.

Total strangers have treated me better, supported me & cheered me on harder than anyone else ever did whether we've personally met or just been an online observer. I will never be able to repay much of that kindness or mercy, but I'm more grateful for that than anyone will ever fathom & I promise I pay it forward every opportunity I can.

Sometimes all someone needs is to be smiled at..... I am loved here & the actions prove it to me more & more every day.
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Maybelline turned 4 today, so of course we had a carrot cake...... the animals known exactly what the crock pot is, so Fancy gets kicked out of the yard for a bit, but she enjoys doing the w**d eating for me & I appreciate the help.

2 special ladies in my life showed up with treats for a visit & Maybelline had a fun time running around the yard for a bit & the birthday bones that were brought..... they even sang her "Happy Birthday" & I'd have recorded how cute it was & how happy Maybelline wagged around, but I've been forcing myself to do part of what these dogs teach me & live in the moment.

I felt bad I needed to work a job today to win some bread & bring home some bacon as supplies are needed, cuz I'd have loved to spend the day doing birthday stuff between adult stuff, but tomorrow will probably be that day. We also have a calf coming within a day or so to stay with us for a bit that needs a bottle & some TLC..... Maybelline is gonna love her new baby to guard & love. It'll grown up thinking it's a dog just like Fancy Lamb I'm sure.

The weather was nice today, the dogs were happy, & Maybelline felt special with all the extra attention & visitors. Just for her. These animals are my entire world & I love them. While I don't celebrate much (holidays, even my own birthday) & I'm aware the animals have no conception of what is going on, I go clear out of my way to make our traditional carrot cake for whoever in the yard is having a special occasion cuz all we ever do is work..... I had a baby shower for a litter of puppies once but you couldn't drag me to one for another person by the hair even if I was tranquilized. The animals that make my world whole & rotate are the exception. They recognize that at least.

Anyway, except for excessive exhaustion that's made my personality flat, today was an ok day & Maybelline felt special. That's what matters to me.
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