Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Attack Rabbit


You'd think I'd learn from my last Rabbit show experience.
Apparently I am destined not to learn from my mistakes.
My mistakes; attending a Rabbit Show after having worked a night shift - sleep deprived, seeking counsel from a family member who has ulterior motives, and last but not least ignoring my own plan of action.
It's hard when you enjoy a homesteading activity such as backyard rabbit meat production not to be like a kid in a candy store. Soo many rabbits soo little space. It's hard to make an intelligent decision that is appropriate for your situation.
Hence the Satin Angora Angst of 2007 where I bought over $100 worth of Pedigreed Satin Angora buns only to give them away a year later. While I have nothing against Angoras that was the wrong breed for our application. No one had time to groom let alone spin the wonderful fiber those buns produced.
So here I am alone in the Dome Arena in Henrietta, New York, attending a Rabbit Show.
So far so good. No one to cloud my judgement as Husband was window shopping at a Gun Show in another area of the Dome. Children were home.
It's just me, grasping a dog carrier. Cold hard cash in my pocket burning a hole. I meander leisurely about enjoying my urban homesteader's shopping spree stopping to inquire about this breed and that breed. I linger here & there letting my hand glide down the backs of bun's who's fur feels like velvet.
After two passes in the exhibit hall still intending to stick to my game plan I stop to talk with a breeder of Giant Chinchillas.
I listen to his enthusiasm.
I enjoy the gentleness of the breed.
Their curious nature.
Their lack of shyness.
Their big 'ss size.
Then I realize I could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.
Yeah I could have it all.
A buck for my meat production & an attack rabbit.
See who's laughing now my alternative lifestyle neighbors with their foo-foo 4 pound dogs that run a muck muck down our driveway. Leaving lil turds trailing behind them that generate empty promises of removal by their owners.
Visions of a bloody massacre with the only thing left being pink rhinestone collars danced in my head. Let your dog groomer sort it all out later.
I would have a decent poker face when they dog warden came calling wanting to know the facts.
"Just the facts Ma'am".
"Just the facts I nod".
"A Rabbit they said, size of a poodle or a poodle that looked like a huge rabbit. No dogs listed for this address Ma'am".
"Yes, that's right we have no dogs" I gesture towards my tiny city lot.
"Nice bunny rabbit Ma'am".
"A Cotton tail Warden".
"Nice garden Ma'am".
"Thank you" I beam.
"Sorry to have bothered you Ma'am".
"Here enjoy a tomato Warden, It's an heirloom variety named Cherokee Purple".
"Thank you, Ma'am never had one before".
"It's to die for Warden".
So I paid the breeder and told him I had to go find My Man who no doubt was next door caressing Smith & whispering sweet nothings into Wesson's ear. Be back in a few I yelled over the crowd as I asked to leave my one carrier with him.
Long story short Husband fell in love with a blah blah blah (can you tell I'm a one gun gal type person so every gun looks alike to me) so to alleviate some of the "you bought a what" heated conversation that would no doubt had taken place on the ride home he began his plan of attack.
"That's a nice big rabbit", he said standing with his hand on his chin rubbing thoughtfully.
"What's it dress out as", as he poked a finger in the 3 hole cage.
"Not sure but I was planning on using him as a buck to our Cotton tails and later maybe to a New Zealand doe", I smiled pleased with my selection. "But it's just a Giant Chin then gotta be @ least 8 pounds a good sized fryer huh". Didn't mention that I had deviated from the NZ buck plan in favor of a dual purpose bun
He nodded slowly with a smile had I not been tired and excited by my purchase I would have recognized as his "let's have a barter deal".
"Wouldn't it be a good idea since we're here to go ahead & get a doe to match", he spoke into my ear pulling me closer to him. The faint smell of testosterone distracting me.
"Then later if you have a change of heart and want to have more Giant Chins ...", he smiled or was it a smirk?
"I see no evil if you see no evil", said so mater of fact. "See if you can find a doe you like to match". "I'll be back in a few there's something I need to go see about".
Gone in a flash back to the Gun Show.
Long story short I picked up a Giant Chinchilla doe non papered with a great disposition.
Which worked out good 'cause I ended up carrying her out in my arms as he toted the dog carrier with my buck. And his blah blah blah neatly holstered out of sight.
As he guided me out the door and past a local news reporter with cameraman looking for an angle to a lead story on gun toting attack rabbit owners from the hood he leaned into me planting a kiss on my forehead.
"Good doing business with you my wife".

Everyone knows that if you only bring one carrier you'll only buy one bun, right?

This is the buck that I bought out of Michigan being judged.
Would like to write what it is that the judge said but I can't remember other than he said work with him & see you next year.
Curse or insight?

~~ pelenaka ~~

P.S. nice post on my husband's blog about how a simply old fashioned chore binds a family together Woodsrunner's trail: Bread, the families staff of life