Farewell James Creek. Hello Idaho.

Bryan and I have officially moved to Idaho.
I started a new blog to post our news.
Follow this link.

http://westnestnews.blogspot.com/

Cindy

Moving Day Approaches

Four weeks and 3 days to launch date for Idaho.

I visited Bryan last weekend and as my plane landed and I saw the Boise Airport sign, I thought:  "I'm home!"  And though it seemed odd to me that I actually felt a sense of being home, even though I have not yet officially moved to Idaho, I am thankful and grateful that Idaho already feels like home. I guess you could say, "Home is where your husband and house are". :-)

From spending Aug - Oct of 2012 living in our RV in Idaho close to the house building site, I was able to familiarize myself with my new home areas.  I now see that it was definitely time well invested.  I am soooo excited to be finally moving and getting settled in our new home.

Bryan and I had a GREAT weekend.  Despite some flight juggling and arriving in Idaho 12 hours later than my initial scheduled arrival on Friday, we still were able to accomplish all that we set out to accomplish in the long weekend's visit.  We had fun in Boise.  We attended the opening day of the Boise Farmer's Market with a huge art show taking place on the streets as well.  Saw a lot of cool stuff and had a very enjoyable time strolling downtown and sampling homemade goodies.  We bought a nice CD from one of the men playing his guitar at the market.  Beautiful acoustic guitar music! Saturday afternoon was spent looking at lighting, securing our granite for the kitchen counter tops and doing general house shopping. Late Saturday afternoon Bryan took me out to the house.  WOW!  It really helps me to visualize better now that I've been inside the rooms and loft and was able to physically walk through all of the house.  It is fun to see it all coming together.  I Praise God for the amazing house that He is giving us.  The weather was gorgeous all weekend which made it extra nice being there.  It seems like it is always sunny in Idaho.  (I know that that is not exactly true, but the entire three months that I lived there last summer/fall, it only rained three nights, and the rest of the time the sun was shining and it was warm.  And this past weekend was sunny too.)  The terrain is very green right now with lots of yellow sunflowers.  Sunday we attended our new church and Pastor Rodger took us out for lunch.  I was able to see my new friend, Amy, and her husband Jeff.  It was fun reconnecting and laughing together with them after the church service.

As I return to the cabin here in PA, I am reinvigorated to "wrap things up" here.  The next four weeks contain a few more PA lasts.  My last Rehoboth Beach weekend trip with a friend;  My last Agility Dog Show in PA;  Last dinners with our friends;  Mom's Birthday lunch.  But, I rejoice that it's a happy time, not a sad time.

Only four weeks until our journey to Idaho and the final phase of our move.

Rejoice with us!  God is good!
I'm finally moving home.
Let the decorating begin!!!!!

New Home for Baby Bunny.

Today I went to Tractor Supply to see if I could sell the last little baby bunny from the litter that I wasn't keeping.  The bunny generated a great deal of interest from the minute I carried him into the store.  He was sold in less than one hour.  I am thankful to have found him a good new home, though I will miss him.  He was a really sweet little bunny, that I was going to try to keep.  But, the reality of transporting the herd 2500 miles a month from now made me realize that I should not build the herd until we are settled in Idaho.  So today I say farewell to the baby bunny that I referred to as "Coal".  Here's a picture of him with his new family.

Enjoy your new life in your new home little bunny.

Dad's Disguised Blessings

Dad served as a pastor for over 40 years. He also served as chaplain in a local nursing home. When dad was diagnosed with Temporal Frontal Dementia, he lived in that same nursing home for a short time before being transferred to a room in the "Garden View" wing at Cornwall Manor Nursing Home, where he still resides.

As I reflect on my Dad's current condition, it may seem to those of us who are still in our "right minds", that Dad's life now is a very sad life. His body is plagued with multiple health issues, causing need for another surgery. He can no longer read; follow a TV program; play a game; walk without help; follow current events news; have breakfast and work out with his old seminary buddy Joe; engage in deep conversations; or tell you what he had for lunch ten minutes after he's eaten his lunch.

But Dad has some current blessings which most "normal" people do not enjoy.

• Dad lives in the present minute at all times.  When I go to see him, he usually lights up with a great big smile on his face and greets me by name and a hearty "Good to see you!"  He will not remember that I was there within minutes of when I leave.  He will not remember what we talked about. And he does not remember where I live right now.  But for the time that I sit with him, he is usually happy.He always asks about the family (even though he won't remember the information).  Most of the time he tells me that he prays for me and the family every day.
• Dad appears to be at peace and content whenever I see him.
• Dad's biggest life concern is running out of his favorite snacks that we take in for him.
• Dad doesn't seem to be plagued by any negatives in his past or a single "regret".  He only remember the good memories from what he terms, "The good 'ole days."
• Dad does not appear to experience any emotional anguish or pain, simply because he cannot even remember offenses.  None.
• When asked if he ever gets bored, (Because that is what we in our "logical" minds may think of a  life of sitting in a chair every day and just eating and sleeping and waiting on nurses to help us do things that we used to do for ourselves and others)...Dad answers, "No.  They take good care of me here."

Oh to learn from Dad's current life's blessings!

1. Live in the present. 
2. Be content and at peace no matter what the circumstances.
3. Carry no burdens.
4. Remember ONLY the good things in the past, and none of the bad.
5. Forget all offenses.
6. Praise people who help and take care of you.

None of us ever wants to be in my Dad's position.  He didn't want to be there either!

Yet, it's helpful for me to remember that

 "All the days ordained for me were written in (God's) book before even one of them came to be."

 Psalm 139:16

This truth is the same for Dad.

As a daughter who is age 50, and still "of sound mind", my Dad who is diseased with dementia and multiple other physical issues as well, is still teaching me valuable life lessons.

Clarence Daugherty Ulrich (2011)

Bunnies Play (9 weeks old)

The bunnies wanted no parts of "posing" for pictures today. They just wanted to play.
Here's a few shots.  I switched to video so I'll try to upload a video so you can see them actively playing.

And video of bunnies at play...Enjoy!

Runnin' Rabbits

Bunny Pictures - 8 weeks old today

Enjoy!

Bunny Babies @ 7 weeks Old - Feb. 26th

The Baby Bunnies are now 7 weeks old.  Here's some pictures of the adorable little woollies.

6 week old baby English Angora Bunnies

Habeeby's Babies are 6 weeks old today.  Here's your "Aw-w-w-e-e!" picture set for the week.  Enjoy!

Continued Cabin Camping and Looking forward to Spring!

Hi All -
Bunny babies turned 5 weeks old on Tuesday.  They're getting cuter every week.  Here's some pictures.

 Layeena

 "Mongo" and Halua

 "Coal" and TizBach

and my newest addition -"Tia"

The bunnies continue to keep me hoppin', but they're a true source of joy in my life right now.

Bryan's still trucking back and forth from PA to ID...and ID to PA and then PA to ID...landing in ID around mid-March to finish house building (after some cabin campin' visits with me here at the cabin in between.)...accomplishing the monumental task of transporting all of our earthly belongings 2500 miles across the country.  Thankfully, he likes to drive and is motivated by some "for pay" loads piggy-backing on the trips with all of our stuff.  We are both ready to be settled, but, good things take time (and effort/work.)

I am becoming more familiar with Huntingdon County and surrounding areas.  I'm enjoying visits with family. And I'm adjusting to new slower pace routine of life.  I believe that James Creek is providing me the training ground for living even more remotely once we move to Idaho. I am still desperately wanting to become more connected in church community and women's Bible study...so if you pray, pray for me to find those closer Christian community connections very soon.  Thanks.

I'll be running Kelby in a new venue in Latrobe next weekend.  The agility trial is sponsored by the Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club.  I've heard the facility is newer and "state of the art", so I'm looking forward to participation in that trial and meeting some more new people...AND staying in a hotel for the weekend and WATCHING TV!  (I can't believe how much I miss watching TV.)

I'll close with a picture of Kelby...simply because I adore this little Polish Lowland Sheepdog...and, it's my blog. Ha. ha.

Kelby is such an adorable and wonderful doggie companion! Without her, I would struggle immensely with this enormous life transition.  I praise God for my cute dog.

Basket Full of Baby Bunnies

Habeeby's babies are 4 weeks old today.

Here's some pictures to "ahwe" at.  All the baby bunnies are super curious and funny to watch as they snuggle up in the food dish, munch on pellets and hay, hop all over the cage and pile up to sleep.

I've decided to keep one of each color.

I'll sell one black one and one of the orangish colored ones.

Let me know if you know anyone interested in an English Angora Bunny.

Oh Yes,

And I adopted another doe from the Rabbit Show held this past weekend at the Lebanon Fair Grounds rabbit show.  She is a 10 week old Chocolate Tort English Angora.  Her wool is beautiful.  I'll breed her down the road, and I've named her Showcoola tia....which is in keeping with my Arabic themed names.

 the way to say chocolate kiss in arabic would be  to say;
"ala showcoola tia koobla"

I'm simply calling her "Tia"

That's all for today.  I'm expecting Bryan to be here any minute.  Yeah! 

Have a great day!

Travel + Travel = More Travel

Hey All
Bryan and I made the decision to delay the building work on the house until Mid-March.  The snow and cold winter weather makes it excessively expensive and aggravating to try to be doing construction.  So-o, Bryan leaves Idaho tomorrow afternoon and will be heading east to Maine where he has a trailer to deliver (contract hauling work he picked up to cover expenses of travel back east).  I'll spend a few days with him,  and then he'll be picking up another load of our stuff to take back out to Idaho with him.  He will then turn around and haul a load of hay back east; spend about 3 or 4 days with me...and then he'll head back to Idaho. The expenses for that trip back is also paid work for hauling items for customers wanting to ship west.  LOTS OF DRIVING.  But Bryan actually likes driving and said that in evaluating productivity of time (with weather factors considered), it makes more sense to do the driving/hauling work in February and then focus on the house finishing work in March when (hopefully) the weather will be warmer with not as much snow.
Pray for travel safety.
Thanks!
Love,
Cindy

Bunny Babies - 3 weeks old January 29th

Here are some pictures of Habeeby's babies at 3 weeks old:

They are quite fun to watch.  They're jumping all around.  Super cute.

Today it was actually close to 60 degrees outside.  I took a nice long walk around the lake with Kelby.

I also fixed my spinning wheel and was able to start spinning again.  Yeah!  I worked on business cards and accomplished some things that I needed to complete.  I'm starting to miss TV. :-)

Before I close I'll post pictures of the adult bunnies just for the fun of it.

This is Habeeby

This is Latif

This is Arney.

I'm thankful for animals and the joy they bring to life.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Love,

Cindy

Farewell Baby Bunny

Yesterday was a sad day.  One of Habeeby's babies died unexpectedly. It was the medium sized one that was the same color as her.  Here's a picture taken two days before it died.  Farewell sweet tiny bunny.
I hate death!

Rabbit Raisin', Dog Runnin' & "Holding Down the Fort"

Hi All
Bryan is en-route to Idaho to begin phase two of our journey west.  He left on Tuesday morning and expects to be in Idaho by Friday night.  He will be in Idaho for about 4 weeks, getting the laundry room and garage under roof so that the electrician can come in and wire the place for electric and the electric turned on so that  Bryan can work inside with the finishing work.

As for me - I am having a blast with SIX new baby angora bunnies.  (My new business venture - "Lanajoura Angora" is about to launch, and I could not be more thrilled with Habeeby's first litter of kits born on January 8th.)  All the baby bunnies are doing great so far.  Here are a few pictures of them.

 Newborn

 One Week Old

Two Weeks Old

Habeeby eating her "bribe" of carrots and "Mongo Baby"

trying to eat some himself!  Bad bunny!  He's too little to eat treats!

Well anyway, it's probably obvious that I am having a blast with the new baby angora bunnies.

Of course Latif and Arney are not at a loss attention either.

The other activity which I  enjoy and which gets me out with other dog-loving people is participation in AKC

Dog Agility Trials.  This past weekend Kelby and I ran at the Altoona Area Kennel Club's trial held at State College in the Ag Arena. The video is of our Open Standard Run, and as you will see...she is super, super SLOW. (Agility runs are supposed to be fast!)  I cannot fault Kelby though, since our run was at the end of a long day.  No Q (Q= "qualifying score") this weekend, but we'll give it another run at the Nita Nee Kennel Club Trial this Sunday.

When Bryan left, he charged me with the job of "holding down the fort".  

All of our earthly belongings which will be going with us to Idaho are packed in a storage box and ready to be hauled 2500 miles cross country to our new home.  So for now, "the fort" is our cabin here in James Creek (near Raystown Lake.)  It's quiet and comfortable, and I'm getting to know my way around Huntingdon and the towns in the area.  I have the easy job.  Bryan has all the hard work.  I am looking forward to joining him and settling in to our new home in Idaho together.  For now, while he's driving, constructing, and making valuable contacts for his new business venture...I'm reading, writing, resting and relaxing at the cabin...and, raising rabbits, knitting, spinning, and dog running.