Bunny Maintenance Day

     I decided when I got up this morning today would be bunny maintenance day.  In truth, whether you have an English Angora, French Angora, German Angora, or the ever elusive Bora Bora Angora (I'm yanking your chain, there is no Bora Bora Angora), every day is bunny maintenance day.  Because I'm relatively low maintenance, and Phoebe is high maintenance, the daily process balances out.  You see, I listened to a talk a few weeks ago on Namaste Farm's Blogtalk Radio program on English Angoras (shameless plug - it's on Thursday evenings, 9:00 p.m. EST).  This wonderful and uber knowledgeable woman named Betty Chu was the speaker.  I learned a lot of great information from her.  She also sent me some links to a website showing pictures of Angoras getting a trim.  That inspired me to get hopping with the program.  Today, by golly, is bunny maintenance day - major bunny maintenance day!
     After fur and feathers were taken care of this morning it was time.  Now I'm sure folks that do professional bunny maintenance have some sort of set-up to do the trim job, but here at The Silver Maple it was me and Phoebe sitting under the I don't know what kind of tree it is, but it sure has pretty flowers in the spring tree.  I had a pair of child-size scissors, a pair of Fiskars scissors Hon gave me that I use to trim up the sheep, and my green hair comb. We sat in the grass under that tree and I started...after saying several prayers to the bunny Gods...just in case there are bunny Gods. 
     It was going along pretty good...then the wind started blowing.  Next thing you know I was telling Phoebe to stay where she's at so I could run around the yard picking up her wool.  Sometimes it's good to live in the country on a one-lane road where only the postman will see me running around chasing after bunny wool in my pajamas and pink chicken boots.  I mean, really, who's he going to tell anyway?
     So, back to my story...I did pretty good on her back.  Then I went around to the sides.  That really made me nervous, quite frankly.  She was sitting so good.  Then I did it.  I will not tell a lie and I will not sugarcoat it.  I nicked her.  Oh I felt horrible!  Matter of fact, I still do.  It's not a big nick, but a nick is a nick and whether it's on a sheep or my little fluffer nutter, Phoebert, I feel just sick about it.  I didn't even know I did it at first because she didn't flinch or move.  Now you're wondering what I did after I saw the nick...well, I sprayed Vetricin on it real good and then when the whole process was over I sprayed some Granulex that we get from the vet on it for wound sprays.  We found that to be a fantastic thing to have when the sheep were attacked by those dogs.  It's brown, so that'll mess up that spot as it heals and the wool grows back, but I'll snip those brown ends off as it gets longer.  I swear every time I see her and that little spot I get upset all over again!  
     It seems that Phoebe isn't holding a grudge, though.  After I finished her top and sides I rolled her over on her back and trimmed up the bottom half. Then, since I literally took several hours to get through this process, I let her have some time to do what bunnies do without me messing with her.  Basically that means the Phoebester has a date with the weeds and dirt.  Nice thing is after she was finished, because she has the buzz cut she's sporting, there wasn't much maintenance to do...this time.

     So, there you have it folks.  Bunny maintenance day was a relative success.  I say relative because of that horrible nick.  I now have a nice bit of Angora wool to add to some fiber so I can make special yarn and Phoebe is happy to feel the wind on her skin again.  I'd show you a picture of Phoebe's after cut, but she gave me that big eyed bunny look and pleaded with me to just go with one where she was holding her ribbon from last week.  Don't worry, Phoebe, I understand.  You're still beautiful!  Smiling & Waving, Sharon 

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