Oh Where, Oh Where Did They Go?

Unfortunately, I have bad news to report.

My adorable bunnies are no longer.

Our excellent blood thirsty dog ripped the chicken wire where the rabbits were housed and had himself a nice breakfast.  That dog can be so sneaky!  We know it was him because we have caught him in the act of getting one of our chickens.  He grabbed it and ran into a big field near our house but far enough from us that we couldn’t get him.  We really scolded him and he hasn’t touched one since but if he can be sneaky and get something (like our goat kids) he will.  He just showed up at our house one day and has been here for years – longer than any other dog we’ve had.

This picture was taken 5 years ago.  Serenity’s now 14 and looks all grown up but Treasure has stayed the same. 🙂

 EXPO time is at hand.  The kids didn’t show an animal last year.  Well actually Serenity was going to but…

Here’s the story.

She brought her $200 lamb home and the morning after she went out to the barn and it was so wild it jumped the fence (3 1/2′ tall) and was never seen again.

I put an ad on Craigslist and I actually had 2 responses.  Two people had seen a lamb running along the highway headed towards town.  That lamb was crazy!

This year a fellow 4-H member blessed her by selling a lamb to Serenity for $75.  Willie was a great lamb, very sociable – so friendly.  I loved Willie.

But then…

Oh, you know what’s coming don’t you?

But then little Willie got sick about 3 weeks ago and once they stop eating their food, there’s cause for concern.  Within a week, Willie breathed his last.  Serenity was away for the weekend, so Seth and I were the ones trying to give him electrolytes.  Seth gave him penicillin.

Unless you have some reason to pay an exorbitant amount for an animal (for instance it’s your prize breeding animal), you do not call a vet or get surgery.  It’s just not done. We talked to our 4-H leaders brother who is a vet and he had us take Willie’s temperature but it was normal.  We have no clue what caused him to die since there was no change in his food.

It was very sad. Me and Serenity cried together. 🙁

Of course it was too late for Serenity to get another lamb for EXPO, but the committee did make an exception for her (since it was already past the deadline) and are allowing her to sell a homemade item in the auction ring.

So she decided to make 2 aprons – one for a guy and one for a lady as well as a set of potholders.

This is the material for the lady’s apron.

Serenity found a tutorial online and cut out her own pattern for the main part of the apron.

It’s going to look beautiful, sweetheart.

Wesley’s pig is being fattened up as it is a little on the small side for auction.

Audrey and Justus like to help out when they can.  Such fun!

This week the kids will be approaching business owners and presenting their 4-H project to them.  Most of them are familiar with the 4-H program and some we go to every year so they have gotten to know our kids well.  I think it’s especially excellent for my boys to do this since they can learn several skills in the doing of it – confidence, how to present a project and communication with those in a leadership position.

Of course, Serenity is scared to death to do it but she braves it anyway.  Facing your fears is an excellent habit to develop and I’m proud of her for how she rises to the occasion not because it’s easy for her but because she knows it’s the right thing.

Have you ever been a part of the 4-H experience?