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Rescues and breeders is the focus of this weeks ABC blogging post.

Breeding rabbits often sets you at odds with the local rabbit rescue groups.  I can understand their point of view… they don’t want people

1. taking away their business (selling rabbits)
2. bringing rabbits into the world that they might have to care for.

Most rescues, it is next to impossible to dialogue with them.  They have their mantra, and their classification of what they think breeders are, and really aren’t interested in changing their minds.   Occasionally though, you meet a rescue that goes against the grain.  These are a joy to work with. 

Why would a breeder connect with a rescue?

It’s an odd thing you know.  Why would a breeder, knowing that rescues tend to be very anti-breeder, want to connect with one?  Well, for the simple fact that sometimes people contact me wanting me to take in their rabbit.  After I breed rabbits so that must mean that I would happily take in their rabbit.   Um.. NO.   I cannot take in every rabbit.  🙂

Knowing who is out there and how they handle intake, rehoming, bonding rabbits, and so forth helps me know who to direct people to. 

Closed Minded Rescues

I have to admit, I used to take their attitudes to heart but I stopped doing that once I realized how unreasonable they were being. Trying to engage in conversation quickly becomes “You are a breeder, how can you possibly care about your animals?”  

Some of the things these types of rescues might do.

1. Email you about a rabbit you have for sale berating you for selling an older animal just because she was past her prime.   I now just say, make me an offer over X amount and give her a home then if it matters so much to you.  You know what? They never follow through.
2. Send a person out to scope out your place.  Had this happen once.  People don’t buy rabbits on-site any more.  I don’t need to deal with people criticizing my life choices over a little rabbit. 
3. Buying a rabbit from you for a low price, lying because they told me their child can’t afford an expensive rabbit. Then turning around and selling it as an animal rescued from a breeder for a MUCH higher price.  
4. Sell sick animals.  This drives me crazy to be honest.  Selling rabbits with chronic illness to pet people who generally have no clue how to handle a chronically ill rabbit. I do not understand why they do that.  You have access to a good vet, put the sick ones to sleep leaving you room to rehome healthy, good-natured rabbits. 

Reputable Rescue

I have dealt with two reputable rescues over the years.  Two out of 10 that I have contacted.  Rabbit rescues tend not to last long most lasting two years max. We do have one in the area that has been around for six years, I am not sure if they are still active as I haven’t seen them post on kijiji lately. 

Rabbit rescues often end up being overloaded on sick rabbits fairly quickly so it’s often too expensive for them to stay in business long. 

BUT the reputable rescues, they know how to work with breeders.

1. Able to express concerns without bashing the breeder.  For instance, one rescue pointed out the research on pro-active spay/neuter and urged me to change my position.  Another that pointed out the new way to deal with malocclusion.
2. Commends the breeder for what they are doing well.  For instance I have a strong health policy.
3. Don’t sell rabbits that are ill.  They make sure to vet the rabbits that come under their care well.  This way the new owner knows precisely the needs of their new animal. 
4. Willing to work with a breeder when there is need to do so, because frankly sometimes they have resources a breeder might not.  For instance: occasionally a momma rabbit will over-clean a baby and they’ll end up missing a foot, a tail, an ear.  One time a baby slipped past my scrutiny (YES, I know.. horrible!!!).   She had a missing foot, she got around really well, nicely tempered, rock solid little animal who needed accommodations I couldn’t manage.  They happily helped me find the perfect home for her.  Advising me and the new owner about potential future care. 

Tenuous Relationship

It’s a tenuous relationship between rescues and breeders.  One MUST proceed cautiously.  Could a rescue find me if they really wanted to?  Sure.  Ask around my hometown for the bunny lady and someone will be able to point my way.  BUT I don’t let people on my property who inquire about rabbits.  When dealing with a rescue, I don’t give my address. I don’t want PETA types on my property as they can do some rather stupid things. 

At the same time, I do want them to see responsible breeders in action.  I want them to know what to look for even if we don’t agree on everything.   My desire is the poor quality rescues learn to consider what they are doing when they rehome a rabbit in less than stellar condition.  I want to commend the good rescues for what they do well. Helping bunnies find new forever homes.  Encouraging breeders in what they are doing well.  And hopefully a better middle ground can be found.   Less us vs them mentality.  That’s the goal!  🙂

Others in this Series

• American Fuzzy Lop.
• Baby Bunnies.
• Culling well.
• Discussing Death.
• Errors in Judgement.
• Feeding Rabbits.
• The G’s of rabbits.
• Holland Lops.
• Interesting facts about rabbits.
• The Joy of Bunnies.
• Choosing Rabbits to Keep. 
• Leaping Lagomorphs. 
• The Scoop on Poop.
• Not Wanted Rabbits.
• Over the Hill.
• Educating Pet Rabbit Buyers. 
• Quarantine. 
• Rescues and Breeders.

Letter R Link Up

Each week we will be linking up with the hosts of Blogging Through the Alphabet. Please visit some of these other blogs to get things like book lists, vegan recipes, and wonderful places to visit, just to name the topics I can think of off the top of my head.

• Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
• Christine @ Life’s Special Necessities 
• Kimberly @ Vintage Blue Suitcase
• Dawn @ Schoolin’ Swag
• Wendy @ Life On Chickadee Lane
• Yvonne @ The Life We Build
• Jennifer @ A Peace Of Mind
• Kristen @ A Mom’s Quest To Teach
• Kirsten @ DoodleMom Homeschool

I was trying to figure out my approach to the Hey, Mama planner as the physical copy isn’t sitting well with me. GASP!  How can I say that about a product from The Old Schoolhouse®!?!?!!?  Well here’s the thing.  I look at the physical planner and I think cool, but… Why did Gena Suarez lay it out in this manner?   This doesn’t work for me! 

Then I got to thinking as I  looked through the Hey, Mama! Homeschool Planner for 2019/20 Year that this planner also comes in a digital version.  And that means I can lay it out in a way that works for how MY brain and planning style works. 

Same good content, but laid out in a “ME” fashion instead of “Suarez” fashion, and thus a found a method that works. Neat eh?

What I am Reviewing

Vendor Name AND Link: The Old Schoolhouse®
Product Name and Links:  Hey, Mama! Homeschool Planner for 2019/20 Year 
Author: Gena Suarez
Price: $22.00 – $53.00
Hey Mama, Schoolhouse Planner, Homeschool Organization, school planner

The Details

The start of Hey, Mama planner teaches you how to make a transcript and provides you with a checklist for courses studied and skills learned.   You will also find yearly calendars for 2019 through 2021. 

Devotionals

Devotionals are scattered throughout, 21 in all, some of the topics are: Homeschool purpose, Anxious?, God’s Provision, Squabbling Kids, Faith Walk and more.

Lines that caught my eye as I skimmed through: 

“Our children are watching.  Someday when they are grown, they will meet their own troubles.  Will they come to you for counsel, for prayer, for godly advice?  Be that model for Christ, Mama.  Inspire them to fall into His arms during the hardest of times, to cast their cares on the One who cares for their soul.”

“When the bad days come, stay the course.  It doesn’t mean giving up, any more than the Lord gives up on us. He sets us right, we repent and start again.”

“If you are His, walk confidently in His love, just the same way your children know without a doubt that you love them. They too walk confidently because they know you will never leave them.  They are safe in your love.”

Lay Flat Spiral Binding

Accompanying each devotional is a lined page so you can jot down notes for each month.  Following the devotional is a month spread out over two pages.  The spiral binding means that it lies flat.  This is an easy way to plot out your months adventures.  In August my son is off for two weeks, so jotting it in means I don’t plan any “go away” time with my lad.  It’s easy to forget if I don’t jot it down you know?

Calendars

The calendar runs July 2019 through June 2020.  At the close of June you will discover week long calendar with slots for five children. As someone unused to planners this is one area where I wish they had a sample week done.  I wasn’t really sure what to do with this so I just listed out subjects my lad would be taking.  It doesn’t “feel” right, so I don’t know if I’m using it correctly. 

Helpful Charts and Lists

At the close of this section you will find a variety of helpful charts, good for up to 5 children.   Curriculum planning, attendance, books read, along with yearly and semester goals.   

Let me talk abit more about the yearly and semester goals. They are divided up into seven different categories. 

• Educational
• Spiritual
• Physical
• Personal Talents
• Life Skills
• Financial
• Relational

These categories help you to think through the different ways to help your children be the people that God has called them to be. 

What would I do?

Now that you know what the physical planner contains.  Let me tell how I would print if off with the digital planner. 

1. Attendance list, curriculum list
2. Each month with it’s calendar and goals.
3. Follow this the weekly goals, enough weeks for each month.
4. Add behind each month the booklist, along with skills checklist.
5. I don’t know if I would print off the semester and yearly goals.  They seem rather redundant but I suppose it’s good to write them down instead of mentally thinking “let’s get through the semester and make sure the lad knows what he needs to”.  Written goals make it more intentional and provides another conversation with the lad.

My Thoughts

I love how each of the devotionals captures a thought, expands on it, and then draws you in the heart of God.   The month-a-glance calenders are a handy feature, and I enjoy the book lists.  Having a brief walk through on how to create a transcript is very helpful.   

I would strongly prefer having the digital version of the Hey Mama Schoolhouse Planner over the print since I would want to lay things out in a manner that works for me.   Having a small “how to use it” section would be uber helpful to me, a non-planner.  🙂  Overall, a well done and useful planner to help you in the education of your children. 

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I am writing this just before I go to bed. Tiredness rules this body today. Join us over at Miss Kate’s won’t you?

Hours run 230-midnight
A hard-working middle aged husband.
The work is hard, not enough men
But the pay helps a household run.
One does not look a gift horse in the mouth.

A wife in support
Stays up late
Minding the house
As a good man works
But tiredness reigns.

Some nights, sleep overcomes
A comfy chair, a quiet playing show
Snores soon abound.
But sleep in a chair
Is not the same as
Sleep in a bed.

So the lack sometimes shows
Tiredness rules.
Accidents happen.
Tempers flair.
And mom learns
And hubby learns
that sometimes… bed calls loudly.
and it’s okay if
The wife
Does not
Stay up
for
a hard-working
man.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Today I have a book I dragged out from my art shelves.  I keep thinking that I want to do some of these crafts just for me.  But for me or not, there are some rather neat crafts in this book for you and yours.   

Check out these terry bunnies…. I look at them and think, I know some 4H kids who would love to have these handy bunnies hopping around. 

The easy to follow instructions would make them a breeze to make.  The steps are lined up easily, and any pattern that needs a template has one provided for them. 

The Kitty Doormouse

I thought about sharing this kitty doormouse with my lad.  He loves to create things that might intrigue our cats.  What do you think?  Would it work?  The only problem I see is just where would we put it in our house?  We already have dangling shoelaces and cat dancers hanging off door knobs… so a big mouse?   Um… I dunno….

There are all sorts of fun ideas to peak your interest in gifts kids can make.  Some are ever so easy I could make them myself, and others would probably have me saying, hey son…. lend me your fingers for a moment.  🙂   He would then look at the clearly written (visual as well as textual) and help me problem solve my way through it.

Projects that intrigue

Some of the projects intrigue me for the doll making class I want to do like cotton babies and panty hose babies.  Other just look fun like the birdies and hobby horse.  The decorator basket seems a bit more complicated, but if I could make it I’d feel rather accomplished.  🙂  If I did them well enough, maybe I could even sell them or give them away as cute gifts!  Now wouldn’t that be cool!  🙂

Anyways, it’s a neat book, perhaps it’s one that would inspire you as well!

/Another kid friendly gift book is 50 Toys to Make.