This morning I killed 31 ants in the bathroom (yes, I counted). I have no idea where they're coming from or what is attracting them. We've been really good about keeping the (tiny) room clean. I have to assume this is not an isolated infestation. I don't want to tell the hotel about it for fear they will put down ant poison - and with Moose staying with us I don't want to take risks with his safety. Ironic timing, since just yesterday I was counting a lack of bug infestation as a blessing...
Nobody has come to look at or correct the broken light/fan in the girls' room. The girls continue to have to bathe in our bathroom and use the toilet with their bathroom door open. I am not impressed. This hotel is stripping away our dignity bit by bit.
Tony ended up working over three hours past his scheduled time, which put me in a bad mood having to deal with kids alone stuck in a hotel with no idea when backup was coming. We eventually made it out to my parents' house for dinner. Steak, corn on the cob, and pasta salad. Usually this would be very exciting, but my mind is still seeming to be stuck in a dark place since the hotel swap. I find myself irritable, stressed out, and having great difficulty "resetting" my mood.
I shucked the corn, then brought some of the husk out to put out for my parents' tame bunnies. They have two that run loose in their yard - Loosey (our former stray) and Coleson (one of our babies from last year that stayed at the resort last summer and was used to being free-range). While I was at the back of their yard, I noticed my dad's hops plants were looking a little smothered out by tall grass. So I hand pulled a lot of the grass away from the various plants. Then I went over to the area where our three beloved dogs are buried to see the foxglove flowers that were blooming. I pulled the tall grass out by the handful, and took some sticks out of the area. Then I wandered down to the side yard and looked at the wild patch of daylilies, some of them have buds starting to form - they should flower this year. I made a circle back up to the house, checking on the blueberry bushes (no flowers) and the apple trees (forming apples) along the way.
After dinner we took the remaining corn husks, and the watermelon rinds and headed to the house to do bunny chores in the dark. Alice still has four kits. I didn't check on Fern's litter, but she's been great so far so I assume they're all good. All the bunnies enjoyed the snacks. I love the sound of lots of bunnies munching on fresh crisp fruit and veggie treats.
Tony and I discussed options for the rabbits and the future of our breeding operation. Since we've been stuck in a hotel, admittedly I have not been pushing as hard to sell the bunnies, and we've made just one sale so far. With more litters coming up, we really need to start moving rabbits. Tony suggested dropping the price. He thinks we can still break even on feed bills if we sell enough bunnies at $20 each instead of $25 or $30. So as of tomorrow all of my ads will reflect the new pricing. All bunnies will be $20 each to try to move them out.
WARNING - THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS HOMESTEADING STATEMENTS THAT PET-RABBIT OWNERS MAY DISAGREE WITH OR FIND ALARMING!! Any bunnies still here after 16 weeks will become pelt and food. It's a hard reality, but it is what it is. The point of raising these mutt rabbits has always been to put food in our freezer and I have been failing on that end. I hate the idea of taking a life, especially one I brought into this world, named, nurtured, and came to love. But as a meat-eating family, I will take solice in knowing that our rabbits will be well cared for, loved, and live a good life with sunshine and fresh fruits and veggies and gentle handling, and will end with a swift fear-free death. Humane food. Our rabbits will live a much happier existence, even if it's short, than the animals that provide the meat you buy in the grocery store. I know it's not a popular topic - but it's part of homesteading. In Minnesota we simply do not have enough gardening time in the short summers to grow enough food to last us all year long on a vegetarian diet, especially not in a small house with very limited storage space. We can only can, pickle, dehydrate, and shelf-store so much produce. Besides, rabbit stew is delicious.
And to clarify, when we sell a rabbit, we have a return guarantee. If you can't keep your bunny for any reason, we will take it back, no explanation needed. Rabbits being returned will be rehomed unless their temperament or health makes them a danger to themselves, their handler, or the animals around them. I wouldn't want to eat someone's pet, and since that's where most of our babies go, I want people to know that returning your pet is not a death sentence. Returned rabbits will be rehomed if at all possible (and I'm pretty stubborn about trying - just look at crabby Elsa).
Today was 30 days since we submitted the application for the easement to the railroad for the driveway of the new house. They said "it could take up to 30 days" but that they would "try to get it expedited to get it through in a week or two." Well, 30 days has come and gone now. I asked the real estate agent today to check in and see what's up. She assured me she had been checking in regularly and was also frustrated. She said she'd email the seller's agent and the closing people to see if anyone knew what was going on and get back to me. She's usually really good about keeping us updated, so the fact that I didn't hear back from her today tells me that she didn't hear anything back either. So for now we are dreaming of a new home, but have absolutely no timeline at all. I'm very afraid that if we file for yet another extension the sellers will grow bored and kick our offer out and move on to try to find someone who can make the sale close faster. I think everyone involved is likely frustrated at this point with the amount of delays and lack of communication on the one paper we're still awaiting. Seriously, come on railroad company! Please, just sign the application so we can move out of this hotel and start our garden and get some fresh air already!
Tomorrow Tony has to go in and work (on his scheduled day off) for a few hours. He swears he will be out on time, but after this week of long days stretching hours past his scheduled time, I'm not holding my breath. When he makes it back we have to pick up a new turtle filter and then go do laundry at my parents' house. It'll be really nice to be able to wash our own laundry in our own home again some day. Sometimes it's the oddest things we miss the most... like being able to wash laundry.