2012's most popular posts

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with friends and family. We've had a great week with much love.

I'd like to do a 2012 round up by sharing my most popular posts of the year as voted by your views. Thank you so much for all your love and support throughout 2012. May 2013 be an amazing one for one and all.

 Calendula coconut cream

  Homemade mod podge

 Pallet crates 

 Garden spoon labels 

 Home made bee balm 

  Growing mushrooms in my hall cupboard 

 Pantry labels

New bathroom

 Medicine cabinet makeover

 Self crusting quiche

Chest fridge

32 weeks

All going well here. everything is growing well; me and the garden!! Feeling pretty good. I have moments of heaps of energy and so am trying to make the most of these and get lots done. I can't believe I'm 32 weeks pregnant wow only 8 to go!!! Has gone so fast! Check out how big John is now too!!! Such a big boy! He's even learning to potty train. Just starting to feel rather pregnant! 

I'm putting the finishing touches on Christmas gifts. I promise to do posts on all these (but I can't yet since family and friends read my blog so you'll have to wait to see what I'm making).

Rabbit care basics

I am a qualified vet nurse but if you are thinking of getting a rabbit please do your homework and read lots of information about their care first. This blog post will just focus on basic food and housing. You'll still need to read up on rabbit handling, bonding, vaccinations and care in general. 

Rabbits are really great and easy pets and are fun for the whole family. Rabbits are very easy to look after and do not require a huge amount of special attention (with regards to food and housing) but there are some things you should consider before you get a rabbit.  

First decide what type of breed you want; a small, medium or large bunny. One just as a pet or maybe for showing, breeding or eating.

You need to decide if you want a baby rabbit to bring up or one that is a rehome so might be older. The SPCA has loads of lovely rabbits that need loving homes. 

Do you want a male or female rabbit? If you have a male; they can be more aggressive and so might need a friend or need de-sexing. Though my current bunny has been known to bite and scratch people so don't think all females (or all rabbits) are lovely docile creatures.    

Before you bring your rabbit home you'll need adequate housing. This might be a cage in your home that the rabbit can then free range around your house or you'll need a cage outside. This cage will need to have a sleeping section as well as a run. It will need to be large enough so your rabbit can exercise properly. Obviously a bigger rabbit needs a bigger run. Our last rabbit was a mini loop and only weight 1.5kg so she didn't need a very big cage though we also let her run around the house to stretch her legs. The rabbit I have now is a Flemish giant (about 6 kgs) and so she needs loads of space.    

I have a rabbit tractor that I move around the lawn every day so Nijntje has access to fresh grass every day. You can also have your rabbit in a stationary run. Just make sure the hutch is cleaned out regularly and that you provide plenty of green for your rabbit to eat. You may decide to free range your bunny around your yard. This is a wonderful option and if you do make sure they are safe from cats and dogs and has a secure sleeping area for night time.

For your rabbit's bedding use hay, straw or shredded newspaper but not sawdust, and clean this out regularly as it can get mouldy quickly. Also provide extra hay so that your rabbit can nibble on it. Add extra bedding in the winter time to keep your rabbit warm. I even put a heavy wool blanket over the rabbit's cage when it's super cold.    

Rabbit also need stimulation and love to play with toys. This can be balls, pine cones, steps, light containers they can throw around, toilet rolls or anything else you think of to help entertain your rabbit.    

Rabbits cannot survive on kitchen scraps alone and you'll need to buy proper rabbit pallets. I buy rabbit muesli since it contains rabbit pallets plus seeds, nuts and corn in it. I feel it is better for them than just the pallets. Give fresh pallets every day in a heavy bottomed bowl so the rabbit can't knock it over. You'll need to supplement your rabbits pallets with leafy greens as they shouldn't just be given pallets and nothing else.     

Rabbits will eat most vegetables and herbs that we can eat. I give loads of greens in the from of grass (rabbits need lots and lots of fresh grass every day), silverbeet, spinach, grape, broccoli and cauliflower leaves and whatever other greens I have around the home. My rabbit loves weeds such as dock, plantain and dandelions. A few times a week I also give her a carrot (especially tops she loves them) and sometimes an apple. John often feeds her flowers and leaves through her cage which she loves to take from his hand. However contrary to popular belief you shouldn't give rabbits lettuce it's fine in small quantities but you feed them other greens as well. 
Don't feed your rabbit cabbage, parsnips, swedes, or any nightshade plants ie potatoes or leaves or tomato leaves. Most flowers are not safe for rabbits so it's best to keep rabbits out of your garden and if you're unsure of what to feed them figure if it's a fruit or vegetable and you'd eat it then it is probably safe for your rabbit too. 
You'll need to provide fresh water for your rabbit. I use a pet sipper bottle attached to the side of her cage. This water needs to be clean and checked everyday. 
Most of all enjoy your new friend and play with them every day. The more rabbits are handled the more they will give back.

New rabbit hutch

Wow our bunny (well rabbit rather than bunny!) is now just over a year old and wow has she grown. I knew she was going to be big and she sure does live up to her name! Flemish giant rabbits can grow up to 9kgs! I haven't weighed Nijntje but I'm guessing she is around 6 kg and could still grow some more.

So check out this amazing hutch I scored off freecycle. I LOVE freecycle it's an amazing system! I love the whole concept behind freecycle. I love that I can list items on there that I no longer have any use for; it's amazing what another person can use even though I don't need or want it any more. I have got so many cool things off freecycle. Freecycle works on a karma basis; you list items you don't need anymore and someone comes and collects it and gives it a new home. When you see something on the listings that you like/ want or need you can respond and say you would like it. You can also request items. Amazing system!

Nijntje is so much happier in this bigger cage! She does have a day cage but I wanted a bigger cage for her anyways. Another cool thing about this amazing cage is that the people I got it off made it from items they had lying around the house! So the cage has been upcycled and now freecycled for one happy bunny. Check out her amazing sleeping quarters.     

Check out the size difference between Nijntje's new cage and her old one!! WOW! Now that Nijntje has a new cage I'm even closer to getting my quails!!!  

       

How to paint your child’s nursery the green way

Wow only 10 weeks to go till grape will be here!!! Soon we'll be doing up the baby room though I think we'll wait till after the baby is born as we just seem to be running out of time. John was in our room for the first six months anyway so I'm guessing grape will be too. I wanted to share an article I wrote for GEMB.

A positive pregnancy test often means dreams of a beautiful baby room for your special bundle to play and sleep in. With small babies sleeping up to 10 hours per day their everyday environment can have a huge impact on their health.
Everyday we are surrounded by chemicals that enter our body through the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the environment around us. Reducing these chemicals in your child’s room by going “green” is one way to reduce the chemicals that your child absorbs into their body.
As an adult our skin is our number one protector from the harsh environment we can live in, but for the first year of life a child has no protective skin barrier to protect them from every day chemicals. This means that every chemical that touches their skin, and is breathed in, becomes immediately absorbed into their blood stream.
When you are decorating the room your child will be spending most of their time in, whether this is your bedroom or their own room, the first thing you should think about is choosing a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)-free or low-VOC paint. VOC free is better than low VOC but there are many great low VOC paints out there. These paints will still release some chemicals into the environment so it is best to paint the room a few months before your child is born to be on the safe side.
However, a completely natural and chemical free option is milk paint. Milk paint has been around for hundreds of years and is made from milk, lime and a pigment. Milk paint has a very short shelf life so must be used immediately, alternatively store it in your fridge for later use. Milk paint is completely biodegradable, VOC-free, and has no hazardous air pollutants or solvents added.
The colour of the room will have an impact on your child. Try to choose a neutral or pale colour as a bright colour can over stimulate your child which can result in making it difficult for them to get a good night’s sleep. Another benefit of choosing a neutral colour is that it reduces the amount of times you will need to repaint your child’s room as they get older.
If you want to decorate your child’s room maybe choose to do a mural on the wall, use stick on décor or put up paintings and photos that can be easily changed as your child gets older.
Finally, while you are pregnant do not do any painting, even with VOC-free paint, as low levels of chemicals can be breathed in and absorbed by your inborn child. A lot of old paint has lead in it so it is best to leave the preparation and painting up to someone else. If you have the option to stay with a friend or family while the room is being painted that is even better. Choosing greener paint means you and your child can breath easier.