THE BEGINNING... OR WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING ON MY SUMMER VACATION

Back in 1991 when I held Racca, my first French angora, it came to me that Color was Everything in angora rabbits. The difference between light brown and dark brown, soft grey and charcoal, fawn and golden orange rabbits was mysterious, ethereal and haunting. They all looked wise yet elfin and fairy-like to me. Each color said something different. I adored them then and still do.

Then The Fur became everything. How long can you/they go before you have to comb out tangles? How much will an angora share with you every year so you can spin the luscious stuff, knit it and then WEAR it? How soon can they make more?

Then The Personality became everything. Sweet, sweet bunnies that turned into sweet, generous and patient adults. Beautiful creatures who uttered not a sound, but who's moods you could gauge by their body language.

Then Health became everything. Clear eyes that do not drip, noses that do not run or sneeze, hind legs that are straight, teeth that do not curve, hind quarters that are large and square and heads that are beautifully held. What food makes the bunny healthy and how do they Make It Through the cold winters? How do you keep an animal from getting Wool Block?

And, at the end of the day, for me it is Color again. Fawn angora yarn is golden and warm; black angora yarn is a grey that has incredible depth; chocolate angora yarn is an elegant and charming cool brown. These naturally occurring colors are all I've ever wanted in my knitting projects. Breeding more angora rabbits with the deepest natural color possible is my goal. I do this for the spinning and the color and the critters. I am addicted.

This web log starts amid the droning heat and humidity of August, with Leo blazing extra creativity, in the Hudson Valley of NY State. The bunnies out in my barn are Enduring It. There is one Wee Fellow who will be the first to have his color and growth shared here. I look forward to this on-going presentation and documentation of Color in Angoras.