The Year-End cleaning

I cleaned Kenshiro's cage this morning, last cleaning of the year 2010.

I don't have to clean so often as before since she seldom uses the cage.

But everytime I clean, she would come to supervise me.

It's funny that she's very sensitive about her possessions being handled.

She wants to make sure I'm doing right.

Wood-floor panel will be sun-dried at the bay window for a half day.

While she waits, here she is, checking her cage.

The New Year of the Rabbit

New Year is just 2 days away.

Though we will need to evaculate things for water pipe restoration possibly next week,

I still wanted to do something to add some new year feel to our place.

I use different Japanese TENUGUI (cotton cut cloth) as a table runner all year round,

and this is a new addition to my stock, just right for the coming year, The Year of Rabbits.





May the year 2011 be as prosperous and leaping year as this one!!

Arrival of a new friend.

Kenshiro: Hey! Don't disturb!
I'm trying to get to know this cute little girl.

(It's a cleaner strap, by the way..)
See if she would like to take a nap with me on the fleece blancket now..

Japanese-style charm

Another thing given to me by my sis.

It's a beautiful little thing.

A Japanese silk charm bag (omamori - お守り) with 2 tiny glass-made rabbits inside.

The one has silver ears, the other, the gold ears.

On the bag, some patterns and 4 letter words (meaning Open luck ) are embroided.

Usually we buy these charms at shrines.

But being a Chiristian, I've never had one of these charms.

This one, though, wasn't sold at the shrine, it just imitates as one of those.

She bought it at the shop, for my collection of rabbit stuff, and I guess partly because this year is climacteric year for me in traditional callender.

It's funny though, I brought it with me on the day of the exam.

I felt very much supported.

I do not believe in carrying charms, even the cross.

But this little red silk bag with 2 little rabbits works for me, just like a little puppy doll I sleep with at night.

I feel the support. of who?

Probably my sister.

It's a personal thing.

?? Moulting again??

I thought Kenshiro has become a winter rabbit and she will stay like this during the whole winter.
BUT!
She started changing her fur AGAIN since last week.
I'm guessing that it's not cold enough for her to stay in winter coat.
It's been back to 23-24 degree this week.
It's horribly humid, too with awful 95% humidity.

She's obvioulsy not too impressed with that.
She's been standing on the granite stone to cool her down again.

However, the weather forecast says it will go down even below 10 degree from this Thursday.
Ah~~, pls stop confusing Kenshiro~~~!
Anyway, it does not stop her ever-increasing appetite.

She doesn't miss any chance to get her favorite dried-broccoli leaf.

She's very punctual.

It's not that she is guarding her cage nor welcoming you into her cage.

It's 6p.m. and she's just patiently waiting for her dinner...:)

It's amazing how animals have their natural time clock, and it is absolutely on time.

Will you still wear real-fur items this winter?

Kenshiro hereby proudly presents her new hair-decoration.. made of her own.:)
Actually somehow her fur has started changing again this week!!

Rabbit fur is "IN" again for 2010 winter fashion and my heart is sinking.
Yes, I do have a fur coat trim. It came with my Jill Stewart coat I bought in 2005. I was not yet become aware of animal welfare then.
I also have two hair accesaries made of rabbit fur.
I've never used them again after 2007.
I keep them though, to remind myself, that the numbers of rabbits are killed for these items of mine.

It's just not necessary for us to have "real" fur, is it?
Can we still happily buy the real-fur items after seriously thinking about how the factories would have stripped the fur from rabbits or fox or chinchillas??

Let's go for the fake fur!
Yes, you may distinguish the difference of real and fake by appearance, but so what!?
There are more varieties for fake fur-items and they are surely higher in cost-performance.

Finally winter...ish

December is finally here, though I feel absolutely no atmosphere for Chiristmas.
Maybe I should bring out some ornaments.

Despite having no winter atmosphere, the weather has been so great here in Hong Kong.
Just the right temperature of about 20C, dry and slightly cool.
I love it.

Kenshiro reacts to a subtle cooling change of temperature though.
Now she's always on the blue cotton mat under the dining table.
No more on bare wooden floor nor granate stone plate.

Soon, it'll be time for her to snuggle into IKEA fleece.