Birthdays, Koalas and Penguin Parades

Koala peek-a-boo!

Just when you think you survived Christmas “someone” HAS to have a birthday..I mean, talk about timing! Having your birthday just in between Christmas and New Year is ..how do I put it?…a little bit too much of a good thing and therefore overlooked or better still: seen as a party package where all the festivities are bundled into ONE. As a kid it is frustrating, also because it falls right in the middle of a hectic holiday period and most of the friends and family will be away. I always told my parents they should have planned it better, but hey, I cannot change my birthdate ..so I guess I’m stuck with it. After years and years of birthday stress I can finally say I have overcome it and was strangely relaxed about the whole thing. I did not have expectations at all, was just going to enjoy the day and relax. And then, just when you least expect it, you get hit around the ears by a huge birthday bonanza: not only did my friends gave me lots of pressies and attention but Paul, my hubbie, gave me the surprise of a lifetime. See, you are never too old to be surprised..lol he planned a wonderful day out. Destination: Philip Island ! The farthest South I have been now in Australia! Yeah! The long drive there took us to a gorgeous koala sanctuary park, where you could see koalas sleeping in the most amazing positions and I felt their fur! Immediately thinking: hmmmm koala scarf! These adorable creatures are soo cute ! They eat at least 500grams of eucalypt leaves a day , hardly drink (they recover most of the water in the leaves) and it takes so much energy to digest the stuff , they spend about 20hours a day sleeping and “hanging out”. Here are some photos of the day:

Koala with a bad hairday

hanging out!

Koala striking da pose

Koala in a bed of fur

Then it was off to the Nobbies with their fur seals, rock pools, blow holes and fabulous views!

the Nobbies with blow hoel and rock pool

fur seals hanging out together

Last but not least there was the main attraction: the fairy penguins or as it is known on Philip Island: the Penguin parade. The day before 1515 penguins came ashore at 21:15 after a long day of swimming and fishing in the Bass straight to get as much food for themselves and their young. It is really amazing how tiny but yet so powerful and energetic these little creatures are! They only weigh about a kilo! But when you see them coming in on the shore, waddling and looking around if it is safe to waddle some more towards their safe green homes, they are gigantically cute. By the time the first batches wanted to come ashore it was freezing cold and we were frozen to ours seats. Gentle lights were shining on the beach and we saw the first groups tentatively trying to land and slowly but surely venture out passed the large amount of seagulls to feed their young.

It is so funny to see : they land, take a couple of waddles, look around, venture further ashore on the beach and then they seem to gather around almost single file. They stop, look and as fast a lighting dash back towards the ocean. And away they go to regroup. This goes on and on and on and on until they are confident enough that they are safe to walk the gauntlet so to speak. One time there was one little penguin who was the last one of the big group coming in , almost three quarters on the beach towards the green shore and POW, he turns around as the only one and scuddles back towards the ocean while the rest waddles on towards the green safe shore.

should we stay or should we go? Fairy Penguins arriving on the beach

let’s discuss our plan of action

Then you can see them up close and personal while they are grooming themselves and heading inland towards their nests. There are so many Penguin oohs and aaahs and purrs and squeeks that fill the air. The sounds are amazing!

heading to the nests

Fairy penguin young waiting for dinner

It was a wonderful birthday and having that day out and seeing so much beauty was amazing! I have a lot to be grateful for.

Time is moving so much faster in December than any other month it seems because here we are on the last day of the year 2010 !!!! Looking back on the year, I feel like I have come so far, been through so much, made so many new friends, lost a lot but learnt a lot more. Last year I was afraid I would not be “me” after the Uterine cancer and the operation and you know what? In a ay I am not “me”anymore: Time, illness and loss changes you but so does Love, Knowledge and Hope. It has been a tough journey but maybe a rough road makes us stronger and more appreciative of Life and Love. I know I am. I have hit some pretty deep lows but now I have climbed a high mountain so I can enjoy the view and Life is Good.

All of us here at the IxCHeL fibre farm wish you a wonderful, exciting, adventurous, healthy. Loving and fibre filled 2011 ! Make your dreams come true and enjoy every moment. Thank you all so much for showing me so much support and strength and love in the last year: I could not have done it without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart !

I did not have time to fire up the dyepots this week but I am extending my special offer of fibre and yarn surprises. There a still lots of very nice things to be snaffled!

Holiday Season Special

I offer you a surprise yarn or fibre for AU$14 each+postage . Let me know how many serves you would like , what your favourite colours are and if you would like yarn or fibre. I will then send you a surprise happy holiday season giftpack with a nice surprise to thank you for a wonderful year of support of our little fibre farm, the bunnies and me.

Today is the last day of the club sign ups ! It is still not too late to join the fun of receiving a fibre or yarn or batt surprise every month ! Email me if you have any questions or if you want to become a member.

Sign ups for the IxCHeL Clubs are still open: LAST DAY !

Fibre Club (lucky) #8

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 2011) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$20 or more !
All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel Fibre Club !

Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed special top for three months!

Price to join the Ixchel Fibre Club #8 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months is AU$60 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND double and triple serves are available !!! So in short:

For Australia :
single serve $60+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $120+$18
triple serve $155+$18

For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$60+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve AU$120+AU$50

For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$60+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$58

For Asia:
Single serve AU$60+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve AU$120+AU$39

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for fibre club #8 is december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january:)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB
Here are all the details and just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D

The subscription is for a period of three months (january february and march 2011 !) and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$32 or more . The batts will range in weight from 100grams to 150grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even buffalo and quiviut this time ! is on the cards for the next funky bunny club!! )

All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of Ixchel funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt !

Sign up now and you will receive an Ixchel Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt in january february and march 2011 !

Price to join the Ixchel Funky bunny #8 :)) for three months is AU$96 + postage (parcel post or airmail). So in short:

For Australia : $96+$15postage (parcel post)

For USA + Canada: AU$96+AU$32 (Airmail)

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$96+AU$38 (airmail)

For Asia: AU$96+AU$28 (airmail)

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY Batt CLUB#8 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the funky bunny batt club #8 is December 31st! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :)

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me : ixchel@rabbit.com.au

Sock it to me Yarn Club
Ixchel Sock it to me yarn club January February and March 2011 sign ups are open now! :-)

What is the deal? hmmm it is sooo good and fun and sockaliscious you just will HAVE to join :)

Here are the details:
Every month for three months you will receive:

enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks; (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn or a 3ply or a 4 ply);

Every month a new sock pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! :) I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks extra long :)

Here is the nitty gritty:
For Australia :
single serve $78+$15 postage (parcel post)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +$18

For USA + Canada:
single serve AU$78+AU$32 (Airmail)
double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$49

For UK,Europe, rest of the world:
Single serve AU$78+AU$38 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$57

For Asia:
Single serve AU$78+AU$28 (airmail)
Double serve $130 (= one skein FREE!!!) +AU$42

Numbers are strictly limited ! Deadline for signing up for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB! is december 31st ! And the first installment is going to be shipped out mid january 2011 :) among the yarn blends on offer this time will be an amazing yak bunny merino yarn and hmmmmm maybe some baby camel (whaddoyouthink?) ;-))

Payment via direct deposit or credit card. Just PM or email me your details :))

By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes :)

***

New year for me have always meant a day of making oliebollen and appelflappen: dutch treats for New year Celebrations. Believe me you do not want to miss out on these snacks. Beware they are highly addictive.

Oliebollen (dutch doughnuts)

makes about 20:
1 sachet of dry yeast
1 cup of lukewarm milk
2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp salt
1 egg lightly beaten
1 ½ cups sultanas (soaked in a dark beer overnight or brandy)
oil for deepr frying
icing sugar

Sprinkle yeats over ¼ cup milk and stir to dissolve. Combine flour and salt and add the remaining milk and the egg and sultanas. Mix well. Let stans in a warm place until it doubled in size. Heat the oil for deep frying. Shape balls of the batter with two metal spoons and drop the balls into the hot oil a few at the time. Deep fry for about 8 minutes until golden brown. Serve them piled on a plate sprinkled with icing sugar ! YUMMMMMMM!

Appelflappen (apple fritters or is you like Pineapple fritters!)

for about 30
2 ½ cups flour
1 ¼ cups beer
¼ tsp salt
6 granny smith apples or pineapple rings sliced about 1cm think
oil for deep frying
icing sugar

Combine the flour, beer and salt and beat until smooth. Coat apple slices a few at the time with batter and deep fry them in the hot oil until light brown. 3 to 4 mins. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Enjoy ! YUMMMMMMM …!

The new year has some pretty fabulous new things lined up for you already! There is going to be a range of very nice essential oils products on offer: handmade bunny bath bombs, soaps and more ! So not only will you be able to relax and spin IxCHeL Fibres or knit IxCHeL yarns , after all that you can relax with some awesome softness and fragrences of IxCHeL essential oil products ! and yes, yes, the on line shop I have been promising you for so so sooooo long will be operational in 2011 !! J Promise!
There are going to be new blends , new fibres, new colours, new art yarns, new patterns and exciting bunny news. The new year will bring us new fibre adventures, new Bunny spin in days and heaps of additive fibre and more ! Here’s to an exciting 2011 filled with Love, Adventure, New Goals and Dreams, Health and most of all a smile for every day !

Thanks heaps for your support and have fun!

RABBIT ON!!


Dates to Remember:

Bunny Spin in at the Ixchel Fibre Farm:

Saturday 15th of January and Thursday the 27th of January
Bring your wheel, spindle, knitting, crocheting and a plate to share with everybody. There is cake and coffee and tea and a lovely bunny to cuddle and lots of fibres and yarn!) very important ! Please let me know beforehand by email or message that you would like to come and visit so I can prepare the infrastructure and cake ofcourse !

HOPPY 2011 !!

Carpe Diem !
((hugs)) Charly