Acadiana: Welcome to the Herd

Kelfla's Acadiana has been off to a good start. She has been doing very well at the shows for such a youngster. Last weekend she earned 3 legs, one for RIS. 

 I'm excited to see how she continues to grow and quite happy with her as an improvement to my herd. Of course, there's little things to pick here and there (as always), but overall...she's been developing into a nice doe.

Acadiana is named in honor of the French region of my home state, Louisiana. You can always find good food and good company there. 

  Laissez les bon temps rouler!

My Fun (but busy) Weekend

I had a jam-packed weekend! I loved it though.
 
I brought my two junior English Angora does to show at the LoneStar Rabbit & Cavy 2014 Convention Fundraiser show. They both did very well and got great comments. My blue doe, Acadiana, did exceptionally well. I'm really happy about her development. She finished her GC this weekend (including a RIS)...not bad for a 4 month old baby. She really does look older though.  All the judges have very  nice comments.  I also got to see my new friends Peggy and Monica again...such nice ladies and great company! 

Show Results

Friday Show (Judge Loyd Morgan)

English Angora BOB - Kelly Flading (Yay, Acadiana!)

English Angora BOS - Peggy T.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C. 

RIS English Angora (Judge Don Mersiovsky)

Saturday Show A (Judge Reanelle Harris)

  English Angora BOB - Kelly Flading (Acadiana)

  English Angora BOB - Sasha M.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

Satin Angora BOS - Dana F.

Saturday Show B (Judge Cheryl Blackman)

English Angora BOB - Kelly Flading (Acadiana)

English Angora BOS - Sasha M.

Satin Angora BOB - Dana F.

Satin Angora BOS - Dana F. 

       
Also, during Saturday's show, I got up early groomed my girls and drove 2.5 hours to south of San Antonio. I picked up a beautiful new baby buck and dropped off one of my rabbits to go to his new home in west Texas. His new family is awesome! (added bonus) They picked him up at the Yellow Rose Fiber Festival in Seguin...and gave me some lovely silk fiber to play around with since I didn't have time to actually go into the Fiber Festival building. I would have never came out and missed my afternoon show. I hear that bunny is settling in nicely. He is such a sweet boy. I hope he makes them as happy as he made me. 








 

TRBA Show Weekend WrapUp

It's been a busy month getting ready for the TRBA State Show weekend. I have so much fun, but I'm glad I can have a break for a moment...or at least until the next show. (Who am I kidding? I love this stuff!)

I ended up not taking Stonewall...super sad about that, but his coat was on the down side anyhow. I did take my 4 young juniors though. Everyone got very nice comments. My favorite young doe, Acadiana, did particularly well, considering she was about a month behind the next oldest rabbits. 

I thought we had an excellent showing of Angora rabbits.  All the judges commented on how hard we made their jobs...That's what I like to hear! 

 Friday Show - Judge Loyd Morgan

English Angora BOB - Ricardo G.

English Angora BOS - Sasha M.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C. Yay! Marshmallow!

Satin Angora BOS - Sasha M.

Saturday Show - Judge Eunita Boatman

English Angora BOB - Ricardo G.

English Angora BOS - Caylie V.

Satin Angora BOB - Dana F.

Satin Angora BOS - Sasha M.

Sunday Show - Judge Allen Mesick

English Angora BOB - Caylie V.

English Angora BOS - Caylie V.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C. Yay! Marshmallow!

Satin Angora BOS - Sasha M.      

Stonewall Starts A New Career

Terri's Stonewall Jackson has come a long way from the little buck I picked up in Wisconsin last year. I just love his sweet personality and amazing density...not to mention that he has a nice little body under all that wool. I had planned to take him to Wichita this past year as one of my Convention entries.

However, Stonewall had other plans. He gave himself a haircut along the left side of his face and over his shoulder. No Convention for him. He didn't seem to mind and just made himself at home for the rest of the fall. 

I am pleased that Stonewall decided to grow back a super dense coat. He's been coming to shows with me throughout the winter while the babies were growing up. He's done a fine job representing his breed in a not so common color (black pearl).  He won several BOBs and 1 leg towards his championship.

Now that my latest litter has become juniors, he'll probably begin the hard work of being herd sire for our shadeds. If his coat holds, his last show will be the TRBA State Show at the end of March.

It's been fun, Stonewall! 
 

Young Guns for Texas WrapUp

I had a great time at the Young Guns for Texas Show in Waco, TX. A few of my Angora friends do not have rabbits in show coat so the turnout was light, but we were certainly focused on a quality display...very nice animals from everyone. I had a blast! I probably should have taken pictures, but hubby stayed home this time (he's the photographer usually) and I was all caught up in the action and forgot.

There were lots of people coming around to talk about Angora rabbits. I talked to so many that I had a sore throat when I got home. Everyone was so nice and asked great questions. I even got to meet a few folks that I only knew through social media and over the phone. AND...I got to see a lady that bought one of my Angoras about a year ago. I was so happy to hear that my lilac tort girl was doing great and living the good life.

I brought Defiance along for the youth breed ID. She caused lots of scratching of head and bewildered looks. I didn't know that the older kids would have to guess color as well. She is a lilac pearl and that stumped a few. Either way, Defiance loved the attention and happily chomped on pellets while they surrounded by a circle of puzzled youth.   

As far as show results go: 

Show A (Judge Wade Burkhalter)

English Angora BOB - Caylie V.

English Angora BOS - Caylie V.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C. (Yay! Marshmallow)

Show B (Judge Don Sheets)

English Angora BOB - Brian F. (Yay! Stonewall Jackson)

English Angora BOS - Caylie V.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.  (Yay! Marshmallow)

   

 

Kiki & Marshmallow Grow Up Nicely

Judge Teri, La Due's Marshmallow & Kiki 2nd RIS

I have to admit that often kids are finicky creatures... and mine are no different, especially my youngest. She begged to get a rabbit. We got eventually got her first Angora rabbit and she quickly became overwhelmed. 

The grooming was too much for her so I took that over. She continued feeding/cleanup duties. However before I knew it, I was completely caring for the rabbit she had spent so many months begging for.  


Once I found out about rabbit shows, we let the kids pick out lower maintenance rabbits to show. Unfortunately, they lost interest in them too. We went about the business of finding them new homes and I swore that I was done with my kids and rabbits. 

 A year or so of being dragged to my rabbit show events, my daughter mentioned that she wanted to try another rabbit breed.  My show buddy, Dana raises Satin Angoras and really wanted to grow the breed in our area.  So, the daughter begins the begging. We're really not buying it this time due to her "poor credit history". But, eventually, we give in, but she must buy this one herself. She immediately gets to work and saves all her money in an old pickle jar.  I'm secretly impressed. 

An opportunity arises via a Facebook post by Amanda La Due.  She's offering a pair of Satin Angoras to a youth interested in the breed.  I enter my daughter's name, not really expecting to win, but just because she's working so hard at saving her money and I am proud of her effort.  

Luckily, Amanda picks my daughter! We're so excited!  In another fortunate twist of fate, our friend, Lara, gives Kiki a beautiful Satin Angora buck.  Later, Kiki's mentor, Dana, also chips in with another gorgeous doe.

What a difference a year has made. I've been very proud of my daughter.  She does all the grooming herself and is a good caretaker of her herd. Maybe she needed to mature a bit, or maybe her mother liked her rabbits a bit too much (as I am prone to do). I hope she forgives me for falling in love with her English Angoras. I keep hands off the Satin Angoras so she can shine with her own light...which she does.  

This past weekend, Kiki won Open 2nd RIS with her rabbit from Amanda, La Due's Marshmallow...and I'm proud to say she does it herself.  Since she has been so responsible, she can now breed for convention.  We are so thankful that the grownups around her that have been so helpful so her mother can continue to remain hands off.           


 

Winter Show WrapUp

Nikon & Stonewall in Killeen TX

I have been super busy and a poor recorder of the shows I've been to this winter.  I've been to a couple and hadn't written anything :( 

Part of it is that I was in a funk. I've got growing babies too young to show. I was also down to one "always a bridesmaid" bun in coat and what I felt like was a bit of a filler.  My filler wasn't a poor quality animal at all.  He had just given himself a haircut (which meant I had to give him a haircut) a few months ago. His coat just hadn't grown out enough to be as competitive as some of the very, very nice rabbits on the table in our area.  However, lately, filler boy has been really blooming.  I'm liking him more and more each day.  I'm happy to see that he is coming into his own as he so richly deserved.


Stonewall Jackson is my hubby's rabbit.  This is per our agreement of "shadeds are named by hubby". He competed well this past weekend at the Mid-Tex RBA Show in Killeen, TX.  My friend's rabbit, Dustibunni's Nikon, and Terri's Stonewall were both looking pretty darn good. 

My hubby is always kind enough to take pictures during shows. I get so wrapped up in the event that I forget to take pictures.  He usually gets some pretty good ones.  This weekend he captured a cute shot of Stonewall and Nikon in the judging coops. I had no choice to add speech bubbles.

Here are show results from the last two shows...

Blackland Prairie RBA Show (Waxahachie, TX)

Show A (Judge Carrol Hooks)

English Angora BOB - Caylie V.   

English Angora BOS - Sasha M.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

Satin Angora BOB - Dana F.

Show B (Judge Michael Franke)

English Angora BOB - Caylie V.

English Angora BOS - Ricardo G.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

Satin Angora BOB - Dana F.

Mid-Tex RBA Show (Killeen, TX)

Friday Show (Judge Michael Franke)

English Angora BOB - Brian F.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

2nd RIS (Judge Teri Peterson) - Kiki C. **

 

Show A (Judge Connall Addison)

English Angora BOB - Brian F.

English Angora BOS - Jackie M.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

Satin Angora BOS - Dana F.

Show B (Judge Dave Kroenke)

English Angora BOB - Caylie V.

English Angora BOS - Jackie M.

Satin Angora BOB - Kiki C.

Satin Angora BOS - Dana F.   

**I'm really proud of Kiki and her rabbit, La Due's Marshmallow so they will get their own separate post. 
        

Johnson County RBA Show WrapUp

Kelfla's Bruce Lee

Judge Ken & writer @ Show B

Just my daughter and I went up for the Cleburne show this past weekend.  We had a great time visiting with our rabbit friends.  Last time we were in Cleburne, we came to the Friday show as well, but this time we could only squeeze in the Saturday show. 


My daughter brought her new Satin Angora she got from Amanda LaDue and got a lot of great comments (Thanks, Amanda!).  

Both of the judges were so complementary and really took the time to talk to Kiki about her rabbit.  I can't say enough how much a kind judge will impact a youth exhibitor.  Kiki was completely pumped after the show.  It was so nice to see her so excited.  








Here are the show results:

Show B (Judge Ken McCracken)

English Angoras BOB: Ricardo Gonzalez (blue tort doe)

English Angoras BOS: Kelly Flading (black buck)

Satin Angoras BOB: Kiki (REW doe)

Show C (Judge Conall Addison)

English Angoras BOB: Ricardo Gonzalez (blue tort doe)

English Angoras BOS: Ricardo Gonzalez (REW buck)

Satin Angoras BOB: Kiki (REW doe)

Ricardo grooming one of his beautiful REWs

Kiki & LaDue's Marshmallow

Better Late Than Never

NARBC Booth..My wool entries placed 3rd & 6th

A Betty Chu Tort (L) and my Bruce Lee (R)...No pressure lol

I know it's bad, but I am just now uploading a few Convention pictures that I had stowed away in the camera.  It's been a crazy few weeks getting caught up after being gone a week. I've been working with fiber mostly and a bit of knitting/crocheting, but the next show is in a little over a week and I just realized that I hadn't posted in a while.  

Marcus, Margaret, and Judge Allen

So...Here's  a few pictures from ARBA Convention 2012.  It was really an amazing experience.  I enjoyed it all.  I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was too busy taking it all in. 
 

Marcus looks on as Judge Allen comments

Our vantage point..best seat in the house. 

 

Johnson County RC/SW RBA Show Wrapup

It was wonderful to see my show friends after a long summer break, BUT...Boy, was it hot in Cleburne TX this weekend!  

Judge Scott judging BIS

We arrived at Friday evening's show and I almost turned right around and went home as it was mighty hot in the barn for Angoras.  The rabbits went straight to the hotel while I checked in for the show. 
 

We took a bit of a gamble, but I was worried about the rabbits. Angoras are usually called to the judge's table towards the end of the show here.  I stayed at the show to be able to scratch the rabbits in case they were called.  Hubby had bunny sitting duties until the sun went down and everything cooled off.  

Bruce Lee's BFF, the fan

I grabbed what was likely the last power outlet in the building and settled in.  Once the sun set and temps cooled, the rabbits came back and I began grooming everyone.  I had just started... and guess what?  Angoras get called to Judge Scott Rodriguez's table.  Eek! (not for Judge Scott...but for my "still in the process of being groomed" rabbits).  I gave him a big laugh by rushing to the table and putting up all three of my entries...with soft hair bands on still their furnishings. Oh geez! 

Judge Scott was very nice and I got some good comments about my all rabbits. I returned Bruce Lee to the grooming table and was able to make finish "dolling him up" for BIS Show A.  Everyone was called to the table for BIS and I was so surprised!  Bruce Lee won 2nd RIS!  I couldn't believe it...that made my whole terrible day...and lots of bunny juggling much better.  

The only thing was that all my Texas Angora friends who have mentored me (like Ricardo, Dana and Sasha) weren't scheduled to arrive until Saturday.  I wanted to call them...but it was so late.  And special thanks to my friend, Ricardo, for  telling me, "Ivermectin that baby.  He'll fill out nicely."  As always, you were right.     

The next day it was still super hot.  I spent a lot of time visiting with my good friends. I chose not to blow out coats again because I didn't want to stress the rabbits. I was working overtime just keeping them on ice. No one looked awful...just not as pretty as when when they're blown out. That's the downside of showing Angoras in Texas. 

After a day filled with ice for buns and fans, the rabbits all made it home safe and healthy.  I, however, was exhausted and dehydrated from rushing around trying to keep rabbits cool.
Here are the show results from this weekend:

Show A (Judge Scott Rodriguez)

English Angoras BOB:  Kelly Flading

2nd Reserve In Show: Kelly Flading (Yay, Bruce Lee!)

Show B (Judge Carrol Hooks)

English Angoras BOB: Caylie Voudren

English Angoras BOS: Kelly Flading (Kingfish)

Satin Angoras BOB: Dana Faber

Satin Angoras BOS: Dana Faber

Show C (Judge Ken McCracken)

English Angoras BOB: Kelly Flading (Bruce Lee)

English Angoras BOS: Sasha McPherson

Satin Angoras BOB: Dana Faber

Satin Angoras BOS: Dana Faber

   
I really wanted to stay for Show C's BIS, but it was just too hot.  It would have been nice to see how Bruce Lee did. 
 

It's A Long Way To Wisconsin...But Worth Every Mile

1280 miles

Recently my daughter and I took a little trip north to Superior, Wisconsin to visit one of my mentors, Terri. Terri has an English Angora blog that has been very helpful to me as I learn.  I have talked to Terri many times about my Angora rabbits, but we have not had the pleasure of meeting in person.  She had a few rabbits for sale and I wished to check them out...and learn a bit more in the process. 

My family thought I was a bit nuts to drive that far to just look at rabbits, but it was much more than that.  We attended one of the Wisconsin shows (5 shows in weekend) and I got to see what shows are like for Angora folks in other parts of the country. Plus, I soaked up valuable stuff that I would have never gotten otherwise. 

Helping a new friend with her Himalayans

It was a real learning experience to watch Terri prep her rabbits for the show.  I have to say that she was just amazing... always unfrazzled amidst a whirlwind of activity.  I could only stand around awestruck.  I really appreciated that she took the time to teach me along the way, too. I learned a lot.

 I also got to meet some other really nice Angora folks with beautiful rabbits, Deb and her daughter Alicia...and also Pam, who taught me how to needle felt. Such nice people!  I felt very welcomed...and was so excited to share in their day. I wish I lived closer OR could teleport. 

I ended up with two more wonderful rabbits to add to my herd.  I picked up a black pearl junior buck for my pearl line herd sire and a senior REW doe.  Both bunnies are gorgeous.  Princess Grace is very nice, even clipped down.  

Our favorite rest area...in Iowa...so cute and very clean.

I did fall in love with one of Terri's REW bucks.  I just couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I thought I didn't like REWs, but after seeing a REW in full coat in real life...I see what all the fuss is about.  There is nothing like a big, glorious, white cloud of a rabbit...and not cirrus clouds either, but big puffy, crawl in and sleep cumulus clouds. Spectacular!  It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I wish I hadn't been to wrapped up in everything to take pictures during the show.  I was just too busy soaking everything in. I did brought home his mother, though. Maybe one day I'll get lucky!