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.      

The Color of "Money" Is Smoke Pearl

The hubby's shaded English Angoras have been growing up. I do love seeing the different colors and how they develop with the shaded varieties. 

The smoke pearl buck, named Money (as in "Lots O' Money") by hubby, has gone through the most changes.  He is my first smoke pearl
English Angora and I've enjoyed watching his coat grow out. 

I think his color is quite striking in person, although my photography skills are less than desired and don't show it very well.

I've come to really like his smokey blue coloration. Maybe one day, some more little smoke pearls will come my way. Until then, I'll just enjoy my Money. 
 

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! 
 

Rapunxel...Wool Ambassador Extraordinaire

I can't say how much it means to me to get pictures and/or updates on the rabbits that go to their new homes. 

Jerrilyn is so awesome. She sends me the best pictures of Rapunxel enjoying life. 

Rapunxel is quite the public figure, teaching about her breed's purpose at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts' Eco-Fair. 

She is a great ambassador for her breed...and I'm sure an attraction all to herself! Rapunxel's duties have taken her to events such as Christmas at Old Fort Concho and a fiber arts demo at the Chicken Farm Art Center. 

Rapunxel lives a wonderful life as a wool producing house rabbit with Jerrilyn.  

Buttercup & Kiki Know Best

If that doesn't say "insulted" I don't know what does. 

I admit it. I have control issues. I *must* have my hands in everything around me. That goes for my daughter's Satin Angora rabbit project as well.  

Yesterday, my daughter's Gray Haven's Buttercup kindled her first litter. I was proud of myself for stepping back as Kiki handled the nestbox management duties. It was my turn to be the assistant.

Kiki chose to start out by removing the nestbox from the maternity pen each night. This morning, I woke up at 4am and spied the nestbox resting in a carrier. After an hour of resisting temptation, I removed the nestbox just to check on the babies. Although the babies seemed warm, I was uncomfortable with the amount of wool Buttercup had placed in the nestbox. I had some clippings from Princess Grace (my REW EA) that I put in for additional warmth. That morning, Kiki immediately noticed the new wool. I got in trouble, but she left it in there since I apologized for meddling. I felt I was right, though. Better safe than sorry.

Kiki went to school unable to check on the babies because Buttercup was in the nestbox during the time she had allotted to check on her. Kiki gave me permission to check on babies while she was at school. Yay! Overwhelmed by all her additional rabbit duties while we were on our cruise, she did not clip down Buttercup as much as she'd liked and was worried about wool getting tangled around babies. 

Later that morning, I removed the nestbox to check on Buttercup's babies. At the top of the hay laid a pile of super white wool (Buttercup's a black tort). Buttercup had neatly placed all the wool I had put in earlier on the top of the nestbox, replacing it with lots of her own wool. I was speechless. I guess Kiki and Buttercup DO know best.