Blog Readings

Every evening I take time out after getting online to read my bunny friend's blogs. It is always neat to stay in the loop of what is going on outside of my district.

This evening I was on SunnyBrook's blog and she posted the passing of Adson :( Adson was a prime star for a lot of people's rabbitry, not just Nicole's, but Kim & Cristina's and mine as well. Gigi, Renee & Bridget are all sired by Adson. Adson is also the sire or related to in some way all of the animals I have from Nicole. And of those animals, I have kids and soon grandkids from these animals. He truly was a stunning animal who left this bunny world too soon. May his kids pass his name on.

Other blogs of interest are Betty Chu's blog, which I have been a reader of since it's start. She always has interesting stuff to post, and it's not always about her rabbits, or even rabbits, but people who raise rabbits and their hobbies as well! Currently she post's Allen's reportings from Africa, so we all know he is still doing well.

Steve Machado has the Rabbit Shows and Winners blog. The winners are generally from District 2 but he tries to include everyone. Including pictures and breed winners from all of the shows. Red Bluff Results are now up with pictures!

I should also mention that I got my Domestic Magazine yesterday. I appreciate all the new stuff they are incorportaing into it, pictures and results! Yearbook also came a couple weeks ago and that is completely updated as well!

I will try to find the time sometime soon to post some more blogs!

Red Bluff

We traveled down 1-5 on Thursday. We got stuck in 5:30 Sacramento traffic and I can now recall why we moved to Oregon. Dropped off a few bunnies and went to Stockton.
Spent all day Friday with my aunt, uncle and cousins. Was really good to see them! Friday night, proved for about an hour of sleep. Woke up at 3 AM to leave for Red Bluff.

Saturday went well. I spent most the time running around as I was doing about 3-4 things at once all day.

Stitch - BOB, his 10th leg!

RW5 - BOB, her 1st leg!
LGB3 - BOV, her 1st leg!
Allen Ormand just LOVED these two!

Hollywood Dun it - 1st SSB! his 5th leg!
BP1 - 1st & BOSV 3 out of 4 shows
CRV - 1st 3 out of 4 shows

Sunday was decent. More 2nds and 3rds but very good comments none the less under Josh. RW5 was 2nd in the large class of SSD's and Kokomo was right behind her. LGB3 was also 1st. Under Randy, RW5 was 2nd or 3rd, she's still a junior, so being in a senior class didn't help her any. LGB3 was 1st.

Sunday, I was clerking with Courtney Lund and there was a man there making conversation. He was talking about how he got a really nice buck out of a raffle at this show last year. I asked him if he was a chin and he was like yeah, and I said Mojave? :) Mojave went to good owners who use him and LOVE him and his blue-chin daughter won BOB both shows Sunday!

So I suppose you could say that it was one of those shows where all the rabbits you have sold, or are a offspring of ones you sell, come back to kick you in the ass. Teri did really good with the ML's I have given her and now I know wher Mojave went to and that someone actually appreciates people who put GOOD rabbits in raffles :)

I got rid of my sold rabbits. Which is going to open up some holes in the barn, for sure.

Today I have to spend cleaning the barn and moving rabbits around and trying to get some does bred. If that is even possible this time of year.

Am I crazy?

As I have started on my "rabbit show chores" getting mainly the easy stuff done, I am sitting here wondering why I put myself through all of this.

First off I came home this afternoon. On my way I picked up 6 carriers from my old 4-H leader who was very generous to let me use them! Luckily they were already cleaned and filled, so I didn't have to add them to my list of my own to do!

I went to the bank and got some money... which I will need for gas, lodging, and food.

I came home, I lunged my horse, put her away and fed/watered the animals. I need to go out and get the rabbit food ready we will use for the show, and I need to breed some animals! Not just for myself, but some co-op breedings as well! I also need to make cage tags, stuff carriers with hay, get the chairs, sawhorses and boards. Among that I still need to get my pedigrees in order, grab my standard..... and PACK! I forgot about that part.

We are leaving in the morning. We will drive down to the Bay area to deliver some rabbits, then drive back up to Stockton and spend time with family. It's been a year since I have seen my cousins (we did the Red Bluff Family trip last year!) so it will be good just to breathe. We will spend all day Friday there. Saturday we will leave around 5 AM for Red Bluff and spend the rest of our weekend showing and we will come home on Monday in the daylight.

So.... looking forward to a long weekend.

Wish us luck!

Beaver Spirit

I sent my Red Bluff entry in today. I am showing 8 animals in open and 2 in youth. To get this off my chest, 3 are overweight. Did I do that on purpose? Well, they are in such good condition and un-noticeable that I decided to take the risk. If they get weighed, oh well.

Teri called shortly after I got home from 4-H training. Her van was too full of bunnies to pick up the ones she wanted. So... they will be here a lil while longer but it's not like we're that desprate to get rid of them, there are still a couple juniors in there I'd like to look at further. I also get more time to clean the barn, since I did absolutely none of that today like I had originally planned! I also need to get some does bred, Gigi lost her litter and MAD simply didn't kindle at all, and I needed the babies from Hollywood. Just my share of bad luck though. The ones I am showing look good, I love it how coats are just in prime here in December. They have almost a sheen to them because some of them are just so plush and perfect!

The catalog for Frozen Friends is out. Quite frankly, I would love to attend, but I don't see myself making the trip... All the best judges are there and well, I may just have to wait until Corvallis. :) I will miss my buds up there though....

The horse I've been looking at...... I got word back from Rex's owners that he had his first "official" lesson this morning by Jason Acosta. I took the very first ride on him on Saturday and it was just amazing! He is so smooth and responsive, not to mention tall! He's 16.3hh and only 3 1/2 years old. He will remain in training until Spring Break, where I will decide if he can/will go onto be my OSU equestrian team mount! He has a lot to learn, but is a quick learner. I will have more to update on that in the months to come.

I also got word back from Benton county 4-H extention office. I can become a 4-H leader if I go through all the training, references, ect! I am so excited, as this is what I have wanted to do! I loved being in 4-H and being president/Junior Leaders/Leader conferences/camp counseling + I have learned a lot of skills and I hope they have a rabbit position for me. If not I will take one of the other animal areas I have experienced, so wish me good luck!

And if by now you are wondering what my title means, today was the Civil War game between Oregon State University and University of Oregon. Since becoming a OSU Beaver, I felt the "need" to watch this game! I never really cared about my HS football team (even though we had a really good team!) and rarely ever watch NFL games, but this was different. It's a "must" to being a student I suppose.
Anyways, Oregon State WON in double overtime 38-31 and it was a very good game :)

How Time Flies - my year long novel (beware of a long read)

Sitting here late November, I realize that the year is almost over. But where did it go? New Years eve I set 17 goals. I passed/in process of completeing 10 of them. 2 really are out of the picture and the others... well I need to work on them still!

January, we recieved a lot of snow. If I remember correctly, we had 7 snow days this year. Not having snow days for over 20 years in our county, that was just plain ridiculous. I started planning the Rabbit rally late that month. I must have been insane when I decided to take on the task.
Feburary, was really spent studying for my registar's exam after the down time after finals. I tredged the 15 mile drive Tuesdays-Thursdays at 5:30 AM for a Statistics and Probablity class. I had been in the class since September, but by this time of year it had gotten to be too much. I was lacking in the sleep department, roughly recieving around 4 hours a sleep a night, if I was lucky! I had two Satin litters, two which remain around today. A Bkn Black buck owned by a local Satin breeder. He took BOB in Crescent city in September. A Bkn Blue doe, who is in the barn today on a litter. Gigi kindled to Stitch. I have 3 those in the barn today, the 4th living with a good family-friend of mine. He is a 4-H and show bunny for their 8 yr old daughter. The two I showed both granded, the 3rd on a litter currently. Lots of snow in Feb.
March, we held a couple 4-H meetings which lasted well into the night. I started on the rabbit rally exams. The night before Corvallis I did not go to sleep. I went to a play and left around 3 AM. I took BOSV (MAD) and a 1st (Boomer) in A, and BOB (Stitch) and BOS (Habanero) in B under Randy. The Rabbit Rally proved to be successful with 50+ members from Oregon and California. It most certainly was a LOT of work and there is a mile-long list of things I'd like to change for next year (did I JUST say that, I'm insane for even considering doing it again) But my take on it is, if you don't put these youth events out there, then the hobby cannot go on. I took BOB (MAD & Hab) & BOS (Hollister & Stitch), also a BOV (Bridget) at Pear Blossom both shows. I clerked all day to learn more about breeds for my registrar's test.
April, started out on the 1st with me going to Roger's to take my registar's test. Sitting down at his dinner table, I realized this was the real thing, I was finally there! I found it to be rather easy, calculating the ones I might have missed, I felt pretty good as I went to take the oral. The oral wasn't that bad. Roger only has 2 breeds in the barn, one of which I raise, so I wasn't at all worried. I had to tattoo a couple crabby juniors and drool over his awesome Satins! Went to a 4-H leaders conference at Crater. It was pretty fun. Mike came back from CA just before the Pacific Coast show. [Which went well!] I worked my first two shows there, I took BOS Friday with Hab, BOB (MAD) and BOS (Stitch) both shows there.
May, there were AP tests. And coming out of three of them in one week, I was sure I failed all of them (which I did!) Canby show proved to be more successful than my academics. Well maybe. I worked under Randy and got to see a lot of breeds, I learned a lot and passed! I only walked away with a BOSV in B (Hab) but she granded and my rabbits did well in the stiff Von Arx/Velotta competition. I picked up Renee (bred to Waltor) and I bred Stitch to her doe Lyra. I can honestly say I had never done a show table breeding before, I had to catch Stitch has he fell off of her, but she took and kindled! [Their son won his 1st leg recently!] I went to the Portland show on Memorial Day weekend. It was smaller to be expected, I won BOB & BOS in all 4 shows, pretty much with the same animals. Was fun though, just not one worth repeating.
June, proved to be more successful. State Convention was a blast. We drove up early Friday and just had a day to chill. We visted Sea Lion caves and even browsed through the Aquarium. I unloaded my rabbits (only to have Roger set up right next to me...) and went to the Judges Conference. It was really fun I might add, and I learned a lot from good judges! Saturday morning I got to finish showing my Mini Lops before Royalty started. Miami took BOS! Habanero was BOSV. Royalty went well, although stressful as usual. In the B show, Stitch took BOS and Sizzle won BOB again! I worked with Meadow Gustafson for my license. I got to register quite a few animals and just have some breathing time The Banquet was fun. I got an apron for winning 8th in points. It was pretty cool to have my name embriodered on it. Youth show and Open Mini lops were the same time on Sunday, so I ran around like a trapped rat. We got to leave at a decent time, to still arrive home in the dark. The end of June was the Yreka show. My animals couldn't have looked better. My doe "Down in Kokomo" won Best in Show in A & recieved Honorable Mention in B! She was born, bred, and raised here, so it was very special. Miami was BOS and BOV.
July, I started selling animals for National Convention. Oh but would I go?! I recieved a scholarship from the Forestler Youth Fund for competing at royalty, but it sill seemed out of the picture at that point. We had out 4-H cleanup day, which seemed to last forever, but as always, was full of fun. We fought off triple digit temperatures and got our fair entries in.
August, on the 11th we went down to Yreka. I won BOB with Miami (and he took Honorable Mention in show) and BOB with Habanero. Fair week went well for the winnings. In the open show, Habanero was BOB and Miami was BOS. I won Grand Champion Showman. That night I was hit with some horrible news, and I don't wish to discuss it, but it made Wednesday very quiet. My Mini lops took Champion and Reserve Champion for breed. MAD was 2nd runner up in show. My 4-H leader, whom I have looked up to for the past 6 years, left for Beaverton, Oregon. She moved, and took one of my favorite 4-Her's with her. I won Grand Champion Judge Thursday and on Friday, I won Reserve Grand Champion in Master Showmanship "Round Robin" over 20 other showman of rabbits, cavies, poultry, steer, sheep, swine, pygmy goat, dairy goat, dogs & horses. I sent in my Royalty applications the day they were due postmarked. Talk about last minute! Mike came back up and Suzana had her baby!
September, started out with the Crescent City Labor Day Weekend shows. And if you didn't attend this show, you missed out, seriously. I worked with Melissa to gain knowledge on other breeds. Habanero too BOS! and Hollister was BOS in B! I talked with Muriel and we discussed some ways to get me to Convention. It did seem more possible for me to attend, but my parents were still reluctant (a lot of unanswered questions). Sunday I worked with Randy, and that was a chore. I counted over 20 breeds went under my hands, and probably more than 500 animals. He let me practice on classes of 4, for royalty. I got almost all of the classes in order. Hollister was BOS and Miami was BOB. Stitch took BOB in the youth shows. Habanero sustained a leg injury and I didn't sleep there for a couple of weeks because I was worrying about her. She pulled through though. School started, very stressful. Took a trip to Portland, had my 18th B-day and then had the RVRF show. I worked with Roger, as he knew I wanted to learn about breeds and practice for convention. My two bucks took 2nds in A, and I pulled them in B because I was too busy. I don't remember how my Satins did... hummm.. Around the 12th, I booked my flight for convention. That was *the* biggest decision I made. But I decided to set aside the monetary aspect and consider the fun and once-in-a lifetime experience I would have. It was my last year to compete in Royalty, all my family is in Michigan... and.... I just needed to go.
October, was basically preparing for convention and then, going. I delivered my 10 rabbits (6 pre-sold!) to Teri and they would be on their way to Michigan. I left on the 11th. I came back on the 19th. Did I have fun? See my convention post. :)

So that brings me to November -- I skipped the last Oregon League show in Albany to attend Red Bluff. So our sweepstakes points ended there. I finished in 1st, not like I worked on it, but my animals deserved it. I have spent the month spending time with my horse, jumping her and going out on the trails. School takes up most of my time. If I'm not doing homework or studying, I am out with friends or getting back involved with 4-H. I hope to become a leader? At home, when I do get the chance, I have been spending time with Mike, my family, and my animals. I am reducing my herd for school. I am considering a auto-water system right now. I need to get a job... with that said soon I will probably go around town to pick up some applications. Gotta start paying for college somehow. I need a new car, but cannot afford one. I want a horse for OSU Eq team. If I a lucky, we are looking at a potential stud right now. He's a Warmblood located up in Beavercreek. He's amazing, but has that amazing price tag on him too.... I've considereding getting back involved with Golf in the spring... Spring.... The crappy winter weather has arrived. It's approx. 27* here right now. Maybe it will get above 32* so I can go out and do something. I'd rather it be raining and near 40*, this frost is just insane!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Klara's crew

Klara's litter with Tikhon - 15 days old

All together
Blue Eyed White Buck

Blue Eyed White Doe

Blue Eyed White Doe 2

Orange VM (sex was undeterminable yet)

Maintaining a website

This summer I had Sarah McCrea create a website layout for me. It was very neat to put it altogether on my new geocities site, I can't thank her enough. But what work did that entail? A lot.... And I had the easy part!

I have always wanted to get a "photo shoot" of all my bunnies. In other words, good photos that all have the same background. Preferably the animal would be in good condtion and the bunnies would be on their best behavior.

So that day was today. I spent a few hours out in the barn grooming, evaluating and snapping photos of all my Mini Lops. I then downloaded them on my computer. I cropped them. But, on my software I cannot resize them and I couldn't put them onto my website that big..... So I decided to upload them here onto blogger to get them a more desired size. I then had to save those re-sized pictures into another folder. Those pictures were in bitmap format, so then I had to go into AOL and change them all into jpeg. I was then ready to upload them onto my website. But while I am there changing photos, there is much more editing to be done to the website. I guess it will be my "big winter edit."

Websites need to be continually updated. There is something always happening in the barn, new animals, new litter arrivals or show updates! And a website is most breeder's publicity. Some can have a good word of mouth, but much of the world today is on the Internet. Good pictures are valuable to have, but are not the real rabbit. I don't really care for photographs that much because there is no way you can get your hands on that rabbit through the computer screen. I think it's just a good idea to have a generalized idea of what they look like.

On a different topic, the rabbits are doing well. I think I have come to an entry of 10 for Red Bluff. The catalog is soon to be out (most likely within the next week or so) which will be the turning point of our excitement. We missed the Pacific Coast show and we decided not to go to Albany. And, Red Bluff may be our last show for a while. With the way the weather is, St. Helens may be out of the picture. It's a good 5 hour drive plus (not to mention driving through Portland). All babies are doing well and the barn is clean. :)

*check the website for updates!*

Royalty & Banquet photos at Convention

Oregon Senior Judging Team - We were 2nd!
After Banquet, ready to go home!

Before banquet...

Before banquet...

Before banquet

Before banquet, in the Amway by our elevator...

Too tired already....

DeVos place on the Grand River bridge

Queen Individual Judging

just for fun...

A day spent cleaning

Time flies when you are having fun! I knew yesterday I had to get the barn clean.... but I put it off until this morning. Coffee lit my fuse and I was out in the barn in no time. I cleaned the Satin's cages (just because they made SUCH a mess while kindling) and dumped most all of the trays. (think I have 3 left to do....) Swept the grounds and did kit head counts.

I think Klara's is actually an Orange, not a Fawn as I first assumed. The kit is SOOOO bright now! I could be wrong, but not really, because Fawn, Orange and Red are all the same color, it just matters how much modifiers/rufus genes it has to determine it from one another. The fawns and oranges are commonly mistaken for each other.

I decided to put a couple more animals up for sale. I just have to get my numbers down... and the task is harder than it seems at first. But 4-H is starting up, so maybe with some cages and equipment available I can move some guys out.

Meanwhile I will also be updating my website. I have to resize some of my pictures though in order to get them uploaded.... ghar...

Klara kindles and other pictures

Klara kindled this morning. There are 2 BEW and 1 fawn/orange. All are healthy and fat. All Satin babies are also doing well.

The following pics are of my mare Sierra in the turn out pen this morning. I was exercising her over a small jump before we went out on a fall trail ride.

Our Oregon Senior Judging Team :) Photo of Janice Frantz . We were SECOND in the nation, with Nevada in 3rd and Iowa in 1st.