Okay, so enough of the woohooing and cheering, you've just got to hear the report!!! Missouri State Convention. Awesome. Like, Totally awesome. Best show ever. I took Rosa, Stormy, and the lady Eloquence herself, along with my little Junior Dutch doe Caroline. I have happy news, sad news, joyful news, and well.... a cute update of the girls. Just who are the girls? Keep reading!!! ;-)
There happened to be another ARBA judge there, Ray Hall. He judged my Angora's in the Spring with Margaret Bartold and Lil Peck, and was really helpful and has a lot of experience with English Angora's. He trained to be an Angora judge partly under Margaret, and so really is a very nice judge to get. He wasn't judging in an official form on Saturday, but I still was very interested to hear his opinions, especially on wool, since I knew he would probably give me different opinions that the other judge had. I asked him to come and look at both my and Tessa's rabbits, and he gladly accepted. He did like Stormy a lot, liked her shoulders (yay!) and also her density. My friend Tessa had also shown a little REW buck that is just a couple months older than Ellie, and he actually said he would have chosen him over Ellie. I was perfectly fine with that, Ellie is only 12 weeks old, BOB at 12 weeks old already was a huge achievement, and Ray did take his time deciding. He liked Ellie's body better (but remember wool is more important), and he did say that he really loved her too. "A lovely Presentation" was his comment on her, "Great Grooming Job" and he really "Liked her Density", although he still preferred the density on the slightly older Rew buck at this time. All in all, I'm still really happy with this result, Ellie being so young yet. Good potential on her!
But!!! I have another announcement to make!!! Dutch rabbit people.. . I'm here!! lol... I picked up a couple premium Dutch rabbits from Bob Bergene himself. I've been showing with him since spring, and have gotten to know him quite a bit. I purchased a lovely Black buck, and a stunning Blue doe I named Milly. Bob has top quality Dutch rabbits, I highly recommend him as an excellent source of information and quality stock. Wow. My blue doe Milly that I picked up ended up being rather expensive, but I picked based on her markings and her body. Only after I bought her did I realize..... She has a LEG!!! Yes indeed, a BOV leg from Colorado State Fair. I really think she is quite possibly one of the most lovely Dutch rabbits I've ever seen. She is just perfect. Sweet temperament too. The buck is a little more wild (which I shall soon remedy), but not Milly, she is sweet as ever. She is 8 months old, she will have a full show career before the spring, and then hopefully she'll become a mama. (Bred to my Blue buck Hornblower who also has a leg). If I can manage it, I might have hopes to try and get her Grand Championed. A slightly big undertaking... but I think I might be able to do it, even with the huge amount of Dutch competition out there. Milly really has potential.
And now for pictures of "the girls!" I have Jinger, Aggie and Raven all sheared down (to shorter coats, not super short though) and ready to be bred. Time for babies!! Rabbits are a little like chickens.. they need a certain amount of light per day to breed. So I have a light on these three girls, they'll be bred in 2 weeks to Bruce Lee. Super excited! But, I had to share pictures of them all sheared down... because I don't know that I hardly ever share those pictures much. They are kinda funny looking... and cute. Here is a picture of Aggie. Love this little gal!
So there is an update for ya!! Next update should include pictures of babies... All blues are expected. Cupcake is due also... the day or two before Christmas. I'm not positive she took, but let's hope.
I'm already planning more shows for 2015 (which is right around the corner... I can't believe how time flies!), hopefully I'll be in Mt Vernon in February, and there should hopefully be another specialty in March.
Thanks for stopping by, sorry for talking your ear off.. I just had so much news I had to share the fun!
Have a blessed Holiday season, and check back soon!!!
Blessings,
~Anna