Imari's First Photo Session

Princess Imari goes home with Carolyn on June 30.

Princess Imari is a spoiled indoor bunny...

… lives a life as her name suggests: princess.

Princess Imari is as good quality as her sisters who are going onto the show table but she lives a much better life.

Katelyn's French Angora Wins Youth Best In Show

Deb, Alicia and Katelyn are three generations of Angora lovers/breeders/exhibitors.   They like to go to shows together but sometimes timing is not the best for all three, they have not gone to a show for quite a while.     Last Saturday, Katelyn went to the Twin Ports rabbit show in Proctor, MN with grandma Deb.   Mom Alicia had to work thus could not go.  Katelyn won Best in Show in show 1 with her pretty French Angora doe, 7 Pine's Ariel.   Ariel had a litter in April, so this is her second coat coming in.  Judge Shane Ringdahl loved Ariel and awarded her the Best In Show.

Big Boy No Match For Big Zucchini

Big Boy is big, but he is less than 1/2 of the weight of this Zucchini!  

Where does this biggie come from?

Zucchini grows very fast, a slight oversight during harvest could result in big surprises.

Just by looking at the photo, this Zucchini does not look too impressive.   Add a tape measure to the photo shows that the big one is 26 inches long.  That's longer than Franchesca's Guinness World record of wool length!

Zucchini bread anyone?   It is longer than the grooming table.
The weight of this Zucchini is 11 pounds 9 ounces, more than the weight of a senior French Angora.  If a French Angora weighs 11 pounds 9 ounces, it'd be disqualified on the show table as the top limit is 10 pounds 8 ounces.    

Rachel Is the Supreme Champion and Master at Wisconsin State Fair

Rachel has exciting news:

This past week at the Wisconsin State Fair, I competed in youth contests and showed my rabbits.  I was very happy to receive Supreme Showmanship Champion out of 40+ contestants and Supreme Knowledge Master, which consists of a contest combination of your placements on how you did on Breed ID, Judging, Interview, a written test, and a writing exercise. I did my showmanship presentation with a French Angora broken chestnut junior buck named Uranus. 

For the Open show, my Himalayan Blue Senior Buck named Avatar won Best in Show A under judge Allan Ormand! This is my very first Open Best in Show, and it wasn't even with an Angora! Overall, it was a great week at State Fair!

Pretty Little Girl

Mom said that I'm a pretty little girl.

Yes, I feel pretty.  Do you like to see my face a bit more?

Or would you like to see my profile?

Carol Visits Shaw's Blue Mountain Fiber Mill, Part 2

"The Shaw's even have a small farm shop with gorgeous yarn, both yarn they have spun from merino wool, angora rabbits, and goats, plus commercial yarn. " 

"The blue yarn is merino wool and sari silk (I plan to knit a sweater).  The lavender is merino and angora; its heavenly!  The gray is natural colored mohair and also very soft." 

Carol could not resist, she says, "Of course I had to buy some!  I plan to send fiber to the mill for processing soon."

From left to right are Madi Shaw, Angie Shaw, Ashley Shaw and Matt Bishop.   They run the mill and the shop together.    Carol says, "Thank you to Angie and the family for a great time!"

For more information about the Blue Mountain Fiber Mill, go to:

http://www.bluemountainfarms.net/

  

Carol Visits Shaw's Blue Mountain Fiber Mill, Part 1

Carol and hubby had a family vacation in PA visiting grandkids.   Carol says, "We visited the Shaw's fiber mill in Pennsylvania during a recent family vacation.  Angie, Ashley, Madi and Matt were so gracious and everyone enjoyed the trip.  I should have taken a photo of the building but forgot to do that but there are several of the interior.  After greeting Angie and family, we had to visit the animals.  There were two miniature horses, sheep, angora goats and of course rabbits."

In the above photo, Carol's daughter-in-law Heather and granddaughter Adara are visiting with the miniature horses.  

"The drive to Blue Mountain Farm and Fiber Mill is beautiful!  Although it seems very isolated, in fact their farm and home are only 10 min from Harrisburg and the PA Farm Show Complex."  In the photo are Carol's son Adam and grandson Adriel.  

Grandpa Jim holds Adara and visits with a Flemish Giant held by Madi.

"The mill was full of equipment including a picker, carder, and of course the spinner.  There were bags of unprocessed wool, as well as yarn waiting to be shipped out."

Processed rovings.

More rovings.

More equipment and processed rovings.

Rovings being processed.

Annual Barn Cleaning, Part 2

The interior of the barn is being power washed.

Lighting fixture on the right side is covered with a plastic bag while the power washing is being done.

The cleaned stacks are drying in the sun.

It's dark, people are tired but at least the cages are all back into the barn.

The other side of the barn.  Most of the rabbits got back to their condos by 2 am on day 2.   There were 7 left in the garage while they stayed in bigger carriers.

On day 3, rabbits are all back in the barn, our garage floor is also being power washed.   

It's hard to imagine, the rabbits could make quite a bit of poops and wool in two days.  A complete washing is in order.

Lots of carriers to be cleaned.

It was exhausting to take apart the entire set up in order to get a complete cleaning.  The end result is rewarding.    It'll be maintenance cleaning through out the year then this process will be repeated next summer.

Annual Barn Cleaning, Part 1

Carriers on the cage stands, it must be Betty's barn cleaning time.

Thirty plus English Angora are in carriers, they are going to have to stay in our garage overnight waiting for their condos being cleaned.

A swamp cooler is just outside of the garage in the upper left corner.

No matter how elegant they look, rabbits can make a mess over time.

The flame from a blow torch on propane helps to burn the wool and spider web cumulated in and out of the condos.

A strong power washer is a must for cleaning.

After flaming, the power wash blasts away the poops stuck on the cage floors.

The condos have peg board as dividers to prevent the rabbits from chewing on each other and reduce the chance of germ transfer.

There are lots of trays that need washing.

…. and more....

Good Eating Habit

Summer time is tomato time. 

Casey installs good eating habit on her grand daughter Isaura who is 5 years old.

Rayna Getting a Haircut

Rayna in prime a few months ago.

Rayna's coat still pretty but not as great as during the prime.

As hard as it may be, it's time for Rayna to have a haircut.  

Her nice smooth body is exposed after the wool is cut from her back.

Rayna is not trying to imitate a peacock, just getting a haircut.

The "wool fall" is very impressive from the rear end....

… but not as impressive viewing from the front.

Rayna will be back to shows in 3-4 months when her coat grows back.