Coastal Train

Del Mar is a very interesting town. It's the location for the San Diego County Fairgrounds, it's town totally next to the ocean, it's a town with lots of very expensive shops, and it's a town that the railroad goes through.

Fairgrounds and railroads usually located in the sections of the towns that are considered as low rent district; in Del Mar the "usual" does not hold. Just next to the beautiful beach with nice restaurants and expensive homes, the trains run through on a regular basis.

In the four photos above, a coastal train comes and goes; the sand next to the train is a part of the beach. It's a very interesting combination.

Del Mar Town Square

Chris O. views from a upper level of Del Mar Town Square.

Pacific Ocean is within the viewing distance.

Another view of Del Mar street and the ocean.

An entrance at the upper level of the square.

An outdoor resteurant.

Chris O. relaxes at the outdoor lounge.

Have you ever seen a resteurant that requires reservation to dine in?

Carol G. Judges American Fuzzy Lop In Japan

We thank Yumiko for sending photos of the Nippon Rabbit Club shows in Japan.





Judges Carol G. and Melissa are being introduced to exhibitors.






Carol judges her favorite breed: American Fuzzy Lop.






Carol examines a shaded Fuzzy.







Carol checks a broken black Fuzzy.








A Fuzzy winner, who's the happy mom?





Happy mom Yumiko has picture taken with judge Carol and her Fuzzy that won Best Opposite Sex of breed.

Another photo of Yumiko with Carol.

Hiro Nakayama, the only ARBA registrar in Japan, is working for his judge's license.

Four English Angora Best Of Breeds, One Of Each Kind

White doe Chu's Susie won BOB in the 2009 ARBA Convention.

White buck Chu's Nolan won BOB in the 2008 ARBA Convention.

Colored doe Chu's Sevenah won BOB in the 2007 ARBA Convention.

Colored buck Chu's Ashton won BOB in the 2003 ARBA Convention then advanced to winning the Group.

Betty says,

"It is unusual for a buck to win Best of Breed in any of the Angora breeds; it is even more unusual for an English Angora buck to win the BOB in the ARBA national convention.

In 2008, Judge Randy S. asked me whether Nolan was the first white buck to have won that honor. I don't know whether it's the first ever, but I do know it's the first in 23 years that I have attended ARBA conventions; and I also had only seen one colored buck winning BOB English Angora in the ARBA convention and that was Ashton in 2003.

Most of the years the winner would be a white doe or a colored doe, bucks are usually the Best Opposite Sex of the Breed (BOS). In the past years, I have had many does, white and colored, winning the Best of Breed even Best In Show in the national conventions. Buck wise, I have only had two winning convention BOB and group and those are Ashton and Nolan.

At the present time, I have four convention BOB living in my barn: colored buck Ashton, colored doe Sevenah, white buck Nolan and white doe Susie; four BOB and one in each kind.

Ashton is Sevenah's grandfather; Sevenah is Susie's mother. Ashton is also Nolan's great grandfather, and Nolan has sired Maddex, the BOS in the 2009 convention. It is a family tradition to compete in the national conventions.

Ashton also has the honor of having his photo as the breed photo in the most current ARBA poster and the same photo is on the breed page of the 2009 ARBA convention official catalog. Furthermore, a different photo of Ashton is gracing the page of Angora rabbits on Wikipedia."

What A Baby!

In Lodi, we saw previous NCAG director Andrea carries her whippet like a baby.





The dog is shaking like a leaf in the wind; is she afraid of rabbits or is she feeling the winter cold wind?

Carol G. And Melissa Having Fun In Japan

Carol G. and Melissa are doing their tourist things. Their host is the owner of Loplopland rabbitry. We thank Mr. Nakayama for providing the chance to share the photos that are posted on:
http://www.loplopland.com/cgi-bin/blog/diary.cgi
Carol G. and Melissa both seem to be having a lot of fun.








Carol G. and Melissa Visit Nijo Castle.












Peace in front of a temple.








Little drizzle does not dampen the fun.








Time to eat, chopsticks are good instruments.











Melissa and Carol G. are now experts of chopsticks.

Newspaper Interview

Left to right, photographer Felipe and reporter Jessica from Metro Silicon Valley came over to do an interview.

Jessica has Susie sleeping on her lap with Felipe looking on.

Betty and Jessica with Susie soundly asleep on Jessica's lap.

Felipe took pictures of Betty's Angora hats and scarves.

Betty says,

"I received a request via my etsy shop from Jessica Fromm, a staff reporter from Metro Silicon Valley. Metro is a weekly community newspaper that has been in publication for 25 years. Jessica found it interesting to see a local handcraft cottage business in the place that she grew up: Morgan Hill. We made an appointment; she and photographer Felipe came today.

Felipe took many photos of the rabbits and my Angora creations. I took pictures of them. We had a great time. I look forward to seeing the paper when the interview and photos come out in a week or two; will report it on blog."

News Flash: Carol G. And Melissa Arrived In Japan

Carol G. and Melissa are judging this coming weekend in Japan: one all breed and several specialty shows on Saturday and double open shows on Sunday.

Mr. Nakayama picked up Carol G. and Melissa at Kyoto. His first words were, "Thank you for coming to Japan. Are you tired? Have a good sleep."

We will look forward to seeing photos of the shows in Japan early next week.

New Judge Ashley G.

Ashley's first judging list.

Ashley puts the comment cards on the table.

Ashley looks at a Dutch during the Best In Show judging.

Ashley examines the Satin Angora during the Best In Show judging.

Ashley's mother Jennifer M. was already a judge before Ashley was born and Ashley virtually grew up in rabbit shows. She was very active as a youth breeder and her rabbits were frequent winners of Best In Show.

At 19, Ashley is now a judge. She debut her judging on the same day as Justin in the California Rabbit and Cavy Shows in Lodi and did a great job.

CA is truly blessed to have so many young judges.