Amy Comes Back to Visit

Amy A. was a fixture in the CA show circuit for about five years. She showed her prizing winning American Fuzzy Lop and English Angora, was the catalyst for bridging our club and the High Flying AFL club to work together in numerous shows.

In June, she and her family of five with rabbits moved across the country from CA to Maine where she grew up. They spent months settling down by buying and fixing up an old house that was built in the 1800's. The property includes a big house, a huge barn and a separate apartment/guest house on a substantial parcel of land.

Amy and family are currently in the Bay Area visiting and spending Christmas with the in-laws. With her kids going out with the grand parents, Amy went to lunch with Betty and Casey.

Here are three pictures taken inside and outside of the Chinese restaurant where they had lunch. Amy, Casey and Betty had a great time together rekindling old friendship and talking about rabbits and family.

Joanie Is A Mom

We receive great news from our handsome judge Doug. His Champion French Bulldog Joanie is now a mom.

Joanie made her debut on our blog as a little pup on December 21 and 22 in 2005. Over time, Joanie grew up, competed well in the show circuit, became a champion; and now a mom.

At the top, we see Doug with Joanie in June 2006 before Joanie was bred. In the second photo, Joanie is almost ready to kindle. The third photo shows Joanie's four new born pups. In the fourth photo, Joanie is doing a great job nursing her four lovable pups.

Congatulations to Doug and Joanie.

First Best In Show for Mike and Dolores

Mike and Dolores are very well known and well liked in the show circuit. They work hard in the Big Valley RA shows and California Rabbit and Cavy Shows. Mike usually works as the show super at the BVRA shows and Dolores the secretary in both club shows.

In Red Bluff on Saturday, two "First" happened.

Carol G. was working with Judge Chris Z. for her judge's license; she was invited into the Best In Show judging circle to observe and participate in the decision making process of Judges Chris Z. and Susan C. Carol G., for the first time ever, was given the honor of announcing the Reserve In Show winner, shown in the 2nd photo. Judge Susan C. of UT announced the Best In Show.

For the first time, Mike and Dolores won the all breed Best In Show with their white Satin. In the first photo, from left to right are Carol G., Dolores, the BIS winner Satin, Mike, Chris Z. and Susan C.

The third photo shows Mike and Dolores with their winner Satin. Here is a little secret: Mike was holding the rabbit because Dolores just got bit before the Best In Show judging. She was a little shy about holding it again.

Improving Satin Angora

Our PA member Elaine sends in these five photos to show her project of improving the wool of Satin Angora.

Elaine says: "The French angora is named CCR's Mordrid and he is a phenotypical Chinchilla French angora but the result of a Satin / French crossing. My intention was to improve the density and texture of the Satin angora wool. The Satin angora doe shows that improvement. She is named Sterling and is a granddaughter of Mordrid. This Chinchilla colored wool spins up to a beautiful shiny silver yarn.

The photos also show clearly the difference between those strong buck faces and a more feminine doe face. I love that big fuzzy face."

The subject of the top two photos are Mordrid and the lower three photos are Sterling. The chin color is crispy clean. It is hard to achieve such a nice color with density and texture.

We thank Elaine for sharing these photos and the experience of improving Satin Angora.

Kimijo And Friends

Our pretty judge Kimijo had a great time at the Fort Worth convention.

In the top photo, Kimijo is seen with Randy and another Kimijo.

The second photo shows Kimijo with Allen.

The third photo is Kimijo with Betty.

Kimijo is one of our favorite judges. She is excellent in judging and pleasing on our eyes.

Hat Act

Some more pictures from the ARBA convention.

It's Texas, the lone star state of cowboy boots and 10-gallon hats.

We should not be too surprised to see a big lone star made of hundreds of cowboy hats hanging at the center of the Fort Worth Convention Center. The star is huge, it's a very impressive sight.

Casey and Betty took pictures of each other in front it, just like the typical tourists.

Other Pictures from Japan

Here are some photos that show non-Angora activities in the shows in Japan.

The first photo is Judge Briony running a Checker Giant. Second photo is Briony examining a Dutch.

The third picture, well, you eyes are correct, it is not a rabbit. It is a cat being examined by a cat judge in the next show room.

The fourth picture shows the empty show room before the exhibitors arrive. The fifth picture shows the check in area for exhitors and spectators. There is an admission charge.

We thank Yumiko and Hiroyuki for providing all the interesting photos relating to the shows held on Dec. 10 in Japan. This concludes the report of the double shows in Japan.