Casey's Other Animals

Casey has nice rabbits. In addition, she also has other interesting animals. At the top, Casey is doing her morning round of feeding. Her llama is getting its head into the feed bucket while her Angora goats are anxiously waiting. Casey is the mom of all.

She keeps many photos of these animals in her camera. In Red Bluff, Randy and Allen are looking at Casey's camera in the third photo. Randy and Allen are top breeders of Angora goats; they are especially interested in seeing the Angora goats in Casey's barn.

Annie is All Grown Up

Annie, the pure breed Pom bred by Judge Judy of WA and owned by Doreen and Judge Joey, was featured on our blog when she was a little pup. Now little Annie that we knew is now a full grown young lady. We were very happy to see Annie and mom Doreen at Red Bluff. Joey and Doreen are hoping to have baby Annies in 2007.

Cathy and John are Grand Parents

Judge Cathy S. and hubby John are a good team. When Cathy is judging, John is in charge of grooming and putting their famous Rex on the show table.

In Red Bluff, Cathy and John were the proud grandma and grandpa showing off their pretty little princess. When Cathy went back to the judging table, John dotingly carried the little princess around the show room.

Barbara, Betty's Mentor in Rabbits

 

 

 

For the old time rabbit breeders, Barbara was a well-known name and familiar face in the rabbit show circuit through out the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

When Betty entered the wonderful world of rabbits by raising French Lop in 1981, Barbara was her mentor. Though Betty switched to English Angora in 1982, Barbara was still the person Betty would turn to when she had questions or problems. Until now, Betty would still go to Barbara when she has nursing issues with her does. Chu's Mercedes, a 9-time all breed Best In Show winner, and her littermates were raised by Barbara's Californian doe.

Barbara has raised almost every breed except Angora, but she was the show secretary for NCAG specialty shows from mid 1980s to 1990. She is especially well known for her Dutch, American Chin and French Lop. The Dutch club used to have specialty shows at Barbara's 2,500-acre ranch every year, NCAG got to tag along to hold specialty shows as well.

Barbara has adopted Betty and Albert during holiday seasons. It has been a more than 20-year tradition that Betty and Albert spend Christmas with Barbara and her family. It is no exception this year. Here are two photos of Barbara and Betty taken inside the house and on the porch during the Christmas dinner. It happens that Barbara is wearing a sweat shirt that says "Morgan Hill Native" in the photos. "Morgan Hill Native" is a very correct description of her and her family. The family have been residing at the same ranch since the late 1800s, there is a street named after their ranch.

Due to age and family obligations, Barbara has stopped showing, though she still has many wonderful Dutch, American Chin, French Lop and Cali. Those who need replacement stock, meat pen or meat rabbits still go to her.

Betty and Albert feel honored to call Barbara and her family true friends.

Dog to Shawl with Love

In a post in October, we have seen a skein of yarn made from Raykun's dog Sandy's hair.

Betty spun some more of Sandy's hair and in December two skeins of yarn with a total of 150 yards were delivered to Raykun. Raykun was very pleased with the result, she said to Betty, " You and Sandy gave me the most wonderful Christmas present by providing the material for this beautiful shawl and hat set."

The top photo is Sandy, the beloved dog of Raykun and her husband Yung An.

The second photo shows Sandy's hair to be carded with a silk blend fiber.

The third photo shows Sandy's hair and silk blend carded into a blend that is ready to be spun.

The fourth photo shows the single ply dog hair on the bobbin.

The fifth photo is a skein of the dog hair ply with a binding thread. Betty delivered this skein of dog yarn plus a smaller skein to Raykun.

The sixth picture displays the shawl and hat set made by Raykun. The body of the shawl is knitted by combining one strand of the yarn from Sandy's hair and one strand of Bernat fun yarn. The border is made by crocheting bulky chenille yarn. The two flowers, one on the shawl and the other on the hat, are made solely from Sandy's yarn.

In the seventh picture, Raykun is modeling the hat and shawl set with the purpose of showing the back, side and the length of the shawl.

The last picture is Sandy and Raykun. People and their pets do look alike.

There is no single inch of Sandy's yarn left when the project is done.

Merry Christmas

Northern California Angora Guild wishes our members and readers a Merry Christmas.

These cute bunnies are the Christmas presents received by our Canadian member Holly from her doe Chu's Eqadora.

Congratulations to Holly and thanks for the pictures.

Happy Christmas Eve

Northern California Angora Guild wishes everyone a very happy Christmas Eve.

The rabbits featured here are Tracy's prize winning Satin Angora.

Thanks, Tracy for providing these beautiful photos.