Celebrity Sighting at Pebble Beach - Eric Close

Betty with Eric Close.

Eric signing Albert's cap.

Eric showing appreciation to a soldier.

Huey Lewis in dark vest, Eric standing and Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) viewing his putting line.

Eric viewing his putting line.

Betty says,

"One of our favorite TV series is 'Without A Trace' on CBS. It's about a team of FBI agents looking for missing persons.

Albert pointed to one of the celebrities on the golf course and said, isn't that one of the FBI in that series? Lo and behold, there was Eric Close, one of the team members.

Eric was walking from one hole to another and suddenly stopped to say "thanks" to a soldier.

He was also very gracious to sign autograph on Albert's cap and to have a picture taken with me. He is as good looking in person as on TV. "

Celebrity Sighting at Pebble Beach- George Lopez

Betty with George Lopez

George Lopez sharing the celeb snack tray with the fans.

George Lopez signing autographs.

George Lopez hitting the ball.

Betty says,

"It's the once a year outing to the golf course on Pebble Beach. I'm not too much of a golf fan, but certainly it is interesting to see the celebrities playing for their favorite charities.

One of the regular celebrities is comedian George Lopez. He is a fan favorite; he had fun playing golf, interacting with fans, signing autographs, and even taking a picture with me."

Happy Lunar New Year

Northern California Angora Guild wishes everyone a Happy Lunar New Year.

On the day of Lunar New Year, people say, "Gong Hay Fat Choy". The phrase means "Wish you have a prosperous year". These are the four words on the red fire cracker next to English Angora tort buck Chu's Armando. NCAG says Gong Hay Fat Choy to all.

The Year of the Rat

Lunar New Year poster with a cartoon rat.

Lunar New Year poster showing the "Year of the Rat"

Jade rats sitting on gold.

Fish signifies abundance, a favorite
symbol for Lunar New Year.

An abundance of Lunar New Year treats.

More Lunar New Year treats.

The Lunar New Year falls on February 7 this year. It's the beginning of the Year of the Rat. Rat is the first animal in the 12 Chinese zodiacs. Legend has it:

The Jade Emperor called for animals to line up to be considered as signs of zodiac. The cat wanted to be the first and told his good friend the rat to wake him up in the morning. The rat decided not to wake up the cat and went by himself to the line up. Unfortunately the rat did not make the first in line; the Ox was the first. The rat jumped on the Ox and people yelled, "What a big rat!" The rat convinced the Jade Emperor that he should be the first sign instead of the Ox because no one said the Ox was big but everyone said the rat was big. He got his wish and became the first sign of the 12 zodiacs; the Ox had to settle for the 2nd place.

When the cat finally woke up and found out what the rat did, he and the rat became enemies and such dislike for each other lasted for generations and generations.

It's So Cold!

Forty five degrees below zero, that's what it looks like at Holly's yard!

We got to go pee, but let us in, hurry, we are freezing!

A few days ago, the temperature at Holly's town in Canada went down to 45 degrees below zero, 50 degrees below with wind chill.

Holly's dogs Treeva on the right with her sons, Bo-Bo on the left & Tuffy in the middle had to go out to do their thing. Within a few seconds, they begged to get back in.

Two First at Stockton

Allen judging and Danielle writing

Allen judging a broken Havana.

Four broken Havana exhibitors.

The broken Havana classes in the judging coops.

The Big Valley RA shows at Stockton claimed two first: Allen's first time of judging an open show in California and the showing of Broken Havana.

Allen was in Africa for three months. Though we saw his photos and read his reports, we were still in shock when we saw him in person. His hair is a lot longer and he lost a lot of weight, and he has a dark suntan. He judged an open show in Oregon last week but this is his first open show judging in California. One of his breeds is Havana.

Broken Havana was accepted as a new variety in the 2007 ARBA convention in Grand Rapids, see http://ncag.blogspot.com/2007/10/broken-havana-accepted-as-new-variety.html. It became eligible for showing on February 1, 2008. The show at Stockton was held on February 2, the first show that the broken Havana is eligible to earn legs.

We have here photos of Allen judging and the exhibitors of the broken Havana.

Shows at Stockton and English Angora

Big Valley RA put on a wonderful show again at Stockton. Weather is not the best but we still have fun.

Tort doe Avonah took Best Opposite Sex in show A and Best of Breed in show B; white buck Bucky took Best of Breed in show A and Best Opposite Sex in show B.

Melissa and Cindy alternate the judging of Angora in show A and show B; they did a great job.