Maddex Enjoying His Life

English Angora buck Chu's Maddex is the Best Opposite Sex of Breed winner in the 2009 ARBA convention in San Diego.

Maddex won a lot of legs in 2009 then made a come back on the show table in 2010 and won some more. Now he is enjoying his life carrying a short to medium length coat, gets to meet pretty does and to exercise on the green grass.

Maddex has lots of sons and daughters; the most notable ones are Lilianna and Lucianna, both multiple Best In Show winners.

Two "Birds" Visit Northern California

Bird of Paradise is a tropical plant. It's hard to get it established in the climate of No. CA.

To have two blossoms of Bird of Paradise is definitely an unusual event.

Smell Like Roses, Spring Is Here

Found On The Net: Dozer Runs For Cancer Research

There was a last-minute entry in Sunday's Maryland Half Marathon to benefit the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center -- a 3-year-old goldendoodle named Dozer, who escaped through an invisible fence in his yard to join the more than 2,000 people running by his house, which was near mile 5 of the race.

The University of Maryland center uploaded the video to youtube and went viral; then a webpage of Dozer was added to the University of Maryland foundation to recount the event in Dozer's words,

"Wow...I just finished my very first Half Marathon! I was sitting in front of my house on Sunday morning when a bunch of runners came running by. They looked like they were having such fun so i decided to join them. I forgot to tell my Mom that I was leaving and she was really upset! Everyone was really nice to me so I just kept running passing first a sign that said Mile 5 then Mile 6 and so on until I saw this big sign that said Finish and everyone stopped running. Along the way i heard people talking about raising money for Cancer Research and I heard stories about people's loved ones. I was moved to take action so I set up this page to help out. I had to walk all the way home after the race and Mom didn't find me at home until the next morning.....boy was I sore!! I overheard my Mom talking to the people who put the race on and they are coming over to give me a medal! Now I am resting and looking back on the great journey. Please help by donating to my page..Dozer"

So far Dozer's page has over $6,000 of donation for the foundation.

For more, see video on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo4MPO0TmXU

and Dozer's page on http://www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer

Spring Cleaning: Finishing Up

Everything seems to be back to normal the next morning, Betty's rabbits are all in their condos, kitties Nikki and Mary Jane reclaim their space in the barn.

The "abnormal" thing is that the floor is totally clean and debris-free. Normally there are always hay and pees/poops falling onto the ground. Such clean state is not going to last very long, rabbits got to have hay and rabbits do their things.

After the rabbits having a 15-hour stay in the carriers, needless to say that the carriers have to be washed before storing away. The power washer is standing by.

Finally the carriers are all washed, the sitting boards are also washed and neatly stacked. Next to the carriers is a dedicated washer for the towels that the rabbits use for cleaning and sitting.

Until next time, this ritual will be repeated again and again.

Spring Cleaning: Actual Cleaning

Trays are all pulled out of the stacking cages to be washed.

The cage corners are the hardest to wash, Albert makes sure that the power wash get to them.

Barn interior is thoroughly power washed. The right upper corner is the swamp cooler.

Mary Jane is getting very impatient, she meows to express her disapproval of getting HER barn wet, "Are you done yet? I want my bed and my dish."

Power washing the exterior.

Power washer destroys the cobwebs.

Very clean barn before Betty moves her rabbits back in.

At 10 pm, after staying in the carriers for 15 hours, Betty's rabbits are back to their own condos.

At 11 pm, Betty's rabbits are fed pellet mix, watered, given hay and tucked in.

Is Betty's barn cleaning all done? Nope, much more to do the next day.

Spring Cleaning: Preparation

Weather is nice in the 70s with sunshine, it's a good day for a big spring barn cleaning at Betty's place. At 7 am, all vehicles are backed out of the garage; carriers are set up for the rabbits to stay for the day. At the right lower corner, a black junior doe has just entered her carrier.


All the carriers are now full of temporary occupants.

The older does that are cut down have a better time; instead of staying in carriers, they get to have a picnic on the lawn.

Stacks of cages are pulled out of the rabbit barn, waiting to be blow-torched and power washed.

Some more stacks are pulled in front of the rabbit barn waiting to be cleaned.