Rabbit Stamps as Prize at the OH Angora Specialty Show

In early May, Maureen's black English Angora doe Big Times Violet won specialty Best In Show from judge Stacy.   The prize is shown on the right side with interesting graphics.
 

Maureen took the prize out then realized it's a sheet of postage stamps from China in 2011, the Year of Rabbit.  The middle part from top to bottom translates to "Jade Rabbit Delivers Blessing".    The first, third and fifth rows repeat the Chinese word "Blessing" (or Happiness).    The first rabbit drawing on the upper left on the second row says "Everything works out as wished", the upper right drawing says, "Blessing arrives".  On the fourth row left, the rabbit is carrying three lanterns with words of "Blessing arrives at the door" then on the right, the rabbit carries a stack of gold bars that says, "Step by step climbing up."  

 

An additional prize is also a sheet of 2011 stamps that are Chinese brush paintings of rabbits.   The middle are the 12 zodiac animals in their sequential order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.  



 

From Shiba Inu (柴犬) to Yarn to Scarf

This is a photo on the page of Shiba Inu on Wikipedia.  According to the description, Shiba Inu is originated in Japan, its a small, agile dog that copes very well with mountainous terrain, the Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. It is similar to but smaller than the Akita. It is one of the few ancient dog breeds that are still in existence in the world today.

As shown in the top photo, Shiba Inu is a short hair dog.    Maureen received this skein of yarn that is spun from the hair of Shiba Inu, collected by the owner over many years.  

Maureen was asked to knit a scarf out of the skein of yarn as a keepsake for the owner.

A similar story of spinning and knitting dog hair is reported in:

http://ncag.blogspot.com/2006/12/dog-to-shawl-with-love.html

Wool/Skein/Garment Contest in Ohio

To enter in the wool contest, it's important to have good wool and it's even more important to arrange the wool neatly.   This is Maureen's entries to the wool contest, the white wool on the left won the best overall wool among 18 entries and the tort wool is a close second.  The contest was held on May 3, 2014 during the Angora Specialty show and the Ohio mini convention at Columbus, OH.

The best garment and the best in show in the contest is this vest.   The maker is Sandra who is a new fiber artist.  This is her first creation.

Sandra had a great weekend at the Ohio mini convention.   Her white Jersey Wooly won the Best of Breed at the Jersey Wooly national show and her first vest won the Best In Show in the wool/skein/garment contest at the Angora specialty show.

Lori's Cat Sarafina

 

 

Pete and Lori do not have rabbits anymore, the only pet that they have is a cat named Sarafina.

Sarafina looks like a harlequin rabbit.   Lori says, "I designed the animal shelter at Shafter; when it's done, I went to the opening and saw a bunch of kittens.   One of them was so ugly that I did not feel anyone would adopt her so I did, and that's Sarafina.  She was really ugly when she was a kitten."  Sarafina repays Lori's love by being a shadow to Lori.

Being ugly has its pluses, Sarafina became the spoiled cat at Pete and Lori's home.

Sarafina perches on her own cat tree doing bird watching and people watching.   Pearl and Sarafina are looking at each other.

Pearl and Sarafina are especially close, they play together all the time.

Yea, Pearl and Sarafina are best friends.




 

Pete and Lori's Vegan Feast

Pete and Lori were big names in English Angora in the mid 1990s, winning convention BOB in 1996, 1997 and 1998.  Their two English Angora BOB in 1996 and 1997 went on to win the Group at the ARBA convention in Peoria, IL and Madison, WI.

They stopped breeding and showing after the 1998 convention in Portland, OR but continue to keep in touch with Betty and Albert.   They have two daughters Chloe and Pearl, lived in the Bakersfield area for many years but recently moved to Carmel when Lori accepted the job of construction project manager at the City of Monterey.   Betty and Albert received an invitation for a potluck lunch with them and their friends who all practice the vegan diet and to visit their new home.

Dishes for snacking.  

Baked yam, yummy.

Burger patties, no meat, mostly corn and bean with spices.  

The left is fava bean from Albert's veggie garden, the right is baked upside down potato with various spices. 

Skillet potato with spices that are similar to curry.

Bean, tomato and various veggies.

Red rice.

Betty's place has a burger patty, red rice, two different kind of spicy potato, bean and tomato, fava beans and fruit.   

This is Albert's plate.

Pete and daughter Pearl on one side of table with their guest Terri.

Lori with daughter Chloe on the other side of table.

The day won't be complete until Lori and Betty have a photo op together.   It has been over 22 years when they first met in the rabbit shows. 

The Cows and their Groupies

 

 

 

The Ag pavilion is a part of the education system at Bakersfield and there are large animals at the facility.   Across from the Ag pavilion where the rabbit show is held there are cows.   What are the white spots that follow the cow around?

The white spots turn out to be white cranes.

The white cranes follow the cows everywhere.   On the left, the white crane is under the cow's belly.
 

The cows and white cranes get along extremely well though the white cranes would involved in a fun fight among themselves.

 

Now there are five white cranes following this one cow, looks like a rock star with her groupies.




 

Rabbit Chew Toys as Prize at Bakersfield

The prizes for the BOB at Bakersfield are the wooden chew toys. 

The chew toys are made of wood in different shapes, sizes and prices.


 



These chew toys are made by Annette; she personally does the cutting, sanding and designing of the toys.    The prices are reasonable and she gives volume discounts.    It's a good way to combine the rabbit raising and showing with her woodworking abilities.