Northern California Angora Guild

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Groom with the Wind

 

 






The blower is at the back but the wool is going the other direction, why?



 

The wind!   Betty is brushing Val with a slicker brush but Val's wool is being blown by the strong wind.



 

Brushing and brushing but the wool is flowing.
 
 

Do we really need a blower?

 
 

 

Val is getting groomed to go on the Best In Show table.
 



Almost ready.

 

Val is waiting to get on the BIS table.

 

With shorter wool, the wind effect on the French Angora is not as evident.

 

Pretty chestnut agouti French Angora. 

 








Friday, September 29, 2017

Betty's Birthday?




Surprise! Carolyn brought to the show a birthday cake for Betty.

Born in the old country, my "real" birthday was set on the Lunar calendar that is different from the regular calendar.   Being old fashioned and also because that day was a big Chinese Festival named "Mid Autumn Festival" or "Harvest Moon Festival", my family insisted to use this day as my birthday.  When getting ID and passport, a date was put on the documents that is not my "real" birthday.   Each year, friends would ask me, "Betty, when is your birthday this year?"  My answer would be "Between late September and early October" though my documents say my birthday is in August.   Anyway, Carolyn being very kind and considerate brought me a birthday cake.   I'm very appreciative and enjoy the cake tremendously.  





Carolyn also handmade these pretty flowers for Betty as a  birthday gift.



Casey, Betty, Jill, Amanda, Melody's little sister Tirzah, Melody, Carolyn, plus Melody and Tirzah's mom Linda sharing the cake.


Thursday, September 28, 2017

NCAG Specialty Show at Stockton

 
 
 
Northern California Angora Guild holds Angora specialty at Stockton on September 16,2017.
 
 
 
The Angora specialty show starts with English Angora.



Betty writes for judge Melissa.

 

 

The next breed on the table is the French Angora.
 

The French Angora chestnut junior doe is very nice.

 

 
Judge Melissa examines the 6 Satin Angora.


Betty watches the Satin Angora judging.
 

The Satin Angora colored senior doe wins the Best of Breed.

For a complete list of Angora results, go to:

 For a complete list of Angora results, go to:

http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2017/09/september-16-2017-angora-showing-at.html




 
 



Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Show B Angora Judging at Stockton

 
 
Big Valley RA show was held at Stockton, CA on September 16,  2017.
 
 
In show B, judge Linda starts the Angora judging with English Angora.

 

Betty says to Corinne, "You are new in showing English Angora, the best way to learn is to take the judge's comments".


 

There are some full coated English Angora on judge Linda's table.

 

Judge Linda is comparing the two finalist for the Best of Breed.



 
The Satin Angoras are on the table, Casey does the writer's job.


 
French Angora judging usually attracts more people watching.
 
 
 
Judge Linda is examining a full-coated French Angora senior.
 
 
 
Judge Linda is commenting on the cute French Angora juniors.


For a complete list of Angora results, go to:

http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2017/09/september-16-2017-angora-showing-at.html




 

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Show A Angora Judging at Stockton

 
 
Big Valley RA show was held on 9/16, 2017 at Stockton, CA.
 
 
 

Judge Chris Z. starts the Angora judging with English Angora.   On the table is a colored senior buck.
 

Makayla is working on her registrar's license under judge Chris.

 

Corinne's chestnut baby buck runs away during judging.

 

Makayla gets the chance to evaluate the Satin Angora.

 

Judge Chris places the Satin Angora.

 

Melody, Amanda and Jill watch the French Angora judging.

 

Melody, Amanda, Linda, Jill and Patrick are all interested in the French Angora judging.

For a complete list of Angora results, go to:

http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2017/09/september-16-2017-angora-showing-at.html


 

Monday, September 25, 2017

Girls Trying Out the Convention Carriers

 
 
 
 
 
Betty is preparing for convention.  

For the last three conventions at Fort Worth, TX, Portland, OR, and San Diego, CA, I was able to drive my rabbits.   Though I have flown rabbits so many times that I can't even count, the changes in the airline industry makes me very nervous about this trip to Indianapolis, IN.   The last time I flew with rabbits to a convention was in 2013 to and from Harrisburg, PA.  Delta accepted pets as excess baggage and allowed each passenger two kennels.  The fee was the same regardless of the weight and Delta personnel very seldom weighed the kennels.   See my preparation and trip for the Harrisburg convention in 2013:

http://ncag.blogspot.com/2013/10/kennel-and-carriers-for-flying-to.html 

https://ncag.blogspot.com/2013/10/convention-bound.html

https://ncag.blogspot.com/2013/10/home-safely.html


Around 2015, most or maybe even all the airlines stopped taking pets as excess baggage and everyone has to go through cargo.    So this year we are using United Pet Safe cargo.   They have a good reputation of handling pet shipping but since this is the first time I am using them to go to the convention, I'm very nervous about it.     Each flight into and out of Indianapolis and the nearby airports use small to medium size aircrafts, each flight only takes one kennel.   The above are the carriers that I plan to use. 

 

 

I have three senior does in my entries, I did a quick fluffing of Fawnadette in the morning and took a picture.

 
A quick fluffing and a photo op for Fawnalisa.




Same on Jada.
 




Left to right are Fawnadette, Fawnalisa and Jada. 




Another view of the three girls, their coats filled the holes.
The boys will have smaller holes in the bottom, don't know whether it'll work or not, praying.

The airlines instruction prefers the use of dog crate outside these carriers.   I have all the equipment but using the dog crate will add 28 pounds to the weight.   The total weight more likely will exceed the 100 pound upper limit.   To use or not to use the dog crate?  Still undecided.  

The dolly under the carriers is not considered as a part of the shipping, it will incur a separate charge.  



 
 

Sunday, September 24, 2017

HGF Angora Goats Sweep the Shenandoah Fiber Festival in VA

 

 



HGF is known for the excellent French Angora in the wonderful world of rabbits.   In the Angora goat world, HGF goats are equally well known for the quality of the confirmation and mohair.   Eric attended the National Show of the American Colored Angora Goat Registry sponsored by the Eastern Angora Goat and Mohair Association held at he Shenandoah Fiber Festival in Berryville, VA on Saturday, September 24, 207, won Champion and Reserve Champion buck and Reserve Champion doe.   


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Eric's bucks receive Grand Champion and Reserve Champion.




A close up shot of the grand champion buck HGF Deuteronomy "Dude".





Eric's  black doe wins Reserve Champion.





A close up shot of the winner doe HGF Margarery Tyrell "Margarine".




Mohair judging.
 
 


Winning mohair fleeces are announced with rosettes next to them.



   

Eric's mohair fleeces get first and second awards.





While Eric's Angora goats and mohair fleeces are winning big in VA, his mohair sweater wins the Champion fiber/skein/garment contest at the Durham Fair in Connecticut.    The fairs use "Champion" the same way as our "Best In Show", this sweater is the Best In Show of the entire fiber competition.   This sweater is a co-production of Eric and Sandra, Eric spun the very fine and even yarn and Sandra knitted into the sweater.