Jersey Wooly National Photos

Here are some photos from the Jersey Wooly National show in Ohio. Fun fun times!

The "California themed" basket auctioned off at the banquet. Thanks to our CA Wooly breeders for donations!

The National BOB Winner!!

Lionhead National Photos

Here's a few random photos from the show room during Lionhead Nationals..

Ohio State Convention

The showroom... HUGE!

Columbus in the distance

On a whim (and I mean, literally the most random thing ever), I went to the Ohio State Convention the first weekend of this month. Yes, I flew all the way to OHIO! I was actually planning on going months ago, but because of a multitude of things, it never planned out. On that Friday when all my friends were flying out I was pouting about it at work. My co-worker sitting next to me asked what was wrong? "I was supposed to be flying to Ohio today for a huge show". "Well, why don't you go then?" I stopped and thought to myself a couple minutes. Go. I could be totally random and leave in a few hours and JUST GO. I looked up the price of airline tickets, just for the fun in it. They were cheap. Since the planes were leaving within hours to Columbus, OH and there were spare seats, they were running quite low in cost. I booked my ticket at 9:00 AM and within 1 hour I had left work, ran home and litereally threw things into my suitcase, ran to the airport, and was leaving the runway at 12:00 noon. How's that for an adventure?

I'm leaving... on a jetplane....

Luckily, my very good friends Amber H. (Wonder Woolies) and Susie C. (Wooly World) were going to OH for Jersey Wooly Nationals, so I had friends there to pick me up from the airport. There were a few... issues.. we'll call them (LOL!) Like Amber losing her drivers license and was unable to rent a car to drive around in, the bunnies not arriving until about 11:00pm from the plane, waiting for our lovable taxi driver in the airport, etc. but you know what? It was the most AMAZING trip I've been on in a long time. How completely random am I? We headed for the hotel room arranged by Amber and slept for the night.

Myself and Susie, hanging during the show. Thanks Joni for the photo!

Early morning came quick, and soon we were all enjoying a "local" show on the East Coast. I don't think I have ever really been to a "local all-breed" show besides California. So that was definitely an experience. The OH State Convention is a huge show. Apparently it's the largest All-Breed show in the country besides the ARBA National Convention. This is due to OH Mini Convention hosting multiple National Specialties and regular Specialty shows.

I had to visit Lil'Bit Farms Zero, owned by my friend Melanie.

He wants pets, darnit!

Lots and lots of cooping...hmm.. reminds me of Convention..

Yay, I found some fuzzies!

Fuzzy Lop judging

I was quick to find my friends who lives on the other side of the USA that I only get to see once a year at Convention or so. They were so surprised I randomly was there. But so I was I. Hahaha.

I was so excited because I got to go to two of my breeds' NATIONAL shows! Lionheads and the Jersey Woolies. How wonderful. It was particularly awesome to go to Lionhead Nationals as I have never seen that many lionheads in one single place. I saw a few of my CA lionhead friends like Lydia and Joe, and even found Theresa and gave her a huge hug. She was so surprised to me there and Susie too! I had to tell her that her little lions were settling in awesome at my place.

Amber H. with "Sterling", BOSV Broken at Jersey Wooly Nationals!

Huge congrats to my very good friends who placed well in their National and All-Breed shows. Amber won BOSV with "Sterling" in the NJWRC National Show!! He is beautiful Amber, and you know that I saw great things coming with him!!! :)

It was cold, so I was enjoying the sunshine outside for a break!

All in all, the trip was fantastic. I wouldn't take back the randomness AT ALL! It really made me feel so independent, and like a little jetsetter. heehhehe. I look forward to next year. Yup, you heard that right. Next year the 2010 Fuzzy Lop Nationals will take place with the OH Mini Convention so I will back!!

Show on Sunday

Finally, I will be showing at a show! I decided at the last minute to enter the Stockton, CA show for this upcoming Sunday. It's so close, why not? I entered Puff Ball (SSD), Karate Chop (BJB) and Drama Queen (a Lionhead tort jr doe). It should be a nice easy day with only three rabbits. I few of my local friends are going, so it should be quite fun!

On the home front we have our first Convention junior litters being born:

PFF's Tonka (Tort) x THF Saynora doe (Brkn Chestnut)- 1 chestnut, 1 brkn orange, 2 brkn tort

Starlite's Jamba (Orange) x THF Saynora doe (Tort)- 2 torts

Legendary Aristocat (Tort) x Hillsongs Ezzmerelda (Siamese Sable)- 1 sable point, 1 tort, 1 seal (My first lionhead litter!)

It's very exciting seeing all the new babies sprouting up in the barn. I have several more litters due in the upcoming weeks. Crossing fingers for some nice babies to grow out and show some promise!

West Coast Classic- Monterey, CA

The first Annual West Coast Classic Show was beyond a blast. I am so very lucky to have been able to go and enjoy the event. Saturday was one All-Breed show as well as two national shows, multiple specialties, and the night held a Judges Conference hosted by Allen Mesick. Sunday was home to two all-breed shows. It was a total blast. I enjoyed catching up with friends, old and new. Although I didn't show any rabbits, it was worth all the education I received during the weekend. Plus I got to watch my good friend Rachelle take her first RIS with her English Lop!

Close encounters of the LION kind.

You heard it here first. Lionheads. I've owned a buck (pictured below) named Haven's Dirtbike for quite a few months now, and I have been educating myself on the breed for a couple years (I've even been a member of the NALRC for a while, just to learn!). I finally took the plunge. The reason for me driving up to Oregon/Washington was to pick up part of my new herd of lionheads. Nita and Kaela of Legendary Farms have been a savior to me. They have been ever so kind in getting me hooked up with some awesome does. I really don't think I can say thanks to them enough. While up in Washington I took a very quick and last minute trip to visit Theresa Mueller of Pridelands Rabbitry. She has some famous wins in the breed, and a barn full of pretty little lions. I feel so fortunate to have been able to visit her barn and see her rabbits in person. Yes, I had to take some gifts home... including Pridelands Drama Queen (tort jr doe pictured above) and Pridelands Romney (black jr buck). I will be taking photos of all my little lions over time and will add them onto my new website once it is finished.

They are going to be a smaller project at this time, but I'm sure will quickly gain holes as time goes on and the barn expands.

Time to head home...

The car was packed and loaded and ready to go! Leslie's hubby Keith baked us some yummy brownies for the trip home (thanks Keith!), and we were given some yummy juice (LOL!). All came in handy for that night in the motel on the way home... nothing like staying up until 1:30 AM wired on sugar from the juice and brownies... haha. Maybe that's what got us through the fact that the cable box was stuck on Ladie's Rights conferences on C-SPAN? Hmmm..

Goodbye Seattle!

Pike's Place Market

One of my favorite things about Seattle is the World-Famous Pike's Place Market. This is that snazzy oceanside market you see in many movies. Remember the place where they throw the huge fish up from the ice lined cases into the arms of other men and bag them up for you to take home? That's where this is!

Seattle!

First thing in the morning we set off for Seattle. I had to deliver some cavies I brought up from California to their new owner, and then switch for more cavies to bring back down with me. I ended up doing transport for close to 30 animals this entire trip.

Seatlle is an amazingly beautiful city. Living so close to so many amazing cities in California (Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles) you'd think I'd be so sick of tall cement structures and they wouldn't move me. Seattle did. I'm not sure what attracted me so much to this city. I think it's atmosphere was incredible. The people there reminded me so much of the type of people I hang out with in California. I absolutely loved the market and the scenery. I have to say, that if I ever lived in a city without animals and the like, I would move to Seattle.

Oregon/Washington Road Trip

A few weeks ago, my ever so faithful traveling companion, Susie from Wooly World, and I, set off on a road trip to Oregon and Washington. This isn't an unfamiliar trip for us, as we did it about a year and a half ago in an effort to acquire some initial fuzzy lop stock from Leslie Hobbs (Hobbs Rabbitry). Once again we were off. Initially, I had planned to just drive up to Portland, OR to pick up some new additions (of the lion kind? hehehehe), but since we were only going to be a few hours away at that point, we decided to come up and visit Leslie.

The first day consisted of the long drive up from California. We left on Thursday, attempting to be on the road at around 9:00AM, but it ended up being about Noon before we were on the road. No bother, everything is a random adventure, right? We went through Northern California and quickly spotted Mt. Shasta once we were very far up. This mountain is probably my most favorite one I've ever seen so far. It is snow capped year round, but since it was the beginning of Spring there was still a LOT of snow left on the top. It was gorgeous! Onward towards Oregon. We found the border and drove drove drove... afternoon turned into evening and we took a quick trip to Dennys for a bite to eat before crashing for the night an hour or so from Portland. Woke up and hit the very cloudy Portland, taking a few pictures along the freeway before setting North for Washington.

Portland is practically on the border of Oregon/Washington, so it was a mere 20 minutes before we were technically in WA. A couple hours later and we were at Leslie's house. Of course, the first thing we had to do was race out into the bunny barn and check out the critters. She still have quite a fuzzy lops, and I had the chance to bring two home. Although unplanned of course! I have a very cute broken chestnut jr doe was some amazing density/length to her coat. I already have her future boyfriends picked out. I also took home a broken orange jr buck, that goes back to Lucky Lops lines. Very cute little guy who has some definite potential. Susie and I also co-own a buck we brought back to use/keep, Legolas. He is a gorgeous broken blue tort buck who has such a great "chunky look" to him, including a killer head. I really like how he is put together. He must just have that quality I am looking to add to the herd.

Before crashing at Leslie's house I took some time to play with "Captain", a super nice and semi-famous black Netherland buck. He has a couple huge Convention wins to his credit. He is an older guy but is in SUCH incredible condition. He is such a cutie, and lives the life in luxury as a house rabbit. I also thumbed through the new ANDRC Guidebook. OMG! It's the best guidebook I have ever seen. It's absolutely amazing. Brilliant work to those involved in making that eductaional masterpiece.

It was time to sleep.... Seattle was the destination for the morning!