Too Hot to Bother

GC PP's Bellisima

GC Shepherds Divine

GC Shepherds Hydrangea

It is so hot here, I can hardly make my brain work. Everyone I know has been working so hard to keep all of their animals cool. Many people I know have suffered lost animals from the heat. I have just tried to leave them alone as much as possible but they still need to be groomed. It seems like all the Jersey Woolies molted at once so the other morning, when it was a cool 82*, I got a few out to brush off the loose wool. It was fast work in front of the fan and I don't think they were too happy about it. They looked better afterwards and these are the few that still have coats left. When the Jerseys molt, it seems to be all at once. This can be a little shocking to new owners, one day a fluffy rabbit, the next day a pile of wool on the cage floor and a somewhat baldish looking bunny. Stay cool everyone and hopefully my brain will kick into gear, now that it is a little cooler, and I can come up with some interesting blogs.

Bye-Bye Nelly

We adopted Nelly from a shelter in 1994. I had gone there to look for a cat but saw this adorable mixture of dog with a blob of pooh on her head. I was smitten. She was supposed to be part sheep dog and part shepherd but alway seem to have some afghan hound in her along with it. They didn't want to adopt her out because she had been abused and was an ankle biter but we wouldn't give up. She was the best dog ever and never caused a bit of trouble. She loved the big yard and guarded the kids and household pets alike. I had photos of her on my computer and on my stolen camera but don't have them anymore. I do have photos of her all around the house so she will not be forgot. She died in my arms yesterday morning. She will be missed by everyone that knew and loved her. Bye-Bye sweet Nelly. We love you.

New Arrivals

Liberty Junction Kaolin

What a face!

GC Liberty Junction Contessa

What I do for bunnies, I can't believe it. My friend Lori White is cutting down her herd of beautiful English Angoras. So, last Saturday morning I got up at 5 AM and drove to Scranton, Pa. to pick up two cuties from her. Scranton is a 3 hour drive one way and I had to work the closing shift at work that day so it had to be a trip up and back. It was all worth it when I saw those cute faces. The broken tort doe, I was planning on showing for exibition during my regular show season. I hope to get support for the second broken presentation at the ARBA Convention this Fall. She is adorable and has a wonderful coat. Contessa also has a beautiful coat and should last into the Fall show season. The last time I purchased a bunny from Lori he won a BIS a few weeks before his senior show. Countryside LJ Wyatt has gone on to produce many Grand Champion off spring. I will have a few bucks from him for sale soon. I will look forward to showing these little cuties and thank Lori for trusting me with her beautiful babies.

For the Love of White

Shepherds Avery

GC Shepherds Aegis

GC Shepherds Angel Cake

It took me many years to fall in love with the red-eyed white English Angora. The red eyes kind of spooked me. It wasn't until I grew rabbits with heavy furnishings to cover up the eyes. Then I didn't mind so much. They also had the best wool along with the torts and blend in well with almost any color. Of course, breeding white to white will only get you white. I see the white as a hidden color with a white sheet over it. This can give you a rainbow of colors most times. Once I bred a white to a black and got 9 white babies. That was the Fall when all I had to show was 11 whites and one black rabbit. It was pretty funny. I have been trying to breed for whites and they have not taken. The two new litters that popped out were color to color and color to white. Not really expecting it, each gave me a white baby. They will probably be all bucks as I usually have a bunch of white bucks living here. Surprise!

Maine Chance

GC Shepherds Divine

GC PP's Bellisima

Shepherds Bouquet

Shepherds Amber Pearl

Well, I have been having show withdrawl since staring my new job. There were 4 different bunnies in the rabbitry that just needed one more winning leg to grand. I was trying to work out all kinds of things to get them to a show. I mentioned this to Colleen and Lauren Morrill and they both said "We'll take them to Maine for you! We love fuzz-balls!" Well, they do and they did. It was so nice of them and apparently they had a ball with them. The show was at night so it was nice and cool with a breeze blowing. Hardly needed to use the blower at all. They don't get many angoras in Maine so there were no other competitors in that class but the woolies did really well. Shepherds Divine won BOS in the first show and PP's Bellisima won BOV in the first show and BOS in the second show. Two new Grand Champions to welcome home. I was up most of the night texting to see what was happening so I almost felt like I was there. What is that saying? My bunnies went to Maine and I got to stay home and work :-( But very happy that both Divine and Bellisima completed their GC. The two angoras will have to stay in cold storage for the rest of the summer and come back out in the Fall for another try.

Angora Faces

Shepherds Bouquet

Blue Velvet Nose

Hidden Under Fluff

In my humble opinion, there is nothing as cute as an angora nose. They are velvet-y soft and almost always moving. They are like a surprise hidden under all those soft furnishings. Angoras enjoy nose rubs and like to nudge you back if you don't give them enough attention. These beautiful photos were taken by Donna McGraw at the National Capital show in Maryland. She is always so kind to take photos. The photos she takes are truly beauty shots of the bunnies. It helps me out as I am not the best photographer and half the time I don't remember to take pictures. I have been having some bunny show withdrawl. There are shows to go to but due to my new job, I am unable to attend. It is a shame as some of the bunnies are looking pretty good including Shepherds Bouquet, half sister to Shepherds Sweet Pea. Her coat looks even better than in the above photo. She is only needing one winning leg to grand. Any volunteers?

Bath Time with Grandma

All sweet and clean.

Peek-a-boo.

Loves his Grandma.

On Tuesdays, I get to babysit my Grandson, Liam. He is such a good baby and I really have fun with him. I can't believe how fast he has grown up. He will be 4 months old in one week. Liam likes to stand up already and may skip right over the crawling stage. He likes to pull up to a sitting position now. He loves to smile at everyone and try to talk in baby gibberish. It is very funny to hear him have a conversation with you in his own language. Bath time is fun and he holds on to my shirt with his tiny hand. I got him the monster towel before he was born but he is very far from being any kind of monster, just a sweet, happy little boy. I guess you can tell I really love him.