May Update
Okay, well it has been nearly a month since I posted and a lot has happened here....
ROAD TRIPS
At the end of April, I drove to Columbus, OH, by way of Memphis and Nashville, TN, to attend the Lionhead Nationals show and the Ohio RBA's Mini Convention on May 1 and 2.
I made this trip to see what the best of the best Lionheads look like, so I can compare those to mine. And there were a lot of great Lionheads there. The judge was not only impressed but also greatly optimistic about the progress of the Lionhead breed toward full acceptance as a recognized breed by ARBA, the American Rabbit Breeder's Association.
This trip was also a transport trip to acquire angora rabbits for a number of the angora breeders here in the South Central portion of the U.S. In all, 29 bunnies made the trip back from Ohio, headed to new homes in San Antonio, Round Rock, Commerce and Hillsboro, TX, and Huntsville, AR.
Special thanks to Tina Vance of Nutty Buckeye Angoras for her instruction on the proper method of grooming angoras, esp with the use of a blower.
The trip to Ohio occurred right in the middle of the tornados in OK and AR and the major flooding in TN and KY. A special thank you goes to my mom who accompanied me on this very LONG, LONG trip, even while the bad weather was swirling around us. (Her home almost flooded while we were there.) Thank you for all your help and for your presence. It made the trip much more enjoyable, even though we were both totally exhausted and sick by the end of it. (Note: TX to OH is almost too long of a trip to make. I thought we'd never get home!)
Both shows were huge and very well attended. Special kudos go out to the committees that worked on the Lionhead Nationals, which was put on by the North American Lionhead Rabbit Club. It was a flawless show and a great deal of fun! Thank you all!!! I definitely hope I can attend next year. Maybe I'll even show some of my bunnies there next year. (Provided I can remember to get the entries in on time. LOL)
The following weekend was spent delivering bunnies. It was quite a busy time but I am glad we made the trip. We added a nice selection of new stock to the rabbitry and nearly doubled the size of it.
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE BARNS
Added to the Toomyvara bunny barn (but some currently residing with Maureen at It's a Road Trip Rabbitry) are:
3 satin angora does and 1 SA buck - thank you to Lisa Rodenfels of Somerhill Farm, OH
3 french angora does and 3 FA bucks - thanks to Lisa, and to Tina Vance of Nutty Buckeye Angoras, also of OH
1 english angora buck from Nancy James of Grinlow's Farm in WV
6 lionhead does and 1 buck - thanks to Deb Bergs of Beary Sweet, Terry Jo Pyper of Acorn Hill (both in N. TX) and Carrie Roberts from IN
In addition to that, I have added another four or so french angora does to the rabbitry's list of breeding stock and one Lionhead -
2 fawn does out of the Sage/Ember lines from Lacey Hedrick of Rivendell (Ember is out of the late Taffy.)
1 broken lilac doe and 1 broken blue doe from Kathy of Herbal Maid Fiber Farm in MO (just purchased today.)
1 Magpie Lionhead (borrowed from S. Roark of Das Hasenhaus (Harper, TX)
Almost but not all of the bunnies are juniors so the summer months will focus on the major rehaul of the bunny barn, with new cages and maybe even a new building. Certainly a new watering system and new feeding and grooming stations. Once the cooler weather hits in October, we maystart planning some litters, but until then, most of the bunnies get the summer off.
BUNNIES SOLD
Two french angora bunnies were sold this past month - both out of Sammy (Chocolate Pearl) and Ginger (Broken Chocolate).
Toomyvara's Hennessey (Choc buck) went to C. Rose in Huntsville, AR
Toomyvara's Java Chiller (Broken Choc doe) went to T. Vance in Ohio
The third bunny in that litter, Toomyvara's Pepsi went to Maureen at IART Rabbitry in Commerce.
I held on to the Lionheads in order to better determine which ones I want to keep.
BUNNIES FOR SALE
I will have the last of the winter/spring bunnies for sale at the Duncan, OK show in mid June (June 18th and 19th.) Lionheads will make up the bulk of the sale bunnies with a variety of colors available - blue, black, broken black, Siamese Sable, and torts. Maybe a REW buck or two.
There may be a stray French Angora bunny for sale as well. I have one chestnut buck that I may offer for sale and one chestnut doe, both born in March. (If Maureen plans to sell any french or english angoras at Duncan, I will get and post a list of those too.)
All of the bunnies for sale will be young ones and the prices will range from $40 - $65.
ROAD TRIPS
At the end of April, I drove to Columbus, OH, by way of Memphis and Nashville, TN, to attend the Lionhead Nationals show and the Ohio RBA's Mini Convention on May 1 and 2.
I made this trip to see what the best of the best Lionheads look like, so I can compare those to mine. And there were a lot of great Lionheads there. The judge was not only impressed but also greatly optimistic about the progress of the Lionhead breed toward full acceptance as a recognized breed by ARBA, the American Rabbit Breeder's Association.
This trip was also a transport trip to acquire angora rabbits for a number of the angora breeders here in the South Central portion of the U.S. In all, 29 bunnies made the trip back from Ohio, headed to new homes in San Antonio, Round Rock, Commerce and Hillsboro, TX, and Huntsville, AR.
Special thanks to Tina Vance of Nutty Buckeye Angoras for her instruction on the proper method of grooming angoras, esp with the use of a blower.
The trip to Ohio occurred right in the middle of the tornados in OK and AR and the major flooding in TN and KY. A special thank you goes to my mom who accompanied me on this very LONG, LONG trip, even while the bad weather was swirling around us. (Her home almost flooded while we were there.) Thank you for all your help and for your presence. It made the trip much more enjoyable, even though we were both totally exhausted and sick by the end of it. (Note: TX to OH is almost too long of a trip to make. I thought we'd never get home!)
Both shows were huge and very well attended. Special kudos go out to the committees that worked on the Lionhead Nationals, which was put on by the North American Lionhead Rabbit Club. It was a flawless show and a great deal of fun! Thank you all!!! I definitely hope I can attend next year. Maybe I'll even show some of my bunnies there next year. (Provided I can remember to get the entries in on time. LOL)
The following weekend was spent delivering bunnies. It was quite a busy time but I am glad we made the trip. We added a nice selection of new stock to the rabbitry and nearly doubled the size of it.
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE BARNS
Added to the Toomyvara bunny barn (but some currently residing with Maureen at It's a Road Trip Rabbitry) are:
3 satin angora does and 1 SA buck - thank you to Lisa Rodenfels of Somerhill Farm, OH
3 french angora does and 3 FA bucks - thanks to Lisa, and to Tina Vance of Nutty Buckeye Angoras, also of OH
1 english angora buck from Nancy James of Grinlow's Farm in WV
6 lionhead does and 1 buck - thanks to Deb Bergs of Beary Sweet, Terry Jo Pyper of Acorn Hill (both in N. TX) and Carrie Roberts from IN
In addition to that, I have added another four or so french angora does to the rabbitry's list of breeding stock and one Lionhead -
2 fawn does out of the Sage/Ember lines from Lacey Hedrick of Rivendell (Ember is out of the late Taffy.)
1 broken lilac doe and 1 broken blue doe from Kathy of Herbal Maid Fiber Farm in MO (just purchased today.)
1 Magpie Lionhead (borrowed from S. Roark of Das Hasenhaus (Harper, TX)
Almost but not all of the bunnies are juniors so the summer months will focus on the major rehaul of the bunny barn, with new cages and maybe even a new building. Certainly a new watering system and new feeding and grooming stations. Once the cooler weather hits in October, we maystart planning some litters, but until then, most of the bunnies get the summer off.
BUNNIES SOLD
Two french angora bunnies were sold this past month - both out of Sammy (Chocolate Pearl) and Ginger (Broken Chocolate).
Toomyvara's Hennessey (Choc buck) went to C. Rose in Huntsville, AR
Toomyvara's Java Chiller (Broken Choc doe) went to T. Vance in Ohio
The third bunny in that litter, Toomyvara's Pepsi went to Maureen at IART Rabbitry in Commerce.
I held on to the Lionheads in order to better determine which ones I want to keep.
BUNNIES FOR SALE
I will have the last of the winter/spring bunnies for sale at the Duncan, OK show in mid June (June 18th and 19th.) Lionheads will make up the bulk of the sale bunnies with a variety of colors available - blue, black, broken black, Siamese Sable, and torts. Maybe a REW buck or two.
There may be a stray French Angora bunny for sale as well. I have one chestnut buck that I may offer for sale and one chestnut doe, both born in March. (If Maureen plans to sell any french or english angoras at Duncan, I will get and post a list of those too.)
All of the bunnies for sale will be young ones and the prices will range from $40 - $65.