tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54861274374975246842024-03-12T21:35:32.077-05:00October Grace RabbitryOctober Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-40954745075337612892012-04-13T19:33:00.000-05:002012-04-13T21:59:35.729-05:00Spring Daytrippin' in the Heights<span style="font-size: small;">I took a nice springtime day trip last month to the Houston Heights. Unfortunately not long after the trip I came down with a nasty flu bug. The Texas State Show was held soon thereafter and two days after that show I had to have outpatient surgery. Now a week and a half post op, I am getting back around to posting about this fun little excursion. I live in Harris county, but Houston is so big and spread out that I'd say going to the Houston Heights from the suburbs qualifies as a day trip, especially with Houston traffic. I love Texas in the springtime. Not so much in the summer, but I love the spring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Whenever I have some free time, I usually head out of town as fast as I can. I love visiting quaint little towns that have fewer people and a slower pace. This time of year, though, it's a family tradition to welcome spring with a visit to <a href="http://www.wabashfeed.com/">Wabash Antiques and Feed Store</a>. Set amidst the hustle and bustle of Houston, this little slice of country in the city is a must-see. They have everything from lemon trees and supplies for honeybees to roosters and rocking chairs. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bit of this...a little bit of that</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antique rabbit hutch?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yard art in glorious color!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of lush greenery</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved these adorable little shiny porcelain mushrooms</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really considered getting this Meyer lemon tree,</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> but didn't want to watch it die under my care:-(</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hidden treasures everywhere...spotted these rabbit cages hanging up high</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little chinchilla(?) dutch rabbit...pretty coloring</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My purchase: Black oil sunflower seeds, wooden baby block rabbit chew toys, an almanac, & a parsley plant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> ...and we always have to stop at <a href="http://www.arneswarehouse.com/about.php">Arne's Warehouse</a> after Wabash. They've expanded to 2 giant warehouses now. One for pets (woohoo!) and the other holds just about every conceivable partyware item one could possibly want or need.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arne's is housed inside an old manufacturing warehouse</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeaky doggie toys in every color</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORHtgCMxtIHGP-WE55cTpzNHnocXDxVkLePlK7Z25lzwdmq9APJ745Ravx6_hnNWBeZ2hvwLyUCQEVN_MQkR2ld_UI7UbTDjRM1R50840ZIdOndL5NHsPA7g6q5SJ_WqqeR9gPSXDW3E/s1600/SFPatioDining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORHtgCMxtIHGP-WE55cTpzNHnocXDxVkLePlK7Z25lzwdmq9APJ745Ravx6_hnNWBeZ2hvwLyUCQEVN_MQkR2ld_UI7UbTDjRM1R50840ZIdOndL5NHsPA7g6q5SJ_WqqeR9gPSXDW3E/s320/SFPatioDining.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">So, if you're ever in Houston in the springtime, consider a visit to the Houston Heights. Try to plan your trip during the cooler months though. Wabash isn't air-conditioned and Arne's barely is. Bring your walking shoes, your wallet, and your appetite because there's something for everyone and <a href="http://www.spanish-flowers.com/">Spanish Flowers</a> restaurant is right around the corner. We didn't make it to Spanish Flowers this time, but when you start to get hungry after all the shopping, this is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a delicious meal before you head home. They're open 24 hours a day (<span style="font-size: x-small;">except Tuesday evenings</span>). BTW, the bunnies are enjoying their day trip souvenirs, especially the parsley! Now, I've got to get caught up on what everyone else has been doing...on to the blogs! </span><br />
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</div>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-37208957121957316792012-04-12T22:33:00.001-05:002012-04-12T22:37:15.845-05:00Hoppin' Circle March Wrap-Up<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgmDE-OjVkmrmz1Q4_BLhhh3vFl4W14eH7DbRaH47ekf9upj22hI6HkwSoL0eBr_mJJhaGSC8502RGi__HRZ2hqu5paXqem98ykdbna8Kmx3qWB1Rw6_FH1q8-LaevqUsdfpGEdvakJln/s1600/linkus.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgmDE-OjVkmrmz1Q4_BLhhh3vFl4W14eH7DbRaH47ekf9upj22hI6HkwSoL0eBr_mJJhaGSC8502RGi__HRZ2hqu5paXqem98ykdbna8Kmx3qWB1Rw6_FH1q8-LaevqUsdfpGEdvakJln/s320/linkus.png" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b>At Home Pets</b> tackles the tough topic of <a href="http://athomepets.blogspot.ca/2012/03/spayneuter-your-rabbit.html">spaying/neutering</a> rabbits.<br />
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<b>The Kelfla Project</b> explains how she values a group effort in her goal of <a href="http://kelfla.blogspot.com/2012/03/beating-standard.html">beating the standard</a>.<br />
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<b>Fuzzibutt's Rabbitry</b> makes her wrap up debut with a post about how her rabbitry was <a href="http://fuzzibuttsrabbitry.blogspot.com/2012/03/fuzzibutts-rabbitry-in-news.html">in the news</a>!<br />
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<b>The Nature Trail </b>plays '<a href="http://www.thenaturetrail.com/2012/03/hide-and-go-seek/">Hide and Seek</a>' with a pair of Polish babies.October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-67910133466204995112012-03-18T01:07:00.000-05:002012-03-18T01:07:55.712-05:00Irish Blessing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.clker.com/clipart-rabbit-5.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWeranvh4BgnZmPfM8yavNXeGd2x25f5o50S0zMCBbYqbQVAfAgPPrNcmB2dA2j5Kpgtg5Wp7rx-rLAuQm93B2mN-9-glNgUweWKJ7zvJD4kh2SWyUtb7t60MO9AojVoFJVNsvtgMiP4/s200/rabbit-md.png" width="193" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Hope everyone had a lovely St. Patrick's Day. I enjoyed some time outdoors today, in the garden, planting, decorating for spring, and sprucing things up around the house. Along with tomato plants and grass squares (lost so much of the yard during the terrible drought last summer), I planted some herbs for the bunnies to enjoy. I like to cook with fresh herbs whenever I can and I thought I might as well add some parsley to my little herb garden for the rabbits. I've been on vacation (or rather a STAYcation) this week, so I haven't had time to blog, but plan to post some photos of the daytrips that I've been taking next week. Until then...happy gardening!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/irish_blessing_cute_cartoon_st_paddys_postcards-239600274100031552"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xcKojE8A1k-2f2_GBzICWAt7hbCWdpmmV3XrvF1xTCbcGuqTV2vOwVNAisla_6R20tGCum1BOZXzx9xhJPNnIxUxWkX2iPa1DiAOg8_vOW7BJ4FxHEc1o-ig2yigFokFiU2qMvVPbNI/s400/irish_blessing_cute_cartoon_st_paddys_postcards-p239600274100031552z8iat_400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-35256351533330445442012-03-12T22:11:00.001-05:002012-03-12T22:28:52.924-05:00The Hoppin' Circle February Wrap-Up<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I belong to a Rabbitry Blogging Network called <a href="http://www.hoppincircle.com/index.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">The Hoppin Circle</a>. If you haven't visited or joined this network, please take a few minutes to browse through the interesting and helpful articles bloggers post each month. Here's a sample of some of the informative articles posted in February...</span></span></h3>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">February Monthly Wrap Up
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<b>Oak Ridge Rabbitry</b> shows us the imporatance of being<span style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span><a href="http://oakridgeblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/transparency.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">transparent</a><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span>in our rabbitry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgmDE-OjVkmrmz1Q4_BLhhh3vFl4W14eH7DbRaH47ekf9upj22hI6HkwSoL0eBr_mJJhaGSC8502RGi__HRZ2hqu5paXqem98ykdbna8Kmx3qWB1Rw6_FH1q8-LaevqUsdfpGEdvakJln/s1600/linkus.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgmDE-OjVkmrmz1Q4_BLhhh3vFl4W14eH7DbRaH47ekf9upj22hI6HkwSoL0eBr_mJJhaGSC8502RGi__HRZ2hqu5paXqem98ykdbna8Kmx3qWB1Rw6_FH1q8-LaevqUsdfpGEdvakJln/s320/linkus.png" width="320" /></a><b>At Home Pets</b> tells us how she <a href="http://athomepets.blogspot.com/2012/02/best-practices-rabbit-health.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">breeds for health</a><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span>in her rabbitry.<br />
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<b>The Kelfla Project</b> shows us how they stay organized with a <a href="http://kelfla.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-animal-manager-application.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">animal management application</a><span style="color: #f6b26b;">.</span><br />
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<b>Fisher Farms Rabbitry</b> shows us their set up for taking sassy <a href="http://fisherfarmsrabbitry.blogspot.com/2012/02/photo-shoot.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">pictures</a> of their adorable buns.<br />
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<b>Hendricks Hearth</b> tackles a very important topic in <a href="http://www.hendrickshearth.blogspot.com/2012/02/hay-post.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">The Hay Post</a>.<br />
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<b>Rabbit Smarties</b> introduces us to the breed; <a href="http://rabbitsmarties.com/2012/02/silver-fox-information-rare-rabbit/" style="color: #f6b26b;">Silver</a>.<br />
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<b>October Grace Rabbitry </b>shares with us some of their <a href="http://octobergracerabbitry.blogspot.com/2012/02/dream-barn.html" style="color: #f6b26b;">dreams</a> for their barn.October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-62653570726184398022012-02-29T23:22:00.001-06:002012-03-01T00:36:11.160-06:00DIY<span style="font-size: small;">I've always enjoyed Do-It-Yourself projects. I like the satisfaction of knowing that I had a part in making the final product. The added benefit, if all goes well, is the cost savings. Rabbitry buildings and rabbit cages make ideal DIY projects. <a href="http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/resources/index.php?search=RABBIT%20CAGE"><span style="color: #674ea7;">WoodworkersWorkshop.com</span></a><b> </b>offers tons of free rabbit housing plans: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rabbitry Buildings</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">From the 7 room (separate rooms for: breeding bucks, quarantine, cage repair, office, etc.!) large-scale rabbit building to the smaller 2 row barn, there is a plan to suit most needs. The one that I like is University of Wisconsin's 8' X 8' <a href="http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension-aben/buildingplans/miscellaneous" style="color: #674ea7;">rabbit house with gableroof</a></span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">(click on plan #6233) and optional concrete or wood floor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfYdd7-1Xan9XbUcoGEKXKMlJ3_5Rp6XxuUJMM0Vbb-_BPy6AKf6_zKaNYAeJqyfd1i6PzVSLXJuRxKJoGPUSf9ZuJUgj81Mrgk0DaW2SwvHOHIT3KEN2-jSCH2h-Q3pQRLUuqM4bcbM/s1600/RabbitHouse_w200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTfYdd7-1Xan9XbUcoGEKXKMlJ3_5Rp6XxuUJMM0Vbb-_BPy6AKf6_zKaNYAeJqyfd1i6PzVSLXJuRxKJoGPUSf9ZuJUgj81Mrgk0DaW2SwvHOHIT3KEN2-jSCH2h-Q3pQRLUuqM4bcbM/s400/RabbitHouse_w200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Rabbit Cages</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Tom Smith, Jr., Extension Poultry Science Specialist, wrote a short article on the <a href="http://www.i4at.org/lib2/rcage.htm" style="color: #674ea7;">Homemade Rabbit Cage</a>. In it he talks about cage design, materials, and construction. He discusses both conventional cages (rectangular design) and quonset cages (rounded tops). I prefer the conventional style because of the stacking capability. I understand that the quonset style uses less wire and it's easier to reach rabbits from the back of the cage because of the way it opens. You can also feed hay easily and efficiently with this style. If you turn the cages back to back, it creates a v shape to hold the hay for both rabbits. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44GRgVTKpUC8APQffs-tsue0e6rjPfYZ_berQ8pcL3ufssvCqK7tko0HuA6Xa3nWlSAi27menQuCR7BM-uHLMjHRs5jlRVLbFcOWQ9RWB15sKr3LoXrr9r-o44wZ3O5C4BhLRl9dNZpk/s1600/rcage.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh44GRgVTKpUC8APQffs-tsue0e6rjPfYZ_berQ8pcL3ufssvCqK7tko0HuA6Xa3nWlSAi27menQuCR7BM-uHLMjHRs5jlRVLbFcOWQ9RWB15sKr3LoXrr9r-o44wZ3O5C4BhLRl9dNZpk/s400/rcage.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I must admit that while I like researching these plans, when the time comes to build something, I prefer to just eyeball it. I glean what I can from a quick read-through, but I've never been good at following instructions/blueprints. I just don't have the patience for it. My father was a structural engineer so this admission, although truthful, would probably not make him very proud;-). He passed away years ago, but as I write this post I think back to the rabbit hutch he built for me when I was about 10 years old. It was great. It was a two compartment hutch with an attached nest box. I loved it! I could just lift the lid on the nest box to peek in on the babies without disturbing Velvet (Netherland Dwarf doe), which I did about 100 times a day! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, I enjoyed doing a 3-part series of posts this month on one general topic, the Rabbitry building/setup. It was my first time to do a series on one subject and it was fun to do. I want to thank all my blogger buddies and rabbit world friends that have commented on these posts, sent e-mails, or have otherwise provided advice or words of encouragement. Your help is immeasurably important to me.</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-47302959258378297232012-02-28T23:22:00.000-06:002012-02-28T23:56:11.244-06:00Judge's Favorite ! :-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fJDIZveJjvHkuNmLSwbpBc38hUb03BWbpuv8adr-glqTgVGOLAQyk_Ws95ebdj1z54UxcTPh68r2U_sa_Tt1n4Sd6TvsquYUY8INu2x-iahbkdYMWIuvOPzKqhUSQxdr82l0B9hC1bs/s1600/P1010928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fJDIZveJjvHkuNmLSwbpBc38hUb03BWbpuv8adr-glqTgVGOLAQyk_Ws95ebdj1z54UxcTPh68r2U_sa_Tt1n4Sd6TvsquYUY8INu2x-iahbkdYMWIuvOPzKqhUSQxdr82l0B9hC1bs/s400/P1010928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">I had such a good time at the Crosby show! What a turnaround from the last show. It's amazing how different two shows can be. The weather was about the same (brrrr...freezy cold) and the venue was similar (horse barn...although Crosby has a partial concrete floor - yay!), but the big difference was that I met my goal!! I was hoping to just get to the point where my rabbits would place in the middle third of their classes and I'm happy to say that I reached that goal in Crosby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The day got off to a bad start. Hissy had a fairly loose stool, so I had to leave her home. I may have given her too much calf manna or too many greens or who knows. Thankfully she's almost back to normal now. It was disappointing, but it was probably for the best. Her coat has improved tremendously since Victoria, but she still has a little way to go to get back in tip-top condition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, off I went to Crosby with my one little bunny in tow. When I went to get registered, the guy looked up from his paperwork...smiled...and said, "Just one?" "Yes sir, just the one." "Well at least you came out," he replied - LOL. We found a place ringside, on the concrete, to set up - yay! Big Daddy also was looking a lot better than he did in Victoria. Both his coat and flesh condition improved significantly on the calf manna and he loves it! The little stinker nudges the regular pellets out of his food cup to get to the calf manna. Is is just me or does the calf manna smell like licorice?=) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiee0b1By5V60SBAFNog1Gt0gMHFcH68z_29HUze8q85GSWxWrfyjhKRVa13aaQzLMrkjXwIWHe85Kw5Cwes2Vt1a4xTsbN77s9b818X82T3jb9aOmIHSv3m7ifiH54dOzQteHeDoK0D0/s1600/P1010918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiee0b1By5V60SBAFNog1Gt0gMHFcH68z_29HUze8q85GSWxWrfyjhKRVa13aaQzLMrkjXwIWHe85Kw5Cwes2Vt1a4xTsbN77s9b818X82T3jb9aOmIHSv3m7ifiH54dOzQteHeDoK0D0/s200/P1010918.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The judge in Show A was awesome! I must say that Big Daddy was awesome too, hehe. He turned on the charm and she just loved him. He was enamored with the smells on her coat and, it seemed, with her. He reminded me of the dogs at Westminster when they bark a friendly bark, tail wagging enthusiastically, while the judge is evaluating them and everybody laughs and starts clapping. Go ahead Big Daddy, I thought, play up to the judge. Hey, at 7 months, in a sea of big boys, he has to use what assets he has. So, he sniffed away and then started to slowly climb up her coat with his front feet to get a better look at her. I'm biased, but it really was so cute. Anyway, she took her time going over each rabbit and then started to place them. I was so nervous. When it came time to place and comment on him, she said "This is the judge's favorite. He is my favorite..." She repeated "favorite" 3 times...not in a BOB kind of way, but in a personality way. Needless to say, I was beside myself. He got a "very good" on head, "good" on type, and "fair" on crown. He placed 9 out of 19 in the class. Someone more experienced at exhibiting may have shuddered at that. I was just ecstatic. I can't imagine feeling any happier if he had won BOB. I wouldn't mind finding out someday, though;) </span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-43277142102188479322012-02-23T14:13:00.000-06:002012-02-23T14:20:28.785-06:00Dream Barn<style>
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</style><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the second in a series of posts I'm doing this month on the Rabbitry building or setup. Right now, I'm utilizing a</span> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="http://octobergracerabbitry.blogspot.com/2012/02/special-housing-needs.html" style="color: #a64d79;">spare room</a><span style="color: blue;"> </span>in my house, but as I expand I will need to continue to reevaluate the setup. When I imagine what my dream barn might look like, I naturally consider the wants first and then the must-haves. To me, A dream barn, as opposed to a practical building, would be as aesthetically pleasing;-) as it is functional. It's gotta be cute!! Okay, it doesn't <i>have</i> to be cute, but it would be a nice bonus. Dr. James McNitt, a professor of animal science at Southern University and A&M College, suggests that "<u>ventilation</u>, <u>sanitation</u>, and <u>observation</u> are three extremely important concepts in successful rabbit management." Since I live in Texas, I have to also add climate control to the list. Triple digit Texas heat waves actually push this requirement to the top of the list. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"> Lofted Barn 8' X 8' - $1865</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 7.5pt;"> + tax</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So, with this checklist in mind, there are a couple of companies that I really like. My favorite is <a href="http://www.lelandsbarns.com/" style="color: #a64d79;">Leland's Industries</a>. Of the many options that they offer, my absolute favorite is the <a href="http://www.lelandsbarns.com/lofted-barn" style="color: #a64d79;">Lofted Barn</a>. All of their buildings are customizable and the custom options are relatively inexpensive. For example, adding a 2' X 3' window is only $50 and an extra set of doors is $150. I like the idea of having double doors in the front and back, so that it can be opened up to help with the airflow and to bring in lots of natural light when I'm working in the barn. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">They also offer a rent-to-own option. Like any payment plan, it costs quite a bit more overall ($86.34/month x 36 months = $3108<span style="font-size: xx-small;">e</span>), but it's a way to get the building sooner with less out of pocket up front. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"> Elizabeth House 4' X 7' - $1475</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 7.5pt;"> + shipping</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I also like a company called <a href="http://greenchickencoop.com/Large_Coop_Designs.html" style="color: #a64d79;">The Green Chicken Coop</a>. It's a bit unconventional for use with rabbits, but I like the look and size of their designs. These buildings are also very portable. They sell wheel and handle kits ($249) too, so the unit can be easily moved whenever and wherever necessary. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Some modifications may be necessary to use this building to house rabbits instead of chickens, but this company also offers low-cost customizable options. Adding an electrical package is an additional $125 and extra windows are $45 each (2 are included). This is a smaller building, but bump out options can also be added to increase the size.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"></span> My dream barn may not be feasible right now, but it is fun to dream. The best option short-term may not be the best long-term solution. I'm trying to keep both in mind, so that I don't make a mistake that I'll regret later. That may mean a smaller building now that can be used to house bucks(?) later or it might mean a building that can be added on to in the future. </div>
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Dr. McNitt also suggests keeping individual needs in mind when designing rabbit housing - what works well for one person may not work as well for someone else. I think that's true, but I also learn so much from what works for others. He adds that the rabbit housing investment will most likely be a fairly substantial one, so any blunders may have to be endured or at least worked around for years to come. Rabbitry buildings come in all shapes and sizes, which "may mean a cage in the garage or carport, a hutch in the back yard, or a special building with cages for hundreds of animals" (<a href="http://www.suagcenter.com/News%20Archives/Feb-Apr2009/RabbitHousingManual.html" style="color: #a64d79;">click here</a> to read article excerpts and outline or to download McNitt's full 25 page manual on rabbit housing). I love how open most rabbit people are. They're so willing to share what works for them. I hope to take a little here and a little there to find what works for me. </div>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-64082114518133638342012-02-13T21:59:00.000-06:002012-02-13T22:03:29.091-06:00Victoria<span style="font-size: small;">Our first show of 2012 was a cold one! As I drove the two hours to get to the show, I was filled with anxiety. I was excited about showing my two convention rabbits for the first time and worried about the terrible condition of Hissy Fit's coat and Big Daddy's ability to compete as a very young senior. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was glad that it was a comment card show, since I find it hard to take all the judge's comments in. I tend to focus on the bad and forget the good. Unfortunately, it was the first time for the girl that did the writing, so there aren't that many comments on the cards. Although if it had been my first time writing, I doubt that I would have done as good as she did. Some judges talk pretty fast. I need to learn how to record the judge's comments on my own comment cards as I've seen some others do. Surprisingly, Holland Lops were underrepresented at this show as compared with most shows I've attended. In the senior classes, there were 6-7 rabbits (usually there are more than twice that many). The competitors that were there with the most entries were some of the best in Texas. So, we were in very good company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Big Daddy, as a 7 month old senior, did as well as could be expected, I suppose. He looked so small compared to his neighbors (current weight is 2 lbs., 12 oz.). The judge had a lot of good comments about him. Some of the more constructive comments were about the improvement that is needed in his flesh and coat condition. He's still young and we can work on that. The buck that won the class was 6 years old! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrQOL50c-8Wl7ysfPjf498j-2ZwcXhB7otXwlTOkKFA-W8GaedHrIeWDqmUhMy0i66U-d4woJluAhK0X9_sKXaCCXgD_HBm8hDjTR90upzTCllmyeWcEPFUEToh_RGo7FfcAad1-rZXg/s1600/IMG_1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrQOL50c-8Wl7ysfPjf498j-2ZwcXhB7otXwlTOkKFA-W8GaedHrIeWDqmUhMy0i66U-d4woJluAhK0X9_sKXaCCXgD_HBm8hDjTR90upzTCllmyeWcEPFUEToh_RGo7FfcAad1-rZXg/s320/IMG_1211.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My little guy next to the gorgeous, massive buck that came in 2nd</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Deb Jones, a Holland Lop breeder from Wyoming shares her insight about this topic on the <u><a href="http://www.hlrsc.com/Articles/mistakesbreedersmake.html" style="color: blue;">HLRSC website</a></u></span><u><span style="color: blue;">:</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"This
is not a breed that competes well as a young senior. For those
wanting a quick maturing rabbit, Hollands are not the right choice. However, the longevity of a show career when showing this
breed of rabbit is well worth the wait. Very few breeds enjoy the
length of time competing on the show table that Hollands do.
Especially Holland bucks. I have known bucks that are still
competitive at 5 years or more. Very few breeds can do this."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So, there's hope for Big Daddy as he matures. It would be great if he grew into his name =)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hissy Fit was truly a molty mess. The judge was nice in his comments when he said, her coat was "on vacation." If it wasn't for the fact that I just have two rabbits, I would have left her at home. Her coat is usually one of her best qualities. Lindsey at 4 Kings Rabbitry posted last month about going "<a href="http://4kingsrabbitry.blogspot.com/2012/01/molty-to-gorgeous-in-3-weeks.html" style="color: blue;">Molty to Gorgeous in 3 weeks</a>." She shared her success with using half calf manna/ half pellets to restore coat condition. I had planned to take her advice, but my tractor supply only had the 50# bag in stock which would have expired many times over before I used it all with my current bunnies. Fortunately, I was able to find a 10# bag this weekend at the TSC in Victoria. I only have 2 weeks before the Crosby show, but I hope to get them both in somewhat better condition by then. She's a nice size (3 lbs., 3 oz.) so I hope to not add too much weight on to her, while still improving her coat condition. That's the goal, anyway.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Same doe, less than a month later not posing & in full molt. Ugh</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifChX9gD-PWZZnz5Mm_JBKyhW2ldhg8lXBfkWhg6BzbDL4yWshXSC5_hVGD5wSkNm65UkB7sUnctTD_ikdXcZOfJ4AxePZ_d0FTvGGbUxIjlK_GDV2jvyxqm2jrA63IW1Qbi7JvkZB-nE/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifChX9gD-PWZZnz5Mm_JBKyhW2ldhg8lXBfkWhg6BzbDL4yWshXSC5_hVGD5wSkNm65UkB7sUnctTD_ikdXcZOfJ4AxePZ_d0FTvGGbUxIjlK_GDV2jvyxqm2jrA63IW1Qbi7JvkZB-nE/s320/IMG_1202.JPG" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A Perfect Poser with a full show coat...at home ;)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hadn't planned to write this much about rabbit shows this month, but I always learn so much at them. Unfortunately, I was a popsicle by mid morning. I dressed way too springy for the weather and my mom was feeling lousy, so we didn't stay for the 2nd show. I hated leaving early, but plan to be better prepared for the next show. I am pretty competitive by nature (who isn't?), but my goal for showing this year is to just place in the middle third of each class. I don't expect to place in the top third, but I also hope that I don't continue to place in the bottom third. It seems realistic and attainable, in theory anyway. I am new, but the lines that my rabbits are from are well established. I am learning, however, that both need to harmoniously work together for the rabbit to place well. Onward and hopefully upward! </span></div>
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</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-70891091417690779232012-02-09T15:50:00.000-06:002012-02-09T15:50:46.592-06:00Special Housing Needs<span style="font-size: small;">Lots going on lately as I'm nearing graduation. I only have one class plus my internship left before I graduate...hooray! After much searching, I believe I've found the perfect summer intern opportunity. My degree is in psychology with a specialization in Christian counseling. CASA (court appointed special advocates - for children) should be a good fit with my internship requirements and the people of CASA have been wonderful to work with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now for bunny news. I've relocated my rabbits (just to another part of the house). Since I live in the 'burbs, I am pretty limited on space. At this point, I only have my two buns so it's not that big a deal. The problem is that in the house there isn't much room to grow. Every time I see a nice rabbit that I think would make a good addition to the rabbitry, I am reminded of my limited space:( ~ not to mention any kits I might want to keep when I breed my two ~ </span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I recently moved the rabbits from the master bath to a spare bedroom. I typically use this room as a media/craft room. It has wood floors, so I bought some clear vinyl at Hobby Lobby to cover the floor (the dots on the floor are ladybugs on the vinyl). I realize that my rabbit housing requirements are a bit unique as compared with others I've talked with, but I wonder if anyone else keeps rabbits in the house successfully... or does everyone house them in a separate outside building? </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Notice also her ample dewlap. "Big" Daddy doesn't look very <i>big</i> next to her.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I plan to devote my February posts to all things related to rabbit housing: rabbitry plans, building cages or hutches, rabbitry setups I admire, etc. Of course, I hope to also have some show updates or bunny Valentine photos thrown in here and there too!</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-30883981086776328172012-01-18T17:08:00.000-06:002012-01-18T17:08:13.083-06:00Show BluesWell, we didn't make it to the show this past weekend=( A series of events prevented our attendance. A second opinion and much prayer turned major truck repairs (over $5,000 est.) into minor ones (under $200), thankfully! But, I was told that the truck should be driven around town for a few days to make sure that the problem is solved. Unfortunately, a road trip was not wise.<br />
<br />
The rabbits are doing great; their coats...not so much. The mineral oil I used to treat their ears wreaked havoc with their fur. I may have used a bit too much oil, or this may be par for the course with this treatment. At any rate, they used their feet to scratch at and spread the oil. The skin around their ears is red and the fur is oily. They're a bit of a mess, but if they had ear mites, they should be rid of them - yay! Or closer to it. <br />
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Hopefully by the Victoria show next month, they will be looking much better. I've considered using alcohol to remove some of the remaining oil and clean the outside of their red ears, although this may sting. Any ideas? Should I just wait and let them groom themselves? It's not a huge amount of oil; it just makes a big difference in the look and feel of the fur around their ears and neck. I will repeat the treatment in a couple of weeks. I'd like to clean them up some after that, if I can, to make them more comfortable and get them ready for the next show.October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-28868910259054588892012-01-13T13:41:00.000-06:002012-01-13T23:15:05.428-06:00Hissy's Hullabaloo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Hissy's Hullabaloo" - this may become a regular feature of the blog. A place to talk about my wild doe's latest antics. It seems that Hissy Fit is up to no good again. Big Daddy has his own quirks, but for the most part he's just a quiet little sweetheart. John Grogan of <a href="http://www.johngroganbooks.com/marley/book.html" style="color: magenta;"><i>Marley & Me</i></a> said in an interview when asked:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Q.
Did you ever get another dog?</b></span></div>
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="color: magenta;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">A.
Nine months after Marley's death, we brought home a beautiful female yellow
Labrador retriever puppy. Gracie is smart, calm, easily trained – and just a
little boring. But then after Marley, probably any dog would be.</span></b></div>
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In bunny terms, Hissy is anything but boring. Feisty = interesting. She's demanding when it comes to her mealtime (note: anytime of the day is a good time for a meal), aggressive when it comes to fresh greens, and very aggressive when it comes to piggies...wait, did you say <i>piggies</i>?? Well, one piggy, in particular. When I changed out her pan (paper, pine pellets, etc.), I decided to do something about the annoying unpleasantries that attach themselves to the wire. There are only a few, but they persistently hang on day after day. So, I grabbed my awesome dollar store find - a pink, piggy cleaning brush - and started lightly scrubbing. Now, in retrospect, I probably should have expected what came next, but I had no clue. Honestly, I was too wrapped up in putting my new piggy brush to good use. Hissy was having no part of this pink intruder...so she rushed up to meet Piggy. Then she hopped in a corner and turned around, preparing her next move in the event that this unwelcome invader didn't get her hostile message. Nope? "Okay then, it's WAR! Let's do this, Pig-man," her body language implied. This time she lunged, growled, and may have tried to bite poor Piggy. Caught off guard, I jumped and fussed at her in a loud and disapproving tone. Then, I couldn't help myself. I just started laughing. It was Hissy's cage and Piggy had no place there. She was within her rights to defend herself and her territory. Awww, Hissy, you bring joy to my day:-) But, really... that was a bad, bad (laughing again) girl. <br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What she saw - a menacing, masked pig approaching</td></tr>
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<tr style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer to the truth;-) - hearts & halo added for effect</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1523913545"></span><span id="goog_1523913546"></span></div>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-67203696360184711392012-01-09T13:15:00.000-06:002012-01-09T18:46:21.019-06:00Hissy Fit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">It occurred to me, as I glanced at some of my 2011 posts, that I
neglected to post about the holland lop doe that I got at Convention. Fleetwood's Silk is a Black Tort doe out of Stonehill's Zeus (Blue Tort) and Stonehill's Au (Black Tort). I
think she'll be a nice complement to Big Daddy. She's got a great coat
and nice wide shoulders. Ramonia Fleetwood of <a href="http://www.knightgardenrabbitry.com/index.html">Knight Garden Rabbitry</a> was so wonderful to work with. I cannot say enough nice things about her. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and openly shares what she knows. She also worked hard at finding a Texas transporter to get this doe back to Texas. Bob McBee agreed to a last minute request to take "just one more" back home with him and I truly appreciated it! I drove up the next weekend after Convention to pick her up in North Texas for the final leg of her journey down to Southeast Texas. Overall, she fared well during the long trip to her new home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">At the Convention, her sister was actually the one that was for sale. A feisty little doe, she literally leaped off the grooming table. It was frightening to see her jump down off a table that high. At local shows, I've been told (when admiring a little bun sitting still on top of a grooming table without restraint) that "they never jump down." While I'm sure that's true for some rabbits, I guess there are exceptions to every rule. Anyway, I was worried that my doe's sister had hurt herself, but she was all right and was recaptured quickly. The doe that I bought wasn't originally for sale, but Ramonia was gracious in letting me purchase her. I think she will get my herd off to a good start. Like her sister, she does like to throw a fit now and then when being handled until she is let down. I've worked with her to ensure her that she is safe with me, while also letting her know that thrashing around wildly will not get her what she wants. She's coming around, but it takes patience on both our parts. She has spunk and while it might be easier if she was calm and laid back, I like her for who she is (most days, lol).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzmrxhZXywwrLHasDuv3m62JaTSc_I6MOJchiEpT-a4L_dSEnM3r_HNyr4rbpARIOA-169LGzVVL4Qn9i1XVgB4il6iloXl7GCyAsYi5NnT5DDhTgpVApQgv3dDQ_Ypi9VMs1F0RnlVQ/s1600/P1010855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzmrxhZXywwrLHasDuv3m62JaTSc_I6MOJchiEpT-a4L_dSEnM3r_HNyr4rbpARIOA-169LGzVVL4Qn9i1XVgB4il6iloXl7GCyAsYi5NnT5DDhTgpVApQgv3dDQ_Ypi9VMs1F0RnlVQ/s320/P1010855.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hqoXuctaH8j4RxQLa3s3GoadUMxSZ43FA__mAn_jOMiOtvzJPtn6j16IfPfmTLs7YbkvWC_cU9L-R0BqTlyucEZp2xsCMgz8EYzf6suNYAFgM_lokqPUC3uXM1L43wzc2QkalNgzAok/s1600/P1010868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hqoXuctaH8j4RxQLa3s3GoadUMxSZ43FA__mAn_jOMiOtvzJPtn6j16IfPfmTLs7YbkvWC_cU9L-R0BqTlyucEZp2xsCMgz8EYzf6suNYAFgM_lokqPUC3uXM1L43wzc2QkalNgzAok/s320/P1010868.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">So, it's been a few months since she's been here with me and she's settled in nicely. I've noticed that she is rather aggressive...when it comes to her food. She's the first rabbit that I've had that doesn't really love hay over all else. She wants her pellets and she wants them NOW! I mix Manna Pro, whole oats, and a little fruit/whole corn/sunflower seed blend and she loves it. She props herself up on the side of the crate like Judge used to do, but unlike him, it isn't head rubs that she's looking for. When she stands up, I naturally start petting her, at which point she hops over to her empty food dish and looks inside waiting rather impatiently for the food lady (that's me, I guess;-)) to hurry up and just pour her the morning ration. Big Daddy likes to pace himself, slowly nibbling throughout the morning on his breakfast. Not her; she will typically eat until it's gone. I've heard it said that rabbits are lacking in personality as compared to other domestic animals like dogs or cats. I'll admit that there are some major differences between them as far as temperament goes, but each rabbit has a personality that is distinctly their own and it's fun getting to know what makes them tick.</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-16806164178446979602012-01-05T14:59:00.000-06:002012-01-05T14:59:31.769-06:00Itchy EarsI'm afraid that my rabbits may have ear mites. I've seen some pretty graphic pictures online showing what ear mites can do, but when I look in their ears, they appear to be clean. I've posted some pictures below. You can't see into the canal in these photos, but I don't really see much when I look inside their ears. The doe's ears seem <i>slightly</i> worse than the buck's, but he's easier to deal with so I took photos of him. Her outer ears are just as clean looking as his are, but her ear canals look a <i>little</i> dirty when I look deep down. They are not shaking their heads, but do scratch their ears fairly regularly. I want to be proactive on this rather than wait and see. In the book, <i>Barnyard in your Backyard</i>, they recommend:<br />
<br />
1. Miticide-containing oil or olive, cooking, or mineral oil in the rabbit's ear. Put drops in the ear and massage gently to distribute the oil.<br />
2. Cotton swaps to remove loose crusty matter.<br />
3. Repeat for 3 days, wait for 10, then repeat for 3 more days.<br />
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They also suggest Ivermectin (either injected or swabbed into ears). <a href="http://bigcountryleo.blogspot.com/2007/05/rabbit-ear-mites-gone-cured-by-using.html">Big Country (Leo)</a>, however, doesn't recommend using Ivermectin without veterinarian supervision. He used baby oil to successfully treat his rabbits. <a href="http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/meds.htm">Barbi Brown's Bunnies</a> recommends using mineral oil in a spray bottle. <br />
<br />
Has anyone had experience treating ear mites. If so, what do you suggest to treat them or to prevent them? I prefer the mineral oil route rather than the Ivermectin or miticide, but whatever I use I want it to work the first time rather than making it worse. <br />
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<br />October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-12271541690928621952011-12-29T16:31:00.000-06:002011-12-29T16:41:54.186-06:00New Cleaning Supplies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just thought I'd share some fun cleaning/ organizational tools that I got for Christmas. The color looks a little off on my computer, but it's a bright salmon pink. More pink stuff...yay!! All three things (gloves, brush/dustpan set, and tote) came from Big Lots. I love them! If anything can, these cute tools should make cleaning cages more fun or at least more effortless=)October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-40137103968896450912011-12-27T17:56:00.000-06:002011-12-27T17:56:41.669-06:00Blogamation, Blinkies, and other GadgetsThis Christmas was unlike others at my house in that there was the noticeable absence of the latest, greatest new gadgets to the hit the market. Gone are the days of Macbooks, Nintendos, and iPods/iPhones/iYouNameIts under the tree (at least for now). Santa decided to simplify this year. As a full-time student, the budget is tight. Sure, the idea of playing with a Kindle Fire or an Xbox Kinect is appealing, but I'm glad these things aren't lying around now, vying for my already limited free time. <br />
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I'm also glad that blogging is a free activity. I love meeting people with similar interests and I like designing and redesigning my blog, all at no cost to me (other than time, of course). I had grown tired of Facebook and Twitter, but I'm back on FB with the rabbitry and I love learning about the rabbit world from all of the knowledgeable people on there. <br />
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I like having an interactive sort of blog, so I'm always looking for new blinkies or buttons to add to my sidebar. I think animated graphics add visual interest to a blog as long as they're not too excessive (or maybe even if they are:)). If you haven't played with it yet, <a href="http://blogamation.com/">Blogamation</a> is a fun site. The graphics on there are cute, creative, and easy to use. I also like: <a href="http://hotbliggityblog.com/">HotBliggityBlog</a>, <a href="http://shabbyblogs.com/">ShabbyBlogs</a>, <a href="http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/">TheCutestBlogontheBlock</a>, <a href="http://dottydotdotdesign1.blogspot.com/">DottyDotDot</a>, and <a href="http://jellypages.com/category/holidays/new-year/">JellyPages</a>. Know of any fun design websites that aren't listed here? I'd love to hear about them!October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-30823822375287437512011-12-25T11:10:00.000-06:002011-12-25T11:10:27.296-06:00Christmas Blessings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wishing you all a memorable Christmas filled with warm hugs from loved ones, lots of laughter, delicious home baked goodies, and the unconditional love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have a very merry Christmas!October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-64538211177613653872011-12-23T14:18:00.000-06:002011-12-23T20:10:36.331-06:00Happy Birthday Mr. Macy *<:o)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGAkfz0lT2k/TvTYMlsotlI/AAAAAAAAARs/TBece4PKCmI/s1600/William+H+Macy+7408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EGAkfz0lT2k/TvTYMlsotlI/AAAAAAAAARs/TBece4PKCmI/s400/William+H+Macy+7408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Baby picture - taken at 5 mos. His one "poodle" ear finally stayed up :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ef9DoCEXzQ/TvTZETR7agI/AAAAAAAAAR8/N4pRf0q2CZA/s1600/IMG_1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7ef9DoCEXzQ/TvTZETR7agI/AAAAAAAAAR8/N4pRf0q2CZA/s320/IMG_1045.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">First grooming using shears instead of scissors</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xVpJ-oTtbY/TvTY3o3OegI/AAAAAAAAAR0/SKED-Vk_r0U/s1600/P1010162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7xVpJ-oTtbY/TvTY3o3OegI/AAAAAAAAAR0/SKED-Vk_r0U/s320/P1010162.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Recent picture with one of his many toys</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Today is my sweet yorkipoo's birthday. His mommy was a chocolate toy poodle and daddy was a yorkie. I can't believe that William H. Macy is already 5 years old! Named after the actor for no particular reason (he resembles him a little around the eyes;-)) other than I liked it (the name not necessarily the actor). We call him "Mr. Macy" and he is, in my unbiased opinion, the BEST dog ever!! He rarely barks (I think I've heard him bark twice), doesn't chew on furniture, and loves everyone - even the vet, lol. He's just the sweetest, softest dog I've ever had. His fur is like silky cotton. Everyone that pets him loves his super soft fur. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">He's a natural therapy dog (as opposed to being a well trained one). In preparing him to be a therapy dog, I tried to teach him commands. While he is incredibly perceptive and learns things quickly, he does not do well with training by commands. He's far too sensitive. He just gets real close to me and acts like he's in trouble for something - as if he's ever in trouble - regardless of the soft, quiet tone of voice and treats that I use to teach him a command. The people that certified him overlooked his lack of training because he was so naturally well suited to love on people. I love watching how he adjusts to each resident at the nursing home. He's normally a peppy, twirly kind of guy, but for those confined to a bed that are immobile for the most part, he very slowly and carefully crawls next to them and just lies there as long as they need him to. Anyway, I guess I've probably gushed enough, but he really is the best buddy a girl could have! </span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-20725016243605510532011-12-07T07:49:00.001-06:002011-12-07T08:45:54.698-06:00Dreamin' of a Pink Christmas<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrfENn-au9c1SxBj0-_AxRRapUq8Gq8S1yPXEtqcoisqPyNV3mrztuufsiJf50u-m8PRAZSepXnVuV3ABBUsTBuLQpT98YVSJA1T1kCJaM7jtN6M_C4Y_Ysx1rYIHbMv1sXMS06NXzec/s1600/P1010652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrfENn-au9c1SxBj0-_AxRRapUq8Gq8S1yPXEtqcoisqPyNV3mrztuufsiJf50u-m8PRAZSepXnVuV3ABBUsTBuLQpT98YVSJA1T1kCJaM7jtN6M_C4Y_Ysx1rYIHbMv1sXMS06NXzec/s320/P1010652.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> 'If I don't look at her, she'll forget this dumb idea' </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I found the pink tree and luxurious pink fabric at Hobby Lobby (love that store!), so I thought I would set up a Christmas photo shoot with Big Daddy. When he's not crouching down in a tight little ball, he can be pretty photogenic. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAE1bD0Zm0lksVPXMre1cdDbjq8Oz6Bny_TUsdTDxFducaKCrFnu6xQeC-bvUIHzoDh27BBzd3SjZwiSZ_-Xsuyu5-7eJnuYZM7UXB4RdiFK6dXgrK1_7IdIicrHO7mgu7-DFO0OzMY0/s1600/P1010682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAE1bD0Zm0lksVPXMre1cdDbjq8Oz6Bny_TUsdTDxFducaKCrFnu6xQeC-bvUIHzoDh27BBzd3SjZwiSZ_-Xsuyu5-7eJnuYZM7UXB4RdiFK6dXgrK1_7IdIicrHO7mgu7-DFO0OzMY0/s320/P1010682.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably my favorite</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPhDz-h-ZymgWBoMj9LxuklNL3jWh_QDQ182WdmjUJYjoFEMMGTaJf0iXpDrkYhBzAWaQZyYsP7bdQmXCrkjYVwoClCs1eq4nY7BjwkewPMOR2MEVeRBnbJ7yIJKrRXxBGnb3MFAl1Lc/s1600/P1010685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPhDz-h-ZymgWBoMj9LxuklNL3jWh_QDQ182WdmjUJYjoFEMMGTaJf0iXpDrkYhBzAWaQZyYsP7bdQmXCrkjYVwoClCs1eq4nY7BjwkewPMOR2MEVeRBnbJ7yIJKrRXxBGnb3MFAl1Lc/s320/P1010685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a chubby little face</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Overall, he did pretty good. He was a little scared, but
he eased into it. At least he didn't pee on the fabric:) Hot pink
doesn't necessarily scream... boy bunny <i>or</i> Christmas, but I have always LOVED pink. Plus, it's a nice contrast against his chocolate fur. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">There was only one big mishap. The carpet under the fabric is
not the right size for the grooming table, so it curls up over the edge
of the table and the tree leans a bit. The tree is also very lightweight
(think it's Styrofoam covered in glitter). Before he settled into the
idea of getting his picture taken, he jumped around and bumped the tree,
so of course it fell on him. Which freaked him out even more. Ugh...this is not going to go well. </span><br />
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<br />
But, it turned out okay. Now, I just need to do the same with Hissy Fit. Can't wait!:-/ <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8luPafxYN98Uu9sJacyKHoNSgOoEmmwxVjHUsB0qj6F5GPASLZ3Pk-J2B3i6zNWKaoxNT_FnL0zvQdjbQhm0Uu9QR7r_s6GB9l9S34vVCPS90dVbSgv-RLcoY9iDXHjTLHBcLQTNlJo/s1600/P1010664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8luPafxYN98Uu9sJacyKHoNSgOoEmmwxVjHUsB0qj6F5GPASLZ3Pk-J2B3i6zNWKaoxNT_FnL0zvQdjbQhm0Uu9QR7r_s6GB9l9S34vVCPS90dVbSgv-RLcoY9iDXHjTLHBcLQTNlJo/s320/P1010664.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree is crooked, but I like his profile against it </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YrckoMkRo9FSNrqVcu1RGm_fDr7QlJF1PaT-4uHlw1nm4alNPLJKMOU0Sd7-ovDIeKXmtXsCMVWRzMGd-zqicBlQ3XNpW2AXdHJfo0K9skT1iWGFcIX7DLNWHVCJcfg0LY2lhie7tJs/s1600/P1010688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YrckoMkRo9FSNrqVcu1RGm_fDr7QlJF1PaT-4uHlw1nm4alNPLJKMOU0Sd7-ovDIeKXmtXsCMVWRzMGd-zqicBlQ3XNpW2AXdHJfo0K9skT1iWGFcIX7DLNWHVCJcfg0LY2lhie7tJs/s320/P1010688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummm, okay...guess we're done</td></tr>
</tbody></table>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-48888371321290896592011-12-01T10:43:00.001-06:002011-12-01T11:37:55.188-06:00New Home for Judge<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I said good-bye to Judge, my sweet little chestnut agouti, before Thanksgiving. It's hard to see him go, but I found a lovely pet home for him. The mom has owned rabbits before and she had been looking for one for her 10-year-old daughter for a while. Her daughter was ecstatic! I understand that he is adjusting beautifully in his new home. I'll miss him.</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-27734231385714098302011-11-24T12:49:00.001-06:002011-11-24T13:26:13.815-06:00Many Thanks<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmh5m9WLDGkR1F64UsCmCqJWO3lrNpZmtA8i1KXeYN5ZTaZYcA_AjrzGATxTPvYNtmoG7ZhKD5NvzBjyQDiNgHo4Ka68LNWf2-DwaQ8ZILG64335cgNM1UJ_FdKNpfzdaGnV2vglkj1k/s1600/Mickey_mouse_1934_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmh5m9WLDGkR1F64UsCmCqJWO3lrNpZmtA8i1KXeYN5ZTaZYcA_AjrzGATxTPvYNtmoG7ZhKD5NvzBjyQDiNgHo4Ka68LNWf2-DwaQ8ZILG64335cgNM1UJ_FdKNpfzdaGnV2vglkj1k/s320/Mickey_mouse_1934_m.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 1934</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As I sat sipping my coffee, eating cornbread:), and watching the Macy's parade this morning, I thought of the things that I'm thankful for... I'll graduate this May (more than a 4 year endeavor), my best friend's beautiful unexpected blessing (her daughter, Aliana Marie) arrived 8 months ago, my adorable Holland Lops, and the interesting places I get to go to show them.<br />
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Finally, I'm especially thankful for all the wonderful, helpful people I've met in the rabbit world. Happy Thanksgiving Bloggers! Hope you're spending the day in the company of loved ones and are resting in preparation for Black Friday.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: http://ookaboo.com/o/pictures/picture/12688300/First_Mickey_Mouse_balloon_to_appear_in_</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-40905649565833549422011-11-17T20:33:00.001-06:002011-11-17T21:59:27.274-06:00A Look Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Presentation) Broken English Angora</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beveren - beautiful blue eyes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDog7674bLlcln1Fc6LyaxNhEQN7pXLSt3kw3VicDyV0Q_iPEQal3WghjVH191MfnIP1NTozFh9ny15l3_oP132AGuCyMOUzn7Vo4Un_80bUjBw9YF8-dnYQN-_z_20KgcLUQomMqk5g/s1600/P1010500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDog7674bLlcln1Fc6LyaxNhEQN7pXLSt3kw3VicDyV0Q_iPEQal3WghjVH191MfnIP1NTozFh9ny15l3_oP132AGuCyMOUzn7Vo4Un_80bUjBw9YF8-dnYQN-_z_20KgcLUQomMqk5g/s320/P1010500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate English Spot - lovely & lively</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlequin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzAx4jUD6otiUXF3wP7lspHKnlScJdv4ag59bdPtEzkExvpsbS_JGlYa2EWgdU-VYyd_Owmh8QqHZI2XEJtirVfkAWayCEG94UOqF2oQSz1zFK8FrgTmKd3HLrsSGNTkwecYWXHQl3Lw/s1600/P1010501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzAx4jUD6otiUXF3wP7lspHKnlScJdv4ag59bdPtEzkExvpsbS_JGlYa2EWgdU-VYyd_Owmh8QqHZI2XEJtirVfkAWayCEG94UOqF2oQSz1zFK8FrgTmKd3HLrsSGNTkwecYWXHQl3Lw/s320/P1010501.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Lop - 'More leg room please.'</td></tr>
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I've been busy doubling up on my class assignments, so I haven't been blogging much lately. I'm hoping to clear up my schedule for Thanksgiving week.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I ran across these photos that I took at convention of some of the lovely rabbits that were there. Forgive me if I get some of the breeds/colors wrong.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMKxmo-gq7d8Hh2XePUMCI3nUiWPj0wFgr4fFLUpOq_EvpS8KDJne9yAIOjukVXBO_juaut858r_dGRrlAtozQLhIPXsGpGGGRumeyq3okcS0iMp1TdqAC3Q9oqDYKCX4qR-Im6kgW0M/s1600/P1010491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMKxmo-gq7d8Hh2XePUMCI3nUiWPj0wFgr4fFLUpOq_EvpS8KDJne9yAIOjukVXBO_juaut858r_dGRrlAtozQLhIPXsGpGGGRumeyq3okcS0iMp1TdqAC3Q9oqDYKCX4qR-Im6kgW0M/s320/P1010491.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Pres.) Choc. Otter Jersey Wooly -'Yeah, I know I'm beautiful.'</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdA49UBsLGZM1HYSl9q5jD5UQ3XSsRvm34B-adHjoK4_9dNMTV6hkef7RUtbw9FNXUVqA-BA5CPdvqJkbc7uiK7_bNi1KeAidk66Pr6GoPHveu-IHAvd3MPcQ5Bz_eKAJVF_KwJIbJUI/s1600/P1010497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdA49UBsLGZM1HYSl9q5jD5UQ3XSsRvm34B-adHjoK4_9dNMTV6hkef7RUtbw9FNXUVqA-BA5CPdvqJkbc7uiK7_bNi1KeAidk66Pr6GoPHveu-IHAvd3MPcQ5Bz_eKAJVF_KwJIbJUI/s200/P1010497.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinchilla - love those lashes</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyfg7oZZGfcO7oduaBeIJEujKbbohCJGidE-hQX9auiq6v9e6tJyTH68_vxHtfCBqt1eHv7qEifHcDdhGPHGmBMDAbQUteowsfbwl8z0d5ohHKhKWErR2iFyhBP0gSA1Z4vcdndyJqAM/s1600/P1010506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyfg7oZZGfcO7oduaBeIJEujKbbohCJGidE-hQX9auiq6v9e6tJyTH68_vxHtfCBqt1eHv7qEifHcDdhGPHGmBMDAbQUteowsfbwl8z0d5ohHKhKWErR2iFyhBP0gSA1Z4vcdndyJqAM/s320/P1010506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holland Lop - 'I'll have what she's having.'</td></tr>
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<br />October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-51256024279749031612011-11-09T14:23:00.000-06:002011-11-09T14:23:07.172-06:00Big Daddy<span style="font-size: small;">This is the junior buck I brought back with me from
convention. I was finally able to take some pictures! He's pretty
skittish; so getting him to sit still without looking around for an
escape is not easy...forget about posing. But these will have to do for
now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It was quite an effort to get him back home. I've never flown with an animal before and the new airport security measures make it very unpleasant. There are lots of TSA agents and scanners, for bodies and bags. When I made the reservation, they told me that I could ask for a separate room if I thought the animal might try to escape when I took him out of the bag. So I asked...what an ordeal! I do appreciate the measures that are now taken to ensure our safety, but I didn't want my new little guy running wildly through the airport! If I had just complied, I would have had to take him out of the carrier and carry him with me through the body scanner. Since they make you suspend your hands above your head in the scanner, I'm not exactly sure how this would have worked. Poor baby, he was even pretty freaked out when I took him out of his carrier in the quiet room they took me to. But, we eventually got through security and made it home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So, more about this chocolate tort boy... He comes from <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/schwandtsdiamondd/">Schwandt's Diamond D</a> in Wisconsin. His name is Schwandt's 1s131 and I've decided to call him Big Daddy (from <i>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</i>). I just love his coloring. He's nice and short and has a nice head, crown and ears. It's been a little over a week now since we returned home from convention and he seems to be adjusting okay. He tolerates body/head rubs without jumping now and I can hold him easier... it's a process.</span>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-31114748940408074302011-11-02T08:33:00.000-05:002011-11-02T08:38:04.042-05:00Indiana State Fairgrounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cute gift shop on the way to the West Pavillion</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">West Pavillion - looks smaller than it actually was</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I've been home for 2 days now and it still seems surreal that I was able to go to Indianapolis. It was an amazing, overwhelming, whirlwind trip. My mom went with me and she had to be back at work yesterday, so we were only able to go to the convention on Saturday and Sunday. Indianapolis was really beautiful. The fairgrounds were well kept and full of rich history. I didn't know what to expect, but the people of Indiana were incredible. In Texas, we pride ourselves on being hospitable. Indiananians(sp?), or Hoosiers, were like the folks back home - maybe even friendlier. I was talking with a woman at the grocery store about how high the prices were and she gave me her store card, not just to use, but to have for my trip. She was so sweet and there were others like her that were just as friendly. I had planned to post while in Indianapolis, but there was too much going on. Through every hallway, there were more and more rabbits...and a few ducks, dogs, and guinea pigs. I'll post more later, but I'm happy to say that I met my goals for the trip, didn't go over budget, and am the proud owner of a new buck and a doe. I ended up flying home with my new little buck (Homeland security check was interesting, but more about that later). I found someone to transport the doe I bought back to Texas. So, I'll pick her up on Saturday - yay! Overall there were a few disappointments along the way and many wonderful blessings. I'll remember it always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Loved the beautiful fall foliage! - Houston stays green all year long:-(</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots of interesting old buildings tucked around every corner</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Loved this old drugstore. Dates back to <a href="http://hooksmuseum.org/">1849</a>. Wish it had been open. So much nostalgia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Enough sightseeing for now...back to the show across the street.</span></div>
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<br />October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-7864139494846975442011-10-26T11:03:00.000-05:002011-10-26T11:03:24.212-05:00Texas Transport Needed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the drawbacks to flying is transporting the two rabbits I plan on getting there back home. It costs $125 per rabbit to take them in cabin on the flight home plus buying airport approved carriers, which adds to the cost of purchasing them (already a bit of a splurge). Is this pretty standard - it seems high? Or do most people just drive to convention? This may be too late, but does anyone know of someone from Texas (around Houston area?) going to convention that would be willing to transport two extra rabbits back with them?October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5486127437497524684.post-9578467104426142702011-10-25T09:05:00.000-05:002011-10-25T11:57:01.601-05:00Last Minute Change of Plans<style>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Initially, this was going to be a very different sort of post. The reality of driving 32 hours in a 3-day weekend was really beginning to sink in and last minute, inflated, flight costs would have put the trip well over budget. I seriously considered calling it off. Then Continental opened up some new nonstop flights for a great price...an answer to prayer. What a blessing! So, it's back on and I'm so excited!!! Not only because it's my first ARBA convention, but because one of my very favorite things to do is to go to a convention...an expo...even a seminar. Gather a large group of people together for a common purpose and I'm in! Add sweet, fuzzy bunnies to the mix and it makes the whole event that much more appealing. So, needless to say, my happiness meter is off the charts right now!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of: http://ookaboo.com/o/pictures/picture/13388849/The_Floating_Indiana_formation</span></div>
<br /></div>October Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13539085488941792696noreply@blogger.com0