Tulamore Farm & Rabbitry

We took the dogs to the Catoctin Kennel Club's AKC Rally Trials on the Friday after Thanksgiving and they both earned their 3rd and final legs for their RN Titles with scores of 95 and 94! They earned their first legs at this show last year. Our busy schedule does not allow for many dog shows so it has taken a whole year to get the 3 qualifying scores (70 or better) needed for the title. The next titles we will be going after will be Tracking and Agility. I've been messing around with my camera settings again so the picture quality is not what it should be.

Carolyn and Homestead's Red White and Bosco CGC RN on the course. Great example of how the dog and handler should work together.

Penny showing the attention and enthusiasm that is so important to Rally.

Rally, or Rally-O(bedience) is an AKC event that encourages interaction between dog and handler. In the regular obedience trials, every movement is judged on precision with the dog only to be given one command. Rally is a "looser" form of obedience. All the commands are incorporated but you can talk to and encourage your dog through the course but without touching your dog or tightening your lead.  There are over 30 exercises that are used (different number exercises dependent on the level)  to set up in a pattern on the course with varying degrees of difficulty depending on the level of competition (novice to excellent). Each course has an optimal time and points are taken off for exceeding the op. time.

We are very fortunate to have a rally instructor work with our 4-H club and the kids really enjoy it. I am working on having a rally competition added to our county fair this summer as right now, the 4-H kids only have one opportunity during the year to compete in Rally at the 4-H level and that is at the MD State Fair where entries are limited. I personally feel that Rally is a great way to keep the kids encouraged in the training of their dogs. They often "hit walls" with their obedience training and the interaction in Rally helps re-focus their attention.

"Yep -- Got another title!"

The stork has found its way back to our house! Lilliana delivered 2 chubby babies last Friday and so far all is looking good. I'm sure Dad Luna would be very proud (if he knew). I'm excited about these babies - Lilliana won 2 open BIS, an open B4C and retired with 5 GC legs. Luna was BOS at the '09 Nationals and earned 6 GC legs. Both Lilliana and Luna earned many BOB's. These babies have some great bloodlines behind them so let's see how they develop.

Two Days Old

Not exactly cute and cuddly yet, but I am so, so happy to have some new angora babies!

Photographing animals can be quite a challenge. It is even more of a challenge with a white or black animal. Over- and under-exposure are more likely with the amount of light reflected off those colors. A long topic of conversation at last night's photography class was the picture of Anouk as an alien - very over-exposed. It was very helpful as we discussed light metering and shutter speed and apperture.

Taking pictures of white rabbits that move at the speed of light is an entirely different issue. The two Dwarf Hotot babies like to romp on Carolyn's bed and I take pictures. I swear they sound like a herd of Shetland ponies galloping across the bedspread. They are rarely still enough for a good picture but it does make for some fun shots. This is what most of them look like:

or like this . . .

or this . . . .

Are they getting tired?

Close enough!

Slowing down . . .

They are just catching their breath - they'll be at it until they are put to bed! Electric Bunnies!

Here they go again!

Trying to catch up on the blogging! Most recently, we went to the Baltimore & Howard Co. RCBA show. We were in one of our rainy spells here in MD but it was only a minor annoyance at the show. We were able to set up grooming tables and blowers in the adjacent barn at the fairgrounds.

Annie was first up with the Flemish Giants. Shaun and Jules both placed 2nd in their good sized classes. We were very happy for friend Jennifer - her now 6/8 Sandy doe (from the great guys at The Hoppitry) won her class of 4.  Annie's wonder-boy Nick earned his 12th leg winning his Sandy Sr bucks class and was BOSV. Maura was the third set of hands helping put and keep the Dwarf Hotots on the table. Will and Spidey were hoping for their elusive 3rd legs but Ilene Funck took BOB & BOS. Her senior doe is one of the nicest DH I have ever seen. Ilene also had a good day winning BOS Holland Lop - a breed very new to their barn. Woo-Hoo Ilene and Margaret! I'm sorry, I don't know how your Silver Fox did.

This is my lucky pin - a very detailed depiction of my first EA doe, Severine. This beautiful enamel pin was made by Bev at The Horse Brooch. Check out some of her other work:  http://www.horsebrooch.com/

It was a good day for the Angoras - I wore my lucky pin! Delilah took BOB & BOV colored, Tinker Toy won his colored senior bucks class and was BOSV, Anouk won her white junior does class and was BOV white and Helen won her colored junior does class. BOS was Dru's GC Shepherd's Aslin. We've really been enjoying these recent close-to-home shows and love Dru's visits. She brought us some delicious apple cake that she made with apples from the week before. Yum!

We've packed in 3 shows since Oct 24th. It's been pretty exhausting but I think we will try to go to the Richmond show on Dec. 5th. I really enjoyed that show last year - everybody is so nice there.

I am hearing more and more stories of people losing rabbits to diseases picked up at the shows. I know how heart breaking this is after losing Aspen in September after the Delmarva show where he granded. My message to exhibitors: please, please, please - if you think your rabbit might be sick, leave it at home and take all the necessary steps to get that rabbit well, keep the other rabbits healthy and eliminate the source of the illness.

Nimwe, Will, Spidey and Mordred wait for DH judging

Nicky's right at home in the holding coops

Jennifer's 6/8 doe Adeline

Life is never dull around here. There's always something going on. Today I met my friend Thevee at the Tractor Supply store for some fun shopping - I remember when fun shopping to me meant Saks or Neimans! She needed to pick up a grooming table that Dru had made and left with me last weekend so we added a little thrill to the trip with the TSC shopping spree.  While standing in my driveway chatting, a truck pulled in. It was a man whose family had bought two angoras from me more than two years ago. Here is a picture with Maura the day they left for their new home:

and here they are with some of their littermates --

Their family has fallen on some hard times and could no longer take care of the bunnies. So here they are back with us. They are not in "horrible" condition but needed some mat removal and talon clipping and they could use some groceries. Annie and I worked on them after dinner. Here are before and after pictures:

Fawn doe before

Fawn doe after

Lilac tort buck before

Lilac tort buck after

These bunnies come from my original lines. Their mom, Severine, always produced the most intense color. She was a vibrant fawn. There has been discussion about there actually being red English Angoras in existence. I'm not sure where those discussions lead but there are 3 reds on Severine's pedigree.

I'm sorry that the family is having such problems but I am glad that they thought of the welfare of their bunnies and brought them back to me. We'll get them fluffed and plumped and find good homes for them. They will always be our babies.

UPDATE: Our two fosters are doing very well and will be going to their new home soon. Here are pictures from 11/16/09.

Speaking of visitors, when Dru visits she always brings gifts. She must know how much we are enjoying Maura's Call Ducks - look at what she brought us!

I went to the Shenandoah Fiber Festival rabbit show organized by the Blue Ridge Rabbit & Cavy Club on Saturday. While it was a "Wooly" show with only the wooled breeds sanctioned, there were many other breeds represented as well. Big Congratulations to my friend Dru Shepherd winning 2nd Reserve in Show in both shows - Show A with her blue Jersey Wooly doe GC CR Blue Skies and Show B with English Angora buck GC Shepherd's Aslin. English Angoras GC Shepherd's Sweet Pea and GC Shepherd's Aslin flip flopped BOB and BOS honors in both shows. The show staff was so pleasant - I can hardly wait to go back next year! And it's always fun showing with Dru. We got a bonus this weekend - Dru was able to spend some time with us at home.  The weather was pretty nasty on and off all day but it looked like everyone was enjoying the show and fiber festival.

GC Tulamore's Thing One (Tommy) was the only colored sr buck - he was praised by both judges (Chris Howell and Owen Yates) for his strong body and amazing wool. Tommy's coat is reaching the end of the line and may be clipped down soon. He is still happy and eating well so we'll see. Little Anouk made her first appearance on the show table and was 2/3 in both shows. Anouk came to me from Dru. She is the daughter of GC Tulamore's Andi - a black doe from Linden's first litter and always one of my favorites. Anouk's sire is GC Shepherd's Adonis - Apollo's brother. All in the family! Helen was the only colored jr doe but again got wonderful comments from both judges. Sam finished second to Dru's Aslin and then went to a new home in Virginia. Delilah remained second place bridesmaid to Dru's Sweet Pea in Show A and placed lower in the second show. The second place doe in Show B was Tulamore's Caprice, a black doe now owned by Dru.

All of these rabbits (except Sweet Pea and Aslin) are descendants of my opal herd buck Angel's Drops of Jupiter (Angus). Angus sired Tommy, Delilah, Caprice and Sam. Tommy and Sam are Linden's sons while Delilah and Caprice are MM's daughters. Anouk and Helen are Angus' granddaughters (Anouk from GC Andi - Angus x GC Angel's Linden; Helen from GC BIS Lilliana - Angus x GC Linden). Anouk is sired by GC Adonis and Helen is sired by GC Apollo - littermates. Boy - that made me tired trying to get it all straight!

Anyway, it was a beautiful sunny day today so I got out the camera and set up out in the front yard. It is NOT easy taking pictures of angoras on a windy day! As soon as you get every piece of wool just so, the wind reverses your work. I probably should have moved inside but I didn't feel like setting everything up a second time. So here they are in a natural, windblown look.

Shepherd's Anouk, REW junior doe

 Growing out some chewed baby ear furnishings.

Tulamore's Helen, chestnut agouti junior doe

 She looks just like mom Lilliana

GC Tulamore's Thing One - Tommy, black senior buck

Tulamore's Delilah, chestnut agouti senior doe

 The wind coming from the other direction

 I love agouti faces

An Alien

Cyclops!!!

We received the best kind of show reports today - the ones that contain legs. Six to be exact  from the Delmarva shows and the Flemish Specialty. Still waiting on the Angora and DH Specialties.  Little Flemish Giant Jules, who isn't so little any more, earned 2 GC legs her first time out.

Tommy is now Grand Champion Tulamore's Thing One. Tommy was Annie's pick of the litter. Annie always appoints her self the guardian of the weak. There were 2 markedly smaller babies in that litter - a black and a white. This was our Dr. Seuss litter and Annie named them Thing One and Thing Two. REW Thing Two went to a lovely family in Virginia and Annie insisted we keep Thing One, whose name mutated into Tommy. He's a lovely buck and I've had fun showing him.

Grand Champion Tulamore's Thing One "Tommy"

 Another rabbit earning his Grand Championship is Tulamore's Aspen. Unfortunately this story has a sad ending. Delmarva was Aspen's last show. He picked up a respiratory bug and, despite all of our best efforts, passed away four days after the show. I am so fortunate to have Dr. Wendy Feaga so close by. She has helped us in some very difficult situations. Thanks Wendy for trying so hard with Aspen.

"Litter Pan Bunny" at Easter Time.

Aspen was destined for big things. He was born a whole day before the rest of his littermates and found cold in the pan of the cage. His "mom" called me, in a panic, and I talked her through warming him up. Within a couple days he was the robust baby in the litter. Excellent job "Mom"! By the time he was 2 months old it was obvious that the name "Litter Pan Bunny" no longer suited him and he became Aspen. He was a very sweet boy and very dramatic - bounding about his cage and flipping toys trying to get my attention. If that didn't work, he'd flop himself down, almost on his back, with a huff.

This has been a very difficult loss. He was just six months old and such a bundle of energy. I miss hearing his signature bell-ball bouncing, calling me downstairs where he spent the summer in the air conditioning. By the time the first show of the fall season rolled around, I knew I had something special. Even though the paperwork won't be completed, he was a Grand Champion - I never doubted that he would grand. I thought writing about him would help, but I really miss Aspen.

Grand Champion Tulamore's Aspen

YES!!!! We have some babies - finally! I've been afraid to say anything about these new guys because of the string of bad luck we've been having. They are two weeks old now and seem to be thriving. It's too early to tell if they have what it takes to be show quality but right now I'm just happy to have some little guys to crawl around on me.

I love the Dwarf Hotot little flat faces and tiny ears!

This is a repeat breeding of GC Veronika's 7 Gun Salute (6 legs - a love bite grew back black hairs and ended 7's show career) and Tulamore's Archimedes (2 legs). Their first litter produced 3 beautiful does including chocolate banded Nimmy.

Momma Archie

Pappa 7. Archie and 7 both earned BOB's at National Capital RBC double shows.

While I was at the Maryland State 4-H Dog Bowl Competition, my friend Dru was up in Lebanon, PA with her English Angoras and Jersey Woolies. And, again, GC Shepherd's Sweet Pea wins BEST IN SHOW! This is one hot team! And Dru's JW Blue Skies earned her final leg to grand.

BIS Grand Champion Shepherd's Sweet Pea

Other great news from Lebanon is that our friend Whitney won Reserve in Show with her homebred Belgian Hare doe. It makes me very happy that two such nice ladies did so well at this show.

Whitney's Belgian Hare doe awaiting BIS judging.

September 26th finally came and I headed off for the much anticipated Delmarva Rabbit & Cavy Breeders Assn. show at a new facility in Easton, MD. Not only was this a double show, there were specialties for all three of our breeds: Angoras, Dwarf Hotots and Flemish Giants. The  girls were anxious to see how the Flemish would do at their first show since last spring and Annie wanted to  get her DH Will out to see if he could get that elusive 3rd leg. Mordred and Spidey also came in with 2 legs. So entries went in for 5 angoras, 3 Flemish Giants and 3 Dwarf Hotots - double show and specialties. I thought I could handle things by myself at least for a while but when we figured out what time the girls would get there after soccer games, I realized that they would not get there until nearly the end. Never again! Throughout the day it seemed that all 3 breeds were judged at the same time. Thank goodness for the wonderful and helpful rabbit friends that helped make sure the McGraw rabbits got where they needed to go. Thanks to Dru and Thevee, Joyce and Marilyn and Margaret, and my favorite youth Flemish breeder Amanda. I could hardly remember my own name by the end of the day. Even with all of my personal confusion, this was a very well run show and the show committee and specialty secretaries were welcoming and helpful.

Another reason this show was special is that we were going to visit my sister and brother-in-law at their new home just south of Easton. We don't get to see each other often so any time we can spend together is a good time. I was somewhat surprised when my sister told me they bought a house in Maryland. They are long-time North Carolina residents and in recent years have spent a good amount of time at their townhouse in Alexandria, VA - taking full advantage of the cultural experiences that area has to offer.  Their new home is beautiful and I'm sure they are looking forward to spending many healthy and happy years there. (And that we get to visit often!)

I'm going to go right to the highlights of the show: in Show A my good friend Dru Shepherd won 1st Reserve in Show with her beautiful tort EA GC Shepherd's Sweet Pea (she's Tinker Toy's sister). And then, after I had gone, in Show B Dru and Sweet Pea won BEST IN SHOW! I am thrilled for both of them! Since I began showing angoras, Dru has set the standard. Not only does Dru put outstanding quality rabbits on the table, they are impeccably groomed, especially well cared for and are all very special to Dru. Last year, at this same show, I had gone home early and Dru won BIS with Sullivan - I'll have to remember not to wait for Dru to go up for Best in Show in the future! Dru honored Sullivan by wearing a beautiful scarf made from his wool!

Dru with GC Shepherd's Sweet Pea and her 1st Reserve in Show trophy

To tell the truth, I am not positive about all the results for the 11 rabbits that I brought, so here's what I remember. Annie's boys did well with DH Will winning his sr buck class in all 3 shows and family favorite FG Nick placed second in all three shows to an outstanding sandy buck in very large sr. buck classes. This may have been Nick's last show. He is 4 years old and has done all he needs to do. He has the best show record of any rabbit we have ever shown and Annie feels he deserves a nice quiet life. We did, finally, find a sandy jr. doe for friend Jennifer. Thanks to Stephen and Bill of the Hoppitry, a beautiful 5-month-old doe is now residing here in MD. We're anxious to get Jennifer to a couple shows - I think she'll do very well with this gorgeous doe. And then, maybe a rendezvous with Nicky. The DH sisters, Mordred and Spidey placed in the top half of their very large sr. doe classes - I think 3 & 4, and 4 & 5. I have to admit I missed most of their shows. Shaun the light gray FG placed second in all 3 shows, and again, I missed most of it (thanks Amanda for handling this). Lt gray jr doe Jules had an excellent day placing 1st of 5 or 6 in two shows and (again I will refrain from comment) 2nd in the last show.

I am waiting for the show report to make sure I am correct about the angora placings. Delilah was up against the beautiful Sweet Pea and this was Sweet Pea's day. I think Tommy was BOS in 2 shows, and that's about all I can remember. Old Age! A lowlight of the day was not finding the time to give Dru the photo shoot I had promised - hold those coats Dru and I'll get up with my camera!

So the high points of the day were Dru's big wins and spending time with my family and my sister at her new home, not to mention the excellent dinner on the water in Oxford. October is a very busy month for my family and we will not be able to attend any shows until the Carroll Co. and Baltimore/Howard shows in November. Enjoy the great fall weather!

Dru and Thevee during Show A Best in Show judging. See Dru's scarf? That is made from her Sullivan's wool - he won BIS at this show last year!

I don't know who this little guy is but he is just the cutest little thing I have seen in a long time.