Tulamore Farm & Rabbitry

The PA Convention is an absolute favorite - huge show, 4 opportunities to show our breeds and the chance to draw a new judge - someone you haven't shown before (always nice to get different opinions). It was very strange this year for us - I drove Annie and the Flemish Giants and Aby Pumpkin up on Friday to meet Carolyn but I had to be home for Saturday. Pizza party in the room with Dru and Anita and I ended up spending the night but headed back home in the morning.

Carolyn's Flemish did very well on Saturday and Annie showed Aby Pumpkin for me in the open show. Love that Allen Mesick judged (but sorry I missed him) and Aby placed a respectable 3/12. Saturday afternoon/evening brought snow to Maryland and I decided to head back to Lebanon late in the evening to avoid overnight freezing.

Aby ended up in the middle on Sunday under Morgan Schutz but from what I am learning, it's the older does (around 2 years old) that have reached their peak and top the classes. Aby is 7 months old and I have confidence that she will mature nicely. I thought she looked amazing on the table! Karmann Ghia is the only Angora I have in coat and she just hasn't popped her coat yet - might be the strange weather we've had this winter? But she's young so maybe things will improve for her in the spring.

Jules and Porky went to new homes - Jules went back to her breeder Amanda and I'm really happy that my fav Porky went to Donna. I know they'll both be well cared for. Bugatti and Jigsaw also went to new homes - miss those boys.

Really nice to see was Bri winning BOB and 2 legs with Evander! Evander went to Bri last month and looks wonderful!  (Bri's pic of Evander below)

From this . . . .

GC BIS RIS Tulamore's Sweepstakes

And this  . . . . . .

GC RIS Tulamore's Boum

To this . . . .

White and Lilac Angora Cowl

It has always been my goal to nuture a baby born here through a successful show career and then produce a garment from their wool - conception to completion. I've had a number of pretty successful show rabbits, I've harvested their wool, learned to spin (well, still a novice) and Annie got me started knitting. But there just hasn't been the time to complete a project. Sweeps and Boum's coats were sitting in bags and I really wanted to be wearing my two favorite girls so I reached out to some good friends and Angie and Ashley Shaw spun and knitted this lucious cowl for me! I absolutely love it and will always be thinking about my beautiful does and the lovely ladies who did this for me. Love you guys!!

Now I think I'm inspired to do it myself!! (Although it will take a while for me to knit so well!) 

Happy Thanksgiving from Aby Pumpkin and all the McGraws!

I've resisted for a long time but my will power was drained last Sunday by a sweet flat face with wool behind it. Introducing Stacy's SE Aby - American Fuzzy Lop broken tort junior doe. We'll test the waters but for now, just some fun with this amazing little girl.

 I'm not the only one who couldn't resist these cute little guys - Anita's daughter also went home with an adorable broken buck! I hope Melanie joins us at the shows!

Cool, dry and sunny - perfect weather for being outside. Most of the stink bugs are gone and the flies that remain are pretty slow and easy to smack. This is my time of year. It's been crazy trying to catch up after being gone for 6 days to Convention but I'm getting there. Taking some time from chores to groom a couple bunnies a day.

Sweeps was clipped down in June after her retirement. She's grown a lovely new coat and it's time for another haircut.

Her great type shows through that thick coat.

Maus was clipped in June too and she's also got a nice bag of fiber for me.

One thing I've been working on with my angoras is rise, depth over the hip. Zatarain has great depth and he's passed it on to his first litter born last May. This litter has been a little slow to develop but they are starting to pop now.

Lamborghini has a solid body and his coat is starting to even out and mature.

Carrera did not go to Convention. She must have picked up mites at an early October show - don't want to share those!! All cleared up now, it's back to grooming. She is the spitting image of her dad and has a great rise.

Hopefully everyone will get to enjoy some nice fall weather before winter sets in!!

Finally . . . made it to Convention!! What an exciting trip. Alyssa went with me and the good conversation and same taste in music and food made the 9 1/2 hour drive easy. The Suburban was packed solid with 10 angoras, 2 Flemish Giants, 2 Dwarf Hotots and a French Angora on it's way to a new home.

The big winner in English Angoras: Marcus Rhoden of MI with BOS Sr Buck on the left and BOB Sr Doe on the right. Congratulations Marcus!! All your hard work paid off!

English Angora judging was intense with 113 entered. BOVand BOSV white, as well as other top placings, went to Linda Cassella. My senior does were well past prime which was stated on their comment cards but they all got really nice comments for type, texture and length. My juniors did pretty well with Lamborghini placing 4/16, Bugatti 5/16 and Bentley 7/16. Karmann Ghia placed 6th in colored junior does - she's just about to pop her older junior coat but it just wasn't there yet for Indy. So much left to learn!

Lambo and Bugatti

In French Angoras, Charlotte won both BOB and BOS - huge!  And our PA A-Team dominated the Giants - Ashley with BOB and Alex with BOS. I don't know about the Satin Angoras - sorry.

Dr. Chris Hayhow judges 188 Dwarf Hotots.

There was a spectacular showing of Dwarf Hotots and I'm so thrilled that Sharon Toon earned BOS with her senior doe Petal. Awesome accomplishment for Sharon who has worked so hard on these little guys. Our Jazz placed 15/39 which I was ok about.

13 Light Gray 6/8 bucks. 417 Flemish Giants entered, judged by Jamie Green and Bob Shaftoe. That's Porky in the first hole.

The Flemish boys, who just turned 6 months old in October, held their own with Porky finishing 5/13 light gray and Spanky (sob) 4/5. They has really good comments but the competition was very deep. In the light grays, Judge Jamie Green noted over and over about the quality of bucks on the table.

Porky just wants me to give him a hug!

Lots of pics that I will post in the photo gallery as I get time. So much to catch up with at home. We also want to welcome GC Chu's Aurium to our little family. Thank you Alex!! Let's see if he will bring what we are all looking for - density!! He's a very sweet older boy and I think we're buds already. His daughter took a 5th in the very deep colored senior does class for Alex.

 Aurium!! Could chocolates be coming soon?!

Convention was truly and experience. I'm so glad to have met and talked with so many people - chatting with Betty Chu, Lynn and Nicole Wilson, Marcus, Maggie Chapman, Joan Hastings, and many more. Also thankful to Linda for all the advice she sent my way going into this. I was very flattered that the gentleman who won BOB Flemish was very interested in ours but by the time I got the final ok from Carolyn I couldn't find him. It must be destiny that they both came home with me.

Little opal Karmann Ghia drew lots of attention with her color.

Time to see if I can fall asleep now - after crashing on the couch for a couple hours this evening, i've been wide awake when I should be catching some z's. I'll start posting pics in the Photo Gallery.   

After not being able to show at DelMarVa, I decided to throw in one more show before Convention. We had great weather and a big turnout for the Oct. 8 show in Lebanon, PA. I brought all the Convention hopefuls to make final decisions.

Grooming on the dock area

We had a great turnout for angoras - each one of them beautiful!! I think the English had the biggest numbers including 14 colored senior does. I don't think I've ever seen that many in a class.

 Some of our group - Dru, me, Anita, Angie and Alyssa.

In the first show, Tulamore's Drama won the big does class getting that senior leg to grand. She went on to BOB and 2nd Reserve in Show! A surprise in this show was junior Tulamore's Carrera in her first show winning BOV white. I really can't remember the rest of the placings. In the second show Tulamore's Berry BRiGHT won the does class but the BOB went to Alyssa's Tulamore's Cosmo, fresh off his BISS win at DelMarVa.

Drama with her 2nd RIS ribbon

I didn't get to fixing the Dwarf Hotot sisters' tattoos so grabbed Alyssa to help and she got one done before they were giving me last call at the table. Soul was dq'ed for an illegible tattoo and I'm not sure where Jazz finished. Second show was a little better thanks to Alyssa's ink work. Not sure where Soul finished but Jazz took a very respectable 3rd.

Our new little buck Good Hope George. He's so tiny and look at those ears!! I think he's just what we need. Thank you Joyce!!

The Flemish judging was intense too. I entered Spanky (white) and Porky (light gray) who were still juniors by a few days. In the first show they both won BOV over a good number of seniors and 6/8's. I never heard a call but missed the light gray classes in the second show but Spanky got BOV white again and oh so close for BOS. Great day for those boys and I decided to enter them for Convention.

So, so, so much to do before Convention. Hope to see a lot of you there!

Thanks to Louise and Angie for the pics!! 

The DelMarVa rabbit club puts on a huge event each September with a double show and Specialties for many breeds. This year I couldn't show because I had to drive from Easton to Ocean City for a lacrosse tournament with Maura. But I did get to spend the day at the show with lots of good friends and I was actually able to help out a bit - writing, helping with the UARC Specialty, etc. Very different not having the bunns with me but a good day.

In Show A, Dru's beautiful Peony won BOB and went on to win 2nd Reserve in Show - Yay Dru!! In Show B, Alyssa's Tulamore's Cosmo took the BOB. In the UARC Specialty, Alyssa took the big wins with Cosmo in BOB, Tulamore's Ch'aska BOS and Cosmo won specialty Best in Show!! Way to represent the farm Alyssa!! Tks!

Judge Mary Ellen Stamets presents Alyssa and Cosmo with their BOB Specialty prize - a portrait donated by Alyssa!! BIS prize was a custom portrait of the winner -- got that done yet Alyssa??  Alyssa donated portraits of all 4 angora breeds for the specialty BOB's. The Osborns won BOB French and Matt won BOB Giant. No Satin.

The lacrosse tournament was at a beautiful park on the bay in Ocean City. Maura and I went for pizza between games and got down to the beach.

I started a post to catch up on all that has happened over the summer - but I give up. As I think of things I will post on them, There are pictures from the county fair in the photo gallery - we had a good fair!

Ponyo

So, the first shows: Mill Hall, PA 9/4/11. Single show for the angoras and again we had 9 colored senior does. Ponyo got this win and the BOB. I brought 2 of the little May bucks and the black won the class and BOS. Bob Shaftoe from Canada was the judge.

T60, his BOS trophy is almost as big as him! (I didn't have my camera, so posting this nasty pic) 

There was a Flemish Giant specialty so they got to show twice. Carolyn only brought the juniors and in the specialty one of the light gray bucks won BOV, beating the seniors, for his first leg. Huge number of Flemish and for BOB Judge Eric Stewart sent all but 5 back, keeping the junior buck up  there but he did not get the breed win. He went really far for a junior and Eric had great things to say about him and his brothers. That same buck was BOSV in the second show. The white buck won his class too.

Dwarf Hotot classes were awesome. 37 in the open show with Judge Bob Shaftoe. Tulamore's Jazz, in her very first show wins BOS. In the MADHC Specialty, 29 were shown and again Jazz wins BOS with Judge Paul Kyle. First 2 shows, 2 legs.

Almost didn't make it to Charles Town. The Suburban is out of commission but we packed who we could into the Corolla. It was great to have Annie with me for the day and we've just got the best angora group - Anita, Alyssa, Ashley and Matt today. In the first show, Anita's Tulamore's Stella won BOB and went on to win 1ST RESERVE IN SHOW! 

Anita with Tulamore's Stella winning 1st Reserve in Show at the Blue Ridge show 1. Judge Chris Howell 

Alyssa's Tulamore's Cosmo was BOS in both shows. I haven't seen him since June and, wow! He has an enourmous coat that is even and fresh. He looked awesome. The second show was awful for me - Drama was dq'ed for having white hair between her toes (not), Ponyo was dq'ed for having white under her tail (she's a chestnut - she's supposed to have white under her tail) and the little black buck was dq"ed for having lighter "fur" on the bottoms of his hind feet. Seriously?? We showed the judge the standard for chestnuts (had to start somewhere) and he looked at it, shut the book and said "no". I didn't bother discussing the others. He tried his darndest to dq the opal buck, flipping through the SOP, then says "I assume this is a blue tortoise?" No, opal. Then he couldn't dq him. He dq'ed another exhibitor's rabbit for white nails which we could all clearly see were not white and made remarks on nearly every rabbit that he could dq them. Now if there is an issue, I'll accept it. But these were bogus decisions. It was tough but I kept my mouth shut after he wouldn't accept his mistake with the chestnut. Infuriating.

Carolyn with Maple Dell Paddy Grace who won Grand Champion Premier National Junior Ayrshire of the All-American Dairy Show. That's quite a title! I wish rabbits won titles like that!

Ok, that's over so we'll move on. I'm anxious to go to Harrisburg this weekend. Carolyn won a PSU scholarship to cover the All American Dairy Championship Show, writing press releases, taking pics, etc. She needs some things from home so I will meet her the morning of her first day of duty. She's so excited!

I was really happy with the Dwarf Hotots today. Tulamore's Jazz and Soul are daughters of GC Funck's Giselle and GC BIS Tulamore's Pi. Very, very sad but we lost Pi this summer. We didn't lose any rabbits during the heat and it was a total surprise to lose Pi after things cooled down. He was my little buddy and it's just not the same without him. But his daughters are making him proud! In the first show, with 11 senior does, Jazz wins with sister Soul in 2nd with Judge Stacey Sauter. In the second show, under Judge Wendy Feaga, Soul places 2nd while Jazz was 4th. Jazz, between Mill Hall and Charles Town, earned 3 legs in her first 3 shows. Tulamore's Jazz - GC Pending! Needless to say, there was not room in the Toyota midget car for the Flemish Next time.

Must miss the next few shows because of commitments at home and LAX tournaments. So far the plans for Convention in Indy are still a go. I was really pleased with the North American Angora Rabbit Breeders Club end of the year sweepstakes results - I am ranked 5th in the US/Canada! My rabbits were good to me last year! The bummer is that I would have been ranked 4th - the last show we went to in June advertised nearly all breeds as sanctioned but in fact they never sent the sanction requests. That would have been another 110 points.

I'm sure there are many of us ready for some nice fall weather after the scorching hot summer, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding - it's been truly awful for some people. With evening temps in the 40's later this week, I will begin the bunny evacuation from the basement back out to the rabbitry. The basement was just the safest place this summer. I have several angoras available - 2 junior bucks who have been to a couple shows and gotten great comments; a super nice, well bred, young brood doe prospect; and a sweet doe for fiber or pet. A couple GC bucks available soon. 

Enjoy!!