Due to the tragic loss of Grace this week to suspected murder there is a chance I will not be attending the show this weekend in Maryland. I am awaiting details of her memorial service and hope to know for certain soon.

For those who would like to know what happened, the news story is here:

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1108/571292.html

Should I be unable to attend the show this weekend I will be at the Ayelett Show on December 6th, it will the be the last one for the 2008 show season, a whole year comes to a close.  What a year it has been!

I have been working on the winter theme of the website and should have it launched soon, right after Thanksgiving is my goal. 

All the bunnies are well, I have some cute craft photos I will share with you tomorrow, my messed up apron, Pepperoni's sweater and more. :)

Edit: 12:10 pm

I ordered Sophie a new collar off of ebay as an early Christmas present for Sophie/Momma. The collar is beautifuly made and I found it on ebay, you can check out Colleen's website here:

http://foryourpet.net/

Here are some photos of Sophie and Trixie modeling the new collar.

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 9:01 AM EST

Updated: Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:16 PM EST

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There are so few people in this world who from the bottom of their hearts to the very top are completely genuine, kind, and greet each day with a smile.

We lost one of those wonderful, unique individuals yesterday, and I cannot comprehend why. I am dedicating today, and every day to Amazing Grace, my beautiful and sweet coworker who passed away so unexpectedly.

I will miss her terribly, not a day went by since my date of hire at Caring Hands that Grace has not brightened my day.. just a few days ago we were giggling and planning all sorts of future adventures. I will carry those memories in my heart always.

Besitos e abrazos mi amor, siempre. <3 Te extraño.

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 2:48 PM EST

Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:50 PM EST

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Ah the dream of cute little fluffy baby English Angoras may always be a dream here at the rabbitry. I am not convinced Ruby has taken... she is quite the stubborn gal.

I've been busy working in and out of the rabbitry. I cleaned today and my mom was so kind, she painted the grooming room and it looks great! I've been running the Rhinelanders on the running board, they're getting better at it every day. I've been posing the 3 hares also, they really look great. The more I compare Putz to Trixie and Sassy the happier I am, he really compliments their faults nicely, I cannot wait til they are old enough and mature enough for their first litters, it will be so much fun to hear the pitter patter of baby hare feet again! Just a few more months to wait...

I'll be at the Baltimore & Howard show this weekend with the Hares and Rhinelanders, only one more show after that this year until the PA convention next February, gives me lots of time to play with the bunnies, get some rabbitry work done (ahhhh that barn...) and so forth. With my work schedule lately and so much homework I haven't had a chance to update the website or take new photos but I hope to have some free time this week to do so, poor Putz and Blizzard still have no pictures, not to mention the house rabbits.. its quite a challenge to get all 6 house bunnies to sit still.. 

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 6:19 PM EST

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The play was a huge success, thank you to all who attended and to those who sent well wishes. Even with a 30 second pause of forgotten lines and struggles to get back on track during the final performance it went really well. I am so proud of the Actors and the Director, they deserve an enormous congratulations for a job well done! Its been a whole lot of fun and of course work too being a part of Teatro sin Fronteras this fall, I don't know quite what to do with myself with all my free time I now have. No matter, in a few weeks I'll have finals then be working full time over winter break, that should keep me occupied!

In Bunnydom I have been keeping busy. Not much to report, the new bunnies from Convention are settling in very well. The Rhinelanders without a doubt have made themselves at home, they're always racing about their cages or coming to the door for nose rubs, they are a very inquisitive and fun breed. I work on running them every day for a little bit on my newly constructed running board. They are getting the hang of it, I am looking forward to showing them for the first time on the 22nd! Putz my new hare is settling in too, I am hopeful I'll get a nice new photo of him up on the website tomorrow, along with updated photos of Trixe and Sassy.

Its hard to believe that out of my first litter of 11 I only have these two gals left… after all of the losses and placements into new homes. Sass and Trix turned 8 months old today.. What a saga it has been since this past March. I am so fortunate that my 3 extra special "thousand dollar" bunnies, Scotch, Surprise and Kaluah have loving wonderful pet homes where they are doted on. My hare hutches seem so empty with only these 3 left but it is a special and wonderful feeling to know that my hares are now scattered across the country making new strides for the breed. Razzle is all the way across the country in California; Rebel is in Michigan probably causing all sorts of trouble for Jenny. Bandito has a new girlfriend in North Carolina, Edie (Kaluah) and Francis are hopping about happily down there too while Scotch and Surprise are settling into their new home in Tennessee.. I expect and anticipate that in a few months my little girls will be all grown up with their own litters! It’s a little hard to believe. 

In a few days I will be celebrating my one year anniversary of owning a rabbitry. I don't know quite how to celebrate, certainly it will be a day of reflection over the many events that have come to pass this year. It has been a year of learning, full of ups and downs and many times when I almost called it quits. Some how or another I’m still going and feeling very positive right now, with a Belgian winning BIS and Sassy placing so well at Convention I know I’m stepping in the right direction with the hares, it makes all of the struggles worth it. I am really optimistic to see what is to come.

One thing that I do hope is to come is a successful, live litter from Ruby and Blizzard my English Angoras. I hope that early to mid December I will be happily posting news about a litter from them. Ruby is of course extra special to me, not only is she a beautiful gal who in her very short show career earned a leg, but she is my first show rabbit ever. I can only imagine the fun it will be to raise a litter of baby floofs during the holiday break. Cross your fingers that I have some luck with her!

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 10:15 PM EST

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Just a short post today non-bunny related mostly. I have lots of bunny things to talk about, but that will have to wait until after this weekend when my Spanish Theater group's performances have been completed.

For those of you in the DC metro area who speak Spanish or want to have an opportunity to see a play performed in Spanish I invite you all to our Fall comedy "Te juro Juana que tengo ganas." It should be a good show, this week has been very busy putting the final touches on everything, I am really looking forward to tomorrow's first show!

 Here's the ad for the show! I hope some of you can attend, I am the assistant director/stage manager. 

I did vote on Tuesday, it was my first opportunity to do so in a presidential election, since I was 17 during the last presidential election. It really was amazing to walk around campus these past few weeks and see so many people my age interested in the election and being proud to be able to cast their votes. I am pleased to say that candidate I supported won, and I am even more thrilled to see Virginia is now a blue state. I am definately looking forward to seeing how things change with this election and what is to come over the next four years.

Bunny updates to come Sunday most likely, although I did have a chance to do a quick update to the website. I've been plucking Miss Ruby, her wool is just gorgeous, long, soft and ready to be spun. I have so many knitting projects I want to finish/start and a variety of other crafty things, hopefully next week with play practice over I'll have a chance to really buckle down on those things. 

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 2:50 PM EST

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Its so strange being back in the "real world." After a week in a bunny bubble its difficult to adjust to being around people who don't love the rabbit hobby like I do. I'm back to work, tomorrow I go back to school and its been a challenge to get back into the swing of things.

I had such a nice time at Convention, it was without question an exhausting experience, but it was also so much fun and such a wonderful learning opportunity! I feel much more knowledgable about rabbits now that I have seen all of the ARBA recognized breeds in person.

Speaking of breeds, I've been harbouring a secret these last few days which I am thrilled to reveal. Since I cut down to a trio of hares and am only keeping two senior angoras I've added a new rare face to the rabbitry. Keeping with the arched tradition, I'd like to introduce our three new Rhinelanders!! 

This pretty lady is Fajita, aka Chromatic, she has really nice type and is quite a big gal for being only 3 months old!

This little baby who is enjoying his leaf is Tamale, aka Sweet Stuff. He is just a baby but so cute and fun to play with.

Last up is Pinto Bean aka Dakn, he took 4th in his class of about 18 rabbits at Convention. He is a very nice fellow and loves to binky, he is the oldest at just 6 months!

So there you have it; Rhinelanders! I am already in love with them, they have so much spirit. I'll keep everyone posted on how they grow and develop and perhaps sometime next year I may have a litter from them! Thank you so much to their breeders for taking the time to educate me and get me started with such nice animals! At the moment I am looking forward to showing them along with my hares throughout the end of fall and the begining of winter.

 I'm going to try and get some new photos of the hares, all I have left is Sassy, Trixie and my new buck Putz, (I'll have to get a shot of Sas with her shiny ribbon from her placement at convention!) Putz is settling in slowly, he is a very nice buck and will compliment my gals so well. I couldn't be happier with him! Thanks Jenny.

I have my Spanish play this week and after that I am looking forward to focusing on my bunnies, school and work exclusively, I can't wait to have more free time to play with all the bunnies. 

Before I close for the night here's a cute video of my sister's dog Lexy bobbing for biscuits. My work had this activity at their open house and Lex liked it so much there we thought we'd try it again tonight. I think it was a big hit, my poor dog Pepperoni was too afraid of the tub to play... 

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 9:46 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, November 2, 2008 9:47 PM EST

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Mood:  happy

Today was a fantastic day for the Belgian Hare. As an exhibitor it is such an honor to know that your breed was given the honor of winning Best in Show at ARBA Convention.

This great rabbit, a fantastic senior doe belongs to Shannon of NY. A huge congratulations to her!! I couldn't be more excited!!

Here is a photo of the big winner and her Convention caretaker and transporter; Sheila. It does not do her justice, sorry about the red eye, she is just perfect in person. I couldn't get a better one but she is a beautiful doe, a feisty gal who is such an exemplarly example of the breed. I can only hope and dream to work towards producing a hare some what like this. 

I am so tired right now I can't post much more on the blog tonight. My rabbits didn't do too hot, which I didn't expect them to, this is my first convention after all, and the hares I showed were all my starter stock or bunnies from my very first litter ever. It was quite a surprise and thrill that Sassy placed 5th in the senior doe class, she is only 7 months old and this was amazing to see; her class size listed on the comment card was 18!

 Tomorrow should be a relaxing day with judging over. I am looking forward to sleeping in a bit and enjoying Kentucky a bit more. 

I would like to extend a very special congrats to my fellow rabbit habbit friends who all placed very well! You guys rock!

I am looking forward to a bright future with the hares, I have a new buck to work with and only positive thoughts for what is to come with my hares!  Much more tomorrow hopefully about all of the showing fun!

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 10:34 PM EDT

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Day 3 of Convention is almost over, its been a whirl wind that is for sure! Holly and my bunnies have not been judged yet... the classes are so large and the judges are being very thorough so open Hares and youth English Lops will go up first thing in the morning tomorrow, we are both very excited!

We spent most of today meandering through the convention hall, there are just SO many bunnies to see. We watched a variety of breeds be judged including open English Angora, open Rhinelander (whose club I am now a proud member) open English Lop, and all breeds of Cavy.

I never realized how much walking and how much work goes into ARBA Convention, it really is tiring but a whole lot of fun too. Between admiring all the bunnies, buying neat things from the vendors, stopping and chatting with old friends and new I have managed to sell off all of my hares that were for sale. This is a very big relief as that I am now officially down to a trio, 2 does from my first litter and a new buck from Jenny! All of the hares are doing well, it takes a while to feed, water and hay 7 rabbits along with keeping their coops clean. I am excited to see how my bunnies do tomorrow when they get up on the tables. All of the bunnies seem pretty tired of being in their tiny coops, my hares are used to so much freedom and such large hutches they are pretty annoyed. None the less Trixie and Rebel have been binkying around like maniacs in their itty bitty coops. 

 I've been taking a whole bunch of photos and will continue to do so over the next few days. I am hoping to get a photo of every breed! I'm also going to have Trixie professionally photographed for my winter Holiday cards, hopefully she will cooperate.. 

I'm so tired so I will end with a bunch of new photos, enjoy!

Presentation Rabbit, Blue Velveteen Lop, reminds me a bit of a donkey? They're cute in their own unique way!

Presentation Rabbit, Agouti Lionhead junior. 

Long haired Guinea Pigs (Cavies) being judged. I'm sorry but I do not know what breed they are, they are beautiful though!

I believe this was the piggie that won its class. Where is the head? 

English Lop (open) senior solid bucks being judged

An adorable youth meat pen, these litte bunnies are SO cute and they eat constantly!

A Creme D'Argente pretending to be a lop..? 

Blanc de Hotot, first time I have ever seen one, gorgeous rabbit, sweet too!

Shepherd's Nomad. What a cutie, and a total ham sandwich to boot. <3

Last minute Angora grooming, lots of top exhibitors featured. Unfortunately the angora blower/grooming room was too far away to take them there and back just prior to putting the bunny up on the table. 

Shepherd's Jitterbug, a gorgeous senior doe posing prior to going up on the table. Seeing such gorgeous angoras makes me nostalgic for the days when I showed them. :)

Spanish Oak's St. Elmo's Fire AKA my baby ELMO's son!! He got 7th place in his class out of over 30 rabbits!!

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 9:01 PM EDT

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Just a very short blog tonight, I'm exhausted from all of the excitement with Convention. All of the bunnies are fine, many I had for sale are already sold which is fantastic. Here are a few photos, many more to come over the next few days. Judging begins tomorrow, wish me luck!

Holly's English Loppers and my Belgians about to be wheeled into Convention

A few of my hares cooped in hareland, check out the Checker bucks behind them!

One of the checkers, feisty bunny, but look at that pose! 

 A very adorable Tan!

Posted by suburbanbunnies at 10:12 PM EDT

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