Rabbitry Goals 2012

Let's see- Rabbitry goals for 2012.

Keep the herd to no more than 35 animals. I have happily cut down on the size of the herd this year and I'm liking the smaller numbers.  I don't want to go above 35 animals (although that number may fluctuate as litters are born).

Take a BIS.  I finally got my Reserve in Show.  I want to bump it up a notch and take a Best in Show in 2012. I feel like I have several animals that are deserving of that honor, it just all depends on what they look like on any given show day.  Fingers crossed.

Keep the website updated. For this one to work, first I need to get the website updated.  It's my goal to get new pictures of the rabbits up and keep them updated in 2012.

Take a Top 5 in Sweepstakes Points.  This goal is going to be more difficult.  I was so close in 2011 but close doesn't count. I'm hopeful, but at the end of the day, this is probably the least important of my goals.

I think rabbitry goals are important.  Every year I sit down and think of where I have come from and where I am going.  I was blessed this year to cross off everything on my list.  It was a big year for rabbits and for me- I sent two rabbits overseas, took a class and opposite of group at Convention, won a BRIS with a homebred wooly, placed 6th in Sweeps and worked through a terrible tragedy, including the loss of my beloved Tryon.  I hope that 2012 brings more joy and bigger accomplishments.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Keep's Rabbitry- including Keep's Sunset and her brand new litter of three! :)

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

What is your favorite memory?

A friend of mine asked on facebook for a favorite memory from 2011.

Three stood out in my mind, but the one that meant the most to me happened almost a year ago.

In February I attended PaSRBA and I took Keep's Tryon with me .  By the end of the second day, he was a mess, showing off, trying to climb judge Donyelle, jumping in and out of the coops- generally just showing his butt in the cutest way possible.

When he failed to win BOB or BOSB (it was oh-so-close), I picked him up.  He squirmed until he was sitting on my hip just like a small child will do.  I smiled down at him and I clicked and clucked to him, just to distract him from wanting to wiggle.

He looked at me, twitched an ear and then clicked back! He chattered his teeth lightly in the same rhythm I did it, talking back to me for several minutes.  I've never felt closer to an animal than I did then.

I'm typing this trying desperately not to cry, but I have pretty much failed.

I still miss him so much.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Do it Anyway.

This was posted on my friend Lindsey's blog.  I just had to share.

The Paradoxical Commandments
... by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

2011 Goals- Revisited

Every year I write my goals out.  Every year I revisit the post and see what I wanted to accomplish and if I did. Below is my post from December- 2010.

Hmmm. It's that annual time of year where I sit down and think of what I'd like to accomplish this year. I always really enjoy this, but it's difficult sometimes to put what I want to do in words. After all, I can't exactly say I want to make the perfect rabbit because yes- that's what we are all trying to do! Every year, I up the ante just a little. If I don't hit these goals, it's ok, but I want to always push myself harder to reach the higher goals!

Top 20 in Sweeps- with reduced shows! I may be cutting down on the number of shows I go to, but I'd still like to secure a place in the Top 20.  This year I placed 6th in Sweeps!  What an incredible honor.

BIS/BRIS with a Homebred- You know the deal on this one :D. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride! I'm hoping for it in 2011!  It finally happened! With just a month or so to spare in the year, Keep's Panda brought home a Reserve in Show to Keep's Rabbitry!

Win a class at Convention- I won a class and BOSG at Nationals, I'd really like to take the honor at Convention this year!  Honestly, this was my dark-horse hope.  I never dreamed this one would come true, but this year Keep's Puzzle brought home a 1st place in the Self Senior Doe class and went on to place BOSG!

I am so incredibly proud of what has been accomplished at Keep's Rabbitry this year. I never thought I'd have a list (even a short one) that was fully completed.  I'll be getting to work on my new goals for next year and posting them soon!


-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry