Nationals has come and gone!

Oh gosh- well after two months of nothing but Nationals-centric posts, it's come and gone!

I miss everyone already- I really do.  I went out to dinner Sunday night with a group of 9 other people and we ended up sitting in the restaurant for nearly 3 hours, talking, laughing and just enjoying each others company.  Luckily the restaurant wasn't busy, so we weren't hurting the waitress's income!

I met so many new people this year and got to enjoy renewing friendships with those that I barely get to see.  I really do miss you guys already! Please come back soon :).

I also learned that I need to come with a disclaimer, since my sense of humor comes off strangely sometimes and I have to explain to folks I'm kidding.  My In-laws still don't have a full handle on it, so I guess I can't expect strangers to pick it up instantly either.

Amber at Wonder Woolies in California & Joni spent the night at at the house this weekend- too much fun, though we exhausted each other with our constant talking! I wish we had had more time to hang out and had been less tired!

All my sales rabbits went to great new homes and everyone seems happy with their purchases, so I'm thrilled! I also managed to sell the 9 excess chicks I still had- so I am down to just one cage with 9 chicks that I plan to grow out a little longer.

So- on to the results!  I was very pleased for the most part, considering the lack of coats and condition.


Nationals
Panda- 2/11- So close!
Zumba- 3/7
Poplar- 5/21
Tribute- 4/15
Heart Throb- 5/15
Epiphany- 5/13

Not too bad :).  Poor Panda placed 2nd in 3 shows and took BOSG in two!  His son  Zumba took 2nd in two shows, 3rd in two shows and won his class once!

Poplar is my big winner, he took BOSB in Show B on Nationals Day!

Keep's Epiphany did very well- she is almost 3 and was tearing up the table with her top 5s- including BOSG and BOG the Day after Nationals!

Tribute's placements were very good- Top 5 in four shows (twice he was 2nd! SO close!) and then one judge placed him fairly low in the class.

All in all, a very good set of placements against some very beautiful animals.

Pictures to come soon!

-Kristen

Almost Go Time!

It's almost that time! Then you won't have to hear about Nationals for a while.

My entries are in for all the shows.  Man, it was difficult to decide who to take, I know the competition is going to be tough!  It sounds like everyone is in the same boat as far as condition and coats go though- this funky winter weather has thrown all the bunnies for a loop!

Joni is so excited she is coming to my house Friday morning around 11am! I told her I might be showered by then!  Amber Henderson from California is also coming to stay with us, so it will be a fun couple of days!

Kitty Lynch volunteered me and Joni to help set up the Jersey Wooly booth and to help put together the welcome bags for the Wooly people! I am looking forward to it, Kitty is too much fun.  I am also looking forward to seeing the welcome bags- I know a lot of work has gone in to them and there is at least one fun surprise in there!

I hope that everyone coming is safe in their travels, all your bunnies arrive safely (and moltier than mine, hehe!) and we'll see you all this weekend!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Leap Year Day

Man, I wish I had bred some does to be due on this day that barely exists!

It's a rainy day around the house.  No does are due for a while.  Everything is just on hold until the Nationals show is over.  I know that's all the blog has been dominated with lately, but my last show was a while ago and the next one coming up just happens to be a big deal!

I've added a few chickens around the house.  I will have some of them for sale in Greensboro- they are bantam cochins.

I may have a few rabbits for sale in Greensboro, though it seems like most of my sales list has already been spoken for.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Hooray!

Today marks the "Only Two Weeks Until Nationals" point! I am starting to make decisions on who will be going and who just won't be in coat for the show.

Keep's Puzzle (BOSG at Convention) kindled three beautiful babies to my buck Keep's Tribute.  I am beyond excited for this litter, both parents are just beautiful!  It does mean Puzzle won't make it to Nationals to show, but I'll take a healthy, gorgeous litter over being able to show her any day!

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Busy busy!

Wow, so much has to be done between now and March 10th, it's almost overwhelming!

I've got several friends coming to stay at our house for Nationals- I can't wait to have our "bunny sleepover", but it means I've got to get the house cleaned up and better organized before they arrive! With a rambunctious puppy, it can be hard to keep her toys from littering the entire floor.

I am a Youth Assistant and this year I am in charge of creating the Youth Royalty tests.  This has been a particular challenge because I don't own a Standard of Perfection and I don't have access to last year's test- so I'm flying blind on this one!   Thankfully I have wonderful friends who are willing to help me figure out good questions to ask.  This has managed to up my stress level a little though- ack!

There is the usual amount of rabbit chores to take of- cages to be cleaned, carriers to be cleaned (I tend to get hay all over mine, I should move them...) and speaking of hay, I need to go buy a new bale.  Tattoos need to be touched up and I've just given up on doing a sales list and pictures! I've been talking about the animals as people contact me looking for something.

I've been grooming the baby woolies and trying to work with posing them.  I'm hoping some of the juniors will make it to Nationals, but I'm not sure right now who I will be showing.  With there being 5 shows, entry fees are going to add up fast.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry

Nationals Approaches!

We are just barely more than a month away from Nationals.

I am so thrilled that it is in North Carolina this year.  Not only is it close, a lot of my far-away rabbit friends are coming! I'm happy that they will get a chance to show down here and see how we do things.  NCRBA State Convention is one of my favorite shows already and to get to share that with people I very rarely get to see just tickles me to death!

I haven't even started looking at who I plan on showing.  I'm hoping the weather picks a temperature and stays with it so we can get coats grown back and condition put on.

I wish the people coming out had longer to stay- the NC Zoo is so great to visit and it's not too far away from Greensboro, where Nationals will be held.  I would love to take some of the friends around town, but I think we are all probably going to be exhausted by the time the show is over each day.  Ohh well, since I won't be attending Convention this year, I'm just happy to see the out-of-towners for the little bit of time they will be here!

-Kristen

Barn and Babies

Nova kindled two beautiful babies and a peanut.  She had a gorgeous marked broken black and a solid black. I am hoping for does, but the way my luck has been running, these will both be bucks.   I am still waiting on Snow, Bahama and Muse (Muse is now overdue and probably didn't take).

I have decided to completely rearrange my barn.  I plan on permanently removing at least another two stackers (which will be for sale along with some single holes once I finally get pictures).  

I've also decided on a few more rabbits that will be for sale, along with a "?" list where I need to commit to either keeping them or not.  After Nationals, it's very definitely going to look a little bare in the barn!

Oh well, it just makes more room for new babies.

-Kristen
Keep's Rabbitry