Yard Sale was a Success

I am tired! Okay, we had the garage sale Saturday and Sunday. It was a very pleasant experience, though at first it was hard watching several of our nice things being sold for a very reasonable price. Since I had closed my private practice office, I kept lots of toys, furniture and other items that people bought at our Yard sale. We were left with a few items, but we are going to store it in our shed and hopefully have another yard sale some time soon.

It was really hot out there, so it gave me a new perspective on the people that work out in the field doing either yard work, construction, etc. I got sunburned, though I was sitting under an umbrella.

The yard sale was to teach Johnny how hard it is to work for money. Johnny got a great lesson and so did I. It turns out that he couldn't stand the heat much and I ended up being outside doing the selling, though he helped a lot in the morning and during the day when I had to come inside to prepare lunch for us.

Overall, we made $96.00! Woohoo! This was a lot more than I ever though we would make. Now, I decided to give Johnny all the money and told him that his goal is to spend it wisely. I am trying to figure out if he is able to save some of the money, purchase some shorts he wants, or if he spends all the money in candy. He keeps telling me he is "responsible" enough to get a cell phone. I told him I was testing him. So if he passes the test, good for him, if not, good for me!

I have faith in him and hope he manages the money wisely. We'll see.

Oh, and what can one do while sitting outside waiting for people to visit? Well, I combed lots of CVM fiber I had. Now, I have lots of fiber and will be able to spin some yarn! I'll post pictures of the combed fiber soon.

Catching up on the News

Some times we get all caught up on our own woes that it is easy to just forget or not think of the tragedies or issues affecting the world today.

It is important to always look forward and acknowledge those that have left us, but their legacy will live on.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy's death has swept the world and many people have felt a great loss.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver , Special Olympics founder and sister of JFK, died recently, and a great advocate for special needs people.

Preparing for a Yard Sale

We decided to clean our shed and found lots of awesome items that we've collected and we really don't have use for anymore. Also, since I closed my business last year, I have so much furniture and therapy equipment that I don't use much either, so I hope we can sell them and make a few bucks in preparation for the September show.

This week has been a tough one. Being a bit under the weather with allergies has not been fun. However, grooming and prepping the rabbits daily has been a rewarding experience. Plus, spinning and knitting helps me relax. I hope to finish some more spinning this weekend and other projects that I'm working on.

Rabbit Site

I was browsing the internet and came about the site http://rabbitweb.net/. I like this site as it gives tons of information about rabbits, health, care, etc. It also has some articles about news events regarding rabbits, so it makes it a very interesting site.

Jennifer's new rabbit

Our friend, Jennifer, sent us a picture of her new Flemish Giant Rabbit named, "DooLittle" . He's cute and HUGE!

New Scarf Pattern

I handspun Alpaca/Merino (two ply 50/50) in a fingering type yarn and liked the way it came out. The colors are dark and bold and quite masculine so I decided to knit a scarf. I could not find any specific pattern to work on until I came upon one I liked. I found this easy to work with pattern at: SpinDyeKnit named "Rabbit Tracks Lace Pattern" and decided to give it a try. I like the way it is coming out so I will see if I can finish it soon.
Once it is complete I plan to knit this pattern again, but this time using 100% black/gray angora wool.

Wise words for all Angora Breeders

As the month of August is soon to end and we prepare for the upcoming September show, I wanted to share some wise words from our friend, Linda Cassella of Silvertone English Angoras.

(Please visit Linda's awesome blog where she not only showcases her great English Angoras, but also gives excellent tips for new and seasoned English Angora Breeders).

In 2005, Linda won ARBA Convention. She mentions the important ideals that have taken her and her rabbits to the top:

Enjoyment
Intensity
Visualization
Discipline
Confidence

and most important

Integrity

New Beanie in the works

Okay, I should've released this posting earlier, but honestly, I've been a bit lazy.
I am already working on another Angora wool beanie. However, this one, does not seem to be coming out as I planned so I might have to rip it and start again. I am still deciding if to do a simple pattern or a ribbing pattern.

Spinning Frenzy

I was supposed to upload this Friday night; however, I kept going on a spinning frenzy that I was beat by the time I finished. I handspun 2 singles of the BFL roving I bought from Lisa @ Somerhill Farm. I carded some of the Tropical Punch with the Antarctic to add a "punch" (no pun intended) of color to the yarn. I finally finished plying it. I was not too happy with the results as the colors look great individually, but when mixed together the hi-lites are not too impressive. Well, at least, that is how I feel right now. I will have to wait until I wash it, whack it, dry it, and knit it. Probably, the knitted item will look great once I finish it. I'll see how that goes. In the mean time, I included pictures below.

Salt & Mineral Wheels

I was talking to our great friend, Linda Cassella, of Silvertone English Angoras, about proper nutrition for the rabbits. Linda mentioned to me about the use of Salt & Mineral Wheels for the rabbits to lick/chew on and I just had to get them.

The wheels provide some minerals that certain food might not provide. Plus, the rabbit will be a bit more thirsty that usual, which is great as they will drink more water and maintain their bodies properly hydrated. In this tough heat, it is extremely important for the rabbits to drink plenty of liquids to keep from over heating.

The wheels can be attached high on the cage so that it will not get into the rabbit's coat. Also, this makes the rabbit stretch out a bit and enjoy their treat.

One word of caution is that the Salt and Mineral Wheels can rust the part of the cage that they are placed on.

Texas Rabbit Breeders News

Today, I received the Texas Rabbit Breeders News from TXRBA. I was so impressed and excited to see the newspaper full of information about the Association and the excellent Tribute to the late Bob Whitman, by Carrol Hooks.

It was extra exciting to see the names of my sons, Johnny and Martin, as winners in several shows we went to representing the English Angora breed in Open Shows. They also were listed in the Youth Show section for their Thriantas.

Great news from our friends.

Our good friends from Bunnybees Rabbitry have great news. They shared that their children, Taylor and Cameron, are starting their own projects. They will be preparing to show their new bunnies by next year.

They are purchasing their breeding pair of Fuzzy Lops the week of August 24th from a breeder out of Spring Branch, Texas named Dee Burgess.

Below are pics of the soon to be family members. The buck is 4 months and is a broken blue and the doe is 6 weeks and is a fawn. They are SO excited.

We wish you good luck in the Show Ring. I know your children will love the show arena!

Ricardo and Julia, well, not really...

I want to go see the movie, Julie and Julia, but since the boys don't want to go I have to make my plans to go alone. In the mean time, I took some pictures of our dinner today. It tasted really good! Hopefully, next time, I'll be brave enough to cook traditional Spanish "Mole" dish. I did not want to go through the extra long time to cook it, but maybe next weekend I'll feel a lot better and cook it. We just love the "Mole".

Tiffany, posing for the camera

This is Tiffany, she is so silly and thinks she is "it". I took some pictures of her and she came out so cute so I decided to share this pictures. Sorry for the eyes, but i could not get her eyes to comeout her normal color due to the flash in the camera.

Note: Sorry, I've been feeling ill and had not had a chance to release this posting sooner.

After the rain, beautiful flowers spring up

The rain was welcomed and the ground was a bit muddy for a while. However, the best thing is the beautiful flower that bloomed and the new buttons popping up.

Rain in San Antonio!

We got lots of rain this evening! We need rain in San Antonio so it is always welcome. Our yard is flooded on the area near our neighbor's home. The rabbits were a bit spooked with the thunder, but safe and relaxed inside their shed.

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

People have already begun to take advantage of the awesome opportunity to watch the 2009 DALLAS COWBOYS TRAINING CAMP in San Antonio, Texas!

Wash cloths

A friend from work just had a baby girl. I wanted to knit something special for her so I decided to knit two yellow cotton wash clothes for her baby. I enjoyed knitting it so much and the boys were intrigued at the "embossed picture" that came out that they asked if I could knit something else. I found a pattern for Transformers and, of course, it was a success--they loved it! Now I have to knit a couple more, as Martin and Johnny want one, but also their friend, Chris wants one, too.

Below is the "flower" shape wash cloth.

Below is a "blank" simple wash cloth as I felt it would be good to only have one embossed.

Below is the "Transformers" wash cloth. I had a very tough time taking the picture of it, but I managed to get most of the image to show up. It looks better when you see it live, of course, but I'm very glad at the results.

Baking Cup Cakes

Johnny and I decided to bake cup cakes. Reality is he wanted a cake, but I thought otherwise. I had him help me out and told him he has to learn to bake, cook, clean, etc. My parents always taught my siblings and I how to care for ourselves and now it is up to me to teach Johnny and Martin. Of course, baking cup cakes ended up being fun and exciting and truly delicious!

Registering a rabbitry

Some breeders do not register their rabbitry and might consider it unnecessary. However, registering a rabbitry is a good idea in order to have a name recognized. The American Rabbit Breeders Association offers its member the opportunity to register the rabbitry for a small, on time, fee of $5.00, provided the membership does not lapse. ARBA will list the Registered Rabbitries in their website in alphabetical order.


One of the reasons to register your rabbitry is to demonstrate who you are and so that nobody can use your name or vice-versa. It can be quite challenging while choosing a rabbitry name, if one does not use their personal name; also, many people can think of a name that is already registered without even knowing it, thus, registration will prevent that name from being used.


For more information on registering your rabbitry visit the ARBA website.

Registering rabbits.

Registering rabbits is a very important thing to consider. Some breeders choose not to register rabbits at all and leave it up to the buyer to decide. One can say that registering the rabbit increases the rabbits’ worth. While some breeders might not agree with that statement, we believe it does, maybe not worth more monetarily, but definitely worth more, overall, in proving the purity of the lineage. In addition, registering the rabbit will insure that if the rabbit wins at least 3 legs, then one can send them for a Grand Champion Certificate.

True, a breeder simply pays $6.00 to register the rabbit. However, the fee, though small enough, serves to have the rabbit thoroughly inspected by an ARBA licensed registrar who found the rabbit within the breed specifications and attests to no disqualifications at the time it is being registered.

The ARBA licensed registrar, upon inspecting the rabbit and pedigree will tattoo the right ear attesting that the rabbit is registered meeting ARBA’s standards and specifications.

Once a person registers a rabbit, ARBA will send a certificate showing the registration of the rabbit. ARBA has different “merit” awards depending on the number of registered rabbits in the rabbit’s background pedigree.

Therefore, it is imperative that breeders register their rabbits to demonstrate the purity of the breed, increase the worth of the rabbit and the credibility and reputation of the breeder.

In conclusion, when one is ready to register their rabbits, insure that one has their ARBA membership card available. Bring an extra copy of the pedigree to give to the registrar. However, it is extremely important to insure that all the weights and other pertinent information are recorded in the pedigree (make sure that when purchasing a show quality rabbit, the breeder has completely filled out the pedigree and has not left blanks). Have your checkbook or cash ready to pay the registrar for the service.

Please note ARBA’s rules and regulations regarding registering rabbits:


Current ARBA membership card
Only an adult rabbit, 6 months or older may be registered.
A 3-4 generation pedigree that is completely filled out (extra copy for registrar)
The rabbit must meet the standards of the breed (color, etc.)
A Check or cash for $6.00.



For more detailed information on registering rabbits visit the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) page and some of the rabbitry links on this blog.

Preparing for Upcoming Show in September 09

It is important that one prepares for a show at least 2 months in advance to insure the rabbits are in good shape to be shown. Here, at Road To Angora, we’ve been working diligently to preserve the rabbits’ show coats as best we can in order to show and compete in the September 09 show that we've been patiently awaiting.

We’ve been blessed by having received wonderful advice from two wonderful ladies in the Angora world, Margaret Bartold and Betty Chu. We had the pleasure of receiving a brief, but well taught, mini session on grooming angoras by Margaret. She assisted us at Shows when we were showing out of State and showed us the ropes. Since then, we continue grooming the rabbits with the blower and slicker brush in a proper manner to insure the optimum coat in our rabbits. We’ve also received excellent advice via email from Betty Chu ever since we acquired our Chu’s Frida Khalo. One of the greatest advices we received from Betty is on the importance of setting up a strict routine to groom the rabbits. We are always impressed at Betty’s awesome angoras and can appreciate the work she puts into insuring the best coats in her rabbits; hence, the strict routine habit is well understood.

At Road To Angora we continue working meticulously with the whole coat and not just the “fluff” that demonstrate the true representation of the breed. It is also important to work on the bottom/belly area and the legs—to remove the mats and insure their coat is clean and soft.

We use different brushes that we’ve been collecting over time. When a the tines of a brush are bent or missing, it is time to replace it, so careful watch/care of the brushes and combs are important. We also have different size of scissors that we use to work the mats off, clip the extra wool, and trim areas that need to be trimmed.

There are many other items one needs to utilize to maintain the coat of the English Angoras; however, like a very wise lady once told us, routine and habit in caring for the angoras is paramount to having a healthy herd.

P. Ricardo Gonzalez
Road To Angora Rabbitry

Wool Mites in Angoras

Today, 8/4/09, was the day to treat our herd against wool mites to insure their proper health and care. Therefore, I decided to discuss a bit of what we do to care for our herd.

Since having our Angoras, we've experienced wool mites in two occasions. One of the times, one of our best doe lost part of her coat and had to be clipped. The other outbreak we had was quickly taken care of through the use of Ivomectin and some cat flea powder.

One of the symptoms of wool mites in the angoras is when you notice flaky skin resembling dandruff. There may also be some matting, too. It is important to inspect rabbits daily to insure that they are healthy. The rabbits' coat can be blown daily for few minutes to clean the out or what we like to call, "dust out". Lots of dust and/or mites/dandruff will fly out; therefore, be prepared with mouth/nostrils and eyes covered to avoid inhaling them or having itchy eyes.

If the outbreak is small and there is a bald spot, we usually sprinkle some cat flea powder and rub it lightly with our hand to cover the affected area. However, we also use Ivomectin by injecting subcutaneously into the rabbits' skin. One can use paste, too, but we've found it a bit difficult to use with rabbits.

Be aware that using the syringe will definitely sting a bit and the rabbit may be a bit jumpy. Insure the rabbit is held properly, inject quickly and don't hesitate. If the rabbit jumps and is let go, the needle might get stuck and hurt him more. The result will be a bruise and sting, that the rabbit will begin scratching and get a small scab, which is not good for the rabbit.

Summer and show seasons are good times to use the Ivomectin to avoid the infestations of wool mites.

However, it is always best to consult a veterinarian for any questions or problems with the rabbits. Some people think that it is expensive to take a rabbit to the veterinarian and, in actuality, it can be expensive, however, if one is not ready to pay for the bill then one should carefully consider if having angoras whether for pet or show is right for them.

Please note that we are not veterinarians and this is only our way of treating our rabbits to combat wool mites. We recommend one consults with veterinarian or other professionals to insure proper care of your herd.

family visit

Today, Sunday was a great day. We had the chance to visit my brother in Victoria, Texas, to celebrate his birthday. My mother was there, too, so it was an extra good experience. We had a long weekend, but we still managed to return home early, we cleaned and organized the rabbit shed and arrange plants. Overall, it was a wonderful day.

Below is Martin gasing up. Johnny is bored as he wanted to gas up. It is not often that they argue to help out.

Below Martin and Johnny and their "guela" (slang for grandmother).

Below is a family portrate, but actually there are lots of other siblings missing! Yes, I admit, we are a very huge family!

Below is cute Joseph. He is my baby-bro Roy's youngest baby. (Roy is the one in the burgandy shirt in the picture above)

Today was a great day. We cleaned the yard, moved some plants around and planted some with rabbit poop as the fertilizer. We did not get to clean the rabbit shed, but will do that tomorrow everning. In the mean time, I managed to see some clients at work and return home, spin up some Alpaca fleece and now I'm ready for bed as I'm beat!

I am hoping to spin some CVM fiber I have nad then ply it with the alpaca. This was a fun time.


Okay, you can see my ugly foot here, but I just could not move it on time.

Atlantic Roving arrived!

Today was a wonderful day. Going to the Post Office was exciting as I knew I was getting the roving I got from Lisa at Somerhill Farm. I am already airing it out and I have to tell you, the color is so vibrant! The pictures on Lisa's site and our blog do not do justice to the beautiful color of the roving when you see it live!

Like always, Lisa worked her magic with the dyes and completed a deep, vibrant colored roving. Pictures will be posted soon.