Fall update

It is now approaching the end of September and the fall crispness is in the air. The maple trees and some perennials are beginning to change colors. The last of the fall shows are over and I am cutting back on rabbits and slowing down the breeding program so I am not having so much work during the cold months.

I have only one litter in the nest box and only a few does bred. I have been sorting and showing the summers best with good rewards. I am still waiting for the show reports from all the shows but the rabbits brought home winnings in all three breeds. The Californians did especially well bringing home a BIS with Mitchell's Lupin. My first home bred Silver Marten 'Twin' received repeated BOV and many BOB wins and a Reserve in Show. I was showing many new lines of Mini lops this year. They did as I expected, some winning and others not. I look forward to next season where I will be working with less out cross animals and more line bred litters. I have introduced many genes that I was hoping to establish, now it is time to concentrate these new genes into winning animals.

I have purchased a nice pair of black Silver Martens from Lois Fernyhough of Cedar Hill Rabbitry. I love the Martens, their beautiful look and their personalities. My goal next season is to work with both the blues and blacks and to increase their senior size. I have had good success of introducing several bloodlines in other breeds to achieve out cross vigor which usually increases their size and by selecting the larger offspring without forfeiting type.

The Californians have gone up a notch in quality and type this season. I will be working with three exceptional does in my core herd. I will be breeding both Lupin and Hosta in about a month. I will be showing Eclipse in February as she approaches six months of age.

I have selected several of my nicest Mini lops this season which will be coming to breeding age in the new year. This fall I will be working on testing several bucks and does; Smith's Paddy, Hillside's Kong, Mitchell's Lyra, Pro J's Diesel to name a few. I am also hoping to get a few new litters for juniors to show next spring.

Hillside's Kimmi is now bred to Alpine's Munchkin; Mitchell's Blue jay is bred to Tamashanter's Kenya, Milkhouse Summer is bred to Hillside's Kong, Posey's Phebe is bred to Simmond's Pluto Jr, and I am trying to breed Tamashanter's Kaylee to S&K's Stanley. These are all out cross breedings. The first line bred litter will be Mitchell's Jewels to Mitchell's Joe when Joe turns six months of age in about two weeks. I am also trying to get Velotta's Cattabrie rebred and maybe one last litter from Galaxy.

I have decided to keep a nice solid golden tipped steel doe (chocolate carrier) Mitchell's Liberty from a cross Mitchell's Twix and Pro j's Deisel. I am also keeping Mitchell's Taylor, a chinchilla doe from Mitchell's Ruby crossed to Simmond's Pluto Jr. I also kept a solid seal buck from this same cross; his name is Tank. I am keeping a broken lilac doe 'Jasmine' from Northern Lights Matilda and Pro j's Deisel and I cinnamon buck 'Geronimo' from the same cross. Tamashanter's Horizon produced a broken blue tort doe and a broken fawn doe that I am holding on to for now. If they develop nicely I will be using them in my tort and tri lines respectively.

My meat sales were brisk this year. Many people are now feeding raw food diets to their dogs and cats. I have also been selling lots of Californians as breeding stock and some Silver Martens. Many people are looking to raise their own meat with the recent problems with recalled meats. I again have an empty freezer. I was hoping to have it stocked with meat for the winter for my family........ I have a few fryers on the go.

I have been harvesting lots of vegetables from the garden. I dug about 200lbs of beautiful Yukon Gold potatoes. I have been enjoying snow peas, green beans, chard, yellow zucchini, purple haze carrots and tigerella & cherry tomatoes. The winter squash is growing like it is on steroids and the sunflowers are now well over 10ft tall. Goes to show how good rabbit manure is for fertilizer. The apples are close to picking, the quinces are delicious and the grape vines are heavy with grapes. I am now hoping the raccoons and bears don't beat me to the harvest. The deer have already pruned many of my flowers and some of the grape vines. The darn raccoons have also been knocking many of the apples off the tree. I am use to running them off at 3am with my spotlight and sling shot. *laugh* The family of barred owls have caught and eaten almost all the wild rabbits that frequent the property. I now have to keep a close watch on my yorkies so they don't become dinner!

I am about to begin a few more house renos as soon as the yard and garden is done for the season. My son's apartment gets a new paint job and floor. I also plan on painting my bedroom and the guest cabin. The attic needs new insulation and the lower barn is waiting to be converted to a working woodworking shop. I have a few orders for nest boxes, grooming tables and feed sifters. Lots to keep me busy in the fall/winter season.