DeniseJP
Well-Known Member
No longer am I on the quest for bunnies...the bunny god brought us to Ohio yesterday on the Checkered Giant Express.
The day started out EARLY - even for someone who shows horses. I had never been to Ohio and wondered about the state - my late friend and farrier Linda Best, who passed away a few weeks ago from pancreatic cancer, had said we should go to Columbus to show our Shetlands at the Ohio Stat Fair and now that I know where it is, and the access is easy, I will have to make the trek again in her honor, with my Shetland Nefertiti, who Linda had known since Neffie was "in the oven."
Before we get to the bunny update, let me introduce everyone here since you will hear me mention the other humans and animals that reside here.
I have been married to Tim for almost 21 years and have two boys - Andy (19) and Benjamin (almost 18). My "adopted" son Greg is actually Andy's best friend from growing up in a town called Fairport, NY... Greg lived across the street and he and Andy hung out together from ages 5 and 6 until Andy went to college. Greg lived with us for 2 years when his dad and stepmom moved away and then Greg decided to move to California. It was a rough start for him but when I talked to him on Friday, he is finally enrolled in college (he wants to be an English teacher) and he is working. When he left, it was like one of my own leaving the nest but he loved California and wants to make it there so I am glad he is still living his dreams, as hard as it may be.
Back to myplace on the hill, we have the horses: Dipper (23 year old retired Morgan show horse/broodmare), Weatherly (her 3 year old daughter), Nefertiti (3 year old Modern American Shetland Pony filly), Freedom (8 year old pinto American Miniature Horse) and Mercy (celebrity miniature show horse).
Then there is Bridget (7 year old German Shorthaired Pointer), Quinn (3 year old cement-headed but loving yellow Lab), Mrs. Whiskers (8 or 9 year old Siamese), Jeff (2 year old orange tabby DSH cat), Fern (white or pink 5 or 6 year old potbelly pig), Cider (black 4 or 5 year old potbelly pig - girl) and the assorted fish and a corn snake named Scratch (I inherited him when he was purchased for Benn as a birthday gift when he was younger and Benn decided that he was not a snake person. I wasn't either until I met Scratch.
When the boys were little, we raised and showed Holland Lops. Winslow and Torianne were our first Hollands and a number of rabbits joined us over the years. They crossed the Bridge at different times and when my last two Hollands and my Rex rabbit passed of old age, I figured I was going to be rabbitless. But, three years of empty cages and hutches did not work out and I remembered back to a time when Andy was ten and he was at a show and wanted Checkered Giants. The one breeder at the show was very discouraging: "Why do YOU want to show them? You're little and they bite, you know. They are not like your Hollands - you should stick with them." He offered to sell us a pair after talking with him but never returned our phone call and as Andy aged and we got out of rabbits, we put the thought on the back burner.
But, back in the fall of 2008, I realized something was missing in my life. I have many animals... as Tim would say "You have too many %$#%@ :censored2:animals." It was the rabbits - so I began the quest for the Checkered Giants in October of 2008, in hopes of showing at the January 2009 show in Rochester, NY. It was not meant to be. I tried the specialty club and with the help of the newsletter editor's aunt (I think that is her title), she gave me lists of breeders close to NY state. One never returned my calls or emails, despite being recommended to me. Two others did not have rabbits but wanted to get started up again. They both recommended going to Ohio as "that is where you will find the best Checkered Giants."
I joined RO in December as I was so frustrated I had to speak with anyone who understood the need to have a rabbit...Tim did not understand and Benn thinks I am a few sandwiches short of a picnic...to him, going to the mall and going makeup and clothes shopping is a much better pasttime.
I was welcomed - which I was grateful for. The RO community seemed to understand the quest. But being bunniless was torture so Axel and Juno joined my life after I went to the January 2009 rabbit show in Rochester. Sadly, no Checkered Giants were in my cages as I would have loved to show under Glen Carr, the CG judge that day.
I learned about binkies (they were not something babies put in their mouths - but in my house pacifiers were called "the sucking thing" after a baby in some movie wanted his or her "sucking thing."). I learned that rabbits like parsley and Craisins so Axel and Juno were given goodies like that, along with hay and a reduced amount of pellets from what I used to give my former Hollands.
I learned that rabbits LOVE turnout time and that it is fun to have them in the house when I am doing chores... there is nothing like watching them explore, play, binky and half-binky and some up to you to give you a good chinning.
And finally, I began speaking with a breeder in Ohio who had the Checkered Giants I was looking for. Andy decided to travel with me as I have type one diabetes and should not go anywhere without a fellow traveler as I have passed out before from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and it is scary stuff.
We had to venture to a town outside of Cincinnati - and I had never been to Ohio before. We passed by Xenia, which was the town destroyed by the tornado outbreak in 1974. Looking at the topography of the land, it was easy to see how big storms could generate there - the land was sunny, hot, open with crops and was flat. The wheat was golden in the fields already and corn was definitely taller (but not tasseled)... the saying in NY state is "Knee high by the 4th of July" for sweet corn.
We made it to the breeder's home, chatted for about 45 minutes about rabbits and got to see his beautiful stock, then we loaded up and headed back home.
And now, drumroll...:trio the bunnies. As I mentioned, Naragon's Axel and Cy's Juno joined us first after I ventured back to a rabbit show in January and met the breeders... and did a 2 hour drive through rolling NYS farm country south of Buffalo in winter.
Watch Me Run Juliette is an English Spot that joined us in May. While showing Axel and Juno, (Axel took a 3rd of 11 and Juno a 1st of 4), this beautiful English Spot kept trying to get my attention. She was owned by a youth breeder who kindly sold her to me (I was going to get started with English Spots when I was getting the boys started but we never found a breeder and went Holland Lop instead at the suggestion of my stepsister and step mom, who were successful show-ers of Hollands, Jersey Woolies and Netherland Dwarfs).
Juliette loves to explore in the house and she loves her toys. She has attitude and as the attitude is very similar to the Checkered Giants, I thought that she would be good to work with before going to the Checkered Giants.
And, the Checkered Giant Express brought home the following new bunnies:
Andy's Baby Jared - a broken black buck with a big attitude. He is a stomper and growler as he is getting established in his new cage. He said "This is MINE!"
Remington is a broken blue Checkered Giant but his blue is so dark, it took me a minute to realize he was not black. He's a stomper, too... kind of in answer to Jared's stomp, he says, "It's also MINE!" They are brothers and littermates.
Roxanne was born in March and she is one BIG girl. She is a broken black, snuggly and curious. One of the roads near her birthplace was named Roxanne so the name seemed to fit.
We also have her younger sisters and they are littermates. They are both cuddly does and were born in April but already they are bigger than Juliette. They are both broken blacks.
Silversong Farm is located in the Bristol Hills of NY state - Finger Lakes wine country. We get wind 24/7 up here and winter that is just unbelievable but I would not trade it for the world. It is a farmette to us - almost 8 acres with a pond, a barn we built and gardens we put in. Now, with giant rabbit manure, I think we are going to have some great roses and worms for fishing.
The laundry monster still awaits... and I have work tomorrow with graduation for my seniors at school a week from today. But I have my rabbits now and when I need a break from the world, a trip to the barn for noserubs, snuggles and cuddles from the crew and nuzzles from horse noses, reminds me to slow down and take a breath as life needs to be enjoyed...my grandpa always said "Make sure you take time to smell the flowers or you are missing out on life. And don't wish your life away...you will be in the ground before you know it."
The day started out EARLY - even for someone who shows horses. I had never been to Ohio and wondered about the state - my late friend and farrier Linda Best, who passed away a few weeks ago from pancreatic cancer, had said we should go to Columbus to show our Shetlands at the Ohio Stat Fair and now that I know where it is, and the access is easy, I will have to make the trek again in her honor, with my Shetland Nefertiti, who Linda had known since Neffie was "in the oven."
Before we get to the bunny update, let me introduce everyone here since you will hear me mention the other humans and animals that reside here.
I have been married to Tim for almost 21 years and have two boys - Andy (19) and Benjamin (almost 18). My "adopted" son Greg is actually Andy's best friend from growing up in a town called Fairport, NY... Greg lived across the street and he and Andy hung out together from ages 5 and 6 until Andy went to college. Greg lived with us for 2 years when his dad and stepmom moved away and then Greg decided to move to California. It was a rough start for him but when I talked to him on Friday, he is finally enrolled in college (he wants to be an English teacher) and he is working. When he left, it was like one of my own leaving the nest but he loved California and wants to make it there so I am glad he is still living his dreams, as hard as it may be.
Back to myplace on the hill, we have the horses: Dipper (23 year old retired Morgan show horse/broodmare), Weatherly (her 3 year old daughter), Nefertiti (3 year old Modern American Shetland Pony filly), Freedom (8 year old pinto American Miniature Horse) and Mercy (celebrity miniature show horse).
Then there is Bridget (7 year old German Shorthaired Pointer), Quinn (3 year old cement-headed but loving yellow Lab), Mrs. Whiskers (8 or 9 year old Siamese), Jeff (2 year old orange tabby DSH cat), Fern (white or pink 5 or 6 year old potbelly pig), Cider (black 4 or 5 year old potbelly pig - girl) and the assorted fish and a corn snake named Scratch (I inherited him when he was purchased for Benn as a birthday gift when he was younger and Benn decided that he was not a snake person. I wasn't either until I met Scratch.
When the boys were little, we raised and showed Holland Lops. Winslow and Torianne were our first Hollands and a number of rabbits joined us over the years. They crossed the Bridge at different times and when my last two Hollands and my Rex rabbit passed of old age, I figured I was going to be rabbitless. But, three years of empty cages and hutches did not work out and I remembered back to a time when Andy was ten and he was at a show and wanted Checkered Giants. The one breeder at the show was very discouraging: "Why do YOU want to show them? You're little and they bite, you know. They are not like your Hollands - you should stick with them." He offered to sell us a pair after talking with him but never returned our phone call and as Andy aged and we got out of rabbits, we put the thought on the back burner.
But, back in the fall of 2008, I realized something was missing in my life. I have many animals... as Tim would say "You have too many %$#%@ :censored2:animals." It was the rabbits - so I began the quest for the Checkered Giants in October of 2008, in hopes of showing at the January 2009 show in Rochester, NY. It was not meant to be. I tried the specialty club and with the help of the newsletter editor's aunt (I think that is her title), she gave me lists of breeders close to NY state. One never returned my calls or emails, despite being recommended to me. Two others did not have rabbits but wanted to get started up again. They both recommended going to Ohio as "that is where you will find the best Checkered Giants."
I joined RO in December as I was so frustrated I had to speak with anyone who understood the need to have a rabbit...Tim did not understand and Benn thinks I am a few sandwiches short of a picnic...to him, going to the mall and going makeup and clothes shopping is a much better pasttime.
I was welcomed - which I was grateful for. The RO community seemed to understand the quest. But being bunniless was torture so Axel and Juno joined my life after I went to the January 2009 rabbit show in Rochester. Sadly, no Checkered Giants were in my cages as I would have loved to show under Glen Carr, the CG judge that day.
I learned about binkies (they were not something babies put in their mouths - but in my house pacifiers were called "the sucking thing" after a baby in some movie wanted his or her "sucking thing."). I learned that rabbits like parsley and Craisins so Axel and Juno were given goodies like that, along with hay and a reduced amount of pellets from what I used to give my former Hollands.
I learned that rabbits LOVE turnout time and that it is fun to have them in the house when I am doing chores... there is nothing like watching them explore, play, binky and half-binky and some up to you to give you a good chinning.
And finally, I began speaking with a breeder in Ohio who had the Checkered Giants I was looking for. Andy decided to travel with me as I have type one diabetes and should not go anywhere without a fellow traveler as I have passed out before from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and it is scary stuff.
We had to venture to a town outside of Cincinnati - and I had never been to Ohio before. We passed by Xenia, which was the town destroyed by the tornado outbreak in 1974. Looking at the topography of the land, it was easy to see how big storms could generate there - the land was sunny, hot, open with crops and was flat. The wheat was golden in the fields already and corn was definitely taller (but not tasseled)... the saying in NY state is "Knee high by the 4th of July" for sweet corn.
We made it to the breeder's home, chatted for about 45 minutes about rabbits and got to see his beautiful stock, then we loaded up and headed back home.
And now, drumroll...:trio the bunnies. As I mentioned, Naragon's Axel and Cy's Juno joined us first after I ventured back to a rabbit show in January and met the breeders... and did a 2 hour drive through rolling NYS farm country south of Buffalo in winter.
Watch Me Run Juliette is an English Spot that joined us in May. While showing Axel and Juno, (Axel took a 3rd of 11 and Juno a 1st of 4), this beautiful English Spot kept trying to get my attention. She was owned by a youth breeder who kindly sold her to me (I was going to get started with English Spots when I was getting the boys started but we never found a breeder and went Holland Lop instead at the suggestion of my stepsister and step mom, who were successful show-ers of Hollands, Jersey Woolies and Netherland Dwarfs).
Juliette loves to explore in the house and she loves her toys. She has attitude and as the attitude is very similar to the Checkered Giants, I thought that she would be good to work with before going to the Checkered Giants.
And, the Checkered Giant Express brought home the following new bunnies:
Andy's Baby Jared - a broken black buck with a big attitude. He is a stomper and growler as he is getting established in his new cage. He said "This is MINE!"
Remington is a broken blue Checkered Giant but his blue is so dark, it took me a minute to realize he was not black. He's a stomper, too... kind of in answer to Jared's stomp, he says, "It's also MINE!" They are brothers and littermates.
Roxanne was born in March and she is one BIG girl. She is a broken black, snuggly and curious. One of the roads near her birthplace was named Roxanne so the name seemed to fit.
We also have her younger sisters and they are littermates. They are both cuddly does and were born in April but already they are bigger than Juliette. They are both broken blacks.
Silversong Farm is located in the Bristol Hills of NY state - Finger Lakes wine country. We get wind 24/7 up here and winter that is just unbelievable but I would not trade it for the world. It is a farmette to us - almost 8 acres with a pond, a barn we built and gardens we put in. Now, with giant rabbit manure, I think we are going to have some great roses and worms for fishing.
The laundry monster still awaits... and I have work tomorrow with graduation for my seniors at school a week from today. But I have my rabbits now and when I need a break from the world, a trip to the barn for noserubs, snuggles and cuddles from the crew and nuzzles from horse noses, reminds me to slow down and take a breath as life needs to be enjoyed...my grandpa always said "Make sure you take time to smell the flowers or you are missing out on life. And don't wish your life away...you will be in the ground before you know it."
