A Best 4 Class Win

After attending a triple show in Marietta I decided I couldn't miss the double show in Xenia which is the closest show to my house.  Since the car was still packed from the day before I would be crazy (lazy) not to attend.  Angoras weren't sanctioned but a shows a show.  My efforts were well rewarded, Big Times Roman came up with another big win.  He won a best 4 class which is comparable to a reserve in show.  Way to go, Roman!

 

 

Me, Roman, and Judge Jacinta

A specialty Best in Show

John, the rabbits, and I attended the Blannerhasset Rabbit Show in Marietta, Ohio this past Saturday.  Big Times Roman won specialty Best in Show.  There were 32 angoras entered.  A great win for a great buck...

 

 

Judge Hannah, me, and Roman.  

More show pictures

 

Judge Ron Riddle deciding between Big Times Roman and Big Times Rhea.  Roman wins best of breed in show A.

Judge Danny Long deciding between Rhea and Roman for best of breed.  Rhea wins best of breed in this show.

 

 

 

Just a couple of writers watching the French Angora judging.  The tables were so full of shavings the judge asked the exhibitors to hold on to their rabbits while he examined them individually on a clean carpet square.  It got a little confusing but it is no fun picking shavings out of angoras for days.

 

 

Big Times Rhea wins Best in Show

John and I had a very successful day yesterday at the Springfield Rabbit and Cavy Breeder's Association show in Springfield, Ohio.  My senior white doe, Rhea won open Best in Show B.  Reportedly there were 1999 rabbits entered which included open and youth entries. 

Rhea, Maureen, and judge Stacy Martin.

Dyeing

When things slow down a little bit at work I feel more inspired to do fun stuff like dye my yarn.  The safest and most fun method of dying is Kool-aid.  If you can drink it, surely it is safe to dye with.   

 

 

 I was trying to do a blue/green combo but my mind always says, "PINK! PINK!" so  threw in a little of that, too.

 

You need to be open minded to what you will end up with since dyeing can take a direction all it's own.  And since you can't 'erase' it and start over, it's just best to embrace the end product.  This hank sort of reminded me of confetti.   I love it.

 

 

 

These are ponytail holders embelished with cotton yarn and angora yarn.  The top left hairband and top right are done using the confetti hank.  These are quick little projects that can be completed in a matter of minutes. 

A Wool Gathering

John and I visited the Wool Gathering in Yellow Springs, Ohio at Young's Jersey Dairy as we do every year for the last 13 years or so.  In fact, I think we attended the very first Wool Gathering when it was held in one tent in the parking lot.  My has it grown!  It is now in 3 very large tents with multiple booths outside and the parking lot has expanded to a lot across the road.  If anyone ever thought that hand crafts are a lost art I can assure you that they are alive and well with the number of attendants and booths there today.  I behaved myself for the most part resisting the temptation to purchase more fiber or yarn and stuck to my very short list of things I needed which included 2 sets of circular needles and the standard Wool Gathering t-shirt. 

 

The shirt says, "I knit so I don't kill people."  It seemed perfect for me;)

 

 

Alpaca was very well represented.  I was surprised to see the amount of alpaca fiber and yarn available and the quality was exquisite. 

 

 

Two cute Buckeye fans checking out the alpacas.  I was as conflicted as they probably were whether or not to miss the game to come the Wool Gathering.  Thankfully we had sports tap keeping us updated.

 

 

This is what awesome husbands do when their wives need a fiber fix!



Moon Cakes

Moon cakes?  For years I have wondered about these pastries my friend Betty features on her blog ncag.blogspot.com in the month of September every year to celebrate Mid-Autumn festival.  Today John and I were driving all over Dayton in search of something else when we came across a Chinese grocery store.  I was feeling bold (he wasn't) and wandered in.  It was interesting with roasting rotisserie ducks and exotic fish swimming around in tanks but the highlight of the adventure was finding this beautiful tin of MOON CAKES! 

 

 

 

 

Indeed, they do taste pretty bad.  However, it is quite pretty to look at.  With 630 calories and 24 g of fat in each piece it's a good thing they don't taste good to me otherwise I would eat all 4 pieces.