This is the sign that hangs by our front door.

The Cal State Rabbit Convention is this weekend. It's a two day event, with 1 show on Saturday and two days on Sunday. Besides the shows, there are other contests, a raffle, and judge's conferences. Even though the show doesn't start until Saturday, we were allowed to haul our rabbits over Friday night.

Here are our carrying cages, ready and waiting in the aisle of our barn. The carrying cages open at the top and are kept closed by a hook and spring. They are wire bottomed with deep trays, and there are food dishes and water bottles attached. The cages have two solid deviders in them, making three compartments (or "holes") in the carrying cage. Each hole is 8" by 16". Not exactly luxury accomodations, but they work very well when you have to get 15 rabbit somewhere! The rabbits can comfortably hang out in these cages, even two days in a row as long as we let them get out and stretch their legs.

Using duct tape and a sharpie, we mark each hole with the rabbit's tattoo number, age class (Junior or Senior), and gender. Starting at the left side, they read: "LOL-Sr. D", "CBS2-Sr. B", and "MOOSE, Sr. B" LOL is short for "Lady of the Lake"...lady is a lovely Blue Tan doe. CBS2 is INXS...he's actually just supposed to hang out in the barn and make babies, but we bring him to shows from time to time because, at nearly three years old (well beyond the so called "show life" of a Tan rabbit) he loves to show and usually places near the top of his class. Just last month, he took a Best Opposite of Breed. Moose is...well...Moose, a little chocolate buck who's all kinds of fun to play with.

A short jaunt down the freeway brings us to the Ag Pavillion at Fresno State University, where the show is being held. We get our cages, grooming table, supplies, and chairs situated for tomorrow, and check to make sure everyone is fed, watered, and cozy.

This whiteboard hangs in front of our grooming table. It displays out rabbitry name and motto. If we have anything for sale, it's usually listed on the board. We also rest our business cards on it. It reads: "Caerbannog Rabbitry-It is the rabbit!-Run away!-FOR SALE-Chocolate Tan Jr. Does" The little blurry square is our business card...I'll get a close up tomorrow.

Finally, here is a view of the showroom just after 9 PM when we left. It will be MUCH fuller tomorrow, when the judging starts!