Annette Rand's Blog, page 11

Bailiwick

For today’s photo we have Bailiwick, Russian blue Essex boy from Xara’s litter, showing off his balance on the roof of the dolls’ house.

Afra

It has been pointed out to me that I forgot to post a photo of the day yesterday. Oops. This is Afra, another of Xia’s babies. The only way to tell her apart from Ayla is that Ayla has a very slight tail kink near the end. They both differ from their cousin Serenity in that Serenity has a slightly glossier and less dense fur type.

Xuzy’s x-ray

Xuzy’s been x-rayed with the vet’s clever new x-ray machine (well, obviously) to check she’s OK, because she still hadn’t lost the weight from her reabsorbed litter three months ago. No signs of mummified babies or infection, but she’s massively constipated so she’s on Lactulose. This is not going to be pretty! I’m getting mental images of jet propelled ratty, but I’m sure that isn’t what’s going to happen.

Trillian

This is Trillian, a Russian dove from Xara’s litter and one of the two girls that my daughter Ginnie belongs to.

Ayla

Here’s Ayla, one of the Russian blue does from Xia’s litter, sitting on my lap.

Abernathy

Today we have Abernathy, a Russian blue lad from Xia’s litter. He had to miss the show as he got a staph infection in a bite on his back, but he’s all good and re-growing the hair on his bald spots and we probably had enough Russian blues in the competition anyway.

Burlington Bertie

Here’s Burlington Bertie, who was officially the cutest baby rat ever. He’s been busy growing up, and his markings have faded out a little, but he’s still a sweetheart.

Happy Rat Handbook discounted

For some reason known only to themselves, Amazon are discounting The Happy Rat Handbook deeply in the UK and to a lesser extent in the US. I’m really pleased, with the hope it will help to maintain interest while I’m putting the finishing touches to The Rat’s Whiskers.

Despite all the negative publicity they attract, I would never have managed to publish a real hold-in-your-hands book without Amazon and print on demand. The first two books have nonetheless been remarkably well received both on Kindle and in print. Thank you, my fellow rat-lovers, for supporting my rat obsession.

Adeline

Here we have Adeline, a Russian blue agouti doe from Xia’s litter. I have a soft spot for blue agouti does, they have a beautiful feathery colour, and Adeline looks very like Brandywine Moss, sister of her great great grandfather and winner of my first ever Best In Show.

Serenity

This is Serenity, who’s actually my daughter’s doe but is living here and who came fourth in last Saturday’s show. She’s Russian blue and from Xara’s litter. She should have been the subject of yesterday’s photo, but every single picture I took was blurred. Today she very helpfully put herself in the bowl stacker, which held her still for a few seconds.