Somerhill Silverheels

At 4 months and 7# already, Silverheels is busy growing in a dense, silky adult coat.
He is a California son out of GrCH Aboundingful Yukon, and is slated to be my
next chinchilla herdsire.  

6 week old photo shoot

Brentwood and Oakland's kits are growing up.  Colors, sex, prices and availability on the sales page.

Remembering Eilis

Preparing a hide for tanning

Be sure to tell your butcher that you plan to use the pelt, and to use the steer pattern to remove it. Also to be careful of cutting the skin, because holes in the skin can catch in the de-fleshing machine and tear it, and also detract from the appearance of the finished skin. As mentioned, be sure to have them cool it quickly so the wool does not slip (come off). Lay it out in wool side down in an area of a building where dogs and wildlife cannot easily get to it. You will probably want to lay down a plastic tarp under it to catch drips and salt if that concerns you. We used a section of livestock panel so the air can get to it and the wool will be dry. Put a thick layer of salt on it, making sure to get all the edges. Trim off strips of skin, testicles etc (you won't believe what some butchers leave - an ear?) . Continue to add salt in the areas where moisture pools during the drying process. Depending on how humid the weather, it can take 2-4 weeks to get nice and dry. The salt will be completely dry then. Once its ready, shake off the excess salt (another reason for the drop cloth) and fold it wool side out, or roll it up. Do not put into a plastic bag, just pack it directly into a box for mailing.

A month old already

Brentwood and Oakland's kits are a month old now.   

They are getting round and fat, and incredibly cute!  Red buck, black doe(reserved)

 chestnut doe (reserved), chestnut buck, and 4 chinchilla does (3 reserved)

TGPRBA New Years Eve show

In the first showing, I had 1st CJD, 1 CSB, BOV and BOSV in white
and BOS in breed with Somerhill Sheridan.
  Kim won BOB with her chocolate agouti  SR doe.

In the second showing, Kim also had BOB with the same beautiful doe.
I had BOS again, as well as 1st CSB, and BOV and BOSV in white.
Rose won 1st CJD.

Rose, Emily, Charlotte, and Kim showing their French Angoras.
Emily also had a Giant to exhibit, and Colleen brought her black Giants for evaluation.

Judge Joe Collucci evaluating the Satin Angora colored SR bucks.
Kim, Rose, and I had Satins at the show.   Janet had planned to come, but
was still feeling badly from the remnants of a cold.  She did drop by for a few
minutes to see all of us, since she just lived a few miles away.