Anza or Antarctica?   Hard to tell... Snow might not be a big deal in other parts of the world, but here in Anza it’s not all that common. On Saturday, March 11, 2006, we had more than a foot of the white substance, breaking all records since the early 1980’s. We were keeping an eye out for errant penguins, but apparently their sense of direction is sufficient to keep them further south.

This is the view of the snow from the front of our home overlooking the koi pond. You can see the bridge and the waterfalls behind it.

This is the view of the snow in the rear patio area. Margot's planters are deeply covered in snow as is the fountain behind.

2006 California Empress Show Results We didn't show our standards this year... we've simply sold so many animals that we needed to keep all of our standards in breeding. We did, however, take a full string of mutations and managed to do quite well:  Grand Show Champion    Beige  Reserve Grand Show Champion    Beige  3rd Best of Show    Black Velvet  1st Place Breeder Award

Visit the Chinchilla Museum If you are a chinchilla history buff (and what chin lover isn't?), you won't want to miss a visit to the Chinchilla Museum located right here on our ranch. Thanks to the many contributors from all around the nation and even around the world, we have managed to amass what has to be the best collection of historical chinchilla and chinchilla ranching memorabilia found anywhere. In the Museum, you can track the infancy of commercial chinchilla breeding right on through to today. You'll have the opportunity to view artifacts like the crate M.F. Chapman used to bring 11 chinchillas from Chile to the U.S. in 1923, a wall dedicated to every Empress Chinchilla Hall of Fame Member, hundreds of chinchilla related magazines (many from organizations that have long since passed out of existence), many many books about chinchillas, and much more. Some of the items are quite funny, like the circular comb….The idea was the chin would run through the comb and actually comb himself. We invite you to take this fun trip back into chinchilla history. We just ask that you call first to schedule an appointment. To take a quick peek inside the museum, click here.