VPI Magic!!! (DUW!!)

I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being invited to have dinner at VPI and tour their facilities! I can't even begin to describe the pleasure it was to sit and converse with Dave and Tracy Barker and share a little slice of their evening, as well as just spending time with our indomitable Cueball! But...I'll try!

The evening began with me finding my way out to their place in the country. It's a beautiful home at the top of a hill way out in the middle of nowhere (but not too far from somewhere!) surrounded by enchanting acerage of Texas flora and fauna.

Dave met me at my truck while I was wondering if I was in the right place...invited me in and offered a cold brew. I felt welcomed and at ease right away!

One of the first things I noticed was a row of hummingbird feeders along the edge of the deck that was abuzz with the beautiful little birds. You just wouldn't believe how many of those wee little harriers could be seen!

Shortly thereafter, Tracy came out and Chris arrived and I felt as if I were among old friends!

Dave took me inside and showed me his Library. I just LOVED the way his eyes would light up at just mentioning it! He has a very large room simply FILLED from floor to ceiling with books, magazines, documents and papers...all relating to Herps. Modern books and original publications of ancient books. Common petstore books and obscure one-of-a-kind books. It was utterly fascinating!! I could spend weeks and weeks in that room, both with the books and all the knick-knacks and collectables and still not begin to absorb a fraction of the history there.

We sat down together for a terrific meal of lasagna and spinich salad...and just talked and talked! Dave tells the most remarkable stories! And Tracy is so warm and friendly! And they're both SO knowledgeable! It seemed like there wasn't a topic brought up that couldn't be discussed and expounded on with scientific terms and literary references.....and yet as down-to-earth and easily understood as anyone you'd want to spend time with.

After the relaxing dinner out on their deck (the weather was SO perfect!!)....we went down the hill to the Snake House. And there, with Chris and Tracy....I got to poke through VPI tubs and breeding rooms and hold the most beautiful babies and see one-of-a-kind snakes.

I'll tell ya....I'm spoiled rotten now. VPI yesterday....NERD day after tomorrow!! I may not be able to have my own collection of animals for many years....but it is my hope that I will be able to stay close to them through friends like Dave and Tracy and Kara and others. And even if I never got to handle another snake...just being around these people would be enough.

Thank you....Dave and Tracy and Chris....for opening up your home and your hearts!!!

And so, without further ado....here are a few pictures....and perhaps a few more to follow later when Chris sends me some that he took with his camera. (I'll have to see how those turned out before I post any! :P )

In no particular order except how they lined up in my gallery:

Albino Blood
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../vpi-blood.jpg

Burgandy Albino -- A true one-of-a-kind!! She's female, if I remember correctly, so it will take awhile to prove her out. She's stunning in person...colors you just never see!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...pi-burgalb.jpg

Calico -- This guy was in shed...but still pretty as a picture!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...vpi-calico.jpg

Clown -- Itty bitty baby!!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../vpi-clown.jpg

Axanthic -- Greeted me and made me feel oh so special!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../2/vpi-egg.jpg

Lavendar Albino -- WOW...just WOW! Unreal colors on this beauty!!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...vpi-lavalb.jpg

Lesser -- Probably one of the most stunning examples of this morph I've ever seen in person. Check out that perfectly banded reduced pattern!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...vpi-lesser.jpg

Pastel/Lesser -- Check out THIS cross! I don't know if the combination of genes caused this crazy squiggly pattern or not...but it's gorgeous!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ser-pastel.jpg

Pastel/Spotnose -- Unreal colors on this little guy!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...l-spotnose.jpg

Pewter -- Tracy's personal favorite! :D
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...vpi-pewter.jpg

And last, but oh most certainly not least...the elusive Whitesmoke! This was such a stunning animal!! I just can't believe I got to see and hold it!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...whitesmoke.jpg

Those are the best of the pictures that I got. Saw and held lots more!! What an amazing and magical evening!!!

WOW! You are one lucky lady! I can't stop looking that that whitesmoke... doesn't even look real. I'm jealous. :)

WOW Judy!!!! What a great adventure!!!!! :sunny:


Sounds like you had a phenomenal time..... and the pix are just fabulous! How lucky to spend time with great animals and people too!!!! :)


PS.... I LOVE that albino blood! :eek:

I'm jealous, I need to move to Texas.

Oh and I am in love with that Blood, he is hot, hopefully someday I will get one.

Judy wow!!!!!!!! Wow VPI baby!!! Amazing ball pythons.

Oooooh, Judy, you lucky lady! I'm so glad you had such a fabulous time, no one deserves it more :D

I'd cry if I got to hold a baby clown. Yup, I'd be the one in the corner blubbering like a baby.

AMAZING!!!!!!


~mike

Judy, Wow! What a wonderful evening you had and how gracious of them to open their home to you!

It was truly out pleasure to have you as a guest Judy, from your generous red wine gift to your captive interest in VPI. You do so much for the reptile community offering a wonderful gathering place to ensure the future of enthusiasts for generations to come. It is the very least we could do to have you as our guest :grouphug:

judy you are SO lucky! what an awesome time it sounds like you had, and getting to see all those beautiful snakes in person... i am so jealous! :D

I'm green with jealousy! What an awesome experience. Thank you for sharing it with us, it's the next best thing to being there.

Judy, I am SO envious of you right now. Not only being able to see that incredible collection, but to be able to sit and discuss a myriad of topics with two of the most learned people when it comes to snakes (and one less learned, but still good looking one :D ). I can only dream that an opportunity like this will pop up in my future. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us.

-Evan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

but to be able to sit and discuss a myriad of topics with two of the most learned people when it comes to snakes

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Yeah, Dave and I really know our stuff :8:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

Judy, I am SO envious of you right now. Not only being able to see that incredible collection, but to be able to sit and discuss a myriad of topics with two of the most learned people when it comes to snakes (and one less learned, but still good looking one :D ). I can only dream that an opportunity like this will pop up in my future. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us.

-Evan

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That was the BEST part, Evan! It was so amazing!! I could just sit and absorb for endless hours!!

Thanks EVERYone! It was amazing and I'm so blessed to have had the opportunity...and to have a place like this and friends like you guys to share it with!! :grouphug:

Uummmm... WOW.


That is totally cool Judy, I would love to visit there some day. You took some great pics, and I am totally in awe!!!

Neil

wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, ...

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/16_3_202.gif you soooo deserve a great night like that! congrats!!!

Wow, what a great story and experience for you Judy! I spoke with Tracy once and she is such a nice lady. I can't imagine how cool it would be to have dinner with them, talk herps, and tour their facility. :bow:

Judy,
What an Amazing opportunity. It is not everyday you get to break bread with the best. The knowledge, insight, and most important, the friendships that were formed are invaluable...I know it will be something to remember for the rest of your life.

Thanks again for all the sweet words! I really don't feel like I deserve them.... :oops:


Here's a few more pics that Chris took with his camera and e-mailed to me a short while ago:

Me with a handful of Clown! (There's three of them in that pile)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...tour000115.JPG

That amazing lavendar albino!!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...itour00017.JPG

And my two absolute favorites of the whole trip!!

Me and Tracy holding mother/daughter albinos...(these guys had the most amazing YELLOW heads!!!)
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...itour00015.JPG

And me and Dave in his library...
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...pitour0001.JPG

:sunny:

WOW, just totally WOW!!! I'm really glad you got to meet Dave and Tracy Judy! Some of those pics are just totally stunning! :sunny: :rockon:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, ...

http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/16_3_202.gif you soooo deserve a great night like that! congrats!!!

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I 2nd that!

Wow that is pretty sweet! Congrats on being lucky enough to go to ball heaven. :)

Wow Judy, what an experience! I would love to get the chance to see their wonderful collection.

I love that pewter too..

OMG Judy! How COOOL for you!!! I soooooo envy you!


*I am DEFINITELY living in the WRONG part of this great US of A!* (I think I need to move EAST!----------->)


What BEAUTIFUL snakes!!!

thanks for sharing!!

Wow Judy!!! Looks as if you had a blast!!

I guess if you can't have a big collection of your own, nothing beats being able to tour one of the most impressive collections ever!! :sunny: :carrot: :sunny: :carrot:

wow.. both the lesser and the burgandy albino are just beyond stunning

Oh Judy what a week you are having. First VPI and next coming up the NERD visit. I can't think of a nicer person to deserve all this happiness (other than Robin who'll get to enjoy the NERD trip with you!). Amazing library - I could curl up and read in there for hours! Amazing, amazing snakes!

wow! that must be something! amazing animals!

Looks like a great time!

My fav is the Lesser! :love:

:rockon:

Great pics! That Albino Blood is gorgeous!!!! :tongue2:

Super nifty! Congrats...=D

Cue, dude, you need to Nair your arms...

What an excellent experience Judy. That Lavender Albino looks right at home in your hands. Congrats on meeting two of the greats in our hobby. I guess Chris can have a little credit for the evening as well.

That's a beautiful lav albino, the lesser is also amazing, Gotta give it to VPI!!!!:salute: :rockon: