Midsummer.

We had rain on Midsummer day and it was a bit blustery so I stayed home to look after things while the other two went off to visit Twigs' family of eighteen rabbits, some hens and a couple of tortoises and to nibble on the carrot cake in the garden.Parsley is a very sensible chap and when the rain hurtled down he took to his shelter and watched things from the comfort of his garden house. Wet paws and fur are something I hate too.

I had news about them all. Damson is recovering nicely after his operation to remove a kidney stone but was resting in the nursery sick bay today to make sure he didn't get underfoot.













Viola Rose is looking very beautiful again now she has completely recovered from her myxie attack. It was an uphill struggle even though she had her jabs. Twigs and Steve had planned to go on holiday but the morning they were due to leave Viola Rose went to them and showed them her streaming eyes and nose.















so they unpacked their cases and stayed with her.

Her great love is Mistletoe Snowgoose. You can see him here with Viola Rose. He was bought from a pet shop when he was small. The pet shop owner said he would love to live alone in a hutch on a balcony. Well! How ignorant is that? Six months later he turned into a large, powerful, hormonal fury. Not the pet shop owner, Mistletoe Snowgoose. Anyway after one or two problems someone told Twigs about him because Twigs knows how rabbits should be kept.
One thing is a bit of a worry though. Steve sent me a message to say bought packets of curly kale might not be good for me because of the stuff they blow into the bags to keep it fresh. I'm eating my own from the garden at the moment but I will make sure anything else from a shop is washed thoroughly before going into my bowl even when it says washed and ready for use.
We are all such lucky rabbits to have such lovely, loving homes.
In the meantime I have been digging in the corner of the sofa. First of all you have to toss the cushions out of the way, then pull and tug at the arm covers ( this takes a very long time. I've been at it for three days so far) and then the scrabbling can start in earnest. I have other things to play with but I prefer to make up my own games. I'm quite excited. I wonder what I will find when I get to the other side? There is a nice frilly bit at the edge of the cover now. I don't know who could have done it because I've been there most of the time and I didn't see anyone.


Money raised at the open day is for the RSPCA programme for rabbit neutering.

The Living is Easy.

I have found outside again! Great space and so much to sort. I did a really good job of clearing up this morning. Nibbled on some fallen Ena Harkness rose petals.

and found my parsley patch, so trimmed that up too then I hopped up top to loosen the soil around my beans.

Some mallards had moved in so I did a couple of very high binkies close by and they left in a hurry. That showed them! I wrote a little poem about them.There are ducks in my garden today,
They come in each morning to play
I don't like them much
They should be in a hutch
So I'l binkie and chase them away.

There was a bit of a commotion when I discovered the sprouting carrot seeds. Just tiny little fronds ready for me to munch. So delectable but seemingly a no-no. Why sow carrot seeds if not to munch as soon as they start to sprout? That word/sound NO is not nice. When I hear it I run for home. No point in arguing. Might be picked up and thrown over her shoulder like a sack of sprouts. I hate sprouts.

Still in a tidying and trimming mood I started on the carpet fringe. My usual stretch had disappeared. I didn't eat it. I could never munch through that much. I think it might have been tucked under for some reason. Spoil sports abound in this house.
It was a full morning, so the afternoon was spent napping. Got to keep up my strength for tomorow. Who knows what is in store. Bring me that horizon! I think my favourite pirate, Johnnie Depp said that first but he won't mind sharing.
This is such a great poster for Twigs' money raising day this month. I think there will be carrot cake for tea. Yummmmmmmmm. Please come.

A pet of my own.

I feel so much better on my new food regime so I've been thinking of going outside for a look around. Just thinking about it mind you. I'm not sure what I used to do out here last year. There was my herb garden and lots of chairs to sit under but I can't see them there now. Nope, I've forgotten. It all looks too big so I won't bother. Although I think that's my dandelion.I was a bit worried about the reduction in my bought, pellet food. I only have 12 grams a day now. All the vitamins and minerals I need are there and I have a huge pile of greens to start the day to get my digestive system going in the right direction. Then it's hay, a few herbs mixed in with fresh grass for tea and finally my evening carrot with a taste of apple or pear. Not a bad day's supply all in all and I have put on a couple of grams in weight too. Just in case they forget the pellets I always give a few good tugs at M's trousers while he is having his breakfast until he gets the message. He's quite bright really. In fact they both understand my contact language pretty well -for people.
It didn't take nearly as long to train my dog, Willow when I lived with Joanne. A couple of bites on her nose did the trick and my control was in the bag. You can see her ear is raised so she doesn't miss a word I say. Good dog! My rabbit friends who live with Twigs have their own tortoise. A tortoise can be very useful for finding dandelions then all you have to do is grab the flower out of its mouth. It's quite easy because tortoises eat slowly. I might ask for a tortoise for my birthday in July.

Sad Goodbyes.

From Teasal for Twigs and Steve.

"And when I fall before his reaping
And when my stuttering speech is dumb
Think not my love is dead or sleeping
But that it waits for you to come."
Eugene Field

From Twigs in memory of Teasal

"Teasal was the most stunningly intelligent, gentle, handsome and mischievous house rabbit - my own favourite, who lived with us for over eight years after coming from Wood Green Animal Sanctuary. He had three girlfriends, Florence, Sage and Robinia each of whom fell in love with him at first sight. He is survived by Robinia."

We are devastated.

From Harvey

I know you will worry about your family Teasal. They will find it hard to manage without you.

Inwardly digest.

I'm going to have to change my eating habits. I had a long chat wiuth my vet about my sticky caecotroph problem. When we bunnies get older our gut can have difficulties dealing with bought pellets and that is what is happening to me now I am almost 8 years old. When I came to live with the older members of my family we reduced my pellet food very slowly from 45g to 22g but now it's time to go a bit further.

I love my pellet breakfast and get so excited and sing and dash about when I hear them getting my dish ready so I am a bit doubtful about the idea. I'm to have my vegetables first instead of later in the day and every day I will be given a gram less of pellets until things are just right. My dried grass and hay and my teatime will stay the same so that is something. I will also have some pro-biotics added to my drinking water and will need to be weighed regularly.

I've only been doing it for three days but so far so good. My family keep saying things like "Oh, joy!" and "It seems to be working." My vet says there is far too much promotion of artificial food for animals. All to do with making money I suppose and humans are so easily persuaded to spend. They think they are pleasing us but most of the time they are just pleasing themselves.

I feel so much more comfortable now I am a sweet smelling house bun. I wonder if this is one of the reasons why a lot of rabbits are just left in hutches, because humans don't bother to identify our problems. We are very complicated, special creatures.

The downside for me is having to be weighed every few days in this microwave tub! Do I look too silly?

Geriatric? Moi?

Just got back from the vet's. Quite a pleasant ride and plenty to watch in the waiting room. Weigh in, one and a half kilos, tummy squidge, toenail trim, bottom shave and then the dreaded tooth check. To add insult to injury, my vet, who has always been my hero until now said, "Very good for a geriatric rabbit. You will miss him when he has gone."

Gone? Where am I going? I'm not going anywhere. Huh, doctors. It's bad enough living with a pedantic, people doctor but I didn't expect any comments like this from a real one. Oh well, time for TV.

Just look at this. I had a bottle like that when I was a kitten but I've had my own bowl for years now. Don't human males ever grow up? Must check with George.

EASTER