Summer Days

Ebony is very settled now, and enjoys her daily routine. She races over, binkying on the way, at the regular snack and meal times, and knows how to give an intense silent stare when it's time for their pellets. She still chews Dijon's eyelashes and whiskers, and gives him a chase at some point each day, but they also spend a lot of their time snuggled together - and he's far trimmer and more active since she arrived.

She loves to be in their outside area on the patio, but their favourite past-time seems to be deconstructing their Rosewood Naturals Forage Cube - they work through so many that we now have the cubes on a 'subscribe and save' order!

Mabel's Planter

Yesterday would have been Mabel's 8th Birthday, so it is lovely that 'her' rose was in full bloom.

This is the planter where Mabel is buried. The plan was to plant it with rabbit-friendly plants, although a few extras like 'love-in-a-mist' have seeded there.

The miniature rose is clearly thriving, but look at the parsley... this was an 'out of date' potted parsley, bought from a supermarket back in October to encourage her to eat. I always plant them in the garden in the hope they will continue to grow, but have never managed to keep one alive for this long, and certainly never seen one grow to this size. I wonder whether it's enjoying the remnants of Tramadol in the soil?!

8 Today!

Today is Dijon's Birthday. He has reached the grand age of 8 years and is expecting lots of treats! Here are a couple of pictures of him when we first met him and Mabel, back in July 2011. They looked so innocent... !

Spring

The bunnies have been enjoying some of the benefits of Spring - well, mostly the dandelions and fresh long grass. Ebony still doesn't quite trust the dandelions, and approaches their sticky stems with caution, but Dijon vacuums them up and even appears to smile.

They have enjoyed some time outside on the patio, and Ebony scrabbles on the glass of the patio door most days from about 7am, asking to go out, whatever the weather.

 On cold days, we have to distract her by bringing in treats from the garden.

They are spending more time relaxing, either together or separately, and also grooming together.

 

Zoom in to see Ebony's tongue!

Rather cuddle the table leg than Dijon

They have also been busy exploring under our new armchair - we finally plucked up the courage to replace our 21yr old one, knowing full well it would be damaged at some point. Within the first week a small piece of the corner 'piping' had been removed, and the seat was in serious risk of being destroyed from underneath, requiring corrugated plastic reinforcement. The battle continues.

Dijon is not quite as adept at slithering under, and appears to be stuck on his first attempt, but here's a photo of him emerging.

Nothing to say it's bunny resisitant?!

Dijon's whiskers and eyelashes are still regularly shaved by Ebony, but fortunately she hasn't (yet) touched his stylish Mohican hair.

A couple of times each day there is a chase from her, no aggression, and Dijon is generally far more active since they've been together, which has helped him to lose some of his excess weight...

... although all this extra movement is hard work for a bunny who will have his 8th Birthday next month.

Munching Flowers Once Again

Woke up one morning half asleep
with all my blankets in a heap…

…and yellow flowers at my feet…

The time was still approaching for I couldn't stand it anymore,

forget-me-nots are my favourite treat…

I'm just sitting munching green grass once again
feel the power of the rain making the garden grow.

I'm just sitting munching green grass once again
feel the power of the rain keeping me good…

(Turn up the volume!)

(Adapted from 'Watching Flowers in the Rain' © Roy Wood)

Let Stalk About Dandelions

Dijon and Ebony have just enjoyed their first fresh dandelion flowers of the year. We suspect this may have been Ebony's first ever dandelion - she was very wary, and abondoned it at first to wash her face when the sticky sap touched her nose. So Dijon, as well as being a fast eater, had a headstart and had to be kept at bay so she could finish her flower.

Against the Odds

It’s not particularly cold today, but we decided to test the new heater, bought with Mabel in mind. It seems to be a success!

She is still enjoying life, especially sunshine, cuddles, and stealing my armchair:

It’s been over 6 weeks since she ate pellets or hay, defying every theory about rabbit health and also very hard work for us!! She is eating crushed watercress, puréed dried apple leaves, grated carrot, sunflower seeds, and bread. She can also eat various leaves from the garden such as strawberry and dandelion leaves, if they have been rolled between our fingers.