It's in the Mail

Blogging has been an interesting adventure for me.

I remember years ago when the Blisschick started seriously reading blogs. She had lots of favorites and would spend time everyday reading them. Frankly, it made me a little jealous.

Slowly but surely, new people became part of our lives. People with names like Birdchick and Mr. Neil and Kelli Bickman and many others who were soon to come. But this is where it started.

I admit it, though-- I wasn't truly a blog convert until Christine started Blisschick. When she started writing everyday and got responses that sparked conversations with people around the world about the things she is passionate about and the things that she loves, I thought to myself, "This blogging thing? Pretty Cool."

And then Miss Zoe whispered to me one day.

She spoke of spreading the news of the goodness of rabbits. She spoke of the possibility of her getting gifts in the mail from those who would eventually come to consider themselves to be adoring fans of her sweet, fuzzy brown nose, her spotted belly, her velvety soft ears.

Miss Zoe had a vision. And, it was up to me to fulfill it.

"You can write about yourself, too," she said with generosity seeping out her pores. "Art, blah, blah, blah."

And so it began.

"You adore me. You know you do."

Since then, Miss Zoe's vision has begun to come true.

People love her YouTube videos.

People love her pictures.

People love her wise insights and her sage advice.

And then the other day, what did Mailman Rick bring?

See for yourself.

It's in the Mail: An Essay in Photos

A package for a Rabbit...

The Contents!!

First, the Chewie...

Still enthralled with the Chewie.
She loves to throw these across the room.

Exploring the Nutty Ball.

And, a little sparkley something for humans!

I end this post by telling you what blogging can do for you and your Animal Companions.

For you, blogging can open up a world of fascinating people, new friendships, and great conversation.

For your cat, rabbit, or dog, well... it can get them stuff!

All our thanks to our benefactor, Kavindra for the lovely and thoughtful gifts. Miss Zoe sends to you a special gooey kiss and a wee little nuzzle!!

OK, now she's done with you.

Look! It's new!

So, I came home from work yesterday, and Blisschick was giddy with excitement.

"I have a su-pri-ise," she sang as I walked in the door.

Then she added, "It's for you AND Zoe!"

I wondered what it could be. It was just my birthday last week, so I didn't think it was another present.

I do know that I have a new black, and therefore more formal, Disapproving Rabbits T-shirt on the way, so I thought it might be that (here's a link to the official disapproving rabbits mugs, as I think they are revamping the T-shirt right now).

No. It wasn't that.

Blisschick scurried up the stairs. I followed.

"Grab your rabbit," she giggled as we got to the top of the stairs.

I went into Zoe's room. It was time for her crunch, so she wasn't especially thrilled about being picked up or about leaving the room. But, she snuggled in for the ride to the next room anyhow.

"Are you seriously going to pick me up
and carry me around
when it's time for my luscious dinner?
Really?" (Sigh.)

Yes, Zoe, I really did pick you up.

So, what was Blisschick on about?

My new banner!! SMILE!!

While I was away at work, one of the many things she did was revamp the banner at the top of my blog to feature the unequaled and always fashionable Miss Zoe! It was the coolest surprise after a taxing day.

Thanks, Blisschick!! You are awesome!!!

This weekend, I will return the favor by helping her put together her new, magical apple green desk. A fair exchange, I think.

Also, in response to some of the wonderful ideas many of you sent in about new milagros, Zoe and I will be working on some new pendants.

Tune in next week to see what those are all about.

Until then, I have to go freshen someone's hay and water. Now that she has top billing, she's EXTRA demanding!!

Can you even imagine?

Back to Basics: The Birds and the...Bunnies?

Zoe approving (sort of) of this post.

Obviously, we love bunnies at our house. Also cats. But another thing we can't get enough of is birds. An ideal summer day at our house includes a fair amount of time spent outside in a chair or on a blanket with binoculars nearby and at the ready. We have a small city park by our house that helps us to attract all kinds of songbirds, woodpeckers, and raptors to our tiny yard. And we love it.

So, it stands to reason that we also adore Birdchick's blog. On her wildly popular blog, she writes about birds, bees, and her bunny, Cinnamon (and the occasional martini!). Cinnamon has since developed her own Disapproving Rabbits blog and some totally awesome disapproving rabbit merchandise.

(In fact, I'm wearing one of my Disapproving Rabbit t-shirts as I write this. Yes, I have more than one. Zoe was so excited about it that she bit a hole in the one I'm wearing the first day I had it on!)

Go to Birdchick now and get your own!! C'mon. You know you want it.

This daily dose of disapproval entertained us immensely, so when Birdchick (a.k.a. Sharon Stiteler) asked for photographic submissions of "your own disapproving rabbits," we and Zoe answered the call. Before we knew it, our Zoe was being featured in Sharon and Cinnamon's book, Disapproving Rabbits. We received an autographed copy in the mail for our part. (That was a thrilling day!)

We felt really happy for Sharon and for the whole of the world's bunny population-- "We're finally getting the attention we deserve!" shouted Zoe when the book came in the mail and I held it up so she could see her picture. She followed up that sentiment by whispering in my ear with an idea to paint a portrait of Cinnamon to send Sharon and her husband, Bill. We only hoped Cinnamon would approve:

Thanks, Zoe. That was a good idea.

Sharon sweetly featured the above Cinnamon portrait on her website a couple of times. It still shows up occasionally in various pictures on her blog.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from someone named Carly who had seen that portrait of Cinnamon from a year or so ago, and she told me that ever since then, she and her husband, Art, had wanted to have a portrait of their bunnies done. Carly and Art are talented artists, too, among many other things. (See Carly's website here, and her etsy store here. See Art's etsy store here).

I always feel honored when I'm given an opportunity to paint for other artists. Zoe and I set to work on a portrait of Derby and Petunia straight away. The result is was mailed out this past week:

Petunia (left) and Derby (right).

My thanks to the bunnies of the world for being so delightful and for bringing so many wonderful new people into my life. :)