Flip Friday

It's been a wonderful week. It began with a holiday, and it contained, for me, a couple of extra days of vacation. YIPEE!

Due to the extra days of vacation, I got quite a lot more rabbit time in my week, which is always delightful. Because it was rather warm, Zoe was a little more melty than usual and was more interested than usual in sitting for a few portraits.

She wanted me to show the following pictures especially. She very much enjoys the sepia tone effect on our iPhoto, which she thinks, makes her look as though she is a Rabbit of the 1800's.

You know, like a Wild West Wabbit:

Notice how she doesn't smile for the
photos-- just like in the Olden Days.

She's a Tough Bunny. You watch your mouth, y'hear?

"What did you just say?

Shall we duel at High Noon? Pistols? Or, Carrots?"

OK, then. Back away slowly and you won't get hurt.

But, don't hold me to that.

On to this week's videos.

First, we have a special video starring Emily Dickinson-- a.k.a. Miss Emmie-- as she tries desperately to follow in the bunny's tiny footprints and eat some yard food:



In the meantime, we also had a car this week-- my parents' mini van while they are out of town-- which was perfect for going to the garden center, running a few errands, and of course, hitting the beach.

For those of you who don't know it, Erie is Pennsylvania's port city, located right on Lake Erie, and privy to some pretty awesome beaches. The water was still a little cold for swimming, but we sat in the sand and soaked in some sun.

In this video, you can see the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), which is the complex with the observation tower at the beginning of the video. Next, you see the roller coaster that spans the road at Waldameer Park. Next, we drive past local summer hot spot, Sara's Diner. And finally, we enter Presque Isle State Park:



Have a great Weekend!!

Portrait of a Bunny

I talk a lot about Miss Zoe on our blog.

For that matter, Zoe talks about herself a lot on our blog.

"She only talks about Herself to help people."

It stands to reason, then, that I should get a number of questions in comments, through emails, and on Facebook about what it's really like to live with a bunny and what they are like to take care of.

Don't fool yourself. Rabbits are a bit like Nobility. As you can see from the caption above, they often refer to themselves in the third person. A sure sign. Also, they expect things. Service. And, they expect it to be good service, expedient service.

Miss Zoe awaits service of some kind.
This is a common pose for her.

I have been a waitress at various times in my life. Having a Rabbit (especially, perhaps, one like Miss Zoe) is a lot like trying to get good tips. Your customers want just enough attention, but not too much. They want to be noticed and complimented, but not so much so that it seems insincere. They want you to notice the hay box needs to be freshened before they have to give you that... look.

Maybe that last one only pertains to rabbits.

The bird's eye view.

Even so, two questions I've been asked recently are as follows:

1. Would you recommend a bunny for kids?
2. Do rabbits use a litter box?

First, I would not necessarily recommend a rabbit for children. But I will say this: it depends on the child. I think I would have been great with a rabbit when I was little, but that's me. I couldn't even eat a chocolate Easter bunny without a complete emotional meltdown.

Not that emotional meltdowns are a requirement. Actually, that may indicate a need for therapy.

What I mean is, rabbits are very strong and get wigged out kind of easily. Therefore, they are easy to drop, and it's easy to get a pretty big scratch without realizing it's coming. You need a child with some sensitivity to the rabbit's needs.

If you're calm, the rabbit is calm.

Most kids I've met...mmmm...not that calm. Especially around a bunny!

(An aside: any other rabbit people out there can confirm or dispel these stories I'm telling. I'm basing these things on Zoe pretty much exclusively. Feel free to cut in and smack me down if you think I'm spreading Rabbit lies!!!)

Next: the question of the box du littre. (There's really no disguising it, is there? I figured Frenching it would make it sound more sophisticated, but maybe not.)

Miss Zoe LOVES her litter box. It's like you with a piece of furniture. (Well, if you peed on your furniture, which hopefully you don't.)

She sits in her box, sleeps in her box, and listens to her iPod from her box. She actually has a few boxes, and they are filled with hay. The hay goes in, and then the hay comes out. All in one convenient location!

At first, we worried she would be, well, like a Pez dispenser. We thought she would just roam around her room, letting loose wherever she felt like it.

Not so.

Miss Zoe cleaning her foot for the 47th time this morning.

Bunnies are fastidious creatures. They like cleanliness. They are as natural with a litter box as any cat I've ever known.

Miss Zoe did not wish to be photographed in her litter box. She felt that violated some sort of boundary.

Do you want to be photographed in your box?

She didn't think so.

For more information about the Wonderful World of Rabbits, check out the

House Rabbit Society website.

And, if you have more questions for Miss Zoe, please feel free to ask.

She's always willing to hold audience.

It's Memorial Day

For those of us in the United States, Memorial Day Weekend means a lot of things.

One thing it means is three day weekend for those of of us with traditional jobs.

Anyone with a bunny will enjoy a bit more special bunny time.

And, for those of us in Erie, PA, Memorial Day weekend is the time when we can finally get some stuff planted in the ground. Danger of frost is no longer imminent, it's usually a little warmer (actually, it normally rains on Memorial Day Weekend here, but not this weekend!), and the garden centers and nurseries are hopping with people who are excited to get outside after a long, cold winter.

First on our weekend agenda was a trip to Johnston's Nursery, where we helped Neighbor Bill choose a couple of sour cherry trees for his yard. We also got 8 (eight!) 6-ft Arbor Vitae, which I spent most of Sunday digging holes for and planting. WHEW!!

Miss Zoe did not help with this project.

She claims to be too small to help with such things.

Whatever.

Here's some highlights from our trip to Johnston's, starring the Blisschick:




The other thing we've done so far this weekend is go to the Erie's first ever Troika Russian Festival. (You can see some lovely still photos of the event and the Church on Blisschick today.)

We shared a wonderful Russian porter beer, we took a tour of the gorgeous Church...:



...and then we listened to some great music and watched some awesome dancing by Barynya (a live from New York City performance group):





So what are you doing this weekend?

Flip Friday

It's the weekend!

In particular, it's a Holiday Weekend!

And what does that mean???

MORE BUNNY TIME!!!!

Well, also, lots of work in the yard, some fun errand running with Blisschick, maybe a picnic here and there.

And, we're going to see Star Trek tonight with some friends.

Star Trek has gotten good reviews, but nothing like what these are going to get, I assure you!

Sundance Film Festival, meet Miss Zoe!






HAPPY HOLIDAY!!

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.

The Problem With Dogs

A Disclaimer: Before I start, let me just say, the above title may be misleading. I, personally, have no problem with dogs. However, I cannot speak for any rabbits or cats who may or may not be in the room, and who may or may not approve (to use Cinnamon's word) of dogs.

That being said, I would like to clarify that my problem with dogs is simply that painting them and drawing them can rather stymie me.

I love dogs. Big, small, whatever.

The thing is, I've never had a dog.

I did once exist in the same space with a dog, I think, when I was first born. I seem to recall seeing some pictures of me as a very cute (of course!) baby pulling all the canned goods out of the cupboard to build a fort, and there in the background of the picture is a black dog.

But, it was so early on that my psyche has no recollection of ever "having a dog."

Baby Yard Rabbit is fine with no dog!

Baby Rabbit update:

Baby Rabbit is growing and doing fine.
Liking the dogless yard.

Someday, I hope to maybe have a dog. Who knows?

But, presently dogless, here's the problem for me: Not having had a dog makes it challenging to draw and paint them. It's as if I don't know their ins and outs, you know?

A cat? Easy. I have had so many cats in my life that I could draw their sweet little faces in my sleep.

A rabbit? Now that I've had Miss Zoe for 5 years and have spent hours of each and every one of those wonderful days of those years playing with her and staring at her cute face and body while she does, well-- everything, the same thing goes for rabbits. Could draw them in my sleep.

Me with the Sweet Miss Zoe.

Look at Miss Emmie's sweet Cat Face!

I say all this ("There," you're thinking. "She's FINALLY getting to the point!") because I recently got a commission to paint a dog, and every time I get a commission to paint a dog, it's the same. It's as though my muscles have forgotten the dog shape. Their eyes, their noses. I have to relearn it every time.

For this one commission, I have gone through, like, a dozen incarnations of the dog's face, trying to get it right, trying to get the eyes just right.

You have to get the eyes right.

Anyhow, just thought I'd share my recent art trials and tribulations. If you dog people out there have any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them. What makes a dog face a dog face?

That last sentence made Miss Zoe laugh. She is rolling around on the floor saying "Dog Face! Ha, ha, ha!" right now. Funny bunny.

Miss Zoe is not at all interested in hearing your dog comments, so send those to me.

When I do finally get that dog done, I'll post a picture. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Also coming soon: The Wee!Art Contest Winners.

Stay Tuned. Same Rabbit Time. Same Rabbit Channel.

Flip Friday

It's been quite a week here in the Rabbit Room.

The windows have been open.

Contest Winners have been chosen.

Not one, but TWO willow balls have been eaten. Completely. No pieces left for Miss Lilly to play with, even. (And, she is disappointed by that, I am sure.)

And, of course... it's Friday.

"Isn't it time to celebrate with a Rabbit Video?" Zoe says as she hops to the hay box. "Oh, and I guess you could show one of the cat, too." (Munch, munch, munch) "If you have to," she adds.

And so, here you go.

First, a Cat Movie:



And now, starring Miss Zoe:



ENJOY!! And, happy Friday.