Tribute to a Staircase

This was our last afternoon in the other house. The five of us lived here quite happily for a year and a half. It took us some to discover this wonderful thing right under our noses. But once we did, we had a blast!

Sometimes mom had to tell us to slow down on the stairs. We just got so excited that we tried to take two at once and didn’t always make it. Even though mom and dad laughed at us they also told us to slow down and not hurt ourselves. But it’s so much fun!

We have moved to the new house and mom and dad promised that we wouldn’t have to move again after this. This house has stairs too but mom and dad won’t let us have run of the house since there are cardboard boxes everywhere. We’re negotiating our release into the house at large. After all, if we’re not moving again they don’t need those boxes anymore do they?

Barbara Jane and Walter and the yard sale

Walter:"See how they all plopped down on the couch, sweat running down their red faces?"



Barbara Jane:"I knoooooow ... wussies! As if it's too much to stand outside in 106 degree heat for eight hours! Really!"



In unison: "Disappointing. Very disappointing."

Every bunny needs some bunny to lean on

All it really takes is having someone care about you. Just one is enough to make life okay. Wouldnt you agree?

An unassuming bunny.

Our dear little Raphael left for the bridge a week ago. He came to Heartland in March 05 as a little baby bun. He was part of a roundup that came out of Texas. He was very carelessly separated from his mother too early by inexperienced or uncaring people before he got to Heartland.

Raphael was a quiet and unassuming bun. One of those black bunnies that doesn't capture attention. Well you captured mine Raphael. I remember seeing you a week before you left for the bridge. You were dashing around your playpen with excitement when I gave you a little oatmeal. You were busy chatting it up with your neighbor Murray. Talking about "big" things I imagine.

I will miss you Raphael and think of you often. Black bunnies hold a special place in my heart. Godspeed on your journey to the bridge baby.

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”

Irish Blessing

Claim Jumper

I had just returned from the vet with one of our bunnies, Ashley, and my husband met me at the van so he could carry her into the house for me. As he picked up Ashley he said, "did you see the cottontail over there?" motioning over his shoulder. "What?"i said in puzzlement. We have a lot of cottontails out here and seeing them is the norm. When I came around to the other side of the van I saw why he pointed this one out to me. We have had an especially severe summer and the herbs have succumbed to the heat one by one. I had only one oregano plant left and I placed a white plastic table over it to shield it from the sun. Much to my delight the bronze fennel I had lost a couple of weeks ago magically reappeared after the cool front came in the other day. It was so very tiny, maybe 1/2 inch tall. I placed a little red step stool over it and watered it lovingly, like I have the oregano. Oh well. I gladly offer up the shade to the little cottontail. He's very clever to find a shady cool spot like that. Who knows, the fennel might make another comeback.

Those Ears!!!

Anja, Andrea's friend in Germany, sent this adorable green tote. This one is bound to generate some comments at the grocery store checkout line. Thank you Anja! I love it. We look forward to your visit in November.

"Sunrise, sunset,...sunrise, sunset"

I've had the music from Fiddler on the Roof on my brain all day. Marisella and Rufus' adoption arrangements have been made and I will be delivering them to their new home next week. We are so happy for them, and for the lovely couple who is adopting them. But we are a little sad, as we always are, to see the bunnies go. Have a wonderful life Rufus and Marisella! We will take good care of your kids.

You mean to tell me we had a TV the whole time?

How come I was never allowed on the bed before? Where's the remote? I wanna watch cartoons!

Patch and Alice at play!

This is a little video I put together of Patch and Alice at play. The little treats I'm handing out are dried apple bits. As you can see Alice is the master of the back flop!

We dont belong with you!

There have been a rash of phone calls of late regarding cottontail babies. Some well meaning people and some not so well meaning but either way lets try and clear up a few things. Cottontails are not like domestic bunnies. They are not our toys nor do we have the right to take them from the nest and try to make them into pets.

Do not assume a cottontail has been abandoned. Momma cottontails do not stay with their babies. Not because they are bad moms but because they are trying to keep from drawing predators to their babies.

Cottontail mothers come and feed their babies in the dark, usually the early hours before dawn. If you want to know if a mom is visiting a nest put something very small on the nest. Maybe a little piece of string or some little twigs. Check to see if it has been disturbed, later in the day. Dont assume because you don't see her, she isn't taking care of her babies.

If you do come accross a baby that needs help or perhaps your dog or cat brings one in, you need to take the bunny to a wildlife rehabilitator. They need special milk that the average person does not have access to. If you try and raise that baby yourself you will more than likely lose them. The mortality rate for cottontails raised by humans is 90%.

Cottontails are extremely sensitive and easily frightened. if you do find a baby whose has been injured or whose mother has been killed and the babies are still in the nest. Put that baby in a box with a snug lid and plenty of air to breathe. Put them in a quiet place in your home where they wont be disturbed by your pets. Do not handle them beyond what is absolutely necessary and do not let your children handle or play with them. If you will notice in the picture above the "scary eyes". Bunnies will remain frozen with fear and can have a heart attack. Of course there are some circumstances when the cottontails require our assistance. Do what instructed above and get them to a wildlife rehabilitator ASAP!

Use some common sense folks. Interfering with wildlife is often more for our benefit than the animals. If you want to help find your local wildlife rehab and contact them. They are the professionals and will know what to do.

Silent trip to the bridge

This was our darling little Wyatt. A most unusual looking bunny. A white lionhead with crystal blue eyes. A very quiet and shy buns Wyatt was dumped at the animal shelter. Perhaps because he was shy, maybe because he had molar problems that required regular trips to the vet or maybe because someone decided to abuse him for breeding purposes and he was not found useful. We did not think Wyatt was able to hear. Possibly that recessive gene that seems to go along with blue-eye animals. He was not up on the website for adoption. We were afraid that someone would take a shine to Wyatt's coloring and try to use him for more breeding or sell him to the highest bidder.

Wyatt left for the bridge sometime in the early hours this past Saturday morning. This sweet little bunny man lived a quiet life next door to his friend Shoebox. He really only made 3 friends at the rescue; His gentle neighbor Shoebox who sat and watched him closely as he passed, one of our young volunteers who had numerous conversations with Wyatt and his sponsor Rick who got the opportunity to snuggle with Wyatt. You may wonder why I am intent on telling the circumstances on how a bunny that has gone to the bridge came to Heartland? My wish is to help educate and hopefully make people think before they discard a bunny. When you bring any animal into your home, you make a promise to that animal. It is supposed to be for better or worse to take care of them. Momma Jeannie kept that promise to Wyatt when others failed him.

We will miss you bunny man

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature -- trees, flowers, grass -- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Mother Teresa