Pod Update

The other day before the cold, wet, rainy, snowy weather, our alien seed pod looked as though it had been sprinkled lightly with sugar. Today it looks like a cupcake with the icing nibbled off.

Thanksgiving Day

Looking like a pumpernickel bun

Today after the rain and wintry weather

It was difficult to determine whether the white stuff was a powder or granular. I didn't want to touch it because I was afraid the whole thing might collapse. I also wonder if the white substance was spores or another type of fungus or mold.

I am enjoying watching the progress of the puffball, but is difficult to resist the temptation to stomp it and watch the fine, powdery spores spew up into the air. After the wet weather, I'm wondering about the condition of the spores inside. I am also amazed that the children in the neighborhood haven't noticed it and destroyed it. Thanksgiving Day I found a smaller one in the grass under some leaves about a foot away from this one. It had seen better days and had either collapsed or had been squashed. A fine mist of spores came out when I poked at it with a stick. I glanced at the smaller one today while making photos of the larger one, but didn't attempt any closer investigation.

Buns in the Sun

We had a fine day yesterday and all the bunnies got to go outside for a while. Now it's been raining since last night and will probably continue for several more hours today. Rain, cold temperatures, and possible snow is forecast for the next couple of days, so it's a good thing they got some time outside in the sun.

The buns certainly enjoy the old Cottontail Cottage. Between the cats clawing on it and the buns chewing on it, it has seen better days, although it still has some good ones left. It was a gift from a friend and I really need to let her know that it was money well spent.



Mopsy enjoys time in the cottage while Gabby preens and tries out a ballet pose

Gabby gets her time in the cottage. They aren't very good about sharing. That pale blob at the very front of the entrance is a wad of bunfur from a disagreement over who got the ground floor.

Matilda being a shy girl after some fur pulling by one of the other two during one of the battles for the ground floor

Mopsy has reclaimed her spot


This time of year, we have considerable molting going on while they get their winter coats. Matilda's gray points change with the seasons.

Matilda showing off her new white earrings and nose spot for the winter fashion season

Not sure what Mopsy's trying to accomplish with her fashion statement. Maybe she's going for a sort of Bohemian look this winter. I see lots of bunny combing in my future.

Gabby wouldn't be still long enough for any fashion shots, but back up in the top photo she's showing off her white leggings in her ballet pose. She also looks as though she could use a shave--her molt is beginning around her face, making her look like Miss Chubby Cheeks.


I was up early feeding and watering everybun. It is cool, dark, and rainy. A nap is in order. All of us here at the Huntsville Bunstead hope all of you have a great day.

Coming soon: another alien seed pod update. Stay tuned.


(This was my second attempt at posting from my iPhone. It's a learning experience. At least my photos aren't posting sideways. I found the space to add labels, but haven't figured out how to control photo placement or how to add text after uploading photos, so I have to do a final edit with the computer. I guess I'll eventually get it.)

Alien Seed Pod Watch Continues

After a few days it's looking like this. A quite overbaked biscuit. I'm wondering when it will explode and spores will be released everywhere.

(Wow! My first attempt to post from my iPhone. I wonder what it will look like "on the big screen?")

(Only seemed to need a slight amount of editing. One thing I can't quite figure out is the "Huntsville Huntsville" in the "Location" area and don't seem to be able to remove the extra Huntsville here. I did not see a place to add labels, so I've had to do that on the computer.)

Alien Seed Pod

This strange thing has been growing in our front yard for several days. We suspect alien activity and this is probably a seed pod left by the extraterrestrial visitors.




PetCat is willing to investigate from a distance.




A quarter is contaminated by being placed upon the pod to give a better idea of the size of the thing.



I dare to get close enough to almost touch it. The frame of reference seemed better using my hand than the quarter. It is about the size of an orange.



I don't think I've ever seen a puffball quite so large, although they can get much larger than this. This one is growing in an area of the yard where we've had fairy rings develop in the past.

Told ya it was an alien seed pod.

Check these links for more information on puffball fungi and fairy rings.

http://americanmushrooms.com/edibles3.htm
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/puffballs.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvatia_gigantea
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/fairy_rings.html
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/fairing.shtml

Pants da Man

Pascal, known and loved as Jungle Pants, Pants Man, and Pants, weighs in around 20 pounds. He is the biggest cat we've ever had. He isn't just heavy, he's a big cat, tall and big-boned. When he was a tiny, tiny kitten we never dreamed he'd turn out to be such an incredible hulk. He is also one of the sweetest cats we've ever had. At his very first visit to the vet when he was just a tiny little handful of striped fuzz, the vet's assistant told us she'd read an article about brown tabbies that said they typically have the sweetest dispositions of all of cats. I don't know how reliable the article was, but Pants would certainly be a positive statistic that the author could add to his research.



Here is a photo from last year when he was crowding our little Pushkin out of a comfy pile of towels and spinning fiber left on the chair. Pushkin weighed the average 7-8 pounds and had a long, lanky, oriental-style physique. Pants is about 18 pounds in this photo, but is a big hulk even without the weight. Just look at the difference in the size of their heads. Pushkin seems to be saying "Hey, scoot over!!"



Trying to look remorseful after he pushed Pushkin out of the comfy snoozing place




Working on the Great Sphinx pose




Finally, a little attempt at art with the cell phone


That Pants. He da Man.*


*my bit for the spay/neuter campaign: he's neutered--if you love them, fix them