Mopsy April 2002 - July 1, 2012

Mopsy, the retired museum bun. Five years spent at Burritt Museum educating school kids and general museum visitors about the relationship between domesticated animals and humans, then the last five here at the Huntsville Bunstead being spoiled and loved. Natural causes. She will be missed.

(click photos for full frame)

Afternoon at the Bun Cottage

A few photos of the girls enjoying the fresh air and the old Cottontail Cottage.

I can never be sure of the order in which the photos will show up when doing this from my iPhone. Haven't figured out how to space them with the phone, either, so I'll just say a little about them and then we'll figure it out from there.

One photo is of Matilda doing guard duty at the back door. She was a snoozy bunny and I was intrigued by the length of her lashes, so I did an Instagram closeup version. The other two photos are of Gabby schooched up in the side door and dear old Dutchie Mopsy taking up all the space just inside the front door.

Silly bunnies.

(as usual, click to get the full photo until I get this iPhone thing figured out)

The Mop

Some shots of Mopsy out in the playpen on a recent sunny day. Mopsy is ten years old this month. Beginning in 2002 she worked for five years as a barnyard bunny in the living history park at the museum where I was a living history interpreter. When I left my job at the museum, they let me bring Mopsy home with me because I had donated her and her sister when the barnyard first opened. Now she is a retired bun, getting up there in years, but still spunky.

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.)

Beware the Hidden Dutchie

Here is Mopsy, our Dutch bunny, in one of her favorite spots--an empty cat litter container (not the litter box) converted into a bunny nook out in the playpen. The violets have grown since the last rain, so she feels especially concealed in her little hidey spot.

It just goes to show that there are good things about cat litter. Pretty useful, huh, RG over at A Houseful of Rabbits ?