Yogi Update

Yogi is such a sweetie! He seems to be settling in and getting used to us. I know he misses his previous family, especially Ms. Ava, who was as good at spoiling buns as the rest of us. As he becomes more accustomed to his new home, his personality is coming out more. He is also beginning to cultivate a relationship with our big tabby cat, Pants (Pascal). Pants is still not quite sure what rabbits are and even though he weighs about 20 pounds, he is a little afraid of them. This has led to some humorous moments between him and Yogi, especially yesterday when Yogi hopped out of his enclosure and right onto the middle of Pants, who was sleeping belly-up beside the entrance.

I am still keeping Yogi separated from the girls. Since Mopsy died, Matilda and Gabby have not been themselves. Even though they were not what I would really call  bonded, Mopsy's absence has affected the behavior of the other two. The three of them were a bit grumpy when in close quarters, so they did not share living quarters, but they did enjoy being out in the playpens, both inside and out, where they had more space to hop around, socialize if they felt like it, or get away from each other. Now, Gabby has become very quiet and withdrawn, quite unlike her usual behavior. Matilda has become aggressive and belligerent, reverting to her old biting, boxing, and grumping actions and has bitten me on both hands and on one foot. Not nips, but honest-to-goodness bites which hasn't happened for a number of years. I have quite a bite on the fleshy part of the thumb of my left hand. I have been trying to give them extra attention, but I think it is just going to take time. I would have thought that maybe part of this is due to Yogi's presence, but they seem to mostly ignore him initially and are not housed in the same room with him at this time. Until their behavior gets a little more back to normal, I am not going to try to force anything.

(as usual, click on the photos if parts are cut off)

Scenic North Alabama

I haven't posted anything on this topic in quite some time. We went on a hike to the Madison County Nature Trail on Green Mountain today as part of our Fourth of July activities.

(click photo to enlarge if necessary

Interior of covered bridge over lake.

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)

Introducing Yogi

What a handsome gentlebun has come to live at the Huntsville Bunstead. This is Yogi. He was the bun half of the bun and Guinea pig pair, Yogi and Boo Boo, who had been together for a number of years since 2006. Boo Boo departed this world some time ago, leaving Yogi with just his humans.

I had not planned to take anyone else's buns until we had less than three of our own, but Yogi's owners' children are all grown and in college or married with new grandbabies expected in August and October. Yogi's family mom is not going to be around much, so back in December we decided that he would come to live with us sometime before the new babies are born, especially since he no longer had Boo Boo for company.

He is a 6-year old neutered male Rex. Such a friendly bun, too, but a little shy right now. Reminds me so much of our beloved Periwinkle. I do hope he and I become special buddies. For right now, life is a little different for him with the new surroundings, the ladies, the cats, so we are taking it slow and trying to get him adjusted. He does enjoy the time outside in the playpens, a new experience for him.

(Now don't anyone be making comments about what a fat bunloaf he is--we're going to be working on that. Besides, back when I was a kid, gentlemen of his physique were called "portly.")

(as usual, click for full photo)

If...Then

When you eat too much Father's Day dinner you lie down on the sofa.

When you lie down on the sofa you fall asleep.

When you fall asleep on the sofa you wake up with a cat in your face.

Don't wake up with a cat in your face.

(click on the photo for full size--if you dare)

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)

What a lazy bunny!

These pleasant days have been great for the bunnies to enjoy some time outside in the playpen. Gabby has really made herself comfortable stretching out in the shade. Yesterday I caught her sprawled out on her bunny belly and munching on the grass at the same time. Here she is chowing down while lying down. I guess I should say she's just multi-tasking.