Nose

Goodness knows why this didn't show up first time but here it is!

Merry Christmas

So we like squeezing up the side of the shed. Ha ha, the human can't get us here! Wait, can she still take photos of us here?!?!

So it's been a pretty uneventful month, although the baby keeps the human v busy, we've been keeping up to date with everyone's online antics! So a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR BUNNY BLOG FRIENDS!!!

B&B had their myxy vacs last week, and were both very good for the vet (no repeat of Bella's pee flicking!). The kale we grew is still going very strong, much to the bunnies delight! Unfortunately all the leaves are now gone from their favourite grape vine, but we planted a new apple tree so they can have some branches next year (and will save us from "borrowing" apple branches from the community orchard in the village.)

There is a rumour that the human's mother has grown some purple Brussel sprouts for Christmas dinner... Human and rabbit dinner that is! Buttons and Bella can't wait!

Hair cut

Bella had a hair cut recently. This is the "after" picture! Her mane was getting so long it was in her eyes at the front and she was picking up food and hay under her chin!

She was very good: she trusts us so much more than when we adopted her a year ago! (a year, how time flies!). She probably doesn't realise how lucky she is to get a fur-cut from the husband, who cuts human fur as his job, and charges them money!!! Bella didn't even tip him!

Babysitting

"This baby thing is exhausting! He wants constant entertainment! Well we've done our shift and now we need a lie down. Anyway we think he needs changing so we best let the human take over xx"

Snooze away bunnies... I'm sure he'll start screaming soon and wake you up!

Thanks everyone for your good wishes for big Bella. She is 100% back to normal now.

Bunnies: sent to give us grey hairs

Sigh. Bella is unwell, please send your thoughts and prayers her way. I don't think it's very serious, but we're keeping a very very close eye on her as we have learned from sad experience how quickly buns can go down hill.

Last night she didn't want her dinner pellets, which was incredibly worrying: Bella loves her food. She was cowering in her house looking very unhappy and i could not tempt her out. On inspection of the litter tray we noticed no poop either (the benefit of the huge size difference between our two buns: very easy poop differentiation).We gave her a shot of pineapple juice and after an hour she really perked up and ate some pellets.

Panic over, I went to bed. This morning she was behaving normally, bouncy and ate some breakfast veggies... But not as much as usual. She's pooping, but not as much as normal. Today's been up and down: sometimes she is hopping round the garden like a kid and nibbling at readigrass, but she's turned down broccoli and sometimes returns to the house for a lie down...

So we're just monitoring v closely, and administering more pineapple juice later. Hoping it doesn't mean we need to see the vet tomorrow.

We'll let you know.

Buttons is happy and healthy, and going through a v scruffy moult!

Spot the rabbit part deux

Bella tucked into the vines (can't believe we still have grapes at this time of year) and then the mint.

Spot the rabbit!

It's a beautiful autumn day, crisp, cool and sunny, and we're playing our favourite game: spot the rabbit in the veg patch!

See also part II

You smell food?

We can smell pellets and hay around here but where is it???

Someone please tell the human it's bunny dinnertime!

Don't worry about us

We're doing just fine. We spend most of the day inside. The human chases us around and tells us to get some exercise, but she doesn't realise we need to perfect the arts of snoozing and grooming and you know, just chilling!

And at night we go in our shed for more snoozing and grooming and chilling... We like that we can chew the shed without getting in trouble, and the human seems pleased that we are still using our litter tray properly. What did she think we'd do??? We are civilised buns, dontcha know?!?!

We have all our usual stuff here and it has the benefit that it's all ours - no humans poking us when we want a bit of privacy and peace!

Cute, but trouble!

Sigh. The buns got themselves into some serious trouble of late, and have been "relocated" into a shed outside. Before you protest (I did) I assure you it's a good size luxury bunny palace with all their usual stuff in it. Despite this I feel bad for them!

So what happened? We had a power cut, or so we thought... Until we flicked the fuse box and noticed that everything except the fridge/freezer came back on. At first we thought the power cut or surge had done something to damage the fridge and we were pretty annoyed, as it's only a couple of months out of it's warranty (typical eh?) and was quite expensive. But then we pulled it out and discovered... A severed power chord, and bunny teeth marks!

It's difficult to explain quite how difficult it is to get behind the fridge (it's built into a cabinet) and quite how naughty those buns were to get in there and reap this damage. They had to break through a cabinet, and really root around for that power chord.

And I can't believe they didn't electrocute themselves!!! Stupid bunnies. They are very lucky.

I feel frustrated; I was always so convinced that our kitchen was 100% bunny proof, and totally felt they would be fine there each night (and they were for 2 and a half years...). But I should know better... They outsmarted me :-)

The husband was fuming with anger. It cost a fair bit to repair the fridge, (although thankfully less than a new one would cost) and we had to throw away heaps of fresh and frozen food. He gave me an ultimatum... Either Bella and Buttons went to a new family, or they moved out of the house into the garden.

Oh I agonised. I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing their smooshy faces anymore, not finding a perfect home for them where they could be loved the way i love them! But I also worried that having been acclimatised to house living (the temperature plus the space) that they wouldn't be happy outside.

What a dilemma. In the end I just couldn't stand losing them, so hence the outside solution. I agreed they would go outside as long as they could have a shed, not just a hutch, that they could come in the house each day for a couple of hours of supervised playtime and that if it snows, they can come inside again for a few nights.

They seem to have adapted very well, and actually seem to enjoy that they now get to play in the garden more regularly (well, until it turns too cold/wet anyway), so they are happy and I'm just paranoid. They've been so spoilt as house bunnies. I just hope they don't hate me. Please don't hate me?

As I type this, buttons is sprinting around the baby toy obstacle course in the lounge, and Bella is snoozing in the door way... So not much has changed really!

But soon it's time for dinner and time to go back to the shed for the night ;-(

Double floppage!!

So cute :-)

They won't admit it but...

They won't admit it but I think the rabbits actually quite like having the baby around!

Buttons likes using his nose to push the toys that hang down from baby gym, and best of all there are lots of new boxes available to play in. There are the pampers boxes (other brands of nappy are available but come in plastic wrapping!), and this lovely box which Bella loves. The baby may have received a gorgeous gift in it, but Bella got the gift of a bonus box! Thanks Jade and Mickey :-)

Banana

She obviously thinks it's ok for her as she comes back for more! Luckily she only ate a half inch piece before I got the pic and moved her on. And I'm pleased to report she is fine!

Thanks all for the replies to my last post.

Question for bun-xperts

Should bunnies eat banana skin? Bella seemed to think so when I found her nosing through my breakfast this morning, but I am not so sure. Worried now.

Bum deal

Bella gets the bum deal in this arrangement... Doesn't seem to mind the butt in her face though!

Sentry duty

Guarding their house from potential baby invasion.

Episode 3 of our series buns on sewing baskets

The shot I've been waiting for for weeks! Throne sharing (or fighting it out maybe?)!

The bunnies have quickly learned that they can get up to a serious amount of mischief when the human is feeding the baby... My hands are busy, I can't stand up to shoo them off the furniture or stop them eating the floors and wall!

Oh dear

Strange smells,strange noises

Well there's been a lot of strange stuff going on around here lately... and the buns are not sure at all what to make of it!

On 28th July our son was born and he's been keeping me and the husband mighty busy!

Buttons and Bella have actually adapted pretty well, though they don't look too impressed when he cries! And they don't even disapprove too much of the slightly late breakfasts they've been getting! Bella just keeps to herself, and keeps demanding head rubs as if she wants reassurance that she's still No.1! Buttons is very curious, and has been checking out all the baby equipment, trying to play with the baby toys (!) and this morning, he even sidled up and sniffed the baby's leg! Go Buttons!

I can't wait to see how the relationship between baby and bunnies develops!

Demonstration

Achieving the optimal snoozing position will be different for everybun. Some like the loaf (a la Buttons) while some like the flop'n'stretch, as demonstrated by Bella.
Whatever you choose, be sure to snooze!

It's my throne actually!

There's a bunny on my sewing basket

Such a perfect fit!

Whaddya want?

Bella snoozes while Buttons keeps look out.

Pet me?

Bella says: "I would like a head rub please, and I have aerodynamically arranged my head and ears to assist you human."

Bunny vs chicken

Of course it's the law that when your bunny does something extraordinarily amusing and blog worthy your camera is no where to be found eh?

So you'll just have to imagine...

We were all in the garden, chickens at one end pecking the grass and scratching at the dirt and bunnies in their usual safe place on and around the deck (where there are hidey holes). Suddenly Buttons decided he wanted to investigate the chickens and sprinted off down the garden. This was weird in itself... Usually the chicken noises startle him and he gives them a wide berth! He got to within 6 inches of one of the chucks, but she was obviously not impressed about a bunny in her territory. Goodness knows why, as Buttons is about a quarter of the size of the chicken in question! The chuck started fluffing herself up and flapping her wings like an elephant flaps it's ears just before it charges. This clearly told Buttons everything he needed to know as he turned and sprinted away from her so fast I barely saw what happened! Not only did he sprint up the garden but he was up and over the deck, through the back door and sitting on his house faster than... Well greased lightening??

Silly bunny learnt not to take on an animal so much bigger than himself. But good for him that he was curious and brave enough to go and investigate!

I took this picture shortly afterwards.. he was hiding, a bit shell shocked from his encounter.

Hot hot hot

Phew, we're in a mini heatwave here. Yesterday it went to 32 centigrade, which is probably nothing for some of our friends, but we're English, and we don't do heat. The humans decided to try to escape to the coast, thinking there might be cooling sea breezes and some sea to dip our toes into but alas, the tide was out, way out, perhaps 2 miles out :-( and there was no breeze to be found. We consoled ourselves by eating crab, crayfish and icecream (not together obviously) and then got back into the car which was air conditioned and the best place to be!

But I do worry about the little fluffsters during the hot weather. If the humans are hot, I can't imagine how one might feel to be wearing a little fur coat as well - especially Bella, who continues to moult and turn our house into a blanket! I keep giving them plastic bottles full of frozen water to lick and lie by, and refilling their water bowl and bottle regularly. They don't seem too bothered however, but have been doing lots of flopping out on the cool tiled floors of the kitchen and hallway. Strangely I found them snuggling yesterday evening and got them on camera... surely sharing body heat can't be good in this weather??!

"But we loves each other and we like snuggling up!"

Disapproval of hair stylist

If you were looking for my unhappy face, you found it human. Now please stop rearranging my hair do for your amusement.

A hutch is not enough...

Apart from the brilliant message contained in this public awareness film, it features two gorgeous stars! I don't know who the rabbits are, but well done to the Rabbit Welfare Association for making this. Let's hope it gets distributed far beyond 0ur bunny community.



From http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

Look out

Buttons loves a snuggle. But he also likes to keep look out over my shoulder in case there is something more interesting going on elsewhere!

Buttons adds...

I was a very good boy at the vets, and she gave me snuggles and strokes and said I was the cutest bunny she ever saw. Ha! See Bella, that's how it's done!

The ladies love me...

V-E-T day

Bella just wanted to say:

"I want to make it clear that I do not like getting inside the carry case, and I do not like going in the car, and I don't like the dogs barking in the vets (dogs are so noisy, why can't they be more like rabbits?), and I really do not like the vet lady who stuck something in my mouth, pricked my ear and cut my nails.

So I see no reason to apologise for flicking pee in the vet lady's face... And covering her in fur... And trying to hide under her table where the computer wires were.

I'm sulking for the rest of the day!"

Spring moult

The fur is really flying around here.

Having never owned a long furred bunny before, Bella has really taken us by surprise, as is evidenced by our clothes which are starting to look very furry! I take her outside once a day and give her a good comb, and the fur comes out in handfuls (my dad gave me a good tip - to leave the fur on the bird table so the local birds can use it for nesting - recycling at it's best!). But just an hour later she looks as though I never combed her, poor girl, look at her scruffy back.


We got a shock the other day when we pulled out the rabbit house to vacuum underneath, and there was so much Bella fur that we thought we had another rabbit under there! Buttons seems to be ok (he's very well behaved and not a messy moulter at all ;-) but I do worry about how much of Bella's fur he might ingest, as he is very good at grooming her. We're on paranoid poo watch and making sure he's eating all his greens and hay... so far, he seems fine though.

Thank you Amazon

Buttons and Bella have a new box. We seem to have a wierd standoff whenever there is a new box. At first they ignore it (which is odd, as if someone puts down a bag of shopping and they are around, they jump straight in), then when they've decided that it's safe (and I've tried a few different positions around the room to bate their interest), they start assessing what they can do with it!


This one seems to passed their assessment. Bella now uses it as a hidey whole and has started chewing, and Buttons likes to sit on top.

RAW!

It's Rabbit Awareness Week in the UK!
The RSPCA put together this very cute film to show Happy Rabbit behaviours!
Enjoy!

Sprinting!

More garden time, this time Buttons really enjoys the wide open spaces. Look out for just past 30 seconds in, when he goes crazy for a fast lap of the lawn! I could barely keep up with him with my camera phone!

Can I eat these?

Of course you can little man, and maybe you can help us to trim the grass while you are out there?

Bunny lamp

We had a prep-for-baby-stuff buying trip to a local department store last weekend which was fun and scary (we have 3 months to go!)
I fell in love with this Completely overpriced but adorable lamp... The husband said it was a waste of money but wouldn't it be cute for new baby's room?

Leave me alone!

Buttons says "How dare you film me while I'm busy grooming, how do you turn this filmy thing off anyway, I turn my back on you... are you still there?"

More head strokes please!

This is Buttons in his "you haven't finished with the stroking yet! That's an order not a question." pose

Hmm?

Bella never stops eating...

Funny thing is, she loves the grass in the pot, but when we put her on the actual, huge lawn, instead if thinking, "yippee! Lunch!" she decides to run through the veg patch instead and get her paws dirty!

Peter Rabbit

Little Peter Rabbit surveys his kingdom, but when will these lettuces be ready for me he wonders?

Hoppy Easter!

Bella would like to wish everybun a hoppy Easter... But she is a little tired after hiding lots if chocolate eggs around the village! And it's strangely hot weather here for April, so lying on the cool tiles for a snooze is the only way to go!

Enjoy your chocolate eggs one and all!

Cheer up little bun!

This is his disapproval face, at being scooped up, taken outside and sat in a plant pot for a photo.
It was swiftly followed by realisation that he was sat on a bunny buffet of grass! Poor grass didn't last too long!

Good evening?

What's Bella about to say?

Grass! Yum!

Bella ventured out onto the deck this morning and discovered the trays of grass I'm growing for the chickens!
"CHICKENS!!!?!?? Where's mine?" said Bella.

Don't worry Bella, I've planted some coriander and parsley for you, but they're still very small at the moment!

Angry bun

Both Buttons and Bella love attacking a toilet roll inside. But they don't last long... we regularly find shards under the sofa! So we were all very excited to find the extra tough reinforced tube inside the kitchen foil. See Buttons go to work!

We love our litter tray

If humans spent a large part of day snoozing on the toilet it would be considered strange and unhygienic! Buttonsand Bella love lounging and sleeping their litter tray and I must admit they look very comfy together!

I also love this photo because it highlights the huge size difference!

Garden time?

Buttons stares wistfully at the back door: "Bella and I heard a rumour that there is grass out there now? Can we go play? Please?" Sorry Buttons, it's pouring with rain today, even the chickens are staying in their coop (voluntarily!), but the rain is great for the new lawn. It will make the grass grow fast and make it more yummy when you do get out there!

Garden time!

We took Bella and Buttons outside this weekend, although the re-landscaping of the garden still isn't complete, we couldn't resist as it was a glorious sunny spring weekend. Buttons was not impressed at all and ran straight back into the house, but Bella loved it! It was so funny seeing her run really fast with her massive tail bobbing up and down!

The lawn is being laid as I type, so hopefully in the next few weeks the bunnies will be getting a lot more garden time!

Glitch in the system

Thank goodness we are back! We think something went awry at blogspot HQ as the Blog went offline for a couple of days and even we couldn't find it!

Greedy Bunny

Bella can't get enough of the hay!

Bunny agility (of sorts!)

We took a leaf out of the book of another great bunny blogger Tamsin, (you can visit her and Scamp here), and decided to try some bunny agility.

Unfortunately I should have known Bella's stomach would have got the better of us. Definitely a big failure for us. And we were so jealous after seeing Scamp's amazing display! He was amazing as you can see for yourselves here!

More Buttons!

Well he is just so adorable! I can't stop taking his photo :-)

Royal Bun Decree

Human minions. I do decree that there shall be more treats, especially broccoli. Now take that camera out of my face minion.

Bella blurred

Because she never keeps still, even when tucking into hay (all the time!)

Cutest Stare down

They always win! When they look at me with these cute faces I'll give them whatever they want. I swear they have magical powers to plant ideas of head rubs and kale in my brain. I'm putty in their errrm eyes!

The sofa

Bella has now worked out how to jump up onto the sofa. It's taken her a while, but she's loving it. Now we know she can jump that high we're struggling to come up with high barriers to stop her going into forbidden areas!

When Buttons and Bella are on the sofa together they do loads of crazy fast running and jumping, which is hilarious and I was trying to capture in this video. Sorry it goes on a litte (5 mins!), but every time I turned away they did something video-worthy, and I spent a lot of time trying to get them doing anything. There is also some cute flopping out by Buttons, just to demonstrate how much he loves the sofa... so worth waiting for!

Bella vs the doormat

We have a few doormat's strategically placed in bunny friendly corners of the house. Usually they like nothing more than stretching out and snoozing on them. Obviously this one did something to annoy Bella.

Lack of grass

Today it almost feels like spring outside! Still a little chilly but great sunshine. I really want to take the bunnies outside, and I'm sure they want to as well, but unfortunately our garden is 2/3rds of the way through being landscaped and we have no lawn, just stepping stones through mud! The poor gardener had to put the project on hold when we got hit by snow back in November, and now he's waiting for it to be warm enough to turf... I'm praying we have a few more days like today and maybe he will think its time to start?

Buttons and Bella are snoozing on their house under the kitchen table (as usual), and assure me they don't want to be disturbed just now, and definitely don't want to get their paws dirty outside!

Year of the Rabbit

It's going to be a good year, because it's Chinese year of the rabbit! Happy New Year everyone! Bella and Buttons agree, although they are looking mighty disapproving in this photo (breakfast was probably late!)
And what a great year to bring a new arrival into our adventures huh? Yes, the reason for the looooong silence is that we've been brewing a big announcement... in 6 months there will be a new member of our household, and we're not talking the fluffy kind, no, the human kind. GASP! We are very excited to be having a rabbit-child, (that sounds crazy, but you know what I mean!) and can't wait to introduce Bella and Buttons to a crying baby! They won't know what's hit 'em! hee hee!

Expecting more late bunny breakfasts from us humans, and more disapproving looks from the bunns.

Is it February? Already? My how time flies!

Buttons has been digging for gold (or kale, more likely) on the sofa, on the humans... anywhere really! Turns out it's nail clipping time!

Old-not-quite-friend

You may remember the gorgeous Sapphire, who was set up with Buttons on a date at the Rabbit Rescue Residence back in October.

Then you will remember that Buttons' love for Sapphire was unrequited (ahhh)... and that's how we ended up with gorgeous fluffy Bella instead. And maybe you were wondering... "whatever happened to Sapphire?"? Well I was.

Last week we heard that she'd been rehomed, (with a boy bun called Jeffy) in a lovely garden shed. Hooray! I like a happy ending. Her new owner, and Jeffy are very lucky to have such a pretty bunny friend.

Good luck little Sapphire!

So shleeeeepy

Yawn!

Hope you aren't missing us too much? The human has been sick so hasn't been able to pay the bunnies as much attention as they think they deserve! The husband has been treating them pretty well though... Probably too well.