Spring Has Sprung!

April has been a busy month between sickness due to lovely seasonal allergies, church events, yard work, and just normal day to day life.  But for the moment, we get a little breather. And we've had such nice weather lately, I knew it was time to take the buns outside for a taste of sunshine!

Hazel and her sisters at around 4 weeks old

Fiver around 4 wks old soaking in the sun

When they were babies and still with their bunny mama and all their siblings, they used to get playtime outside all the time. But since they came to live with us in their Forever Home, its been too cold. We did get to take them out in the snow once this winter. Our previous rabbit, Sparkle, loved the snow! We only got to take him out once, but he was digging and hopping around, having the best time! While Fiver seemed to be very curious about the snow, Hazel didn't seem to be a fan of the cold, wet white stuff.

hmm, cold, wet...I don't think so.

Today, the weather was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, not too hot, not too cold! The perfect day for the buns to experience the great outdoors!  As always, Fiver is ever-ready to explore a new space and have an adventure! Hazel is usually a little more hesitant and timid but once her brother has led the way, she is happy to follow.

they even got a little treat to coax them out into the sun!

They were cautious but not too scared, feeling the sunshine on their backs, a soft breeze through their fur, and listening to so many new sounds, including birds and a hrududu (lawnmower in Watership Down speak). I know I'm probably a little biased, being a proud bunny mama, but they looked so beautiful and peaceful in nature!

Do bunnies like story-time?

I've been having a few rough days recently with this whole bonding process and I'm pretty discouraged and frustrated. So I needed to look back to happier times with the buns to remind myself how much I really do love them. I immediately think back to the two weeks directly after their spay/neuter surgeries.

The surgeries were a success but Hazel still had her stitches in and they both had received doctor's orders to take it easy for at least ten days, at which point the stitches would be removed (for her) or dissolved (for him). When I asked if they were allowed to have any exercise time at all, I was cautiously told, "very limited".  My buns were used to having lots of playtime every morning and every evening. And any time Fiver, especially, was told it was not his turn to be out yet, he would promptly begin to chew on the cage bars. So I knew right away, this was going to be a very long two weeks.

Hazel, with her cone of shame, which lasted all of about 5 minutes before we took them off

The first few days they were both pretty subdued with recovery, though Fiver was ready to go much quicker than Hazel. I knew if I didn't come up with some way to keep them occupied and relaxed during their most active times, they would drive themselves (and Mama) absolutely crazy in no time flat! I once read something somewhere about someone reading to their rabbits and at first I thought, yeah right, that'll work! But during this crazy time, what was a crazy book-loving bunny mama going to do to keep her buns happy? Why not try reading to them and see what happens?

by Chapter 2...

Well, there's no better book to start with than Watership Down, of course. Not only is it about a group of brave intelligent rabbits not unlike my own, but its also where their names come from! So I dim the lights a bit, turn down the TV, and sat down on the floor in front their cages with the book in hand. As I begin reading, they're still pretty active and dying to get out to run around. But by Chapter 2, I notice they had quieted down and were calmly grooming themselves.  By Chapter 3, I look up and about die from a cuteness overload when I see both bunnies flopped out on their sides with their eyes closed!

by Chapter 3...

Could it be? Are they actually enjoying the reading? Is this actually working?? Maybe it was just a fluke. But night after night, I go through the same process and every night I see the same response! They were so relaxed and looked so happy! I felt like the best bunny mom ever!***

so relaxed and happy!

Every once in a while, I still pull out the book and read to them just for fun. But bunny story-time got us through a really rough time for them. And after the rough day we had today, it reminds me that we will get through this too. This too shall pass. And at the end of the day, all I want is for them to be happy. Whether they ever end up being happy together, or have to stay separate to be happy, I just want what's best for them. I do still truly love my Hazel Basil and my Fiver Boy!

bunny kisses through the cage