Mutt (Rabbit) Monday (Thursday)

Look, if I took pics of the mutts for the past few Mondays (if I were even here) they would all be the same: hot dogs lying on porch. Occasionally they will lumber briefly off the porch to see if it's any cooler in the yard, but it never is.

So. I will give you rabbits instead. Ridiculous, mammoth, Godzilla-like rabbits that have nearly outgrown their hutch.

They actually do a lot of lying around, being hot, too.

These may be the most spoiled bunnies on the planet, because not only do they get daily afternoon bowls of ice cubes to help them cool down in the 95+ heat, they actually have AC.

It's a simple box fan that we "installed" just outside the cage, but I think it really makes a difference for them. I felt really guilty 2 weeks ago when we left them for my sister's wedding and the temps were over 100. I think the fan is a good guilt-suppressant, and I think Durham agrees with me.

I know when I'm not looking, they press their faces up against it and do their best Phil Collins impressions.

Mutt Monday: Guest Species

We had quite an unusual event here at the WatRanch. Joe and I have joined a playgroup (hence the drop-off in blogging time) and we hosted a play date here on Friday. As the kiddos ran around in the backyard, we noticed an usually high number of bees loitering over the garden, but didn't think too much of it. Until we saw this:

Yes, that is my beloved peach tree, but see the weird-shaped mass in the center? You got it; it's bees.

Is your skin crawling yet? No? How about now?

I have no idea where these buggers came from or why they decided to set up shop in my peach tree. There aren't any blooms left on the tree and no fruit to speak of. The strange thing is that they were not there in the morning, but literally buzzed in around midday and took residence both in the peach tree and a shrub in the front yard. Why the split group? Who knows, but they only stayed through Sunday morning and were gone. I hope they got in plenty of pollinating while they were here.

The dogs are pretty boring these days, so you can have a bunny update instead.

There's my lovely Raleigh. She and her partner, Durham, decided to make life interesting for themselves this past week by taking some adventures outside of their cage. I'm not sure it if was wind or bunny ingenuity, but somehow their cage door was open 2 days in a row and they made a break for it. The first day was so beastly windy that they only got as far as under the shed before I noticed they were out. Fortunately, my babysitter saw them by the shed before the dogs did, otherwise it would have been curtains.

The second day our neighbors sent us a message to check the drainage tunnel under our driveway because they saw a bunny-like shape dart under it. Sure enough, both bunnies were hopping happily around in the mud. There is a LOT to be said for socializing pet rabbits, because I managed to retrieve them on both occasions, and for the most part they came hopping up to me when I called them. But then again, I am recognized by all of the creatures at the WatRanch as The Source of Food, so that's not a huge surprise.

Mutt Monday: Fences Make the Best Mutts

Oh those wiley mutts! Just when they think they've got the whole acre figured out, every smell accounted for, and every blade of grass counted, we go and throw a double whammy--rabbits! fence!--at them. Their world is upside down! Are they allowed inside the fenced garden? No. Can they please go in to eat...um...see the rabbits? No.

We finally finished securing the entire perimeter of the garden this past week by attaching trellising to the base of the shed, because the little dog from next door was easily coming and going from under the shed. With the trellis in place, we paid little attention to the world outside the fence...until this weekend.

Notice anything funny about the trellis under the shed? Take a closer look.

Here Hokie has become reptilian and slithered under the shed on her belly so she can be close to us as we work in the garden. Or does she have another motive? Hey, by the way, where is her partner in crime?

Aha! Boston not only slithered under the shed, she went all the way through to the other side. Why, pray tell, would an otherwise sensible dog do such a thing? Well, that wooden object on the other side of the fence that she is trained on is the rabbit hutch, of course.

I'm not sure if they're working as a team, with Hokie as lookout for humans and Boston looking out for rabbits. More likely, Hokie is hot and bored and wants to see what we're doing, and Boston is claustrophobic and rabbit-crazed.

"Here, bunny bunny. Come out and plaaaaayyy...."


*By the way, I keep forgetting to announce the results of our name-the-rabbits poll. With 44% of the vote, the winning names are: "Raleigh & Durham." It's no coincidence that several voting constituents are residents of the fair state of North Carolina. Since we believe the white bunny is a girl, she will be Raleigh and the boy will be Durham. I know you were all on the edge of your seats over this one.

Mutt Monday: Guest Species

As many of you know, there have been some new additions to the family. Until Bill lets me get chickens (not just for eggs, but for top-notch garden manure) I needed an animal that would help me keep my plants fed. Enter rabbits.

I picked up these little poop machines last week and they've been getting accustomed to life at WatRanch. The white and brown one is very active and inquisitive, and always hops out to greet us when we come outside:

I tried to get one of each gender to avoid many baby rabbits, but we think the white one is a girl, and this little guy is, well, a guy.

He's pretty shy, but both are fairly good cuddlers. I tried showing Joe how to feed them fresh blades of grass, but he likes teasing them with the grass instead of letting them have it.

We're still trying to decide names so please VOTE below on the options we've come up with.

poll by twiigs.com