New family member!

[Bladesmith]

Introducing, Dawn!

OK, so she’s not really “new”, since my daughter has had her for a year, but she’s now living with us.  She’s the size of my two hands, and thinks she’s much bigger.  I can’t wait until she meets Clover.

[LBJ10]

Aww, how cute! I must have missed it. Did you get the animals living with you thing figured out?

[Bladesmith]

Sort of?  The landlord/management company said, “If it lives in a cage, it’s ok”…….And I chose to interpret that VERY broadly.  So I got the parrot (Jarvis) and the dragon (Rusty) into the house, and then I (And I’m not really proud of this, but still expecting a little girl to give up her kitten?) pretty much snuck the kittens in under cover of darkness.  Our little dog, which was my ex wife’s dog anyway, decided she liked it over there, and stayed.  I haven’t brought Clover home yet because we’re still getting sorted out, and with the Xmas tree in here (My daughter desperately wanted a real tree this year.  I haven’t had one since the divorce.  Nothing felt like home, and money was tight.), it’s very tight.  Until a month ago, I had the contents of a 3/2 shoved into an 800.sq. ft. 2/1.  Very small house, and she’s a big, big bunny.   So once the holiday is over, all the moving boxes and tree are gone,  I’ll bring her here.  Technically, she’ll live in a “cage”, but it’s just where her litter box resides.  I can’t wait to have her back!

[LBJ10]

Ah, I see. I figured you would be able to do something like that (have “caged” pets). I’m glad at least some are back with you. I bet you still miss Clover though.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Yay Bladesmith – welcome back – I’m so glad you managed to work out the “correct” meaning of “caged pets”

[Bladesmith]

Lawyered!

LOL.

Clover comes home Jan. 2

[BrunosMama]

Yay! Glad you’re slowly getting your babies home with you. Hope Clover makes it soon!

[Bladesmith]

11 more days!  Not that I’m counting or anything.

Dawn just spent 45 minutes chasing the cats (Who are twice her size) up and down the sofa and in and out of “HER” box.  I almost hurt myself laughing.  Oh, I needed that.

[Q8bunny]

That’s such awesome news! Dawn’s a feist little ball of fluff from the sounds of it
They should make countdown chocolate calendars for reuniting with one’s beloved pets

[Reesebun]

Posted By Bladesmith on 12/22/2016 8:55 PM

11 more days!  Not that I’m counting or anything.

Dawn just spent 45 minutes chasing the cats (Who are twice her size) up and down the sofa and in and out of “HER” box.  I almost hurt myself laughing.  Oh, I needed that.

Reese does that too with the cats, it is so funny because the cats are so confused! They are thinking “how can this little delicious-looking thing be so feisty?”

[Reesebun]

She is so cute and her ears are so tiiinnny! Reese must be a false dwarf or something because her ears are big for a dwarf and she never sits in the cute little dwarf stance like Dawn is in that picture.

[Bladesmith]

Little update on Dawn, she’s settled in and is now a free roaming House Bun, under supervision, of course.  She’s also stolen my favorite pair of lounge pants and claimed them as her own.  Little stinker. 

[Q8bunny]

With a face like that, she can steal all the pants in the world

[sarahthegemini]

What an absolute beauty! She is one adorable fluff ball.

I hear ya on the term “caged” being interpreted broadly. I wish we had that but we’re not allowed animals of any sort. Ahem, so we have to be careful…Although the amount of times we’ve come home with copious pet related items, it’s pretty obvious.

[Bladesmith]

I actually got away with claiming that the huge container of cat litter I was carrying was actually vermiculite.  Can’t believe that worked.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Bladesmith on 1/30/2017 1:43 PM

I actually got away with claiming that the huge container of cat litter I was carrying was actually vermiculite.  Can’t believe that worked.

I think the only time I’ve got to worry is when we have our annual inspection 

[Theodorusrex]

Bladesmith, she is soo adorable. What a little cutie pie

I hear ya with the landlord problems. Theo is a house bun but lives outside according to our landlord when we rang her to ask permission to have a rabbit she said ‘sure rabbits just live down the garden so I don’t see any reason why not’ – technically I didn’t lie I just didn’t correct her The past 2 inspections we’ve had Theo’s been inside. On both occasions we’ve taken down and hid his big pen and put him in his hutch for the length of the inspection. She hasn’t passed any comments thankfully, I usually mutter some excuse about it being a particularly cold night or him not feeling well. The way I see it is landlords shouldn’t restrict pets as long as the owner is responsible and prevents any damage to the house/repairs or pays for any damage which does occur.

[Bladesmith]

I think I’m golden.  A few weeks back I spoke to the landlady, and told her I was putting in a garden and would she like some of the veggie overflow we can’t absorb, and she said yes.  Sunday, cold, and pouring down rain, she brought us a nice apple dumpling.  Looked through the door, saw the cat (On top of the entertainment unit, sound asleep and slowly oozing off), smiled and walked away.

Whew.

[Vienna Blue in France]

As I’ve heard many times recently….

“It’s not what you do in your life, it’s how you do it that counts. ”

Good on ya Bladey!

[Bladesmith]

So my daughter is wondering how best to socialize with Dawn, and help her become a well mannered house bunny.  Right now, she is free during the day and until 9 pm, but she goes back in her cage at night.  And she HATES to go back in her cage.  I don’t blame her, but until I have the area secured the way I like it, I’m not giving her free roaming privileges.

As it stands now, Dawn comes out in the morning for binkies, plays chase me with the cat, which is really funny watching the cat run away from an animal half her size…and then she spends the day sleeping behind the couch.  Comes out midday for a drink and a nosh, and then goes back until twilight time.  But she doesn’t really interact with my daughter, and we’re trying to fix that. 

This is what I’ve been doing to socialize with Dawn.  I sit or lay down on the floor when she’s out and about, and just….sit still.  Dawn will come over and sniff me, half climb on me, paw at me or pull on my clothes, and occasionally lick me on the nose.  I THINK these are good signs, and I’m trying to get my daughter to do the same.

You guys tell me.  Am I doing this right?

[Q8bunny]

Yep. That’s what I did when Chewbacca was little. Oh, and read picture books to him and sing to him too

[Reesebun]

Reese Doesn’t socialize with me much either. I haven’t really tried to pet her very much and I just let her do her own thing, but now I am starting to regret it because whenever I try to pet her, she attacks my hand and runs away! I can tell that she likes my because she runs around my feet and lays down next to me, but does anyone know how I can get her used to me petting her?

[Azerane]

Feed her something yummy with one hand and try petting her gently with the other? Just one single pet to start of with, and stop before she has a chance to run away first. That way she knows that just because you pet her, doesn’t mean she has to run away because you will stop before then.

[Bladesmith]

I spent the evening laying on the floor (Not by choice, I’d spent the day doing repairs on my mother’s house, ow ow ow.), with the Princess Booplesnoot doing her evening binkies all over me.  At one point she binked her way up my length, climbing up on me and hopping off, and then working her way up to my nose, where she gave me a sniff and then verrrrrry gently, leaned in and licked me on the nose.  Then ran off, giggling, I’m sure.

[Q8bunny]

Squeee! Too cute, too cute!

[graysonbun]

ahhh!! we have bunny twins!!! my ollie looks identical to your dawn!! so cute, glad things are going well with the landlady!!

[Bladesmith]

Posted By olliebun on 2/05/2017 11:28 AM

ahhh!! we have bunny twins!!! my ollie looks identical to your dawn!! so cute, glad things are going well with the landlady!!

I have to admit the black otter color is so striking.  (But don’t tell Dawn how beautiful she is.  She’s full of herself already.)

And Clover will be home the 16th!!

[Bam]

Oh, she’s breathtakingly cute!!!

[Barrett]

That sounds about right to me. After that it just takes time. I remember watching the clock waiting for Patton to flop for the first time. I feel foolish now considering how often he flops.

Congrats!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Ridiculous amounts of adorable!!!!

[Bladesmith]

She’s getting better daily.  Unfortunately, she’s a little get-inski, so I’ve had to close some access points, mainly under the reclining couch and loveseats.  She gets under there and spends most of the day, but she’s chewing up the leather as well.  So I created these to keep her out.  Bunny Barricades.  Patent Pending.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Bladesmith on 2/05/2017 8:56 AM

I spent the evening laying on the floor (Not by choice, I’d spent the day doing repairs on my mother’s house, ow ow ow.), with the Princess Booplesnoot doing her evening binkies all over me.  At one point she binked her way up my length, climbing up on me and hopping off, and then working her way up to my nose, where she gave me a sniff and then verrrrrry gently, leaned in and licked me on the nose.  Then ran off, giggling, I’m sure.

[Q8bunny]

Brilliant, Bladesmith!

[Bladesmith]

Because she’s just so darned CUTE!

[Q8bunny]

Can’t argue with that!

[bigbunnies]

Shes so tiny!!! Oh man shes cute!!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Awww….what a little doll!

[Bladesmith]

Clover come home tomorrow morning!  YAY!

(And there was much rejoicing…..)

[Q8bunny]

Holy Grail!

[Reesebun]

Yay Clover!! Are you planning on bonding Clover and Dawn together?

[Bladesmith]

YUP!

Sadly, Dawn is going to have to go back in her cage for a bit while Clover gets acclimated.  I plan to let them free roam in turns, get them used to each other’s smells, and let them see each other in safety.  Then supervised out time.  Shouldn’t be a problem, Clover is extremely laid back.

[Q8bunny]

They’ll be like George and Lennie

[Bladesmith]

Here’s whats funny.  If you had told me a couple years ago I’d be longing for a rabbit in my house, I’d have laughed at you.  Now, knowing she’s coming back, well, I’ve been awake since 4 am.  Last night, despite my back being in screaming agony, I busted hump to clear more space for her and her things.  And I can’t pick her up until 11, and I’m literally just bouncing in my seat in anticipation.

Clearly, she’s stolen my heart.  I’m ridiculous.  Pictures to follow!

[Q8bunny]

Not ridiculous. At. All.

[Reesebun]

Yaaaay piccies!

[Bladesmith]

Well THAT was a FUBAR of epic proportions.

Clover hasn’t come home yet.  I was supposed to get her yesterday, however, when it came time to leave, the transmission in my car locked up.  Oy.  Call the ex wife, can you bring her?  Sure.  THEN, I get word that there’s a major brush fire on the road we have to take.   Road is closed.  Today, long event with ex wife fighting with new husband, they’re packing to move, and TWO tow trucks to move my defunct vehicle.  Oy squared.  I was lucky to get a ride to get meds and milk.

Anyway, going to try and get her this weekend.   I need to lie down.  You lot don’t need pics of THAT.  (Seriously, I’m saving your lives.  And some major dry cleaning bills.)

[Q8bunny]

Poor you. That’s a circumstantial clusterf#@*
Hope your nap (and the weekend) bring Clover home

[Bladesmith]

I have to ask, how did you end up in Kuwait?  I’ve been there, during some relatively recent unpleasantness. 

[Q8bunny]

Right now, teaching (until semi retirement in two years). Initially, work I can’t really talk about. A decade here is starting to feel like enough.

[Bladesmith]

Understood.  A year there felt like forever.  Thankfully, you have your bun!  Take care!

[Q8bunny]

Who would’ve thought I’d fall head over heels in love with a fluffy, long-eared Kuwaiti?

[Bladesmith]

The heart wants what the heart wants, my friend.   Is it going to be difficult to bring your bunny home?

[Q8bunny]

Yes. Extremely. There are no airlines that allow buns in-cabin. And the only two that have special cargo bays for pets (Luftahnsa and Air Canada) don’t have these bays on planes flying out of Kuwait – I’ll have to find some way to have him shipped by car to Dubai (or sail him down there myself on my friend’s Oceanus), and then check him in on the flight. I’ve been looking into private charters as well… I basically don’t want him alone, but my options are very limited (and very expensive)

[Bladesmith]

Poor Chewie.  Poor you!  I hope you both return safely.

[Q8bunny]

Thanks We’ve got two years to figure something out

[Bladesmith]

She’s HOME!!!  And the kittehs missed her, obviously.  Better pics to follow, I promise.  This was literally 3 minutes into coming home.

And don’t mind the cage, it won’t be here for long.  Just a safe place for her to hide while she acclimates.

[Reesebun]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[Q8bunny]

Welcome home, Clover!

[Azerane]

Hooray!!! Welcome home, Clover! How wonderful

[Vienna Blue in France]

Triple yay !! Bit by bit you’re getting your family back… sneaky sneaky….

[Bladesmith]

When it comes to bunny love, I follow the letter of the law, if not the intent. 

Clover claims her rightful throne……

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Bladesmith on 2/15/2017 8:04 AM

Here’s whats funny.  If you had told me a couple years ago I’d be longing for a rabbit in my house, I’d have laughed at you.  Now, knowing she’s coming back, well, I’ve been awake since 4 am.  Last night, despite my back being in screaming agony, I busted hump to clear more space for her and her things.  And I can’t pick her up until 11, and I’m literally just bouncing in my seat in anticipation.

Clearly, she’s stolen my heart.  I’m ridiculous.  Pictures to follow!

Not ridiculous, you’re just a faithful bunny slave now! 

[Bladesmith]

I am indeed a willing slave.  Hopeless.  I finally meet the girl of my dreams and she has a fluffy tail and long ears.

My daughter, without thinking, let Dawn out this morning while Clover was loose.  I was astonished to see that tiny bun charge right at Clover and try and beat her up.  I mean, Dawn clearly has no idea she is 1/10th Clovers size.  Clover retreated a bit, with a “WTH is THIS thing?” look on her face.  So I separated them, without any kind of yelling or punishment, since Dawn was in this house first and considers it her territory.  After a another dustup, Dawn has settled down and now just studies Clover from a distance.  I think Clovers laid back attitude and refusal to fight has Dawn more curious than defensive.  Once Dawn went back in her cage for a drink I shut her in for a couple hours, let Clover explore, then put Clover in her own cage and let Dawn do the same.   I think letting them get used to each others scent and seeing the other loose will be the best way to go.

Clover is a messy bunny, but that kind of goes with being caged for almost a year.   She mostly missed her litter pan today, so I was cleaning floor and mats with vinegar.  I’m hoping that within a couple days she’ll figure out where she likes to do her business and I can set the pan in a semi permanent place.

But I am so happy to have Clover back.

[Q8bunny]

She looks gorgeous on you (sorry, HER) sofa

[Bladesmith]

Just for reference to show how big she is.  I’m 5’10” and 210 lbs.  And my daughter is a terrible photographer with terrible timing.

[Q8bunny]

That is one long bunneh

[Author]

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