Hide & Seek

Mom and Dad suck at Hide & Seek. Okay, we weren't really playing Hide & Seek, but it ended up kinda like that, and Mom and Dad weren't too impressed.

It all started off with me noticing that Mom had left the barrier open to the room where we live, so I took it upon my self to do a little exploring. Just outside of our room is the laundry room, the furnace room, the storage room, a door to the garage and stairs that go up. We haven't been living here that long so I had a lot of exploring to do....

I found a neat space between the dryer and the cabinet - just big enough for me to sqirm down. I ended up behind the dryer. It was very dusty back there but there were lots of interesting tubes and whatnot to wiggle in and around. I followed a tube to a hole in the cabinet and, being the curious bunny I am, thought I had better check out where it goes to. Luckily for me there was just enough space for me to squeeze through.

Not sure where I ended up but it sure was dark. I couldn't see very well. There wasn't much there, just some black space, and I got a little worried because I realized I couldn't figure out how to get out. But I didn't worry. Someone would find me. Eventually.

I can't say how long I was there. Seemed like quite some time. I didn't know when Mom or Dad might be coming downstairs so I hunkered down for the wait. I waited and waited.....and waited.....

Finally! I heard Dad coming down the stairs and prepared for him to set me free. I heard him talking all goo-goo gaa-gaa to Binky, and then I heard him call my name. Then he called it again. And again and again and again.....

I heard him moving things. He kept calling. Then he was gone. Hello? I'm in here! Let me out!

Then I heard Dad and Mom. Their voices were muffled but I heard bits and pieces of "...can't find him....gotta be somewhere.....FLUFFY!.....let's not panic...." Hello! Over here! Come on, it's dark in here! But they never came.

More rustling, things moving, my name being called. "FLUFFY!!!!!!" I began to sense a twinge of panic in their voices.

OVER HERE! Sheesh!

More muffled voices... "...flashlight.....storage area.....couldn't be outside......move these boxes...." I heard the entire contents of the storage area being moved, I heard distant, pannicked calls of "Fluffy! Where are you?", I heard Mom getting upset and trying to stay calm. Then I heard the treat bag. "Treat time, Fluffy! Come get some treats!" Oh, treats! Am I missing treats?! Over here! Let me out! I'm over here!!!!!

I heard a loud scraping noise and some banging nearby - they were getting close! Their voices got louder and I could see the flickering of the flashlight in the darkness of my predicament. "Behind the dryer, what's that hole? Where does it go? THE CABINET!!!!"

And WHOOSH! A door swung open and light flooded in all around me. "FLUFFY!!!!" Dad picked me up and gave me hugs. Then Mom swiped me from him and squeezed me so tight I thought my head was going to pop off. She burried her face in my fur. And then I could feel her tears. She was crying.

I felt bad. I didn't mean to go and get lost. And if I could talk, I would have called out. I was worried they were going to be angry with me, but instead they just mauled me and kissed me all over. I didn't mean to make Mom cry. I guess it just means she loves me - which is always nice to know, 'cause I love her, too. And I love Binky. She's my girlfriend.

When the maul-fest was over I ran to Binky's side. "Where have you been Fluffy? Mom and Dad were going crazy trying to find you."

"Oh, just out having a bunny misadventure I guess. I got lost someplace dark. I didn't think they'd ever find me."

"Well you just stay close to me from now on." Binks said as she started giving me ear licks. And I mean who would want to stray far from a bunny giving you ear licks? Not me, that's for sure.

A few days later I tried to re-trace my steps but for some reason, everything is blocked off now. Oh well. I guess my days of exploring are over....for now.

Fluffy

Our New Neighbour

Okay, in actuality he's probably not new - I'm sure he was here before we were but he's new to us. Mom has always told us of these things called "wild" rabbits but until we moved here, I had never seen one. Now I have.

He visits us in the evening and sticks around if Mom leaves food out for him. He seems to really like the squirrel feed and carrots best. It's weird because even though he does look like a rabbit, there is just something strange about him. Mom says it's the "wild" in him that I don't recognize. "Mom, what exactly is 'wild'?"

"Well, Fluffy, you are a domestic rabbit. That means you were raised to be around humans. A wild rabbit lives out in the wild and prefers to stay away from people." I was puzzled. "But who feeds him?" I asked. "He finds his own food." I stared at her in amazement. "Where does he live?"

"For the most part, he lives in a burrow underground that he digs himself. When he's not there resting he is hopping around looking for his dinner."

"That sounds like a lot of work. Wouldn't he be happier inside with people, with someone to feed him?"

"Not wild rabbits, Fluffy. They have instincts that tell them to stay away from people. They are much happier outside and on their own. Their instincts also tell them how to find food, what is good to eat and what is not and how to avoid getting eaten by predators."

"Eaten?! Oh my goodness! How scary!" I declared. "It's okay, Fluffy. Their instincts are very sharp and they run very fast. Their instincts are what keep them alive out there."

"But what if I went outside, Mom? What would happen to me?"

"Well, you wouldn't fare very well. You see, you don't have the instincts. It would be very confusing for you. You wouldn't know where to find food, you'd have no place to live, you wouldn't be aware of all of the dangers around you. That is why domestic bunnies like you and Binky need to stay inside and wild bunnies can stay outside." she explained. "Well, I am NEVER going outside!"

"Silly Fluffy, Mommy takes you outside from time to time, but I always keep you safe and secure. You are always in a pen so you don't get lost and there is always someone around to watch you and make sure you are never in danger. You have nothing to worry about. Besides, we have a backyard now and your very own patch of grass to run and binky around in. And when it gets warmer, you will all get to play out there - supervised of course."

"Yay! Can I go outside to play tomorrow?" I asked excitedly. "Well, maybe not tomorrow - it's still winter! Perhaps when we have a bit of snow back on the ground, you can go have fun in that. But we will have to wait for spring for the grass to grow."

"Sounds good Mom. In the meantime, can I share my romaine with the wild bunny? He looks hungry."

"Sure, Fluffy, that's very nice of you. I will put some out there. I'm sure he will appreciate it."

So that's what I learned about our new neighbour. He's nice and all, but I sure am glad I am not "wild" like him. I much prefer my life inside with my girlfriend Binky. And Mom and Dad, too. I hope Mr. Wild Bunny has a friend he can snuggle up to. It gets pretty cold out there....

Fluffy

Hoppy New Year!

Hoppy New Year! Here is a picture of me in my brand new bunny house! Of course, I share it with Binky, too. Santa Paws brought it for us as well as tons of other good stuff. Our stockings were packed with goodies, all the yummy stuff that Mom likes to make for us like dehydrated banana, apple, pear and apple sauce roll-ups! We got some cookie treats, too, and a new blanket, a new stuffed bunny and a new crinkle tunnel! Wow, I must have been REALLY good this year!

Our new house is really cool. There is a room for me and a room for Binky with a tunnel to attach the two. Sometimes we stay in our own rooms, like when we eat treats. Binky likes to take food from my mouth so it's better she's in her own room to eat her treat and me in mine. But when we are not hiding our treats from each other, we snuggle up in one room or the other and give each other licks. Binky is really good at giving me ear washes and I like giving her eyeball washes. Sometimes we fall asleep next to each other, with our heads touching, and Binky will snore. I've heard humans complain that snoring keeps them awake, but I love when Binky snores. To me, it's the sweetest sound in the world.

Well, the holidays are over and a new year has begun. What's my resolution? Don't be silly, bunnies don't make resolutions! We are who we are and we don't have the same silly needs that humans do. We don't need to pressure ourselves to be something we aren't, to deprive ourselves, improve ourselves, change ourselves or be anything other than, well...ourselves! I have Mom and Dad and my beautiful Binky........and that is all I need.

Hoppy New Year everyone!

Fluffy