Territorial Poopings

On Your Fifth Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Dear Jessica,

Today would have been your fifth birthday.

There might have been banana for the occasion, certainly some carrots to run away with, and piles of mint - we had a monster bumper crop of it this year, enough to feed an army of bunnies, you'd've loved it. It was epic.

We kept your climbers and carriers and tube and most of your toys, because someday we'll have another bunny in our lives. But the litter and the food pellets and the big box of hay from the supply order we had just made, and the bottle of papaya tablets we had only recently opened, we donated that stuff to the foster bunnies at Indiana House Rabbit Society. You were a foster bunny once, before we came along for you.

In May, about a month after you left, we had a hailstorm. It makes us laugh to think how mad the noise would have made you, and how even more mad you would have been with the two days, later in the summer, when the new roof and siding got put on and the contractors were thumping all day long. We like to think you would have tried thumping back at them, to send a message of "No, YOU!"

I keep coming up with things to scrapbook about you, from all the pictures we took of you. Your ears asymmetrical like the hands of a clock, your career as a bunstruction worker, even your blog.

We still wiggle our noses like you taught us, and still bump noses as a greeting (and to avoid being zapped by static electricity).

The ashes are in a box on a short bookshelf downstairs, flanked on either side by bunny-shaped votive holders. Sometimes we clip a piece of mint from the front yard and leave it in front of the box, like flowers at a grave. There's a picture below.

We love you and miss you, baby girl.

Love,
Mama and Dad

Jessica, October 5, 2006 to April 22, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Jessica's mom here.

It's my sad duty to let Jessica's followers know that our little bunny passed away back on April 22. Now there is a big bunny-shaped hole in our hearts, and a small cremation box on a shelf in our living room, flanked by bunny-shaped candle holders and frequently adorned with a freshly cut sprig of mint from the front yard.

I had lots more pictures and videos that I never took the opportunity to write blog posts about - she was only four and a half, and I thought I had so much time to do those. I don't know yet if I will still write those up, or whether I will write them in my voice or in Jessica's voice. There was a wonderful joy in writing in the voice of a fuzzy vegetarian toddler princess. Please keep following as I decide what to do. I also don't know when another rabbit will join our household.

Here are the last few pictures we got of Jessica before her sudden decline.

(Picture taken 4/11/11)

(Picture taken 4/12/11)

(Picture taken 4/13/11)

(Picture taken 4/14/11)

We love you and miss you, Jessica, and we were blessed to have your little zen rabbit soul touch our lives. Binky free, baby girl. Thanks for everything.

Outraged

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:50:00 +0000

This is an urgent bulletin about my fiery bunny outrage. I find it necessary to alert you to an important situation: tonight, they caught me and trimmed my nails. Not without a fight, though; when I figured it out, I ran into my long tube and loafed in the middle. In my tube, I cannot be caught, only petted. It is like the rabbit idea of heaven.

But with their real arms and opposable thumbs I still got caught! And they tag-teamed to give me a nail trim! You would think they would know better, since I am a certified attack rabbit, as demonstrated below.

(Picture taken 12/22/10)

Mom said something about wanting to catch me again soon to trim my dewclaws. This is so unjust.

Special Rabbit Delivery!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:12:00 +0000

Today some packages arrived. Unfortunately, as a bunny, I am not allowed to check the mail or accept packages. Today this was especially unfortunate, given the package contents.

When Mom and Dad got home from work, they brought in these two big boxes.

What's in this box? Bunny rations!

Bunny Basics pellets, two bags of bedding, lots of alfalfa treats, and two bottles of papaya tablets! And the big box behind them is fifty pounds of timothy hay!

I'm so excited that I'm buzzing! I just wanna eat it all right now!

...maybe that's why I'm not allowed to accept packages?

Opening Day

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:32:00 +0000

Today is a big day for Mom and Dad. It's "Opening Day", when their favorite baseball teams start playing for the season.

Dad likes the Chicago Cubs because they were on TV a lot when he was a kid, and he and his grandpa watched them together. Mom says that Cubs fans are pathetic creatures, and I would tend to agree. The height of Dad's happiness with the Cubs the past two years has been putting his old plastic hat on my head to take pictures of me.

(Picture taken 1/25/09)

(Picture taken 4/7/09)

I actually like that second picture, because not only does it represent the eternal struggle of the domestic rabbit to escape from the whims of its humans, it placed in a "summer activities" photo contest on an Internet site (the now-defunct "lolbunnies" site). While I do appreciate this nod to my awesomeness, the real buns of summer are more likely hiding under Dad's hostas outside, or crouching very low in the grass so as not to be seen.

(Picture taken 8/16/06 - before I was even born!)

On top of the hat, they also briefly gave me a miniature "bat", which to me just looks like a smoother version of my nemesis, the stick. It might be fun for me to play with if it weren't as shiny or smooth, or were a little bit smaller. I didn't really get the chance to try, though, 'cause they took it away from me as soon as they took the picture.

(Picture taken 7/3/09)

Mom likes the Detroit Tigers because she grew up in Michigan, though she gets a little annoyed for some reason if you assume she knows everything about the 1984 team. I remember TONS from when I was 3, I don't know what her problem is.

Anyway, she was really excited for the team the year I was adopted, because they were in first place for a lot of the season. They finished tied, and had one final game to determine who won their division. Mom decided that I should show some Tigers spirit and set me up for a picture.

(Picture taken 10/6/09, during game 163)

Not you too, Mom!

Mom spent a lot of the game on the phone with her brother up in Detroit, who was so animated on the phone that even I could hear him. I got the feeling that things ended badly because they never mentioned it again.

Rabbit Hobbies: Scrapbooking

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:38:00 +0000

My mom loves to scrapbook. And because I like to follow her around, that means sometimes I end up hanging out in the craft room with her.

The craft room is a pretty neat place, with some good places to hide. Mom gets kind of vigilant, but I proclaim my innocence - I haven't yet tried to chew on any of her paper. I guard it pretty well, in fact!

(Picture taken 6/21/09)

The best place in the room is under her chair and table, where she keeps the sewing machine and the boxes for some of her big paper-cutting machines. This is a great area for doing bunny investigations while she crafts. First, I need to look at the sewing machine.

(Pictures taken 1/8/10)

I also have to check the acrylic ruler for accuracy.

(Picture taken 1/8/10)

Even the table itself is subject to my rigorous testing.

(Picture taken 1/8/10)

I also like to look at the scrapbooks, when I am allowed. I really enjoyed looking at this scrapbook my Grandma Bunny made for me when I got adopted.

(Pictures taken 2/4/09)

The Monster Under Your Bed

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:47:00 +0000

Sometimes I visit Mom in her craft room. Technically it is also the "guest room," so there is a bed in there. Underneath it is solid with drawers, but the top part come out over the base a bit, and with the comforter on the bed, there is a nice tunnelly hiding area, just right for bunnies.

(Picture taken 3/28/10)

Things I like to do in this space:

crawl on my belly like a ninja. Most bunnies, in their spare time, are ninjas.
hide, because no one can see me, right?
loaf, because it's cozy and dark and I can pretend I am a wild bunny
surprise people!

(Picture taken 1/20/2010)

Investigative bunny nose says....

(Picture taken 1/20/2010)

Surprise!

There are other fun things to do in the craft room, but I will address those at another time.

Rabbit Hobbies: Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:02:00 +0000

My family has a lot of books. These are only some of them.

(Picture taken 6/20/09)

I don't understand the words very well but I think the books are fun to look at and smell. Kind of tasty, too, from my limited experience - I got my mouth on a paperback once but Mom took it away before I could get a good sense of how good it would be.

The books used to be kept in a room upstairs, and I sometimes got to play in there, so I spent a lot of time sniffing the books, with Mom always on the alert in case I decided to hold a taste test.

(Picture taken 1/15/10)

I also enjoy reference materials, such as the phone book.

(Picture taken 1/16/09)

Rabbit Hobbies: Video Games

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 16:54:00 +0000

My family likes to play video games, especially music games. My first exposure to this came when I was hanging out downstairs with them and they decided to play Rock Band. Mom was playing drums, and the racket they caused bothered me, so I stomped at them until they stopped playing around me. Now, they mostly play Rock Band without me.

Dad still occasionally plays a music game upstairs while I'm out to play, though. It's Guitar Hero: Metallica, and I like it a lot more than Rock Band, because it doesn't involve drums. Most of the time when Dad is playing, I like to hop around him and stand up at his feet. Mom calls me Dad's little fuzzy groupie. I do this to her too - the other night I would not stop bumping her feet during the last few minutes of "Fade to Black."

When not hopping underfoot, I watch Dad very intently from my litterbox while he plays.

(Picture taken 10/6/09)

Some songs are better to just loaf and listen to, though. "Unforgiven" and "Nothing Else Matters" are good for that. I settle down for a loaf and keep my ears up to listen, and when the song is over I get up and continue romping around.

This is Obviously the Best Place

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:39:00 +0000

Last Saturday, Mom and Dad came upstairs together at my normal dinner time. Dad usually brings dinner up by himself. Usually, I wait until he gets upstairs, then follow him around until he either puts the food down or I trip him. (That actually hasn't happened yet, but don't think it's because I haven't been trying. It would get the food down to my level faster than waiting.) Sometimes, if I'm really hungry, I'll perk up just at the sound of his voice.

Saturday night was very different than normal, though, and Mom and Dad couldn't figure it out. They came upstairs, told me it was dinner time, and I didn't move. Dad moved to the usual dinner spot, and I still didn't move. The two of them speculated for a while, but it took them forever to come to the obvious conclusion. I was just cozy!

See, the temperature around here is different depending on what day it is. If it's a "people leave me alone all day" type of day, it gets pretty cold up here and I like to lay on the warm carpet Dad got me for my third birthday. If it's a "people stay home all day" type of day, it stays warm and I lay on the cardboard of my warren or on the tile to stay cool.

Saturday was a "people stay home" day, but for some reason it didn't stay warm up here. So, when they came up here, I was lounging in a warm place. It makes sense to me. I don't know why they were so worried about taking my picture, but I was so comfortable that I didn't even react when the camera flashed and beeped at me.

Mom made fun of me, I guess she just doesn't understand the pleasure of lounging in your own waste. Her loss!

(All pictures taken 2/12/11.)

Call of the Carrot

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:22:00 +0000

I am a stereotypical rabbit in that I really, really love carrots. Big shocker, I know.

I have mentioned before on this blog that when I get my dinner, my first and most important task is to sniff it out and see if there are any carrots. If there are, I grab them and hop away, for there is nothing so sacred as the relationship between a rabbit and her carrot. So I thought I would take a moment to show you how this goes down.

Here we have a carrot in its natural habitat, and not trying to hide behind other tasty prey such as cilantro, mint, romaine lettuce, or dandelion leaf. Note the fine example of a domestic rabbit preparing to snatch it up.

After the rabbit has attacked the carrot, she carries it away to a safer place, to prevent her fine catch from being stolen by other predators that feast on the noble carrot.

She guards the treat jealously, and her fierce glare warns away any would-be carrot thieves.

Secure in the knowledge that her carrot is safe, she begins to eat.

When the carrot is gone, the rabbit returns to the place where she found it, hoping for another one in its place. And the cycle continues...

(All pictures taken 12/26/10)

A Field Trip to the Human Litter Box

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 01:21:00 +0000

As a nice clean domestic rabbit, I have a litterbox and I use it religiously. Aside from pooping, it is also good for naps. It turns out that Mom and Dad also have litterboxes, but theirs are a lot different than mine. Mine has hay and soft bedding; their litterboxes have ceramic and running water and nothing to eat.

(Picture taken 1/13/10)

When I am out to play, Mom often leaves the door to her litterbox open, because she knows I like exploring in there and it is safe for bunnies. Sometimes when she goes in to wash her hands, I thunder down the hall behind her and wait at her feet. When she starts to give me attention, I run away. This is a great game.

One of the features of the human litterbox is a big ceramic thing that I guess is used the way I use the back corner of my own litterbox. Except this is pretty good to hide under. I like to explore under it and bump it with my nose.

(Picture taken 1/13/10)

Additionally, I sometimes get put in here (along with my own litterbox) when Dad is vacuuming my usual area. Not a big fan of this. The vacuum is one of my favorite things to lay against when I am out to play and it is turned off (really!), but I don't like the noise it makes when Dad uses it. So I hide under the big ceramic thing until the noise goes away and Mom tells me to go play.

(Picture taken 1/14/10)

Anyway, it's a pretty neat place, not too scary for a bunny unless I get into a tussle with the toilet brush, with some cool places to hide out and some good rugs to push around.

(Picture taken 1/14/10)

The Rabbit Ate Your Homework

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:40:00 +0000

The humans sometimes let me into the room upstairs where they keep the big computer and where they used to keep most of their books. It is a nice wide open area with lots of room for me to jump and run, and a good chair in the corner that I enjoy dashing and scampering and leaping under. Mom wants to know how I have not yet bonked my head on the chair yet. Mom, I'm a professional bunny. I'm really good at this. Don't try this at home.

Anyway, a few months ago, Mom was doing some cleaning in that room. She had a bunch of old notes and quizzes and tests from college and high school, stored in a bunch of binders. She was sorting through them to decide what to keep, and what could be thrown out, and what could be shredded. For this last task, I volunteered. As I hopped through the room, heading for the chair I like to play under, I grabbed one of the sheets of paper, what Mom tells me was a quiz from a class on the American novel.

Well, I don't know about that, but wow was that tasty! Super fun to chew!

And, bonus, she didn't take it away from me, since she was going to shred it anyway. When I was done with it, she put it in my scrapbook. Mom is funny!

(All pictures taken 9/3/2010)

A Series of Tubes

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:42:00 +0000

When Mom and Dad adopted me from the House Rabbit Society, one of the things they were told by my foster mom is that I like tunnels and mazes. Once again, my foster mom was correct. I love running through spaces that look like they're too small for me to fit comfortably. Mom is consistently amazed at the control I have over my ears when I go into a small space. I guess she forgets that I can bend my ears all the way down to grab them with my front paws so I can clean them. Of course I can get them flat to go through small spaces!

(Picture taken 3/14/10)

A few months ago, Mom and Dad went out shopping and brought home a really long tube for me to run through. They called it a "concrete forming tube", whatever that is. All I know is that it's really long and sturdy.

(Picture taken 9/15/10)

I make a lot of noise when I go through it, with my nails going clickity-clickity on the cardboard, which is unfortunate. (Sometimes, being stealthy is important. Sneaking up on Mom is fun, at least until she screams.)

(Picture taken 9/15/10)

I haven't really tried to chew on it yet. I'm afraid it won't hold still, and it's kind of big for me to get my mouth around, so I think I'll just leave it as it is.

(Picture taken 9/15/10)

Overall, it's a dark, cozy place to run through and sometimes hide, so I'll allow them to keep it.

(Picture taken 9/15/10)

In Your Face

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:16:00 +0000

I like to hop on people when they give me treats. And sometimes, just for the fun of hopping on them. They are good furniture and jungle gyms.

(Picture taken 9/26/09)

Dad is my favorite to hop on, because he's big enough for me to turn around on when he's flat on the ground. He's also big enough to loaf on, but I've only done that once.

(Picture taken 8/23/09)

Mom is not as fun to hop on, but if there are treats I do whatever is necessary. She makes a lot of noise, and talks about how heavy I am when I sit on her shoulders and kind of push her into the ground.

(Picture taken 8/30/09)

Usually, when I hop on people, it's on their backs or stomachs. A few months ago, though, I started trying new things. When Dad stopped offering me treats at his stomach, I hopped around to his head and put my paws on his face.

(Picture taken 8/24/10)

Mom got a little scared, and told me that I have no concept of personal boundaries. (Of course I do - I know MY boundaries!) Dad took it well initially, but when I got more and more bold and put my paws further up his cheek, he stopped offering me treats near his head. Instead, he has me hop up on his shoulder.

(Picture taken 8/24/10)

Evidence of Other Rabbits

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:33:00 +0000

When Mama went out to get the mail today, she saw some bunny tracks in the snow through the front yard!

Wow, a wild rabbit! Mom looked around the house and eventually found that the tracks came through the back yard...

...around the corner of the house...

...along the side of the house where the hostas grow in summer...

...right along the front porch, through the front garden...

...and along the front of the garage. There weren't any more tracks past that so Mama thinks the bunny went straight down the driveway where it was already clear of snow.

I was accused of having friends over while Mom and Dad are at work, but this is not true. Not for lack of opportunity, mind you. I would love to throw big crazy bunny parties and I have lots of different kinds of treats I could serve.

Hey, wild bunny! Come on in next time and let's play!

(All pictures in this post taken Saturday, 1/22/11.)

How to Tell the Bunny You Love Her Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:43:00 +0000

As an administrative note, I am given to understand that parts of my readership are having trouble leaving comments and other demonstrations of love on my blog. I have instructed Mom to compile a tutorial with screenshots because I deserve all the love and blog comments I can get.

In the "Post a comment" area of the page, click the drop-down next to "Comment as", below the text box.

It will give you some options. If you are not using a Google account, click "Name/URL." The following screen will appear:

You do not need to enter a URL, that's for a web address if you wish to give a link to your own blog or web page. Just fill in the name box and click Continue.

Now you can type your comment in the box. When done, click "Preview" if you want to see how it will look, or "Post Comment" if you want to just go ahead and post it.

You should get a message stating that "Your comment will be visible after approval." This means that Mom will get an e-mail telling her that one of my many fans has left a comment for me so that she can approve the comment and make it show up.

Internet Bunny

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:25:00 +0000

I meant to make a blog post last night but got busy eating every last scrap of hay in my litterbox. For now, have these links to an informative series of articles on how bunnies can better train their humans.

I will get one of the people to take dictation and post more adorable pictures of me later this afternoon.

(Picture taken 9/6/09)

Mama's Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 02:47:00 +0000

(Picture taken 2-18-09)

Tonight I am being a total mama's girl. When she sat on the floor to take dictation from me after dinner, I hopped right over and bumped her elbow until she petted me. Then I made her pet me for like ten minutes.

(Picture taken 12-20-10)

After a while of that I had to stretch my legs for a bit. When I saw Dad start to get up I knew the time had come for me to beg for treats, but when I got near Mama she started petting me and I got cozy for a few more minutes. Sometimes, good petting is better than all the Craisins in the world. (Well, okay, maybe not ALL the Craisins.)

(Picture taken 3-12-10)

After treats and some more running around, I saw she was still sitting on the floor with her computer. I hopped over to the wall near her, looked right at her, and did a happy flop.

(Picture taken 5-30-10)

(Picture taken 7-14-10)

This is exactly where I am as Mama types this for me!)

So of course she laid down and started petting me some more, and right now I am the flattest and happiest bunny in the house.

(Picture taken 11-6-09)

Rabbit Hobbies: Stick Fighting

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:08:00 +0000

I have a stick.

(Picture taken 5/8/10)

This stick has been with me since before my mom and dad adopted me from Indiana House Rabbit Society. It has been a good stick to me and my mission is to destroy it without mercy.

(Picture taken 5/8/10)

What usually happens is that Mom or Dad will hold the stick tightly while I do biting and chewing and generally applying quite a bit of torque to it. Sometimes I get so involved in my tussle with stick that I stand up on my hind legs to continue the fight. I am ferocious.

(Picture taken 5/8/10)

One time, when Mom's parents were visiting, her father and I had a long stick session together. I sat in my litterbox while he held the stick for me and we did this for about fifteen minutes straight. I would like to contract his services again.

(Picture taken 5/8/10)

Although I usually take my frustrations out on cardboard boxes it really is the stick I love destroying the most.

(Picture taken 5/8/10)

Comb the Rabbit at Your Peril

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 21:53:00 +0000

My family took the day off work due to snow, which completely threw off my schedule. Instead of being left alone in peace and quiet for the day, I have been subjected to attention and being talked at. And, when Mom decided I was looking too fuzzy, I became subjected to combing.

Mom has a special bunny comb called a Furminator, which she thinks is the greatest thing ever and which I consider a bunny torture device. I got cornered in my litterbox and I am surprised there is any fur left on me considering I think she got enough loose fur to make a whole new bunny out of. I have a been a bit tufty lately, but really, people. And there is no use squirming, Mom is relentless.

As she worked, she pulled fur off the comb and put it on one of my climbers for safekeeping. When Dad came upstairs, Mom pointed out the growing pile of fur and called it a Tribble.

(Picture taken 1/11/11)

Dad laughed, but I do not think this is funny. It is a heap of fur five or six inches across and it is supposed to be attached to the bunny.

And really, a Tribble? Are you suggesting I am a furry creature that eats everything in sight?

(Picture taken 3/12/10)

I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.

They have left me alone for a while now, and I have mostly hidden in a box and napped. That will show them.

(Picture taken 7/19/09)

My Dinner: Serious Business

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:18:00 +0000

I take my food very seriously.

(Picture taken 5/16/10)

When I was in foster care at the Indiana House Rabbit Society, my foster mom wrote a description of me for would-be adopters. The first line was "Jessica is very food-motivated". This pretty much sums me up.

In the morning, for example, when Mom and Dad get out of bed, one of the first things they do is to let me out of my pen for run time. While I do enjoy wind sprints, I want my breakfast first. So, I buzz and dance around the feet of whoever's closest to the food container until they give it to me. (I have been known to make a racket in my pen if I hear them moving around and they have not come to feed me quickly enough. Hello! I'm hungry out here!)

(Picture taken 2/13/09)

I can also be a bit particular about how I eat my food. Order is important! I go for the tastiest things first. Dad has been bringing me a baby carrot or two with dinner lately, and once I catch a whiff of those, I have to find them so I can eat them first. I like to follow the carrots with whatever herb I'm being given. My personal favorite of those is mint, though I also love cilantro. After that, I'll nibble on things as the night goes along. I usually leave the boring old romaine for last.

Other sweets can compete with carrots for first in my order. I love banana, for instance. Apple was good, too, but it still comes second to carrots.

(Picture taken 12/26/10)

Welcome to Territorial Poopings!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 01:08:00 +0000

(Picture taken 10/31/09)

Welcome to my blog. I am Jessica the rabbit, a four-year-old New Zealand White rabbit, full of opinions, poop, and a burning desire for treats. Today happens to be the second anniversary of the day I was adopted from Indiana House Rabbit Society and came home to live with my new family.

My family is two people: my dad, who likes computer and video games and being hopped on, and my mom, who likes going to her craft room and not letting me chew on scrapbook paper.

I spend my time napping and eating, and in my family's spare time I like to hop on them, beg for treats, do binkies down the hall, and chew on stuff. Cardboard boxes are my favorite, good for hiding in, hopping on, chewing up, and tossing around.

(Picture taken 6/19/2010)

My dislikes include laughter, mustard greens, and being picked up.

I hope to update this blog about twice a week. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to give the bunny a treat on your way out.