The life stories of some very spoiled house rabbits
Last night my dad grabbed me (and Betsy) and gave us a brush-down, as well as clipping our toenails. Although I won’t admit it, it is nice to have my nails short again. And I always feel good after being brushed, what with all the loose hair gone and all.
-Gus
I really don’t like the smell of bacon. My dad was cooking it again this morning – as he often does on weekends – and I just couldn’t stand it. There was no where to go, you could smell it all through the house. Betsy doesn’t seem to mind it as much, but I just cannot stand that smell – it makes me go all weird, I just don’t feel right.
How can anyone eat something that smells like that?
-Gus
So it looks like we’ve moved. I have to say, I disapprove of the way we moved. First, we were taken to my dad’s office to spend the day there. It was OK; I always liked that office – lots of room to run around – but I don’t like having to ride in the car.
Then when we got home, all the furniture except for the bed was gone. So Betsy and I hid under the bed that night.
The next day, dad and mom took the bed apart and got rid of it as well. It was a little bit unsettling because now there was nothing in the apartment – just us. And everything sounds different when there’s no furniture around. So it was a bit upsetting, I have to say. That night, I guess mom and dad stayed in a “hotel” and left us here. It was dark and quiet and kind of scary in a way. But then, the next day, we got packed up in the car and took the longest car ride I’ve ever had in my whole life. Actually, towards the end, I didn’t mind so much. I was getting used to the way the car moves, and it wasn’t so bad.
When we got to our new place, I just had to look around. It’s pretty nice – I spent quite a bit of time marking everything with my chin – and there are some new places to hide under, like the desk, the dining room table, and some new thing… a “coffee table.” We never used to have one of those.
I’ve gotten pretty used to it, now that we’re back in a routine. My dad stays home all day now on the computer, and it’s nice to have him around. I even sometimes come out and lie at his feet for a bit, just to let him know I appreciate the extra treats he gives me when mom’s not looking!
-Gus
This last week has been very scary. First, dad came and took Gus and me down to his office, which was scary because I don’t like riding in the car. And then when we came home, almost everything was gone! Then the next day, even the bed was gone! The whole house was empty and there was no place to hide. I didn’t like it at all.
Then the worst part was when dad put us in the car and we drove for a really long time – longer than we’ve ever driven before. And we came to this new place that dad said was our new home for a while. It was very different from our old home, and I was scared at first because there was no place to hide here, either. And mom and dad won’t let us get under the bed here – they keep the door to the bedroom closed.
But then they set up part of our bunny fortress, and I found that I can hide behind the dining room table, and that was OK. Eventually it started to feel like home again. Dad is here all the time now, too, which is a little scary, but I don’t mind so much anymore. Gus and I both agree that this new place is much quieter. So I guess I like our new place, and I don’t mind the fact that we moved.
Still, I wish they would let us under the bed!!
-Betsy
So last weekend my dad grabbed me again and took me outside to get groomed. I guess I’m sort of getting used to it – and it does feel nice to have all this loose fur gone. I guess I am sort of shedding a lot at the moment.
Betsy and I have been spending a lot of time under the bed lately – it’s very warm out, or so I hear – my house is climate controlled so it’s always 72 degrees in here. Still, it’s summertime, and that means relaxing under the bed, and trying to get Betsy to groom me. I’ve even started trying to groom her – taking to heart the idea of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But so far it’s not working very well – I guess I don’t groom quite as well as Betsy does. Ah well.
Well, it’s near that time when I pop out into the living room for when dad gets home. Bye!
-Gus
It’s so nice to have my mum home again. She was in this “New Jersey” place for a really long time; Gus said she was there for that “work” thing that humans do. I’m so glad she’s home, though. I missed her. Unlike my dad, who picks me up sometimes, my mummy never does that. She talks to me and sometimes gives me a quick little pat – but only quick and little, because she knows that I get scared.
The best thing is that she gets up before dad, and she gives us treats nice and early. When she was gone, sometimes Gus would have to jump on the bed just to wake dad up to remind him to get up and give us our treats! But mummy never forgets.
Gus says I’m a “mummy’s girl,” and I guess I am. I love my mummy!
-Betsy
So, on Saturday my parents told me they’d be gone for the night to someplace called “New Jersey.” Well, lo and behold, no one was here to give me my treats Sunday morning. So in retaliation I ripped up one part of the new “bunny fort” that they’d set up for us. I also tipped over a bowl of pellets, and asked Betsy to really get into destroying that phone book they left out for us.
Sunday afternoon my dad came home and saw the destruction, but he wasn’t mad. Though he did notice that my fur is a bit ruffled from all that work – and I think it’s shedding season (again). So that night he grabbed me (!!!) and took me out on the porch. I was a bit upset at being picked up, but when he started to groom me with his hands, brushing off all the extra fur, I sort of relaxed. It was actually quite enjoyable – like a bunny massage! So, for my part, I forgave him for missing my treats that one morning. Just don’t let it happen again, dad!
-Gus
My dad took this video of me tonight. I just love the sound of paper (or cardboard) ripping!
-Betsy
Lately, my dad has been sleeping in a bit late in the morning – especially on the weekends. So to help remind him that he needs to give me my treats, I’ve started jumping up on the bed to wake him up. It seems to work; he usually gets right up after I get on the bed, and gives me a few pats before I jump down and wait for him to feed me.
I’ve got him so well trained.
-Gus
My dad made this video of us having our morning treats. Betsy was shy of the camera, though.
-Gus