Bunny Sightings at London Portobello Market, Pt 1

Everyone told us about this great market in London on Portobello Road. It was fun - all sorts of stuff ... antiques, food (fresh and prepared), vintage clothing, and great people watching...

Don't ask me - I have no idea what the occasion was or what they were doing.

But I considered it a bunny sighting.

You can read about this "world's largest antiques market" here.

Misnamed French Pastry

As you might be able to see from the label at the bottom of the picture, these French bakery treats are called "palmier", or palm leaves.

Non, non, non ... I beg to differ and hereby rally all to rename these "bunny ears" or "oreilles de lapin" (if Google translated that properly).

"Bunny ears" instead of "rabbit ears", already claimed by the antenna used to adjust your TV picture, if you are old enough to remember those (the pre- "all TVs are color, have remote controls and hook up to a TV service you pay for" generation).

Everyone, now,
répétez après moi:
May I have some bunny ears, please?

The Tower of London Buns

Well, Tower of London's Gift Shop bunnies.


Tower of Bunnies
at Tower of London



Really cute stuffed bunnies

 I don't quite get the connection of bunnies with the Tower of London, but it was the cutest thing in the store and, clearly, a vacation bunny sighting. Maybe they gave Anne Boleyn a bunny to hold for comfort before she was beheaded.
But I think the Tower predated the stuffed bunnies, so maybe not.

Bunny Sightings at Harrods in London

Like so many of the sights in London and Paris, you can't see them all in one day ... the British Museum, the Louvre. The same was true of Harrods, a store with everything you might want to purchase (as long as you have an American Express Black Card).

If you go to the store, be sure to get the map of it. Heck, get a guide.

Here are a couple of bunny sightings there...

That is one scary looking bunny.

I am calling it as a bunny and not a wolf,
because it seems to fit the British
Alice in Wonderland theme
and not Little Red Riding Hood.

Along the same Alice line, don't you love this tea?

Gorgeous fresh veggies -
not in the same department as the high fashion clothes, jewelry
or whatever else you might shop for there, but all in this one endless store.
The prepared foods weren't too shabby either.

Here, Bunya, Lucy & Ethel admire the veggies.
It's a Bunny Paradise (not a Coolio reference,
unless you want it to be).

London Lucy Statue

Your ever alert (to bunny photo ops) Roving Rabbit Ramblings Reporters found a statue in a store window in London - it reminded us of our Lucy.

 

Pretty good likeness!

Well, yeah, I suppose if you have a black & white Dutch, it looks like your bunny, too.

White Rabbit makes appearance in Napoleon’s apartment - paparazzi snag photo

My wife travels for work (a lot) and this time, I went with her - this trip was to London and Paris. Since it was business, the time in each city was limited; I did not have enough time to do justice to these incredible cities.

While there, I did look for items of interest to Regular Rabbit Ramblings Readers ... translation: bunny things. It turns out the trip was a bunny rich environment, especially Paris.

Example: While there, we strolled through Napoleon III's "apartments" at the Lourve.

Parlez vous humma-humma?

(Apologies to Cheech & Chong)

Well, as we enter the tiny bedroom (so cramped in there that it might hold only a couple dozen of today's typical Paris apartments), we came upon a couple photographing a white stuffed bunny in there. Here's the story: His name is simply "White Rabbit" and he is from Disney Japan. His companion travels the world with him and captures his picture in many famous places.



White Rabbit and companion graciously agree to pose
for the Rambling Rabbit photographers.

This is one of the many bunny things we saw. More to follow.

Do you have any travel ritual? Any involving your pets?

The bunnies return from vacation

Note: There have been some maintenance issues with the blog host (bloggers unable to log on to post) but if you are reading this, it appears they have been resolved and we are back in business.

In their carrier for the car ride to HRS, the buns huddle together.
(Lucy & Ethel are shaking like leaves in a hurricane.)



At HRS, Bunya hops in to eat and claim turf.
Ethel explores the stick tunnel we brought from home,
so they'd have something familiar,
and Lucy hides in the box.

The bunnies gather for some treats, so Lucy's out of hiding.
They didn't do so bad.
(Thanks, HRS, for the picture.)

Our daughter was in town briefly and visited the buns at HRS.
Here, Bunya gives one of his disapproving looks,
hoping to gain either treats or a head skritch.

Returning home from HRS, the bunnies ran and binkied.
Here, the 3 of them nuzzle up on the cool bricks of the fireplace.
(It is getting hot here in Atlanta.)

Thank you to all the HRS volunteers for taking care of our bun-dren so well while we were away.

The bunnies benefit by getting to stay together in a much bigger space than the vet can provide and we benefit from the much easier impression on the wallet (less 10% if you are a GHRS member ... of course we are!)

How do you care for your pets when you are away and how do they fare?

Meet Shnuffy

We just got to the airport ... hadn't even started the trip.

When we sat in the seats at the gate, look who was sitting in the seat next to us!

Shnuffy waiting to board,
while the Dutch family to whom he belonged played Uno.

Happy Birthday to the bunnies' great-grandma!



92 years young today!
(Picture taken yesterday)



Bunya waiting for the ladies to finish getting ready to go celebrate

Ethel just wants to know if they're serving carrot cake for dessert...

Check out the "New & Improved" GHRS website!

As you know, I try to list some key bunny helpful websites in the Rabbit Resources in the right-hand column. Well, be sure to take another look at the first listed: Georgia House Rabbit Society. The site has been overhauled big time and for resources, you must include the Care Health & Diet page.



P.S. GHRS was on "Inside the NBA" on TNT on Easter - you can watch the video (including a cute little bunny climbing on Charles Barkley) at GHRS on Inside the NBA

Please step behind the TSA barrier...

I will explain what I am doing as I do it.
I am rubbing my chin on you - you are mine.

Yes, this inspection is completely in compliance with TSA policy.
Please open your bag so that I may eat , er, I mean, inspect the contents.

P.S. Check out the Daily Bunny twist on this.

Road trip!

The bunnies are taking a road trip! Stay tuned … in a couple of weeks, we hope to return with more pictures and stories. Take care!

 

Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a Bunny

In his favorite chair,
Bunya maneuvers the newspaper into a more comfortable reading position.



Checking out what's happening on page 1.



Actually, these pictures are to illustrate not just the fuzzy butt above
but the shedding season. Check out the puddle of hair left where Bunya sat.

Bunya will come over and flatten himself for a head skritch. By the time he decides to shake or leave, my hand is covered in so much hair, it looks like I am changing into a werewolf.

Groom your bunnies. Hopefully this season will end soon and you & yours and Bunya & family will be back to their less shaggy versions.

Bunny Care - The Litter Box

I have mentioned previously that bunnies may be chewers or diggers. Lucky us, we got both.

As the girls approached their first birthday, their increased personal control significantly reduced the number of free-range poops and they all use the litter box "regularly". However, "digging" tendencies exercised in their litter box can disrupt their otherwise reasonably clean pen.

If you have a similar experience, let me share another of the many helpful hints from my local HRS chapter.

After you clean the litter box (I buy so much vinegar at Costco, I am sure they think I run a salad bar), lay in a couple of thin wire baking racks (like you put your cookies on to cool - except not these racks, anymore)...

Baking racks in the bottom
of the litter box

Pour in your litter of choice
(illustrated: Yesterday's News)

Cover the bottom to just above the racks



Cover with a selection of well-tossed hay













Add bunnies - and you're done!

Actually, as soon as the box hits the floor, the bunnies add themselves.
See some advice for about "chewers" at
Bunny care - Chew-Chew (not a train)
Bunny care - The Cardboard Jungle
Bunny care - The Cardboard Jungle, Part 2

Top 10 Ways You Know You Love Your Bunny Rabbit [Part IV]

[Feel free to substitute dog, cat or whatever your pet is for “bunny”.]

1. You can never have too much bunny stuff. (Rabbit’s Guy)
*Ahem* Yes, well check out the “Bunny Things” page.
But I swear, it’s not all mine.

2. Your bunnies make you smile. (Crafty Green Poet)
And sometimes laugh out loud, hopefully without scaring them laughing so loud and hard.
Laughing is good for you.

3. You sing to your bunnies. (Crafty Green Poet)
Top 40?
With my singing voice, my buns are much more appreciative when I turn on the TV for them.

4. You seem to always have a few scratches but really don’t notice them. (thef1chick)
It’s just a calendar entry: Remember to clip bunny nails.

5. John Updike is your favorite author.
(Rabbit Run, Rabbit Redux, Rabbit is Rich, Rabbit at Rest, Rabbit Remembered)
Yeah, okay, your favorite book is really Bunnicula.
As long as you read it with the lights on.

6. Harvey is your favorite movie.
But any movie is best when preceded by Bugs Bunny cartoons.

7. You know you are doing okay by your bunnies when you get licks.
Laying on your recliner or the sofa, there is suddenly a bunny on your stomach, then licking your nose, then gone…

8. When your bunny chews your favorite magazine, you really don’t mind.
Speaking for my pen magazines, of course … not her cooking magazines.

9. You could swear your bunny winked at you.
Well, he did.
We both saw it.
Really.

10. You are partial in your shopping to products with a particular theme:

(Many thanks to my many pet-loving friends, relatives and Rabbit Ramblings Readers who contributed to this list.)

Check out Top 10 Ways You Know You Love Your Bunny Rabbit [Part 1]
Top 10 Ways You Know You Love Your Bunny Rabbit [Part Deux]
and Top 10 Ways You Know You Love Your Bunny Rabbit [Part C]


How can you tell that you love your pet?

Spotted at the bakery - Bunny Puffs!



Cream-filled bunnies?!?
This could re-define "bunny-whipped".
Even better - they are not shedding right now!

Spotted today at the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, NC. 

These are the kind of bunnies to buy for Easter

Now, if you think buying a bunny would be a cute thing to do for Easter, buy one of these type bunnies - stuffed!

If you are serious about having a bunny as a pet, first get educated at sites like the House Rabbit Society and then adopt a rescue bunny from your local shelter.

P.S. Leave the little baby chicks alone, too, unless they're marshmallow Peeps!

Bunny care - What season is it?

Well, in Atlanta, this is the season that comes after winter. It is called summer.

Technically, it's spring but here, that's the same thing as summer. The only way you can tell or otherwise define a distinct spring here is because it's the 3 weeks that pollen covers EVERYTHING in Atlanta.

In an Atlanta spring, everyone drives yellow cars on yellow streets... you can't leave any windows open, car or home. If it rains (oh, yes, it rains ... like gather-some-friends-and-build-an-ark kind of rain), the rain water runs yellow.

It is also time for one of the bunnies seasonal sheddings. Off with the winter coats! We thought we had a fourth bunny for a while, until we realized it was just an accumulation in the corner of the room of shed hair that had formed like a tumbleweed. We need to give them fresh water a few times a day; it's easier than skimming shed hair off the bowl.

Bunnies have sensitive skin, so be mindful of it but do groom your bunnies. You don't want them to build up hair in their GI tract; that can lead to life threatening medical conditions. They can't regurgitate hairballs like cats. And if your bunnies love each other, they do a lot of group and personal grooming.

Here, Ethel starts to lick Bunya, so he hunkers down for some lovin', wiggling his tushy until he's worked himself flat to the floor. As usual, Ethel then gets distracted and starts to groom herself (hey, she has to look good for Bunya and Lucy - it's a good thing). Bunya waits patiently while she checks out this itch and that.

And then Ethel, the ADHD bunny, just hops away... ("Now, uh, what was I doing???")

The Bunny Precision Flopping Drill Team

It was getting late, about 11PM - it was bunny bedtime. Even with the gate open, they usually go into their pen to hang out after they have run around or done a NASBunny. The 3 of them went in and -

It was the Bunny Precision Flopping Drill Team:
Girls, right face!
Boys, left face!
Ears up!

I couldn't move out of my chair or they would scramble, looking for a treat. As it is, the little click the cell phone makes alerts Ethel. The picture is thru the pen chain link, because when I got up to try another fence-less angle, they got up, too.
Ethel looks to me like she's saying her goodnight prayers, nose on folded paws.

North Georgia House Rabbit Society in the news!

Check out the timely article: Rabbits good pets, but not best gifts

Find adorable adoptables,
like Lucy & Ethel,
at your local HRS!

Bunnies spotted Sunday at Atlanta Dogwood Festival

Fresh litter of bunnies hatching

Thanks to my son with the bunny-eye for the Daddy-guy.