Cookie is my (former) house rabbit. I say former, as he has become un-housebroken in his old age. He has been confined to his cage for the past few months and can no longer run loose in the house. The average life span of a Netherlands Dwarf rabbit is about 5-7 years, and our Cookie is quite geriatric at 8 1/2 years old. He seems to be happy living in his cage now. I take him out to exercise, and he heads right back into the cage....I guess it's his security blanket and rocking chair, the comforts he needs in his old age. He still has a voracious appetite, and has never had a single day of illness, so he might be good for years to come! I think I once read that the longest living ND on record was just over 11 years old.
The winter garden belongs to Cookie. He lets us have a few salads from it, but it's mainly for him. I've decided, since we'll be leaving this garden in less than two weeks, I'll just let him graze in it and enjoy the freshest greens a bunny could ever dream of.
Cookie in the lettuce patch.
Cookie in the carrot patch.
Cookie in the beet patch.
Monday Harvest
Cookie and his Monday Harvest
Then there's the same old, same old, for us....
Just two of several harvests from the salad garden this week. We consumed these, but I picked fresh greens for Cookie each evening.
EG, he enjoyed it so much, and I enjoyed watching him, I think I'll just let him feed out there daily for the next two weeks. It's fenced in, so I don't worry about him getting out. It's not like anything is going to grow much more anyway. He sure does love those beet greens the most of anything!
******** Daphne, methinks you were my daughter in a previous life ;-)
Don't worry, Rachel. I'm never away from his side while he's in the garden, and it's enclosed in plastic netting so he can't get out of the box. I'm a worry wort, too...I won't even let my dogs out alone after dusk, they would make such good coyote hors d'oeuvres!
Lucky Bunny, fresh greens every day. Lucky Granny,too. The Weather in the lower Columbia Basin is in the low 40s today with patches of sun. Rain tomorrow (again). DaBeardedOne
DaBeardedOne, hello, neighbor!!! I'll be watching your garden grow....does this mean I'll have someone to pawn all my extra tomato plants off on? I think I'm up to 21 varieties to plant as of now ;-)
********* Mac, Cookie has always been fed fresh from the garden greens, except for a couple of months through the winter when he gets the very $$$ organic baby greens (while we get cheap iceberg lettuce!). He also gets fresh cut alfalfa spring through fall, and timothy or alfalfa hay and pellets in the winter. And craisins! He loves his morning craisins! No, he never gets carsick, he takes the trips in stride. He has a lot of miles under his belt....er, fur. He travels 2400 miles each year. Annie, the girl dog, does get carsick, and has to take Dramamine.
******** Kelli, he is a very spoiled bunny. I'll be glad to get home, where I can walk him in the back yard. I forgot his collar and leash, so he doesn't get to run outside this winter. We let him loose on the porch sometimes, and Annie keeps him herded close to the house, but Otto pokes at him so he soon gets annoyed and goes back to his cage.
Cookie is just a darling and looks like he is really enjoying the outdoor smorgasbord buffet! Hopefully he will make good use of your winter garden so that you can leave without leaving too much behind unused.
This was wonderful! Very cute indeed! And very happy I am sure for having a mommy who grows everything fresh! Thanks for sharing Cookie with us, I will show the kids in the morning, they will love the video! I have wild bunnies that munch on my basil and lettuces and I can't bring myself to do anything to deter them :)
Ribbit, Cookie used to have the run of the house and a pooper box hidden in each of two rooms, and he was a very good pooper boy. It was just this past winter (a year ago) that he began eating rugs and pooping and/or peeing anywhere and everywhere, so has to be confined...the poor old man. But he still loves to be held and have his ears kissed and nibbled. His pooper box can smell to high heaven, but he always smells sweet like hay.
******** Kitsap, everything he doesn't eat will get pulled, washed, rolled up in a damp towel and taken home in the ice chest. I'm leaving the roots on the lettuce, it may survive well enough to be planted at home. If not, it will still keep until Cookie eats it all.
Erin, I hope the boys enjoy it! I have some really cute pics of Cookie getting ready to travel...he loves his travel case. I'll have to post those some day.
I had two wild rabbits nibbling the weeds and grass right outside the garden this morning. All of our recent rains have made our desert green!
Cookie is REALLY adorable. He looks so happy amongst the salad greens. Your garden looks like the perfect picture of spring right now. I wish my garden could look like this in febuary!
The way you look after him, I'm not surprised Cookie is living a long and healthy life. I'm sure Otto and Annie have plans to ripe old age too, knowing that there's smelly Llama poo on the menu!!
Thomas, no need to be envious. I think any one of us would be happy to have your garden!
******** Heskie, I might rethink that llama poo. I'd rather have well aged horse or cow manure on my dining room carpet ;-)
******** HappyPlotter, I think he's pretty cute. He's developing a rather nasty temperament in his old age, though. Sometime he growls at me when I try to take him from his cage, and bunny bites can be nasty.
******** Stephanie, they are really easy to litter box train. Just put a nice box of hay in a corner, and that's where they go. I just made sure I had one in a corner of every room he liked to be in. I'd hide it behind a piece of furniture and change it at least three times a week. Their poo isn't bad, but rabbit urine is about the stinkiest stuff you'd ever care to meet.
******** Ottawa Gardener, I'm still getting small tomatoes from one plant, but I pulled the other one. There was no hope for it. I get just enough for Mr. H's salads, I've only had one for myself in all these weeks!
Awww how sweet is cookie? I had a housebroken house-rabbit when I was a kid, but it died of some sort of brain malfunction - the vet thought it had a brain tumor...but it was a great rabbit. So happy to see Cookie living out a wonderful life amongst the greens with no fear of Mr. McGregor!
Oh, my gosh, Granny, Cookie is so cute! I can't believe that's what a geriatric rabbit looks like; I'd have guessed he was a young one. I suspect that's because you take excellent care of him -- and not just with the gorgeous salad harvests, but with love. :)
Loved this take on the harvest Monday theme! The video was an especially nice touch.
Kate, it seems most house rabbits don't live very long lives, and are plagued with ailments. When Cookie was a baby, I read up on what to feed him and what not to feed him, and then just ignored what I'd read. His diet has been high in fresh alfalfa and cranberries, both of which are to be fed not at all or very little, and low in hay (we give it, but he only poops in it), which is supposed to be the main part of his diet. Works for him, he's never had a sick day in his life!
******** Stefaneener, he can be very sweet, or very nasty. He's moody in his old age. It didn't help matters when Annie and Otto moved in two years ago.
******** Meredith, he doesn't look much different than he did as a baby, just a bit thinner and scruffier. He doesn't groom his fur as much now as he did when he was younger. I'm glad I got a good video of him, he might not be around much longer.
Dan, Cookie is tiny compared to most rabbits (hence he's a "dwarf"), and he has short ears, unlike the others. He's probably less than two pounds, even smaller than the wild rabbits around here.
******** Ribbit, it depends on how lonely I am at the time.
What a lucky bunny, to have those fresh, organic baby greens. Your bunny and my three hens--spoiled pets that get the pick of the crop. I look forward to seeing your Washington garden grow this summer.
LMGWorld, I'm a big believer that our pets are our family, and should be treated as such. I spoil all of mine absolutely rotten!
I'm doing lunar planting in my WA garden this year, so it should be super fantastic, LOL! It looks like quite a few of us are going to give it a try, so Farmer's Almanac will get lots of publicity.
It seems like I was just reading about your trip to Arizona and now only two weeks before you're heading back to Washington. Man has time gotten away from me.
Oh Granny - you're bunny is so cute! I am wishing for maybe 2 rabbits this year myself, we'll see how things go as to whether or not I get them.
It looks like Cookie was having a great time there in the garden. I can imagine he felt like he was in heaven with all those wonderful lettuces and carrots!
Cookie in the lettuce patch.
Cookie in the carrot patch.
Cookie in the beet patch.
Well, that was just nice....I'm sure the little bunny was having the time of its life out there.
ReplyDeletelol yup same old same old. We even used the same terminology. It still looks good though. And your bunny is so cute.
ReplyDeleteEG, he enjoyed it so much, and I enjoyed watching him, I think I'll just let him feed out there daily for the next two weeks. It's fenced in, so I don't worry about him getting out. It's not like anything is going to grow much more anyway. He sure does love those beet greens the most of anything!
ReplyDelete********
Daphne, methinks you were my daughter in a previous life ;-)
Aw how cute. Cookie seems to be in heaven. It must be the good eatin' that is keeping Cookie healthy into old age.
ReplyDeleteKeep an eye out for hawks and eagles flying around. Can you tell I am a worry wort?
Don't worry, Rachel. I'm never away from his side while he's in the garden, and it's enclosed in plastic netting so he can't get out of the box. I'm a worry wort, too...I won't even let my dogs out alone after dusk, they would make such good coyote hors d'oeuvres!
ReplyDeleteCookies is sooo cute... looks like he's livin a good bunny life, lol.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, Cookie is one spoiled bunny, but that's what he's here for!
ReplyDeleteLucky Bunny, fresh greens every day. Lucky Granny,too.
ReplyDeleteThe Weather in the lower Columbia Basin is in the low 40s today with patches of sun. Rain tomorrow (again).
DaBeardedOne
Awwww Cookie is soooooo cute!
ReplyDeleteHe sure enjoys those carrot and beet greens, good for him.
Does Cookie get motion sickness when he travels with you?
cookie is the cutest rabbit EVER! she will live long because you take such good care of her! =)
ReplyDeleteDaBeardedOne, hello, neighbor!!! I'll be watching your garden grow....does this mean I'll have someone to pawn all my extra tomato plants off on? I think I'm up to 21 varieties to plant as of now ;-)
ReplyDelete*********
Mac, Cookie has always been fed fresh from the garden greens, except for a couple of months through the winter when he gets the very $$$ organic baby greens (while we get cheap iceberg lettuce!). He also gets fresh cut alfalfa spring through fall, and timothy or alfalfa hay and pellets in the winter. And craisins! He loves his morning craisins! No, he never gets carsick, he takes the trips in stride. He has a lot of miles under his belt....er, fur. He travels 2400 miles each year. Annie, the girl dog, does get carsick, and has to take Dramamine.
********
Kelli, he is a very spoiled bunny. I'll be glad to get home, where I can walk him in the back yard. I forgot his collar and leash, so he doesn't get to run outside this winter. We let him loose on the porch sometimes, and Annie keeps him herded close to the house, but Otto pokes at him so he soon gets annoyed and goes back to his cage.
I think I'm in love.
ReplyDeleteMy roommate in college bunnysat for a few months. The bunny was cage trained and all. He had the run of the house just like a cat.
That is most certainly bunny heaven for him.
What a doll.
Cookie is just a darling and looks like he is really enjoying the outdoor smorgasbord buffet! Hopefully he will make good use of your winter garden so that you can leave without leaving too much behind unused.
ReplyDeleteThis was wonderful! Very cute indeed! And very happy I am sure for having a mommy who grows everything fresh! Thanks for sharing Cookie with us, I will show the kids in the morning, they will love the video! I have wild bunnies that munch on my basil and lettuces and I can't bring myself to do anything to deter them :)
ReplyDeleteRibbit, Cookie used to have the run of the house and a pooper box hidden in each of two rooms, and he was a very good pooper boy. It was just this past winter (a year ago) that he began eating rugs and pooping and/or peeing anywhere and everywhere, so has to be confined...the poor old man. But he still loves to be held and have his ears kissed and nibbled. His pooper box can smell to high heaven, but he always smells sweet like hay.
ReplyDelete********
Kitsap, everything he doesn't eat will get pulled, washed, rolled up in a damp towel and taken home in the ice chest. I'm leaving the roots on the lettuce, it may survive well enough to be planted at home. If not, it will still keep until Cookie eats it all.
Erin, I hope the boys enjoy it! I have some really cute pics of Cookie getting ready to travel...he loves his travel case. I'll have to post those some day.
ReplyDeleteI had two wild rabbits nibbling the weeds and grass right outside the garden this morning. All of our recent rains have made our desert green!
AG...if I were a rabbit I would want you to be my owner
ReplyDelete:)
Sunny, you don't have to be a rabbit, you can come nibble on my garden any time!
ReplyDeleteCookie is REALLY adorable. He looks so happy amongst the salad greens. Your garden looks like the perfect picture of spring right now. I wish my garden could look like this in febuary!
ReplyDeleteThe way you look after him, I'm not surprised Cookie is living a long and healthy life. I'm sure Otto and Annie have plans to ripe old age too, knowing that there's smelly Llama poo on the menu!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't he such a cutie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute, adorable rabbit. I guess, how you ever house trained him in the first place is a whole other story. Peace, Stephanie
ReplyDeleteCuuuute bunny and nice harvest even if it is the 'same old.' I see tomatoes which makes me hungry.
ReplyDeleteThomas, no need to be envious. I think any one of us would be happy to have your garden!
ReplyDelete********
Heskie, I might rethink that llama poo. I'd rather have well aged horse or cow manure on my dining room carpet ;-)
********
HappyPlotter, I think he's pretty cute. He's developing a rather nasty temperament in his old age, though. Sometime he growls at me when I try to take him from his cage, and bunny bites can be nasty.
********
Stephanie, they are really easy to litter box train. Just put a nice box of hay in a corner, and that's where they go. I just made sure I had one in a corner of every room he liked to be in. I'd hide it behind a piece of furniture and change it at least three times a week. Their poo isn't bad, but rabbit urine is about the stinkiest stuff you'd ever care to meet.
********
Ottawa Gardener, I'm still getting small tomatoes from one plant, but I pulled the other one. There was no hope for it. I get just enough for Mr. H's salads, I've only had one for myself in all these weeks!
Awww how sweet is cookie? I had a housebroken house-rabbit when I was a kid, but it died of some sort of brain malfunction - the vet thought it had a brain tumor...but it was a great rabbit. So happy to see Cookie living out a wonderful life amongst the greens with no fear of Mr. McGregor!
ReplyDeleteLucky little bunny. He sure is cute.
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh, Granny, Cookie is so cute! I can't believe that's what a geriatric rabbit looks like; I'd have guessed he was a young one. I suspect that's because you take excellent care of him -- and not just with the gorgeous salad harvests, but with love. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this take on the harvest Monday theme! The video was an especially nice touch.
Kate, it seems most house rabbits don't live very long lives, and are plagued with ailments. When Cookie was a baby, I read up on what to feed him and what not to feed him, and then just ignored what I'd read. His diet has been high in fresh alfalfa and cranberries, both of which are to be fed not at all or very little, and low in hay (we give it, but he only poops in it), which is supposed to be the main part of his diet. Works for him, he's never had a sick day in his life!
ReplyDelete********
Stefaneener, he can be very sweet, or very nasty. He's moody in his old age. It didn't help matters when Annie and Otto moved in two years ago.
********
Meredith, he doesn't look much different than he did as a baby, just a bit thinner and scruffier. He doesn't groom his fur as much now as he did when he was younger. I'm glad I got a good video of him, he might not be around much longer.
Your rabbit is adorable. I was just thinking the other day that I keep reading about rabbits but have never seen them.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Granny, but will you nibble on Sunny's ears?
ReplyDeleteHA!
Dan, Cookie is tiny compared to most rabbits (hence he's a "dwarf"), and he has short ears, unlike the others. He's probably less than two pounds, even smaller than the wild rabbits around here.
ReplyDelete********
Ribbit, it depends on how lonely I am at the time.
Or maybe how hungry I am.
HA!
Ouch my ear.. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky bunny, to have those fresh, organic baby greens. Your bunny and my three hens--spoiled pets that get the pick of the crop. I look forward to seeing your Washington garden grow this summer.
ReplyDeleteWell dang it, Sunny, Cookie always liked those ear nibbles! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLMGWorld, I'm a big believer that our pets are our family, and should be treated as such. I spoil all of mine absolutely rotten!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing lunar planting in my WA garden this year, so it should be super fantastic, LOL! It looks like quite a few of us are going to give it a try, so Farmer's Almanac will get lots of publicity.
Now that is absolutely adorable. Cookie certainly does not look like and old rabbit, it must be all of those veggies you are feeding him.:)
ReplyDeleteCookie thanks you for the compliment, Mr. H. I think I should have been eating those veggies, as Cookie is aging better than I ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt seems like I was just reading about your trip to Arizona and now only two weeks before you're heading back to Washington. Man has time gotten away from me.
ReplyDeleteA week from tomorrow, Cheryl. It's been a long, boring winter. I'll be glad to get home.
ReplyDeleteOh Granny - you're bunny is so cute! I am wishing for maybe 2 rabbits this year myself, we'll see how things go as to whether or not I get them.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Cookie was having a great time there in the garden. I can imagine he felt like he was in heaven with all those wonderful lettuces and carrots!
Most adorable bunny ever!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet is Cookie!!! I watched the video on YouTube. Too cute!!!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet is Cookie!!! I watched the video on YouTube. Too cute!!!
ReplyDelete