Gratuitous Bunny Video

Head Count

     It’s been one week since the rabbits were born, and they’ve been growing fast!  We’ve tried to disturb the nest as little as possible, but decided it was finally time to get in there and see what was going on.  The official headcount is NINE adorable baby rabbits.  NINE RABBITS! AH AH AH…
     …The Count from Sesame Street?

…Anyone?

     Anyway, that actually breaks-down to eight healthy kits plus one runt.  Rabbits only have eight nipples, and usually only feed their young once per day.  Whether it’s because of a developmental disorder, or it’s just the smallest one who can’t get fair teat-time, the runt looks to be about 3 days behind the rest.  Normally, I’m inclined to let nature take its course, but this little one is feisty.  While we sorted through the nest, it was the runt who was the most active of the bunch.

     I stopped on the way home to pick-up some kitten formula and a dropper.  Hopefully a little extra food will give this runt a boost to hang in there!

Continuing the Onslaught of Bunny Pics

7th day and jumping around the nest!

They Grow Up So Fast!

     I swear, if you watch them closely you’ll see them grow before your eyes.  Hard to believe it’s only been 5 days, but their ears and toes are growing out, their faces are more defined, and they’re covered in peach-fuzz.  It looks like they’ve doubled in size already, which explains why Buttercup has been eating almost double; she’s feeding at least eight fast-growing kits.  She also seems to have a little conjunctivitis, so we have some antibiotic cream on rush order to keep mom and kits healthy.
     Today, we planted trays of kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, head lettuce, and seven different tomato varieties.  Somewhere in there, we also managed to sow rows of zucchini and Napa cabbage, and start construction on the next set of rabbit hutches.  Stay tuned for planting, project, and, of course, bunny updates to come!

So Cute... but Kinda Ugly...

     Four days-old and growing fast!  They’re bigger every time we look, always wiggling around, and just starting to get some darker patches where their fur is coming in.  If you look closely in the picture, you can see a few tiny lop ears and a pink snout sticking out of the pile.

     Erica and I had a nice Sunday afternoon out in the yard prepping the beds, planting some crops, and hanging out with the rabbits.  We were accompanied by some amazing rum punch, the recipe for which I’ll post at another date.  We planted rows of radishes, snap peas, snow peas, soybeans, carrots, tricolor bush string beans, spaghetti squash, and two different salad green mixes.  Tomorrow I begin construction on the new rabbit hutches.  With less than 6 weeks until weaning and a full school/work schedule, the pressure’s on!

Happy Earth Day!

     It’s so hard to not go out and peek on the bunnies!  We’re limiting ourselves to two short looks a day to minimize disturbing them or Buttercup.  The head-count is up to seven or eight, and so far they seem healthy and active.  I’m just trying to keep the nursing mother supplied with plenty of water, food, and fresh veggies.

     Found some seed-starting trays at a reasonable price no thanks to the corporate stores; local garden center for the win!  Here’s hoping we have enough time over the weekend to get everything in the ground!  I tried a mixture of white vinegar, dish soap, water, tea tree oil, and grapefruit oil (basically whatever I had lying around under the kitchen sink) on the termite/flying ant infested areas on the other rabbit hutches, and it seems to be doing the trick.  I’ll apply again as-needed, and let you all know if it really works.

We Have Kindling!!!

      …and not the firewood kind!  Looks like at least four or five kits in there!  Here’s hoping Buttercup is an attentive mother because those squirmy pink babies look hungry!  Of course, with every great thing also comes a reminder that the work is never done.  Time to start building more hutches and figure out what the hell to do about the termites we just spotted on the other ones.

Bunny Watch: Day 3

Still no sign of kits or kindling; the watch continues…

     Snuck out of the clinic a few minutes early today to enjoy the sunshine and it was well worth it.  I was able to plant rows of beets, parsnips, spinach, and leeks before the sun dipped away.  While I was out in the yard, I noticed the pile of last year’s pea trellises, which were miraculously NOT a tangled mess!  Took a few minutes and hammered them in, in preparation for this year’s crop.
     I'm shopping around for inexpensive seedling trays to get some of the more delicate veggies and herbs started in.  Our local Home Depot is stocked only with the $20 version that self-waters... just no.  Next planting will be peas, carrots, lettuces, and radishes.

Bunny Watch: Day 2

     Yes, that is snow in the above picture, but thankfully it wasn’t taken today!  Bunny Watch 2016 continues here in CT, with all of us waiting in rapt anticipation.  If you haven’t been following, it’s the week that we’d expect Buttercup to give birth to her first litter IF we were sure she was pregnant.  With spring weather finally arriving in the Northeast, I’ve had plenty of time in the yard to keep an eye on her.  However, I’m not certain that her slight weight-gain isn’t just the result of her voracious appetite, and/or my imagination.  I’m extra anxious though, because this could be her second failed breeding attempt, and I’d hate to see those excellent genes not passed on.  For now, we hope and wait.

     I set aside some time yesterday for serious garden preparation.  I started by getting the compost pile I started last summer spread out over the whole garden and tilled in.  Seeing something was missing, I cleaned out the makings of a whole new compost pile from under the rabbit hutches.  Later on, we sat down and finally finished picking out this year’s crops.  We order most of our seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, who make it VERY difficult to choose just a few things from their excellent selection.  I went to place the last-minute order in, and somehow got a $5-off coupon!

     I’m aiming to begin planting snap & snow peas, kale, and other early season crops starting tomorrow.  This week we’ll also be starting seed trays with last-year’s leftover seeds and others that we bought locally.  Of course, with the yard tilled and prepped for planting, weeding season is upon us.  Such is the price we pay.


     Last, but certainly not least, BEHOLD: Wormzilla!  Not the 8th wonder of the world, but definitely the largest earth worm I’ve ever seen.

Bunny Watch Begins!

     It’s been four weeks since Bucky and Buttercup had their evening of romance, which should mean bunnies arriving any day now.  Although the signs of rabbit pregnancy aren’t glaring with Buttercup, it does look like she’s put on some weight around the middle.  Normally, she tears out any hay from her cage and pushes it through the wire mesh, but lately she’s kept it in the back, and it looks like she may even be nesting in it.  We’ll be keeping an eye on her this week in hopes that she has little ones safely on the way.

     In unrelated news, it’s finally warm enough up here in New England to start working the ground!  Yesterday, I was able to begin spring cleaning the garden and raised beds.  The garlic I planted back in late October survived the mild winter wonderfully, and is looking good after some weeding.  On today’s menu, we’re serving up composting, soil amendments, and tilling. 

Brew Review

Geyser Gose, Two Evil Brewing

     When the manager of the liquor store sees you walk in and says, “I have something special and new that I think you might like”, you try that beer!  Geyser Gose is a crossover brew between Two Roads Brewing Co of Stratford, CT and Evil Twin Brewing from Denmark.  They “sourced local ingredients during a trip to Iceland” to make this unforgettable sour wheat-style ale.  I’ve had the pleasure of drinking this one both at home and on tap at the Two Roads Brewery.
     The first thing you notice about Geyser Gose is the funky aroma, but you can’t let the briny scent deter you.  Immediately you taste a yogurt-like tanginess, which melds perfectly with the tart, refreshing flavor of this brew.  Texture is an oft forgotten component that can launch a beer to greatness, and the effervescence of Geyser Gose certainly gives it a boost.  This brew’s herbal presence was less than I expected based on the description, but the mild saltiness was unexpected yet complimentary.  Finally, there’s the seaweed aftertaste, also unique, but not at all unpleasant.

If you or a friend are into sour beers, find this brew!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Squash

     Keeping up with my promise to summarize the most interesting of last year’s projects, I’ve put together some of the best pics I could find from 2015 (known in some circles  by us as: The Year of the Squash).

Project Idea

     Saw this at a local garden center and thought what a fun little project it would be.  I especially enjoy simple ones where I can draw the plans up from my own imagination, and I probably have all the materials sitting around here already.  Our current lack of storage options for garden gear makes it all the more tempting.  If I don’t do it this season, then maybe someday as a fun chicken coop!