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Musings from the day that no laundry was done.
Hello Soupers.
First of all, happy Mother’s Day to all those who mother. Whether it be their own child, another’s child – a fur baby. Happy Mother’s Day also to the truly single dads out there.
I spent today without my mother as she’s still in England.
I’m still house sitting.
My son arrived after noon and I was SO glad to see him.
He made a collage for me of notes I’ve left for him over the years, some over 7 years old.
I also received the traditional ‘hastily made card’.
But what meant so much more was him just showing up.
We went and ate Mexican food locally and then grabbed some chocolate canollis from the restaurant next door.
The canolli place had a very sad ‘grabby’ machine. It was out of order, but beyond that, had a very sad selection of ungrabbed prizes.
This poor pup stuck under the pile
Me and Nic, and what the heck is up with that owl???
We went to the local bar/gambling establishment after that for Nic to experience. He’s never been in there. I, however, since we lived here years ago have. We stayed maybe 10 minutes and, $50 later.
It was kind of cool – but in a dysfunctional odd sort of way.
He’s my baby. Very strange being in an adult environment with him, but very fun seeing him get carded and then ask for a water. LOL!
We came back to my parents home and ate the conollis. We watched Britains got talent on YouTube and we shared things.
How we were feeling – how life was going – where we wanted to be.
And I was so glad he was with me.
Thing is, I’ve been having DAILY panic/anxiety attacks daily now.
Thing is, I didn’t have one with him here.
I want to go home.
But, I also want to be here for my mother in her time of need.
I am physically, mentally, and definitely emotionally losing it.
And not wanting to add to my moms plate.
I need to see my cardiologist too.
Oh! That’s another thing. I found out that if you donate your body to science, your cremation is free – and whatever is left of you is returned to your loved one.
I’m considering this.
So – bittersweet. Today was bittersweet, but I was very glad to have a mother to say ‘Happy Mothers Day’ to, and a son that showed up.
Baby Bunny Update … After the Musing.
OK, if you haven’t caught up, catch up now. Read THIS post.
Then come back.
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I came home, fed the babies again.
Was speaking back and forth with my mom who is a HUGE animal advocate and thankfully, a huge network of people.
She found someone close who was ready and willing and able to give MY (yes, I totally bonded) babies the attention and love they deserve.
I wavered.
I had bonded.
They had made it through the night!
THEY TOOK THEIR FIRST STEPS WITH ME!!
They really did. When I found them, they were flopping like fish. This morning’s feeding had them using their legs, walking up me … I had to swaddle to nurse them.
I have finally downloaded the videos I took during my short, short time as a bunny foster mom.
The first video … When I was still trying to find Bunny Mom.
And I did.
I played Alice and searched and searched for that rabbit hole.
As I said in my first post, once darkness fell, and rain was imminent … They HAD to come inside.
Life or death situation. (I’ll speak about that later.)
They survived the night! I nursed and they lived!
I fed them. I bonded. And then … My mom, who is very active in animal advocate circles, found someone close who could do better than I could.
Give them more than I could.
So, my last videos:
One of the bunnies with hiccups:
ANNNNND … My goodbye. 😦
SO! My babies are gone.
The adoptive mom was lovely. As were her children.
They already have a bunny. She’s a dog groomer – and as I said before, a huge animal advocate. I slipped her my email address.
“Please tell me good or bad how they’re doing.”
I had the bunnies tucked under my cardigan, it was pouring rain. I had their little bag ready.
And I cried, and I cried, and I cried.
Still crying.
I feel like Alice had something to do with my ‘meeting’ of these beautiful creatures.
I went down her rabbit hole. A healing. Being of service. Loving something smaller and vulnerable.
And it happened with my mom.
‘Alice’ knew one of my favorite books (other than Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) was Watership Down.
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Sensible informative part of my emotional post:
If you see a baby w/out it’s mom … Wait!
Rabbits will abandon (temporarily) their young to redirect a predator.
The babies may not BE abandoned!
There is a LOT of work involved in raising wild rabbits – they NEED the environment for immunities and such. So, it’s not ideal to try to raise one without doing MUCH research.
Rabbits are one of the few that DON’T abandon their young if you’ve ‘touched them’. If you give one shelter for the night, and feel it’s safe to return, RETURN IT!
My situation was dictated by a storm, a very dangerous spot that I found them in and the fact that we have many predators … Otherwise, I would have left them alone.
Ok, maybe I would have watched to be sure mom came to get them, but, I would not have taken them inside if there was no other way.
I assure you.
Two babies live today – and wouldn’t have if I hadn’t taken them in.
Of that, I’m certain.
And thanks ‘Alice’ – you know who you are – even though you’re not reading this. I think you put those babies in my path.
Musings from the Laundromat: Storms, Rainbows and Rabbits edition
It’s dark outside. Thunder is rumbling. I’m sitting quietly at my table in the laundromat with much on my mind.
We’ll begin at the beginning.
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It has been raining on and off since Friday. Yesterday there was a break in the weather and I was sitting outside on the phone.
Then I spotted something in the dirt, outside the gate, by the road. Two somethings.
Squirming, small and mole like. I like moles. I thought I’d grab my camera and see if I could zoom in to figure out what they were.
Didn’t get much information out of that plan, so I walked over to them.
“Oh, mom … I have to go! I’ll call you back.”
This is what my camera picked up next.
A tiny, newborn rabbit.
Two of them were flopping blindly in the rocks.
I looked around for the mother …
I looked around for a warren. Some sort of home they may have come from.
There was NO WAY these two made it any great distance – unable to walk or see.
I spoke to my mom again – unsure what to do, but certain I had to do something!
We have a lot of feral cats in our neighborhood – being a rural location.
Also the skies were threatening to open back up again and would surely soak these tiny creatures.
We decided I would put them in a box and keep them warm. I grabbed a t-shirt and padded the box. Placed them gently inside and put the box near a location I’d seen ‘crumples’ (named for its ‘crumply’ ear) and another rabbit friend spending a lot of time.
I then placed baby carrots all around the box, went inside and waited.
No bunny came.
I finally made the decision, that they couldn’t just stay outside in the box all night. If one cried out, a cat would be sure to find them.
So inside with me they went.
What to do next? They must be hungry.
After watching a video on YouTube, I threw on some shoes and in my pajamas, headed out to the nearest store.
I scooped the less feisty one up first, held it securely, but sweetly and nursed.
I wish I had photos of that for you … But I clearly had my hands full.
They both took in several drops.
This is them after their meal.
All tucked in for the night.
They slept in my bathroom high enough so that should one squeak, Butters wouldn’t be able to investigate with any success.
Then I was tucked in … And hoping they made it through the night.
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This morning I got up early. Held my breath and peered inside the box.
Alive and well!
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it last night, but I donned my fluffy robe and prepared their breakfast.
Holding each against the fluff seemed to comfort them. They didn’t eat as much this morning, but the feisty one cried out between drops and what it lacked in size it more than made up for with volume! 🙂
Baby rabbits do an amazing impersonation of a squeaky toy. A LOUD squeaky toy.
They also look very much like otters from the front! LOL!
Breakfast finished, back in the box.
Here’s some more pictures:
I hated to leave them to do laundry – but they’re ok.
They’ll get another meal when I get back and my mom used her animal network to find me someone local who will take them and care for them.
I did go back outside this morning to see if any bunny was searching …
All I spotted was this.
I think it’s a good omen.
I think my foster babies are going to be just fine.
Musings from the Laundromat: Tracks and Crumples and Butters edition.
Tracks! Tracks in my yard. The two doves that spend a lot of time in my neck of the desert seem to have nested nearby because I see them daily now.
Here’s one to refresh your memory:
There’s a few other creatures sticking close to my home – one of which I have lovingly named ‘Crumple Bunny’ which has morphed to ‘Crumples’ already.
It’s little left ear is in constant flop – or – crumpled mode. I’m not sure if it was born this way, or has been injured. I’ve started leaving baby carrots around the area for Crumples and his able eared friend.
A closer shot. It isn’t caged by the way – I took this from my porch, the rabbit was in my neighbor’s yard behind the fence.
Or – my EX neighbor’s I should say!
YES! They finally left!!!!
They also left, 3 tires, an old car, a broken shed full of gawd only knows what – a mattress, toys – and various other items. *sigh*
I didn’t expect less of them.
Back to animals – and speaking of little left things …
Butters has been stepping gingerly on her left hind foot.
I investigated as much as I could considering:
A) She doesn’t like to be prodded or examined – doubly so when there’s something to actually examine.
B) I am not a vet.
I can’t find anything in her paw or pads – but she had been nibbling furiously on the foot attached to said leg for some time. I thought she needed a bath – but that didn’t fix the problem.
Then she seemed fine.
I should also mention I switched her food to a more expensive “joint care” one after her last limpy period.
(This happened last year and the vet had suggested it could be arthritis since the anti-inflammatory’s she was prescribed with seemed to give her back her usual gait.)
I then noticed she wasn’t – um – ‘Answering natures call’ on a regular basis. Also noticed her food bowl was left for meals at a time untouched.
I (again, with all my veterinary training) just assumed since her foot/leg was bothering her, perhaps she just didn’t feel like eating.
Yesterday I thought I’d buy her old food and give that a shot.
I had barely put a scoop in her bowl and she dove in head first!
Kibble was flying – the bowl was clinking and … I felt like the worst dog mom on the planet.
She freaking HATED the ‘better’ food!
Poor thing has been hungry! No wonder she hadn’t used the yard, she had nothing to give it!
I swear she gave me dirty looks all day yesterday after that. At one point she lay on the couch opposite mine with my son – I could feel her looking at me, but when I returned eye contact, she turned her head.
She was probably thinking, “Really? REALLY mom? It took you a bag of food to realize I only ate it when I was flipping starving and wondered why I wasn’t going potty??!”
Sufficiently shamed.
She is now giving what little attention I deserve as she works on forgiving me.
As for her leg – I guess it’s back to the vet with us.
THAT will be an adventure. And when I say ‘adventure’ I mean a drama packed, hyperventilation filled 5 minute drive followed by self asphyxiation by leash in a waiting room. And that’s just me! 😉
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From Boy to Man – and About Alice.
Had a squabble with my son today.
It was unpleasant.
It came on the heels of his 21st birthday.
21!!!
I started this blog when he was still walking up a dirt road to catch his bus to school!
He was this little …
Our squabble? It was over a bird.
He wanted/wants a bird.
I said no.
We rent – they poop. We rent – they scratch their seeds. We rent – he doesn’t pay any of it.
Truth is, I’ve always wanted a bird too.
But, not a caged one.
One I could put to bed after it flew free in my (owned) home with interaction.
We don’t have that to give.
What he DID get for his birthday was semi-impulsive and it dawned on me today, he has more of me in him than I had thought.
What he didn’t DO on his birthday made me proud.
He thought he was driving later to a friends after his birthday dinner to do college homework – so, he didn’t have a drop of alcohol.
I SO appreciate that.
Respect that.
My son has common sense.
As for the tattoo (of which, I have four) I didn’t love it.
No, I’ll be honest.
I didn’t love the idea of it – because, he HAD a plan.
He wanted to integrate nature and technology and was going to be proud to have that imbedded in his flesh for eternity.
After consulting with a tattoo artist, he was told it would be 5-6 hours in a chair and perhaps he needed a pre-tattoo. (I’m sure that wasn’t the sentence the guy used – but hey, I’m paraphrasing.)
I felt like he was being coerced into an extra tat.
When Nic sent me a mock up of the tat – and I saw Alice –
I knew he didn’t have me in mind. (Although, I WAS hoping for his first to be “MOM” in a heart – just kidding.)
Because, this is what he brought me back from his big trip to England:
But, he had heard the story over and over of when I was in a bus in India as a child reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the bus hit a man.
No one really cared.
But, when we hit a chicken!!!! We had to pay for not only that chicken, but the chickens it would produce, the eggs those offspring would produce etc. etc.
One less mouth to feed in a 3rd world country is above food that feeds them – to a degree.
I kept reading on that bus – but did catch a glimpse of hamburger head.
It was horrible.
But, we took him somewhere good – and my mind stayed in that book.
Bottom line, I said:
And he is honest. Like me – to the point of discounting himself, if that’s even possible.
We try it, we do – but to lie – it doesn’t lay softly on our chests. I’m glad he got not only impulsiveness, but HONESTY from me.
And now we’ll both always have Alice.
Debauchery Soup 