Missing Daisy

Tomorrow will be one year since we lost our Little Daisy to autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and sometimes feel her presence. I'm pretty sure Andrew feels the same way and when I sent Elisha the video she said she would have to watch it later because she didn't want to cry at work. If you've never fiercely loved a pet that is a member of your family then you might not understand.  I made a video about our lives and memories to commemorate the first year since her passing.  You can watch it here.

We are very fortunate that we were able to get our bichon puppy Nolan as soon as we did after Daisy passed.  He has kept us busy and is a lovable soul in his own right. Nolan is not meant to replace Daisy as that will never be possible, but he is a new addition to our family and we love him very much.

 Me and Nolan. His expression in this picture cracks me up.

Lilac Haven's Martin

Martin was born in the first ever litter of French Angoras that we had at Lilac Haven. He was a brother to Angelica and Pixie. He died earlier this week, I suppose of old age as he started to show a physical decline in appearance in the past few months and was not as lively as he had previously been.  He was born in a deep freeze/snow storm in February of 2007 and when I found the kits they were lifeless. Mama Selma had 10 babies, 8 of which I was able to revive and 5 of which lived.  Martin earned two legs toward his grand champion status being favored by the “angora” judges and not so much by the “meat” judges. I liked him all the same as he was a friendly boy and we will miss him. Lilac Haven's Pixie is the only remaining sibling from that litter.   

"God's finger touched him, and he slept."

Alfred Lord Tennyson

A Living Legacy

Our resident cottontail Pipsqueak has been missing since August 25th and presumed dead.  She has been with us since we established Lilac Haven in 2007 and we believe she was born in 2006 or prior as we first saw her full grown and photographed her in April 2007.  On August 29th Andrew found a rabbit that had been run over by a car near our house; and pulverized beyond recognition except for that it had a tiny tail. Pip if you will recall lost her tail fur in some type of altercation in June and it was just beginning to grow back when she disappeared. We buried the found rabbit in our yard near our rabbit memorial garden just in case. We'll really never know.  The last baby that Pip bore stayed close to her in the later part of the summer. The baby, born sometime in June is now almost full grown and she has stayed around the house and yard since Pip disappeared, often coming into the rabbitry and going back and forth under the deck.  She's mostly been wary toward us although in the past week or so she seems to have warmed as we have offered her food and she has accepted it from a distance.  It's so sad to me to think that Pip's life was ended by being run over by a car. In my mind she deserved so much more for all the joy that she gave to us.  She sure was a magic rabbit.  We are pleased though by the presence of little Pip who has been named Pipette by our FB friends.  Here's are a few photos of her that I took this evening. Wonders never cease.  We've had a pretty crappy month animal wise and there is definitely a dark cloud of sorrow hanging over this house.  Tonight's encounter brightened things just a tiny bit.

 Mama Pip

 Mama in the rabbitry

Baby Pipette in June 2013

 Pipette this evening

 And little Pipette in the rabbitry

Pipette under the arborvitae munching on dinner

Evander Holyfield

RIP Grand Champion Somerhill Evander. He is the bunny that, along with my friend Lisa , got my crazy rabbit adventure started many years ago when my fiber addicted sister in law Amy (alpacas) told me that I needed to get an angora rabbit. Evander lived a long and happy life and was the sire of all my Grand Champion French Angoras at Lilac Haven, gave me lots of lovely fiber, and enabled me to make a lot of wonderful rabbit friends over the years.  Evander was almost 7, which is by rabbit life expectancy standards was elderly.  I found him having a stoke yesterday morning but there was nothing I could do for him but pet him and tell him I loved him. It was sad as it always is when you lose a pet but he had been looking weary and picking at his food for the past month so I wasn't totally surprised.  His full name was Evander Holyfield as he was feisty with everyone but me. He once bit my brother on the hand and wouldn't let go.  Luckily my brother was mildly amused and continues to help me care for my rabbits from time to time.  Evander wasn't mean that was just his personality. Anyway my mom gave me a package of mixed spring bulbs and Andrew and I planted them over his grave last evening so in the spring there will be a little burst of color in that place.