
What is a Dwarf rabbit? A Netherland Dwarf is one of the smallest rabbits in the world. They can weigh up to three pounds and have ears of varying lengths. For a description of Netherland Dwarf "show quality" rabbits please visit the Netherland Dwarf Club website. Almost all of the bunnies that you will find for sale are "pet quality" at pet quality prices. Netherlands come in many colors and patterns. For photos of the colors and patterns that I raise visit the "more photos" and "pet photos" pages on this website. All of my bunnies are small and can be easily carried by a young person. I have tried to handle all the bunnies while they are here to help in the taming/training process. They are "home raised and healthy" bunnies that you can be proud of. I am very proud of my bunnies and I hope you will visit me soon and take home a bunny to love of your very own.
BUNNY CARE
- Keep the bunny's bowl full of rabbit pellets at all times. If pellets become wet or damp, throw them away, dry out the bowl and give fresh pellets. Occasionally a bunny dropping will get into the food bowl, just take it out and discard it. Bunnies will sometimes eat some of their own droppings to keep digestive flora active in their system. So, a few in the food bowl will not hurt them.
- Fresh, cool, clean water in a clean bowl or bottle at all times.
- Do not keep bunny in a place where it can't get out of the sun. Hot sun in the summer will kill bunny.
- Do not squeeze bunny or hold too tightly. This causes them to struggle and they will scratch you. Support bunny's hindquarters when picking up. This will help them feel secure and not develop a kicking habit.
- Dogs and cats will harm bunny. They think bunny is food.
- Bunnies over 6 months old love a carrot about 2 inches long daily.
- No lettuce, it has no food value and will give bunny diarrhea. For a treat, sprinkle a little raw oatmeal on top of bunnies pellets. Just a little bit, about 1/2 teaspoon per day (the old fashioned kind, not quick oats or flavored oats). Remember RAW oatmeal!
- Remember, this is a baby rabbit. Don't hold it too much. Sitting in your lap while you pet it is OK. Do not keep a baby bunny away from it's food and water for long periods of time. An hour is enough time to play.
- Keep bunny out of the rain and direct sun.
- Give bunny a warm place to sleep, out of the wind and rain, in the winter time. If bunny is indoors, make sure the AC vent doesn't blow directly in the cage.
- Bunnies love HAY! You can buy Timothy hay in the pet department. Coastal Bermuda is at the feed store.
- Do not buy rabbit pellets that contain seeds, fruit or treats. The pellets have all they need. They will scratch the food out of the bowl to get to the treats. For a treat, sprinkle a little raw oatmeal on top of bunnies pellets. Just a little bit, about 1/2 teaspoon per day (the old fashioned kind, not quick oats or flavored oats). Remember RAW oatmeal!
- Bunnies love to scratch cardboard and tear it to pieces. Sometimes they throw it up in the air and pounce on it. Also pine cones, toilet paper rollers or paper towel rollers cut into 4 or 5 inch lengths. They will try to cover up the food bowl with it. Chewing the cardboard and pine cones help keep teeth healthy and worn down to the proper level. VERY IMPORTANT!
- Keep cage clean and dry. A clean cage doesn't smell.
- Cut bunny's toenails with cat claw scissors. Careful! Do not cut the quick, or the toenail will bleed a lot. Have a tissue handy to hold pressure on the end of the toenail until it stops bleeding, just in case you cut too much. Always have an adult help you when cutting bunny's toenails. One person holds bunny, the other one cuts toenails.
- You will read this one when you pick your bunny up from my house.
- MOST IMPORTANT!!!! A bunny is not like a Guinea Pig, Gerbil, Hamster or pet rat. Bunnies are somewhere between a pet like that and a dog or cat that doesn't bark or meow. Bunnies need love and attention, just like dogs or cats. If you play with the bunny, pet it and talk to it in a loving way, it will respond and become bonded to you. After bonding, it will follow you around like a puppy. If it spends most of the time that you are at home locked in it's cage, it will become bonded to the cage and not want to come out and play with you. If you put it down it will hop away and you might have a hard time catching it. If you do not have the time to bond with this bunny and treat it like a family member, please don't buy one of my bunnies. They are special and deserve a loving family.
- My bunnies are NOT outside bunnies!!!! They need to be kept in the house. They can't tolerate the Texas Heat. It is not fair to the bunny to leave it outside and bring it inside when it is hot, then back outside. How can any pet understand this moving around. The bunny will be stressed. Bunnies keep themselves cool by holding their ears up in the breeze. The wind cools the blood in the capillaries, sends it back into the bunny's body to be replaced by hot blood. This blood exchange happens every time the bunny's heart beats. Bunnies do not sweat or pant, this is the only way they have to cool themselves. That is why wild rabbits have such large ears, they can cool more blood at a time. In the case of Netherland Dwarfs, their ears are not large enough to cool themselves. Lion Heads have a ruff of fur covering their ears. Poor little Lop bunnies can not even hold their ears up, ever. So, if it is your intention to house one of my bunnies outside, please go somewhere else and buy one.
- 2-3-15- Lately, more people than usual are texting me to ask about the temperament of my bunny babies. All of my bunnies have a gentle nature. No trouble makers are allowed here. Baby bunnies are gentle creatures, but, they are going to scratch when they are scared. They don't know you and are being taken to a strange place. How long they will do this depends on you! If they are treated with gentleness, love and care they probably won't be trying to get away from you. If you are scared the bunny will sense this and be scared too. If you are scared you will probably be holding the bunny tightly and away from your body. The bunny will feel like it needs to escape this stressful situation and will scratch so you will drop it. Then it can run away from the thing it is afraid of- YOU! So, be kind, gentle and loving to your bunny and that's what you will get in return. If your bunny never gets taken out of it's cage and played with, it will always be afraid to be picked up.
WARNING! Some people are reporting to me that the hay they bought was dusty and had insects in the bag. DO NOT FEED THIS TO YOUR BUNNY! Take it back to the store and get your money back or trade it for another bag. Open the new bag before you exit the store to make sure it is OK. There is no telling what the dust is from, it could be a natural degrading of the hay, insect poop or mildew. Anyway, don't take a chance with your bunnies health! Also buy only first cut hay. If it is not first cut, it will be stems and sticks. Bunnies don't eat sticks!
WARNING! You are getting a BABY rabbit. It is not a toy. It needs to rest at least an hour when you have had it out playing with it for 45 minutes or an hour. If the bunny stays away from food and water too long, it could develop low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, and go into a coma and not recover (die). Do not assume that just because you offered it pellets from your hand and it did not eat them, that it is not hungry. Rabbits prefer to eat alone with peace and quiet. Put your bunny in it's cage and go do something else for a while.
DO YOU REALLY WANT A BUNNY?
Bunnies are a huge responsibility and though it may sound easy, it's not. There is work involved!
Are you fully prepared to:
-Take the time to bunny proof your room? It will chew electrical cords, computer wires, shoes and other things it can easily reach. Someone has to, and it is YOUR bunny and YOUR stuff it will chew.
-Scoop its litter box every day? Your bunny will kick hay and litter out of it's cage as it hops around. Can you keep this picked up off the floor? Someone has to, and it is YOUR bunny.
-Clean its cage out completely every week? This means taking it out in the yard and hosing it down. A clean cage and litter box do not stink! Someone has to, and it is YOUR bunny
.-Let it out to run around in a play pen AT LEAST an hour PER DAY?? And monitor it's chewing habit. If you let the bunny run around in the yard { I do not recommend this} you must stay with it to protect the bunny from hawks and cats.
-Wash its fur with a damp washcloth every week? You must get any poop that may have stuck to the bunny's fur cleaned up. Don't soak the bunny, just wipe him off.
-Clip its nails every month? Check teeth and inside of ears for a healthy appearance.
-I feed my bunnies 1/4 cup of pellets and fill their hay racks full of hay every morning. I check at night to make sure the bowl is not empty. It is your your pet, so it's your responsibility to take care of this.
-Bunnies are very social animals and they need tons of attention from you every day. Can you imagine being locked up in a cage all day? Not being able to run and play? Bunnies will become depressed and very aggressive if not socialized properly.
-I will add more things to this list as I think of them. If you think of anything that needs to be on this list, text it to me. 281-455-3943
The cage should be no smaller than 36 to 40 inches long, tall enough for them to stand up in, and completely sprawl out in. The bigger the better. It will be well worth the investment to buy a large cage. More room in the cage will keep your bunny happy and content. But it will not stop the bunny from being lonesome for you or take the place of running around in it's play pen and playing with you. Cage minimum is 36 inches long for a dwarf, 40 inches for Lion Heads and Lops.
You must NEVER physically punish your bunny. The smallest hit could break their little bones! Be careful not to step on or sit on your bunny. Did you research how to litter train your bunny? If you get a young bunny, it should live to be around 10 years of age , if it is properly cared for. So be prepared for a long term commitment. Do your bunny research homework. Write in a notebook the things you learn about taking care of your bunny baby. This bunny will belong to YOU, not your mom. So, you must be prepared to take care of it.
FIVE THINGS YOUR BUNNY MUST HAVE.......
1. Pellets
2. Hay
3. Water
Something to chew on to wear it's teeth down such as..
4. Cardboard such as paper towel or toilet paper rollers.
5. Pine cones
YOUR BUNNY DOESN'T NEED.......
1. veggies (pellets and hay have everything they need)
2. Toys hanging in the cage. Toys on cage floor are OK as long as bunny can't get it's leg caught in them.
3. A cold, damp, wet or hot cage indoors or outdoors.
HAY IS FOOD, IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT CLEAN AND DRY, NOT BEDDING FOR THE FLOOR OF THE CAGE!!!!
1. Pellets
2. Hay
3. Water
Something to chew on to wear it's teeth down such as..
4. Cardboard such as paper towel or toilet paper rollers.
5. Pine cones
YOUR BUNNY DOESN'T NEED.......
1. veggies (pellets and hay have everything they need)
2. Toys hanging in the cage. Toys on cage floor are OK as long as bunny can't get it's leg caught in them.
3. A cold, damp, wet or hot cage indoors or outdoors.
HAY IS FOOD, IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT CLEAN AND DRY, NOT BEDDING FOR THE FLOOR OF THE CAGE!!!!
Get Your Mom to read this:
Can two rabbits live in the same cage? This is one of the most common questions for someone wanting to buy a second rabbit, but not a second cage. It seems like an attractive option to save money, and get a friend for your lonely bunny. But many rabbit owners learn the hard way that it isn't so simple.
Two rabbits will fight. Although may expect two males to fight, you may not realize females can be just as bad. When going to a pet store or breeder's rabbitry, you may notice several animals in the same cage. What you may not realize is these friends consist of either a mom and her babies, or two rabbits who haven't yet reached sexual maturity. The hormones of a rabbit, once mature, will cause it to be more aggressive. It may lash out at the handler, and the other rabbit. It could even kill the other bunny if it's trying to protect it's territory. You might be able to solve this with a couple of spay/neuter surgeries - but that would run over $150 each. That's a lot more than the cost of the second cage.
Rabbits will compete. So, let's say you had them spayed. Although not a complete suppressant of the hormones, it will calm them down some. They may not fight, but you still might have one die of starvation or obesity. You may think "Well, I gave them more than enough for both of them!" The problem is now that one ate more than it's "fair share," it is overweight, and the other is starving. Obesity can be just as bad as starvation because it can cause breathing issues that can develop into pneumonia, and dermatitis on the skin.
Two rabbits in the same cage can share diseases When two rabbits share a cage, if one gets sick, it's likely the other will also. Two rabbits in one cage means that the cage gets dirtier faster. And a dirty cage is a breeding place for disease. For example, the coccidian parasite is only infectious once it's lived in feces that have been exposed to air for a day or two - and if you have two rabbits making a mess in the cage, there's more exposure.
You might think, "Well, I just won't let my rabbits get sick." But sometimes, despite your best precautions, things happen. For example, parasites such as pin worms or fungal infections such as ringworm can be brought in on your skin, clothes, and pets, and rabbits can easily catch it. Then once one has it, they both do. Now instead of one vet bill, you have two.
But how do I solve my rabbit's loneliness? The good news is you don't have to solve your rabbit's loneliness, because rabbits don't get lonely. In the wild rabbits are more solitary creatures than pack animals. If you spend time with your rabbit daily, that will provide enough interaction to keep it happy and occupied.
So will my rabbit benefit from a companion? Possibly. Although rabbits do not need another bunny around, they do seem to enjoy having another rabbit in the area. "In the area" means in the same room - but NOT in the same cage. Rabbits strongly prefer having their own personal space, but do like to have another bunny near enough to communicate with through scent and sound.
So what's the solution? Go ahead and get two rabbits, if you'd like. But make sure to also get two cages. There have been cases in which rabbits lived in one cage together successfully, but those are rare - and many people find this out the hard way. Thankfully, if you don't want the expense of buying two separate cages, you can buy a "double hole cage for two rabbits". This cage allows both does to have their own personal space, while still being close enough to make friends. A double-hole cage not only costs less than two single cages, but it also takes up less space. Plus there is only one drop tray to empty, which is something nobody can complain about. Remember, this applies to male rabbits too. Reprinted from the Rabbit Empire. Of course there are exceptions to this, but not at my house, mine fight.
Can two rabbits live in the same cage? This is one of the most common questions for someone wanting to buy a second rabbit, but not a second cage. It seems like an attractive option to save money, and get a friend for your lonely bunny. But many rabbit owners learn the hard way that it isn't so simple.
Two rabbits will fight. Although may expect two males to fight, you may not realize females can be just as bad. When going to a pet store or breeder's rabbitry, you may notice several animals in the same cage. What you may not realize is these friends consist of either a mom and her babies, or two rabbits who haven't yet reached sexual maturity. The hormones of a rabbit, once mature, will cause it to be more aggressive. It may lash out at the handler, and the other rabbit. It could even kill the other bunny if it's trying to protect it's territory. You might be able to solve this with a couple of spay/neuter surgeries - but that would run over $150 each. That's a lot more than the cost of the second cage.
Rabbits will compete. So, let's say you had them spayed. Although not a complete suppressant of the hormones, it will calm them down some. They may not fight, but you still might have one die of starvation or obesity. You may think "Well, I gave them more than enough for both of them!" The problem is now that one ate more than it's "fair share," it is overweight, and the other is starving. Obesity can be just as bad as starvation because it can cause breathing issues that can develop into pneumonia, and dermatitis on the skin.
Two rabbits in the same cage can share diseases When two rabbits share a cage, if one gets sick, it's likely the other will also. Two rabbits in one cage means that the cage gets dirtier faster. And a dirty cage is a breeding place for disease. For example, the coccidian parasite is only infectious once it's lived in feces that have been exposed to air for a day or two - and if you have two rabbits making a mess in the cage, there's more exposure.
You might think, "Well, I just won't let my rabbits get sick." But sometimes, despite your best precautions, things happen. For example, parasites such as pin worms or fungal infections such as ringworm can be brought in on your skin, clothes, and pets, and rabbits can easily catch it. Then once one has it, they both do. Now instead of one vet bill, you have two.
But how do I solve my rabbit's loneliness? The good news is you don't have to solve your rabbit's loneliness, because rabbits don't get lonely. In the wild rabbits are more solitary creatures than pack animals. If you spend time with your rabbit daily, that will provide enough interaction to keep it happy and occupied.
So will my rabbit benefit from a companion? Possibly. Although rabbits do not need another bunny around, they do seem to enjoy having another rabbit in the area. "In the area" means in the same room - but NOT in the same cage. Rabbits strongly prefer having their own personal space, but do like to have another bunny near enough to communicate with through scent and sound.
So what's the solution? Go ahead and get two rabbits, if you'd like. But make sure to also get two cages. There have been cases in which rabbits lived in one cage together successfully, but those are rare - and many people find this out the hard way. Thankfully, if you don't want the expense of buying two separate cages, you can buy a "double hole cage for two rabbits". This cage allows both does to have their own personal space, while still being close enough to make friends. A double-hole cage not only costs less than two single cages, but it also takes up less space. Plus there is only one drop tray to empty, which is something nobody can complain about. Remember, this applies to male rabbits too. Reprinted from the Rabbit Empire. Of course there are exceptions to this, but not at my house, mine fight.
Why does my bunny kick and scratch when I pick it up?
Did you ever ask yourself why your bunny scratches you when you try to pick it up? It's back legs start going like a windmill making mince meat out of your arms. You probably won't want to try to pick it up again if this happens. A bunny's natural instinct is to try and get away when it is afraid. What could your bunny baby possibly be afraid of? Well, animals like wolves, bobcats, coyotes and other larger animals try to catch bunnies. Bunnies know this. Their natural instinct is to run away as fast as they can or scratch like crazy, hoping the animal will drop them. If the bunny gets dropped, they can run away as fast as they can. So, they do every thing they can to get dropped. A bunny needs to feel secure when it is picked up. If you pick it up and let it's back legs dangle, it feels just like it does when a wild animal has caught it. It's natural instinct will be triggered and it will start scratching as fast and hard as it can, to get away. After your bunny has been picked up many times by you, trusts you and wants to go play with you, it will stop kicking and scratching. The trick is to make it feel secure when you pick it up by not letting it's legs dangle. A bunny that is not allowed to kick will not develop a kicking habit. It will only kick and scratch when it is scared. There is a way to pick your bunny up and make it feel secure and not scratch. In the photos below you will see my method of picking up bunnies so that they feel secure. Start with the first photo, on the left and try to duplicate the instructions.
IT IS AN EMERGENCY IF:
Bunny has difficulty breathing: possibly lips and tongue bluish in color.
Bunny has severe diarrhea (watery feces) especially baby rabbits.
Bunny is bleeding uncontrollably from wound; or has been attacked.
Bunny has a broken back or leg or is unable to stand on all four legs.
Bunny is limp, floppy or cold.
Bunny is in pain.
Bunny isn't eating.
Bunny is loosing weight for no apparent reason.
You need to find a veterinarian in your area that treats bunnies. Start in the phone book or do a computer search. You can call me, but I am going to refer you to your veterinarian. I do not know a vet in your area. I do not give medical advice. I do not have any bunny medicine. I do not spay or neuter, that a vet's job.
Bunny has difficulty breathing: possibly lips and tongue bluish in color.
Bunny has severe diarrhea (watery feces) especially baby rabbits.
Bunny is bleeding uncontrollably from wound; or has been attacked.
Bunny has a broken back or leg or is unable to stand on all four legs.
Bunny is limp, floppy or cold.
Bunny is in pain.
Bunny isn't eating.
Bunny is loosing weight for no apparent reason.
You need to find a veterinarian in your area that treats bunnies. Start in the phone book or do a computer search. You can call me, but I am going to refer you to your veterinarian. I do not know a vet in your area. I do not give medical advice. I do not have any bunny medicine. I do not spay or neuter, that a vet's job.

BUNNIES ON ICE!
If your bunnies are outdoors, make sure they stay cool in the hot Texas summer. Provide them with frozen water bottles for snuggling during the afternoon. This is Jujube and her three babies sharing a ice bottle. MY BUNNIES ARE INDOOR BUNNIES!!!!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T KEEP IT INDOORS, PLEASE, DO NOT BUY ONE OF MY BUNNIES!!!!!!!
If your bunnies are outdoors, make sure they stay cool in the hot Texas summer. Provide them with frozen water bottles for snuggling during the afternoon. This is Jujube and her three babies sharing a ice bottle. MY BUNNIES ARE INDOOR BUNNIES!!!!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T KEEP IT INDOORS, PLEASE, DO NOT BUY ONE OF MY BUNNIES!!!!!!!
Supplies that you may need for your bunny. We do not have a pet shop in Friendswood, so I get all these supplies at Wal-mart. You can do a web search and find all these basic needs and more, if you don't shop there. From Left to right- Bunnies cage should be at least 36 inches long, the water bottle is 32 ounces. The smaller water bottles have a tube that is too small for a rabbit. The package of rabbit pellets may be a different color, but it is the one that doesn't have seeds or treats in it. Pine bedding will absorb moisture, but it packs down quickly. I prefer the one made of recycled paper in pellet or ground up form with odor control in it. Hay is food, not bedding. Hay needs to kept in a receptacle made to hold hay, or bundled with a zip tie to the wire of the cage
MORE ABOUT HAY= I have just seen some Timothy hay that was soft, leafy and had a lot of appeal for bunnies. Prior to this, all of the Timothy hay I had seen was cut into three inch pieces and looked like plastic. My bunnies would not eat it. One of the companies seems to be buying Timothy stalks, after the leafy part has been cut off. They are cutting the stalks up and bagging it for small animals. My bunnies eat "Coastal Bermuda", available at feed stores.
I made a trip to Alvin and looked at bunny supplies at Tractor Supply. I am not recommending that you buy or not buy any of these supplies. I am only showing you what I found. You might like some of it. It is probably also available online from them. You can read the descriptions and prices there.
The jogging vests take the place of a harness and leash. This could be too hot in the summer. My bunnies have a harness and leash set made for ferrets. Make sure it is adjustable.
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In my opinion, this cage is too small for any rabbit.
They also have food, water bottles, supplements, worm medications, first aid supplies for animals and ear mite treatments.
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The only thing usable in this kit is the toe nail scissors. The pink brush is too soft to be any good. The blue brush is not big enough for a bunny.
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TATTOOS- You can easily identify your rabbit if it gets lost, stolen or if you need a tattoo for a rabbit show. I can tattoo your bunny, by appointment only. I use a tattoo pen, not the clamp style. Please decide what you want tattooed in your rabbits ear before you get here. Limit three (3) characters, letters or numerals. The cost is $10 per bunny. Bunny must be at least 4 months old. Call or text for an appointment. 281-455-3943.
REMEMBER- Tattoos are permanent, you can't take it out of the bunnies ear. |
BONDING- everyone has their own idea of how to bond with a bunny. This is a sure fire way! Keep the bunny in it's cage or your lap for 30 days. Whose lap doesn't matter. If bunny gets too much floor time it will mostly want to be on the floor, not in your lap cuddling. This does NOT mean sit on the couch and let the bunny hop up and down the couch. This does NOT mean sit on your bed and let the bunny hop all over it. This does NOT mean sit in a playpen with bunny and let it hop all around the playpen. If you don't know where your lap is, I will be glad to show you when you get here.
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TOE NAIL CLIPPING...............
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A BUNNY'S PRAYER
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DO IT YOURSELF VEGGIES FOR GROWN RABBITS
I DO NOT FEED MY BUNNIES VEGETABLES, EVER!!!
RABBITS LOVE THIS STUFF! GROW YOUR OWN BUNNY VEGGIES
BUNNY RABBIT SONGS, POEMS & HISTORY
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Author unknown Here comes Peter Cottontail Hoppin' down the bunny trail, Hippity hoppity, Easter's on its way Bringin' ev'ry girl and boy A basketful of Easter joy Things to make your Easter Bright and gay He's got jelly beans for Tommy Colored eggs for sister Sue There's an orchid for your mommy And an Easter bonnet too. Oh! Here comes Peter Cottontail Hoppin' down the bunny trail Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day Here comes Peter Cottontail Hoppin' down the bunny trail Look at him hop and listen to him say, "Try to do the things you should" Maybe if you're extra good He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way You'll wake up on Easter morning And you'll know that he was there When you find those choc'late bunnies That he's hiding ev'rywhere, Oh! Here' comes Peter Cottontail Hoppin' down the bunny trail Hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day. |
Little Bunny Foo Foo
Author Unknown Little Bunny Foo Foo, Hopping through the forest Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head Down came the good fairy and she said "Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don't want to see you Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head. I'll give you three chances, And if you don't behave I'll turn you into a goon!" The next day: Little Bunny Foo Foo, Hopping through the forest Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head Down came the good fairy and she said "Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don't want to see you Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head. I'll give you two more chances, And if you don't behave I'll turn you into a goon!" The next day: Little Bunny Foo Foo, Hopping through the forest Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head Down came the good fairy and she said "Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don't want to see you Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head. I'll give you one more chance, And if you don't behave I'll turn you into a goon!" The next day: Little Bunny Foo Foo, Hopping through the forest Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head Down came the good fairy and she said "Little Bunny Foo Foo, I don't want to see you Scooping up the field mice And boppin' 'em on the head. I gave you three chances And you didn't behave Now you're a goon! POOF!!" The moral of the story is: HARE TODAY, GOON TOMORROW Little Bunny Foo Foo is actually a song. If you don't know the tune, ask me, I'll sing the first verse for you, if I can remember the words. You have to sing the rest. |
History of the Easter Bunny
From the web Today, the Easter Bunny is a familiar part of many Easter celebrations. He comes the night before Easter and hides eggs and candy for good children But how did the Easter Bunny tradition get started? The roots can can be traced back to pre-Christian times. Many ancient cultures celebrated the coming of spring, and it's thought that Easter got its name from the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess Eastre (also spelled Eostre, Ostare, Ostara and other variations). This connection was first mentioned by the Christian scholar Bede, who wrote in his book "De Ratione Temporum" that Easter was named after Eostre. She was the mother goddess of the Saxon people in northern Europe who represented spring and fertility, as life is reborn every spring after the cold winter. A festival was held each spring in Ostara's honor, and she was often shown in the company of a rabbit which was a symbol of fertility. Some accounts say that the Saxons revered rabbits as the earthly incarnation of Ostara. Eggs, too, have long been recognized as symbols of fertility and life. But how rabbits and eggs became intertwined in the myth of an Easter Bunny who brings gifts to children seems a bit unclear. An article about the history of Easter on About .com says, "The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that 'All life comes from an egg.'" Another article from the National Zoo says there are several myths about Ostara and her rabbits. "According to one story, Ostara transformed a pet bird into a rabbit to entertain some children, and the rabbit proceeded to lay colored eggs that the goddess then gave to the kids. In another version, a small girl asked the goddess to save a bird... The goddess saved the bird by turning it into a rabbit, which produced colored eggs." |
THE RABBIT, THE ELEPHANT AND THE WHALE
One day little Brother Rabbit was running along on the sand, hippety, hippety, when he saw the Whale and the Elephant talking together. Little Brother Rabbit crouched down and listened to what they were saying. This was what they were saying: "You are the biggest thing on the land, Brother Elephant," said the Whale, "and I am the biggest thing in the sea; if we join together we can rule all the animals in the world, and have our way about everything." "Very good, very good," trumpeted the Elephant; "that suits me; we will do it." Little Brother Rabbit snickered to himself. "They won't rule me," he said. He ran away and got a very long, very strong rope, and he got his big drum, and hid the drum a long way off in the bushes. Then he went along the beach till he came to the Whale. "Oh, please, dear, strong Mr. Whale," he said, "will you have the great kindness to do me a favor? My cow is stuck in the mud, a quarter of a mile from here. And I can't pull her out. But you are so strong and so obliging, that I venture to trust you will help me out." The Whale was so pleased with the compliment that he said, "Yes," at once. "Then," said the Rabbit, "I will tie this end of my long rope to you, and I will run away and tie the other end round my cow, and when I am ready I will beat my big drum. When you hear that, pull very, very hard, for the cow is stuck very deep in the mud." "Huh!" grunted the Whale, "I'll pull her out, if she is stuck to the horns." Little Brother Rabbit tied the rope-end to the whale, and ran off, hippety, hippety, till he came to the place where the Elephant was. "Oh, please, mighty and kindly Elephant," he said, making a very low bow "will you do me a favor?" "What is it?" asked the Elephant. "My cow is stuck in the mud, about a quarter of a mile from here," said little Brother Rabbit, "and I cannot pull her out. Of course you could. If you will be so very obliging as to help me -- " "Certainly," said the Elephant grandly, "certainly." "Then," said little Brother Rabbit, "I will tie one end of this long rope to your trunk, and the other to my cow, and as soon as I have tied her tightly I will beat my big drum. When you hear that, pull; pull as hard as you can, for my cow is very heavy." "Never fear," said the Elephant, "I could pull twenty cows." "I am sure you could," said the Rabbit, politely,"only be sure to begin gently, and pull harder and harder till you get her." Then he tied the end of the rope tightly round the Elephant's trunk, and ran away into the bushes. There he sat down and beat the big drum. The Whale began to pull, and the Elephant began to pull, and in a jify the rope tightened till it was stretched as hard as could be. "This is a remarkably heavy cow," said the Elephant; "but I'll fetch her!" And he braced his forefeet in the earth, and gave a tremendous pull. "Dear me!" said the Whale. "That cow must be stuck mighty tight;" and he drove his tail deep in the water, and gave a marvelous pull. He pulled harder; the Elephant pulled harder. Pretty soon the Whale found himself sliding toward the land. The reason was, of course, that the Elephant had something solid to brace against, and, too, as fast as he pulled the rope in a little, he took a turn with it round his trunk! But when the Whale found himself sliding toward the land he was so provoked with the cow that he dove head first, down to the bottom of the sea. That was a pull! The Elephant was jerked off his feet, and came slipping and sliding to the beach, and into the surf. He was terribly angry. He braced himself with all his might, and pulled his best. At the jerk, up came the Whale out of the water. "Who is pulling me?" spouted the Whale. "Who is pulling me?" trumpeted the Elephant. And then each saw the rope in the other's hold. "I'll teach you to play cow!" roared the Elephant. "I'll show you how to fool me!" fumed the Whale. And they began to pull again. But this time the rope broke, the Whale turned a somersault, and the Elephant fell over backwards. At that, they were both so ashamed that neither would speak to the other. So that broke up the bargain between them. And little Brother Rabbit sat in the bushes and laughed, and laughed, and laughed. |