If you want to see the opposite of contrary, check this lady out.

My pal Mary

My last installment to the KittyBunnyChicken was devoted to Goldie and her new home with this cool “chick”.  I had so many pictures of my visit, I had to divide the post in two parts.  So HERE COME THE BUNNIES!

Count Chocula!

“Lucky” was born with only three legs. He is so lucky to have a home with such a kind person.

Mary has a large maze of bunny pens, coops, hutches and bunkers on her property.  She receives the little structures from feed stores, yard sales, gifts etc.  Most of them show the wear and tear of years of use, but she keeps them in good working order through regular maintenance and cleanings.  They make a great group of homes for her bunnies who she tries to pair bond (male and female cohabitation) within each little area.

She uses old pillowcases and sheets to make stylish “drapes” to help shade the structures.

Buster needs one of these cute little casas.

Hi, come in and join me for some delicious hay.

Some of her hutches are newer than others, but all are safe and comfortable for her little guys.

And guess what? I’m not even showing all of them! There are several more little houses on the property.

In addition to hutches, Mary has made some “bunny bunkers” in and around the fences that allow buns to go underground to stay cool, but they’ve been reinforced with cinder blocks.  Once she had so much burrowing that the pathways were caving in!

Hmmmm…let’s see what’s under here.

And if feeding and caring for abandoned bunnies and chickens weren’t enough, my friend provides food for the hungry birds and squirrels at her home.

She has many beautiful trinkets and feeders hanging from the amazing tree.  You can’t see it all but there are displays of art all around her yard.  Recently she has begun a fun hobby.  She makes art from broken pottery.  I can’t wait to see her creations.  I know they’ll be expressions of beauty and inspiration from a very special person.  I have a lot of admiration for Mary because of her tireless devotion to animals and her optimistic attitude about life in general.

We need more folks like this.  I’m constantly surprised and amazed at the wonderful people I’ve met thru the love of animals.  (And you know who you are, Debbie, Mary, Jean, etc.)

Heavenly haven.

Thanks again, my friend for providing homes for my foster bunny & chicken.  You are the wind beneath my wings…and paws…and talons…and tails. 🙂

It’s been several days since I took my foster chicken to her new home.  I took so many pictures, I’m just now getting around to editing and posting them to the blog.  So many in fact that this post will be a two-parter.  The first part is all about the small chicken haven that is Goldie’s new home.  The lady who graciously took her in is Mary, my friend and fellow bunny rescuer who gave my former foster bunny Graycie a wonderful new home.

Graycie and her boyfriend Manny happily cohabitate in one of Mary’s many reclaimed and refurbished bunny hutches.

No, they are not cooped up in an outside hutch at all.  This is just their “bedroom”.  All of Mary’s bunnies have protective fences to keep them safe, but they all have free-range of their good sized yards.

Graycie and her industrious husband, dug this nifty burrow that goes deep underground. They hang out here too keep cool on hot days.

But more on the bunnies in another post.  Today’s issue is all about the CHICKENS!

Goldie was peaceful on the drive to her new home in Florida.

As soon as we arrived, I asked Mary to take a picture of me holding her because I realized I didn’t have one.

ALMOST as pretty as Daisy. I said “ALMOST”.

Mary escorted me through a maze of bunny warrens until we reached the chicken pen all the way in the back of her huge, shady yard.

This will do just fine thank you!

I worried a bit about how the other chickens (three hens and a handsome rooster) would treat a newcomer, but Mary sent these pictures later in the evening after I got home.

Hey, who’s the new chick?

Goldie got a rude and rather intimate introduction from Mr. Rooster almost immediately upon her arrival!  I mean really!  Can’t a girl settle in a bit before being “cock-a-doodle-dood”?

At least he’s a very handsome dood.

Mary doctored Goldie’s hind quarters (she had some “issues”) and quickly made friends with her.  She apparently can pick her up and cuddle her which makes me jealous.  She only ran from me, but maybe Mary and Goldie are birds of a feather.

After we got Goldie situated, Mary showed me a flock of chicks in a pen on her porch.  She’s raising some babies to join her adult flock.

Very pretty little peckers.

Mary put a bouquet of heather in the coop and the crowd went wild!

Apparently these seeds are all the rage in chicken cuisine.

They’re so WARM!

This was an eventful day and I haven’t even mentioned all the bunnies yet!  I drove home humbled at the love and compassion some people have for animals.  I talk the talk, but my friend Mary really walks the walk.  The amount of time and manual labor that goes in to her little slice of animal heaven is beyond imagining; not to mention the money she must spend on maintenance, vet bills and food!

I have a few more unpublished pictures of Miss Goldie and her short time at the Burlingame Petting Zoo, so please indulge me.

A hummingbird and a chicken walk into a bar…

You might want to re-think that Mulder.

She sure did dress up my back yard.

🙂

Well they’re not actually K-I-S-S-I-N-G, but they are great pals.  From the day we began Fostering Goldie, Buster has followed her around the yard and tried to make her feel welcome.

Hi, I’m Buster and this is MY chicken.

At first she was a little wary of him because she had no idea what he was.  He hung out by her coop all day and watched her entertaining chicken antics.

I wish she’d invite me inside.

I made him a little lean-to next to her coop so he could sit in the shade and be near her.

Thanks mom.

Eventually he made his way inside the coop where he now spends much of his bunny day.

She said she doesn’t mind as long as I don’t eat any worms.

Buster, I’m very sorry to tell you that I’m taking Goldy to DeFuniak Springs tomorrow to her forever home.  I have a good friend there who has a sanctuary for chickens AND bunnies, so Goldy will likely have many new bunny boyfriends at her new home.  Don’t fret buddy.  Mommy is gonna get you a couple of these very soon.

I’ll let you show ’em the ropes around the Burlingame ranch.

🙂

I take Wendy back today.  She’s finished nursing the babies and she needs to get her surgery and go to the adoption room to find her forever home.  She’s a beautiful, sweet cat and I feel certain she won’t stay long.

We have a nice mommy!

Meantime the personalities of the kittens are forming and I’m realizing that there is a joker in every bunch.

Now, this sweet little face could never be a tiny terror right?

Think again!

HIs favorite pastime is harassing his poor sisters!

And the stream of lovely lasses continues…

My sweet neighbors Brenda & David are responsible for all this loveliness.

Emma Jane is in kitty heaven!

And my kitten enjoys watching the Nature Channel with her little foster siblings.

The babies go back on the 20th.  You still have a few more days to get some good lovin’.

🙂

My neighbor and friend Katie homeschools her two daughters. Last week she called and asked if Whitley and Hattie could come over and see some exotic urban wildlife so of course I said YES!

They learned about urban chicken farming.

They made phone calls on a 1940s rotary-dial telephone.

The had no idea how to work it.  AND they called their dad who was at home taking a nap.  I’m sure he was greatly amused.

They learned that grown women can become obsessed with a toy that lost its relevance about 15 years ago.

The look of astonishment the first time kids see the Beanie Baby museum.

And finally, they met a handsome bunny with floppy ears who was outside enjoying the nice weather.

Hello ladies, can I interest you in a treat from my herb garden?

These nice young ladies did not leave empty-handed from their field trip.  A bunny and a chicken were their prize for their extracurricular activity.

Come back anytime ladies!

🙂

Buster wishes you a glorious Easter Holiday!

How am I ‘sposed to carry dis thing?

This time of year Buster receives many visitors.  It’s problematic for him since he’s super busy getting ready to help his pal, Mr. Easter Bunny, but he always makes time for a pretty lady.

…or two

…or three, or four.

You’ll forgive me if I post my Easter centerpiece.

The gang’s all here!

This sacred and meaningful time of year is also a very good excuse to bring out the Beanie Bunnies.

…and more bunnies,

…and more bunnies,

…and chicks,

…and lambs,

…and even bears.

Happy Easter all, and I hope you enjoy the lovely spring colors.