Photo Description Parts of it are often unsightly because I do a lot of work there too, composting, etc. Care to guess what's in pic 3? It's not dirt. It's grass! It's lawn clippings that have been piled up for several seasons. They have decomposed to a dark, powdery, humus like substance. I'm growing tomatoes in the pure stuff. Looks like I might have a bumper crop this year. I spend a lot of evenings in this sanctuary/workshop. While doing so recently, I noticed many more rabbits than usual. I thought 'What the heck, I have more lettuce seed than I'll ever use. I'll plant a patch for the rabbits'. I did just that, in the dappled shade of the smaller maples. Have I had any guests for dinner? Not nary a one! Shows you just how ungrateful those little critters are. I'll know better next year.
Well, there is an ugly side to life, too. A week ago, while sitting in my back lawn and looking across the way, I noticed a neighbor from the next block. He was trespassing on a near neighbor's property. He was headed back to his house. In his hands were a large, dead rabbit, presumably a mother, and a much smaller rabbit, presumably it's baby. Since then, I have been befriended by a small rabbit. I do believe it to be a baby of the rabbit killed by the neighbor. This little fella seems to like me. Every day, within five minutes of sitting in a lawn chair out back, it appears. I think it's lonely. Each day it comes a little closer, and it comes to dinner! It seems it prefers my personal lettuce patch. He eats and watches me and eats some more. Then for dessert, he comes near my feet to munch a bit of clover. Life does have an ugly side. That side is wonderfully counterbalanced by a sweet side
I have a small area on my property shaded with old maple trees. It's my summer hangout. I try to make it more pleasant by growing flowers beneath the trees. 
Photo Location
NC
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Update Photo
By now, the rabbit and I have become good friends. I've named him Robbie. He does lots of tricks for me. Here is my latest photo with these words from Robbie, himself.
Robbie says:
Showing Doug all the tricks I can do is fun, but golly, a guy's gotta unlax once in a while. Man, it's nice under this potting bench. Think I'll just take a little siesta. Check y'all dudes out later.
I love the way you have your flowers around the tree trunk. Beautiful. I enjoy watching rabbits too. They come into our yard and eat clover. You have my vote.
Remember the old commercial with the words 'Give it to Mikey, he'll eat anything'? Well, they didn't know Robbie. He eats the lettuce I grew for him. He eats the rabbit pellets I bought for him. He eats clover. Enough? No! He eats my bachelor buttons, my tradescantha, and today, I discovered he eats my Moonflower vine.
Rabbits are herbivores. Except Robbie. He's an anyvore. The little rascal!
A wonderful share! Thank you!
Thank you for befriending this little rabbit! I've kept pet rabbits for 26 years and they own my heart. Rabbits are such sweet creatures and they like to live in groups. If this little rabbit has lost family, you may be all the family it now has. God bless you for caring and enjoying this lovely creature!
I personally believe God will bless you for befriending this little bunny. We humans are to look out for all of God's animals, anyway that is the way I was raised and also the way I raised my own. Thank you for sharing. I imagine that you are his whole world and family now. He will give you unconditional love (that is for sure)...
Such a beautiful little creature! Just as beautiful as all the chickens, turkeys, cows, and pigs I'm certain all us posters wouldn't dare be ugly and eat! I'm sure they'd all be quick to befriend a friendly, trustworthy human...if only given the chance.
The woman who wrote this article is a woman after my own heart. God bless her for her kindness. Her 'trespassing' neighbor is a pitiful person.
Carol,
I can easily understand how you would think I'm a woman, but I'm not. My ThriftyFun name is Likekinds and my real name is Doug. If anyone would like to know the story behind the name 'Likekinds', it can be found in my ThriftyFun profile. I hope no one will think any less of me after reading that profile.
Doug
Hey, Doug - I love, love, love this little saga about you and Robbie the Rabbit! Thanks for befriending this little guy! Note: I always assumed you were a woman, too, so - surprise, surprise! There are quite a few guys who contribute to TF, but for some reason, if the name doesn't disclose gender, we tend to think the person's a female. I'll try not to do that in the future. By the way, I always like your posts - you post a lot of good tips. I'm looking forward to hearing more about you and Robbie. Best wishes!
Pixiedust7,
Thank you! You just made my day.
OH how I envy you!
I do not mind that you have this lovely place (and Robbie) I just wish that more people could have your state of mind and be able to appreciate even small things - like a visit with a little creature.
Unfortunately I now live in a "city" area that only allows "cats & dogs" so my creatures are limited. Thanks for reminding me of the days that I once enjoyed the freedom you have.
I still feel blessed with just hearing/reading your stories - so - keep 'um coming! (photos are great!)
My little friend was growing so fast. Then, he just about stopped coming by. At first, I couldn't figure out why. Then, I knew. It is so dry here, all the clover and grass is dry and brown.
He hopped out of a flower bed this morning. He seemed to have lost a bit of weight. I was prepared for him. In my pocket, I had a little bag of pellets. I threw some to him. He ate and ate. I think now he associates me with food and will be back more often. Gotta get his weight back up.
I loved reading about your orphaned garden friend. It is such a happy, uplifting story. It scared me to read that you missed seeing the bunny for several days, but then he came back. Whew. If anything ever happens to him/her, please don't post it in here.
I loved the story about the little rabbit. I have my own memories of little bunnies that have befriended me in the past here on my farm. I don't mind if they taste some of my flowers. I also feed them the feed that I feed my goats and donkeys. They get quite friendly, in fact. Also, I have a special oppossum that loves the cat food and even eats with them.
Doug, Wild rabbits don't always eat the offerings we domesticated humans leave for them, so it's great that your little rabbit friend likes the foods you provide. Their main gatherings are grass, weeds, and tree bark. I'm so glad you've taken this wonderful bun under your wings!
Please consider bringing this bunny into your house, apparently your neighborhood is not safe for him. I rescued Mr. Bunny Boy from my back yard and he brought me so much joy. Of course my heart broke when he passed but, as with all of my animals, his love was so worth it!
Maybe you should just take him inside and adopt him as a pet. There are a lot of coyotes in our area that eat small game. Plus there is always the threat of your neighbor or someone like him who would kill him. I do not like hunters by the way. Or people who are mean to animals. Heartless. I rescued a baby rabbit long ago and fed him carrots and he loved it.
fancy61 & Kay
If I can figure out how to trap this rabbit without scaring it half to death, I will. She still wont let me get close enough to touch her. A neighbor told me a large white cat had been chasing her. Sure enough, the next time I fed her, she acted differently. She was shy and afraid. There were scars on her forehead, presumably from the cat. She also has a tick on her ear. I want that thing gone!
Hopefully, I can catch her in a trap and bring her inside. She will still need to spend much time outside to make sure she gets enough of her natural diet. If I can work all this out, I will. Thanks for your suggestions.
Doug
Hi Doug...so it's been 6 years. Care to add to your lovely story about Robbie? I love your stories and articles here.
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