This is Mr. Izzy. His name used to be Isabella, when we thought he was a girl. He is not a girl, though, even though we were assured and reassured that he was a girl when we purchased him and our other (so we thought) girl bunny, Chelsea, for Kayla’s birthday two summers ago. Unlike Chelsea, Mr. Izzy is very docile and cuddly and allows himself to be toted around in backpacks and tote bags. He even goes for walks on a leash!
Last week, we were grilling lunch out in the backyard with Grammie and Paw-Paw, who were visiting from Texas, when Kayla discovered that Mr. Izzy’s hutch was open and he was GONE. A quick search around the area did NOT reveal her precious black bunny. A broader search around the yard and neighbors’ yards was not successful either. There were big tears, and the grieving process began for all of us, but mostly Kayla ~ our sweet little bunny mama.
We went swimming after lunch and stopped for ice cream on our way home. Later, we were getting ready to eat a snack supper on the picnic table, when Paw-Paw, who had been sitting in the backyard and looking around a few last times for Mr. Izzy, decided to take one last walk around the back of our neighbor’s yard. Well, guess who he found?
Mr. Izzy was frolicking in a wooded area behind our neighbor’s house and yard with a little group of wild brown bunnies! Paw- Paw looked for Kayla to come and catch him, but she was in the house at the time. Fortunately, Mr. Izzy is not the fastest hopper, and Paw-Paw was able to snatch him up and bring him home. Oh, happy day! There was much relief and rejoicing, as well as immediate repair done on a loose latch that probably led to this whole drama! We are so thankful that Paw-Paw decided to take one last look!
(I’d also like to mention that I am thankful for Grammie’s eagle eye as well. She found me a coffee maker at a flea market for $3.00 to replace ours that was crushed on our way home from youth camp AND a new toaster oven ~ from Target, not the flea market ~ to replace my recently broken one. Oh! and Robert picked up a FREE juicer at a tag sale on his way home from church last week! I think it is safe to say that we are doing well in the kitchen appliance department currently. Coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice anyone?)
One thing Grammie and Paw-Paw brought along with them was some serious Texas heat, so those severe weather conditions called for several trips to Flayvors, our favorite local dairy and ice-cream shop complete with gluten free cones.
We even said goodbye to Grammie and Paw-Paw there at Flayvors ~ one last round of refreshing and delicious ice cream before they headed back to Texas ~ leaving 100 degree heat here and returning to 100 degree heat there!
Goodbye, Grammie and Paw-Paw, and thanks for everything!
So glad that you found Mr. Izzy, he is so cute. My children have been begging for a bunny for years. Seeing him makes me think that maybe I should reconsider.