Thumper AKA fuzzy butt!

[Pipsqueak]

Congratulations to the girls! I'm sure they worked really hard and they should be extremely proud of themselves.

 

[PaGal]

Thank you everyone. The girls did work hard although they are smart as well.

The oldest received awards for meeting her AR goal for the nine weeks and for the entire year. She received awards for A B honor roll for the nine weeks and for the entire year.

I didn't get to talk to her for long after but she did say she would have received 3rd highest reader for the school but her teacher deleted some of her points due to the books being under her reading level. She did receive an award for being the top highest reader in her class.

Coming home though was bad. There was a turtle on the road, not on my side. A pick up was coming so I moved way over so he could move over so that he could avoid hitting the turtle. He didn't though. The poor thing exploded sending a mess flying my way.

I am beyond livid. Due to their being underaged persons on here I will say no more.

It rained again. Not what we need. The tropical storm came through here on Friday and dumped between 7 and 9 inches of rain on us. We have never had so much water sitting in the yard. Our soil being somewhat sandy drains very well yet usually remains a little damp a little below the surface. We were here for hurricane Isabell and it didn't leave water like this behind.

The water was flowing through the garden like a stream. Our hill for the sweet potatoes acted as a dam until the water washed part of it away. Our potatoes are wilted and I'm sure it's due to all the rain. We can't get into the garden and we need to. Hubby went out on Saturday and sunk above his ankles. I went out yesterday since I weigh less and I sunk to my ankles.

We need to replant corn since the ravens pulled most of our plants up. Now the sun is out which may not be a good thing as we are under a threat of severe weather which will be greater if the sun comes out plus it could burn our plants since they are wet from the rain.

On top of it the hubby will be stressing over the garden.

I can't even remember what all has gone on this past week. I went to Field Day at the school. That was fun except I had a migraine by the time I got home. I made the girls and I popcorn and we watched Brave which I had recorded. The oldest was having a bad day and spilt her popcorn so I gave her mine.

The next day I was at school for a Wax Museum. The 5th grade were split into groups of four and made sets and had to stand like wax figures until you pushed a button and then they had to act out a skit. It was all based on certain periods of history and they dressed for their parts so that was pretty cool.

I have been rushing around like mad to get everything done that needs done with having less time due to the school stuff going on. Trying to keep up with the animals. That little kitten girl finds more ways to escape and I come across her just running around the garage like crazy in complete happiness.

Thumper chewed a hole in his one gate. Don't worry he didn't eat it. Hubby called him a bad name the other day as he kept chasing him away from the gate but Thumper just would not stop. I told him he just wants someone to come play with him.

My laptop had a bug in it which was making posting impossible. I finally got that fixed but then our internet wasn't working well because that was Friday with all the rain.

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

Oh yes, they are smart, no doubt about that! They must be so excited!

Oh that doesn't sound good. I wish he did move over for the turtle. The poor thing. I bet most of us would have moved over for it.

We are getting a lot of rain here as well. Maybe half an hour ago it was raining like crazy but it stopped after like 10 minutes. I don't really mind the rain as it means less watering for us. Some days its really dry and hot here and others its raining like crazy. That is a TON of rain you guys got.

Woah, you guys sunk to your ankles under the mud?! That's crazy! Its never been that muddy here and believe me, its been pretty muddy here.

I'm sorry the ravens got your corn. Its not fun seeing your hard work destroyed by animals and the weather.

The little kitten girl sounds so sweet! I love kittens!

I hate when computers get bugs and virus'. My laptop had a virus for like 3 weeks once. It wasn't fun.

 

[whitelop]

Clemson University did a study a while ago about turtles. It was on yahoo news. A few students put a rubber turtle in the road to record how many people would hit it in a specific amount of times. It was hit like 50 times within the first 7 minutes! The students were totally shocked by what they recorded. So they went to other roads and they put the turtle in different places on the road. They put it like a little to the right of center line and there were people crossing the line JUST TO HIT THE TURTLE. People would endanger their own lives to hit the fake rubber turtle. It was incredible the lack of care people have for the turtles. I stop and get them when I see them, no matter how many I see or where they are on the road. I don't care at all, I will always save a turtle and put it on the side of the road it was heading towards.

Too bad we can't all have the wildlife crossings. I think these help to save A LOT of animals from being hit by cars.

We've had a lot of rain the last few days too. Today we just had serious winds and it knocked part of a tree down in my yard. When the tree fell, it broke another tree and theres just a huge mess out there now. Ugh. I'm so sick of the weird weather.

It sounds like you've been really busy! Its got to be hard having 3 in school and they do all the school things and you're involved. It sounds like you need a VACATION!

 

[Pipsqueak]

Congrats again to all the girls for their hard work!

We've been having nasty weather here too, last night it was pouring buckets, water drains really quick here but it was pretty muddy, and it was the kind of mud that you actually sink into not just the slippery stuff. I'm sorry about all your garden stuff wilting. It sucks when you've done all that hard work and then in like a couple days it's all washed away. That little girl sounds like a real stinker, and when you're not having the best of days a little kitten running around making mischief hardly helps.

 

[Chrisdoc]

Well done girls, it really makes me smile when I read about kids who are good at reading and enjoy it. They have done so well and I bet you are so proud.

That is such a shame about the turtle, people are such idiots and that study is awful, can´t believe so many people would do it deliberately.

What is happening to the weather....it´s been so weird here as well, usually we´re well into nice sunny hot weather and it´s been really changeable the last few weeks. We had really strong winds over the weekend and it´s been quite cold and cloudy at times. I have got so many clothes all over my room at the moment as one day it´s a bikini and the next it´s a thick jumper. I just want it to make up its mind so I can put one set of clothes away.

And talking of headaches, I was translating on Thursday at a meeting from English to Spanish...it lasted just over four hours and by the time I got home I had such a bad headache which lasted until Sunday...haven´t had one like that for quite a few years. Don´t miss them either.

 

[PaGal]

Sorry guys but I'm just going to a general reply to all of you. It's not that I don't feel you all deserve a reply specifically to you but it will take a little while for me to catch up and unfortunately this week is going to continue with being extra busy.

I read about the turtle study myself and it certainly did not make me like people more. The hubby's mother back when we were still talking to her was in her yard getting ready to set fire to a turtle. We of course took it and put it in the woods. It had been heading that direction and it was certainly better off than leaving it to be burnt. What is wrong with people? Turtles never hurt anyone well except for snappers and I'm sure that's mostly from people messing with them. I swear I'm traumatized from the turtle this afternoon.

I hate seeing animals hit on the road. I go out of my way to try and avoid hitting caterpillars on the road. Granted I won't risk having an accident to avoid hitting one but as long as I can safely swerve I do.

Well we didn't get any severe weather but we did get plenty more rain. My yard is a puddle and the noise of frogs is overwhelming. We have so many different kinds and they make so many different sounds and all at the same time.

Sorry about the tree Morgan, I know what a pain that can be. Last year a branch fell off our neighbors tree but it fell in our drive way. Hubby couldn't get home because it was so big. I took pictures a week ago to show you all. Hubby ran the chain saw while I hauled and stacked pieces, the girls and the neighbor lady hauled the side shoot branches and piled them up. The larger pieces hubby and I rolled to the side of their yard out of the drive way.

 

[whitelop]

Why would you set fire to a turtle? I mean really?! Thats insane! I love turtles, all they want to do is eat and mate and do whatever turtles do. They don't do anything to people. Even my giant snapper, she stays in the pond and doesn't bother anyone.

Thats a lot of branch to fall in your driveway!

I listen to frogs all the time, so I don't even hear them anymore. haha. They're constant.

I couldn't imagine being as busy as you are! Now, I feel like I have it easy!

 

[curiouscarrot]

Woohoo! Clever! Deserves bunny hugs, for sure.

 

[PaGal]

Morgan...she's just that type. had a house built here in the country, had almost all of the trees cut down and hates all living things whether a threat or not. It's kind of funny because she is the only person my dog has ever not liked. I had him in the yard with me off leash once when she made the mistake of walking past. My dog just started running circles around her and growling. He would also bark and growl every time she walked past and he was in the house. Animals know!

Usually we don't seem to have all the frogs calling at the same time like we do now. We have ones that sound like lambs. I'm not sure what they are but I swear they are invisible. I was outside and could hear them calling from all around me and close but spent 15 minutes straining to see just one and never did.


We took the girls out to dinner last night to celebrate. We all enjoyed it and ate way too much. I hadn't ate all day so I over did it and was miserable for a while. When the girls do well on report cards we give them a special meal to celebrate whether they choose something that we cook or they pick a favorite restaurant. Either way it costs us because they have us cook steak or bbq ribs or their favorite restaurants are pricy but we like letting them know we are proud of them and that school is important. We don't push them to get straight A's but they do.

The oldest girl definitely should have got 3rd for highest reader. She was told when starting at this school that after meeting her AR goal she could then read and test on any book, not just one on her level. So she had read and tested on some below her level just because she thought they would be good books. Well her teacher deleted those ones because she felt it was that she could read any level book but could only read and test on ones on her level.

One reason she is so upset is because the top 3 readers from the school all get a gift card to the book store. 1st is $50, 2nd is $25 and 3rd is $15. We are going to take her to the book store and let her spend $15. If we felt she had been just reading and testing on easy books just to accumulate points we wouldn't but she wasn't, just trying to read books she would enjoy and her reading level is high enough to make it difficult for her to find books to read at her level because they are limited.

The kittens are eating some hard food now.

Last week I also planted two carnation plants and a pink double knock out rose bush. Now I'm hoping they survive all this rain we got right after planting. I also have to put more dirt around the tops since some washed away. I'll get some from the garden once it dries up enough to work with. I plan to get another pink knock out this week. Eventually I want to get some more but of other colors. Then I will plant some other smaller plants or flowers around them.

I got to spend some time with Thump last night. He was drinking his water when I went in. He came out after I had sat down on the floor and chinned my toes with his soggy chin. I didn't mind. I have so been missing my bunny time.

He was also eating out of his box of hay and I lifted one end so it would be easier for him to reach in it. Well he wound up stepping in with his front feets and boy does he have some heft to him. I need to weigh him again. I also noticed that when I walk in his room, I walk slowly and barely lift my feet when he is running around but he purposely runs into me. He almost trips me and it feel like being hit by a bull. I swear he is indestructible as he hits me hard. I have also a few times elbowed him while trying to put his pellets in his dish when he goes nuts with excitement and he acts like nothing has happened even though I have heard his teeth click together with the force of the blow.

I keep telling him if he would settle down I wouldn't have to move as slow as a 100 year old and he could get his pellets quicker but he won't listen. Crazy bun!

 

[Pipsqueak]

Jeez why would you move to the country if you hate nature lol. I agree that if the school said she could read and test books under her reading level then they should have stuck to it, heck I still love the Charlie Bone books and they're around the reading level for a 9 year old lol. I'm glad that your girls like reading so much, I read so much when I was younger(still do!), and it's so much better than just sitting around watching tv all day. I think it's really nice that you let them pick a special dinner when they accomplish something like this. Ooh you should post pictures of all your flowers! Aww sweet Thumper, I miss my bunnies when I can't be with them every day.

 

[Chrisdoc]

That was so unfair to mark her down, I just think it´s great that she wants to read whatever the material. She sounds like a really smart lass.

Love that she´ll get her 15 dollars at the book store and great that they get to choose a special meal.

I do laugh at Thumper, I can imagine a big bunny chasing towards you, it´s bad enough sometimes when I get in the way of mine at mealtimes lol.

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

I agree with the others, it was really unfair to lower her score just because she reads under age books. Its great that she loves reading.

But that's good that she gets 15 dollars to spend on books. I'm sure she'll pick out some great ones. And that's great that they get to choose a special meal.

Thumper sounds so funny! I can imagine him running around and hitting you like a bull, lol.

 

[whitelop]

I love to read all books! Even as an adult, I read a few like tween books when I was a nanny. They were funny and sometimes, its nice to read something that you don't have to think about. You can get through it in a day, have a laugh and enjoy the book! There was one I read when I was like 20 that might be on the appropriate level for the older girl, its called The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. Its about a group of sisters and their dad, he's just starting to date again after their mother passed away. Anyway, it was pretty good even for a "younger person's" book and it was sweet.
I always read WAY above my age range, so I read adult books as a child and read classical lit when I was in high school, even outside of English class. So sometimes, my brain gets over loaded and I like to read something semi-simple and just enjoy a really nice story.

I would totally love a $15 gift card to the book store! I haven't bought a new book in so long! I could spend hours in the store just trying to find the right book and then I wind up spending WAY too much money on like 5 books. haha. Hopefully she'll find something she really enjoys!
Do they do the summer reading lists? I remember doing that and the books get expensive.

PS Denise, I don't know how much of a reader you are, in your non-existent spare time I mean. But I read this book originally in 11th grade English and then again as an adult and its a good one. There are excellent morals and it makes you think about things, its Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I really liked it.

 

[Pipsqueak]

Oh my gosh Morgan I loved the Penderwick books! They're great for like 9-12 year olds, or maybe even like 8-13 because the reading is pretty easy to get through and the books are so fun! And the characters are really relatable. I just got a 20 dollar amazon gift card and that's gonna get blown on books,with maybe one dollar aside for mp3 music lol.

 

[PaGal]

I will be sure to write down the titles of those books Morgan. I love reading and always have. I read so much and so quickly that I just can't afford to buy books for myself. I wish I had a second hand book store nearby but no such luck. I live just a few miles from our branch library but have gone three times when they were supposed to be open and no one was there I even waited around for 30 minutes and nothing. The third time I drove home in tears saying all I want is a book to read.

I have read some of the books the girls have brought home from school. Some are very good plus it gives us a chance to discuss the stories. Now and then I get the opportunity to buy some for myself. When the girls were first learning to read I was looking for something I could read to them everyday and yet have the book last for at least a few days. One of their teachers I mentioned this to loaned us a whole bag of books that had been her daughters. The series is based on Junie B. Jones. I absolutely loved these books and would recommend them to anyone with younger kids. The girls loved them too. It is written in the view from Junie who goes from kindergarten to first grade throughout the series and the author does a wonderful job in capturing the mind of a child. They are so funny. One Is Junie B. Jones and the yucky, blucky fruitcake and I laughed so much I had tears running down my face.

The girls really enjoyed them and we still talk about them. I even had a special voice for Junie so no one else could read them to the girls, they didn't enjoy it as much without the voice.

I read anything and everything when given the chance except for romances. I used to as people would give them to me until one compared a womans breast to a sea urchin and I just couldn't make myself read one again. Some of my favorites are Watership Down of course, Lord of The Rings and the Hobbit, all of James Herriots books, Shakespeare and Poe. So my tastes are all over the place. I recommend James Herriot if you like animals.

Yesterday I cleaned the house. The girls got out early from school which they will all week. We had an appointment to take them to and then grabbed something quick to eat. I can't wait until this week is over and it's not so busy. Well it will still be busy because it always is but it will be busy at home, I won't have to run around a lot.

 

[PaGal]

Conundrum...I wasn't outside to hear everything but my neighbor stopped over yesterday. Hubby asked if I wanted two bunnies. Now I have no idea hubbies feelings on it. Apparently the neighbor has hatched some of his chicken eggs and has more in the incubator and is wanting to free up the rabbit cage for the chicks. That's what I take from the little I heard. I could be wrong though. Here's the conundrum:

I have no idea what he will do with the buns if I don't take them. I don't know if he would just let them loose. If he will find someone else or what. I don't know the sexes. All I do know are they are not very big and from when I saw them when they were first brought home they are probably just mixes. As far as I know they are kept together. Probably the same sex as I know they were kept together before and no babies that I have heard of.

I really am not looking to having any more pets. Between the house, hubby, kids, pets we have, garden and yard work I have more than enough to keep me busy. I got a big bunny for it to be safer with the dog. I have no idea where or how I could set them up. Thumper is not neutered so that could be a problem as I could be dealing with problems such as spraying which I don't deal with now. If they are males you all know chances are bonding all three would be unsuccessful. If female then there's the whole pregnancy thing.

I could take them in and spend time trying to find them good homes but I would still have to spend the money on some kind of set up for them and I'm assuming it would have to be now, quickly. I hate having to try to find homes for animals. I don't have much faith in people and know even nice seeming people abandon pets. It weighs on my mind that there is no guarantee they will have a home for life or will be taken care of for their lives. I already have to deal with that with the kittens and I'm not looking forward to it. At the same time if I find out he let them loose or some bad fate befell the buns I would feel so bad.

Why me? Why do I seem to wind up dealing with other people's lack of care for their pets? I want to run away from all responsibility at this point. I'm tired of it, the worry and just want to be carefree whatever that is.

I know I should start by talking to the neighbor myself plus hubby but it will not stop me from thinking it over for now and I would appreciate all of your input.

 

[whitelop]

You could get them and keep them outside in a hutch? I don't see a problem with outdoor rabbits at all. Your hub likes to build stuff right? He could build something really nice for them with a run so they could get some exercise time. You guys are probably outside a lot anyways, so they would get plenty of attention. Then in the winter, you could move them into a corner of the garage and they would be fine without heat. Thats what I would do if I were in that position.
But you might be opposed to outdoor rabbits. I'm not sure. If it weren't so hot and nasty here all the time, with our massive mosquitoes; I would build Ellie a really nice and big outdoor hutch with run and she could spend lots of time out there.

Thats really good that you read to the girls like that! I read to AJ too. He's got a TON of books. He has some Sesame Street books, each one is a letter of the alphabet and the stories are related to the letter. He loves those books. I just read like W to Z last night. haha. I also have this special edition Charlotte's Web, its hardback and MUCH bigger than the normal books, its also got really nice illustrations in it. Its lovely, I read him that one too. Even though it makes me cry every time I read it.

I hope you figure out what to do with the bunnies, if you decide to take them. I hope that guy doesn't let the go free though, that would be terrible.

 

[PaGal]

I gave hubby a call while on my way to grocery shop. He basically left the decision up to me but would feel as bad as me if there was a bad outcome for the buns. I should have known anyway what I would do. I couldn't stand by and do nothing so I will be taking them. I was going to stop by the neighbors on my way home but didn't see either vehicle so asked the son who just got off the bus to have his dad call me or stop by.

I guess I could live with outside buns but have always preferred pets to be indoors or at least the ones that can be. I am not sure if we will keep them or find other homes. I think I'll put off deciding until school is done for the year and we have found homes for the kittens. Once those two things are off of my shoulders it may not seem so difficult. I also haven't even had the chance to finish what I want to do with Thump's cage yet and now have to worry about something for the other buns.

I am so ready to be done with Thumps though, it should cut back on his mess which wasn't bad until I got him the bigger cage.

 

[Chrisdoc]

It is so difficult when you see animals in that situation. I think Morgan´s idea is a good one to have them as outdoor buns if you can live with that and they will have each other for company. I hope it all works out.

Morgan, Things fall apart...I haven´t read that in years and I found my copy when I was getting rid of all my books to the charity shop a little while ago. I read that at school and it is such a great book. Denise, she should definitely read that.

I also love reading a get through loads of books in the summer. After saying I´d never get one, my friend gave me a kindle last year and I love it now, I carry about with me all the time and if I have a bit of free time, I can get it out and read. I love stopping off on the way home to have a drink and read for a while sitting in the sun. There are loads of free books you can download as well.

I used to love reading stories to my nieces and nephews. I worked for a while here as a storyteller in the hotels entertaining the kids and reading stories. I really did enjoy watching their rapt faces taking in every word you say and loving it.