Hazel's progress

We now believe that we have a female bunny, so we are calling her Hazel.

Tonight for the first time Hazel sat on my lap. She actually stayed there
for a long time. I've been waiting for her to allow this. It took quite some
time. I feel like we've crossed an important threshold. She also spent some
time laying down up against Tommy on the sofa. He seemed amazed at having a
bunny share his space so closely.

We've had to protect Hazel from several of the younger cats. Abigail, Arthur
and Mickey are not allowed to run loose when Hazel is out. They spend their
time either in Dave's room or in the rabbit cage. We give them a chance to
learn to be good to Hazel each time we let her out, but as soon as one of
them chases or swats at her, into confinement they go.

Hazel enjoys eating all sorts of grass. Thank goodness she enjoys bermuda,
which we are trying to eradicate from the garden. Now, instead of throwing
all of it into the compost bin, Hazel gets a bundle of it every day, along
with orchard grass and other types. We'll be planting a patch of timothy in
a few months, too, so we won't have to hunt for it at hay dealers. It's a
difficult hay to find around here.

Every day when I come in with a bunch of fresh grass, the cats all try to
get into the rabbit cage to eat with her. Even though the cats get their own
"salad" every day, they like eating with Hazel!