Smokey

When I joined Ravelry, I stated on my profile page that "I want to learn to spin my bunny's fur into angora yarn".  To that end, every time Smokey Bunny moulted, we collected his long, soft fibres of fur. 







He had an extraordinarily soft coat.  In the past I had noticed other rabbits' coats become coarser as they mature with distinct strands of hair, yet Smokey's coat never changed - it always stayed soft and fluffy.  It was very black when he was a kitten, and as he grew older, he developed a white undercoat. 

This tuque had only been on the lawn for a moment when
inquisitive Smokey came along. Can you see his fluffy moult?
31 October 2012

When the white sections close to his skin began to moult, his deep black coat would get a grey tinge as the white infiltrated the black. In places it would create a 'salt and pepper' effect but most of the time Smokey was a soft, fluffy, misty grey.





Smokey inspecting "Bunny Phone Cover Mark  II",
new and improved after the first cover wore out.
15 May 2010

We have been keeping his fur in brown paper bags. The theory is that it will be able to 'breathe' and not become affected by humidity etc. What is the best way to store it?



What did Smokey think of my crocheted phone cover?
I think this is a sign of approval.
"Bunny Mark II" (my own design)
15 May 2010

I am not a spinner (yet) and I have no experience of it whatsoever apart from the spinners I have met at craft fairs. I have visited blogs, borrowed library books and even purchased a drop spindle at a craft fair, not even realising at the time that there are different sizes for different purposes, just like different sized crochet hooks. 

Despite my efforts, a lot of the spinning terms are still meaningless to me - obviously one needs to be doing it in order to understand because no matter how hard I try, the specialist terms and jargon make very little sense to non-spinner me.

But that hasn't quelled my desire to turn Smokey's fur into something comforting, soft and warm just like him.

Sadly, on 8 October 2013, at 2:30 p.m., snugglebunny Smokey was taken by a very nasty cancer.  He was 8 years old which is an 'old-man-bunny' age but right up until the day he died, he was responsive and active; eating, drinking, wanting to play outside, still grooming himself etc. - all of those behaviours that belied the fact that the cancer was progressing within.



Smokey 'reading' the Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Although he cannot read the words,
he certainly took a lot of interest in the pictures.
2010

He had a remarkable
personality and charmed everyone, even people who, up until meeting him, hadn't any care for rabbits at all. 





Sometimes this busy bunny roamed a little too freely!
Here he is climbing the fence of the vegie patch.
That Peter Rabbit is a bad influence!
23 April 2011

Smokey was house trained and roamed freely around the house and garden. Sometimes he went on excursions in the wider world wearing a leashed harness.





No bunny rug in this photo - cheeky Smokey!
He was easy to lose on my bed when his
black shiny coat blended in with my black bedspread.
27 July 2007

On cold winter nights, he would hop up onto the end of my bed and sleep on an actual 'bunny rug' (which had been used by my own children when they were babies - how fitting).

Hiding behind the woolly bush
1 October 2012

We learned of Smokey's diagnosis barely a month before his death.  On the day he died, it was pleasantly sunny and warm, with a still, blue sky.  He spent the morning stretched out, relaxed under the woolly bush (one of his favourite spots) in the company of his (human) family.  My daughter spent the entire morning in the garden with him (because we knew his time was near) sharing pats and licks (a rabbit show of affection).

Smokey digging. He wasn't a huge fan of digging
and never ever tried to dig out of the yard. My family thinks
that is because he was very happy to be with us.
The flowerpot indicates Smokey's small size.
23 April 2011

She came inside for a few minutes, and that was all the time it took for Smokey to pass away. I went out to find him on his side 'sunbaking' on the lawn; he had almost made it across to his absolute favourite place: a form he had dug out under the sage bush which was lush with spring growth and purple flowers.  He looked peaceful.  I like to think that his last thought was happy anticipation.

I am grateful that he did not appear to suffer from pain, that his battle with the cancer was swift; he had his family around him and he had a peaceful day in his favourite garden haunts.

Smokey would dip his head to ask for a pat.
22 September 2013

After everyone had one last cuddle, one last stroke of his soft, fluffy coat, we ceremoniously buried his body, adorned with his favourite tasty flowers, in the corner of the garden behind the irongrass (a very spiky strappy plant in which Smokey would hide when he was feeling cheeky because no one could get near it for fear of being pricked by the sharp blades).

My daughter's beautiful words say it all:



22 September 2013

I can't imagine what my life is going to be without you at my feet when we eat dinner or when I need a cuddle.
You were so sprightly all the time and full of life.
I'll miss watching you jump up and kick your feet when you're happy on the grass.
I'll miss the way you snuggled into my face and licked me on the nose.
I'll miss just looking down and seeing you stretched out and happy while you're making the cutest noises.
You were so remarkable and the biggest character. Cheeky and playing chasey and then running up to us when we called your name.
I'm glad you're not suffering but I'm sad you're gone. I love you so much and I'm so happy you knew that in your last moments.

I hope you enjoy these photographs of Smokey posted in memoriam. One day I will spin his fur and make a soft scarf to remember him by, not that it is necessary as he certainly was an unforgettable soul.

R.I.P. Darling Smokey

 

Hiding in the sage.
22 September 2013