the bunny hutch

Our little bunny Hugo has turned into our big bunny Hugo! He was getting squished in his little cage, so we ordered a hutch for him online, and yesterday Claire and I built it.

This funny concrete slab is where the previous homeowners had their washer and dryer. It's in a little covered area between our driveway and backyard.

Funnily enough, I didn't feel comfortable washing clothes outside.  When it rained, I would be standing in a puddle of water throwing clothes into bazillion-volt appliances.

So we moved the washer and dryer into the kitchen when we remodeled several years ago.  I had a potting table here until we got Hugo, and then he lived in a cage on top of the table.  And now this.

I'm not sure how one gauges bunny emotions. Bunnies are fairly inscrutable.  But I like to think that Hugo's happy with the new hutch.  He seems happy with it.  He has the run of the backyard when I'm home (we blocked off all the bunny escape routes the first week we had him) and I can leave the little door open so he can hop out . . .

. . . or back in.

The concrete slab stays cool when it's hot. He also always has a frozen water bottle or two to keep him cool.

He explores a bit when he's out, but mostly he like to sleep in the cool dirt under the hydrangeas.

Sometimes when I'm in the kitchen, I feel something watching me.  His stare is persistent and unblinking.

"Let me in, mom!"

(He likes to come in the kitchen to take a nap behind the washer and dryer.)