An old friend of mine has gone from this world and I wanted to share a story about her with my readers. Her name was Ebony, which I gave her because of the black color of her fur. She was a silver martin, a domestic breed of rabbit. As she grew the black coat became dotted with white dots, like stars in the night sky. 
 
Rabbits are easy to care for and make very affectionate pets. Ebony loved to be petted and rubbed, not real fond of being picked up but once settled in your lap she seemed to like it. She was very neat, always washing herself. As she aged, the black field began to redden somewhat on the tips. 

 My favorite story has to be her stint with motherhood. First of all we rescued her from a shelter. The local county shelters get all kinds of animals yet only have budgets to keep dogs and cats, so often have to put down the other animals they may come in contact with. The vet at the shelter assured me she wasn't pregnant, and we did not plan on breeding so my husband and son built her a fine two-compartment hutch where she would spend her days. 

 One spring my son gave her a small stuffed bunny, as a toy or companion. Well Ebony immediately started nesting, pulling out her own tuft to make a comfy nest. That stuffed bunny was light brown, but when Ebony got done, she had so much fur stuck to her that she looked more like Ebony's hairball. 

 For weeks I watched in awe at how pampered that baby bunny was, Ebony was a fine mother. During that time the food, normally put on the cage side would be found in the enclosed part, obviously put there for the "baby." I talked to the veterinarian and she suggested since the hutch was outside, Ebony was just picking up the instincts of the other wild rabbits. Guess that was a good explanation except that back then we lived in the town more and I don't remember seeing too many other rabbits. 

 Well this caring, nurturing mother must have gotten fed up cause after three weeks of watching her pamper and fawn over the stuffed bunny, I go to clean the hutch and find the nest is strewn everywhere. As for the stuffed bunny, her precious baby, she was drowning in the water dish, face first. We took out the stuffed bunny and never tried that again, and Ebony never tried nesting again, guess she had enough of motherhood. 

 My family loved and enjoyed Ebony for six years, and about a week ago we 
discovered her gone. We held a decent burial, and feel good that we could be her home for a while. Also that she died of natural causes and not because a local coyote got her, but we still miss her. 

 Many don't get attached to their pets, but I think they are missing out on a great experience if they don't. I know Ebony is now in a large, green meadow filled with clover so she can eat till her heart's content.