Halloween in Black and White

Halloween has passed (it is not really celebrated here) and we’re on to what could be termed the Day of the Dead. I have photos for that, but Halloween first, in a loose sort of way.
I ended up leaving George and Calypso Spots in California with my parents, since while I would like to have their company here, the idea of carting two rabbits (one rather hefty) across the Atlantic was not very agreeable, and I did not think George was likely to get the standard of veterinary care here that he sometimes needs.
As many of you know, George and my parents are extremely attached to each other. Ms. Spots and my parents like each other, but I wouldn’t say that they have formed quite as deep a bond, in part because my parents no longer feel up to spending a lot of time lying on the floor and Ms. Spots has not really gotten accustomed to sitting on laps. Consequently, I was pleased to get the following report:
“George is doing fine. He has occasional seizures, but not bad ones. Spots is spending more and more time in our company. She comes out to the kitchen and has a favorite spot by the dishwasher, as well as the secluded one behind the love seat. This morning I thought she would climb right into the refrig when she discovered I had romaine in the drawer there. She is getting to expect treats in the kitchen as well as in the living room.
We usually have ice cream in the evening, which is when I have been giving them yogurt, and sometimes when she sees me go out to the kitchen she follows to get her yogurt more quickly, I guess. Last night was Halloween and I set the chicken basket full of miniature Hershey bars on the floor by the front door. All of a sudden I realized that she had jumped out of the pen, grabbed a bar, and taken it back next to the pen to devour it. Most of what she ate was the wrapper, but she did get part of the little bar. So you see, she is feeling pretty much at home.”
Since George isn’t able to leap up and steal his own chocolate bars, it is easy to forget that some rabbits have a passionate interest in chocolate… until someone happens to leave some lying around. If El Cerrito is having a shortage of trick-or-treaters and that basket is left anywhere in the living room, I think we can guarantee that the Spotted Wonder will make off with as much as she can manage, and will leave bits of foil in unlikely places. My parents have evidently forgotten about the Dance of Extreme Joy that greeted the pieces of chocolate cake during the summer. Well, let’s just hope they don’t stock up on gingerbread or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups either. Her Spottedness might get really wild and jump onto the dining room table.
I don’t have any photos of Ms. Spottolia devouring chocolate products, but she did think the quilt I began this summer had a tempting flavor. It must have been the batik dyes.