Botany Bunnies: Hydroponics Project Update

The grow lights interact oddly with
cellphone cameras.

After weeks of rigorous scientific analysis, our team of highly specialized lettuce experts has concluded that fresh-picked hydroponically grown lettuce is the most superior of lettuces*.  

The key is developing your hydroponics bay within a climate controlled habitat compartment, so neither your humans nor your lettuce ever has to traverse the -40°C with windchill January air. 

Using a mixture of powdered nutrient solution (instead of the usual liquid form which costs more) and the occasional batch of home-brewed compost tea (totally optional - just to get a little bit more microbial diversity in there), McFlufferton Inc. has been able to produce a continuous-harvest head of lettuce for well under $0.50 each!  (We have not yet attempted additional scientific endeavours to harvest our own lettuce seeds, that will likely be the next phase of our research.)

Harvesting technique is arguably important in reducing the probability of lettuce bolting.  You'll want to nip any central spires in the literal bud so the plants will keep trying to grow leaves instead of flowering. Additionally keeping your hydroponics from getting too warm reduces the likelihood of bolting (some of our human affiliates suggest tossing a few ice cubes into the water reservoir every day if your garden is kept at a warmer temperature).  While bunnies are perfectly happy eating lettuce flowers and the more bitter woody stems - humans seem to dislike them.

Stunt Bunny,
Botanologist

_______

* With only the technical exception of lettuce that you ate straight out of the hydroponic unit when the human's back was turned and you hopped on the bench which is normally outside the "fluffs reach" perimeter. 

Migration

The geese are back!  

Planes Trains and Automobiles!

Good view of the countryside!

Our adventuring party arrived safe and sound in Frankfurt!  Sure, none of the humans were able to get any sleep in the unnatural confines of a commercial airliner.  They're all going to have crazy jetlag when their brains finally realize they're going to have about a 36-hour gap without sleeping.  But now we've settled into our train seats on our way to Baden-Baden. 

Happy Mother's Day

Some moms get flowerz for motherz day, but OUR grand-mommy got the biggest bouquet of them all! 

The pear tree decided to blossom with perfect timing! 

Okay, so maybe we didn't have anything to do with this particular display... but I'm sure our wild bunny cousins did a good job of fertilizing the pear tree so it would flower extra pretty.

Don't forget to binkey for all your momz today to let them know how much you love them!

Departure Day: New York!

Initial status: Winnipeg, Stupid Early

Yay! We're off to New York today! The bunnies are in charge back at the house (as per usual) so Stunt Bunny is joining me. It's cold here but not in our destination, so I'm leaving the winter coat and making a mad dash to the cab and hoping for the best!

Status update: Toronto, 1:00 pm local time.
The first flight was fine - but the second leg of the journey is delayed by over an hour.  It's not a problem really but I'm disappointed that I'm losing an hour of New York for an hour of airport. Also, this terminal is under construction so there's nothing to do and only very sad food options. Stunt Bunny is restlessly chewing on cables around the airport.

Status update: Toronto, feels like hours later...
It's snowing rather substantially outside.  There are many delayed flights and lots of increasingly grumpy people. I don't know what it is about airports that creates a specific kind of boredom.  Perhaps it's the combination of anticipation and the cramped uncomfortable seating specifically designed to prevent anyone from enjoying their book. Stunt Bunny is having an overpriced drink to pass the time.

Status update: Toronto, four of the five flights to New York have been cancelled - but not ours (finger's crossed).
My lovely coworkers are emailing suggestions of things to do in Toronto should we too get bumped to one of tomorrow's flights.  I've realized I forgot to tell everyone else I was going anywhere. Stunt Bunny is critiquing my communication skills. 

Status update: Boarding the plane!
Yay - our flight is going through after all - we totally lucked out!  Also, the nice folks at The Musket Room were very understanding when I called and managed to squeeze us in for a later reservation, so today's adventures won't even been hampered much! Stunt Bunny is very excited! 

Not for Puppers

Sorry to our doggie friends, but you won't get to play fetch when you come to visit. Bub has claimed all the apple wood sticks for himself.
He doesn't care for playing fetch, but his burrowing instincts are pretty strong. He's pulled them from the playpen so he can sit on them in his favourite spot while watching documentaries.

Ubuntu (The Cape Town Project)

Stunt Bunny and Вікторія
waiting for the play to start.

South Africa is an incredibly amazing and interesting place.  I had a wonderful three months there, if you ever get the change to visit it's well worth the trip.  So, when I saw that Prairie Theatre Exchange had a play written by a team of folks including South Africans I really wanted to see it!

Here’s the official description: “In South Africa, “ubuntu” refers to the spirit of community and the belief that humanity is tied together. In this collective creation, a young Canadian woman begins to unravel the legacy of her mother, when she meets a young South African man searching for his father. Drawn together by chance and circumstance, they relentlessly pursue the truth, only to realize it will turn their lives upside down. Through spirited storytelling, music and dance, this international collaboration of Canadian and South African artists traces the ties that bind us all.”

From a technical perspective this play was really well done!  The set/props are simple but very effective and clever.  The physicality of how the performers interact with – and create – the environment was quite impressive.  It's playing until November 26 - and I highly recommend you go if you can!  

The story is very engaging, but it has some dark themes, so it’s not really suited for younger children.