The mink has killed Nelson the rabbit.
Every summer Nelson lives outside in a shabby old chicken tractor under the big tree but this year I deemed the chicken tractor with its broken door; unsafe. So I brought her into the chicken hospital which is built like Fort Knox – specifically to keep animals safe from predators.
Everything works until it doesn’t and most errors have a collection of causes. This incident was no exception.
I had been distracted with children visiting yesterday; a big family dinner, and the kids and I had been feeding the rabbit scraps. I was hosting a large group and working on getting all the food on the table. Darting back and forth. I did not double check that they had latched the door all the way shut. It was my job to make sure she was secure.
Then last night we got this warning blaring through the phones.
So I quickly ran out and checked the barn doors and the calves. And Nelson’s Easterly door. And the chickens. All the pigs were tucked up in their beds already. Boo would not come outside with me. Any sign of a storm at all and he goes straight under the bed. So I did not have my hunter but that was OK. All seemed well and I was running, and did not do my checks thoroughly enough.
A dust storm caused a 72 car pile up on a highway not far from here the other day, I had never even heard of dust storms and huge dust devils around here before but I did not want to get caught in one.
As the wind blew up, I finished fast and ran for the house. It was around 9pm.
Then these warnings pealed out from the phone.
Then the storm escalated into one of the loudest storms I have experienced here. The electricity went off. The world went mad. I had not been expecting this at all. The wind was relentless and fierce, rocking the house and dropping inches of rain and hail. The lightening lasted literally hours. The storm seemed to be sitting above us. I worried for my cows in the field with all this lightening.
The wind must have blown Nelsons little top Westerly door open. His hutch has strong doors, it was very safe, so the door cannot have been latched properly. And early this morning the bastard mink must have taken advantage of the open door. The bastard. He had probably been sniffing round for days looking for a way in.
Poor Nelson.
Totally my fault.
Here is a little of the dramatic storm that is the sound track to Nelsons eulogy.
The clattering you hear on the video was hail. The continuous roar of wind and rain. The storm was so loud we heard nothing else.
I did hear Mr Flowers shriek his alarm early this morning but I thought he was shrieking at the calves. He is still not used to them being in there.
I was out super early to check the calves (when I discovered Nelsons body) but I must have just missed the mink. Bastard. Boo had refused to come with me – sure that the storm might still get him.
This all pales next to the repeated news we read of violent gunshot deaths here in the USA. Every week it seems to me – it feels like there are more. Schools, homes and supermarkets, streets and shopping malls. It worries me a lot. How unsafe we are. How angry people are. My one rabbit cannot compare.
But there you are; a wee rabbit dies because of my negligence and I feel unfurled. All the misery every single one of us carries because we are human and feel stuff can be triggered by the smallest death.
So the subconscious Sorrow Box, that lives just below our surface, opens its door just a little to let another rose of sadness hop through, then softly closes the door again with a click of the key, and allows us to forgive ourselves and carry on. The Sorrow Box carries it all for us. I have to let her go now.
And you and I carry on. The better for knowing a wee silver wescue wabbit.
Poor old Nelson.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
80 responses to “Sorrowful News from the Farmy This Morning.”
Oi! Do we know this one. Heartbreaking.
Good morning Michael. yes. It was a sad discovery.
I am so very sorry to read about Nelson. You did all that you could think of to do under the circumstances and we are only human after all. She was a wild thing that knew she was loved. That in itself is huge. RIP Nelson. ❤
Yes – such lovely words – thank you.
I’m so sorry about Nelson. And so angry at the bastard mink!
Me to. I hate those minks. We need to catch this one because it will be back for sure now.
Oh no, poor Nelson! I hope Boo gets that bastard mink soon!
Don’t blame yourself – you gave Nelson a good life.
I think Nelson had a good life – and she was an age too – I think she must have been about seven years old – but still – Thanks Mad.
I hope we’ll see a picture of Boo with that mink at his feet 😉
I am so so so sorry….. I can imagine your pain, and I just wish it never happened….
I wish I had gotton out there just a little earlier too – and I wish Boo had been with me – but there you are – if wishes were horses, etc.
Oh Cecilia! My heart hurts reading this. That storm sounds horrendous and to top it off with finding poor Nelson.
You have every reason to be sorrowful this week for this little life you cared for so well. How long was Nelson with you?
I love this photo.
This must have been her third summer? And she was with her first family for three or four years I think so she was a mature rabbit.
This is indeed sad news. I know it is all part of the animal kingdom, but it upsets me every time. Poor Nelson. Poor you. The bastard mink is appropriately named.
Morning Darlene. It is upsetting. Thank fully we are not immune to the sadness. I think if I do become complacent about the lives of my animals I will have to stop being their guardians.
So true. My dad, the big, tough cowboy, was reduced to tears when he lost an animal in his care. It made me love and respect him even more.
So sorry about Nelson. Let’s hope Boo gets that bastard mink soon.
Awwww. What a dramatic exit Nelson must have experienced. But I thought Boo killed that bastard mink. You said there is a mink farm nearby?
I live in chronic fear of danger for my animals, so I know the pain of
loss . . .
Sigh! Yes, we all have that sorrow box. Sometimes it’s very heavy. Hugs, Miss C.
Oh Celi ~ I’m brokenhearted for you ~ try not to blame yourself. Boo just has to get that bad boy. Nelson was such a beautiful Gal ~ Boo will miss her. And you will too. And me too.
Yes we had wicked winds last night ~ but our power was on all nite. But we also have a big generator.
Sending hugs to help dry your tears ~ I still cry so much for Jerry ~ I miss him beyond words. Can’t believe he’s really gone. Luv you.
That is such a strong feeling that you have – expecting to see him in his chair when you come in from the garden. Maybe he is not quite gone. Maybe he is staying with you until you are ready. Your sorrow box might be getting too heavy – give it to him to carry for a while.
I am not sure where that thought came from. But take care of yourself and pop in here whenever – I will always answer.
Yeh, I’m sure he misses me also, he was a dear husband. I keep pictures of him around the house and close to where I sleep. So he’s always here. 💕💕
Oh I’m so sorry about Nelson ~ you and Boo loved her so much and gave her a great life. I always loved seeing pictures of her ~ and just love this one of her and Boo. ❤️❤️Put some flowers on her grave for me. ❤️
Oh Celi- I’m so sorry for your heartache. That was quite a calamitous mustering of forces against poor Nelson. Be gentle with yourself.
Calamitous mustering of forces – that is so true. Once we factor in Boo not hunting that night due to the storm – it was a perfect storm of forces. Thank you for leaving a comment – I do appreciate that!
…yes…
Unusually for me, lost for words, nearly! As with all your animals you gave her the loveliest life. No blame but thank goodness for a sorrow box. That storm must have been terrifying for you and the farmy. Death to the bastard mink, very soon. Will miss the adventures of Nelson the wescue wabbit 😢
Yes, we will miss her. She did no harm to anybody – though I went to put on my jandals the other day (with the weather warming up) (found them under my desk) and found that she had chewed them up one side and down the other. Still wearable though!
Something else to remember her by😊
So sorry about Nelson. Thank you for loving her and giving her a good life. That storm looked and sounded frightening! I might have been under the bed with Boo. Glad you are safe, as is the rest of the farm; and you had a family visit, too!
Yes – the storms have been ferocious this spring. It amazes me that the cows just stand and wait for a storm to pass. The strobe light effect does not affect them.