As Easter’s not far away, I thought I’d post about our beautiful rabbit, Stellar (short for Interstellar, named by my son Atticus, pictured above). Stellar was given to us by some friends and came to join our family approximately one year ago. When she first joined us she lived in a cage and was regularly cuddled, mainly by Atticus, but also by the other kids too. Having spent my childhood seeing wild rabbits running free, I just couldn’t bring myself to keep her in the cage for too long.
Prior to Stellar arriving, we had another much loved bunny, called Pawprint who free ranged in our yard, after spending her earliest days in a cage. She was the perfect pet, much like a little dog in friendliness, but without all the work! We knew free ranging could also work for Stellar, but the complicating factor was that a very cheeky puppy called Popcorn had also joined our family in the meantime. So it was with some trepidation, that we let Stellar out of her cage to free range in the back yard and to contend with Popcorn.
So far so good! Popcorn hasn’t eaten Stellar and I have high hopes the two of them could become friends once Popcorn grows out of his crazy puppy ways. In the meantime, Stellar has developed some stealthy habits! She inhabits Pawprint’s old burrow under the cubby house and comes out in the early mornings to frolic and feed on the lawn, very carefully watched by Popcorn who hangs back near the house and trembles, hopefully with fear and not anticipation! We watch from afar, because if we go outside Popcorn gains confidence and chases Stellar back into her burrow!
All this begs the question, what do rabbits have to do with Easter? Well, not a lot, apart from their association with new life because of their prolific breeding habits! It’s not about rabbits, but it is all about new life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Another great local business to visit was 
We spent a very short time in Mandurah and only just scraped the surface of some of it’s attractions, but it was a very pleasant experience and definitely worth a visit or a detour to browse Paper Planes Co or to dine at the delightful Flics Kitchen. We stayed at the Quest apartments (easy walking distance into town) and really enjoyed their swimming pool right on the canal, as well as the lush gardens.
Have you visited Mandurah before? Did you enjoy it?
I remember this party so well! I’m on the far left and Mum is cutting the cake. I love the look of joy and anticipation on my face (and on some of my friends’ faces). I have photos of my kids, capturing this same look at birthday cake cutting time – it’s a special moment. This party had a circus theme and was complete with sideshow alley stalls and a toffee apple and popcorn seller. I remember thinking the circus carousel cake was absolutely magical. My Mum is one of the best party planners I know and has been my greatest inspiration for hosting events.
Mum wrote up all her parties in her scrapbooks and I loved reading them as a child, just as I still do now. The party written about above was another birthday for me with a Wind in the Willows theme. I was given (and still have) a Wind in the Willows cookbook and a lot of the party food came from there.
Another book which really sparked my imagination growing up, and set me on a path of joyful party planning was Mum’s copy of The Australian Hostess Cookbook. I was fascinated by the descriptions of actual events the contributors to the book had hosted all over Australia – some on far flung stations in the outback and some in city locations. The descriptions of how these parties were hosted, what the host and guests wore and the menus, is today a really interesting historical reflection of this era.
The party food consisted of freakshakes (very fun to make) with a free printable unicorn straw from 
